My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes- Part 18: Legendary

30.

Magnet Man

from Mega Man III

Composers: Yasuaki Fujita, Harumi Fujita

Capcom; 1990

Mega Man III makes its final appearance on my list.  I have expressed before the personal effect this game has had on me, both as a gamer and a pop culture fan.  I learned a lot about gaming from Mega Man III and it was also where I really started to reflect on the value of game music.  It is something that I had not considered until I played this game as a child.  Magnet Man’s theme, in particular, has always been a standout game theme.  It is melodically captivating with an excellent bridge at the end.  Some themes have stuck with me out of nostalgia but I would say that this tune is both nostalgic and outstanding in its own right.

29.

A Violent Encounter

from Shadow of the Colossus

Composer: Kow Otani

Sony Japan Studio; 2005

Shadow of the Colossus is one of a few games I would label as “perfect”.  It is like a vivid Vermeer, full of life and detail.  The world has an unspoken history and it feels aged.  The majestic guardians of the land are kept in their own prisons throughout the world, and these places have a story that is captivating and awe-inspiring, though never fully explained.  There is something about this myth and the world it inhabits that stands out among other games.  Instead of being a volume of exposition and plot twists, Shadow of the Colossus is like an abstract history explained through pictures, though never fully detailed in any way.  There are gamers so enamored with this world that there have been countless attempts by fans online to break down and decipher the jigsaw puzzle that is the history of the game’s desolate hidden landscape and like the world in which Wander’s quest is set, its soundtrack is full of themes that are stunning and captivating.  A Violent Encounter is among the game’s more menacing tracks.  It is the sound of danger, in a simple loop that thunderously kicks in as the player faces yet another powerful and mighty threat.  

28.

Cell Stage 2

from Life Force

Composer: Miki Higashino

Konami; 1986

Miki Higashino returns to my list yet again, this time for her work on the game Life Force.  This is one of my favorite soundtracks of the 8-bit era and the varying levels, full of strange and wonderful visual ideas, are all complimented by excellent music.  Higashino, along with Iwase and Adachi, worked on some of Konami’s best soundtracks, and this early creation of her’s is among her greatest achievements.  The sound of each track has the feel of a classic sci-fi anthem mixed with the sound of a high-energy late-80’s score.  Few game composers have worked on soundtracks that so perfectly reflect the settings and themes of their games as Konami’s astounding sound team, and Higashino is the driving force behind their greatest compositions.  The theme from the fourth stage has a slightly unsettling tone, while at the same time reflecting the title’s persisting adventurous feel.  It is a sublime duality best heard while playing the game, as the flow of the stage perfectly reflect the song’s mesmerizing mood.

27.

Freeze Man

from Mega Man 7

Composers: Yuko Takahara, Hayato Kaji, Toshifumi Ōnishi, Kazunori Tazaki, Tatsuya Yoshikawa

Capcom; 1995

Mega Man 7 has a far more bright and upbeat soundtrack than gamers of its time were typically used to outside of a few titles from Nintendo.  It was a risk, for sure, to create a bright and almost care-free-sound for the themes to such an action-packed game, but Mega Man 7 (as well as Mega Man 8), managed to take the series’ sound in what I believe was a solid direction.  As the Mega Man X spin-offs were focusing primarily on hard rock sounds and intensity, Freeze Man’s theme actually has sort of the opposite effect.  The theme is bright, even happy, and the way it all flows through its major key sound is part of its charm.

26.

Besaid Island

from Final Fantasy X

Composers: Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano

Squaresoft; 2001

Final Fantasy has been so ever-present on my list that I would not blame anyone for accusing me of being a fanboy.  To that I say, “If you are referring to the music, then yes.  Yes I am.”  I believe Final Fantasy, as a series, has produced the best game music of any other game franchise.  The varying level of quality for the games aside, there is no denying the achievements that were the titles’ soundtracks.  So much so, that the series has spawned multiple major concerts.  We are not talking about cosplay and fanboy t-shirts here, either.  No, these were black-tie affairs performed by major orchestras.  The series’ respected works have become pop culture legend and continue to be the standard by which all other game music is measured for many gamers.  Final Fantasy X’s soundtrack is full of themes that have varying emotional ideas, and as the story progresses, the music becomes more and more mournful.  However, at the beginning of the story the accompanying themes reflected the wonder of the journey ahead, and there is probably no theme in the game that better expresses the feel of this strange place than the theme from Besaid Island.  It is welcoming, cheerful and acts as a stunning early impression to the game’s standard-setting soundtrack.

25.

Marble Gallery

from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Composer: Michiru Yamane

Konami; 1997

Symphony of the Night is the title most Castlevania fans consider to be the series’ greatest achievement.  The castle is vast, full of threats that vary from the smallest nuisance to the mightiest of threats.  Along with the outstanding level design and deep gameplay there lies a compelling soundtrack filled with varying musical ideas.  Marble Gallery is an epic track.  It features the well-known and beloved Castlevania pace and tone, while also presenting a distinct sound and unique melody that mixes a classic style with modern ideas.  

24.

Time’s Scar

from Chrono Cross

Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda

Squaresoft; 1999

Chrono Cross is undeniably a strange title.  There are things in this game that make you wonder what sort of mushroom Funguy actually is.  One thing that I think has not been called into question, however, is the game’s much beloved soundtrack.  The intro theme to Chrono Cross, entitled Time’s Scar, is a mighty Celtic anthem that is energetic, moving and triumphant.  The violin played in this theme is one of my all time favorite melodies in game music.  I have not played through this game in years yet this one tune has always been in the back of my mind.  It is truly unforgettable.

23.

Aerith’s Theme

from Final Fantasy VII

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1997

...And speaking of unforgettable.  I do not think this song needs any introduction.  Aerith’s Theme from Final Fantasy VII has become one of the most recognizable tunes in video game history, most commonly associated with one of the most shocking and heartbreaking character deaths in modern popular culture.  It ranks high among the most memorable sequences in gaming history and this tune fits perfectly in the moment.  It is a soothing and heartfelt theme that is just as moving now as it was when the game was first released.

22.

Dance of the Holyman

from Super Castlevania IV

Composers: Masanori Adachi, Taro Kudo

Konami; 1997

One of the first themes heard as one picks up Castlevania IV, Dance of the Holyman, Simon’s theme, is a tune that instantly evokes the feeling of an heroic achievement.  The tune has an action-packed feel to it while remaining true to the series’ unique and unmistakable sound.  From its striking opening measures to way the song breaks down into a jazz bass verse is all seamless and perfect.  This is a tune I always look forward to hearing.

21.

Revived Power

from Shadow of the Colossus

Composer: Kow Otani

Sony Japan Studio; 2005

Heard quite early in the game, Revived Power is a powerful encouragement to the player to keep fighting on.  As a huge, lumbering beast fights off its aggressor, this tune seems to react to its struggle.  It has the threatening tone of the other themes in the game, but also has an adventurous feel to it.  It is a fun theme.  It is one that makes you want to keep pushing forward.  However, despite how great this soundtrack is, Shadow of the Colossus makes its final appearance on my list at number 21.

My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes- Part 17: Nostalgia Triumphant

40.

Tornado Man

from Mega Man 9

Composer: Ippo Yamada

Capcom; 2008

After a decade-long hiatus peppered with Legends, Battle Chips and 3-D debacles, Capcom finally gave us Mega-fanboys a new title in original franchise that harkened back to the old-school series that created the namesake and cemented it as a solid and reliable franchise that would satisfy from the 80’s well into the 90’s.  By the turn of the millennium, Capcom had set its sights on other projects and had essentially left the Blue Bomber to rot, only occasionally releasing tie-in titles that claim to be canon but were really titles implementing popular fads for handheld gaming at the time.  They were essentially cash-ins.  The Megaman X titles continued with declining quality, ultimately showing how far the series fell with Megaman X-7, an ugly disaster of a game that was hindered by its poorly-executed 3D design.  Long gone were fast stages with constant threats and collapsing environments, and in its place came slow, dark, poorly-rendered passages and cheap-looking, sloppy cel-shaded animation.  Five years later, Mega Man 9 brought the series back to its roots, releasing as a digital download title on the 360 and PS3, the game featured classic 8-bit graphics, challenging design and a great soundtrack.  The one takeaway track for me was Tornado Man’s theme, a song that sounds as though it could have been composed in 1990 yet still does not feel like a throwback either.  It is an impressively catchy theme and one of the best of the series.

39.

Home Sweet Home

from Beyond Good and Evil

Composer: Christophe Héral

Ubisoft; 2003

Beyond Good and Evil has shown up a few times up to this point and Home Sweet Home is the final theme from the game featured on this list.  This is a wonderful tune.  The way it builds on a simple piano melody so fluidly and so beautifully gives the song a sincerity, and as the tune progresses, while things in this strange world begin to feel more and more dire, the mood shifts and turns and changes.  It is a song that conveys so many feelings.  A perfect iconic tune for a game this emotionally-complex and deep.

38.

Purification of the City

from Flower

Composer: Vincent Diamante

ThatGameComapny; 2009

On the note of emotional-complexity, Flower makes its final appearance with the song from the stage that holds the most meaning in the game.  Flower’s is a story is told without any exposition or without any dialogue.  It is a tale woven through pictures and experiences.  Purification of the City has the player maneuvering the wind between fallen buildings in an abandoned, lifeless metropolis.  The song is triumphant and glorious, feeling ever tragic but still empowering as a strong backdrop to nature’s victory over man’s folly.  It is a very powerful tune that is best heard while playing the game, as it fits the feel and flow of the level better than almost any game theme I have ever heard.

NOTE: I shared the entire level video rather than just the song. I felt it was the only way to properly convey the impact of this song.

37.

Bloody Tears

from Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest

Composer: Kenichi Matsubara

Konami; 1988

I loved Simon’s Quest as a kid.  This is a game that opened quite a few doors for me.  It was one of the first games I ever played and beat that had a fully-explorable world, implementing a design that is now lovingly referred to by fans as a “Metroidvania” world.  One of the earliest instances of an open side-scroller, Simon’s Quest remains one of the best of the genre on the weight of some sturdy difficulty, a solid and clear goal, and an amazing soundtrack.  Bloody Tears is arguably the most famous theme of the franchise, having been covered live on stage and on YouTube in various forms and even having shown up in later Castlevania titles as one of only a handful of the series’ themes to be featured in more than one game.  Bloody Tears is a classic in every definition of the word.

36.

Enemy Attack

from Final Fantasy X

Composers: Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano

Squaresoft; 2001

Boss Themes are an important gauge for any game composer, I say.  You have to take the musical stylings of the game, and make a song that is separate from the level theme, and make it more intense, and have build in a way that makes the fight seem grandiose and threatening.  Most boss themes fail at this, which is why there are so few of them on my list.  It is easy to make music creepy, or noisy, but to make one that is just purely powerful, reflecting the threat before you… Well, that has to be a daunting task.  So, leave it to the folks at Square to solve the problem!  Enemy Attack, and I say this with all sincerity, is the perfect boss theme.  It may not be the best, it may not even be the best on the PS2, but it is the example.  It is the song that starts out letting the player know things are serious and then just builds.  The song’s long loop and bone-crushing choir (those are words you probably never thought you’d read back-to-back, huh?) make for a truly powerful series of encounters throughout the game.  This is a standout track from one of the best game soundtracks of all time.

35.

Bubbleman

from Mega Man II

Composer: Takashi Tateishi

Capcom; 1988

Mega Man II is a fan favorite in the series for a number of reasons.  It is an incredibly well-designed and well-structured game full of memorable moments and exciting levels and bosses, but more than anything else, I think, the thing that stuck with fans was the music.  Oh, man the music in this game.  Some games have soundtracks that fans just immediately think of when the subject of game music comes up.  Some fans think of Mario, some think of Zelda, but for me, it’s this game.  Mega Man II just may be MY pick for the greatest video game soundtrack of all time.  I say this just on the grounds that I am judging it based on the period in which it was released, and based on staying-power.  Sure, there have been songs in games released that one could argue are better in their own right, but a collection of themes this good, from the title screen to the closing credits..?  I doubt one could find one that is this perfect.  I may be wrong, but in all my years as a gamer, playing console after console for generation after generation for more than twenty-five years of my life, I have yet to find a soundtrack that, in its entirety, holds a candle to Mega Man II’s.

34.

Green Hill Zone

from Sonic the Hedgehog

Composer: Masato Nakamura

Sega; 1991

Sonic makes his final appearance on my list with the very first level theme from Sonic the Hedgehog.  Green Hill Zone is an iconic Sega tune that is also one of the essential 16-bit era themes.  Many gamers of the time were introduced to this song alongside a brand new gameplay experience that traded the more deliberate but slower jumps and level negotiation of the Super Mario Bros. franchise for twitch gameplay, high-speed loops, ramps that send you flying across the stage or into the sky and dangerous traps that often came seemingly out of nowhere.  Add to that tiered levels with multiple paths and you had a game-changer in terms of game design and pace.  The Green Hill Zone theme is one of my personal favorites because, melodically, it just works.  It has a softer melody that is emphasized by an upbeat accompaniment and a wonderful build to a satisfying end to the loop.

33.

Treasury Room

from Super Castlevania IV

Composers: Masanori Adachi, Taro Kudo

Konami; 1991

Here’s another Castlevania IV theme.  The Treasury Room is much, much later in the game and the song features one of my favorite structures.  It is a slow build to an amazing theme.  Listening to the start of the song, with it’s creepy piano and organ combination, one would probably not guess that this tune will be a high-energy organ rock piece with some distinctly-Gothic ideas.  This theme belongs up there with many of the more famous Castlevania tunes for me.  It is catchy, memorable and just as strong as most of the franchise’s other, more well-known themes in my opinion.  The song builds well, too, starting very simple and adding layers as it goes, creating a steadily evolving theme that has a very long loop for a 16-bit title.

32.

Napalm Man

from Mega Man V

Composer: Mari Yamaguchi

Capcom; 1992

This one may seem a little high to most, and I get that.  For me, however, I love the intro riff to this song, and how it shows up after each part of the song in different iterations.  I love that one little riff enough to push this song way up into my top 40.  Other than that, if it were not for the rhythmic interludes and the way the song sort of shifts tonally through them, I would say this is a rather forgettable tune.  It’s funny how sometimes one’s favorite songs are often the simplest ones, huh?

31.

Title Theme

from Metroid

Composer: Hirokazu Tanaka

Nintendo; 1986

I will make an assertion here: Metroid is the most underrated soundtrack of the 8-bit era.  It is damn-good.  It has a blend of eerie and heroic and has a touch of both emotions in every theme.  It is the soundtrack to aimlessly exploring a dangerous and labyrinthine alien world.  I cannot see anyone hitting the nail on the proverbial head better than what was achieved here.  While Super Metroid’s soundtrack is arguably better, for an 8-bit soundtrack, released so early in the NES cycle, this game has charm and memorability in spades.  The Title Theme starts off as a slightly unsettling series of creepy beeps and buzzes until it seamlessly and flawlessly transitions into an excellent melody.  The song’s layers are few but that is all that is needed to convey the feeling of jumping into this game.  NES’ Metroid is one of Nintendo’s all-time best, and this theme is among the greatest in their catalog.  I stand by that.

My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes - Part 15: The Blue Bomber Takes Over

60.

Squid Adler’s Stage

from Mega Man X-5

Composer: Naoto Tanaka

Capcom; 2000

Mega Man X-5 remains one of my favorite game soundtracks of all time.  There is an intensity there that is simply captivating, and every song is highlighted by a single riff somewhere that makes it just stand out amidst the standard anime-themed video game soundtrack full of rock guitar anthems and 80’s-inspired metal.  Squid Adler’s hook is really the first thirteen or fourteen seconds.  The fast piano riff accompanied by stone-crushing rock chords and powerful drums is just mind-blowing.  It creates so much pressure and pure rock power that it is simply unforgettable, at least for me.  I did not even really play X-5 much, yet the soundtrack still resonates with me.

59.

Besaid Island

from Final Fantasy X-2

Composers: Noriko Matsueda, Takahito Eguchi

SquareEnix; 2003

Here’s another track from the much-derided Final Fantasy X-2.  The sequel’s theme for Yuna’s home island pales in comparison to the original’s but remains a beautifully-executed piano theme on its own.  There is an obvious island inspiration here, and the bluesy piano mixed with a shuffling rhythm section makes for a delightful whole.  There is a lot to love about this theme.  No matter how many times I hear it, it never fails to put a smile on my face.

58.

Aqua Man Theme

from Mega Man 8

Composer: Shusaku Uchiyama

Capcom; 1997

Yet another tune from Mega Man 8, Aqua Man’s theme is a smooth-feeling jazzy groove with a slick bass track and a soft island sound.  Like the Besaid Island theme, the theme song for Aqua Man’s stage is sets a mood that is both relaxing and bright.  However, we know that the stage itself is not all that relaxing.  I find the track a funny contrast to its accompanying level.

57.

Gravity Man Theme

from Mega Man V

Composer: Mari Yamaguchi

Capcom; 1992

Gravity Man’s stage theme has a very sci-fi sound.  It sounds like space, which is a fitting theme for the level it plays over.  Gravity flips as the hero passes specific gates, leaving Mega Man running along the ceiling at times, and the theme creates just the right atmosphere for the stage.  The breakdown has a smooth lead that hums a lead melody that just feels right.  This is another brilliant anthem from a stunning game.

56.

Twin Dragons

from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game

Composers: Anamanaguchi

Ubisoft Montreal; 2010

Twin Dragons is one of the more intense themes from Scott Pilgrim and the talented Anamanaguchi lay out a techno-style rock song with an great synth bridge.  This high-impact tune plays just as good on its own as it does with the game.

55.

Still Alive

from Mirror’s Edge

Composer: Lisa Miskovsky

DICE; 2008

EDITORIAL NOTE:  I accidentally wrote this entry as Portal’s Still Alive, which was an error likely made due to sleep deprivation.  My Mistake.  Hopefully this resolves the problem for any future readers.

Mirror’s Edge is a solid game, and despite a few flaws and some occasionally-frustrating mechanics, is one of the more clever and original titles out there.  The theme song is also great.  I love this tune.  It could easily be construed as a slightly unconventional pick, but Lisa Mikovsky’s Still Alive is a damn-powerful power-pop ballad that fits the tone and feel of the game well.

54.

Charge Man

from Mega Man V

Composer: Mari Yamaguchi

Capcom; 1992

It is Mega Man V again.  Charge Man’s theme is a high-tempo, energetic tune that suits the train theme of the stage, having the rhythm of a steam train.  Imagine the faster pace of a train playing in your head while this song runs.  It is exactly that rhythm.  The brilliance of this alone makes it a classic, but aside from that it is an awesome theme as a whole, where the layers all work and the sound of each part fits perfectly.

53.

Giza Plains

from Final Fantasy XII

Composers: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Nobuo Uematsu

SquareEnix; 2006

Early into the story of Final Fantasy XII, the player, as Vaan, is forced to sidetrack from the core adventure to complete a time sink in a labyrinthine drylands called the Giza Plains.  The player has to travel to several stones and interact with them to fill a gauge.  This part of the game is pointless and only serves to drag out an already long campaign.  I do like Final Fantasy XII, but I hate this segment.  That said, the one and only saving grace to this part is Giza Plains’ theme.  It starts off as a bright, adventurous tune that evolves into an intense action march.  The theme builds and builds, foreshadowing a looming threat.  It is stunning and one of the best songs on one of the best soundtracks of the 2000’s.

52.

Wily Castle I

from Mega Man III

Composers: Yasuaki Fujita, Harumi Fujita

Capcom; 1990

I have already expressed, multiple times, this game’s importance to me.  This theme is part of that.  It brings back a lot of childhood memories of me and my friends passing the controller to once again conquer this classic.  It may seem like a simple, insignificant song in the grand scheme to most, but it has a lot of personal meaning.  Everyone has a song that is solely their own.  It may not be popular, it may not be the best ever, but it is important to them for one reason or another, and this is that tune for me.  That said, I can defend the minor key groove and the nice beat this song boasts as justification for its relatively-high placement on my 200 Favorite themes list.

51.

Forest of Monsters

from Super Castlevania IV

Composers: Masanori Adachi, Taro Kudo

Konami; 1991

Here’s a creepy entry… sort of.  Super Castlevania IV has appeared on this list before and will appear again.  One of my favorite SNES soundtracks hosts a haunting Stage 2 theme.  Opening with a slightly detuned organ and then leading into a strong, lively, well-paced tune where that same organ's background chords accentuate a much brighter and deliberate main riff.  By the time the horn and strings kick in, this song has built up to an undeniable climax. It also features the soundtracks trademark jazz influence, with a breakdown at the end that chops the rhythm to emphasize a smooth trumpet solo. The stage has water that pushes Simon forward, matching the faster pace of the theme.  I really love this tune, so much so that years ago I made a cover on the Playstation version of MTV Music Generator.  It’s a fun track with a lot of life to it.