My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes- Part 19: Penultima

20.

Crono’s Theme

from Chrono Trigger

Composers: Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda

Squaresoft; 1994

This map theme is really gives the feel of a big epic world, which of course Chrono Trigger has in spades.  The scope and breadth of this game is simply astounding, especially for a 16-bit era title.  It is nearly twenty years old and yet remains longer than most games released to this day.  There is just so much here, and this song has all of the strength of an aged, historical period piece tossed with a grand adventure.  It is an incredibly strong tune, and one of the best RPG themes of all time, in my opinion.

19.

Big Blue

from F-Zero

Composers: Yumiko Kanki, Naoto Ishida

Nintendo; 1990

This fan-favorite is one of the first video game themes to feel like a fully-realized rock song, complete with a guitar solo.  The use of pitch bending gives the illusion of a string bend on a guitar or a slide up or down the fretboard and the fast licks are reminiscent of a classic lead guitar improvisation.  Obviously mixing ideas from classic and 80’s rock, this tune has become one of the most covered video game themes, with fans taking various approaches to it on guitar from a classic rock style to overdrive heavy metal.

18.

Tera’s Theme

from Final Fantasy VI

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1994

Final Fantasy VI is arguably the best in the series.  The characters, the villain, the world as a whole, everything is carefully pieced together like a luxurious article of jewelry.  Fine details, facets and a polish not seen in any title before it.  Its soundtrack has also become somewhat legendary, as it features a few of the most iconic themes in the already renowned series’ repertoire.  Nobuo Uematsu did some of his best work on this entry and one of my personal favorites is Tera’s Theme.  Like Crono’s Theme from Chrono Trigger, Tera’s theme is used as the overworld theme song, and becomes the unofficial theme song for the entire game.  It is masterfully-composed for an early-90’s piece and has a mood and atmosphere that reflects the growing sophistication of video game sound design of the time.

17.

Storm Eagle

from Mega Man X

Composer: Setsuo Yamamoto

Capcom; 1993

Speaking of sophisticated, let us discuss what I would argue is the best game soundtrack of the 16-bit era: Mega Man X.  Already appearing on my list in previous entries, Mega Man X is a stunning turning point in game music.  For me, it was the definite shift in direction for game themes.  While music in games had already begun maturing by this point, it was Mega Man X that proved that layering and complex composition was not only possible, but a necessity.  The soundtrack is revered for its intensity, its hard rock styling and its memorability.  Favored above all by many is most definitely Storm Eagle’s theme.  As the player navigates the most customer-unfriendly airport in history, this rock tune drives the stage with energy and character that few other game themes have been able to recreate or stand against.

16.

Clash on the Big Bridge

from Final Fantasy V

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1992

I did not get a chance to play through Final Fantasy V until years after its release, and by then the famous Gilgamesh had already become one of the series’ most talked-about characters.  A large part of that is his intense, memorable battle theme.  From the opening to the end, this is an incredibly fast, non-stop adrenaline-rush of a song.  It never lets up, it just stays on its high from the time the guitars kick in.  I recommend the Black Mages version of this theme, it is incredible.

15.

Upper Brinstar

from Super Metroid

Composer: Kenji Yamamoto, Minako Hamano

Nintendo; 1994

Super Metroid, my all-time favorite video game, is a flawlessly-designed masterwork of the medium.  There is not one element of the game that I would consider to be truly-flawed.  The soundtrack is a memorable collection of eerie and unsettling tunes and my favorite track in the game is heard early on as the player first enters the overgrown Brinstar.  Upper Brinstar is has this hollow, abandoned feel to it for me, even more so than many other parts of the game (the Wrecked Ship notwithstanding) and the theme is this chanting, rhythmic composition that is structurally-complex and fitting for its level.  It is a favorite of mine because, as a kid, upon entering this place for the first time, I found the fading in of the drums and the chilling choir to be so striking, that, even after beating the game and hearing all of the other classic themes this game has to offer, this was the one that was still playing in my head.

14.

The Dark World Theme

from Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Composer: Koji Kondo

Nintendo; 1991

I am pretty sure A Link to the Past was the first Super Nintendo game I ever achieved 100% completion on.  Around that same time I cleared Super Mario World, but A Link to the Past (my personal-favorite Zelda title), was the SNES game I pushed myself to finish almost the same weekend I started playing, and with the help of Nintendo Power, me and my friend did everything there was to do in the game shortly thereafter.  One of my favorite elements of A Link to the Past was the changing world after Ganon takes over.  The idea was a reimagining of the Second Quest from The Legend of Zelda and has since been implemented many times in the series.  The Dark World theme is a great adventure theme, highlighting some excellent design and contrasting the strangeness of the changed world around you.

13.

One Winged Angel

from Final Fantasy VII

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1997

Sephiroth is one of the most revered and exalted villains in the long history of fictional bad guys.  I do not believe this reverence is restricted to gaming, either.  I think Sephiroth is one of the most recognized and cheered villains in the annals of popular culture.  His power and unforgivable actions throughout the story of Final Fantasy VII has made him a target of gamers’ anger for years, which is the sign of a truly great antagonist.  His theme, One Winged Angel, is a bombastic and menacing piece and certainly reflects the feeling of facing a being far more powerful than one’s self.

12.

Dire Dire Docks

from Super Mario 64

Composer: Koji Kondo

Nintendo; 1996

Super Mario 64 has a number of excellent tracks and a few of them are high on my list for my all time favorite game themes.  Super Mario 64 is one of my favorite games of all time for a number of reasons.  It was groundbreaking for its time, implementing 3D better than just about any game before it.  It has a number of stages that are just brilliant from a design standpoint and, unlike most early 3D platformers, still holds up to this day when compared to titles like Jak and Daxter and the first Sly Cooper.  Dire Dire Docks is an excellent tune, featuring a soft, soothing sound that never goes into the high-pace, fast-tempo energy of typical game music.  This theme instead has a sound that greatly reflects its level.  This theme is played in Jolly Roger Bay and Dire Dire Docks, two water stages that have a flow that is paced significantly slower than other levels in the game, so the lower tempo suits the levels well.  The gentle melody is relaxing and memorable and has been a personal favorite of mine for years.

11.

Another Winter

from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Compsoers: Anamanaguchi

Ubisoft/Montreal; 2010

At number 11, we bid adieu to Anamanaguchi.  Another Winter is their stunning stage 1 theme from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game.  I do not really know how much I can say about this soundtrack that I have not already gushed except: Listen to it.  All of it.  Another Winter is some of their best work but what makes it stand out for me to rank so high on my list is how it is presented in the game.  When I first played this excellent beat-em-up I was not entirely sure what to expect, and the first stage of the game tells a story as you move through it that is complemented by this stunning track.  It is cheerful, it is catchy and it fits the pace of the level well.  Many beat-em-ups tend to have their soundtracks feel repetitive because, as they are paced much slower than most other game types, they tend to have levels that are shorter in size, but longer in duration, so a shorter loop could reasonably become annoying.  Anamanaguchi made songs with nice, long loops to compliment the levels’ length, and the result is one of the best game soundtracks of all time.

E3 2012 - Day 2 - Part 2: Nintendo Press Conference

A skit featuring Shigeru Miyamoto surrounded by the tiny creatures featured in the new Pikmin.  There was a breif introduction of the concept behind Wii U, the fact that the next Nintendo would have a dedicated screen independent of the TV.  The controller, at first glance appears sleek, light and seem to be just the right size.

The first game announced was Pikmin 3, a lush-looking game that features the little strange creatures in a wooded environment.  The WiiU allows there to be a second screen for use as a map so that the TV can
show the pikmin closer.  The game looks good and seems to be a solid start to the Wii U's coming cycle.



Following that we saw Reggie Fils-Aime present the Wii U and we were given a quick rundown of the Wii U GamePad.  The device has a lot of great features that operate independent of the WiiU, making it a great standalone piece of hardware.



MiiVerse is the new social feature on the WiiU.  It shows what games your friends are playing, and it also shows you players you recently met while playing other games.  It appears as a large 3D field populated by icons representing different games.  The Miis gathering around the icons represent players currently playing that game or using that software.  It adds a level of openness that feels as though you are part of their world.  I like this menu.  In addition to showing players online, you can also use the GamePad to write messages that will be displayed and can send messages to other players or broadcast them in the MiiVerse.



We got to see one game that is going to be one of the big ones for the Wii U, New Super Mario Bros. U.  The game looks great, allowing four-player simultaneous play and even offering a new game mode called Boost Mode, which allows a player using the GamePad to create special blocks to aid the other players as they attempt to complete the level.



Next up was Batman: Arkham City: Armored Edition.  The game is a re-release of the great Arkham City with Wii U GamePad implementation.  The second screen, touch, and motion controls allow for more use of Batman's various gadgets and attacks.  The video shows the GamePad touch used to set off explosive gel placed around a room and to guide a flying Baterang as it navigates tight corners.



Scribblenauts: Unlimited was announced for release on both the 3DS and Wii U and promises to be limited only by your imagination.  The demo is sort of dopey but does show the range of things that can be made.  There isn't a whole lot on gameplay though on this one, at least not during the press conference.



It seems Nintendo is trying to get the hardcore gaming crowd with their next mash up, which included a few games for the big kids.  Darksiders II looks to have a nice graphical touch and some slick action.  Mass Effect 3 has the potential to be a killer app on the Wii U if the GamePad is used properly.  A new party-based action game called Tank! Tank! Tank! pits you and two friends in tanks against big monsters.  Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a pleasant surprise.  Trine 2: Director's Cut offers yet more cool possibilities for the GamePad.  Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge looks as bloody as ever.  Lastly, Aliens: Colonial Marines is a dark shooter that takes place in Ridley Scott's acclaimed world.



Wii Fit U seems to be more of the same, just with new GamePad features including the ability to continue training on the separate screen while watching TV independent of the Wii U.  Still, there's nothing wrong with trying to get us fat gamers off the couch.  I know I would do good to lose a few pounds.



The new social music game SiNG (as it's currently titled) is basically expensive karaoke, only without the smelly bar.  The lyrics appear on the GamePad which allows you to face your friends rather than the TV and  your friends can follow along with additional group features.  It looks kind of lame to be honest, not really the big leap forward in music games you'd expect given the buildup Fils-Aime gave the game.



The 3DS took the stage next, revealing New Super Mario Bros. 2, a brand new, separate New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo's handheld system.  An August, 19 release date brings Mario closer than expected for 3DS owners.



Next up was Paper Mario: Sticker Star, an RPG that takes the Paper Mario formula and adds stickers that change how the game plays, acting as weapons that unlock special abilities.  This is a pretty cool idea, going so big as to creating a giant table fan that arises from the horizon and blows enemies away.



Luigi's Mansion 2 for the 3DS promises 3D adventure gameplay, new features and new challenge.  Luigi's Mansion seems like an odd choice to be honest.  The game is a sequel to a mostly-derided game that has its fans, but has many detractors.  I would have expected them to bring out a more beloved game to attract a few older gamers to the 3DS who have thus far snubbed it.



Lego City: Undercover is the next Wii U game on display that seems like a lot of fun.  It features a large open world and lots of challenges.  It uses the GamePad as a map, a communicator and for its motion controls.  The game seems to have a nice blend of different play styles and humor.  Fils-Aime also announced a "portable version" that is presently under development.



Just Dance 4 allows a person to use the GamePad to control the moves that come across the screen.  This seems like a cool idea for a party game.  ZombiU was next and I do like the look of this game, though I already covered it in the Ubisoft article.



We got a first glimpse another new social feature for WiiU.  NintendoLand is a theme park-like hub that allows you to explore different games.  It is sort of a theme park, but it really just seems like a series of mini games.  It seems... okay.  It promises twelve games (five of which are available at E3) and each one seems sort of weak to be honest.  I do think the best one of the few that I saw appears to be The Legend of Zelda: Battlequest, which is a party-based action game in which you control your Mii dressed as Link and fight off different mobs with different weapons and tactics.  Luigi's Ghost Mansion is really just a Pac Man clone with invisible ghosts, nothing very innovative there.



The the amusement park setting of NintendoLand is fitting, but neither it or the games seem all that thrilling.  It may be fun to play, that remains to be seen, but we need to see more games, Nintendo.  I say this after watching the press conference and leaving rather underwhelmed.  Given all of the excitement around the Wii U I would have expected a little more from the House that Mario Built.  Not so much.  The press conference, as a whole, was pretty boring.  Nothing as awe-inspiring as Beyond or as fan-pleasing as Halo 4.  I would like the Wii U to be a step up from the Wii, and by that I mean I would like the Wii U to actually have fun games on it, so we'll see, in the future, if the Wii U can survive the fight, because this next year, given the rough economy and the limited number of AAA titles coming out this holiday season, is going to be an uphill battle for everyone including, and especially, Nintendo.