My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes - Part 16: The 4th Quarter

50.

Ballad of Hyllis

from Beyond Good and Evil

Composer: Christophe Héral

Ubisoft; 2003

This beautiful Celtic theme bookends a stunning adventure.  Beyond Good and Evil has shown up on my list before and this is not the last time, either.  I love this song.  It is short but sweet, featuring a foot-tappingly-good rhythm and a warm melody.  This is a song that really sets the tone of the game well, and while it isn’t my favorite from the game, it is probably the most effective.

49.

Fisherman’s Horizon

from Final Fantasy VIII

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1999

A fan-favorite in the annals of Final Fantasy music, and considered by many gamers to be the best “town theme” in RPG history, Fisherman’s Horizon’s theme is a breathtakingly beautiful achievement in composition.  It’s astoundingly-good melody is not just good for video game music, rather, it is good for music as a medium.  Period.  Fisherman’s Horizon is a classic-style orchestral tune that proves video game music belongs at the symphony as well as the screen.  I chose the version of the song from the Final Fantasy concert Voices to share, as it is my favorite rendition.  If you have not seen this show, I suggest watching it in its entirety, it is excellent.

48.

Search Man

from Mega Man 8

Composer: Shusaku Uchiyama

Capcom; 1998

Mega Man 8’s electro-jazz soundtrack is a highlight for me and Search Man nails this style probably better than any other song in the game.  It is slightly off-kilter, which adds to the charm.  It has a whimsical style while still being an accomplished track.  The incredibly complex synth lead during the song proper is a challenge for any skilled keyboardist as well.  It has the beat of a country music song with the heart of a jazz and the soul of funk.  It is quite the amalgamation of sounds and musical ideas.

47.

Kraid’s Chamber

from Metroid

Composer: Hirokazu Tanaka

Nintendo; 1986

Kraid’s Chamber is a Nintendo Classic and ranks among the oldest tracks on my list.  Metroid was released early in the lifecycle of the NES and while the auditory potential of the console was not yet fully realized by this point, Kraid’s Chamber still stands out as an awesome track.  It is an especially nostalgic tune for me, as Metroid was a personal favorite game growing up.  I’m always happy to hear this tune.

46.

Baba Yetu - Opening Theme Song

from Civilization IV

Composer: Christopher Tin

Firaxis Games; 2005

Baba Yetu is one of the most sophisticated tracks in video game history.  It is so far beyond traditional video game music, even for the 21st Century.  It was a sign of a maturing medium and perfect way to open one of the greatest video games of all time.  The scene of an evolving series of civilizations through the ages growing and waging war spans centuries of history in only a few minutes as this theme plays in the background.  “Baba Yetu” is Swahili for “Our Father”, and sets a surprisingly emotional tone for a game that can occasionally leave the player in a state of emotional disconnection.

45.

One Final Effort

from Halo 3

Composers: Martin O'Donnel, Michael Salvatori

Bungie; 2007

The Halo theme has become one of the most iconic video game melodies of the 21st century, ranking among some of the best music out there.  The series as a whole has amazing music, and One Final Effort is hands down my favorite Halo theme.  That’s right.  This is the last time you will see Halo on my list.  A condensed version of this song plays during the official announcement trailer for the game and the brief piano interlude leading into a belting choir creates one of the most powerful musical moments in game music history.

44.

The Landing

from Final Fantasy VIII

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1999

The Landing builds tension in just the right way.  It is the first real life or death mission for a small group of mercenaries and while they may be inexperienced, their resolve is clear.  Approaching a battle site by sea, the heroes prepare to storm the beach.  This song is one of the most tense themes out there, and fits the scene astonishingly well.  Also, this is the final appearance of FFVIII on my list.

43.

Another Termina

from Chrono Cross

Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda

Squaresoft; 1999

I cannot express enough how much I love this song.  This is yet another theme I would just sit and listen to back in the day, and years later it still holds up.  The old world sound is cheerful and fits Termina well.  It is hands down one of my favorite town themes.  The violins, the rhythm, everything… It’s all perfect.

42.

Tengu Man (Playstation Version)

from Mega Man 8

Composer: Shusaku Uchiyama

Capcom; 1998

The Playstation release of Mega Man 8 had a few musical differences from the Saturn version.  One of the big ones for me was the theme for Tengu Man’s stage.  This theme is far better, in my opinion, with its fast piano riff and cheery guitar melody, this is one of the better Mega Man tracks out there.  This is also the final appearance of Mega Man 8 on my list, making Tengu Man’s stage my favorite theme from its amazing soundtrack.

41.

Stickerbrush Symphony

from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Composer: David Wise

Rare; 1995

It’s David Wise again.  Stickerbrush Symphony is another moody theme from a series with a stunning soundtrack.  The song builds with a catchy synth bass line and by the time the drums kick in, this song has already grabbed me.  It never fails.  I cannot gush over Wise’s work enough, and this is among his best.

My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes: Part 14 - Mid 90's Mood

70.

Flight of the Zinger

from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Composer: David Wise

Rare/Nintendo; 1995

Once again, making itself standout among its peers, is Rare’s Donkey Kong Country series.  Composer David Wise makes yet another appearance on my list with this very well-composed and intense theme.  It is a masterfully-layered song, and it is hard to believe that it is actually 16-bit.  As with other songs from the series, Wise’s outstanding ear for layering and mixing makes this a masterful accomplishment in sound design for pre-32 bit era gaming.

69.

Intro/Title Theme

from Mega Man III

Composers: Yasuaki Fujita, Harumi Fujita

Capcom; 1990

This is a classic.  I have said before that Mega Man III has had a tremendous impact on me as a gamer.  It was the first Mega Man title I ever beat, it was the one I played the most as a kid (that is, until Mega Man X came out), and it remains one of my favorite soundtracks of all time.  There is not really a “bad” song in this game, but as with all soundtracks, some are better than others.  The Intro Theme for this 1990 title marked a point where game music was really coming into its own.  By the time this game came out, Mega Man and Castlevania had already made waves for accomplished sound design and Mega Man III, along with Casltevania III are, at least in my opinion, the culmination of five years of tweaking and discovering in the art of chiptune on the NES and remain, perched proudly upon the pinnacle of 8-bit era sound.

68.

Nate’s Theme

from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Composers: Greg Edmonson

Naughty Dog; 2009

I love the Uncharted series.  I love the the gameplay, the level design, the story, the writing, the graphics, the voice acting and, obviously, the soundtrack.  Nate’s Theme from Uncharted 2 is a revitalized version of Nathan Drake’s theme song which launched with Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune alongside its host console, the PS3.  Among Thieves is a game that shows just how deep-in Drake can get when he is driven and I could make the argument that Uncharted 2 just may be the best game on the PS3.  That would be entirely subjective, of course, but it has everything I love in a modern game executed with flawless mastery.  Nate’s Theme is adventurous, it’s got the mood of a hero’s theme but also has a little bit of grit, just like Nathan himself.  We know he’s the good guy, but his motives are always a little suspect, and his knack for dragging his devoted friends into truly dangerous situations is astounding, which makes it hard to truly root for him in many occasions.  This is what makes him a great character.  He is not perfect.  He is flawed, more than a little selfish, yet his wit and charm (thanks to Naughty Dog’s exceptional writing) keep drawing us in.

67.

Cloud Man

from Mega Man 7

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

Capcom; 1995

Cloud Man’s theme is a bright and cheery tune from the great Mega Man 7 soundtrack.  It has a nice structure to it, and thanks to a nice long loop, it is allowed to have all the tonal shifts and musical ideas one song needs to stand out.  Mega Man 7, released near the end of the Super Nintendo’s cycle, has an absolutely breathtaking tracklist that is enhanced by the improved technical understanding of its time and Cloud Man is one of my favorite themes from this game.

66.

The Man with the Machine Gun

from Final Fantasy VIII

Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1999

Final Fantasy VIII is weird.  I do not think I’m breaking any hearts by saying this, but this game is freaking strange.  Yet, the music is unbelievable.  Man with the Machine Gun has become a favorite among Final Fantasy music fans and I like it a lot as well, only not as much as most.  That said, the battle theme played while in the company of three hapless Galbadian soldiers, Laguna, Kiros and Ward (who parallel the protagonists in a strange fashion), is one of the best themes of the series.  The techno ideas mix well with the feel and tone of the soundtrack as a whole and it makes the scenes it plays in quite memorable.

65.

Blaze Heatnix

from Mega Man X-6

Composer: Naoto Tanaka

Capcom; 2001

Mega Man X-6’s high-energy soundtrack is perfectly reflected by this loud and aggressive rock anthem.  Unlock of a lot of tunes from the Mega Man series that have elements of rock in them, Blaze Heatnix’s stage theme does not waste any time trying to beat your face in with its metal-inspired awesomeness.  There should be a rule that states anyone who plays this song on guitar must be forced to play it on a black Flying V with flame decals.

64.

The Decisive Battle

from Final Fantasy VI

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Squaresoft; 1994

It would stand to reason that one of the most epic boss themes of all time would appear on the soundtrack to one of the most epic games of all time, and I mean epic in the literal sense of the word.  Final Fantasy VI is so big, so dense and so impactful in terms of storytelling and tone in games that the soundtrack has become one of the most revered pieces of musical composition in modern popular culture.  You hear themes from this game and it conjures images of a fallen world and a madman who just may be the greatest video game villain of all time, if for any reason than he was successful in his goals.  That is just something we do not see in stories; especially video game stories.  The bosses leading up to this perfect title’s phenomenal final chapter break from the norm as well, ranging from a tense fight on a raging rapid early in the game (“Don’t tease the octopus, kids!”) to a eerie battle with the ghost of a long-lost train.  The theme that accompanies these fights is one that, from the very first measure, denotes danger and menace and creates an unease that is palpable.  Very few boss themes have justified the countless covers, remixes and homages that this tune has.  It is a deservedly-iconic classic.

63.

Metal Man

from Mega Man II

Composer: Takashi Tateishi

Capcom; 1988

Mega Man II makes its first of several appearances on my list with Metal Man’s theme.  This layered and energetic chiptune is a prime example of amazing music from a classic series.  It is easy to forget just how much of an influence Mega Man II had on game music in its day.  While other soundtracks were still working out basic musical ideas with their platform’s limited capabilities, Capcom was creating complex and iconic melodies.  Metal Man’s high-energy style and it’s smooth guitar-sounding melody makes it a recognizable classic among fans of the series.

62.

Oil Drum Alley

from Donkey Kong Country

Composers: David Wise, Evellyn Fisher Novacovic, Robin Beanland

Rare/Nintendo; 1994

Here is another tense and well-composed work from David Wise and the crew over at Rare.  This bass-heavy tune has depth and a strong melodic breakdown giving it a sound that stands out among other game tunes.  The song, like much of the DK Country soundtracks, implements complex musical ideas that were far ahead of its time and this will not be the last time you see Rare’s classic title on my list.  That I can promise you.

61.

Under Cover of Night

from Halo: Combat Evolved

Composers: Martin O’Donnell, Michael Salvatori

Bungie: 2001

Halo has become something of a modern example of a series full of classic and exceptional game music.  O’Donnel and Salvatori are a duo who have successfully blended musical ideas that span centuries and continents and make a flowing catalog of moody melodies that conjure vivid memories of Master Chief raining death and destruction upon the Covenant and the Flood.  Under the Cover of Night plays early in the first Halo game.  The level is dark, starting the player off with a piston and a sniper rifle as voice overs provide support, recommending stealth over head-on combat.  In the game, the song begins as the player rounds a mountain trail heading up a dusty hill, with only a few loose boulders and the sparse desert brush to provide cover.  After a brief dialogue and the player moves, there is only silence and then…  Drums fill the air and a chilling chorus belts out the first sustained notes of the song.  In the darkness reverberating percussion pounds as the song begins an eerie choir chanting a haunting and unforgettable melody.  It fits the level and the tone perfectly, as do all of the Halo themes.

NOTE: The actual portion of Under Cover of Night heard as described begins around 1:41 on the full version of the song.

My 200 Favorite Video Game Themes - Part 9: Mood vs. Attitude

120.

Balamb Garden

from Final Fantasy VIII

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Sqauresoft; 1999

Balamb Garden is one of the very first songs you hear in Final Fantasy VIII.  It is a calming theme that, to me, blends a classic sound with a sort of sterile, synthetic feel, and I do mean that as a positive.  The garden’s look is this cold efficient place with all of these comforting and, adversely, disconcerting trees and fountains.  It has always created an atmosphere that makes Garden seem like it is hiding something (which we later find out is true).  The relaxing tune, I feel, is actually kind of unnerving, since there are darker truths hidden beneath the surface, as is the case in any place that seems to be just a little too perfect.

119.

South Cape (Town Theme)

from Illusion of Gaia

Composer: Yasuhiro Kawasaki

Game Arts/Enix; 1993

Town themes in RPG’s are, by their nature, generally pretty dull.  They are meant to be calm, peaceful songs designed to reflect the feel of the town.  However, most of the time I just find these themes boring.  They rarely do anything unexpected and maintain simplicity at a level I would just label as bland.  There is nothing wrong with “soft” as long as it is not “sleepy”.  South Cape, at least to me, is the creamy blend of a well-composed theme and a soft melody.  This sort of balance can be hard to achieve, but there is something so peaceful about this tune that I just cannot help but love it.  There are countless songs like South Cape in RPG’s, but few that are really as good.

118.

Snow Field

from Contra

Composers: Hidenori Maezawa, Kiyohiro Sada

Konami; 1987

Now, a good melody is essential, but what about energy?  The Stage 5 theme from Contra is an awesome tune.  The opening bass leads into a pounding 80’s action synth piece that then blends into an amazing electronic piano number.  This is a popular song from an even more popular game but I have always regarded it as a theme that is more than simply “good”.  Rather, it is just completely spectacular.  Now, I may be overstating it some (it has been known to happen), but there is something about this theme that just gets me pumped.

117.

Area 1-1

from Ninja Gaiden

Composer: Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Nitta

Tecmo; 1988

Like the Snow Field theme, this one has a lot of energy, which is a plus for me.  It definitely sounds like it came from Ninja Gaiden, a series full of fast, high-impact tunes like this.  The fact that it is the first level theme you hear introduces you to one of the greatest game soundtracks of all time.  I suppose what I like about this song in particular is the part at the end where things go from fast and aggressive to a breakdown that leads into the next loop.  It comes in at the right time to prevent repetitiveness and adds some mood and intensity to the song.

116.

The Last of Us Theme

from The Last of Us

Composer: Carmen Rizzo; Performed by Gustavo Santaolalla

Naughty Dog; 2013

The Last of Us is a very atmospheric game.  Every detail has a story.  Every car that is abandoned, every building covered in grafitti, every lost soul either still human or dead underneath a monstrous shell has a story.  The Last of Us takes the Post-Apocalypse in a sorrowful, grim direction, which is not new to popular culture at large, but to video games, it is pretty close to novel.  This theme plays over real film-style credits that roll after we witness the events that shape our protagonist Joel into who he is at the start of the game’s main storyline.  While this tune plays, newsreels and reports of the events leading up to the game proper roll in the foreground.  The theme song for The Last of Us is a harrowing tune.  It sounds as much like loss and emptiness as a song this good really can without being too boring.  The scenes leading up to this intro are essential to grasp the pure weight of this tune, so if you have not seen it, at least go on YouTube and watch one of the numerous movie compilations of the game to watch the prologue followed by the opening credits so you can truly feel the power of this song in context.

115.

Boomer Kuwanger

from Mega Man X

Composer: Setsuo Yamamoto

Capcom; 1994

Now for something a little less… Depressing.  Boomer Kuwanger’s theme is awesome.  Like the best Mega Man themes, it opens with a fast background synth that becomes the thread that ties the song together.  The horns play out the melody and the accompaniment keeps the pace and energy up.  It is a pretty perfect song and just barely escapes my top 100, and the only reason it is so low is because, honestly, there are quite a few themes from the Mega Man X series that I like a lot more, believe it or not.  Still, this is a song that is entirely nostalgic for me, and while the level is kind of forgettable in a game full of classic, awesome stages, this song makes the venture into this area worth it.

114.

Fire!

from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Composer: Mutsuhiko Izumi, Miki Higashino

Konami; 1989

This is another classic tune co-composed by the great Miki Higashino (Who appears a whopping ten times on my list..!  To put that into perspective, the great Koji Kondo only has eight appearances).  The rock sound and bass sound so natural and too good for a chiptune.  Granted, arcade machines in the late eighties had better sound than any consoles did, but even with that considered, this game sounds good by comparison to its arcade counterparts, too.  Konami nails it again with a great tune that is fun, exciting, and fitting for its stage.

113.

Luca

from Final Fantasy X

Composers: Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano

Squaresoft; 2001

For the Blitzball Capital of Spira, you want a tune that is lively, fitting for the game and also somewhat cosmopolitan in its style.  The guitar gives the tune a Breezy feel, while the bass and drums make it sound modern and more advanced in years than most of the songs in the game (with one obvious exception).  It definitely has a modern edge and the more electronic elements of the song blend well into the more traditional sounds.  To me, this reflects the nature of Luca itself.  In a religion that is avidly opposed to the use of machines, Luca has one giant mechanical device at its very heart: the Blitzball Arena.  So the song sounding both classic and modern at the same time works because it reflects the spirit of the city.

112.

Sailing on the Wind

from Flower

Composer: Vincent Diamante

ThatGameCompany; 2009

Flower is a game that, despite being high among my favorite video games of the 2000’s (and of all time really), many people apparently still have not played.  This is unacceptable, people!  Flower is an original, inventive, emotionally-gripping game about nature’s reclamation of Earthly beauty in Man’s apparently-permanent absence.  Flower weaves a story without a single word or line of text.  It is like a fully-interactive picture book told through motion and emotion, rather than exposition and dialogue.  In order to craft such a unique statement for a video game, the folks at Sony’s indie darling ThatGameCompany had Vincent Diamante compose one of the most moving video game soundtracks of all time.  This bright combination of piano, woodwind and strings is a great taste of the soundtrack as a whole, and that one soft melody that plays over and over in the top of the track is the beautiful recurring theme melody of Flower, appearing, in some form and key, in just about every song in the game.  This is a soundtrack that should be listened to from start to finish as it is a powerful, captivating and heartbreaking work of brilliance.  Expect to see this game show up a few more times on my list in the future.

111.

Unyielding

from Halo 2

Composers: Martin O’Donnell, Michael Salvatori

Bungie; 2004

We venture from a moving and gripping melodic theme to Halo’s return my list.  Halo 2, to be exact.  This song exudes badassery, with the chugging guitar and intense piano playing filled by the choir and strings in the background.  It all leads up to the famous Celtic string piece that is part of the series’ official theme song.  On top of all of the complexity this song already has in spades, it manages to get fuller and fuller as it goes on, and becomes, by the end, one of the most epic tunes in the game.