Top 10 most recognizable video game music themes
Music has always been a main part of the videogame experience. Much like what it does to movies, music can set the mood; evoke emotion and thought; and complement the visual, narrative, and even the interactive components of a game.
Hundreds of musical pieces have been featured in gaming titles ever since the days of 8-bit graphics, but only a few have stood the test of time. Such songs have seeped into the popular consciousness because they defined a genre, accented a memorable scene, or simply just stuck to the inside of your head like glue.
But because there are just so many of these musical gems, narrowing them down into a Top Ten list was a daunting —and far from definitive— feat. So, dear reader, you are encouraged to chime in on your opinions about the tracks presented in this article, or even to add your own personal favorites to this list of the Top Ten Videogame Music Themes of All Time:
Super Mario Bros. Theme
Super Mario Bros. (NES/Famicom)
The videogame renaissance of 1985 was single-handedly launched by the Super Mario Bros., so it's not surprising that the iconic music from World 1-1 would be in every gamer's mind-iPod. It's hard not to hear that "tenen-ten-tenen-ten-ten" just at the mere mention of Mario's name.
Probably what contributed to the pervasiveness of the Mario theme was the fact that there were no saves back then. And once you hit start, the catchy tune just ingrains itself into your auditory memory. Not that it's a bad thing. We have to admit, it is pretty catchy.
Live and Learn a.k.a. City Escape
Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast/Gamecube)
The Sonic the Hedgehog series is a classic videogame franchise that has a lot of options that could've made the list, most popular of which was the first game's Greenhill Zone theme. However, while midi tunes trigger some sort of nostalgia in us, when one needs to complement a high-speed run, punk music is the way to go.
The song was featured in the first level of Sonic Adventure 2, entitled "City Escape", on the Sega Dreamcast. It shows Sonic escaping from a helicopter with a makeshift snowboard, the music then starts once our blazin' blue hero jumps down to boardslide down a city street.
The heavy and up-tempo guitar riffs, the power chords, and the lyrics just fit so well into the game's blistering pace. It also helps that it pretty much summarizes what you need to do for the entire game: GO FAST!
One Winged Angel
Final Fantasy VII (Playstation)
The musical genius of Nobuo Uematsu has graced many games in the Final Fantasy series, making it a game that has become famous for its music. There are many potential songs in the series, but only "One Winged Angel" really deserved to be among the ten.
The song could be described in three words: ominous, glorious, and intense. Pretty much how one would describe its subject: Sephiroth, main antagonist of the game; one of the greatest villains in videogame history.
Excitebike Theme
Excitebike (NES/Famicom)
The Excite Bike theme is a testament to the expression "short and sweet". Only nine seconds long yet it stays in your head for hours on end; bordering on annoying. It's simply one of the catchiest and most familiar videogame themes ever composed.
Anyone who's had this for a ringtone (this is based on personal experience from the writer) has triggered so many last-song-syndrome loops to surrounding gamers.
Pokemon Red/Blue Theme
Pokemon Red/Blue (Gameboy)
If the older gamers have the Mario theme, those born in the 90's have this. Pokemon Red/Blue was the game that every kid had, therefore it was also the game music that they most commonly heard.
Any gamer below the age of 21 will definitely recognize the ascending, scalar, melody, and immediately imagine two Pokemon battling each other. And when it suddenly transitions into the more march-like section, you could almost see their fingers move as if trying to push a start button.
Still Alive
Portal (PC/Mac/Xbox 360/PS3)
Though it sounds so melodic and cute, Portal's ending credits song actually has some pretty bleak and dark lyrics, which most gamers find entertainingly funny. This contrasting and paradoxical characteristic of the song blends well with the setting of Portal, one of the most interesting first-person shooters ever developed.
It is admittedly fun to use portals to get from point A to point B, and using that as a tool to go through level quickly turns the so-called obstacle course into a playground. However, behind all the "fun" that Portal presents is a hopeless story of a prisoner being used for experiments by a dystopian science firm.
Guile's Theme
Street Fighter II (Arcade/SNES/Genesis)
Why? Because it goes with everything! That's why!
Meme aside, it is still a great song that has been hummed on many idle gamer moments.
Taste The Blood
Devil May Cry 3 (PS2)
Players of Devil May Cry 3 have been conditioned to react upon hearing this song. Once the song's electronic bass intro starts and is broken by the words "The flinch in your eye calls your bluff...", they are ready to unleash demon-blooded fury on any monsterscoming their way. Not surprising because "Taste the Blood" always plays when enemies are coming to Dante.
This heavy metal gothic electronica piece has some rather violent lyrics, which melds very well with the dark and aggressive theme of DMC3.
Tristram Theme
Diablo (PC/Mac/Playstation)
The town of Tristram is every Diablo player's sanctuary. It is where you can get your character healed and restocked, without having to look over your shoulder for some stray demon that's out to kill you. The music of Tristram captures that feeling and much more.
The relaxing acoustic strums reassure you the nothing can touch you while you're in Tristram. But at the same time, it has a haunting quality that reminds you of the danger that looms beneath and around the seemingly peaceful town.
Blue Water, Blue Sky
Guilty Gear XX (Arcade/PS2)
Aside from the fast and furious versus fighting gameplay of Guilty Gear XX, the game is famous for its soundtrack, composed by creator Daisuke Ishiwatari. The game's entire soundtrack, given that it's created by a true blue metalhead, is so exceptional that it actually stands alone as a metal album. And as with every album, there is a carrier single. That single is "Blue Water, Blue Sky".
The song certainly stands on its own merits; not based on the popularity of the character that it was made for (May) nor the frequency of air time (not many people use May, so it's not played that often). It is just a perfect mix of heavy chords and smooth shredding. Any metal fan can tell you that it's a very good metal song on its own. — TJD, GMA News
Read More @ Source More Celeb Stories Here