Abiggeebabigee's Top 100 Video Game Songs

Well, a few months ago when I saw Ed Bellis (re)doing this, I thought it would be a fun idea. Then I got really busy. But now, I have a little time, so here we are! You can expect a lot of the songs on this list to be older than the ones you might find in a typical list like this; I'm a sucker for "classic" video game music. However, I can't ignore the brilliance of a number of songs from the last couple generations of music, so rest assured they will be represented. A song can qualify for this list for a number of reasons: it can fit the game really well, it can make me laugh, it can bring back good memories, or (and perhaps in most cases) it can stand alone as a fine piece of music. So, provided anyone is interested in this, get ready to have my one hundred favourite video game songs revealed to you in ascending order of awesomeness!

Songs that barely missed the Cut
Vermont from Road Rash II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmokFdM0p7k

This is a solid rock 'n' roll song, that has a nice "last-level" feel to it, I find. Vermont is the toughest track in the game, after all.

Gourmet Race from Kirby Super Star

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgAEjVVaKoo

Tons of fun, especially when made into a mashup with Snoop Dogg: http://snoopkirby2.ytmnd.com/

Frog's Theme from Chrono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caRKvQAyU7M

A fan favourite which I find very good, but just a bit overrated.

Hand in Hand from Kingdom Hearts

Stands out among Kingdom Hearts battle music, and there's a lot of it that's good, so that's not easy to do.

World Map 4 from Super Mario Bros. 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpdTPn9bH-w

Just silly and fun, this is one of the best songs from SMB3 which, while an amazing game, doesn't have a lot of stand-out music.

The Ranking!
'''100: DK Rap from Donkey Kong 64

http://www.imeem.com/twoinone1/music/oj9q45C7/dkrap/

Yeah, remember how I said some things would make the list because they make me laugh? This is a good example. DK Rap manages a Snakes-on-a-Plane-like so-bad-it's-good appeal. The lyrics are frightfully bad, and it's a rap about Donkey Kong and his friends for crying out loud, but somehow that translates into charm. Now, I've never played Donkey Kong 64. In fact, I was introduced to this song through SSBM. Although the prevailing opinion on Board 8 seems to be that the SSBM is terrible compared to the original (ie. just straight-up terrible, not "this is hilarious" terrible), I found myself frequently selecting that stage just so I could hear the DK Rap. Then, via the magic of YouTube, I was introduced to the DK Rap as it was originally released: slower, grainier, awesomer. Thanks, YouTube.

'''99: Missing Perspective from Parasite Eve

http://www.imeem.com/superbia/music/27Yd8_PN/yoko-shimomura-missing-perspective/

Parasite Eve is an all-around solid RPG: solid story, solid combat system, and solid music. To me, this was the piece that always stood out. When Aya is trying to solve a mystery, this song captures the mood beautifully. The keyboard line is undeniably catchy, and it's backed up by impressive percussion. Intense and mysterious, Missing Perspective represents the feel of Parasite Eve exceptionally well. And perhaps most importantly, though it's pretty repetitive, one doesn't get tired of listening to it - or at least I don't.

98: Pumpkin Hill from Sonic Adventure 2

http://www.imeem.com/drakesword/music/QOBSK9Uy/sonic-team-pumpkin-hill/

Okay, again, this one makes the list in part because it's (unintentionally?) hilarious. The lyrics are painfully bad, but then again, what do you suspect when Knuckles' background music is rap for an entire game? That said, the musical part of Pumpkin Hill is actually pretty catchy. The piano and bass work together very well, and overall, there's an impressive creepiness to this song. As such, it fits the haunted setting very well. I'll admit: I first downloaded this song because I thought it was pretty cool, not because I wanted to laugh at it. Luckily, though, I could do that too. I absolutely love the Sonic Adventure games, and I think the Knuckles levels in SA2 are really well done. Perhaps that's due in part to the half-lame, half-cool back ground music.

97: Hope Hospital from Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Man, this song is funky. I have a distinct memory of missing it when the story moved away from Hope Hospital. Not that the rest of the game doesn't have pretty solid music as well; it's just that this one really stands out in terms of songs that play over the story parts. And it really helps with some of the story parts that are frankly a little boring. What's great about this song is that it's distinctive. The composer was taking something of a risk writing a song like this for a video game. What's more, it's got a nice little bridge in there, and it doesn't have that synth sound, so it provides nice contrast to the rest of the song.

96: Dance Tune from Mick and Mack: Global Gladiators

Man, does this one suit the stage well. This plays over the very frantic, very difficult bonus stage in Global Gladiators, a Genesis platformer that is pretty good despite its McDonalds license. Apart from the somewhat annoying "Yeah! Are you ready? Yeah!", this song is a success because it's just a lot of fun. It's simple, but catchy; it tries awfully hard to be cool, but it's charming. In fact, in those ways its a lot like the game itself. Just simple fun that succeeds despite its flaws. Furthermore, I really like that keyboard (or whatever) line that comes in part way through the song. It adds to the sense of building tension that comes with the bonus stage inevitably spiraling out of control. Perhaps you have to have played the game to understand the appeal of this song... or perhaps not. Let me know.

95: Boss Battle music from Castle of Illusion

http://www.imeem.com/classicgamemusic/music/AjepUC18/16-bit-genesis-mickeys-castle-of-illusion-sound-menu-25/

Ahhh, this brings back good memories. This is the first instance of battle music on the list, but certainly not the last. Battle music is often the music you hear the most in a video game, so a good soundtrack usually depends on solid battle music. Boss music, it seems, has a distinctive style, especially in older video games, such as Castle of Illusion, a surprisingly good Genesis platformer starring Mickey Mouse. Boss music from this period seems to be generally simple and menacing, and this is one of the better examples. It captures the game's sense of danger despite what should be non-threatening settings; it's somewhat light-hearted for boss music, but it's unmistakably friendly. Castle of Illusion is an under-appreciated Genesis game, and a reminder that licensed games don't have to suck. The game's soundtrack is a reason why it's fun to play, and that starts with the fundamentals like boss battle music. Really, the only thing that kept this song from being higher on the list is that it's a rather short loop, but one hardly notices while playing Castle of Illusion; until the last couple of levels, the bosses are pretty easy and the fights don't last long.

94: E.G.G.M.A.N. from Sonic Adventure 2

http://www.imeem.com/trowa42/music/uixl8mKW/paul-shortino-eggman/

Another song from Sonic Adventure 2 already! This one, too, is enjoyable despite it's lameness. It's hard not to laugh the first time you hear this song playing in the background over a cutscene, and it gets to the chorus and you realize, "Holy crap. This is a song in Robotnik's perspective about how he's Dr. Eggman." Apart that being intrinsically funny, it's also funny because at that point the Sonic games were still suggesting that he called himself Dr. Robotnik, and it was Sonic and friends who came up with the name Eggman, most likely because of his appearance. So why does he talk about creating the "Eggman Empire", why does he build "Death Eggs" and "Egg Carriers" and, most importantly, why does he announce in song, "I am the Eggman"?! Because it's hilarious? Because it's a homage to Lennon and McCartney? No matter the reason, this song is just too funny to not enjoy. Apart from that, it's got a very memorable riff, decent harmonies, and cool, very suitable mechanical-sounding background noises. Furthermore, it's soooo much better than Robotnik's theme in SA1.

93: Let's Go Away from Daytona USA

http://www.imeem.com/okamochinobuto/music/C9z36-iC/daytona-usa-lets-go-away/

I'm sure you've all hears this while walking through an arcade at some point. How is it that a song whose vocals consist of "Daytona, Daytona, let's go away" and a series of unintelligible noises can be so catchy? I don't know, but it really is. Part of the charm is the humour value; it's so clearly sung by someone who doesn't speak English. Still, it has merits as a piece of music. The harmonies are actually really good, it's got a solid bridge... it's just an all around fun sung to listen to, despite (or, depending on your point of view, in part because of) the cheesiness. As you can tell if you listen to the song at the link I've posted, there really is a lot to this song; it's not just a short loop as it might seem, as it did to me, walking through arcades. Apart from all this, Daytona USA is a really underrated racing game in general, and deserves some love.

92: Code Blue from Trauma Center: Second Opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-829bYahoU

The second entry on the list from Trauma Center, and easily the most memorable track from the game, is Code Blue. It does what it sets out to do extremely well: it contributes significantly to the player's sense of urgency. I really felt increased tension when I heard this playing during a difficult part of the game, and there were a lot of those toward the end. Though Code Blue may not be the strongest piece in the game in technical terms, as a situational piece it is a major success.

91: Track 1 from Lemmings (DOS version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=capcWzUz03k

This whole game had a good soundtrack, but what keeps most of it off of my list is that the songs tend to run together in my mind. I always enjoy the songs very much when I listen to them, but this is usually the only one that sticks with me... except for the Can-Can one, and that's a little annoying. You don't tend to see a lot of appreciation for Lemmings on Board 8, but it's a great strategy game that's very addictive. There's also a wide variety of engaging music. Track 1 is particularly good, especially because, for me at least, it evokes how hard the Lemmings have to work to get to their destination. It's the type of song I'd put in a movie in which someone has to climb a huge mountain or something.

90: Theme from Bubble Bobble

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8EiHcDY4Po

This must be one of the happiest sounding songs on the list. This also might be a case in which the song is better than the game. Bubble Bobble is okay, at best, but the theme song is instantly recognizable and lots of fun. Really, I don't have much to say about this one; it pretty much speaks for itself.

89: Theme from Duke Nukem 3D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CezOHqlXAFY

Can video games rock any harder than this? Whether it's the in-game version or the Megadeth version, Duke Nukem 3D has an awesome theme. The guitar sound is amazing, the drums are amazing, even the keyboard part in the middle is amazing. What's more, it suits Duke extremely well. This is the first entry on the list from Apogee/3D Realms, a company whose old games I absolutely love. Duke Nukem 3D was just one of their many great 90's games, and it still holds its own, especially over if you play with a friend over a LAN or some such. Similarly, the game's theme remains an outstanding piece of rock 'n' roll.

88.You're Not Here from Silent Hill 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUYhiuhPUXc

All the Silent Hill themes are at least pretty good. This one is great. That lower guitar sound at the beginning is fantastic. The singer's voice is pleasant, as is the melody. In fact, I'd consider listening to whoever this is as band. The Silent Hill series, while one of my favourites, doesn't have a lot of moments for good songs; the game relies on atmospheric background noise (and rightly so, since it adds a lot to the experience), so the composer has to make moments like titles, credits, and cut-scenes count. He succeeds in that here. This song could easily stand as a single apart from the game, but it also still manages to be appropriate for the Silent Hill series.

87: Theme from 1942 (Commodore 64)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZ_kvO5S3w

In terms of music, the C64 has got to be the most underrated platform. So many programmers made great tunes to rock out to with that distinctive, synthy Commodore sound. In some cases, the Commodore version of a game got music that wasn't in other versions of the game. 1942 is one of the best examples; indeed, in other versions of the game I've played, namely the Arcade and NES versions, there has been no theme music, only an annoying beeping sound. As such, I'm extremely thankful someone decided to use an actual theme song for the C64 port. This song is so epic, and so fitting. It almost makes me want to get into a World War II-era plane and move laterally while shooting at my enemies. In short, this theme song is what makes the C64 version of 1942 what I consider the definitive version. Expect plenty more Commodore music on the list.

86: Overworld Level from Super Mario World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJn5HM3b9bI

I'm not really sure what to call this one, so I'm going with what the YouTube video calls it. Early Mario games are widely appreciated, but not often for their music; that's a shame, really, because they feature some wonderful pieces. I never had a SNES and so only played Super Mario World on an emulator. I don't really like playing games on emulators that much, so I only played it once. I've forgotten a lot about the game by now, but I've always remembered this song, with it's catchy steel drums, and the wicked bass line during the double-time part. Super Mario World is not my favourite Mario game, nor is this my favourite song from a Mario game, but it's still an impressive piece of music.

85: Title Theme from Tecmo Super Bowl (Genesis)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL7EikqgEeQ

For all the fans of this game on Board 8, there sure aren't a lot who have played the Genesis version, which as I understand it has a completely different soundtrack. This game is some of the most fun I've ever had with sports games; totally unrealistic, but fast-paced, exciting, and just all around... fun! Part of the reason for that is the soundtrack - the Genesis may have never rocked so hard. However, it was hard to enjoy most of the music fully since it would stop after every play - except for a few songs, like the title theme. This song captures the spirit of Tecmo Super Bowl exceptionally; completely over the top, but enjoyable nonetheless.

84: Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5xdue7GFcc

This song is one of the reasons why I've never found any Rainbow Road to be as good as that in Mario Kart 64. That, and the ones since then have generally been very frustrating due to the lack of guard rails. Anyway, this song captures the mystical, spacey atmosphere of Rainbow Road perfectly. Even some of the background noises sound like shooting stars going by. Awesome.

83: Overworld theme from The Legend of Zelda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XI0m8bhpWM

Some things are considered classics for a good reason. More upbeat than the title theme, the overworld music from the original Legend of Zelda isn't memorable simply because it's from a game that started one of the most celebrated franchises in video gaming. This piece of music is a major accomplishment, with an impressive melody and a great bass line. Despite the release of several great Zelda games since this game came out, many of which, most would say, are better than the original hands down, it is this piece that has remained the iconic theme of the series. It's worth mentioning that this spot almost went to the game's title theme. Really, I consider them so similar that I couldn't justify giving them two spots, especially since they'd probably be one after the other. Since I slightly prefer the more upbeat, albeit less pretty, overworld theme, it got the spot. Indeed, much of what I've said above can be applied to the title theme, but to me they're almost two versions of the same song. Just in case you forgot how awesome the title theme is, here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5sxOnymKjQ

82: Bicycle music from Pokémon R/B/Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxU2UjAjN24

This song is just so much fun! I remember getting on my bicycle in this game when it didn't make any sense to do so, just so I could listen to this song. And I love the other music in this game, so that's saying something. I think part of the reason I like it is because it adds a bit of humour to Pokémon. Even when you're in your own little world listening to your cheery bicycle music, there are still a bunch of intense trainers everywhere hoping to spot you so they can try to kick your ass. This is the first entry on the list from a Gameboy game; indeed, it's the first from any handheld game at all. I think it's important not to neglect handheld games when making a list like this. Although music coming through the speakers of a Gameboy, etc. can be annoying at times, it can also be pleasant to listen to, like this song. Perhaps that's an even greater achievement in the handheld world than in the console world.

81: Level 1 from Rise of the Triad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqAQLHkRs18

This link is to a video of the said level being played, with the music in the background; unfortunately it's the best link I could find. If someone can find one of just the music, I'd appreciate them posting a link here. Rise of the Triad is an FPS from Apogee/3D Realms... it seems to be that they reserved their best music for their FPS's. As much as I love Commander Keen, it wasn't much in the music department, and as I recall, games like Crystal Caves and Paganitzu didn't even have music. RIse of the Triad did, and it was solid. This catchy tune is what I consider the best song in the game. It's got a memorable melody and a cool, complicated sounding keyboard (or something) playing in the background. I just wish you could hear it better.

80: Cradle from GoldenEye 007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d84N6Ie-DQ8

What a perfect song for the climax of the game's story! Intense, memorable, and containing the James-Bond-theme motif - what more could you ask for? Also, that bass line is just badass. This song helps to create the exact kind of mood you hope for in the final stage of a great game - frantic, dangerous, and exciting. In truth, much of the music from GoldenEye is forgettable, which perhaps makes this song seem even better.

79: Hornet Man from Mega Man 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7fuKMmcM-0

Although this is the first entry from Mega Man on the list, I adore Mega Man music. Ineed, it's very widely agreed that the NES Mega Man games have some of the best music video games have to offer. As such, when I heard that Mega Man 9 was being done in the tradition of a NES Mega Man game, I thought, as many thought, "There had better be good music, and it better sound like it's coming from a NES." Mega Man 9 did not disappoint, musically or otherwise! Apart from the rather boring boss music, Mega Man 9 impressed me thoroughly. The problem with the soundtrack to this and other Mega Man games is that, while nearly all the music is great, it tends to run together. I remember how it goes when I'm listening to it, but ask me to distinguish between most of the songs when I'm not listening to them, and I won't be able to. The exception for me in MM9 was Hornet Man. I think it's that cool minor-to-major relative-key switch that does it; that's sophisticated stuff for video game music. Sure, there are a lot of other songs from MM9 that are great and, some might say, should have been on the list by now, but if I can't remember how they go when I'm not playing the game, should they really make a list of favourites?

78: Sky Sanctuary Zone from Sonic 3 & Knuckles

http://www.imeem.com/people/W1wy0E/music/tLd8kPrM/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-and-knucles-sky-sanctuary/

Ah, the first entry from the Genesis Sonic games, which might be my favourite games ever. Expect more. With Sky Sanctuary Zone, in part because of the music, you really feel like you're coming up to the end of the game. The music really captures the mounting tension as you continue to ascend toward Robotnik's latest Death Egg. The only thing that keeps this track from being higher on the list is the fact that when the melody gets really high, it gets quite screechy and annoying. Apart from that, this is among the best songs in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, a game of considerable length for the mid 90's, and one which has solid music throughout, as do all the Sonic Genesis games. Except for Sonic Spinball, but that game pretty much sucks.

77: DK Island Swing from Donkey Kong Country

http://www.imeem.com/people/9ptvjo/music/GQLHHAag/nintendo-dk-island-swing/

I actually only got into the Donkey Kong Country games fairly recently, after downloading and beating the first two on Virtual Console. From occasionally playing DKC earlier, and from sources like Smash Bros, I had heard DK Island Swing, and recognized it when I started my playthrough. This song remains the song I think of whenever I think of Donkey Kong. Indeed, I think it's a better theme for DK than... the game's theme song. The song evokes the fun and frantic gameplay that is Donkey Kong Country. And it's just so damn catchy. What's more, it's a really interesting piece of music, especially because of the unexpected transition into the darker, almost scary part of the song.

76: Baba Yetu from Civilization IV

http://www.imeem.com/people/48VVlr/music/4vVMU3xg/christopher-tin-baba-yetu/

This song would probably be higher on the list if not for the fact that I've never played the game, or any Civilization game for that matter. In fact, I first heard this song at a Video Games Live concert, and it sounded amazing being performed by an orchestra and choir. If I had a gaming-quality computer, that would have been enough to make me start playing the game, which sounds pretty interesting anyway. From a musical standpoint, this has to be one of the most impressive video game songs ever written. It's the type of song that really deserves to be performed by a live orchestra and choir. I wonder what they're saying, though...

75: Title Theme from Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny

http://www.imeem.com/people/_ndHi65/music/RJkgFSzm/rudolf-stember-dark-world/

This game is certainly one of the least well-known games whose music will appear on the list. Blade of Destiny is the first game in a trilogy of DOS RPGs based on the most popular tabletop RPG in Germany, the Dark Eye. It's also awesome. The game's music is definitely lacking in variety - every town has the same music, as does every battle - but all of it is good. This title theme is among my favourite title themes; it's just so damn epic, and captures the spirit of adventure that is present in the game. If you're looking for a deep, challenging, tabletop-style, really dated RPG with good music, check out Blade of Destiny.

74: Flash Man from Mega Man 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsW3oYwD2oM

This is another exception to my thought that most Mega Man music runs together. RIght from the beginning, it has an awesome and distinctive melody. Then it picks up, and becomes a really complex-sounding and impressive piece of music. The only problem with it is that it leaves me wanting more - I wish it weren't such a short loop. Still, for a song to stand out from a game with music as good as Mega Man 2 is a considerable achievement.

73: Theme from Spyhunter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnPwB-KGXQY

I actually meant the Commodore 64 version here, but this was the closest thing I could find, and it's basically the same thing. I feel like I'm cheating a little on this one, since it's really the music from Peter Gunn. Even so, there's something particularly awesome about hearing the song coming through a C64 (or NES). It was always disappointing when you crashed once and the music stopped indefinitely. Mostly because this song is so catchy. That bassline is just amazing. If you want to hear the slightly different - and, I think, better - C64 version, you can hear it here, although with sound effects, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWJbRM3xeW0

72: Level 1 from Contra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tifv7qh_hmY

I actually learned this song from the Gameboy version of Contra which was inexplicably renamed "Operation C." Luckly, they kept this awesome music. What a great song for charging through the jungle shooting hordes of bad guys with unlimited rapid-fire ammo! Just listen to that kick-ass bass line. The loops is less than a minute long, but there's a ton going on in that minute, which keeps this song from getting boring throughout the game's fairly long levels. I might have the wrong name listed for this song, but who can really tell? You might also see it as Stage 1 or Jungle Theme or some such.

71: Battle music from Eternal Sonata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eTwaIDEZLQ

When I heard about Eternal Sonata, I immediately thought that it had better have great music. One of the main characters is Chopin, for crying out loud. Apart from the Chopin music itself (which, I think, would have been cool if it had served as the whole soundtrack of the game, but whatever), the game did have pleasant, if largely unmemorable, music. This song is one that you can't help but remember, though, since there are enemies everywhere in the game. Luckily, it's a great battle theme. I love the use of an orchestra for battle music, especially in a game like this. I remember enjoying particularly long battles since I could hear parts of the song I normally wouldn't.

70: Diamond Dust Zone Act 1 from Sonic 3D Blast (Genesis)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7-ixllcgo

There aren't a lot of fans of Sonic 3D Blast on Board 8, but I've always enjoyed it. Granted, it doesn't have the same speed as its predecessors, and it's not even made by Sonic Team, but it's a decent game in its own right, and the faux-3D is pretty ambitious for its time. Additionally, the music can arguably rival that of 2D Sonic games, at least at times. I found the music in Diamond Dust Zone Act 1 to be a perfect fit for a snow/ice themed stage. I really love the weird key change thing it does in the middle before starting the loop over again. What's more, this song has trumpets. You can't beat trumpets.

69: Breeze Song from Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6JX6L-3Bk8

I'm not the biggest fan of this game. It was entertaining enough for the first in-game year, but after that I realized how repetitive and, frankly, boring it was. Growing crops is difficult, not the rewarding, and, again, boring, and the same can be said for most of the game's features. One highlight of the game was Breeze Song, though. I always decided against changing the song that played while I was on my farm because this one was so nice to listen to. No matter how many times it played, I never got bored of listening to it. Breeze Song is rather unusual for a video game song in terms of style - as, I suppose, the Harvest Moon series itself is - so it's refreshing and appropriate. It's probably my favourite part of the game.

68: Title Theme from Mega Man 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVsVw7Y7SSA

Talk about a song that rewards you for your patience. Unlike in Mega Man 2, there's no intro while the title music is playing, so there's little indication that you should wait and listen. But when you do, you get to hear a surprisingly upbeat and all-around kick-ass song. Not that the beginning of the song isn't great too... I can picture someone grooving to the beginning part on a piano before the drums and guitar kick in for the rest of the song. This song is another reminder that Mega Man games on the NES featured some of the most impressive music video games had to offer, and they still stand up as great songs.

67: Alaska from Road Rash II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1KONsogQuE

I once made a topic listing my favourite video game soundtracks, and Road Rash II was on there. Somebody posted asking, "Aren't there only like six songs in Road Rash II?" I answered that yes, there are, and they're all really good. Alaska is one of the better ones. The bass line is just a killer, and what a guitar solo! It's funny about Road Rash... the second one has great songs like Alaska, but the third, which I'm currently playing, has a terrible soundtrack. Maybe they couldn't get the same composer or something.

66: Sonic Boom from Sonic CD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJXKoubh9sQ

Sonic CD is the old 2D Sonic game that I've played the least. Something about playing Sonic on the computer, which was my only means of playing it, just isn't much fun (although I do have Sega Gems Collection now, and I think it's on there, so I should play it again). Much of it I've forgotten, but never the theme song, Sonic Boom. I especially enjoyed when it played over the cutscene at the end of the game - so epic! It may be the hardest 2D Sonic has ever rocked (although not 3D Sonic; we'll get to that later). What a great idea using a female vocalist, as well - you don't get that much in video games. In short, Sonic Boom is good enough that it has me contemplating starting Sonic CD again right now.

65: Battle with Frieza from Dragonball Z: Legend of the Super Saiyan

Minor Dragonball Z spoilers ahead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYAe5nPWSME

I love this game. You might watch this video and wonder why; it's a card-based RPG that doesn't look all that impressive. However, this is a game that certainly has charm in its obvious crappiness. This final battle (the game ends... almost... when you kill Frieza) features my favourite music from the game. That's some serious epicness. The only reason it's not higher on the list is because it's a really short loop, and the fight is a long one. Indeed, all the music in this game is on a short loop. It seems like they cut corners here and there. Still, for a Dragonball Z fan, this game is worth acquiring legally. It lets you play through the first half of Dragonball Z, and make little changes in many places according to your preference. It's really just a fun little RPG.

64: Open Your Heart from Sonic Adventure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH_MCPcjxP0

Remember when I said that 2D Sonic may never have rocked as hard as it did with Sonic Boom? Yeah, 3D Sonic rocked harder. What a great theme song/final boss song! The lyrics may be lousy, but Open Your Heart is a really solid rock and roll song, with very impressive lead guitar. Sonic Adventure is a seriously underrated game - it's one of my favourites, and, I think, some of the best 3D platforming action to date - and its theme song is underrated as well. I know there are a lot of fans of Live and Learn on B8, but when you compare Open Your Heart to the likes of Seven Rings in Hand and Sonic Heroes, you realize just how much better Sonic theme songs used to be. I mean, check out that solo! And the bridge! Top notch stuff.

63: Baby Universe from We Love Katamari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=307G3wMK0sU

I think I like We Love Katamari even more than I like Katamari Damacy, which is really saying something, because I love Katamari Damacy. However, the one area in which KD is clearly better is the soundtrack. During my first playthrough of KD I thought it might have the best soundtrack I had ever heard in a video game. Many of the songs were easily good enough to listen to on their own, without playing the game. Then I played We Love Katamari and, though I enjoyed the improvements to the gameplay, I found the soundtrack severely lacking; there was more of an emphasis on silliness than on quality. One of the exceptions was Baby Universe. The piano, strings, and vocals work together beautifully. It's both catchy and technically impressive. As such, I often switched to this song no matter what stage I was playing on. I really wish the whole game had had music like this...

62: Lucca's Theme from Chrono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1YKC8cNXR8

So, yeah, I used to think that Katamari Damacy had the best soundtrack in video games, and then I played Chrono Trigger all the way through. Now, some have criticized my preference of Lucca's Theme over those of some other characters because "just fanfare." Well, yeah, but it's like the best fanfare ever. I always looked forward to opportunities to hear it, even if it meant going through the rather silly race against Johnny. Still, it doesn't make the top half of the list because it is pretty short. The top half of the list will, of course, feature Chrono Trigger songs.

61: Aquatic Mine from Sonic Adventure 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LIsQuFX9Xk

I just realized how much 3D Sonic is on this list... When I first played Aquatic Mine, I was prepared to have another cheezy Knuckles song to make fun of, but something about Aquatic Mine is actually really good. I feel like it offers insight into Knuckles' psychology. There's one line in particular I really like - see sig. This is easily the best Knuckles song in terms of musical quality. The strings, saxophone and disc-scratching compliment each other very well. Really, it's hard for me to articulate why I like this song so much...

60: Teacup Library from Castle of Illusion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbHv5vzXtv4

This is the second entry on the list from Castle of Illusion, which you should really play if you enjoy 2D platformers. This whimsical song plays as Mickey explores a giant library (or maybe MIckey has just been shrunk) in which he is smaller than the books on the shelves. Like the previous CoI song on the list, this song is light-hearted but has a hint of danger to it, like the game itself. This is the song I always found myself humming after having played Castle of Illusion. What's more, it works really well in the faster version which can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE42qzjb9yY&feature=related which plays in a substage of the library level.

59: Ending from Sonic the Hedgehog 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkFybd5iMsE (Sonic 2 spoilers in video)

It was difficult to know what to call this one. It's not the music that plays over the credits, but rather the music that plays over the ending cutscene. To me, this music always captured Tails' sense of desperation as he wonders if Sonic is going to be okay. It just fits so well. I actually learned how to play this song on the piano at one point. Only a couple of other songs on the list have that distinction. Apparently (at least according to the youtube user who posted the video), the song has lyrics, and since Tails was originally supposed to be a girl, the song was sung by a man and woman as a duet. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMR9UE-hPdI&NR=1 Also, as a bonus, here's the ending in a rather cool 3D fan-made version. Again, spoilers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfm1TUCsqFA

58: Theme from Wacky Wheels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2SSbN7LItw

Perhaps a lesser known Apogee game, Wacky Wheels was one of the two first racing games that I really enjoyed, the other being Death Rally. The game is simple and fun, like the theme song here. I really enjoy the part when the drums and bass go into double time. The song is just a very suitable title theme for a fun, kid-oriented racing game, which now I'm starting to regret only having played in Shareware. I should find the whole thing somewhere...

57: Level 1 from Doom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEECC3xoCVU

Speaking of Apogee, their Commander Keen collaborators id software make their first contribution to the list here. Like the Duke Nukem 3D song, this is a fittingly rock-'n'-roll theme to a great old FPS. The wicked fast guitar is a little cheezy and over the top, but in a good way. The build up at the beginning is great, and that riff is one of the best in video games. Apparently, Doom was originally supposed to be published by Apogee, but they had a falling out with id... and that's why we never got a new Commander Keen title, like the one that was promised to us for Christmas '92. But I digress... this song just rocks.

56: Mc Rock from MIck and Mack: Global Gladiators

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F34hqwQ1eEA

Another song that rocks! A simple and catchy rock 'n' roll, song, Mc Rock captures the dark, stormy atmosphere of the first level of Global Gladiators nicely. The best part of the song is probably the solo that starts a little before a minute and a half in, although it's hard to refer to anything in this song as a solo, since the guitar wails over top of the drums and bass for pretty much the whole song

55: Go K.K. Rider! from Animal Crossing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vkBb7vyWo

I love Animal Crossing, and K.K. Slider is one of the best parts. Thanks to him, you can have music in your house from almost any genre. Go K.K. Rider is still playing on the top floor of my house. I don't know which version I like better: the K.K. version, as heard in this video, or the in-house version. Either way, this song sounds like it could have been written for an old western movie, which are some of the coolest movies ever. I'm genuinely impressed that Animal Crossing could pull that off; some of K.K.'s other songs, though entertaining, are not quite so believable as songs from the genre in question.

54: Menu Theme from Super Smash Bros. Melee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMGnwykjKNk

Before I knew how awesome the Brawl theme was, I was really disappointed to find out that this wouldn't be returning as the main menu theme for Brawl. I got into Melee fairly late, but when I did, I had a great time playing it, and so have great memories of hearing this song. I would be whistling this song to myself for hours after playing. To me, it sums up the spirit of Melee perfectly: it's epic, but still lighthearted. By now, I've come to accept that Brawl's menu theme is great in its own right, but Melee's will always hold a special place for me.

53: Theme from Silent Hill 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8c6ZqMkqpI

This is one of the best games ever. It all has a pretty great theme song. I think that Silent Hill 2 has the best music in the series overall, but no song in the game is quite as memorable as this one. I love how the distinctive lead guitar sound combines with the rhythm

guitar. The best part of the song, though, is probably that one something-9 chord that is played over and over, followed by the badass descending bass. This is definitely the type of song I would listen to if it wasn't video game related. In fact, I think I might download it now...

52: World 2-1 from Super Mario Land

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riUzqEc9mWA

When my brother and I played Super Mario Land when we were younger, we thought this sounded like it could be a Beatles song - something in the vein of Penny Lane. I'm not sure if that's true, but I think of it every time I hear it. And I love the Beatles. This style of song is certainly uncommon in video games. It's not even like most early Mario music; but then again, Super Mario Land is considerably different from other Mario games. I mean, the princess is named Daisy. What's up with that?

51: Title theme from Animal Crossing

There's something really pleasant about watching the Animal Crossing title screen for a while. I love listening to this relaxing song while getting to see the various seasons and types of towns that Animal Crossing has to offer. This jazzy little tune sums up the feel of Animal Crossing very nicely. I really love some of those chords on the piano, and I love how the song contains a motif that is repeated over and over again in Animal Crossing music.

50: Scrap Brain Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpRr4nIXw6s

I was very happy when I discovered that this song was in Brawl. Scrap Brain Zone's music captures the mood of this second-to-last zone perfectly; the percussion fits the industrial setting, and the music overall seems to reflect that this zone is quite challenging. I absolutely love the switch to the relative major key in the middle of the song. As an aside, this youtube page is a reminder of how severely lame youtube commenters are. Look at the argument between xRocketzFighterx and AkumaUchitoru.

49: Dearly Beloved from Kingdom Hearts

http://www.imeem.com/people/Wi4NQ/music/_PSBYFAK/kingdom-hearts-dearly-beloved/

I was struck by the prettiness of this song from the moment I turned on Kingdom Hearts for the first time. This simple and memorable little piano melody is one of the most pleasant pieces of music that video games have to offer. Dearly Beloved is an interesting choice for a title theme to Kingdom Hearts. It's so serene, which puts it in contrast with the story and dialogue of Kingdom Hearts, which deal so much with DARKNESS. Nevertheless, Dearly Beloved stands out as one of the best pieces of music from a game with a pretty solid soundtrack.

48: Ocean Theme from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN_x1rpGbY8

It seems like most Board 8ers hate the sailing parts in Wind Waker, but I enjoyed them because of this music. It really captures that adventure-on-the-high-seas spirit, and it's got little motifs in there that remind you that it's Zelda overworld music. Indeed, I never wanted to sail at night, because then there was no awesome music, but because sailing took so damn long, nighttime sailing was pretty hard to avoid. I play Brawl with my roommate a lot, and he turns down the possibility that a song will play if he has bad memories of the game it's from, so I never get to hear the sailing music. For that matter, I never get to hear another song on the list that's coming up later in the 40's...

47: Music B from Tetris (Gameboy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juGFu09__WE

I've heard that all the music from Tetris is based on Russian folk music. If that's the case, then Russia has the best folk music ever. This song, while not as famous as Music A, is a brilliant song in its own right. The way the bass line interacts with the melody is just genius. I've played a lot of Tetris over the years, and so have heard this (when I pick it and not one of the other songs) over and over again for hours. Still, I have not tired of it. I always played Tetris on Gameboy, not having any Nintendo console until pretty late in the going. As such, I've grown accustomed to the Gameboy version of the songs, and nothing else sounds quite right to me.

46: Magical Sound Shower from OutRun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fTLDMhUbs8

This song is so groovy, and has a distinctive and catchy melody. My only quibble with it is that it takes so long for the melody to kick in, but I guess that fits the laid-back spirit of OutRun. This song has got to have one of the best titles on the list. Really, it's kind of optimistic to suggest that a song you wrote is a shower of magical sound. The composer pulled it off, though. Magical Sound Shower is also one of the longest songs on the list, and none of it is boring; the way the melody wanders is just awesome. All in all, this is the perfect music for driving around in a convertible. If I had a convertible, I would probably do that.

45: Natols from Zero Wing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAxcSujM1iw

We all know what Zero Wing is famous for and, I think, as a result, the quality of the music gets overlooked. For that matter so does the quality of the gameplay, but that's another matter. Natols deserves to be more than background music for the All Your Base song (although I must say that that song blends the intro music and Natols together very well). It's fabulous music for space fighting. The percussion is just fantastic. I have no idea what the title of this song means, but somehow that's fitting for Zero Wing. Chances are it's a botched translation of something.

44: Overworld from Super Mario Bros.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEKDF_WbMlg

Here's another one that I'm not quite sure what to call. This is the second (by my count) song on the list that illustrates that some video game songs are classics for a reason. Sure, it might be because the game itself is considered such a classic, but maybe it's because this is one of the most musically impressive video game songs from the NES era. The way the melody and bass line play off each other is amazing. Indeed, this is one of my favourite bass lines in all of video game music. They could have just made it simple and predictable, but instead they made it contribute greatly to the song. Even though it's NES music, it's very easy to imagine this song being played by a live band, perhaps involving a piano and a cello or something; it just has a legitimacy about it that is absent from much of the music from contemporary games. The overworld music from Super Mario Bros is instantly recognizable to gamers and many non-gamers alike; that's what happens when a great song gets tons of exposure because it's in one of the most famous video games of all time.

43: Battle music from Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny

http://www.imeem.com/people/_ndHi65/music/mA2FKaMb/rudolf-stember-battle-music/

If you're going to use the same music for every battle in the game, it had better be good music! Luckily, the battle music in Blade of Destiny is great, and some of my favourite. Now, the song posted here sounds close, but not precisely like it did when I played the game years ago. Somehow, outside of the game, it sounds thinner, and the high string sounds are less prominent. I guess it's hard to reproduce the sounds from older games exactly. It's still great, though, especially when that keyboard (or whatever) line comes in late in the song. This battle music always contributed to the intensity of battles in Blade of Destiny, which is one of the least noticed great RPGs ever.

42: Delfino Plaza from Super Mario Sunshine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIjW17IPRdg

So this is the song I mentioned earlier that my roommate turns down in Brawl because he hates the game. Indeed, this song is one of the best parts of Super Mario Sunshine, which I found to be disappointing overall, except for the occasional genuinely fun level. This song is just so much fun to listen to. It makes you feel like you're exploring an island, much like Mario was. I also love how the percussion changes when you start riding Yoshi. Well played, Nintendo.

41: Ice Cap Zone Act 1 from Sonic 3 & Knuckles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsGgaUfgTs0

This song has one of the most memorable bass lines of any song on the list. It's a Sonic 3 song, so perhaps it was composed by Michael Jackson? The song captures that atmosphere of Ice Cap Zone beautifully; late in Sonic 3, the stage is tricky and tense, which the music evokes. Truly, Ice Cap Zone Act 1 is a masterpiece with tons of detail. The high keyboard (or whatever) sound that plays above the melody, the cool percussion sounds, the faint echos... Michael Jackson or otherwise, somebody really took their time when composing this one.

40: Blast Away! Gummi Ship 1 from Kingdom Hearts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD9td51SUGw

This is definitely an under-appreciated Kingdom Hearts song. It gets stuck in my head for hours at a time. I love how a line of the melody is played and then echoed as the first one is ending. Whenever I play Kingdom Hearts, I'm always disappointed when I get to the point when it switches to Blast Away! Gummi Ship 2, and then even more disappointed when it switches to 3. It's not that those versions aren't good, it's just that this one is better. What's more, it makes the rather boring and pointless Gummi Ship parts of the game enjoyable (as far as I'm concerned, Gummi Ship parts are at least as bad as sailing in Wind Waker).

39: Wing Fortress Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-gocswLwsc

What fantastic music for approaching the end of a game. The atmosphere is just amazing, hearing this music play when Tails gets shot down and Sonic has to brave Robotnik's huge ship alone. Indeed, this music could fit into some kind of epic movie. The percussion might be what makes it; it's particularly impressive for something from the Genesis era. Sonic 2 is probably my favourite game ever, and Wing Fortress Zone - including its music - is one of its finer moments.

38: Overworld music from Super Mario Bros. 2 (US)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUYQNIiNjq4

Now, I know this isn't a true Mario game, but this music fits the style of early Mario games well. It's jazzy and has a killer bass line. This is another song that I took the time to learn on the piano, and it was quite a project; trying to put the bass line together with the melody was a challenge, since both are pretty complicated. I'm not sure why this isn't considered one of the most memorable songs in video game history, because it is for me.

37: Egg Carrier from Sonic Adventure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH9szMPVNdQ

Oh, how I loved Adventure Fields. They really made the game more immersive. The Egg Carrier is probably my favourite Adventure Field; I especially love visiting it when it's abandoned and floating in the ocean. It's lots of fun to explore it then. Officially titled "Egg Carrier - A Song That Keeps Us On The Move" (for some reason), this song is a major reason for that fun. The bass line is groovy, that high thermain sound is haunting, the keyboards are great when they rock out... this song is simply a great listen. I especially like when the theramin line is played over a different bass part than usual. This song evokes memories of some of my favourite parts of one of my favourite games; that, coupled with its being awesome, is why it makes the list.

36: Bob-omb Battlefield from Super Mario 64

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ulMNR79P04

Strictly speaking, this song plays in several stages, but you hear it first in Bob-omb Battlefield, and I don't know what else to call it. Man, I love trumpets, and this song features them prominently. It also features one of my favourite melodies in video game music. Indeed, it's a melody that can stand up against similar overworld-type songs in the 2D Mario games and, as far as I'm concerned, even surpass them in quality. Super Mario 64 is maybe my favourite 3D platformer ever, and one of my favourite games. Indeed, Super Mario Galaxy rivals it in terms of platforming fun, but SMG didn't have any music as memorable as this.

35: Cherry Blossom Color Season from Katamari Damacy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmInyB-7FhA

This is the first entry on the list from Katamari Damacy which, as I've said before, has one of the best overall soundtracks in video game history. This song is quite a musical accomplishment. Right off the bat, the strings and guitar work together beautifully. Furthermore, vocals from the kids has a certain charm to it that's hard to describe. Somehow it suits Katamari Damacy extremely well. I get a little excited every time the chorus is about to come in and all the kids will start singing. The harmonies are beautiful, the chord changes are imaginative, the string solo is great... this song is a success in every way. I wish I had a clue what the kids were singing about (and for that matter what the hell the title of the song could possibly mean), but then again, I doubt it would have the same charm if it were sung in English.

34: Theme from Frogger (C64)

http://www.imeem.com/people/_ndHi65/music/Z14InTzo/frogger/

This pleasant little Commodore 64-medly made the rather challenging Frogger much more fun. Having played this game mostly when I was around 3-4 years old, I still remembered this music perfectly when I played it again some ten years later, as I do presently, another 7-8 years later. It just sticks in your mind. In general, Commodore music is under-appreciated, and songs like this are evidence for that.

33: Theme from Rampage (C64)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gku1MzaOWA8

Two Commodore songs in a row! Honestly, I never enjoyed Rampage as much as I did Frogger, but the music from Rampage is just awesome. That droning bass line is fantastic, especially when coupled with the melody and harmony. My only quibble is that it gets slightly annoying when the notes get really high. This song also has a solid bridge, which can make a good song great. This music only plays at the title screen, which is a shame; I bet the game itself would be a lot more fun if this music was playing the whole time.

32: Black Omen from Crono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb4YB0ia46w

It's almost a shame that this song was used for an optional part of the game. I was surprised by how much I liked this song, considering it didn't seem to interesting at the start. When it picks up, though, it's so groovy and catchy that I can't resist bobbing my head to it. Every time. And I don't do that much. The best part definitely comes about 40 seconds in, when the rhythm changes and that rockin' piano line is featured prominently. Another great thing about this song is how it fits the mood of the Black Omen perfectly: it's a mix of tension and fun (yeah, fun; remember those Gato clones? What's up with that?).

31: Theme from Scarabaeus

http://www.imeem.com/people/_ndHi65/music/7k_63Pbx/andromeda-scarabaeus/

Damn it, I had a huge write-up for this ready to go and then I accidentally navigated away from the page! I'll try to re-create it.

Another Commodore game! Now, this one requires some explanation. This song contributes to this being one of the creepiest games I've ever played. It's probably the oldest game that's able to give me the creeps. Part of that comes from me never knowing what was going on. I had no instructions for this game, so in the pre-internet age I had to figure is out by just playing, because there's no in-game explanations of any kind, either. Even the parts of the story that are apparent are nonsensical. An astronaut lands his rocket on some planet, and then enters an Egyptian tomb. Inside are hieroglyphs and various monsters, some of which you want to catch and some of which you want to evade (without instructions, you have to figure out which is which by trial and error). I played this game under the alternate title "Invaders of the Lost Tomb"; they seem to have been trying to give the game a more approachable title, and one that could leech off of the popularity of Indiana Jones. I think Scarabaeus is a better title, being more cryptic, and related to ancient Egypt, which inexplicably features prominently in the game. I like this game a lot, in part due to the fact that it managed to scare me; that has a lot to do with the creepy, droning music that plays during almost the whole game. Take a look at this video of gameplay footage and let me know if it is creepy, or if I'm crazy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHjXmwpUPCw

30: Arizona from Road Rash II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoPbxMek5ec

The second entry on the list from Road Rash II, this might be the most blues-y song on the list. I've always respected a song that uses a simple blues progression effectively, and this song does so, in part by expanding on that progression. Put that together with a wicked solo and an equally wicked key change, and you have yourself one impressive Sega Genesis song. I actually taught myself to play this song on the guitar. It was very difficult. I had to slow the song down on my computer to get the solo. Sadly I've forgotten most of the song now. It's probably worth learning again, though.

29: Stage 1 from River City Ransom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcXxN03Md1I

Speaking of blues progressions... River City Ransom is a pretty great game that doesn't get a lot of attention on Board 8. The game has a certain over-the-top-humour to it that makes it lots of fun. This rock 'n' roll tune makes the experience quite a bit more memorable, and it fits the theme of this Double Dragon-like NES game very well. The story revolves around fighting between gangs the likes of which you might find in The Outsiders, and this is the type of music I would expect them to listen to. I know I would...

28: Guardia Castle from Chrono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TykpyrHAZpw

Another highly underrated song from Chrono Trigger, this is perhaps the most appropriate music in the game for its setting. What fantastic medieval castle music! The best part is definitely when the percussion goes into double time and the high strings (or whatever) play. Indeed, it's a little disappointing that the latter half of the game gives you few opportunities to visit the castle and hear this awesome music. I know I made excuses to explore the castle even when I knew that it would accomplish little!

27: Title theme from Mega Man 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn3UiC-kkjc

This song starts off pleasantly, fitting the nice landscape shot of the city at night time. Then, the tension mounts before a huge release off awesome when we see Mega Man standing atop a skyscraper with his hair blowing in the wind, ready to take Dr. Wily's evil robots about whom we have just learned. I love how the bass note stays the same throughout the fast part; it's a cool trick used to get unusual combinations of notes (as an aside, I'm learning now that Firefox apparently doesn't recognize "combinations" as a word. Silly Firefox spell checker).

On that note, I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so I may not get to update much. I'm getting a friend to bump the topic, but other bumps would be much appreciated. I will do my best to update at least once a day.

26: Theme from Ghosts 'n Goblins (C64)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=typqBmjBA14

Make sure you give this one a listen, because you might think it's the music you've heard in other versions of Ghosts 'n Goblins / Ghouls 'n Ghosts. Personally, I much prefer the version in the Commodore version, although the better known music is pretty good as well. Despite the questionable apostrophe use in the title, Ghosts 'n Goblins is a great game. Damn, but it's hard, though. One of my favourite parts of the game was always this song, which (if I recall correctly) plays for the entirety of the game. The beginning of the song is not that exciting, but a little under a minute it, it picks up and reveals its severe awesomeness. That bass line is one of the absolute best, especially when it gets fancy a little over a minute and a half into the song. The melody of this song has got to be one of the most memorable I've ever heard in a video game. Really, this song speaks for itself if given a chance, so make sure you give it a full listen if you haven't heard it before.

25: Water theme from Super Mario 64

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQTJWhbOn7E

As much as I don't really like the water levels in Super Mario 64 (or in any Mario game, for that matter), this is some of the best music in the Mario series. The way it starts with no percussion, then introduces it later, even reacting to which part of the level you're in, is fantastic. This is the perfect music for water exploration; I put it on an SD card that I can use it when I go diving in Endless Ocean (a pretty solid game in its own right, but one you won't see on this list, because the music that actually comes with it is preeeetty lame). There aren't too many songs on this list I can listen to over and over, no matter how much I like them, but I can always do that with this song. Perhaps it's the most relaxing song on the list?

24: E102 Gamma's Theme from Sonic Adventure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro5G1BWeM9U

Electronic-y, kind of tragic, and all-around awesome, much like Gamma himself! I absolutely love that piano line, and it's genius combining it with those electronic noises. Gamma is tons of fun to play, and this music sums up the mood of his storyline very well. I love how Gamma is just the slightest bit insane, the way he "saves" his friends. Sometimes I wonder if this music plays in Gamma's head as he does stuff. You never know when a robot has a personality.

Sorry for the brevity. Things should be back to normal in a couple of days.

23: Main Theme from Super Smash Bros. Brawl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbtqmAOwfS0

Perhaps the most epic song on the list, the theme from Brawl is a very impressive piece of music! Latin chanting, beautiful orchestration, funny alternate lyrics... is there anything this song doesn't have? As soon as I turned on Brawl for the first time, I had a feeling that the game was worth the wait and as awesome as I had expected. I mean, the Melee theme was really good, but this blows it out of the water (as I said before, I was originally disappointed that the Melee theme was being replaced, but it was so worth it). I think the last thirty seconds or so of the song might be my favourite part, especially that last, triumphant-sounding note that the vocalists hit. Actually, come to think of it... there are several parts of the song I like just as much, depending on my mood. As such, I never get tired of listening to it.

22: Rain music from Animal Crossing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP93eavHbXo

I first got Animal Crossing in May of about 2004, and for some reason it rained almost alllll summer in the game. As such, I got used to hearing this song all the time, and loved it. Despite the greater variety of music, I found it disappointing when it wasn't raining (and, truth be told, I still do when I occasionally visit my town). I have great memories of listening to this music while doing some fishing down by the see. This little piano song is very pleasant to listen to, and I love how it contains the Animal Crossing motif. It's the perfect background music!

21: Memories of Green from Chrono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a33yZHmZAIQ

This was the first song I really liked from Chrono Trigger - the first that made me realize what all the hype was about regarding the game's music. Memories of Green shows a level of sophistication in composing rarely found in video games. The piano is simply beautiful, and combines with the flute exceptionally well. When I was exploring 1000 AD in my first playthrough of Chrono Trigger, I found that this song created a really interesting mood that wouldn't have been otherwise present. The song is tragic and, somehow, suggests a bit of danger; this might not initially seem appropriate for the mostly peaceful age of 1000 AD, but it gradually comes to fit the mood of that time period more and more. Memories of Green is definitely one of the most musically (and otherwise) impressive songs on the list.

20: Theme from Paperboy (C64)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfrvw4f2Z6Q

This song is soooo cool, in a cheesy late 80's way. Paperboy is a hard game, that's honestly not one of my favourite Commodore games, but this song is one of my hands-down favourites on the console... computer... whatever. I'm not sure what's so appealing about this song; musically, it's not that impressive. I just really enjoy listening to it! The melody is really catchy. I can definitely picture a real guitar rocking out to this song. Someone should cover it.

19: Revived Power from Shadow of the Colossus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_s3BGLu0s

Most of the music from Shadow of the Colossus is very good, if not particularly memorable. This one always stuck out for me, however. Indeed, I never actually finished this game, despite liking it a lot. It just got kind of frustrating, and somewhat repetitive. Of the Colossi I fought, however, I definitely preferred those whose music was Revived Power. It has to be some of the best "in trouble" music in all of video gaming. It mixes senses danger and triumph beautifully. Musically, it's complex and impressive. I think Video Games Live missed the boat by not playing music from Shadow of the Colossus, and this song in particular.

18: Lavos Core Battle from Chrono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTRoqgSdA_I

This song provided the perfect music for the climactic final battle of the Chrono Trigger... the first of 13 or whatever times I beat the game, that is. Leave it to Chrono Trigger to not simply rely on its regular boss battle music for the final boss. The game actually has two songs that are exclusive to the Lavos fight. Some prefer the Lavos Form 2 music, I know, but I've never found it terribly exciting, especially compared to Lavos Core Battle. This is one of the more science-ficiton-y songs in Chrono Trigger, which fits a fight with Lavos. I also love the use of sound effects in some songs in CT, like certain sounds in this song, which sound like they're emanating from Lavos.

17: Que Sera Sera from Katamari Damacy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFLJX-T7LPk

This is one of the Katamari songs that really shows that professional musicians must have worked on the soundtrack. This is probably the best lounge music I've ever heard in a video game. What's more, lyrics like "I wanna wad you up into my life" are both suitable for Katamari Damacy and hilarious. Songs like this make me think that the musicians who worked on the KD soundtrack must have had so much fun; hell, I'd pay to see a documentary about it. Besides the lyrics, the high harmonies might be my favourite part of the song. I get the impression that the same guy recorded all the vocals for this song, and the guy is clearly all kinds of awesome. I mean, look at him.

16: Level 1 from Sunset Riders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SQxSGx80aM

This song starts off in a Western style, then shifts into a more typical sound for 16-bit-era shoot-em-up; it is therefore a perfect fit for Sunset Riders, which combines those two genres. Indeed, this shoot-em-up with a Western setting might be my favourite game in that genre, despite some horribly offensive moments regarding Native Americans. It doesn't shy away from being over-the-top and ridiculous, which gives it a certain charm. The Old West has been the setting of surprisingly few games, and Sunset Riders shows that it has been a good idea for a long time. I rented this game for Sega Genesis in my childhood, and didn't play it for years. When I picked it up again years later, the music from the first level had stuck with me, much as my enjoyment of the game had.

15: Music A from Tetris (Gameboy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXeCEzaNLKM

Another video game song that's considered a classic and stands up as a fabulous piece of music! That beat combined with that bass line is instantly catchy, and they fit together with the melody beautifully. I think it's no surprise why this song was chosen as the default music for the game; despite Music B and C being great, Music A is considerably better. Indeed, it might be the most musically impressive piece in the entire Gameboy catalogue (it might be; stay tuned for another Gameboy track coming up soon). As far as I'm concerned, Tetris isn't really Tetris without Music A.

14: Katamari on the Swing from We Love Katamari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCngZZFG7r8

Alright, so the We Love Katamari soundtrack was mostly disappointing compared to that of Katamari Damacy, but not in this case. This jazzy variation of Katamari on the Rocks provides an awesome, fitting, upbeat theme for the final (sort of) level of We Love Katamari, which is one of my all-time favourite games. This song is so much fun for a lot of reasons: it's got a great drum solo, further lyrical (and otherwise) awesomeness from Charlie Kosei, a piano solo, a killer bass line played on double bass, liberal use of trumpets... perhaps Katamari on the Swing is the most fun song on the list!

13: Casino Night Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1 player)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl6kjAkVw_s

Wow, I went eleven whole entries without a Sonic song! Casino Night Zone might be the only song on the list inspired by the big band era, unless I'm forgetting something. Casino Night Zone is one of the most fun levels in one of the most fun games of all time. A large part of that is the music (and another large part is the slot machines, but that's a different matter entirely). The bass line in this song might be the most memorable in all of Sonic, especially when it kicks in after the pause about a minute in. Note that I specified the 1-player version of Casino Night Zone. The 2-player version song is quite a bit different (although pretty good in its own right; check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsmSx_ECsYk - and also check out this silly but entertaining mashup involving said song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXbPE0AcWj8).

12: Gym Leader Battle from Pokémon R/B/Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OO5VAKk0d8

I told you to stay tuned for more Gameboy. All of the battle music in R/B/Y is good, but this one is far and away the best. Like I suggested earlier, this song is truly musically impressive. That all-over-the-place bass line and memorable melody contribute to Gym Leader battles (and Elite Four battles) being the most epic and exciting moments in the game. It's like, you hear this music, and you realize that all your hard work grinding or catching that perfect Pokémon is just minutes from paying off. I've tried in the past to make this my cell phone ringtone, and am as yet unsuccessful. But I'll find a way...

11: Star Light Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mqmN6mw4R8

By far the prettiest song in Sonic 1, Star Light Zone is unique in style in terms of Genesis Sonic, as far as I'm concerned. Besides Star Light Zone, there aren't too many levels in Sonic 1 that I would rank among the best in Sonic history; indeed, Star Light Zone might be the only one. The level, like the music, is extremely pretty. Man, just listening to this right now makes me want to go play this game. Star Light Zone is interesting; it's sort of a calming atmosphere before the game really kicks into climactic-finale mode. It's as if Robotnik hasn't yet gotten around to turning the area into a wasteland or a factory, but his robots ensure that his presence is felt there. The music evokes none of that danger, which puts it in an interesting contrast with the more difficult parts of the level. Looking back at Sonic 1, it's clear that its Genesis sequels are better games, but they definitely were on the right track with Star Light Zone.