Submitted by Chase357 on Tue, 10/21/2008 - 5:46pm.
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EDIT: Thanks to all the g1s for making this a Top g1 Post!
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I'd like to take this time to thank all of the ScrewAttack staff and the g1s in the forums who helped put together the latest Top 10 video for the best Top 10 Themes. Without further ado, I bring you...
Controversy!
This list surprises the hell out of me, so I know it will do the same for you. Remember, it's fine to disagree and make your case, but be polite in doing so.
10. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Music A)
Do I need to explain this? To simply put it, it's one of the (if not THE) most recognizable themes in gaming history mostly because it's one of the most popular games in history. The average Joe who knew nothing about gaming turned on the NES and impatiently mashed the start button, skipping through all of the options so that they could cut to the chase and start the game which landed them with the music from the Nutcracker Suite. However, let's not forget that this is the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy", so that's why it getting the #10 spot. You can't really say to your friend "Hey, let's listen to Dance of the Suger Plum Fairy!". That's a little weird.
Metal Gear Solid is full of great music, but the theme that stands out the most is the escape theme. Why? Not only is it just sweet to listen to, but it's sudden and sounds like the theme for a T.V. station's breaking news bulletin. It alerts you which is what it's supposed to do as it plays every time you're spotted. I guess that's why I remember it so well - I was always getting caught! Solid Snake I'm not.
Again, does this need an introduction? Like Kid Icarus, the first four notes of level 1's theme from Super Mario Bros. is recognizable by almost anyone who's even come into contact with a video game. Super Mario Bros. was widely ushered in as many a gamer's first game and naturally their first 8-bit tunes. It's catchy and so is the second level's theme. It's slow and funky and easy to get stuck in your head. It was something that should have come from someone extra funky like Issac Hayes or something. The World 1-2 theme deserves as much recognition as the theme from World 1-1.
Here's the part were the list get's difficult. My all-time favorite game only makes 7th place, but I must remain true to the list, so 7th place it will stay.
Fast paced heavy metal was the perfect soundtrack choice for a game where you mercelessly slaughtered hordes of demons from space all the way to Hell. The very idea sounds like the backstory of an awesome action movie or music video. Doom's music was the first thing that caught my attention and got me interested in the game in the first place back in '93. Whether you think the e1m1 theme sounds like either Metallica's "Master of Puppets" or "No Remorse" one thing's for sure, it rocks your face off!
Every kid thought that going to the arcade and looking like a tough guy was the coolest thing to do... which it was. With Double Dragon, you and another random kid got to be tough guys while playing an arcade game. The Stage 1 tune was like your very own theme song for being a cool 80's or 90's kid while beating some ass.
Street Fighter II was released in 1991 and it shows (in a good way). As each decade begins, the styles of the previous decade sort of carry over. The 70's styles were carried over in film The Blues Brothers in the early 80's while the music of the 80's was carried over into early 90's arcade games. In Street Fighter II, the music is very influenced by 80's pop and rock music... besides the sterotypical Chinese music in Chun-Li's stage. With Ken's stage, the best of 80's pop rock shines through! It sounds like something out of an action movie of its time - very John Carpenter. It makes me think of music from films like Near Dark, Escape from New York and Repo Man. You just want to beat some ass everytime you hear it. Nice job, Capcom!
I was looking for an awesome song from an adventure game for this list. At first I thought, the Overworld theme from The Legend of Zelda, then a song from Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure and I was really decided on Fillmore from ActRaiser. Then I remembered "Of course, Vampire Killer!" I was ready to put down that classic NES tune until I said to myself "Is that really Castlevania's best music?" It was not, so I went back to the console with the best music - the good ol' Super NES. Yes, ActRaiser had some of the most incredible music in any SNES game, but Super Castlevania IV is superior in my eyes. Simon's Theme in the first level opens your eyes to the enormity and scale of the quest that lies ahead. The theme just has "adventure" written all over it and you feel so triumphant as you trudge through the first stage to get through all of the wild locals to take on Dracula in the final unholy standoff.
It's face paced and upbeat. You're ready to race to it while being "cool 'n' calm" at the same time. It fits the futuristic setting without giving into the stereotypical role of cheesy, stock techno music like so many games do that are set in the future. It's as simple as that.
The theme song is so cool that thrash metal band Megadeth covered it for the album Duke Nukem: Music to Score By. When you started up the game in all its ancient DOS glory and reached for the joystick, you would quickly turn it into your electric guitar and mock-strum along to the them while making up lyrics to go along with the tune... or maybe that was just me. For the #1 badass of all-time the alien ass-kicker got one rockin' anthem that truly lives up to his legend.
This song absolutely rocks. It is the king of all beat 'em up tunes and GOD of all video game music. It has that rare combination of synth and rock that work so flawlessly. There's even an amazing solo where one of the band members rocks a shamisen like Eddie Van Halen does an electric guitar. It's so insane. The music was created by the game developer's in-house band Zuntata. Zuntata is so amazing that they not only did the music for all ports of The Ninja Warriors, but they also made a short film that acts as the backstory that you can see on the TurboGrafx-CD version. They still play music from their games at Video Games Live, an annual concert for video game composers to play their music for fans. Recently, they've done music for Exit on the PSP and Space Invaders Extreme on the Nintendo DS. This song is perfect.
Honorable Mentions
"Big Blue" from F-Zero (Super Nintendo)
"Bubble Man Stage" from Mega Man 2 (NES)
"Corneria" from Star Fox (Super Nintendo)
"Dr. Wily's Castle" from Mega Man 2 (NES)
"Full-bore (Fulgore)" from Killer Instinct (Super Nintendo)
"Green Hill Zone" from Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis)
"Super Metroid Theme" from Super Metroid (Super Nintendo)
"Saria's Song" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
"Message For The Archvile (MAP20)" from Doom II: Hell on Earth (PC)
"Razorback" from Unreal Tournament (PC)
"Vampire Killer" from Castlevania (NES)
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This blog was not plagiarized. Though you may find the exact blog by “Googling” it online, it has merely been carried over from my blog which can be found on this site. You can view the original blog here.
Submitted by Chase357 on Tue, 10/21/2008 - 6:01pm.
Hmmm, that's a good point. Maybe my honorable mentions will make up for that. Still, Music A is remembered in most gamer's minds.
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You need the main theme of Metroid 2 XD it's amazing, right when you start the game you'll hear it. Get an emu and listen to it, you won't be dissapointed!
Submitted by McGlaven on Wed, 10/22/2008 - 3:32pm.
Especially Castlevania IV. That game has an amazing soundtrack. I would have put Brinstar from Super Metroid on there but hey it's your list. Nice job.
The orginal Zelda theme shoulda been on there somewhere, from the first one. Mute City, Metal Gear and Mario Bros. Were a couple of my favourites on this list.
Why is there no love for Sparkster?...The music in Rocket Knight Adventure was freaking fantastic!...The flying stage and the boss battle songs are so good...One of the songs from the game definitely should have gotten a place in the top 10.
Submitted by Chase357 on Wed, 10/22/2008 - 7:21pm.
That's one of my all-time favorite games, but the music can't compare with these games.
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Submitted by Chase357 on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 7:28am.
Well, look at it this way. I could listen to the SMB music while doing computer work or in my car. It's timeless and they never get old. I like the music from Rocket Knight Adventures, but if I had to listen to that while riding in my car, I'd grow tired of it fast.
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good blog
The only thing I dont think should be on here is dance of the sugar plum fairy, considering its not a video game song. (It was just played in one)
Hmmm, that's a good point.
Hmmm, that's a good point. Maybe my honorable mentions will make up for that. Still, Music A is remembered in most gamer's minds.
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The Retro Game Zone
You forgot one!
You need the main theme of Metroid 2 XD it's amazing, right when you start the game you'll hear it. Get an emu and listen to it, you won't be dissapointed!
well
you make a point but really the tetris soundtrack was based on russian folksong to begin with so you can say the same with any of the tetris themes
Awsome blog! This is the
Awsome blog! Check out this bad ass version of Suger Plub Fairy.
LOL I have that album.
LOL I have that album. Powerglove is awesome :D
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The Retro Game Zone
U FAIL
theres a little mistake, dont mix it up:
Sugarplum Fairy: Theme 1 on NES
Korobeiniki: Theme 1 on Gameboy
but respect, nice signature ;)
oops! I goofed
oops! I goofed
Heck yes.
This list was better than the official one.
Mostly because there was more DooM and F-Zero.
Great List
Especially Castlevania IV. That game has an amazing soundtrack. I would have put Brinstar from Super Metroid on there but hey it's your list. Nice job.
Arrrrrrrrrgh NAW!
The orginal Zelda theme shoulda been on there somewhere, from the first one. Mute City, Metal Gear and Mario Bros. Were a couple of my favourites on this list.
How come...
Why is there no love for Sparkster?...The music in Rocket Knight Adventure was freaking fantastic!...The flying stage and the boss battle songs are so good...One of the songs from the game definitely should have gotten a place in the top 10.
*warning* Dracula is still a threat.
That's one of my all-time
That's one of my all-time favorite games, but the music can't compare with these games.
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The Retro Game Zone
No way...SMB W 1-1 &
No way...SMB W 1-1 & Underworld? ....honestly, the RKA songs give those songs a good kick in the ass.
*note* Dracula is still a threat.
Well, look at it this way. I
Well, look at it this way. I could listen to the SMB music while doing computer work or in my car. It's timeless and they never get old. I like the music from Rocket Knight Adventures, but if I had to listen to that while riding in my car, I'd grow tired of it fast.
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The Retro Game Zone