expanded list of recommended game songs, A-M.
This expanded list provides links to one extra song from each game OST covered in the original lists, since, honestly, most of these games deserve a lot more love than I can give them through only highlighting 1-3 songs.
My original post ran out of room. This one covers games with titles A through M. N-Z is here.
Last updated: 8/24/22
.hack//Infection (PS2, 2003) composed by: Chikayo Fukuda, Seizo Nakata
"Root Town Theta - Alpine City Dun Loireag"
➸Calm with more of a focus on woodwind and chimes/xylophone than the acoustic guitar in "Mac Anu." Honestly, I like both about equally.
7th Dragon (DS, 2009) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro
"Labyrinth - Jungle Navigation"
I think the title should technically be "Labyrinth - Dense Forest Navigation," because "forest" and "jungle" really do have different connotations.
➸Ahhhh, gorgeous strings and piano. That's it. The song envelops you in warm guitar and sharp piano, like a sunny autumn morning. Its eight-bit counterpart is quite different -- definitely less serene and more stuck-in-a-forest-maze.
7th Dragon 2020 (PSP, 2011) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro
"Shibuya - Jungle Navigation"
Pretty sure it's actually a jungle in this iteration, so the translated title works this time. Haha.
➸This is one of the recycled melodies from 7th Dragon, and as much as I love the original, this updated version is really nice as well. It retains the lovely melody, but changes up the instrumentation quite a bit. The guitar is replaced with soft synth, and the piano returns for the beginning, but is transformed to a stronger synth line backed by percussion this time. It's still soothing, but more like a summer night than an autumn morning. Ha. The DIVA Mode arrangement (through 51:50) by "whoo" brings the guitar back, but Miku Hatsune's "la-la-la"s replace the piano/synth. It's alright, though the song feels more driving and less relaxed. The melody still remains gorgeous, however, and it carries the song regardless of the instrumentation used.
7th Dragon 2020-II (PSP, 2013) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro; DIVA Mode songs arranged by the same ton of people as 2020
"Lights Out"
➸Wasn't expecting emotional, warm, moving piano and strings in my 7th Dragon game, but here it is. And it is so lovely. I think that this song would play during a blackout, as hinted by the title, so I can just imagine all of the people huddling around, cold and scared, while this haunting song plays. Mm. [post-playing edit]: Yeah, it's kind of a blackout, but it's much more emotional and awful than that. A gorgeous song for a section of the game that made me cry.
7th Dragon III: Code VFD (3DS, 2015) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro, with vocal themes and their instrumental counterparts by sasakure.UK
"Atlantica - Jade Afterglow"
➸Opening cascading piano reflects the cascading waterfalls in the underwater city of Atlantica, where this song is heard in-game. As usual, percussion is added to the pianos until a pretty and strong string (synth?) takes the lead at :32. I really like the particular sound of the string lead. It also kindly fades out to reintroduce the piano until the loop. It's a nice mix of pretty and delicate and has that kind of royal water kingdom feel to it.
Arcana (SNES, 1992) composed by: Jun Ishikawa, Hirokazu Ando
"Silent Forest of Doubt"
➸Definitely a calming piece. Slow higher-pitched notes play against a constant backbeat. It's sort of reminiscent of Devil Summoner's "Kasagi Mountain," though less misty mountain morning and more forest.
Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island (DS, 2009) composed by: Daisuke Achiwa
"Storm Bringer"
➸The regular boss battle theme. It's actually kind of long, at almost a minute-and-a-half before looping. I love how the dramatic buildup breaks into a piano-led section.
Beyond the Beyond (PSX, 1995) composed by: Motoi Sakuraba
"Battle 2"
➸Probably my favorite of the battle themes. Showcases Sakuraba's woodwinds and a crazy keyboard breakdown about a minute in.
Breath of Fire (SNES, 1993) composed by: Yasuaki Fujita, Yoko Shimomura, Minae Fujii, Mari Yamaguchi
"Flying"
➸Also known as "The Great Bird." Much less emotionally-charged than its counterpart tune in Breath of Fire II, but more carefree and calm. Dinky and utilizes the mechanical-ish instrumentation well. Composed by Yasuaki Fujita.
Breath of Fire II (SNES, 1994) composed by: Yuko Takehara
"Crooked Ladder"
➸The mysterious and ominous theme for the final town in the game. I like the atmosphere evoked by the slow tempo and mix of keyboard and flute.
Breath of Fire III (PSX, 1997) composed by: Akari Kaida, Yoshino Aoki
"Sandy Sound"
➸Also known as "The Desert of Death," the area in which this song is played. It's always been a favorite of mine (not the area, ha -- I was also led astray by the incorrect directions given in-game and had to use an FAQ to get out, sigh); laid-back piano and percussion with a jazzy lead string that definitely belies the area's name. The section around 1:40 in which the song is reduced to percussion and the wind sound effect is also particularly effective in looping the song back around while keeping in sync with the vast, cold, lonely desert motif.
Breath of Fire IV (PSX, 2000) composed by: Yoshino Aoki
"Truth and Dreams"
➸Sweet keyboard-y piano that plays in the fairy forest. Simple, though with a slightly sinister-sounding interlude kinda thing around :43.
Chou Mahou Tairiku WOZZ (SNES, 1995) composed by: Tomoyuki Hamada, Takeshi Saitou, Seiichi Tokunaga
"Balam's Theme"
➸An energetic and frantic rock-themed piece for the big bad guy in the game, complete with what sounds like guitars and keyboard-ish organ.
Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995) composed by: Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda
"Undersea Palace"
➸A dungeon theme for a giant, mechanical, well, undersea palace. The song makes excellent use of stereo, with the synth line going from left to right constantly. The ominous piano makes a great addition to the bouncing synth line, and the lead woodwind is an interesting counterpoint to the otherwise mechanical-sounding song.
Crystalis (NES, 1990) composed by: Yoko O
"Inner Mountains"
➸A peppy and repetitive eight-bit theme that's adventurous and fitting for the snowy mountain area. It's one of my favorite songs in the game based on catchiness alone.
Cyber Knight (SNES, 1992) composed by: Michiharu Hasuya, Osamu Kasai, Junko Yokoyama
"Game Over"
➸Dear goodness. This song amuses me. It's the happiest game over song I've ever heard. It plays while animations of your mechs using attacks flash on the screen. It's so incongruent with normal expectations of such a theme.
Cyber Knight II: Chikyuu Teikoku no Yabou (SNES, 1994) composed by: Yoshikatsu Sakai, Kyouko Sakai
"Gypsy Dance"
➸A later-game battle theme. I really like the opening; it's reminiscent of faux fast guitar strumming. It's serious and kind of dramatic.
Dance Dance Revolution (various, ~1999-2000s) composed by: lots of people
"Until Forever"
➸This song is solid energy throughout. I like the sound of the lead synth. The really interesting thing about this song is that I am familiar with the composer, Beatdrop, through his video game music remixes. Haha. It kind of blew my mind when I found out about that. This song is from DDR SuperNova 2, apparently.
Deadly Premonition (XBox360, ?) composed by: ?
"After the Rain"
➸A hauntingly sad piano piece that I find absolutely gorgeous. It also still seems to fit a detective-ish motif -- maybe it's the piano section around :23 that makes me hear that cabaret/noir feeling.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Saturn/PSX, 1998; 3DS, 2012) composed by: Toshiko Tasaki, Shoji Meguro, Tsukasa Masuko
"Amami Airport (Vision Quest)"
➸A jazzy piano/percussion piece with a sorta slow tempo. I like to imagine the character in the Vision Quest strolling around the airport and casually slaying demons while listening to some jazz. Composed by Toshiko Tasaki.
Devil Survivor (DS, 2009) composed by: Takami Asano
"Deep Night"
➸One of the boss battle themes, this song exemplifies the "wailing guitar" sound that Asano mostly chose to go with for this soundtrack. This is my favorite of the battle themes, just because it's so hardcore and somewhat tense, which is very fitting for the boss battles.
Devil Survivor 2 (DS, 2011) composed by: Kenji Ito
"Confrontation"
➸The regular battle scenario theme, and quite a showcase for the soundtrack's typical sound. Heroic synthy keyboard and a fast tempo with percussion make for an exciting and catchy theme.
Digimon World (PSX, 2000) composed by: Koji Yamada, Yuko Ishii
"Gear Savanna (Nighttime)"
➸As much as it chagrins me to do so, here is the nighttime counterpart to my original choice song from Digimon World. It uses softer strings and a woodwind that still sound folksy and in-character for a wide open savanna at night. The woodwind section at :52 is my favorite part of the song -- still fast-paced, but with a toned-down instrument.
Digimon World Dawn/Dusk (DS, 2007) composed by: Koji Yamada?
"World Map"
➸A snazzy and lively theme that opens with acoustic guitar and is punctuated by lots of interesting instrumentation. I particularly like the percussion. The song even goes slightly Pokémon-ish around :22. My only complaint is that the loop isn't even a minute long.
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (NES, 1987) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Daedalus"
➸The first section of the game's huge dungeon, and though short and repetitive, there's still enough change in the song to keep it interesting and catchy. The song even has an intro! There is an enhanced version of this song in Megami Tensei II, if this tickles your fancy.
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (NES, 1990) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Dash Under the Ground"
➸A moving, energetic, and catchy piece that plays in the underground tunnels between districts. There are a lot of things going on in this song, but one thing that I particularly enjoy is how the harmony line takes the spotlight from the lead melody. It's uncommon and unique.
Dragon Quest Monsters (GBC, 1998) composed by: Koichi Sugiyama
"Never-Ending Journey"
➸The main dungeon theme in DQM that any player probably knows by heart, especially if they've sunk as many hours into this game as I have. It begins with a lone lead and its melody and gradually evolves into a more complex piece. It finally speeds up around :45 with an uplifting bridge back to the loop.
Dragon Quest Monsters II (GBC, 2001) composed by: Koichi Sugiyama
"Heaven World"
➸This song ironically plays within the frozen world, so that's what I always associate it with in my mind. It's fitting, too, as the song sounds lonely and mystical and beautiful. Like "Never-Ending Journey" above, "Heaven World" constantly evolves all the way through the loop.
Earthbound (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hirokazu Tanaka, Keiichi Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanazu
"Pokey Means Business!"
➸Any song that begins with an unexpected and neat eight-bit opening that plays for nearly a minute before evolving into a sixteen-bit guitar breakdown is an instant win in my book. The sixteen-bit song itself is a metal-like composition, with heavy guitar and quick percussion that speeds up then slows down over and over.
Emerald Dragon (PC Engine, 1994) composed by: Yasuhiko Fukuda
"Forest of Sinking Silence"
➸I also keep seeing this song as "Forests and Caverns," but it really only reminds me of a certain forest that has to be traversed numerous times in-game... That soothing guitar would make that trek so worth it, though.
Energy Breaker (SNES, 1996) composed by: Yukio Nakajima, Yuusei Yamamoto, Yasunori Shiono
"Ardent Empathy"
➸The mines/fire cave theme. I remember it catching my attention when listening to it in the game. I like the driving percussion beat; it's sort of primal. Everything else just plays off of it. Composed by Nakajima.
Final Fantasy I (NES, 1987) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Temple of Chaos"
➸A somewhat peppy dungeon theme that sounds exactly like "Undersea Shrine" but at a slightly higher pitch and with a few added blips during the bridge section that really round it out.
Final Fantasy II (NES, 1988) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Battle Scene 2"
➸The most epic song in the game, which is reserved for the bigger boss battles. The opening has solid build-up, and the rest is quite varied and interesting. It's a decently long loop, as well.
Final Fantasy III (NES, 1990) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"This Is the Final Battle (Part 3)"
➸I love this soundtrack, but I wanted to highlight the eight-bit percussion in this song. Listen to that intro and tell me you're not impressed. The rest of the song sounds great too, but that percussion gets me every time.
Final Fantasy IV (SNES, 1991) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Mt. Ordeals"
➸A heroic, upbeat, and catchy (but short) theme for an equally heroic mountain. I really like the xylophone-sounding lead instrument and the snare drum percussion. Also, I hear piano.
Final Fantasy V (SNES, 1992) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"The Land Unknown"
➸Another beautiful overworld theme from Uematsu, this time with more xylophone, organ, horn, and what sounds like a banjo in the background. It's slow, solemn, foreboding, and lovely.
Final Fantasy VI (SNES, 1994) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Devil's Lab"
➸A chaotic, noisy song. The lead brass is sinister in the beginning, but the horns that lead to the loop become more heroic just for a moment. The steampunk aspect of the FFVI world is my favorite part, and I like the songs that encapsulate that too.
Final Fantasy VIII (PSX, 1999) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"The Extreme"
➸I really like "The Extreme" for being a final battle theme that's tense and unnerving, but not due to wailing guitar or fast techno beats. No, this song opens with acoustic guitar and piano, and it's actually really pretty. The percussion and backing strings don't come in until about 1:19, either, to add that "final boss" tension and feel. From there, the song takes off into a more typical final battle theme, but I really enjoy how it's done, especially the buildup.
Final Fantasy Adventure (GB, 1991) composed by: Kenji Ito
"Battle 2 ~ Courage and Pride from the Heart"
➸For a boss theme, this sounds a lot more like a field theme, what with its pep and relatively high/heroic pitch. The bridge section is also quite a nice variation.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES, 1993) composed by: Ryuji Sasai, Yasuhiro Kawakami
"Doom Castle"
➸I had to highlight the final dungeon theme here, since there is just so much to this song. It opens with crazy guitar, then at :39 turns into a more solemn and heroic piece with drums, brass, and piano; then at 1:03 the tune goes suddenly apprehensive, almost. I love the mix of emotion portrayed in this song -- perfect for a final dungeon theme. Composed by Ryuji Sasai.
Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX, 1997) composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata, Yukiko Mitsui, Yuko Miura
"Decisive Battle"
➸An intense battle theme that has a lot of tension and a plodding beat, but also has a lot of variance for being over two minutes long. Composed by Iwata.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS, 2007) composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto
"Front and Back"
➸A piece that's rather typical of Sakimoto's work on FFTA2. It boasts an impressive range of instruments and a very variant tune that lasts nearly two minutes before looping. I particularly enjoy the heroic section that begins at :41.
Gensou Suikoden I (PSX, 1996) composed by: Konami Kukeiha Club
"Momentary Peace"
➸A lively town theme with a plethora of interesting instruments, and even chanting. I also swear that main melody echoes another in the game, but I can't quite put my finger on which. I actually prefer the more minimalistic version of this song titled "Sea's Roar," but "Momentary Peace" is indicative of the Suikoden I soundtrack and is much more interesting.
Gensou Suikoden II (PSX, 1999) composed by: Miki Higashino, Keiko Fukami
"Captured Town"
➸I love the medieval-ish sound the strings and woodwinds give this song. Favorite parts are the opening section and the woodwind section that starts around :37. This is a song I definitely remember hearing for the first time in the game and thinking, "huh, I like this." Composed by Miki Higashino.
Gensou Suikoden III (PS2, 2002) composed by: Michiru Yamane, Takashi Yoshida, Masahiko Kimura, Keiko Fukami
"Old Castle by the Lake"
➸Sadly, the soundtrack to this game was so unmemorable to me that I couldn't think of any other song that I really liked besides this one, the headquarters song, which I probably remember merely due to the fact that I've probably listened to it for several hours in-game. It's not bad in the slightest, though -- it's pretty lovely and soft, with a xylophone lead. It's warm and homey and fitting for a headquarters theme.
Gensou Suikoden IV (PS2, 2004) composed by: Masahiko Kimura, Norikazu Miura, Michiru Yamane
"Crossing the Waves"
➸Another unmemorable soundtrack for me, honestly, but I do remember "Crossing the Waves," the first overworld (oversea?) theme. Especially considering how long it takes to travel by ship in that game... It's a bright and adventurous tune with acoustic guitar (and maybe some steel drum?) and constant percussion that does fit the theme of sailing on the wide open sea. It's a short loop, unfortunately, but what is available is upbeat and breezy. Composed by Masahiko Kimura.
Gensou Suikoden V (PS2, 2006) composed by: Yoshihiro Tsukahara, Takashi Watanabe, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Chiharu Mukaiyama
"Dancing Rhapsody"
➸Electric organ, crazy drums, and electric guitar abound in this neat boss battle theme. Fun and tense and so different than the typical GSV sound. I really like the sound of the organ, especially the quick breakdown at 1:18 before the loop.
Gensou Suikoden Tierkreis (DS, 2009) composed by: Norikazu Miura, Yoshino Aoki, Kaori Komuro, Masaharu Iwata, Hitoshi Fujima, Junpei Fujita, Tomoaki Hirono, Daisuke Kikuta, Masato Nakayama
"The 12th Significator ~World Map BGM 4~"
➸The final overworld theme, and one that I think really emphasizes that heroic endgame feeling. The chimes, violin, and piano come together at the beginning in a sort of tense way, but the explosion of sound at :43 is warm and heroic and wipes out that tension (at least until the song loops again). I love the sort of conflicting endgame feelings expressed through this song. Composed by Norikazu Miura.
Gimmick Land/Tomato Adventure (GBC/GBA, 2001/2002) composed by: Kiyomi Tanaka (Gimmick Land), Yoko Sakai (Tomato Adventure)
"Sour Soy City and Soy T.V." (Gimmick Land)
"Soy Millions" (Tomato Adventure)
➸This is the song from Tomato Adventure that stuck with me after I'd turned the game off. I couldn't even tell you why -- it's very simple and repetitive. The only bit that really changes is the bassline. The main part changes keys a few times, but that's it. I suppose it is a fitting theme for a busy city with monster-filled Mega Man X-esque highways, ha. Its Gimmick Land counterpart has much more noticeable percussion, which changes the song from rather chill to more energetic. For once, I think I prefer the Tomato Adventure version. That bass really makes it.
God Medicine: Fantasy Sekai no Tanjou (GB, 1993) composed by: Yuko Kurahashi, Minako Matsuhira
"Hidaka City"
➸The first town theme, and one of the first songs heard in the game. It's appropriately perky, but it has a notably nice lull before the loop.
The Goonies II (NES, 1987) composed by: someone at Konami
"Basement Theme"
➸It's catchy eight-bit euphoria! Way too upbeat and fun for a brick-walled dungeon of awful.
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (GBA, 2003) composed by: Miyuki Homareda
"Summer"
➸The summer season theme, which is fittingly fun and fast-paced. I particularly like the choppy maraca-like percussion.
Hourai Gakuen no Bouken! ~ Tenkousei Scramble (SNES, 1996) composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto
"Ruin in the Jungle"
➸Such a low-key and mysterious dungeon theme. It takes a little while to get to the echoing keyboard section that starts at :39, but it sounds really neat and slightly creepy. It's effective as a dungeon theme, even when it's just bass and percussion.
Ihatovo Monogatari (SNES, 1993) composed by: Tsukasa Tawada
"Ihatovo City"
➸What a nostalgic tune. It's the one I heard the most in my short time playing this great little game. As evident by the title, this is the city theme. It begins calmly but evolves with time into a warm and strong melody. If you're anything like me and have to talk to every character anew every chapter because they're all so charming, then you'll also hear this song a lot.
Lagrange Point (Famicom, 1991) composed by: Konami Kukeiha Club
"Searching for the Promised Land"
➸I had a hard time choosing between this overworld theme, the one for the first world, and the last overworld theme, but I thought this one was more representative of Lagrange Point's overall sound. It's so happy and full of little dinky details. Sadly it's pretty short, looping around :47, but it's a pleasant tune that kind of belies the situation at hand in-game. I guess it being short doesn't really matter when you get into battles every few steps anyway... Aki Hata has been confirmed as this song's composer, by the way.
Last Bible III (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hiroyuki Yanada
"Vaul Ship"
➸This was the first song in the game that caught my attention. It's actually pretty relaxing, and I like the constant background "guitar strumming" that keeps the tempo regulated. It doesn't really fit with what's going on in the game at that moment, but it's too nice to object to.
The Legend of Dragoon (PSX, 1999) composed by: Dennis Martin, Takeo Miratsu
"World Map Disc 2"
➸This song is so reminiscent of Legend of Dragoon for me. I love the strong piano lead and its accompanying strings and percussion and how they come together to create a wall of sound. Composed by Dennis Martin.
The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PSP, 2010) composed by: Hayato Sonoda, Takahiro Unisuga, Saki Momiyama, Masanori Osaki (Falcom Sound Team jdk)
"Zero no Kiseki"
➸Haha, the title screen music. I had to pick it, as it's very nostalgic. It's also representative of me getting older, ha. I'd turn my PS3 on to play Zero, and I'd get as far as starting it up and having this song play continually, and then I'd end up too busy to play and just turn the system off, or at worst I'd fall asleep with it still on and this song still playing. It's just a nice piano-led rendition of the game's vocal theme, "Way of Life." Composed by Saki Momiyama.
Legend of Mana (PSX, 1999) composed by: Yoko Shimomura
"Earth Painting"
➸All of the level songs in this game are fantastic, but "Earth Painting" is delightfully frantic and full of energy and drive. It opens with a rousing drumbeat and horn lead, and it quickly escalates into an ear-pleasing frenzy before slowing down with some strings.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64, 2000) composed by: Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi
"Clock Town Third Day"
➸The three Clock Town songs are interesting to listen to altogether in context of what's going on in the game -- the first day's song is slow and cheerful, the second day's song is even slower and reminds me of a hot summer day, and the third day's song is fast but still cheerful with a sinister sound in the background looming like the moon over the town. The song itself sounds like it's coming from a music box and is slightly circus-y, and I prefer it sped up to this tempo. The ironic happiness of the main melody contrasted with the sinister background noise is fantastic and well-executed. Composed by Koji Kondo.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998) composed by: Koji Kondo
"Shop"
➸Again, a cheery theme from Kondo, this time with acoustic guitar and percussion and brass and... accordion? An unusual instrument, for sure, but with memorable results. It's definitely a unique shop theme.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube, 2006) composed by: Toru Minegishi, Asuka Ohta, Koji Kondo
"Hyrule Field"
➸I'm going to be honest, I really like the Hyrule (and in MM's case, Termina) Field themes for all three Zelda games represented here. I really like this iteration's march-like feel with the snare drums, and those leading woodwinds/brasses! It's so much fun to ride around on your horse and listen to this epic song. The bridge before the loop is gorgeous as well. So well done. Composed by Toru Minegishi.
Live-A-Live (SNES, 1994) composed by: Yoko Shimomura
"Live-A-Live"
➸The title screen theme, but also a clever choice for a battle theme. As to be expected from a game that is about many heroes, it's a heroic and driving song with blaring instruments and snare drum.
Lufia and the Fortress of Doom (SNES, 1993) composed by: Yasunori Shiono
"Battle # 3"
➸The final battle theme! It's tense but that bass and percussion keeps you going. The song picks up around :54 with synth that sounds like guitar shredding. Ha. I would not be surprised to see metal versions of this song out there.
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (SNES, 1996) composed by: Yasunori Shiono
"Watchtowers of the Seal"
➸A short but heroic end-game tune with a quick, driving snare beat that goes well with the relatively short dungeons that the song plays in.
Lufia: The Legend Returns (GBC, 2001) composed by: Yasunori Shiono
"Tower of Sorrow"
➸Continuing with upbeat heroic themes, "Tower of Sorrow" fits the bill quite nicely. The thing about this song that I want to point out, though, is the neat section beginning at :17 where the main melody would continue playing while a second set of sounds would go from ear to ear. It's not every day that GBC games play with stereo sounds in such a neat way.
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (PSX, 1999) composed by: Noriyuki Iwadare
"Mysterious Cave"
➸I remember this song, aha. I really like the unique almost-banjo-like instrument added at :22, and how the bridge beginning around 1:19 turns the rather typical cave theme into something more upbeat and memorable.
The Magic of Scheherazade (NES, 1989) composed by: Akinori Sawa, Shunichi Mikame
"Past Overworld"
➸At certain points of the game, in order to solve puzzles, the characters must travel into the past. That's where this even-more-lonesome-than-the-first-overworld-theme plays, but the heroic lilt that ends the loop gives a glimmer of hope.
Magical Starsign (DS, 2006) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Puffoon, Planet of Wind"
➸A short and appropriately windy exploration tune. I like the sound of the main instrument.
Magical Vacation (GBA, 2001) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Dark Realm"
➸The second (technically third?) overworld theme sounds fittingly ambitious, though it still sounds a little dissonant to me. I like the melody, especially the section that starts at :51 (32:58 in the linked video) and continues until the loop, but the instrumentation/pitch choices are a little weird?
Majin Tensei (SNES, 1994) composed by: Hidehito Aoki
"Pallid Tears"
➸I think this is kind of like the heroine's theme? It's a little sassy with a choppy beat, but its lead instrument makes it still a little sweet.
Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hidehito Aoki, Misaki Okibe
"Scoop Up Sand"
➸The first overworld map theme, and it's also short and catchy. I love the piano. The tune really does get caught in my head. I want more! Composed by Hidehito Aoki.
Maniac Mansion (NES, 1990) composed by: David Warhol
"Introduction"
➸This song plays during the game's introduction sequence, is only a little over a minute long, and does not loop; however, I still really like it. It opens with percussion and builds up to an explosion of eight-bit guitar. It's catchy and fun and definitely my second favorite song from Maniac Mansion.
Mega Man II (NES, 1988) composed by: Ogeretsu, Manami, Yuukichan's Papa
"Bubble Man Stage"
➸This song has always seemed rather "watery" to me. Perhaps it's because of the echoed-ish notes starting around :21? Or perhaps the in-game stage is a water stage. Aha. Anyway, this song's percussion is also impressive.
Mega Man III (NES, 1990) composed by: Yasuaki Fujita
"Shadow Man Stage"
➸This entire soundtrack is fantastic, but I wanted to point out "Shadow Man Stage" for a little something. After a fun little intro, the song continues on -- listen to that "bass" line! -- and at :44 it builds up into a separate bridge section that's so catchy and neat. It makes the song seem as if it has two distinct melodies in total instead of being the same loop over and over. I love that section and kinda wish that it could've been its own stage song.
Mega Man IV (NES, 1991) composed by: Ojalin, Yasuaki Fujita
"Dr. Cossack Fortress II"
➸An impressive final area song that has sad-sounding notes but the tempo and intensity of the song makes it seem determined instead. This song's percussion is also quite nice. I really like eight-bit percussion?
Mega Man V (NES, 1992) composed by: Mari Yamaguchi
"Dark Man Stage"
➸Such a fun and catchy song! It's super long and very variant, too. The loop is nearly a minute long in itself, with at least three distinct sections within it. Not quite fitting as a scary final castle-ish area, but it sure works for me.
Mega Man VI (NES, 1993) composed by: Yuko Takehara
"Flame Man Stage"
➸This song has always impressed me ever since I was a kid. Flame Man is usually the stage I tackle first -- I blame Nintendo Power for that -- so the beautiful opening is very iconic to me. Then the percussion kicks in and the song takes its expected Arabian route, as Flame Man is supposed to be a Middle Eastern robot. I think. The turban throws me off. Anyway, I also enjoy the strong section starting at :44 that leads up to the loop.
Mega Man VII (SNES, 1995) composed by: Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama, Makoto Tomozawa
"Slash Man Stage"
➸Ahh, this song is great. I might like it more than the song I put on my official list, ha. It's full of energy right from the get-go, and the fun back-and-forth section that starts around :33 is so neat. It's adventurous and serious and yet catchy and great. I really like the sound of the sixteen-bit instrument set for this song, too.
Mega Man VIII (PSX, 1997) composed by: Syusaku Uchiyama
"Tengu Man Stage"
➸A breezy and fun song for what is probably one of my favorite stages to play through in any Mega Man game. The strings and cascading xylophone on top of a pulsing beat that play through most of the song come together so well, and then I really love that more sitar-sounding stringed instrument that starts playing before the loop at :37. There's so much flow and energy to this song that fits its corresponding stage perfectly.
Mega Man X (SNES, 1993) composed by: Setsuo Yamamoto, Makoto Tomozawa, Yuki Iwai, Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama
"Armored Armadillo Stage"
➸Continuing with fun stage themes, this song also has tons of energy and a fast, rocking tempo. The blaring horns at first really set the song's pace. There's a random guitar breakdown around :41, too.
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible (GB, 1992) composed by: Iwao Mitsunaga, Hiroyuki Yanada
"Dungeon"
➸For the original Game Boy release of this game, this neat tune was the regular dungeon theme. I played the Game Gear port, and it had a new, albeit much more generic dungeon theme. However, this song showed up near the end of the Game Gear version, and it fit perfectly in that situation. I love the lead flute-ish line. It's determined, mystical, and pretty.
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible II (GB, 1993) composed by: Iwao Mitsunaga, Hiroyuki Yanada
"Ship"
➸What a fitting theme for sailing the seas. It has a slowed minor-key melody line with faster harmony, which makes it sound just a bit sad. I also like how the song slows down before the loop, and catches back up seamlessly to begin again. Each loop is only about thirty seconds, however.
Metal Max (NES, 1991) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Time to Visit Dr. Mince!"
➸A fun and catchy song with an Asian-styled melody backed by energetic percussion that keeps it going at a steady pace. It's the theme song of the mad scientist who will revive dead characters through the magic of defibrillation, as well as a unique town towards the end of the game.
Metal Max 2 ReLoaded (DS, 2011) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Nemesis"
➸Oops, am I cheating for adding this, even though it's basically the same tune as "Let's Go By Ocean Liner!" from Metal Max 3, a song I highlighted on the main list? I still really like this tune, okay? This iteration of ship theme is less laid-back and more driving, with some nice percussion. But it's still kind of jazzy.
Metal Max 3 (DS, 2010) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Trap Trot"
➸One of the dungeon themes. I really like its minimalist approach, and yet there's an evident building, pieces being added until they're taken away again at the loop.
Metal Max Xeno Reborn (PS4/Switch, 2020) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Howl ~ To a Lingering Past"
➸Again, am I cheating for including a song that I've already included? "Howl" is my favorite tune from the original Famicom Metal Max, and I really love what Kadokura did with it for Xeno Reborn. It gets some synthy love and a really, really nice new part where the synth gets to go wild for a breakdown. I wonder what the in-game context is that brings this favorite of mine back into the world of Metal Max...
Mother 3 (GBA, 2006) composed by: Shogo Sakai
"Samba de Combo"
➸Another fantastic soundtrack that's impossible to pull only a couple songs from, but "Samba de Combo" is a great representation of the quality and feel of Mother 3. Performed by the in-game band DCMC, it begins with percussion and a vocal countdown, and continues to add instruments until bursting forth into a full-fledged song. I don't know if it's really a samba, but it definitely has slightly Latin leanings with a lead trumpet to top things off. There's even steel drum and electric organ thrown into the mix. And it sounds so great on the GBA!
My original post ran out of room. This one covers games with titles A through M. N-Z is here.
Last updated: 8/24/22
.hack//Infection (PS2, 2003) composed by: Chikayo Fukuda, Seizo Nakata
"Root Town Theta - Alpine City Dun Loireag"
➸Calm with more of a focus on woodwind and chimes/xylophone than the acoustic guitar in "Mac Anu." Honestly, I like both about equally.
7th Dragon (DS, 2009) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro
"Labyrinth - Jungle Navigation"
I think the title should technically be "Labyrinth - Dense Forest Navigation," because "forest" and "jungle" really do have different connotations.
➸Ahhhh, gorgeous strings and piano. That's it. The song envelops you in warm guitar and sharp piano, like a sunny autumn morning. Its eight-bit counterpart is quite different -- definitely less serene and more stuck-in-a-forest-maze.
7th Dragon 2020 (PSP, 2011) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro
"Shibuya - Jungle Navigation"
Pretty sure it's actually a jungle in this iteration, so the translated title works this time. Haha.
➸This is one of the recycled melodies from 7th Dragon, and as much as I love the original, this updated version is really nice as well. It retains the lovely melody, but changes up the instrumentation quite a bit. The guitar is replaced with soft synth, and the piano returns for the beginning, but is transformed to a stronger synth line backed by percussion this time. It's still soothing, but more like a summer night than an autumn morning. Ha. The DIVA Mode arrangement (through 51:50) by "whoo" brings the guitar back, but Miku Hatsune's "la-la-la"s replace the piano/synth. It's alright, though the song feels more driving and less relaxed. The melody still remains gorgeous, however, and it carries the song regardless of the instrumentation used.
7th Dragon 2020-II (PSP, 2013) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro; DIVA Mode songs arranged by the same ton of people as 2020
"Lights Out"
➸Wasn't expecting emotional, warm, moving piano and strings in my 7th Dragon game, but here it is. And it is so lovely. I think that this song would play during a blackout, as hinted by the title, so I can just imagine all of the people huddling around, cold and scared, while this haunting song plays. Mm. [post-playing edit]: Yeah, it's kind of a blackout, but it's much more emotional and awful than that. A gorgeous song for a section of the game that made me cry.
7th Dragon III: Code VFD (3DS, 2015) composed by: Yuzo Koshiro, with vocal themes and their instrumental counterparts by sasakure.UK
"Atlantica - Jade Afterglow"
➸Opening cascading piano reflects the cascading waterfalls in the underwater city of Atlantica, where this song is heard in-game. As usual, percussion is added to the pianos until a pretty and strong string (synth?) takes the lead at :32. I really like the particular sound of the string lead. It also kindly fades out to reintroduce the piano until the loop. It's a nice mix of pretty and delicate and has that kind of royal water kingdom feel to it.
Arcana (SNES, 1992) composed by: Jun Ishikawa, Hirokazu Ando
"Silent Forest of Doubt"
➸Definitely a calming piece. Slow higher-pitched notes play against a constant backbeat. It's sort of reminiscent of Devil Summoner's "Kasagi Mountain," though less misty mountain morning and more forest.
Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island (DS, 2009) composed by: Daisuke Achiwa
"Storm Bringer"
➸The regular boss battle theme. It's actually kind of long, at almost a minute-and-a-half before looping. I love how the dramatic buildup breaks into a piano-led section.
Beyond the Beyond (PSX, 1995) composed by: Motoi Sakuraba
"Battle 2"
➸Probably my favorite of the battle themes. Showcases Sakuraba's woodwinds and a crazy keyboard breakdown about a minute in.
Breath of Fire (SNES, 1993) composed by: Yasuaki Fujita, Yoko Shimomura, Minae Fujii, Mari Yamaguchi
"Flying"
➸Also known as "The Great Bird." Much less emotionally-charged than its counterpart tune in Breath of Fire II, but more carefree and calm. Dinky and utilizes the mechanical-ish instrumentation well. Composed by Yasuaki Fujita.
Breath of Fire II (SNES, 1994) composed by: Yuko Takehara
"Crooked Ladder"
➸The mysterious and ominous theme for the final town in the game. I like the atmosphere evoked by the slow tempo and mix of keyboard and flute.
Breath of Fire III (PSX, 1997) composed by: Akari Kaida, Yoshino Aoki
"Sandy Sound"
➸Also known as "The Desert of Death," the area in which this song is played. It's always been a favorite of mine (not the area, ha -- I was also led astray by the incorrect directions given in-game and had to use an FAQ to get out, sigh); laid-back piano and percussion with a jazzy lead string that definitely belies the area's name. The section around 1:40 in which the song is reduced to percussion and the wind sound effect is also particularly effective in looping the song back around while keeping in sync with the vast, cold, lonely desert motif.
Breath of Fire IV (PSX, 2000) composed by: Yoshino Aoki
"Truth and Dreams"
➸Sweet keyboard-y piano that plays in the fairy forest. Simple, though with a slightly sinister-sounding interlude kinda thing around :43.
Chou Mahou Tairiku WOZZ (SNES, 1995) composed by: Tomoyuki Hamada, Takeshi Saitou, Seiichi Tokunaga
"Balam's Theme"
➸An energetic and frantic rock-themed piece for the big bad guy in the game, complete with what sounds like guitars and keyboard-ish organ.
Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995) composed by: Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda
"Undersea Palace"
➸A dungeon theme for a giant, mechanical, well, undersea palace. The song makes excellent use of stereo, with the synth line going from left to right constantly. The ominous piano makes a great addition to the bouncing synth line, and the lead woodwind is an interesting counterpoint to the otherwise mechanical-sounding song.
Crystalis (NES, 1990) composed by: Yoko O
"Inner Mountains"
➸A peppy and repetitive eight-bit theme that's adventurous and fitting for the snowy mountain area. It's one of my favorite songs in the game based on catchiness alone.
Cyber Knight (SNES, 1992) composed by: Michiharu Hasuya, Osamu Kasai, Junko Yokoyama
"Game Over"
➸Dear goodness. This song amuses me. It's the happiest game over song I've ever heard. It plays while animations of your mechs using attacks flash on the screen. It's so incongruent with normal expectations of such a theme.
Cyber Knight II: Chikyuu Teikoku no Yabou (SNES, 1994) composed by: Yoshikatsu Sakai, Kyouko Sakai
"Gypsy Dance"
➸A later-game battle theme. I really like the opening; it's reminiscent of faux fast guitar strumming. It's serious and kind of dramatic.
Dance Dance Revolution (various, ~1999-2000s) composed by: lots of people
"Until Forever"
➸This song is solid energy throughout. I like the sound of the lead synth. The really interesting thing about this song is that I am familiar with the composer, Beatdrop, through his video game music remixes. Haha. It kind of blew my mind when I found out about that. This song is from DDR SuperNova 2, apparently.
Deadly Premonition (XBox360, ?) composed by: ?
"After the Rain"
➸A hauntingly sad piano piece that I find absolutely gorgeous. It also still seems to fit a detective-ish motif -- maybe it's the piano section around :23 that makes me hear that cabaret/noir feeling.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Saturn/PSX, 1998; 3DS, 2012) composed by: Toshiko Tasaki, Shoji Meguro, Tsukasa Masuko
"Amami Airport (Vision Quest)"
➸A jazzy piano/percussion piece with a sorta slow tempo. I like to imagine the character in the Vision Quest strolling around the airport and casually slaying demons while listening to some jazz. Composed by Toshiko Tasaki.
Devil Survivor (DS, 2009) composed by: Takami Asano
"Deep Night"
➸One of the boss battle themes, this song exemplifies the "wailing guitar" sound that Asano mostly chose to go with for this soundtrack. This is my favorite of the battle themes, just because it's so hardcore and somewhat tense, which is very fitting for the boss battles.
Devil Survivor 2 (DS, 2011) composed by: Kenji Ito
"Confrontation"
➸The regular battle scenario theme, and quite a showcase for the soundtrack's typical sound. Heroic synthy keyboard and a fast tempo with percussion make for an exciting and catchy theme.
Digimon World (PSX, 2000) composed by: Koji Yamada, Yuko Ishii
"Gear Savanna (Nighttime)"
➸As much as it chagrins me to do so, here is the nighttime counterpart to my original choice song from Digimon World. It uses softer strings and a woodwind that still sound folksy and in-character for a wide open savanna at night. The woodwind section at :52 is my favorite part of the song -- still fast-paced, but with a toned-down instrument.
Digimon World Dawn/Dusk (DS, 2007) composed by: Koji Yamada?
"World Map"
➸A snazzy and lively theme that opens with acoustic guitar and is punctuated by lots of interesting instrumentation. I particularly like the percussion. The song even goes slightly Pokémon-ish around :22. My only complaint is that the loop isn't even a minute long.
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (NES, 1987) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Daedalus"
➸The first section of the game's huge dungeon, and though short and repetitive, there's still enough change in the song to keep it interesting and catchy. The song even has an intro! There is an enhanced version of this song in Megami Tensei II, if this tickles your fancy.
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (NES, 1990) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Dash Under the Ground"
➸A moving, energetic, and catchy piece that plays in the underground tunnels between districts. There are a lot of things going on in this song, but one thing that I particularly enjoy is how the harmony line takes the spotlight from the lead melody. It's uncommon and unique.
Dragon Quest Monsters (GBC, 1998) composed by: Koichi Sugiyama
"Never-Ending Journey"
➸The main dungeon theme in DQM that any player probably knows by heart, especially if they've sunk as many hours into this game as I have. It begins with a lone lead and its melody and gradually evolves into a more complex piece. It finally speeds up around :45 with an uplifting bridge back to the loop.
Dragon Quest Monsters II (GBC, 2001) composed by: Koichi Sugiyama
"Heaven World"
➸This song ironically plays within the frozen world, so that's what I always associate it with in my mind. It's fitting, too, as the song sounds lonely and mystical and beautiful. Like "Never-Ending Journey" above, "Heaven World" constantly evolves all the way through the loop.
Earthbound (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hirokazu Tanaka, Keiichi Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanazu
"Pokey Means Business!"
➸Any song that begins with an unexpected and neat eight-bit opening that plays for nearly a minute before evolving into a sixteen-bit guitar breakdown is an instant win in my book. The sixteen-bit song itself is a metal-like composition, with heavy guitar and quick percussion that speeds up then slows down over and over.
Emerald Dragon (PC Engine, 1994) composed by: Yasuhiko Fukuda
"Forest of Sinking Silence"
➸I also keep seeing this song as "Forests and Caverns," but it really only reminds me of a certain forest that has to be traversed numerous times in-game... That soothing guitar would make that trek so worth it, though.
Energy Breaker (SNES, 1996) composed by: Yukio Nakajima, Yuusei Yamamoto, Yasunori Shiono
"Ardent Empathy"
➸The mines/fire cave theme. I remember it catching my attention when listening to it in the game. I like the driving percussion beat; it's sort of primal. Everything else just plays off of it. Composed by Nakajima.
Final Fantasy I (NES, 1987) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Temple of Chaos"
➸A somewhat peppy dungeon theme that sounds exactly like "Undersea Shrine" but at a slightly higher pitch and with a few added blips during the bridge section that really round it out.
Final Fantasy II (NES, 1988) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Battle Scene 2"
➸The most epic song in the game, which is reserved for the bigger boss battles. The opening has solid build-up, and the rest is quite varied and interesting. It's a decently long loop, as well.
Final Fantasy III (NES, 1990) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"This Is the Final Battle (Part 3)"
➸I love this soundtrack, but I wanted to highlight the eight-bit percussion in this song. Listen to that intro and tell me you're not impressed. The rest of the song sounds great too, but that percussion gets me every time.
Final Fantasy IV (SNES, 1991) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Mt. Ordeals"
➸A heroic, upbeat, and catchy (but short) theme for an equally heroic mountain. I really like the xylophone-sounding lead instrument and the snare drum percussion. Also, I hear piano.
Final Fantasy V (SNES, 1992) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"The Land Unknown"
➸Another beautiful overworld theme from Uematsu, this time with more xylophone, organ, horn, and what sounds like a banjo in the background. It's slow, solemn, foreboding, and lovely.
Final Fantasy VI (SNES, 1994) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"Devil's Lab"
➸A chaotic, noisy song. The lead brass is sinister in the beginning, but the horns that lead to the loop become more heroic just for a moment. The steampunk aspect of the FFVI world is my favorite part, and I like the songs that encapsulate that too.
Final Fantasy VIII (PSX, 1999) composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
"The Extreme"
➸I really like "The Extreme" for being a final battle theme that's tense and unnerving, but not due to wailing guitar or fast techno beats. No, this song opens with acoustic guitar and piano, and it's actually really pretty. The percussion and backing strings don't come in until about 1:19, either, to add that "final boss" tension and feel. From there, the song takes off into a more typical final battle theme, but I really enjoy how it's done, especially the buildup.
Final Fantasy Adventure (GB, 1991) composed by: Kenji Ito
"Battle 2 ~ Courage and Pride from the Heart"
➸For a boss theme, this sounds a lot more like a field theme, what with its pep and relatively high/heroic pitch. The bridge section is also quite a nice variation.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES, 1993) composed by: Ryuji Sasai, Yasuhiro Kawakami
"Doom Castle"
➸I had to highlight the final dungeon theme here, since there is just so much to this song. It opens with crazy guitar, then at :39 turns into a more solemn and heroic piece with drums, brass, and piano; then at 1:03 the tune goes suddenly apprehensive, almost. I love the mix of emotion portrayed in this song -- perfect for a final dungeon theme. Composed by Ryuji Sasai.
Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX, 1997) composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata, Yukiko Mitsui, Yuko Miura
"Decisive Battle"
➸An intense battle theme that has a lot of tension and a plodding beat, but also has a lot of variance for being over two minutes long. Composed by Iwata.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS, 2007) composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto
"Front and Back"
➸A piece that's rather typical of Sakimoto's work on FFTA2. It boasts an impressive range of instruments and a very variant tune that lasts nearly two minutes before looping. I particularly enjoy the heroic section that begins at :41.
Gensou Suikoden I (PSX, 1996) composed by: Konami Kukeiha Club
"Momentary Peace"
➸A lively town theme with a plethora of interesting instruments, and even chanting. I also swear that main melody echoes another in the game, but I can't quite put my finger on which. I actually prefer the more minimalistic version of this song titled "Sea's Roar," but "Momentary Peace" is indicative of the Suikoden I soundtrack and is much more interesting.
Gensou Suikoden II (PSX, 1999) composed by: Miki Higashino, Keiko Fukami
"Captured Town"
➸I love the medieval-ish sound the strings and woodwinds give this song. Favorite parts are the opening section and the woodwind section that starts around :37. This is a song I definitely remember hearing for the first time in the game and thinking, "huh, I like this." Composed by Miki Higashino.
Gensou Suikoden III (PS2, 2002) composed by: Michiru Yamane, Takashi Yoshida, Masahiko Kimura, Keiko Fukami
"Old Castle by the Lake"
➸Sadly, the soundtrack to this game was so unmemorable to me that I couldn't think of any other song that I really liked besides this one, the headquarters song, which I probably remember merely due to the fact that I've probably listened to it for several hours in-game. It's not bad in the slightest, though -- it's pretty lovely and soft, with a xylophone lead. It's warm and homey and fitting for a headquarters theme.
Gensou Suikoden IV (PS2, 2004) composed by: Masahiko Kimura, Norikazu Miura, Michiru Yamane
"Crossing the Waves"
➸Another unmemorable soundtrack for me, honestly, but I do remember "Crossing the Waves," the first overworld (oversea?) theme. Especially considering how long it takes to travel by ship in that game... It's a bright and adventurous tune with acoustic guitar (and maybe some steel drum?) and constant percussion that does fit the theme of sailing on the wide open sea. It's a short loop, unfortunately, but what is available is upbeat and breezy. Composed by Masahiko Kimura.
Gensou Suikoden V (PS2, 2006) composed by: Yoshihiro Tsukahara, Takashi Watanabe, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Chiharu Mukaiyama
"Dancing Rhapsody"
➸Electric organ, crazy drums, and electric guitar abound in this neat boss battle theme. Fun and tense and so different than the typical GSV sound. I really like the sound of the organ, especially the quick breakdown at 1:18 before the loop.
Gensou Suikoden Tierkreis (DS, 2009) composed by: Norikazu Miura, Yoshino Aoki, Kaori Komuro, Masaharu Iwata, Hitoshi Fujima, Junpei Fujita, Tomoaki Hirono, Daisuke Kikuta, Masato Nakayama
"The 12th Significator ~World Map BGM 4~"
➸The final overworld theme, and one that I think really emphasizes that heroic endgame feeling. The chimes, violin, and piano come together at the beginning in a sort of tense way, but the explosion of sound at :43 is warm and heroic and wipes out that tension (at least until the song loops again). I love the sort of conflicting endgame feelings expressed through this song. Composed by Norikazu Miura.
Gimmick Land/Tomato Adventure (GBC/GBA, 2001/2002) composed by: Kiyomi Tanaka (Gimmick Land), Yoko Sakai (Tomato Adventure)
"Sour Soy City and Soy T.V." (Gimmick Land)
"Soy Millions" (Tomato Adventure)
➸This is the song from Tomato Adventure that stuck with me after I'd turned the game off. I couldn't even tell you why -- it's very simple and repetitive. The only bit that really changes is the bassline. The main part changes keys a few times, but that's it. I suppose it is a fitting theme for a busy city with monster-filled Mega Man X-esque highways, ha. Its Gimmick Land counterpart has much more noticeable percussion, which changes the song from rather chill to more energetic. For once, I think I prefer the Tomato Adventure version. That bass really makes it.
God Medicine: Fantasy Sekai no Tanjou (GB, 1993) composed by: Yuko Kurahashi, Minako Matsuhira
"Hidaka City"
➸The first town theme, and one of the first songs heard in the game. It's appropriately perky, but it has a notably nice lull before the loop.
The Goonies II (NES, 1987) composed by: someone at Konami
"Basement Theme"
➸It's catchy eight-bit euphoria! Way too upbeat and fun for a brick-walled dungeon of awful.
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (GBA, 2003) composed by: Miyuki Homareda
"Summer"
➸The summer season theme, which is fittingly fun and fast-paced. I particularly like the choppy maraca-like percussion.
Hourai Gakuen no Bouken! ~ Tenkousei Scramble (SNES, 1996) composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto
"Ruin in the Jungle"
➸Such a low-key and mysterious dungeon theme. It takes a little while to get to the echoing keyboard section that starts at :39, but it sounds really neat and slightly creepy. It's effective as a dungeon theme, even when it's just bass and percussion.
Ihatovo Monogatari (SNES, 1993) composed by: Tsukasa Tawada
"Ihatovo City"
➸What a nostalgic tune. It's the one I heard the most in my short time playing this great little game. As evident by the title, this is the city theme. It begins calmly but evolves with time into a warm and strong melody. If you're anything like me and have to talk to every character anew every chapter because they're all so charming, then you'll also hear this song a lot.
Lagrange Point (Famicom, 1991) composed by: Konami Kukeiha Club
"Searching for the Promised Land"
➸I had a hard time choosing between this overworld theme, the one for the first world, and the last overworld theme, but I thought this one was more representative of Lagrange Point's overall sound. It's so happy and full of little dinky details. Sadly it's pretty short, looping around :47, but it's a pleasant tune that kind of belies the situation at hand in-game. I guess it being short doesn't really matter when you get into battles every few steps anyway... Aki Hata has been confirmed as this song's composer, by the way.
Last Bible III (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hiroyuki Yanada
"Vaul Ship"
➸This was the first song in the game that caught my attention. It's actually pretty relaxing, and I like the constant background "guitar strumming" that keeps the tempo regulated. It doesn't really fit with what's going on in the game at that moment, but it's too nice to object to.
The Legend of Dragoon (PSX, 1999) composed by: Dennis Martin, Takeo Miratsu
"World Map Disc 2"
➸This song is so reminiscent of Legend of Dragoon for me. I love the strong piano lead and its accompanying strings and percussion and how they come together to create a wall of sound. Composed by Dennis Martin.
The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PSP, 2010) composed by: Hayato Sonoda, Takahiro Unisuga, Saki Momiyama, Masanori Osaki (Falcom Sound Team jdk)
"Zero no Kiseki"
➸Haha, the title screen music. I had to pick it, as it's very nostalgic. It's also representative of me getting older, ha. I'd turn my PS3 on to play Zero, and I'd get as far as starting it up and having this song play continually, and then I'd end up too busy to play and just turn the system off, or at worst I'd fall asleep with it still on and this song still playing. It's just a nice piano-led rendition of the game's vocal theme, "Way of Life." Composed by Saki Momiyama.
Legend of Mana (PSX, 1999) composed by: Yoko Shimomura
"Earth Painting"
➸All of the level songs in this game are fantastic, but "Earth Painting" is delightfully frantic and full of energy and drive. It opens with a rousing drumbeat and horn lead, and it quickly escalates into an ear-pleasing frenzy before slowing down with some strings.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64, 2000) composed by: Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi
"Clock Town Third Day"
➸The three Clock Town songs are interesting to listen to altogether in context of what's going on in the game -- the first day's song is slow and cheerful, the second day's song is even slower and reminds me of a hot summer day, and the third day's song is fast but still cheerful with a sinister sound in the background looming like the moon over the town. The song itself sounds like it's coming from a music box and is slightly circus-y, and I prefer it sped up to this tempo. The ironic happiness of the main melody contrasted with the sinister background noise is fantastic and well-executed. Composed by Koji Kondo.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998) composed by: Koji Kondo
"Shop"
➸Again, a cheery theme from Kondo, this time with acoustic guitar and percussion and brass and... accordion? An unusual instrument, for sure, but with memorable results. It's definitely a unique shop theme.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube, 2006) composed by: Toru Minegishi, Asuka Ohta, Koji Kondo
"Hyrule Field"
➸I'm going to be honest, I really like the Hyrule (and in MM's case, Termina) Field themes for all three Zelda games represented here. I really like this iteration's march-like feel with the snare drums, and those leading woodwinds/brasses! It's so much fun to ride around on your horse and listen to this epic song. The bridge before the loop is gorgeous as well. So well done. Composed by Toru Minegishi.
Live-A-Live (SNES, 1994) composed by: Yoko Shimomura
"Live-A-Live"
➸The title screen theme, but also a clever choice for a battle theme. As to be expected from a game that is about many heroes, it's a heroic and driving song with blaring instruments and snare drum.
Lufia and the Fortress of Doom (SNES, 1993) composed by: Yasunori Shiono
"Battle # 3"
➸The final battle theme! It's tense but that bass and percussion keeps you going. The song picks up around :54 with synth that sounds like guitar shredding. Ha. I would not be surprised to see metal versions of this song out there.
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (SNES, 1996) composed by: Yasunori Shiono
"Watchtowers of the Seal"
➸A short but heroic end-game tune with a quick, driving snare beat that goes well with the relatively short dungeons that the song plays in.
Lufia: The Legend Returns (GBC, 2001) composed by: Yasunori Shiono
"Tower of Sorrow"
➸Continuing with upbeat heroic themes, "Tower of Sorrow" fits the bill quite nicely. The thing about this song that I want to point out, though, is the neat section beginning at :17 where the main melody would continue playing while a second set of sounds would go from ear to ear. It's not every day that GBC games play with stereo sounds in such a neat way.
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (PSX, 1999) composed by: Noriyuki Iwadare
"Mysterious Cave"
➸I remember this song, aha. I really like the unique almost-banjo-like instrument added at :22, and how the bridge beginning around 1:19 turns the rather typical cave theme into something more upbeat and memorable.
The Magic of Scheherazade (NES, 1989) composed by: Akinori Sawa, Shunichi Mikame
"Past Overworld"
➸At certain points of the game, in order to solve puzzles, the characters must travel into the past. That's where this even-more-lonesome-than-the-first-overworld-theme plays, but the heroic lilt that ends the loop gives a glimmer of hope.
Magical Starsign (DS, 2006) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Puffoon, Planet of Wind"
➸A short and appropriately windy exploration tune. I like the sound of the main instrument.
Magical Vacation (GBA, 2001) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Dark Realm"
➸The second (technically third?) overworld theme sounds fittingly ambitious, though it still sounds a little dissonant to me. I like the melody, especially the section that starts at :51 (32:58 in the linked video) and continues until the loop, but the instrumentation/pitch choices are a little weird?
Majin Tensei (SNES, 1994) composed by: Hidehito Aoki
"Pallid Tears"
➸I think this is kind of like the heroine's theme? It's a little sassy with a choppy beat, but its lead instrument makes it still a little sweet.
Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hidehito Aoki, Misaki Okibe
"Scoop Up Sand"
➸The first overworld map theme, and it's also short and catchy. I love the piano. The tune really does get caught in my head. I want more! Composed by Hidehito Aoki.
Maniac Mansion (NES, 1990) composed by: David Warhol
"Introduction"
➸This song plays during the game's introduction sequence, is only a little over a minute long, and does not loop; however, I still really like it. It opens with percussion and builds up to an explosion of eight-bit guitar. It's catchy and fun and definitely my second favorite song from Maniac Mansion.
Mega Man II (NES, 1988) composed by: Ogeretsu, Manami, Yuukichan's Papa
"Bubble Man Stage"
➸This song has always seemed rather "watery" to me. Perhaps it's because of the echoed-ish notes starting around :21? Or perhaps the in-game stage is a water stage. Aha. Anyway, this song's percussion is also impressive.
Mega Man III (NES, 1990) composed by: Yasuaki Fujita
"Shadow Man Stage"
➸This entire soundtrack is fantastic, but I wanted to point out "Shadow Man Stage" for a little something. After a fun little intro, the song continues on -- listen to that "bass" line! -- and at :44 it builds up into a separate bridge section that's so catchy and neat. It makes the song seem as if it has two distinct melodies in total instead of being the same loop over and over. I love that section and kinda wish that it could've been its own stage song.
Mega Man IV (NES, 1991) composed by: Ojalin, Yasuaki Fujita
"Dr. Cossack Fortress II"
➸An impressive final area song that has sad-sounding notes but the tempo and intensity of the song makes it seem determined instead. This song's percussion is also quite nice. I really like eight-bit percussion?
Mega Man V (NES, 1992) composed by: Mari Yamaguchi
"Dark Man Stage"
➸Such a fun and catchy song! It's super long and very variant, too. The loop is nearly a minute long in itself, with at least three distinct sections within it. Not quite fitting as a scary final castle-ish area, but it sure works for me.
Mega Man VI (NES, 1993) composed by: Yuko Takehara
"Flame Man Stage"
➸This song has always impressed me ever since I was a kid. Flame Man is usually the stage I tackle first -- I blame Nintendo Power for that -- so the beautiful opening is very iconic to me. Then the percussion kicks in and the song takes its expected Arabian route, as Flame Man is supposed to be a Middle Eastern robot. I think. The turban throws me off. Anyway, I also enjoy the strong section starting at :44 that leads up to the loop.
Mega Man VII (SNES, 1995) composed by: Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama, Makoto Tomozawa
"Slash Man Stage"
➸Ahh, this song is great. I might like it more than the song I put on my official list, ha. It's full of energy right from the get-go, and the fun back-and-forth section that starts around :33 is so neat. It's adventurous and serious and yet catchy and great. I really like the sound of the sixteen-bit instrument set for this song, too.
Mega Man VIII (PSX, 1997) composed by: Syusaku Uchiyama
"Tengu Man Stage"
➸A breezy and fun song for what is probably one of my favorite stages to play through in any Mega Man game. The strings and cascading xylophone on top of a pulsing beat that play through most of the song come together so well, and then I really love that more sitar-sounding stringed instrument that starts playing before the loop at :37. There's so much flow and energy to this song that fits its corresponding stage perfectly.
Mega Man X (SNES, 1993) composed by: Setsuo Yamamoto, Makoto Tomozawa, Yuki Iwai, Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama
"Armored Armadillo Stage"
➸Continuing with fun stage themes, this song also has tons of energy and a fast, rocking tempo. The blaring horns at first really set the song's pace. There's a random guitar breakdown around :41, too.
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible (GB, 1992) composed by: Iwao Mitsunaga, Hiroyuki Yanada
"Dungeon"
➸For the original Game Boy release of this game, this neat tune was the regular dungeon theme. I played the Game Gear port, and it had a new, albeit much more generic dungeon theme. However, this song showed up near the end of the Game Gear version, and it fit perfectly in that situation. I love the lead flute-ish line. It's determined, mystical, and pretty.
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible II (GB, 1993) composed by: Iwao Mitsunaga, Hiroyuki Yanada
"Ship"
➸What a fitting theme for sailing the seas. It has a slowed minor-key melody line with faster harmony, which makes it sound just a bit sad. I also like how the song slows down before the loop, and catches back up seamlessly to begin again. Each loop is only about thirty seconds, however.
Metal Max (NES, 1991) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Time to Visit Dr. Mince!"
➸A fun and catchy song with an Asian-styled melody backed by energetic percussion that keeps it going at a steady pace. It's the theme song of the mad scientist who will revive dead characters through the magic of defibrillation, as well as a unique town towards the end of the game.
Metal Max 2 ReLoaded (DS, 2011) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Nemesis"
➸Oops, am I cheating for adding this, even though it's basically the same tune as "Let's Go By Ocean Liner!" from Metal Max 3, a song I highlighted on the main list? I still really like this tune, okay? This iteration of ship theme is less laid-back and more driving, with some nice percussion. But it's still kind of jazzy.
Metal Max 3 (DS, 2010) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Trap Trot"
➸One of the dungeon themes. I really like its minimalist approach, and yet there's an evident building, pieces being added until they're taken away again at the loop.
Metal Max Xeno Reborn (PS4/Switch, 2020) composed by: Satoshi Kadokura
"Howl ~ To a Lingering Past"
➸Again, am I cheating for including a song that I've already included? "Howl" is my favorite tune from the original Famicom Metal Max, and I really love what Kadokura did with it for Xeno Reborn. It gets some synthy love and a really, really nice new part where the synth gets to go wild for a breakdown. I wonder what the in-game context is that brings this favorite of mine back into the world of Metal Max...
Mother 3 (GBA, 2006) composed by: Shogo Sakai
"Samba de Combo"
➸Another fantastic soundtrack that's impossible to pull only a couple songs from, but "Samba de Combo" is a great representation of the quality and feel of Mother 3. Performed by the in-game band DCMC, it begins with percussion and a vocal countdown, and continues to add instruments until bursting forth into a full-fledged song. I don't know if it's really a samba, but it definitely has slightly Latin leanings with a lead trumpet to top things off. There's even steel drum and electric organ thrown into the mix. And it sounds so great on the GBA!