expanded list of recommended game songs, N-Z.
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 N through Z. A-M is here.
Last updated: 8/24/22
Persona 1 (PSX, 1996) composed by: Shoji Meguro, Hidehito Aoki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Misaki Okibe
"Dungeon ~ Black Market"
➸This song really deserves to go onto the main list, but the Satomi Tadashi song has had more of an impact on me -- I was singing it out of the blue last night, even -- than this great song. The song, funky in itself, starts out with a piano/percussion intro that moves into an almost-guitar-like wailing lead with intermittent piano throughout. I especially love the piano interlude at 1:25 -- it's so typically Meguro. Well, honestly, the entire song is dripping in Meguro's style, and I love that I can look back on this song -- one of his first Atlus compositions -- and be reminded of some of his newest stuff and think, "yeah, that's Shoji Meguro's work right there, yup yup." His piano is unmistakable, and the slight funk brings Persona 3 to mind a bit. I love it.
Persona 1 (PSP, 2009) composed by: Shoji Meguro, Hidehito Aoki, Misaki Okibe, Kenichi Tsuchiya; arranged by Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Atsushi Kitajoh, Ryota Koduka
"Dungeon ~ Hypnos Tower"
➸I am a stickler for the original Persona 1 soundtrack, but I can appreciate the pieces that were arranged for the PSP release, such as this one. The original "Dungeon ~ Hypnos Tower" is one of my favorite songs from the PSX soundtrack -- it's slow and moody and trance-y -- but the updated version has a completely different feel while sticking to the same melody. The addition of woodwind and sax and bells makes it jazzy and low-key but still upbeat. Originally composed by Hidehito Aoki, but I believe it was arranged (quite well) by Kenichi Tsuchiya.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSX, 2000) composed by: Toshiko Tasaki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Masaki Kurokawa, Shoji Meguro
"Aoba Park"
➸Lovely and solemn piano that I find absolutely gorgeous. This version of "Aoba Park" has more of a tune than the Innocent Sin version does, and though I prefer the IS version for some reason, this is still such a pretty song. I also still appreciate the bird chirping and children chattering background noises that subtly fit the song's location.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSX, 1999) composed by: Toshiko Tasaki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Masaki Kurokawa, Shoji Meguro
"Zodiac"
➸A bluesy song with heavy beats that fittingly plays in a club. I could get lost in that percussion and pounding bassline. My favorite part has to be the keyboard breakdown that begins a minute-and-a-half into the song. Pretty sure it's composed by Toshiko Tasaki.
Persona 3 (PS2, 2006) composed by: Shoji Meguro
"During the Test..."
➸A short but perky little tune that plays during exam sections in-game. The xylophone lead is sort of whimsical and gives the song character, which is expanded once a trumpet joins the xylophone in a typical Persona 3/Meguro fashion. This was honestly the first song in the game that I really liked immediately, even if it's just a short loop.
Persona 4 (PS2, 2008) composed by: Shoji Meguro
"Long Way"
➸An energetic and slightly tense final dungeon theme with a strong piano lead and percussion that sound so good mixed together. The strings add a nice touch as well. I'm such a sucker for strong piano with strong percussion and showing off my favorite instrument's less delicate side.
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (3DS, 2014) composed by: Atsushi Kitajoh, Toshiki Konishi, Yuzo Koshiro (with arrangements of songs originally composed by Shoji Meguro)
"Instinct and Longing"
➸A smooth piano-led piece that plays in the lower levels of the second dungeon. The piano and strings make the song sound kind of sad, but the constant percussion keeps it from really becoming a sad piece. I really like the neat part that starts at 1:47 and lasts until the loop. I can't quite figure out what instrument it is, but it's a neat sliding-sounding noise. Composed by Toshiki Konishi.
Pokémon Black/White (DS, 2010) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Shota Kageyama, Hitomi Sato
"Lacunosa Town"
➸I honestly didn't discover this song until I played Black 2, as I never bothered to stay long in Lacunosa in Black. Yet it grew on me quickly, with its sweet xylophone, piano, and banjo-like string interplay. Composed by Hitomi Sato.
Pokémon Black 2/White 2 (DS, 2012) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki, Hitomi Sato, Satoshi Nohara, Shota Kageyama, Minako Adachi, Teruo Taniguchi
"Battle! Champion Iris"
➸I don't think dinky keyboard and xylophone are what come to mind first thing when reminded of Champion battle themes, but this song actually quite fits the bill. Iris is like ten and is dressed up like a princess, after all. The song is fast-paced and has tense guitar to balance it out, but the xylophone really shines with its high-pitched happiness. It's unique among the other more typical battle themes, and that makes it more enjoyable to listen to. Composed by Hitomi Sato.
Pokémon Card GB 2: GR Dan Sanjou! (GBC, 2001) composed by: Ichiro Shimakura
"GR Lightning and Psychic Fort"
➸This song begins with bleeps reminiscent of computers and/or laboratory equipment, and then a sneaky bass line jumps in before the lead melody begins about fifteen seconds into the song. I really enjoy how the song climaxes and loops over again very seamlessly and naturally. It's a simple song, but it manages to be quite catchy.
Pokémon Colosseum (GameCube, 2003) composed by: Tsukasa Tawada
"Cipher Peon Battle"
➸I love the interplay of piano and guitar in this song. Tawada's Pokémon battle songs sound like so much more than just Pokémon battle themes; a breath of fresh air compared to Junichi Masuda's typical battle theme style in the main-line games.
Pokémon Crystal (GBC, 2001) composed by: Morikazu Aoki (Crystal-exclusive songs), Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda (Gold/Silver songs)
"Pokégear Radio: Buena's Password"
➸So catchy! It's so darn short, but I can't help but enjoy the fast-paced loop as it plays. Even though there really is quite a bit to this song already, especially considering its length, I would love so much more to this.
Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS, 2006) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Hitomi Sato
"Route 210 (Daytime)"
➸Diamond and Pearl have such a distinct sound to them, and this song is one that I always associate with that sound and D/P. It opens with bells chiming and then dives right into synthesized guitar and keyboard and general frenzy and fun. It's definitely a song suiting exploration and a journey. Composed by Go Ichinose.
Pokémon Emerald (GBA, 2004) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki
"Battle Dome 2"
➸The second version of the Battle Dome theme plays once you've entered a tournament, and it's really awesome compared to the original. There are more instruments added to make the song much more intense, including crazy percussion, echoing my earlier statement of how wild and interesting the Hoenn Battle Frontier songs are. Composed by Go Ichinose.
Pokémon Gold/Silver (GBC, 2000) composed by: Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda
"Route 2"
➸This song, supposed to be based on the original "Viridian Forest," opens with a semi-sinster opening until a high-pitched lead begins to play at :14, completely changing the dynamic of the song. It actually kind of reminds me of "National Park" with that high-pitched lead, but this song has a perky character all its own. Composed by Junichi Masuda.
Pokémon Red/Blue (GB, 1997) composed by: Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda
"Road to Fuchsia City - From Lavender Town"
➸I love route themes in Pokémon games. This one plays within my favorite stretch of Kanto, from Silence Bridge on Route 12 to Route 15 outside of Fuchsia City, and it's so hopeful and fitting for adventure. The percussion even sounds like a snare drum playing a marching tune. Composed by Junichi Masuda.
Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (GBA, 2003) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki
"Route 119"
➸I love Route 119, and I love the feeling and ambition and sense of exploration and adventure that comes through this song. It opens with blaring trumpets and keyboard, then slows a bit and builds back up to the blaring loop. The song is best experienced while on the route in-game for yourself, walking through the grass that's taller than the character sprite and traversing bridges over a river that spans the entire route, but it's still impressive on its own. Composed by Go Ichinose.
Pokémon Sun/Moon (3DS, 2016) composed by: Minako Adachi, Hitomi Sato, Tomoaki Oga, Hideaki Kuroda, Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose
"The Pokémon Research Lab"
➸It's short, but that electric organ synth is sweet. That's about it. Composed by Hitomi Sato.
Pokémon Trading Card Game (GBC, 1998) composed by: Ichiro Shimakura
"Club Master Battle"
➸A tense song that has plenty of buildup to the climax of the song that starts near the minute mark. I love the more hopeful and pretty tune that plays after said climax. Tense and hopeful -- perfect for a boss battle.
Pokémon X/Y (3DS, 2013) composed by: Minako Adachi, Shota Kageyama, Hitomi Sato; with rearrangements of classics by Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki, Satoshi Nohara
"Santalune Forest"
➸Very simple and short forest tune with gorgeous marimba percussion and string drops that completely evoke Yoko Shimomura's style. I prefer the chirp-less version that plays in later in-game forests/caves, so I linked that instead of the OST rip. Composed by Shota Kageyama.
Radia Senki - Reimei Hen (NES, 1991) composed by: Keiji Yamagishi, Hiroshi Miyazaki
"Ship"
➸Energetic and happy eight-bit music. I think the "ship" in question is an airship, so that sort of explains the perky music. It's pretty catchy, too. Almost sounds like an ending credits theme, haha.
Radiant Historia (DS, 2010) composed by: Yoko Shimomura
"Memories of the World"
➸Shimomura displays her typical style pretty well with this final dungeon theme. It opens a bit subtly with pounding piano/percussion and woodwind, and continues to build up to a sort of clarinet-led lull around :48 that quickly bounces back into a wall of sound. I love how she is able to balance the frenzied sections of the song with more quieter sections and have it all come together nicely.
Ragnarok Online (computer, 2002) composed by: SoundTeMP
"Retro Metro"
➸I don't know the in-game context to this song, but out of all the fast-paced dance-like themes, "Retro Metro" keeps catching my ear. It's not really all that fast, but it's still quick and has a driving beat. I love the mixture of the violins with the fast percussion.
RPG Maker 2000 (PC, 2000) composed by: Youta Kitagami, ?
"Field4"
➸Sweet, high-energy MIDI music. The song itself is made of two halves -- one driving, one more relaxed. This is supposed to be an overworld theme, but I've played an RPG Maker game where it was used as a battle theme.
Rune Factory (DS, 2006) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Gigant Mountain"
➸As far as I know, this song is exclusive to Rune Factory 1, but it needs to be showcased here. I really love what Morita did with the (admittedly stereotypical) "mountain sound" of driving percussion and breathy woodwinds in this song. The tune is really pleasant and catchy, and the woodwind is at a nicely high pitch so that it really stands out.
Rune Factory 2 (DS, 2008) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Final Boss"
➸Gosh, what a pretty and determined piece. Don't let the harpsichord-y lead fool you; heroic brass comes blaring in at :28 to remind you that this is a decisive battle. They melt away into what sounds like a harp to begin the loop again. A nice mix of instrumentation.
Rune Factory 3 (DS, 2009) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Sharance Labyrinth"
➸Hoo boy. In both Rune Factory 3 and 4, the Sharance Labyrinth is an optional grindfest dungeon that I haven't touched and probably won't for a long time. The beginning recommends you to be level three hundred, and I'm only one hundred thirty. Anyway. The song itself sounds like you're stuck in an arcade game, complete with a "get ready!"-esque fanfare that plays during the opening two seconds of the song. It continues in a faux eight-bit fashion with a lead eight-bit synth through to the loop. I particularly like the punchy bit at around 1:08.
Rune Factory 4 (3DS, 2012) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Selphia: Night"
➸The sweet little nighttime town theme that plays I think after like nine p.m. until six the next morning. It sounds sort of like piano, but I think the main instrument is something being plucked, like a harp. Not sure. In any case, it's just that instrument and a little percussion at a slow tempo, and it's quite calming and nice. I hear it in-game a lot, since my character (and her player) never know how to go to bed on time. So it's already nostalgic to me. It's like a lullaby...
Rune Factory Frontier (Wii, 2008) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Summer"
➸This is an interesting season theme that, through its instrumentation, feels a slight bit militaristic to me. I could see the high flute of this song, paired with the snare drums that join in around :45, played by the young military men of the past. Joining with the flute and drums is a constant strumming guitar backbeat. It's another season theme that doesn't quite match its season, so I appreciate Morita's diversity in her music.
Rune Factory Tides of Destiny (Wii, 2011) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Three Sisters Inn"
➸I assume this inn has a bar, because this song is full of the snazzy acoustics that remind one of a bar theme. This song is apparently an arrangement of the final dungeon theme from RF1. I have no idea; I just enjoy the catchy piano and guitar.
Sansara Naga (NES, 1990) composed by: Kenji Kawai, Osamu Kasai, Masaaki Harada, Shinji Nakayama
"World of Dragons"
➸An interesting end-game overworld theme. The first overworld theme is mystic, and this one is more desperate. Composed by Kenji Kawai.
Shadowrun (SNES, 1993) composed by: Marshall Parker
"The Morgue"
➸This is probably the most well-known song from the game, which plays at the very beginning and again in an area a little further in. I love the progression in it -- it begins cautiously, and begins building up around the half-minute mark until the woodwind-y instrument kicks in a little later. That woodwind makes the song, in my opinion.
Secret of Mana (SNES, 1993) composed by: Hiroki Kikuta
"The Sorcerer"
➸Or "The Oracle." Anyone into an insane, all-over-the-place penultimate boss theme? Here you go! It sounds more like a rave, and I really like it for that aspect. It's not what you'd expect!
Seiken Densetsu 3 (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hiroki Kikuta
"Nuclear Fusion"
➸Rollicking percussion is the theme of this song, first accompanied by a woodwind lead and then a xylophone lead. There's a nice little xylophone break before the loop, as well. It's been years since I've played this game, but this definitely sounds like a boss battle theme to me.
Shin Megami Tensei (SNES, 1992) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Home"
➸This is probably one of the few "happy" sounding songs in the game. It plays in the main character's house, and the way I'd describe it is... lazily whimsical? The lead sounds a little music box-ish and since it's one of the first songs heard in the game, it kind of gives a false sense of security...
Shin Megami Tensei (Sega CD, 1994) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko, arranged by folks from Sims
"Embassy"
I tend to call it "Echo Building" because that's how my .spc file has it named and the Echo Building is technically the first place this song plays in the game.
➸The original Super Famicom track is a ~20-second loop, and it's blaring from the get-go. The Sega CD version begins much more softly and builds up the original tune until it lets loose around 1:06 with blaring synth lines going wild and overtaking the original repeating loop. It reaches a climax and dies back down for the loop, like a proper song. Apparently the original Super Famicom song was composed to have these extra elements, but they didn't make it into the game for some reason. Oh well.
Shin Megami Tensei II (SNES, 1994) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Heroine"
➸Ugh, the feels. There is so much emotion in this song, and yet it's really pretty, even without clear instruments. Masuko used the mechanical sixteen-bit soundfont well to create something that wasn't creepy or rock/metal-like.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (PS2, 2003) composed by: Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Toshiko Tasaki
"Shinjuku Hygienic Hospital"
➸Atmospheric piano with a pulsing beat that is mysterious and lovely. Fitting for the dark and mysterious hospital in which the song plays. Composed by Shoji Meguro.
Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS, 2013) composed by: Ryota Koduka, Toshiki Konishi (Tsukasa Masuko, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Shoji Meguro, Hidehito Aoki all composed older songs that were arranged for this game, but only Koduka and Konishi composed original songs)
"Battle - b4"
➸Most of the battle themes in SMTIV are great, and "Battle - b4" is probably one of my top favorites. As the "b" in the title indicates, it is a boss battle theme, and a very particular one at that... No spoilers, as I myself didn't have to fight it during my playthrough, so I don't know much about it. I do know, however, who the battle is against, and in that context, this song makes a lot more sense as to why it's not kick-butt rock like the other battle themes, but more pretty and kind of sad. The Asian-esque strings are fantastic, especially with the violins backing them. Composed by Ryota Koduka.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (3DS, 2016) composed by: Ryota Koduka
"The Beginning of the End"
➸This theme plays in one of the final dungeons, and just as the song implies, the dungeon is pretty crazy. The song is quite energetic without being really fast in tempo, but there's also a bit of a mysterious feeling to it as well. It's also quite varied, almost to the point of being chaotic.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (Sega Saturn, 1996) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko, Toshiko Tasaki
"Kasagi Mountain"
➸Ahh, I debated whether or not to put this song here or something a bit more... interesting, like "Clover Gym," but... If this list is a true representation of which songs I like from these games, then "Kasagi Mountain" is the one song off of this soundtrack that I have to put on repeat a few times whenever I listen to it. I can't even really explain why -- it's quiet and ambient and the the main melody that comes in around the half-minute mark doesn't have the best sound in the world (a piano would be better pianos make everything better) -- but I really admire how the floating opening bits pan all over the place and make it fun to listen to with headphones. It's just so relaxing and... nice? It's not even particularly pretty, but if anything evoked a misty green mountain morning heavy with dew, this song does that for me. And I have no idea what its in-game context is. I like to put this song on and listen to it for calming ambient noise. It's much too short, though, like every other song on this soundtrack. Composed by Toshiko Tasaki.
Shin Megami Tensei if... (SNES, 1994) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Domain of Wrath"
➸I didn't play this route in-game, so I never visited the Domain of Wrath myself, but I am super happy to hear that the original full version of SMTI's "Cathedral" was actually used in some capacity in some game instead of languishing only on the official SMTI OST (besides the Sega CD arrangement that I talked about previously but took off because I prefer this sound font a lot more). That's really all there is to it... The SMTI short version of "Cathedral" is only twenty-seven seconds long... but this full version adds all kinds of sinister synth and stuff that extends the song to about 2:25. It's really awesome and one of Masuko's best compositions.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS, 2009) composed by: Shoji Meguro
"The Fear of God"
➸The battle theme that I can definitely appreciate more on its own than in-game. Strange Journey's soundtrack is a bit of an odd beast, with orchestration and weird chanting that I don't like all that much (at least it's not the screaming demons in SMTIII?), but "The Fear of God" is interesting enough for me to overlook the chanting. It begins with blaring brass, but it calms down and escalates again back and forth through the song, which gives it this great variation that I love. It's an interestingly contrasting battle theme to previous (and future) MegaTen games' themes, as they tend to be purely rock.
Solstice (NES, 1989) composed by: Tim Follin
"Main Theme"
➸Well, considering there are like three songs in this game, this was the obvious choice for this list. It's pretty low-key and dinky, but it's great for thinking through a puzzle game. It still has a sort of mystical feel to it, and it's a decently long loop for an NES game -- only thing is, this is the only song that plays in the game, so it's good that it's nearly three minutes long.
Spyro the Dragon (PSX, 1998) composed by: Stewart Copeland
"Dark Hollow"
➸My favorite level in the game aesthetics-wise, and a definite iconic song to me. The stage takes place at night, so that sort of explains the quiet opening with bells and tambourine and the build up into a pretty keyboard lead. It's sweet and pretty and so nostalgic to me. It's also pretty indicative of the Spyro soundtrack, especially that keyboard.
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (PSX, 2000) composed by: Stewart Copeland
"Fireworks Factory"
➸And this is definitely my favorite level in any Spyro game -- an Asian-styled level with ninjas and craziness everywhere, ahh. It's so much fun! The song isn't overly Asian; it's more spy-like, and that kind of influences how I play through the level. The percussion is fast and keeps the tempo while remaining kind of funky, 'cause, after all, this is still a rather light-hearted kid's game. I love the frantic feel of the song, and it completely fits the level to a tee.
Tales of Legendia (PS2, 2005) composed by: Go Shiina
"A Cheerful Bandit"
➸A certain character's theme that plays in his hideout as well. It's visited very early on in the game, and I remember that this was the first track that impressed me -- I certainly wasn't expecting jazz in a bandit hideout. It begins with brash brass and evolves into a super nice, minimalist jazz piece. I love the subdued bass and percussion that begins around :27.
Tales of Phantasia (SNES, 1995) composed by: Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya
"Lake on Ymir"
➸A peaceful and yet lively town (and a bridge maze, ugh) theme that starts out rather unassumingly, but has a nice slow lull period from :35-:56 that suddenly transforms to an eclectic piano and woodwind breakdown with a really fast tempo before coming back to the loop. It's pretty impressive and creative.
Terranigma (SNES, 1995) composed by: Miyoko Kobayashi, Masanori Hikichi
"Departure"
➸Also known as "Dark Side Field," this tune is the first overworld theme. It's actually sort of lonely and mysterious, but it works well with the sort of odd scenery of fire lakes and large crystals everywhere. It's a pretty song for what's basically an extended tutorial area. Composed by Kobayashi.
Thousand Arms (PSX, 1998) composed by: "Atlus Sound Team"?
"Jayarl Plateau - The New Continent"
➸A charming Arabian-themed overworld theme with an appropriate lead sitar and percussion. It's probably my favorite overworld theme for all of its pep and charm. Thing is, it's not really heard all that much, since a giant train system (apparently based on Tokyo's Yamanote Line?) spans the continent and it's easier to use it to travel. It's still alright for an overworld theme, though, especially the energetic sitar/keyboard section at :28.
Valkyrie Profile (PSX, 2000) composed by: Motoi Sakuraba
"Confidence in the Domination"
➸One of the boss battle themes, full of Sakuraba's synthy keyboard style. It's energetic and catchy and really sounds more like a dungeon theme than a boss theme, which is generally a good thing. I really like the opening section -- so catchy.
Waterworld (SNES, 1995) composed by: Dean Evans
"Mission Theme 2"
➸The driving pulse draws you in, and the synth that begins around :39 will keep you in. It's less trance-y than "Diving," but this song has energy that never goes into non-chill territory.
Wild Arms (PSX, 1996) composed by: Michiko Naruke
"Rudy's Companions"
➸A short ~32 second-long loop of heroic trumpet, driving percussion, and echoing handclaps that caught my attention in-game and still gets stuck in my head at random every now and then.
Wild Arms 2 (PSX, 1999) composed by: Michiko Naruke
"Dungeon: Spiral Tower"
➸The theme for the penultimate dungeon is appropriately kind of crazy. I really love the backing trumpet-ish sounds. It's really short, though -- the loop is about 42 seconds.
The World Ends with You (DS, 2007) composed by: Takeharu Ishimoto
"Someday"
➸Another pretty cleanly executed vocal song with rocking guitar and a catchy chorus section. The lyrics are audible, but I'm not quite sure what the song is really talking about. The Japanese version is equally good.
Xenogears (PSX, 1998) composed by: Yasunori Mitsuda
"Bonds of Sea and Fire"
➸Delicate and lovely strings and woodwind that eventually escalates but never loses its delicacy. Mitsuda is so great with orchestration, and I think this is one of the most beautiful orchestrated game pieces I'm familiar with.
Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (GBA, 2002) composed by: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Susumu Nakamura
"Z.O.E. 2173"
➸The title screen song, but it also plays during some important scenes in-game. It's heroic and has a good tempo, and I like the synthesized organ. It makes it sorta swanky, ha. It's probably one of the best themes in the entire game.
My original post ran out of room. This one covers games with titles N through Z. A-M is here.
Last updated: 8/24/22
Persona 1 (PSX, 1996) composed by: Shoji Meguro, Hidehito Aoki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Misaki Okibe
"Dungeon ~ Black Market"
➸This song really deserves to go onto the main list, but the Satomi Tadashi song has had more of an impact on me -- I was singing it out of the blue last night, even -- than this great song. The song, funky in itself, starts out with a piano/percussion intro that moves into an almost-guitar-like wailing lead with intermittent piano throughout. I especially love the piano interlude at 1:25 -- it's so typically Meguro. Well, honestly, the entire song is dripping in Meguro's style, and I love that I can look back on this song -- one of his first Atlus compositions -- and be reminded of some of his newest stuff and think, "yeah, that's Shoji Meguro's work right there, yup yup." His piano is unmistakable, and the slight funk brings Persona 3 to mind a bit. I love it.
Persona 1 (PSP, 2009) composed by: Shoji Meguro, Hidehito Aoki, Misaki Okibe, Kenichi Tsuchiya; arranged by Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Atsushi Kitajoh, Ryota Koduka
"Dungeon ~ Hypnos Tower"
➸I am a stickler for the original Persona 1 soundtrack, but I can appreciate the pieces that were arranged for the PSP release, such as this one. The original "Dungeon ~ Hypnos Tower" is one of my favorite songs from the PSX soundtrack -- it's slow and moody and trance-y -- but the updated version has a completely different feel while sticking to the same melody. The addition of woodwind and sax and bells makes it jazzy and low-key but still upbeat. Originally composed by Hidehito Aoki, but I believe it was arranged (quite well) by Kenichi Tsuchiya.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSX, 2000) composed by: Toshiko Tasaki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Masaki Kurokawa, Shoji Meguro
"Aoba Park"
➸Lovely and solemn piano that I find absolutely gorgeous. This version of "Aoba Park" has more of a tune than the Innocent Sin version does, and though I prefer the IS version for some reason, this is still such a pretty song. I also still appreciate the bird chirping and children chattering background noises that subtly fit the song's location.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSX, 1999) composed by: Toshiko Tasaki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Masaki Kurokawa, Shoji Meguro
"Zodiac"
➸A bluesy song with heavy beats that fittingly plays in a club. I could get lost in that percussion and pounding bassline. My favorite part has to be the keyboard breakdown that begins a minute-and-a-half into the song. Pretty sure it's composed by Toshiko Tasaki.
Persona 3 (PS2, 2006) composed by: Shoji Meguro
"During the Test..."
➸A short but perky little tune that plays during exam sections in-game. The xylophone lead is sort of whimsical and gives the song character, which is expanded once a trumpet joins the xylophone in a typical Persona 3/Meguro fashion. This was honestly the first song in the game that I really liked immediately, even if it's just a short loop.
Persona 4 (PS2, 2008) composed by: Shoji Meguro
"Long Way"
➸An energetic and slightly tense final dungeon theme with a strong piano lead and percussion that sound so good mixed together. The strings add a nice touch as well. I'm such a sucker for strong piano with strong percussion and showing off my favorite instrument's less delicate side.
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (3DS, 2014) composed by: Atsushi Kitajoh, Toshiki Konishi, Yuzo Koshiro (with arrangements of songs originally composed by Shoji Meguro)
"Instinct and Longing"
➸A smooth piano-led piece that plays in the lower levels of the second dungeon. The piano and strings make the song sound kind of sad, but the constant percussion keeps it from really becoming a sad piece. I really like the neat part that starts at 1:47 and lasts until the loop. I can't quite figure out what instrument it is, but it's a neat sliding-sounding noise. Composed by Toshiki Konishi.
Pokémon Black/White (DS, 2010) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Shota Kageyama, Hitomi Sato
"Lacunosa Town"
➸I honestly didn't discover this song until I played Black 2, as I never bothered to stay long in Lacunosa in Black. Yet it grew on me quickly, with its sweet xylophone, piano, and banjo-like string interplay. Composed by Hitomi Sato.
Pokémon Black 2/White 2 (DS, 2012) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki, Hitomi Sato, Satoshi Nohara, Shota Kageyama, Minako Adachi, Teruo Taniguchi
"Battle! Champion Iris"
➸I don't think dinky keyboard and xylophone are what come to mind first thing when reminded of Champion battle themes, but this song actually quite fits the bill. Iris is like ten and is dressed up like a princess, after all. The song is fast-paced and has tense guitar to balance it out, but the xylophone really shines with its high-pitched happiness. It's unique among the other more typical battle themes, and that makes it more enjoyable to listen to. Composed by Hitomi Sato.
Pokémon Card GB 2: GR Dan Sanjou! (GBC, 2001) composed by: Ichiro Shimakura
"GR Lightning and Psychic Fort"
➸This song begins with bleeps reminiscent of computers and/or laboratory equipment, and then a sneaky bass line jumps in before the lead melody begins about fifteen seconds into the song. I really enjoy how the song climaxes and loops over again very seamlessly and naturally. It's a simple song, but it manages to be quite catchy.
Pokémon Colosseum (GameCube, 2003) composed by: Tsukasa Tawada
"Cipher Peon Battle"
➸I love the interplay of piano and guitar in this song. Tawada's Pokémon battle songs sound like so much more than just Pokémon battle themes; a breath of fresh air compared to Junichi Masuda's typical battle theme style in the main-line games.
Pokémon Crystal (GBC, 2001) composed by: Morikazu Aoki (Crystal-exclusive songs), Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda (Gold/Silver songs)
"Pokégear Radio: Buena's Password"
➸So catchy! It's so darn short, but I can't help but enjoy the fast-paced loop as it plays. Even though there really is quite a bit to this song already, especially considering its length, I would love so much more to this.
Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS, 2006) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Hitomi Sato
"Route 210 (Daytime)"
➸Diamond and Pearl have such a distinct sound to them, and this song is one that I always associate with that sound and D/P. It opens with bells chiming and then dives right into synthesized guitar and keyboard and general frenzy and fun. It's definitely a song suiting exploration and a journey. Composed by Go Ichinose.
Pokémon Emerald (GBA, 2004) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki
"Battle Dome 2"
➸The second version of the Battle Dome theme plays once you've entered a tournament, and it's really awesome compared to the original. There are more instruments added to make the song much more intense, including crazy percussion, echoing my earlier statement of how wild and interesting the Hoenn Battle Frontier songs are. Composed by Go Ichinose.
Pokémon Gold/Silver (GBC, 2000) composed by: Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda
"Route 2"
➸This song, supposed to be based on the original "Viridian Forest," opens with a semi-sinster opening until a high-pitched lead begins to play at :14, completely changing the dynamic of the song. It actually kind of reminds me of "National Park" with that high-pitched lead, but this song has a perky character all its own. Composed by Junichi Masuda.
Pokémon Red/Blue (GB, 1997) composed by: Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda
"Road to Fuchsia City - From Lavender Town"
➸I love route themes in Pokémon games. This one plays within my favorite stretch of Kanto, from Silence Bridge on Route 12 to Route 15 outside of Fuchsia City, and it's so hopeful and fitting for adventure. The percussion even sounds like a snare drum playing a marching tune. Composed by Junichi Masuda.
Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (GBA, 2003) composed by: Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki
"Route 119"
➸I love Route 119, and I love the feeling and ambition and sense of exploration and adventure that comes through this song. It opens with blaring trumpets and keyboard, then slows a bit and builds back up to the blaring loop. The song is best experienced while on the route in-game for yourself, walking through the grass that's taller than the character sprite and traversing bridges over a river that spans the entire route, but it's still impressive on its own. Composed by Go Ichinose.
Pokémon Sun/Moon (3DS, 2016) composed by: Minako Adachi, Hitomi Sato, Tomoaki Oga, Hideaki Kuroda, Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose
"The Pokémon Research Lab"
➸It's short, but that electric organ synth is sweet. That's about it. Composed by Hitomi Sato.
Pokémon Trading Card Game (GBC, 1998) composed by: Ichiro Shimakura
"Club Master Battle"
➸A tense song that has plenty of buildup to the climax of the song that starts near the minute mark. I love the more hopeful and pretty tune that plays after said climax. Tense and hopeful -- perfect for a boss battle.
Pokémon X/Y (3DS, 2013) composed by: Minako Adachi, Shota Kageyama, Hitomi Sato; with rearrangements of classics by Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki, Satoshi Nohara
"Santalune Forest"
➸Very simple and short forest tune with gorgeous marimba percussion and string drops that completely evoke Yoko Shimomura's style. I prefer the chirp-less version that plays in later in-game forests/caves, so I linked that instead of the OST rip. Composed by Shota Kageyama.
Radia Senki - Reimei Hen (NES, 1991) composed by: Keiji Yamagishi, Hiroshi Miyazaki
"Ship"
➸Energetic and happy eight-bit music. I think the "ship" in question is an airship, so that sort of explains the perky music. It's pretty catchy, too. Almost sounds like an ending credits theme, haha.
Radiant Historia (DS, 2010) composed by: Yoko Shimomura
"Memories of the World"
➸Shimomura displays her typical style pretty well with this final dungeon theme. It opens a bit subtly with pounding piano/percussion and woodwind, and continues to build up to a sort of clarinet-led lull around :48 that quickly bounces back into a wall of sound. I love how she is able to balance the frenzied sections of the song with more quieter sections and have it all come together nicely.
Ragnarok Online (computer, 2002) composed by: SoundTeMP
"Retro Metro"
➸I don't know the in-game context to this song, but out of all the fast-paced dance-like themes, "Retro Metro" keeps catching my ear. It's not really all that fast, but it's still quick and has a driving beat. I love the mixture of the violins with the fast percussion.
RPG Maker 2000 (PC, 2000) composed by: Youta Kitagami, ?
"Field4"
➸Sweet, high-energy MIDI music. The song itself is made of two halves -- one driving, one more relaxed. This is supposed to be an overworld theme, but I've played an RPG Maker game where it was used as a battle theme.
Rune Factory (DS, 2006) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Gigant Mountain"
➸As far as I know, this song is exclusive to Rune Factory 1, but it needs to be showcased here. I really love what Morita did with the (admittedly stereotypical) "mountain sound" of driving percussion and breathy woodwinds in this song. The tune is really pleasant and catchy, and the woodwind is at a nicely high pitch so that it really stands out.
Rune Factory 2 (DS, 2008) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Final Boss"
➸Gosh, what a pretty and determined piece. Don't let the harpsichord-y lead fool you; heroic brass comes blaring in at :28 to remind you that this is a decisive battle. They melt away into what sounds like a harp to begin the loop again. A nice mix of instrumentation.
Rune Factory 3 (DS, 2009) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Sharance Labyrinth"
➸Hoo boy. In both Rune Factory 3 and 4, the Sharance Labyrinth is an optional grindfest dungeon that I haven't touched and probably won't for a long time. The beginning recommends you to be level three hundred, and I'm only one hundred thirty. Anyway. The song itself sounds like you're stuck in an arcade game, complete with a "get ready!"-esque fanfare that plays during the opening two seconds of the song. It continues in a faux eight-bit fashion with a lead eight-bit synth through to the loop. I particularly like the punchy bit at around 1:08.
Rune Factory 4 (3DS, 2012) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Selphia: Night"
➸The sweet little nighttime town theme that plays I think after like nine p.m. until six the next morning. It sounds sort of like piano, but I think the main instrument is something being plucked, like a harp. Not sure. In any case, it's just that instrument and a little percussion at a slow tempo, and it's quite calming and nice. I hear it in-game a lot, since my character (and her player) never know how to go to bed on time. So it's already nostalgic to me. It's like a lullaby...
Rune Factory Frontier (Wii, 2008) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Summer"
➸This is an interesting season theme that, through its instrumentation, feels a slight bit militaristic to me. I could see the high flute of this song, paired with the snare drums that join in around :45, played by the young military men of the past. Joining with the flute and drums is a constant strumming guitar backbeat. It's another season theme that doesn't quite match its season, so I appreciate Morita's diversity in her music.
Rune Factory Tides of Destiny (Wii, 2011) composed by: Tomoko Morita
"Three Sisters Inn"
➸I assume this inn has a bar, because this song is full of the snazzy acoustics that remind one of a bar theme. This song is apparently an arrangement of the final dungeon theme from RF1. I have no idea; I just enjoy the catchy piano and guitar.
Sansara Naga (NES, 1990) composed by: Kenji Kawai, Osamu Kasai, Masaaki Harada, Shinji Nakayama
"World of Dragons"
➸An interesting end-game overworld theme. The first overworld theme is mystic, and this one is more desperate. Composed by Kenji Kawai.
Shadowrun (SNES, 1993) composed by: Marshall Parker
"The Morgue"
➸This is probably the most well-known song from the game, which plays at the very beginning and again in an area a little further in. I love the progression in it -- it begins cautiously, and begins building up around the half-minute mark until the woodwind-y instrument kicks in a little later. That woodwind makes the song, in my opinion.
Secret of Mana (SNES, 1993) composed by: Hiroki Kikuta
"The Sorcerer"
➸Or "The Oracle." Anyone into an insane, all-over-the-place penultimate boss theme? Here you go! It sounds more like a rave, and I really like it for that aspect. It's not what you'd expect!
Seiken Densetsu 3 (SNES, 1995) composed by: Hiroki Kikuta
"Nuclear Fusion"
➸Rollicking percussion is the theme of this song, first accompanied by a woodwind lead and then a xylophone lead. There's a nice little xylophone break before the loop, as well. It's been years since I've played this game, but this definitely sounds like a boss battle theme to me.
Shin Megami Tensei (SNES, 1992) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Home"
➸This is probably one of the few "happy" sounding songs in the game. It plays in the main character's house, and the way I'd describe it is... lazily whimsical? The lead sounds a little music box-ish and since it's one of the first songs heard in the game, it kind of gives a false sense of security...
Shin Megami Tensei (Sega CD, 1994) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko, arranged by folks from Sims
"Embassy"
I tend to call it "Echo Building" because that's how my .spc file has it named and the Echo Building is technically the first place this song plays in the game.
➸The original Super Famicom track is a ~20-second loop, and it's blaring from the get-go. The Sega CD version begins much more softly and builds up the original tune until it lets loose around 1:06 with blaring synth lines going wild and overtaking the original repeating loop. It reaches a climax and dies back down for the loop, like a proper song. Apparently the original Super Famicom song was composed to have these extra elements, but they didn't make it into the game for some reason. Oh well.
Shin Megami Tensei II (SNES, 1994) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Heroine"
➸Ugh, the feels. There is so much emotion in this song, and yet it's really pretty, even without clear instruments. Masuko used the mechanical sixteen-bit soundfont well to create something that wasn't creepy or rock/metal-like.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (PS2, 2003) composed by: Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Toshiko Tasaki
"Shinjuku Hygienic Hospital"
➸Atmospheric piano with a pulsing beat that is mysterious and lovely. Fitting for the dark and mysterious hospital in which the song plays. Composed by Shoji Meguro.
Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS, 2013) composed by: Ryota Koduka, Toshiki Konishi (Tsukasa Masuko, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Shoji Meguro, Hidehito Aoki all composed older songs that were arranged for this game, but only Koduka and Konishi composed original songs)
"Battle - b4"
➸Most of the battle themes in SMTIV are great, and "Battle - b4" is probably one of my top favorites. As the "b" in the title indicates, it is a boss battle theme, and a very particular one at that... No spoilers, as I myself didn't have to fight it during my playthrough, so I don't know much about it. I do know, however, who the battle is against, and in that context, this song makes a lot more sense as to why it's not kick-butt rock like the other battle themes, but more pretty and kind of sad. The Asian-esque strings are fantastic, especially with the violins backing them. Composed by Ryota Koduka.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (3DS, 2016) composed by: Ryota Koduka
"The Beginning of the End"
➸This theme plays in one of the final dungeons, and just as the song implies, the dungeon is pretty crazy. The song is quite energetic without being really fast in tempo, but there's also a bit of a mysterious feeling to it as well. It's also quite varied, almost to the point of being chaotic.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (Sega Saturn, 1996) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko, Toshiko Tasaki
"Kasagi Mountain"
➸Ahh, I debated whether or not to put this song here or something a bit more... interesting, like "Clover Gym," but... If this list is a true representation of which songs I like from these games, then "Kasagi Mountain" is the one song off of this soundtrack that I have to put on repeat a few times whenever I listen to it. I can't even really explain why -- it's quiet and ambient and the the main melody that comes in around the half-minute mark doesn't have the best sound in the world (a piano would be better pianos make everything better) -- but I really admire how the floating opening bits pan all over the place and make it fun to listen to with headphones. It's just so relaxing and... nice? It's not even particularly pretty, but if anything evoked a misty green mountain morning heavy with dew, this song does that for me. And I have no idea what its in-game context is. I like to put this song on and listen to it for calming ambient noise. It's much too short, though, like every other song on this soundtrack. Composed by Toshiko Tasaki.
Shin Megami Tensei if... (SNES, 1994) composed by: Tsukasa Masuko
"Domain of Wrath"
➸I didn't play this route in-game, so I never visited the Domain of Wrath myself, but I am super happy to hear that the original full version of SMTI's "Cathedral" was actually used in some capacity in some game instead of languishing only on the official SMTI OST (besides the Sega CD arrangement that I talked about previously but took off because I prefer this sound font a lot more). That's really all there is to it... The SMTI short version of "Cathedral" is only twenty-seven seconds long... but this full version adds all kinds of sinister synth and stuff that extends the song to about 2:25. It's really awesome and one of Masuko's best compositions.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS, 2009) composed by: Shoji Meguro
"The Fear of God"
➸The battle theme that I can definitely appreciate more on its own than in-game. Strange Journey's soundtrack is a bit of an odd beast, with orchestration and weird chanting that I don't like all that much (at least it's not the screaming demons in SMTIII?), but "The Fear of God" is interesting enough for me to overlook the chanting. It begins with blaring brass, but it calms down and escalates again back and forth through the song, which gives it this great variation that I love. It's an interestingly contrasting battle theme to previous (and future) MegaTen games' themes, as they tend to be purely rock.
Solstice (NES, 1989) composed by: Tim Follin
"Main Theme"
➸Well, considering there are like three songs in this game, this was the obvious choice for this list. It's pretty low-key and dinky, but it's great for thinking through a puzzle game. It still has a sort of mystical feel to it, and it's a decently long loop for an NES game -- only thing is, this is the only song that plays in the game, so it's good that it's nearly three minutes long.
Spyro the Dragon (PSX, 1998) composed by: Stewart Copeland
"Dark Hollow"
➸My favorite level in the game aesthetics-wise, and a definite iconic song to me. The stage takes place at night, so that sort of explains the quiet opening with bells and tambourine and the build up into a pretty keyboard lead. It's sweet and pretty and so nostalgic to me. It's also pretty indicative of the Spyro soundtrack, especially that keyboard.
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (PSX, 2000) composed by: Stewart Copeland
"Fireworks Factory"
➸And this is definitely my favorite level in any Spyro game -- an Asian-styled level with ninjas and craziness everywhere, ahh. It's so much fun! The song isn't overly Asian; it's more spy-like, and that kind of influences how I play through the level. The percussion is fast and keeps the tempo while remaining kind of funky, 'cause, after all, this is still a rather light-hearted kid's game. I love the frantic feel of the song, and it completely fits the level to a tee.
Tales of Legendia (PS2, 2005) composed by: Go Shiina
"A Cheerful Bandit"
➸A certain character's theme that plays in his hideout as well. It's visited very early on in the game, and I remember that this was the first track that impressed me -- I certainly wasn't expecting jazz in a bandit hideout. It begins with brash brass and evolves into a super nice, minimalist jazz piece. I love the subdued bass and percussion that begins around :27.
Tales of Phantasia (SNES, 1995) composed by: Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya
"Lake on Ymir"
➸A peaceful and yet lively town (and a bridge maze, ugh) theme that starts out rather unassumingly, but has a nice slow lull period from :35-:56 that suddenly transforms to an eclectic piano and woodwind breakdown with a really fast tempo before coming back to the loop. It's pretty impressive and creative.
Terranigma (SNES, 1995) composed by: Miyoko Kobayashi, Masanori Hikichi
"Departure"
➸Also known as "Dark Side Field," this tune is the first overworld theme. It's actually sort of lonely and mysterious, but it works well with the sort of odd scenery of fire lakes and large crystals everywhere. It's a pretty song for what's basically an extended tutorial area. Composed by Kobayashi.
Thousand Arms (PSX, 1998) composed by: "Atlus Sound Team"?
"Jayarl Plateau - The New Continent"
➸A charming Arabian-themed overworld theme with an appropriate lead sitar and percussion. It's probably my favorite overworld theme for all of its pep and charm. Thing is, it's not really heard all that much, since a giant train system (apparently based on Tokyo's Yamanote Line?) spans the continent and it's easier to use it to travel. It's still alright for an overworld theme, though, especially the energetic sitar/keyboard section at :28.
Valkyrie Profile (PSX, 2000) composed by: Motoi Sakuraba
"Confidence in the Domination"
➸One of the boss battle themes, full of Sakuraba's synthy keyboard style. It's energetic and catchy and really sounds more like a dungeon theme than a boss theme, which is generally a good thing. I really like the opening section -- so catchy.
Waterworld (SNES, 1995) composed by: Dean Evans
"Mission Theme 2"
➸The driving pulse draws you in, and the synth that begins around :39 will keep you in. It's less trance-y than "Diving," but this song has energy that never goes into non-chill territory.
Wild Arms (PSX, 1996) composed by: Michiko Naruke
"Rudy's Companions"
➸A short ~32 second-long loop of heroic trumpet, driving percussion, and echoing handclaps that caught my attention in-game and still gets stuck in my head at random every now and then.
Wild Arms 2 (PSX, 1999) composed by: Michiko Naruke
"Dungeon: Spiral Tower"
➸The theme for the penultimate dungeon is appropriately kind of crazy. I really love the backing trumpet-ish sounds. It's really short, though -- the loop is about 42 seconds.
The World Ends with You (DS, 2007) composed by: Takeharu Ishimoto
"Someday"
➸Another pretty cleanly executed vocal song with rocking guitar and a catchy chorus section. The lyrics are audible, but I'm not quite sure what the song is really talking about. The Japanese version is equally good.
Xenogears (PSX, 1998) composed by: Yasunori Mitsuda
"Bonds of Sea and Fire"
➸Delicate and lovely strings and woodwind that eventually escalates but never loses its delicacy. Mitsuda is so great with orchestration, and I think this is one of the most beautiful orchestrated game pieces I'm familiar with.
Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (GBA, 2002) composed by: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Susumu Nakamura
"Z.O.E. 2173"
➸The title screen song, but it also plays during some important scenes in-game. It's heroic and has a good tempo, and I like the synthesized organ. It makes it sorta swanky, ha. It's probably one of the best themes in the entire game.