Official Nintendo Consoles Music Thread (Thanks for Listening!)

I prefer the old, less "jazzy" feel to be honest. Also, Jay's taste in retro music confirmed to be rubbish. Bet he doesn't even like this:

GNamer's Preparing for SSB4 Music Week 55: Dr. Wily's Stage 1/2, Mega Man II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFKtYCcMWT4



This inclusion is inspired by both the SSB4 appearance of the Blue Bomber and this comic/video. I first heard this piece in a web series (anyone watch Super Mario Bros. Z before it crashed and burned?) without knowing where it was from, and loved it then. Despite never having played a Mega Man game, I still love it now.

For a different and brilliant take on the same material, here's a metal version.

Balladeer wrote:

 Also, Jay's taste in retro music confirmed to be rubbish.  Bet he doesn't even like this: MEGAMAN

Boo, I just don't like jaunty country style retro tracks.  

Now Mega Man, that I can get behind! Can't go amiss with Mega Man 3's Title Theme, which I can't listen to without hearing BrentalFloss's With Lyrics version.

From later in the series, I'm partial to Splash Woman's whistle-laden theme, Mr X's climatic end-of-game theme from MM6 and pretty much my favourite piece of music from any Mega Man game, Protoman's Whistle Concert. Protoman better be an assist in Smash IV!

Been some time since I've had any music I wanted to post, but with Abyss finished (don't care it originates on the PS2, it counts!) I felt like posting a couple of my favourite themes.

Everlasting Fight

Finish the Promise

Never Surrender

Out of those Everlasting Fight is easily my favourite.

Hmm. At what point does the first one play in the game? It's good, and I can't remember it. Maybe the overall rubbishness of the game drove it from my memory.  

As for Jay... I really don't like Brentalfloss. I don't find him funny at all, apart from his Dr. Mario with Lyrics, and even that is only really good during the first verse. As for the other tunes... I guess I'm just not much of a retro fan either!  

Balladeer wrote:

As for Jay...  I really don't like Brentalfloss.  I don't find him funny at all, apart from his Dr. Mario with Lyrics, and even that is only really good during the first verse.  As for the other tunes...  I guess I'm just not much of a retro fan either!  

Aw, that's a shame about Brent. I've been a fan of his ever since he put this out, which whilst it isn't humour-laden, it's a treat. Also, re: your Mega Man distaste, boo you sir, boo you.

It's time for more Abyss themes now I've looked through more of the soundtrack!

Edge of a Decision

This is more epic than some of the boss themes.

At the Time of Farewell

Finally found the battle theme against the big villain battle theme at the Absorption Gate.  Should've been the final battle theme to be honest, it's probably my favourite story fight theme.  

Balladeer wrote:

Hmm.  At what point does the first one play in the game?  It's good, and I can't remember it.   

From what I can gather it's for a bonus fight rather than the story so if you stopped partway you probably would have never heard it.  

Silver light wrote:

*sees Tales of the Abyss posted*

*sees no Meaning of Birth*

=|

Ah so that's what the Asch vs Luke theme was called.  I'm still unfamiliar with the names of some of the themes so I overlooked that one.

Silver wins it for me.  The main theme is actually pretty good, but the opening film doesn't vary it enough.  Somehow it matters less in a battle piece.  Anyway, speaking of JRPGs and Silver...

GNamer's Metallic Music Week 56: Ecruteak City, Pokémon Gold & Silver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MNAktk9ei8
or Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA9iwPHS9PE



It's probably pretty obvious that I have a soft spot for pseudo-oriental music, but it's the gentle, calming nature of the song that makes me love it as much as anything else.  I'm quite fond of the National Park music for a similar reason.

Aaaaaand it's back to me talking to myself.  Pokémon weeks seem to have that effect.  Oh well, the conversation was fun while it lasted.  Have an obscure one.

GNamer's Even More Oriental Music Week 57: Bon Odori, Rhythm Tengoku: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osl2toU3VCc



I'm leaving myself open to becoming a stereotype, I know; but I will go a bundle on any piece that has samisens in.  Apart from the second version of this piece, which is frankly horrible. I have in fact played this game once, in a noisy arcade in HK, which is not conducive to rhythm games; but it took someone comparing Beat the Beat's Shrimp Shuffle to this on Youtube for me to appreciate its retro Japanese glory.

Also, I can't do a Rhythm Tengoku week without paying lip-service to Space Dance.  PA-PA-PA-  !

Balladeer wrote:

Aaaaaand it's back to me talking to myself.  Pokémon weeks seem to have that effect.  Oh well, the conversation was fun while it lasted.  Have an obscure one.

Ah shoot, I completely missed Pokemon week. I would have hopped in there.

Here's one of my favourites from Gen 2, although everyone and their dog will know it.

Also, this just brings on a huge case of "I WANT TO BE EIGHT AGAIN AND BE PLAYING POKEMON SILVER NOSTALGIAAAAAA".

That champion piece makes me feel various things: "How come Lance is so easy this time around?"; "Pokémon Stadium is a rubbish SSBM course"; "This Pikachu dies to any attack I throw at it!"  Of course, the rest of Red's team was much harder.  I like the subtle piano at the beginning of the HGSS version too.

Did nobody get my brilliant signature pun?  

GNamer's "Don't Mention the Controls" Music Week 58: Dark Pit, Kid Icarus Uprising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3BehZOROQo



I still love this game.  Despite being almost humourless himself, Dark Pit (or "Pittoo") and his moody shenanigans only serve the further the game's humour.  ("Our hero's looking a little goth today.  I hope the stresses of life haven't gotten you down.  That would be ever so tragic," says Hades.)  He gets a great tune though, although it would be perhaps more appropriate for a mariachi band than a goth miniboss.

It's just me, talking to myself again.  Ho hum.  If anyone is still listening, prepare for a blow straight to the nostalgia glands (if you played the game)...

GNamer's Unfolding Music Week 59: Petal Meadows, Paper Mario: the Thousand-Year Door: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ1f6BEkn_g



After listening to most of the soundtrack, it's very hard for me to choose just one song: but this is the one I was going to go with originally, so let's stick with that.  A chirpy, catchy, hummable piece of Mario nonsense, that gives you no idea of the tense and emotional moments later in the game.  Some other gems:

• Glitz Pit Mysteries: This song accompanied my favourite bit of the entire game: it may not be so great as a piece of music on its own, but it did a fine job of drumming up a feeling of tension.
  
• Excess Express Evening: More than a shade of Hotel Dusk here, which is perfectly appropriate given the circumstances.
  
• We're Counting on You, Mario!: Unfortunately, it's accompaniment to one of the longest and most unskippable cut-scenes in the game.  Removed from its frustrating background, it's a great emotional piece that does its job perfectly.
  
• Most of the damn soundtrack, in fact.  Listen to what the Paper Mario series was like, back when it was at its height (yes this game is better than the original, in my opinion which is the right opinion).

I've never actually played TTYD! I really really should at some point. I have played the original and Super Paper Mario however, so I'll chip in with some tracks from that.

I really like the Crystal Palace (no, not that one) theme, it's pretty haunting and ethereal.

Also, from Super Paper Mario, possibly the most relaxing (and saddest, in context) track from the series.

JayMoyles wrote:

I've never actually played TTYD! I really really should at some point.

Hearing this makes me very sad.  Yes.  Yes you really should.  It's my favourite Gamecube game.

The only music I really remember from the original (which I blitzed in a couple of days), apart from the Yoshi's Island theme remix, are the Boss Musics.  The Huff 'n' Puff theme (which is some weird rock/desert crossover), Tubba Blubba's cute mobster music, and of course the magic that is the Koopa Bros.!

SPM...  Maybe it was just the disappointment from the game as a whole, but I couldn't get that invested in the fate of

Spoiler:

I couldn't get on with the music in N64 Paper Mario - it didn't help that one of the first things you hear is that bloody "wacky clarinet" in whatever the grassy place was called.

PMTTYD however is a classic. Balla, I raise you 2 Rogueports, both overground and underground.

TTYD didn't exactly start well either! I mean, what is this piece of rubbish? But I will accept your Rogueports (nostalgiaaaaaaaaa) and present you with this piece of majesty. Let the track afterwards start up as well. The magic of getting a Crystal Star is one that very few games have ever matched.

All this TTYD muzaks makes me think I should really finish it some day. Being brutally honest, I got bored about halfway in. Willing to give it another shot, at some point, though.

Balladeer wrote:

TTYD didn't exactly start well either!  I mean, what is this piece of rubbish?

A good point, and well made.

Balladeer wrote:

Tubba Blubba's cute mobster music

AH I FORGOT ABOUT THAT! So so good. Tubba Blubba was a great part of the game.

Balladeer wrote:

SPM...  Maybe it was just the disappointment from the game as a whole, but I couldn't get that invested in the fate of

Spoiler:

Eh, I get you. Pretty lamely implemented, but the music during those scenes is so calming.

Balladeer wrote:

TTYD didn't exactly start well either!  I mean, what is this piece of rubbish?

Fuck, that is awful.

I'm remembering more SPM music. Can't go wrong with the best Mario villain's theme, Mr L's theme is just so darn goofy, and also I'm a sucker for Oriental inspired tracks.

Also, whilst searching for Mr L's theme, this was a suggested video... what in all that is good and pure in the world is this piece of utter shite?

Damn it, I may have to do an SPM week no- WHAT THE FLYING HECK DID I JUST WATCH (the first few seconds of)?

In other news, Stu's taste in games continues to be highly questionable, to nobody's surprise.  

Every ten weeks I do a big week, and then regret that some of the things I covered in the last week would have made good big weeks in the future.  Today's regret is, perhaps obviously, TTYD; today's week is...

Balladeer's Better Than Wind Waker Music Week 60: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

I was going to do this for week 20, before deciding that WW's music was probably better.  The game isn't though!  Anyway, TP still has many fine tunes, such as the following:

5. Deku Toad Battle



Probably not the game's best boss music (that goes to the second half of Blizzeta), but good for a chuckle as the ultimate fat man-fighting theme.

4. Queen Rutela



If you're only going to appear for a minute all game, do so with a brilliant remix of an old Zelda theme.

3. Midna's Lament



Best Zelda NPC ever.  AND SHE'S DYING.

2. Hyrule Field



Who needs OoT?  This game has horseback swordfighting!  And a much less empty field.  Best bit's at 3:18.

1. Title Theme



A very tricky one to choose, but this edges it.  Yes, the wolf howl at the end is rubbish, but the rest is so beautiful.  Firing this up for the first time, shortly after Christmas Day, and hearing this... you just know you're going to be in for a treat.

I missed out so many good tracks choosing these.  Please, tell me that I've got my priorities wrong.  I'm now no longer sure which has the best sountrack: this or WW.  Such is the way of the franchise, I suppose.

Balladeer wrote:

3. Midna's Lament

Best Zelda NPC ever.  AND SHE'S DYING.

Better than Groose? Admittedly, I still haven't finished Twilight Princess, but if anyone tops ol' redhead in my eyes I will be well surprised.

...yeeeeeeees, just about. I suspect it depends on personal preference, though: if you like your characters buffoonish and light-hearted, you'll prefer Groose, whereas if you like them dark and sarcastic you'll prefer Midna.

Groose definitely has a better theme, though.

As much as I deplore this week's title, Twilight Princess did have some great tracks.

The beginning of the game always sticks in my mind, so this is a grand little track. This just brings back stress, so much stress. I don't like any of the boss themes bar that Blizzeta one you linked - it's the (whisper it) midi that ruins a lot of it for me: especially Beast Ganon.