Official Nintendo Consoles Music Thread (Thanks for Listening!)

Balladeer wrote:

DoPo, sorry, but holy hell what a cover of my favourite piece!

Insaneintherain do a lot of great covers, and have been pumping out a lot of Sun and Moon content, so I expect eventually they'll have done all three of our top fives.

Athrun888 wrote:

And in the meantime I'm going to fix the tragic lack of Not!Ragyo representation with this remix!

Well we had to leave you someone. I'm quite enjoying that remix though.

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And on the note of remixes perhaps we could squeeze another Pokemon list with a top five of those before moving on?

As I said, I would like to pick the best version of each recurring song. I've been including remixes as I go, but I'd be up for a remix collection as well! The more Pokétune appreciation, the better I say.

IT'S TIME!  As promised I make my glorious return to deliver upon my mortal subjects my gospel!  But first!


Unmarked spoilers warning below, figured I'd squeeze this in at the top for the few who haven't finished the game yet are for some reason reading about music. Given we're still in that awkward phase between super Slowpokes that do care about spoilers getting spoiled and those who've finished the game wanting to freely discuss it I realised this was a wiser action than nothing.  I would, of course, cover up any serious incriminating information, alas given what this is it'd require rampant destruction of formatting.  So this ugly as sin warning wedged between the opening and replies to other picks shall have to do!

Balladeer wrote:

Nanu's Theme

Not bad, got that sweet smooth thing going on.  I'll admit I liked Nanu more than his theme, but both were excellent.

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Battle! Team Skull Boss Guzma

I'll admit I'm more with Drunka on this one, the mellow version just has more dread and badassery to it in my opinion, but still a banging piece to be sure, and fitting the character like a custom fit glove like you say.  

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Seafolk Village (Day)

Not my taste but whatever floats your boat!  Get it?  Cause the town is a pile of floating boats?  Ain't that just the best pun you've heard this side of 2017?  Seriously though a decent piece for sure, and my favourite of the town pieces due to it managing to straddle the line between relaxing and boring just right.  

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Battle! Rival Gladion

If this one hadn't made someone's list I would've rioted!  Agreed with everything said.  

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Vast Poni Canyon

Alas I'm more on Drunka's side with this, it's a good area theme to be sure but its placement is a little questionable given its intensity or lack thereof.  Thankfully this exists now sorting out that issue!

Drunkalilly wrote:

Paniola Ranch

Alas this one falls a bit too far on the side of the boring part of the boring/relaxing line for me I'm afraid.  Doesn't help I hear an awful lot of it with how often I'm in the Nursery swapping Pokemon around for eggs.  

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Po Town

Alas another miss for me, although through no fault of the theme.  For me it falls victim to the same thing a lot of WRPG music does, too much atmospheric emphasis and not enough focus on anything else.  It works excellently in context, for the reasons you stated, but yeah, not my cuppa tea.  

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Champion Battle

Ah, now we're talking!  The champion battle music in Pokemon has always had stand-up acts, even Diantha in the musically boring XY had a fantastic theme.  As you say this one was a perfect blend of everything both Alola and Pokemon as a whole, and felt like a celebration of both.  A perfect celebration.  Considering this was the 20th anniversary release this theme really just brought it home.  Plus the Champ themselves was the best thing since sliced bread.  

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Team Skull Encounter

You nailed it with this theme and Skull in general.  

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Battle Red/ Blue

The thing I've always liked most about this theme is that it lifts the best of all the related themes and mashes them in one song.



And now, it begins.  

ATHRUN888's TOP FIVE POKEMON SUN AND MOON THEMES

05.)  Pokemon Center!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKjGPzy0oZQ

I love this country style version of the series classic theme.  Don't kniow why but I can't help but get a big grin on my face whenever I'm in a center.  

04.)  Battle!  Elite Four!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAk0dNzrPcE

It's that time of the generation again, and this time they aren't just here to test your skill as a trainer.  No, this time they want that sweet sweet champion title just as you do, and they're going to prove it's theirs by absolutely murdering you.
Why I like the theme should be obvious, it's everything I liked about Unova's ramped up to eleven.  



03.) Battle!  Ragyo Lusamine!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54mikUGAgZo

Creepy and ethereal with a delightful undertone of insanity, Lusamine's battle theme is a radical departure from the norm for Pokemon battle themes in the best way while still retaining at its core what makes a Pokemon battle theme a Pokemon battle theme.    Plus violin, any time it's used for anything other than funeral music is good.  I don't care how sparingly it's used, any battle theme that uses a violin is instant SSS+ material (indeed it's one of the reasons Falcom jdk are one of my favourite game composers).  

Also shout out to the 50 second mark with that Pokemon Colloseum-esque moment.


02.)  BATTLE! ULTRA BEAST!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDbfSbpnWF8

Creepy, alien, and hype personified, this theme is easily the most unique battle themes in the franchise with the possible exception of Colress.  The constant fluctuation of the tempo really lends to the weirdness of the theme and the Ultra Beasts too.  





01.)  Welcome to Alola!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4QwSPQaIVA

Speaking of themes that are celebrations of Pokemon, this right here takes the cake for me.  One of the most striking main themes in the series to date, the moment the game showed a webcam chat with Kamina Kakui with this theme triumphantly playing I was absolutely in.  Most of what else makes this theme great would be parroting my and Drunka's remarks about Battle at the Summit so I'll end my fanboying here




Alas there were only five spots for actual picks, so this is where the rest of the games best music gets some slim, but nonetheless deserved recognition!

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Vast Poni Canyon, Battle Lunala/Sogaleo, Battle Gladion, Battle Red/Blue, Battle Royal, Hao'oli City, Pokemon Evolution, Battle Tree, Team Skull Theme, Battle Kahuna, Seafolk Village, Guzma Encounter, and the Alolan Main Theme



And with that all done when should we do the top five remixes?  Very eager to see what everyone posts for that one, I'm always on the hunt for new remixers!

I love this mutual beedfack and respect thing we've got going on!

Athrun888 wrote:

Not my taste but whatever floats your boat!  Get it?  Cause the town is a pile of floating boats?  Ain't that just the best pun you've heard this side of 2017?

Now that's out of the way...

Athrun888 wrote:

05.)  Pokemon Center!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKjGPzy0oZQ

A classic.  Still grand, and like you say, quite a nice remix.  I'm just sad there are no longer any Marts, convenience aside - I loved the Mart theme.

Athrun888 wrote:

04.)  Battle!  Elite Four!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAk0dNzrPcE

Not bad, but didn't stick in the memory at all.  None of the Elite Four themes have for me, for whatever reason.

Athrun888 wrote:

03.) Battle!  REDACTED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54mikUGAgZo

Good theme, good character... spoilery as all hell though, I'd put that in tags if I were you.  oh you said that at the start never mind.

Athrun888 wrote:

02.)  BATTLE! ULTRA BEAST!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDbfSbpnWF8

Really nice and creepy this one, very otherworldy and very fitting for the bloody weird monsters you fight to it.  Again, though, that picture's spoilery as all hell!

Athrun888 wrote:

01.)  Welcome to Alola!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4QwSPQaIVA

Jesus what a theme! I'd completely forgotten about this one by the time I finished the game, so thank you for reminding me of it.  Bloody magical!  Almost made Kukui's opening spiel bearable!  (Don't like the uploader at all though, reading their comments...)


I'm indifferent about remixes, I've always been more of one for the original ideas, with select exceptions (okay quite a lot of them).  But I'll happily listen to anybody else's!

Athrun888 wrote:

Pokemon Center!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKjGPzy0oZQ

Definitely a nice Pokécentre track. Like I've said before, these recurring themes are always forgotten in favour of new or unique tracks when I make my own lists. Definite;y a good'n though.

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04.)  Battle!  Elite Four!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAk0dNzrPcE

Definitely a solid one, though I think Black and White still just cinch it for me.

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03.) Battle!  Ragyo Lusamine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54mikUGAgZo

YASSSS! I honestly don't know why this one didn't make my list, can only agree with everything you've said.

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shout out to the 50 second mark with that Pokemon Colloseum-esque moment.

I caught that as well! The music, the locations, the on-screen trainers in battles, the league up a mountain . . . this game was very Colloseum.

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02.)  BATTLE! ULTRA BEAST!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDbfSbpnWF8

While I really appreciate the weirdness, this one lacked creep or threat for me.

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01.)  Welcome to Alola!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4QwSPQaIVA

This, on the other hand, is an absolute CHOON! I think it's just the fact that it was right at the start which made me forget about it. It is a brilliant, Lion King-esque bit of music though.

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And with that all done when should we do the top five remixes?  Very eager to see what everyone posts for that one, I'm always on the hunt for new remixers!

No rush, but also no need for a deliberate delay. I guess as soon as one of us has a top five, post away!

I'm hoping to get my PM:CS Music Indeterminate Time Period sorted on Saturday January 21st. Please let me know if that'll get in the way of the Pokétune Extravaganza.

Go for it sir, I think all the Pokéchat will be out of our system by then! Don't suppose you fancy contributing at all?

Although that said, I've been enjoying Vast Poni Canyon yet more since my last post, and I have to say that I don't quite get what youse gents mean about it. I'm finding it intense enough, and very appropriate for exploring a vast canyon. Is it the texture, not enough instruments? Not enough bass? Normally I'd dismiss it as a matter of different tastes, but both of you agree so it can't be just that.

It's just not intense for a final dungeon theme which is essentially what Poni Canyon is. The tempo is too mild and the instrument choices don't have the right sense of command to them. Considering Vast Poni Canyon is essentially Victory Road (or Route 26 if you want, same point applies either way) it just lacks that sense of "this is the final hurdle" or "this is a victory lap before your final challenge" found in its various counterparts, or even that of a pilgrimage which story-wise is essentially what the trek through Poni Canyon was.

It's not a bad theme by any stretch of the imagination, in fact I really quiet like it (to the point if this were a top ten list it'd probably have made the cut), it's just misplaced for the point of the game imo. Not that I'm saying all final and pseudo-final dungeon areas have to be big bombastic pieces, in fact I could name several themes from various RPGs that are amazing because they play it subdued, like Persona 4's true final dungeon theme which is almost entirely a unnerving piano piece. I could also name several that would get dishonourable mentions because they try far too hard to be big and bombastic and as a result end up devoid of a personality or identity (Tales of Xillia 2 I'm looking at you while I say this!).

Ultimately the entire issue, for me at least, is when it plays and the expectations of that role rather than anything else. As an individual area theme it's great.

Balladeer wrote:

(Don't like the uploader at all though, reading their comments...)

Wait, people actually read yt comments!?

Honestly I don't really pay attention when it comes to game music, if someone's a complete d**** and they make original content it'd definitely be cause for me to stop paying attention, but with game music ripped from official sources I don't really view the uploader a significant thing to pay attention to. It's not their work so I don't pay them any attention. A good reason not to give them a sub though!


Anyhow on a more cheerful note on the remix side of things, I'll be aiming to have a top five selection within the next eight days since the consensus says it's a-go, if anyone wants to kickstart the festivities before then feel free!

I'm still undecided what format to make the list though, there's some good remixers out there and there are also a few singular pieces I want to highlight. Five spots might be too small, maybe some sort of hybrid list is in order!

Athrun absolutely nails my Poni Canyon feelings. Nothing to add.

Well fair enough. Perhaps I didn't pick up on that because I didn't realise it was meant to be basically the game's Victory Road. Who knows, perhaps that was subconsciously something that contributed to my being unimpressed with the pacing in the latter parts of the game.

And yep, I read the top YouTube comments: they tend to be broadly positive and occasionally funny. I don't dig down into the later bits though, that's where madness lies.

Youtube comments offer a glimpse into the very darkest parts of the festering filth that is mankind.

Holy guacamole, any of y'all seen this? I can't read any of the text, but looks like a big official Nintendo orchestral concert in celebration of Switch. I'm listening now as I make my tea.

Drunkalilly wrote:

Holy guacamole, any of y'all seen this? I can't read any of the text, but looks like a big official Nintendo orchestral concert in celebration of Switch. I'm listening now as I make my tea.

I've just plonked it in my "watch it later you dummy" folder. Is it any good? I have to admit I still bloody loves me the Splatoon theme.

It was solid stuff, yeah. There's a rock one as well, which I've not listened to much of yet but which opens with Splatunes. Always a good sign.

Sounds like my kinda thing when I've got time!

I'm not sure I needed a smooth jazz version of the OoT shop theme...

The presenters linking the pieces... who's the older fella? I'm sure he's a Nintendo chappie, but I can't remember who, and they write in "crazy made-up letters".

GNamer Music Indeterminate Time Period 145: Splashing Colour On Paper

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Welcome one and all! I'm a long-time listener, first time caller host and am here as a special guest to lay out the toppest of the top from the tuneage in Wii U 'sensation' Paper Mario: Color Splash. Without further ado, nor further preamble, by definitively avoiding circumlocution, and certainly making sure that this introduction does not carry on much longer than is absolutely necessary - because could you imagine? People are here to listen to music, you know! It would be at least slightly niggling, at worst downright annoying, to those of you who have come to gather by the metaphorical gaming piano and bend your ears for some of the finest tunes in a game bursting with the blighters if I continued just typing purely time-wasting gibberish for as long as I possibly could, to drag things out in some misguided attempt to be funny - it's time to wrap your precious listening equipment around these fine slices of gaming music.

VIII) (ruddy , always there to haunt me) Cherry Lake



Maybe not one of the level best tunes you've ever heard, but I've included it because it's so resolutely unMario. There are a number of tunes like that in the game and this is one of my favourites. More in the same vein may or may not be coming later!

7) Port Prisma



"It's the hub level!" Balla hissed. "He's gone for the hub level!" Drunka rolled his eyes. "N00b," he said, a difficult linguistic feat. Athrun merely shook his head slowly. "And it was going so well."

"But listen to it," Zero replied, folding his arms and looking at each of them in turn. "It conveys the hustle and bustle of the (beaten) level brilliantly... and that's not even the best part! The music alters whenever you step into a building or, occasionally, a different area. Here's how it plays in the museum, and listen to what happens when you go into the Cafe... although I suppose it doesn't always go right: this is the version in the Post Office."

"Yeah, alright. Continue."

"Plus it's not even the hub level," Zero explained, in typical teacher fashion. "It's the first level, and you keep going back to it for various reasons." The group's eyes narrowed further, if that was even possible. "Don't push your luck."

Zero gulped.

6) Mossrock Theater



Are you sure, Huey? Because this circus is pretty goshdarned creepy, if you ask me. The music goes further than I'd like to help establish the mood.

5) Marmalade Valley



Out in the desert, all tunes sound like this. Somewhat strangely, this tune plays at the site of an archaeological dig, which is just to the right of the screenshot above. Not very Indiana Jones, is it?

4) World Map (here be musical spoilers; this piece gets extra instrumentation as you go through the game, and this link has a medley of them all in order)



At the start, the World Map theme sounds like nothing at all; by the end, you have this. I love it when games have music that layers up in this way; the Observatory theme in Super Mario Galaxy is my favourite example of the idea. I didn't even notice that one until over halfway through the game - now I know to look for it, PM:CS's was easily (the auditory equivalent of) spotted.

3) Mustard Café (Underground Theme)



This one sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it. Help a not-musically-inclined chap out?

2) Blissful Beach



Possibly as repetitive as that bit on The Simpsons episode where Bart becomes famous for a silly catchphrase and says that being repetitive is his job, but also more chill than a polar bear wearing sunglasses who lives on Pluto and is holding a cocktail with lots of ice cubes and a little light red paper umbrella poking out of the top.

1) Fortune Island



This is my favourite. It may not be particularly exciting or anything but I just love the random-yet-obviously-targeted "Ho!"s that punctuate the tune, keeping the strong pirate theme of this particular section of the game going wonderfully. Er, matey. Arrr.

Woohoo, thanks Zero! Enjoyed going through those. For all its faults, PMSS had a very solid soundtrack (dat Snow Rise) - so I'm a little disappointed that none of those grabbed me by the collar and demanded, 'RESPECT ME!' Marmalade Valley came closest, I love ye olde western-type songs.

This was mentioned in the last SomecallmeJohnny video on YouTube, where he did a well good Sonic Advance retrospective. I completed this well over a decade ago and this tune completely passed me by. This is was Drunkalilly would call a "banger" (which actually means bam/rocket/muppet/dunderheid up here).

Yeah, that's cash. Surprisingly chill and mellow for an endgame tune, as well.

Sonic Advance 3 had some top tier music

And to thank Cappa for his contribution, here's some JRPG pish I've been listening to: the final battle from Bravely Second.  The game's soundtrack was rightly slammed for being nowhere as good as the original's, with an overfocus on electric guitars that's still very evident here.  

That said, I still think it's a pretty good final boss theme.  Unlike some of the pieces in the soundtrack, this has quieter bits and non-guitar sections that provide some respite.  And that first quiet bit is pretty magical, I'd say. It's no Serpent Eating the Horizonground, but it's still good.

I was introduced to this by Sound of Play: Kirby, by way of modern politics. Barmy but brilliant.

GNamer Music Indeterminate Time Period 146: Who's Ross And Why Should I Choose Him?

Picross 3D Round 2

Track E Mystery



A lot of the music in P3DR2 is... not good.  (Crumpy's 3DS game of the year, you say?  What a surprise...)  And with a list of only eight puzzle tracks, the bastards repeat themselves a fair amount.  As someone who likes plugging himself into videogame music, singing along to 'Daydream' in that link there feels a bit like Stockholm syndrome.

So when 'Mystery' comes on, I find myself wanting to dance around in the campest way possible.  Sign of a good tune, that... or, again, of Stockholm syndrome.

Today's words that no longer look like words: 'Stockholm syndrome'.  Also: 'words'.

(Sorry Jay. )

Shovel Knight Jazz Medley

Mostly posting this so I remember to come back and listen after work.
Coming soon: the most obvious post in this thread one could possibly imagine!

When the main SK theme is done with instruments it really wouldn't sound out of place in a Zelda game.