SNES Euphonies

(Edit: if the audio player refuses to play on your browser, you may have to clear your cookies and caches. Also, if you tried to play all files before, you’d noticed that Lufia 2’s boss theme was at number 9. That music file didn’t work. I tried to fix that but it just refused to cooperate, so I had it changed with another tune from another RPG.)

The videogame consoles made after NES has quite a leap in the quality of sounds. The sampling rate is higher, and the bit has increased from 8 to 16. By the time gamers migrated to SEGA and/or SNES, they were beginning to hear music that sounded like they came from real instruments.

I haven’t played SEGA for a long enough time to have a top 10 list of favorite Sega music, but without a doubt Sonic the Hedgehog had some fine tunes, which was kind of like him saying, “Step aside, Mario. I run and jump faster than you do, and my taste in music is better too!”

Nintendo rebutted, “Don’t give me that attitude, Sega! You may have your Sonic techno, but I have my Yoshi chillout tracks!”

Okay, I’m kind of getting ahead of myself. Playing SNES for more than 10 years, I have, of course, grown to be very attached to its games. Everything NES had done SNES did better. The games had more stories, more styles, and of course the tracks sounded cleaner and a lot more beautiful than before.

Again, my top 10 SNES tunes, in no particular order.

1. Tetris Attack – Forest Stage Theme

This is the Yoshi chillout track I was talking about. That dinosaur starred in Tetris Attack, which is quite a good puzzle game. The title is a misnomer because it’s not really Tetris. 

2.  Terranigma - The Underworld

Here’s one RPG tune for you. In the PlayStation days people often associate RPG’s with rousing soundtracks, but way back in SNES great RPG tunes were already being made. This Terranigma composition is striking for its very somber tone, which fits the mood of the game. After all, it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world.

3.  Lost Vikings - Factory Beat

Evidence that not only did Japanese game companies get the creating of videogame music down pat. Lost Vikings are made by the publisher who later released Warcraft, and even this early their genius already shows. I still can’t name a puzzle game that surpasses this one. I dig the soundtrack too, which is full of funky new jack swing tunes.

4. Donkey Kong Country 2 - Bramble Blast

Another one of those chillout tunes. Seriously, if all the chillout tunes I hear are as inspired as those Nintendo and Rare come up with, I might not be so dismissive of electronica as “lazy music”.

5. Dracula X - Stage 3 Theme

This is actually a remix of an old Castlevania tune. it’s too bad that Dracula X sucks.

6. Starfox - Corneria

Another proof that Nintendo knows how to make great music when they’re inspired. Rock with this!

7. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island - Obstacle Course

And yet Nintendo… okay enough of that. This time here’s something that sounds like ragtime music.

8. Final Fantasy V - Battle with Gilgamesh

The best RPG battle themes are those that get the player pumped up. This one is an example.

9. Final Fantasy VI - Decisive Battle

This one is another, and it’s not surprising that both number 8 and 9 are written by the same composer, Nobuo Uematsu.That name should be familiar to anyone who has passing knowledges of videogame music.

10. Wild Guns - Stage 1 Theme

Rock with a little Wild Western sound. The game is also Wild Western, but also with robots. They need to make more games with that setting!