How's this for a silly, game-related tidbit that's likely to shock at least a few of you: back when I was a junior or senior in high school, I was completely obsessed with the Saturn version of Sega's Daytona USA.
I suggest that may surprise some of you because I'm hardly known for my love of racing games. In fact, the only examples of the genre I've ever given much attention here are F-Zero and Super Mario Kart, if memory serves. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)
At any rate, I became more than a bit smitten with Daytona USA after picking it up on a whim during my days as a Saturn owner.
That game's slick, exhilarating gameplay obviously had a little something to do with my aforementioned infatuation, but there were other instigators, too--with its energetic, effervescent soundtrack being a particularly noteworthy case in point.
I bring up all of this because I've had one of Daytona USA's songs ("Sky High," listen to it by clicking on the video above) stuck in my head for the last few days.
Also, reminiscing about the Daytona USA period of my life--and the hold a number of its ditties had on me at that time--prompted me to think about some of the other "game tunes" from my youth that left similar marks on my memory.
For example, there's the "Map Theme" from Yoshi's Island:
I remember humming that one on the regular while I obsessively worked my way through the pastel-filled platformer that has since become one of my all-time favorite games.
Another such song that causes feelings of a different sort to surface is Final Fantasy IV's "Welcome to Our Town," which can be heard below.
Even as a teen, that track broke my heart, or nearly did so, thanks to its almost unbearably melancholy tone.
Rather than bring me to tears, Kid Icarus' "Castle Theme" often caused shivers to run up and down my spine.
Shining Force's third battle theme, on the other hand, never failed to get my blood pumping for one of this 16-bit strategy game's many thrilling skirmishes.
How about you? Are there any game tunes that prompt you to think about the "good old days"?
Oh man, Daytona USA. It wasn't a terrific game, but that soundtrack was really something. Back in, oh, 2003, I think, I popped the disc into my PC and ripped all the tracks. It's just incredibly infectious, if a little silly.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things the Sega Saturn did really well was serve up catchy, quirky tunes. Sonic R was the same way, and Sarah's theme from Virtua Fighter 2 STILL ranks as one of my favorite video game themes of all time.
Yeah, the Saturn conversion of Daytona was more than a bit wonky, Jess, but it "felt" pretty darn good so I loved it all the same.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course it sounded great, too.
Yes, some of its tunes are silly, but they're also catchy as hell, and the latter goes a long way with me.
You've just promptede to remember the soundtracks to Virtua Fighter 1 and 2, by the way. Gah, more reminiscing! :P
That Daytona USA track would be right at home with most Mario Kart tunes nowadays.
ReplyDeleteAnything from Chrono Trigger makes me smile, as does "Humoresque of a Little Dog" from Earthbound. The Winters theme could make me cry under the right circumstances. And any of the music from Super Mario Sunshine would brighten up my day, especially from Ricco Harbor.
I wish I could say EarthBound's music "takes me back" like the tunes mentioned here, but as you know I barely experienced the game until last year (or was it the year before)? That said, I agree with every word you said about both of the EB tracks you mentioned here.
ReplyDeleteAs for Super Mario Sunshine, I barely remember any of its music, which is weird. Of course, I didn't have the best experience with the game, so maybe that explains things :)
I know, I remember. I can't believe it, though! Honestly, I never want to go back to it :(
ReplyDeleteThink every Final Fantasy game pre PS3 is just associated with good memories for me. And many other game tunes are special of course but the one that is highest up there is Michiko Naruke with To The end of The Wilderness.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrHwpbR6M3k
Not just with dear friends but with both my father and mother as they rented my first flat for me when I was finishing up school. They was wondering what I was listening to and I just put it on and we just sat there listening to this song without saying anything and my dad wondered straight away which game this was. Became a regular thing for us, I supplied him with game songs I found great and he supplied me with, for example, Opera singers he really liked, he was fed up with all the "old fat men" that always sang the same thing so it was mostly women :)
We also played games, my parents and I, in between all the "man stuff" a man had to know and "women stuff" ^^
Still find it silly how the "man stuff" was typical fix broken things around the house, garage things and "women stuff" was fixing clothes and doing everyday chores as cleaning, washing etc but both had the same thread to always try and be a good person and take care for those you loved. Seems so obvious ^^
Other favorites are The reasure Which Cannot be Stolen by Yasunori Mitsuda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hrtCC-QWw
Also by Mitsuda-san - Knight of Fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVYcWQsrCM
That boss battle was intense ^^
Also by Michiko Naruke - Asgards theme song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M40NhO9ORhE&list=PLVwiuBsyau6wE8EP7yD1JNjT7CO12yny-&index=8
Better stop now or I'll have filled up the whole comment section but I would add Blu-Bird in Nier before I end this ^^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGHOOBAyzQ
Oh, you always have such great comments/thoughts, Franggio. Thanks for taking the time to share them :) Also, I'll definitely check out all of these tonight when I get home!
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteNaruke-san is definitely an all time favourite for me. To bad hee flute video was only on NicoNico and I have forgotten where else I would have posted that :)