The Best Mario Theme Hands Down
Watching someone’s speedrun attempt of Super Mario Land on YouTube got me all nostalgic about the game.
I remember it was my favourite on the Game Boy, and perhaps one of the few so enjoyable I saw it through till the end, in spite of being a shamelessly sore loser. (I tend to quit games prematurely if they’ve proven too difficult to finish—which happens often.)
Most of all, one of the incentives to finishing the game was its surprisingly emotional ending theme.
It was different from other endings. Most were victory cries, testosterone-filled trumpet blasts, generic stuff. Think: Contra.
This, on the other hand, was gentle, uplifting and held the promise of many a future Mario game to behold.
Listen:
- The original: The theme kicks in proper at 00:47 into the video.
- A remixed version: A little more rockin’.
- A lush, cascading orchestral rearrangement: From the Super Mario Land OST, released in 1989.
- just added A midi version: Use it as your ringtone. I’m going to right now, in fact. (From a collection, where you’ll find more versions)
What’s your favourite retro video game theme?
moral kombat. retro enough? i love the violence, i’m brutally honest about it.
wao.
Aiyah you know me, it’s the sims or nothing
or anything sim-my
but that’s not too retro, huh
Cy> “MORTAL KOMBAT…FIGHT!” LOL. Okay, thanks, I get the point. :D
Jody> I’m surprised you didn’t say anything snarky about this entry to begin with. Wao.
snarky huh
wao.
Ah ha! I knew that there was some strange siren call on the ‘net recently. A vickiho.com post about retro video game themes? I’m SO there. :)
As I’m not much of a retro console gamer (handheld or otherwise) all my retro gaming memories are from PC games.
Of this my fav soundtrack comes from Star Control 2: The Ur-Quan Masters. Most due to the fact that .MOD files were used for the music with real digitalized instrument samples instead of the simplified FM-synthesis so greatly used during that time in MIDI files.
A remix project was started around the same time as the Open Source version of the game was being developed and features some of the classic themes from the game given a more modern turn.
Some personal fav’s include:
- Melnorme Theme
- Hyperspace theme
- Quasispace theme
Falchion> Wow, thanks for the response and all the great recommendations. I haven’t played Star Control, so I’m not sure if I’ll identify with the music, but I’m sure it’s worth a listen.
Jody> WAO.
OMG. Flashbacks of schoolmates trying to pry a Nintendo Game Boy outta each other’s hands after hearing that theme fill my mind. “You finish oredi ah! My turn!”
You’re welcome Vicki. Apart from the nostalgia for people like me, the remixes are based off the original alien themes, some of which feature “interesting” musical arrangements, so indeed worth checking out.
As for the game itself, there is a feature complete Open Source version of Star Control 2 now simply entitled: The Ur-Quan Masters.
It even runs on Linux. You can find the main and data files in Ubuntu’s Universe depots :)
Hmm, since it’s now a new year, I’m due to start on my list of games to play through annually. Star Control 2 is one of those. Time to download the latest version myself…
Mine is Street Fighter, the 1st or 2nd version? Forgot.
And Zelda.
Besides Mario, which got me too nervy to play, I ALWAYS watch my brother play and cheer him on. There’s this thing about games and guys, huh? I can only play Street Fighter with bro, others, out.
=P
Dum dum dum, dum dum dum! Ok, so at least I tried. Super Mario!
Falchion> I barely understood half of what you just said. Need to geek up more. :D
Hamie> Ahh, Street Fighter! I like that, too.
Pat> LOL. Okay fair enough—it’s popular for a reason. Go Mario! Haha.
heh. no probs. The links to the music and the actual game itself is there if you do ever want to try them out.
Do let me know if you have any questions.
tis entry seems to say a LOT of our mean age, no? =P
*runs out 2 find Dr Woffles*
in the Mario series, the only, and ONLY game i can play more or less well (yet lose to bro 95% of the time) is……
Mario Kart
i love the beach (music is nice) and burning castle (cute devils) theme. the ice ring made me lose the most.
rings a bell, anyone? heh.
shit, must get bro to dig tat out and see if it’s still working, itching to play liao! =__=
sorry, am referring to Super Mario Kart. din know there are so many versions liao!
Hmm, got to go try that. I’ve only tried Super Mario Kart at the arcade (and which version, who knows); my gaming systems are non-Nintendo (Xbox and PSP) so that effectively limits my contact with the fine game.