Top 5 NES Soundtracks

A lot of musical power from such a modest source.

A lot of musical power from such a modest source.

I hardly need explain to any gamer of a certain age or in possession of knowledge of gaming history how important the Nintendo Entertainment System was.  The undisputed king of the 8-bit era was a first console for many and I’d wager ranks among the most fondly remembered systems for a significant percentage of those who owned it.  Looking back nearly 30 years later (for those of us in The West), one can’t fail to see how far we’ve come since then.  Graphics have improved exponentially, physical media are slowly vanishing and almost everything about controls and the controllers themselves is much more advanced.

Audio too has seen remarkable changes.  Sound design, fidelity and variety exist at a place that was nearly unimaginable in the 1980s.  Musically, you’d struggle to name a genre that isn’t represented in gaming soundtracks at least somewhere from hip-hop to metal to electronica and sweeping orchestral scores.  Yet while the technical limitations of the NES era are self-evident compared to today, in terms of the quality of the compositions themselves, I would argue the video game music of that time stands alongside the very best ever made.

Anyone who’s listened to the intro to Point Streak would not be surprised to learn I have a certain fondness for a good chiptune.  I should mention that I have greatly appreciated gaming music of latter periods as well.  I can’t deny, however, that there is something intangible about the 8-bit sound that pleases the ear.  Even one of my most beloved soundtracks of recent years, FTL: Faster Than Light first grabbed my attention because of its retro aesthetic.  What is it about those classic NES tunes that make them special?  Perhaps, on some level, it is so impressive that so much is accomplished with relatively little to work with, in terms of hardware.  Maybe in a time of more rudimentary graphics and a narrower colour pallet the music had to be more awesome to really sell the total experience of a game.

Whatever the reason, when I think of my favourite gaming music of all time my mind inevitably drifts back to the NES and several key titles that I enjoy playing and listening to today as much as ever.  And so, I present my top five NES soundtracks, in no particular order:

Megaman2

Mega Man 2

As much as I loved, loved, LOVED Mega Man 2, I have to confess that I have never played a subsequent game in the series.  Thus I have had the common experience of professing my adoration for Mega Man 2’s soundtrack in front of a more dedicated fan only to be told that if you think Mega Man 2’s music is great you should hear game X, Y or Z…they are even BETTER!  Sadly, in all honesty, without transforming me back to a pre-teen version of myself temporarily I can’t imagine my feelings towards other Mega Man music could possibly approach my feelings towards this soundtrack.  The high-energy main theme at the start screen, stage select screen and the stage intro music are merely appetisers for what is to follow.  The individual stage songs are each uniquely brilliant, with Metal Man, Air Man and Flash Man my personal favourites.  Dr. Wily’s Castle is frequently singled out by fans as a high point and I heartily agree – the song signals immediately to the player that though they may have defeated eight Robot Masters to get to this point, there is still a long way to go.  I know virtually nothing about composer Takashi Tateishi except that this is undoubtedly his most significant work and that the man is a genius.  This game would be a gem even with the volume muted, but this soundtrack elevates it to a goddamn masterpiece among 8-bit platformers.

Ninja-GaidenC

Ninja Gaiden

Anyone who has played Ninja Gaiden on the NES knows that a third of the way in, the difficulty level goes from merely “challenging” to “kick you in the kidneys repeatedly”.  It is a classic, polished, but extremely unforgiving entry in the 8-bit pantheon.  Fortunately, even while you’re getting your ass handed to you, it represents an opportunity to experience one of the best soundtracks of the era as well.  Whether the dark and atmospheric pieces that typically accompany the cutscenes, or the driving, high-tempo beats featured in the stages, the music always matches the mood perfectly.  The Duel and Vow of Revenge (later, a Hero’s End) in the prologue build from tension to an emotional high – and this is before you even press the start button.  Act 1-Stage 1’s tune is unforgettable and yet you’ll be even more gripped by the creepy feel of the plot sequences that directly follow it.  Boss Battle and Nowhere to Run (3-2, 6-2) feel desperate and relentless.  The score underlines the sense of doom you feel as you face down the Jaquio and his evil henchmen.  My personal highlight is the bizarre techno-trip, ‘Foster’s Theme’, which may be my favourite piece of video-game music ever.  Composers Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Nitta and Ichiro Nakagawa cranked out one for the ages, and while the Ninja Gaiden series didn’t end here, the later music never approached the heights reached in this first NES game.

Bionic_Commando_-_NES_-_Album_Art

Bionic Commando

It was a foregone conclusion that I was going to include another Capcom game on this list.  There are so many 8-bit monster hits in their library and Bionic Commando is definitely among the most revered.  The unique game play holds up well even to this day and I daresay the music sounds as remarkably good as ever.  Given the militaristic themes in the game, the drum cadence at the start of the Bionic Commando Theme (Area 1) set the tone nicely for what is to come (also featured in Area 3, 4 and 7).  Junko Tamiya’s soundtrack goes in many directions, from the technological whine of the Power Plant (Area 8) to the oppressive Heat Wave (Area 5, 6 & 10) to the spirited Leap of Faith (Areas 2, 9 & 11).  Area 12’s intense Rise of the Albatross leaves you under no illusions that things are about to reach an explosive conclusion.  Apart from the infectious rhythms perhaps the thing I enjoy most about Bionic Commando’s aural experience is the interstitial music between levels.  Typical of many Capcom releases, the little pieces featured in selection screens, menus and victory sequences are just as catchy as the rest of the music.  I know I’m not the only NES veteran who has caught themselves singing the melody from the Neutral Zone stages in an idle moment!  Overall, this is one of the most consistently impressive NES era soundtracks I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to – do yourself a favour and give it a try.

 

Batman

Not unlike Ninja Gaiden, Batman for the NES is undoubtedly fun and action packed, but the difficult curve is so steep that Sunsoft should probably have been cited under the Geneva Conventions.  I must admit from the outset that there is music herein that I’ve never actually had the pleasure of enjoying, as I didn’t progress far enough.  It is also important to note that despite possessing some of the trappings of the 1989 film, there is no Danny Elfman to be found anywhere in this game.  The soundtrack is entirely by composer Naoki Kodaka, whose work on Blaster Master and Spy Hunter on the NES are also remembered fondly.  Stage 1’s tune is one of the most memorable I can name from my personal gaming history and Stage 3 still evokes thoughts of the long sewer section.  Get used to the feeling of trepidation that accompanies hearing the Boss fight music, knowing that Death/Game Over too often will follow in its wake.  Movie tie-in games are rarely enjoyable in my experience, so to find a rare pleasure in both this game and the soundtrack is notable even all these years later.

 

The Adventures of Bayou Billy

Konami produced an impressive number of NES era classics; though I got a certain amount of enjoyment from Bayou Billy back in the day, I wouldn’t count it among those classics.  I would argue, however that despite the fact it comes up short against the quality of games like Castlevania, Metal Gear or Contra, the soundtrack deserves more praise than it gets.  Decidedly upbeat and with a distinct style of percussion I rarely encountered in other titles of the time, the music is enjoyable even when the controls and game-play are not.  The recurring Stage 1 theme and the epic length final credits tune are the highlights here.  I give points for originality – The Adventures of Bayou Billy sounds like a Konami game with a Konami soundtrack and yet managed to stand apart from the rest.

 

Honourable MentionsGunsmoke, Contra, Metroid, Super Mario Bros. 2

 

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