Aftermarket Soundtrack: SNES Medley

As part of my efforts to get our regular features involved in retrospectives, I thought I’d seize the opportunity to feature Super Nintendo games that I didn’t have enough top-tier sharable remixes to justify full articles on their own.

So come with me on a musical journey spanning every corner of the system. We’ll see some old favorites and some unexpected sources along the way.

Do note, though, that I am withholding Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI quite deliberately.

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Donkey Kong Country

Aquatic Ambiance – “Aquatic Ambiance – Big Band Jazz Piano ft. Smart Game Piano” by The 8-Bit Big Band

Donkey Kong Country was hailed for its soundtrack almost as much as it was for its use of rasterized CGI. The game’s soundtrack one one of a paltry few ever released by Nintendo of America, which should say something by itself.

The 8-Bit Big Band did a fantastic job rendering this soothing tune that was intended to help ease the player out of the preceding much more intense stage. “Aquatic Ambience” always stood out on the soundtrack, and this cover helps it reach its full potential.

Life in the Mines – “Blazing Mines” by NyxTheShield

It’s a simple remix in which each piece of it is clearly built on the original. But it has completely replaced the original in my memory.

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Donkey Kong Country 2

Stickerbrush Symphony – “Seagull Sonata” By Mordi

OC Remix claims that “Stickerbrush Symphony” is its most-submitted song. And I get that. It’s the best piece of music from a game series known for top-tier soundtracks. As such, there was no way this post was going to even dream of not including at least one of them.

What I like about this remix in particular is that it takes a song that is as tense as it is beautiful and mellows it the heck out.

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F-Zero

Big Blue – “Big Blue – Metal Jazz Big Band Version ft. Grace Kelly” by The 8-Bit Big Band

Nintendo may forget F-Zero, but I will not. And it’s most memorable song is made all the more indelible in my mind with this energetic instrumental take. Watch the video and let the band show you their moves.

As for Grace Kelly’s solo, I think one of the YouTube commenters already said it best:

Best guitar solo on a sax I’ve heard in a while.

—Gerry Brazell

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Super Castlevania IV

Forest of Evil Spirits – “Selva Oscura” By Jorito, Furilas, Tuberz McGee

I love the sampling the one uses in the introduction to really lean into the Monster Mash-ness that is Castlevania. But soon it moves to a dramatic and driven melody from a game not known for its BGM having melodies.

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Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Athletic Theme – “Athletic Theme from Yoshi’s Island – Big Band Jazz Version” by The 8-Bit Big Band

Yes, I really like the 8-Bit Big Band. Sue me.

The best remixes and covers of video game music have this kind of Special Edition feel to them. Your inner George Lucas listens and thinks, “Ah, so this is what it was supposed to have sounded like all this time.”

The band brings the style merely hinted at in the sound of the original composition to life as a fully-realized dixieland jazz. It’s like being transported into a ’30s cartoon.

…now I just need to get them to do a proper Calypso tune from Super Mario Bros. 3…

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Super Metroid

Theme of Samus Aran / Crateria / Brinstar Green Vegetation / Brinstar Red Soil / Super Metroid Ending Theme – “Theme of Samus Aran” by Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra – Game Music Concert 4

Listening to this makes me feel one step closer to a Metroid movie.

Brinstar Red Soil – “The Loneliest Bounty Hunter in the Universe” by Pyrus

Perhaps the name of the piece suggested this to me, but I found it expertly captured the sensation of being totally alone on Zebes without relying on silence to carry the mood. Just the opposite, really.