Metroid Prime: Menu Theme

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Metroid games and their music, and Metroid Prime’s menu theme has always been a personal favorite. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why, but something about it sounds quintessentially “Metroid” to me. Many of the sounds used feel somewhat biological, which meshes perfectly with not only the cellular imagery of the menu itself, but also with the very nature of the titular Metroids. The theme also has a awesome melody that brings out the series’ sci-fi nature, and the hollow chanting that’s a regular fixture on Prime’s soundtrack is used here to great effect to create a chillingly isolated tone. That’s fits with overall Metroid sensibilities, and also helps Prime’s menu theme sound super cool.

Outland: Trail of Tears

Outland is a magnificent game, and one of the best things about it is its epic soundtrack. The theme that plays during the final level, Trails of Tears, is my personal favorite. It wonderfully harnesses the sense of adventure that defines the game’s aesthetic, with a steady tribal beat combining with some majestic melodies to guide its flow. I love the varied assortment of instruments, and the sweeping chords propel the song forward with an infectious energy that punctuates the high stakes of the endgame wonderfully. Trail of Tears is at once epic and beautiful, and Outland is substantially better for it.

Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers

If Time’s Scar is the thematic core of Chrono Cross’ soundtrack, then Radical Dreamers is almost certainly the emotional core. I found the late game reveal that explains the overall purpose of your adventure to be surprisingly touching, and Radical Dreamers supports it in that same mature, understated way that the entire soundtrack operates. The instrumentation is once again fantastic, with the lead guitar accompanied by nothing more than soft Japanese vocals. The combination of the two is simply beautiful, and the well paced melody serves as the perfect coda to Chrono Cross’ poignant, introspective adventure.

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