Jam of the Day: Norfair (Brawl Version) by Yuzo Koshiro (Super Smash Bros. Brawl Soundtrack)

I’ve been writing a lot about Metroid music this week. Not just here, but in a long form piece I wrote on the series’ music as well. But hey, somebody’s gotta celebrate Metroid’s 25th anniversary if Nintendo won’t.

This remix comes from the Brawl soundtrack courtesy of Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage, Actraiser). Norfair’s theme in the original Metroid has always been a strange tune. Koshiro’s take on it does a good job of modernizing it without losing the original weirdness of Hirokazu Tanaka’s version. Yet another great arrangement from the Brawl soundtrack.

Jam of the Day: Super Metroid performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (Game Music Concert 4 ~ Live Best Collection)

This is probably one of the earliest arrangements of game music I heard. From the fourth Game Music Concert album, this eight minute Super Metroid medley was arranged by Toshihiko Sahash, conducted by Kosuke Onozak, and performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. It’s worth every minute of your time.

Jam of the Day: Magma / Ice Spawn Boss Theme by Lawrence Schwedler and James Phillipsen (Metroid Prime Hunters Soundtrack)

I’m really not crazy about Metroid Prime Hunters. Between the overly FPS feel and the constant boss fights with stationary pillars, I found it a hard game to love. However, some of its music kind of fascinates me.

It isn’t that it’s especially remarkable, but that some of it is so different from what you’d typically hear in a Metroid game. This is mostly found in the drum tracks, which seem to take inspiration from more popular electronica styles. In fact, this theme in particular almost seems like it could be a song by The Prodigy.

Jam of the Day: Full of Life by Protricity (Relics of the Chozo: A Super Metroid Musical Collaboration)

I’ve decided to feature more Metroid music this week since the 25th anniversary just happened.

Relics of the Chozo was the very first full album put out by OverClocked ReMix back in 2003. I was very excited when it came out. Albums covering an entire game’s soundtrack were not common in North America at the time. To make things even better, the tracks flowed into each other giving the album a very cohesive feel.

Full of Life is one of those arrangements that perfectly captures the spirit of the original. You could argue its lack of ambition, but sometimes I enjoy a good “update” style of remix. It would fit along seamlessly in an HD version of Super Metroid. Speaking of which, somebody should make that.

Jam of the Day: Phendrana Drifts performed by Metroid Metal (Varia Suite)

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Metroid. Metroid has always been one of my favorite game series of all time. I still consider Super Metroid to be the greatest game ever made and Metroid Prime isn’t far behind. Other M certainly was a mixed bag, but hopefully the series will continue on strong.

It’s been a great 25 years. Here’s to 25 more!

Buy Varia Suite

Jam of the Day: Torvus Bog by Metroid Metal (Originally from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)

“Dude, where’s my music?!”

That was my first reaction to Metroid: Other M, which I picked up earlier today. Overall, I’ve been having a lot of fun with the game so far, but to say the soundtrack has been minimal would be generous. I can only hope the music picks up later, but my gut tells me Other M will be the most forgettable Metroid soundtrack to date.

So to balance this out, I bring you Metroid Metal’s rendition of Kenji Yamamoto’s Torvus Bog from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Metroid Metal does some really great arrangements of the series’ music. I saw them live last year at PAX ‘09 and will see them again this weekend at PAX ‘10. You should definitely check them out.

Jam of the Day: Crashed Ship Frigate Orpheon by Kenji Yamamoto (Metroid Prime Soundtrack)

With the impending release of Metroid: Other M, I’ve had Metroid on the brain lately. For Metroid Prime, Kenji Yamamoto was able to utilize a wider variety of sounds, no longer being limited to the hardware of the Super Nintendo.

While I still prefer the soundtrack to Super Metroid, Prime’s soundtrack suited it well, giving a similar feeling of loneliness and wonder. The underwater themes are always the best, and “Crashed Ship Frigate Orpheon” is no exception. It’s no Maridia, but it’s a damn fine track regardless.

Jam of the Day: Maridia - Rocky Underground Water Area by Minako Hamano (Super Metroid Soundtrack)

Sometimes I just feel like highlighting a classic. I’ve had Super Metroid on my mind a lot recently, both from coincidental conversations with various people and because of the upcoming sequel, Other M.

Super Metroid is my favorite game of all time. The soundtrack, composed by both Minako Hamano and Kenji Yamamoto, had a very ominous tone to it. It did a great job of creating a lonely atmosphere as you explored the many cavernous regions of the planet Zebes.

Maridia was always an area that stuck out to me. I’ve always had a sense of eerie dread while playing underwater levels in games, and the theme for the rocky underground section of Maridia sent chills down my spine.