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: Southern Face Shrine by Kazumi Totaka, Kozue Ishikawa and/or Minako Hamano (The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening)

There are very few video game songs that have managed to creep me out as much as the Southern Face Shrine from Link’s Awakening. It always amazed me that the song could evoke such an incredibly effective eerie feeling with the limited sound capabilities of the Game Boy hardware. Even today, the song is still haunting.

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.