Video: Best old school video game tunes of all time

Daniel Long | Sep 9, 2008 5:52 PM
We rank the top 7 old school video game theme songs of all time, with a little help from Youtube.
News that Blizzard is adding the game soundtracks to titles like World of Warcraft on iTunes, had us reminiscing about classics in gaming music. Great tunes never go out of style and that goes for video games as much as any format.

Here at PC Authority, we salute the themes of a lost video gaming generation: a time when 8 and 16 bit pixels ruled the earth.

Here's our countdown of the 7 greatest old school video game themes of all time.

7) Super Street Fighter 2

Version: Original game



The best of the late 80’s/early 90’s platform fighters.

Designed with a kick-ass theme to mimic the popular fighter films of the day including Bloodsport and any number of Hong Kong Kung-Fu films, Street fighter offers a classic fighter soundtrack with which to listen to while your opponent begs for mercy.

6) Wonderboy

Version: Original game



Why? Because we could never get that cutesy synthesizer tune out of our heads.

This was Sega’s failed attempt to capitalise on the success of the Super Mario Bro’s series and a port of the original arcade game. We have to admit, the tune can be addictive, which is another reason you'll either love or hate this theme.

5) Mortal Kombat theme

Version: Guitar and Keyboard



Inspired by the electronic-techno pop phase that was big in Europe and Asia in the early to mid 90’s.

Mortal Kombat serves its notice with a bombastic, keyboard heavy tune that made you wanna dance or throw something at your TV. It would later be used in a remix for the film of the same name. We have to admit though, it's much more impressive when played on both the guitar and keyboard – simultaneously.

4)Pacman theme

Version: Piano



Three words: Short, catchy, repetitive.

Look up video game addiction and you'll find a listing for Pacman somewhere. That catchy, cutesy, strained initial chord repetition would loop and loop until the next level or the game was completed. Let's face it: Pacman was all about the catchy hook, which later formed the basis for the hit song by Pacman fever.

3) The Legend of Zelda

Version: String Quartet



Inspired by fantasy and imagination, the tune for Zelda is well...legendary.

But performed with a string quartet? In the tone of Hollywood adventure films past and present, the Zelda theme echoes the grandeur of bigger sword and fantasy epics such such as Lord of the Rings, which is an appropriate comparison when you think about it.

2) Tetris

Version: According Style



We still can't get it out of our heads.

Some of you may be too young to actually care about Tetris (we simply won’t hear of it), but rest assured, if there were ever actually a tune that could stick like mud to the lining of our memory walls, it would definitely be the Russian inspired Tetris theme. As an accordion rendition, this is almost a note-perfect reinvention. Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov would be proud.

1) Super Mario Brothers

Version: Piano Medley (Mario Bros 1 - 3)



This is easily the greatest theme song ever

Written by Koji Kondo, the mastermind of Nintendo’s many classic theme songs(including Zelda), this should be considered the Star Wars theme and the Ode to Joy of video games, if it isn't already presumed so.

Covered endless times by amateurs and professional orchestras all over the world, the Mario themes take a great deal of their thematic style from piano Honkey Tonk & Jazz and blues chord styles. The Youtube video featured above has to be seen to be believed. Incredible playing.

*** BONUS ROUND ***

Pokemon theme

Version: Guitar Hero style



Needs no explanation, just watch.

Thankfully this youtube video doesn’t take itself too seriously. What happens when you combine the world’s most popular music video game (Guitar Hero) with what ‘used’ to be the world’s popular Japanese cartoon characters? Pure musical gaming madness. For a split second, it almost made Pokemon look cool. But only for a split second.
This article appeared in the October, 2008 issue of PC Authority.