The whole Metroid series has had incredible music, from the booming Crateria theme in Super Metroid to the chant-techno of the Metroid Prime title screen. But even if Super Metroid is the height of the series in terms of gameplay (it totally is), the mind-blowingly excellent Metroid music peaked in 1986 with Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka's soundtrack.Even on extremely simple sound hardware, the Metroid soundtrack holds up extremely well today. The title music is atmospheric and gloomy; the main Brinstar theme evokes an adventurous feeling. Tanaka's use of the NES sound chip's sounds as instruments exceeds the normal beepiness, and seems to be the most listenable NES soundtrack even to people who hate 8-bit music (speculating here, because we love chiptunes.) It's no surprise that the melodies from Metroid tunes found their way into Prime.
Stemage's Metroid Metal is a fantastic interpretation of the Metroid soundtrack (and now Super Metroid) done with blazing guitars. It's an amazingly rocking tribute to Tanaka's masterpiece, and definitely merits a listen. But for our money, the best way to rock out to Metroid tunes is to download an NSF player and listen to the real thing, either ripped from the NES cartridge or the Famicom Disk System. Because of the FDS's superior sound hardware, that version actually sounds better.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-28-2007 @ 5:54PM
Shariq Ansari said...
Man, I sent you guys some Metroid Prime remixes. Don't get me wrong, Metroid Metal is awesome, but still... :(
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8-28-2007 @ 6:42PM
Mr Khan said...
I ad-libbed a song all day to the tune of that Wierd Al Yankovic song that was on Robot Chicken "Weasel Stomping Day" where i made up random violent sayings, then jumping to "hip hip hooray its Metroid Prime 3 day!"
needless to say, i wierded out a lot of people
but i like me some metroid music
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8-28-2007 @ 7:10PM
Shig said...
Oh snap, I just downloaded the whole Metroid Metal soundtrack like two days ago.
But yeah, seriously, this music kicks ass.
Also, Shariq Ansari, did you create those remixes or find them on OC Remix?
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8-28-2007 @ 7:13PM
Joop said...
MP3 definitely continues the theme of awesome Metroid music.
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8-28-2007 @ 7:20PM
Dopple Boppler said...
The amazing Darkesword posting here on Wii Fanboy? Certainly neither they nor I are worthy of your awesomeness. Your Prime 1 and Prime 2 remixes are probably both in my top 10 favorite OCR songs evar. I was actually in the midst of being really sick when Torvus Clockwork was posted last year, and I had it on repeat for the remainder of my sickness (that being about three days). So a big thanks for that one, and if there's anyone that deserves some recognition on Wii Fanboy for some awesome Metroid music, it's definitely Shariq; make it happen Fletcher~
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8-28-2007 @ 7:51PM
Shariq Ansari said...
Yes, I did create them. :) I'm a staff member on OCReMix and have about 19 songs on the site, and hold the distinction of having the only Prime remixes on the site.
Like I said before, I'm not trying to take anything away from Metroid Metal; it's totally awesome and is leaps and bounds beyond anything I could hope to create, but there's a lot more AWESOME Metroid fan music out there in addition, like the "Relics of the Chozo" Super Metroid fan-arrange soundtrack as well as a plethora of other remixes in all different styles.
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8-28-2007 @ 10:31PM
Brian Kelly said...
Here's my version of the original Metroid theme done in the style of early 70's Genesis: http://www.spilth.org/mp3/mellotroid-theme.mp3
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8-29-2007 @ 10:08AM
kaiser.tia said...
Don't forget the awesome 8-minute orchestral medley on the album Orchestral Game Concert 4. Spine-tingling!
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