10) Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
A game that many feel was the start of the series going downhill, the Wii launch title, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz introduced two new concepts to the series. Both of which would not appear in any other Super Monkey Ball game-- boss battles and the ability to jump. While the game was a disappointment, the catchy and infectious soundtrack was anything but as you can tell by the three examples listed below.
9) Wario Land: Shake It!
Wario shakes his rump to the music as he digs in for precious treasure in this Wii musical masterpiece. Composed by the same man who lent tunes to the Gamecube cult-hit, Wario World, this soundtrack is full of fun tracks whether they be percussive, Latin, or Cuban in feel. These three examples best describe how big of an ear-worm this soundtrack still is to this day.
8) Sonic Colors
Sonic Colors was the first 3D entry into the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise in a long time that was better than just average or worse. In fact, it was quite great. Incidently, the soundtrack was great, too, featuring opening and closing themes by Cash Cash, music composed by an amalgamation of Sonic Team staff, and music that was infinitely memorable. Sales were great for this game as well. Hopefully the next Sonic game is quality over quantity like Sonic Colors is.
7) MadWorld
I'm no fan of hip-hop or rap, but when I heard the having-a-good-hook songs of MadWorld, I was surprised to finding myself really enjoying them. Just take a listen to the examples provided. They may be on the explicit side, but they get the job done. MadWorld's soundtrack was so impressive to me that MadWorld won Soundtrack of the Year in the 2009 Best of SPC Awards! What it loses in class, it makes up for in catchy beats and music.
6) Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
Most of the music heard in Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, the less-than-popular rail-shooter on Wii, were remixed versions of already well-known RE songs. REmakes, if you pardon the pun. When I heard the Theme of Alexia I and II remade in orchestral glory, I knew I was listening to something special. With stirring symphonic music, haunting choirs, and ambiguous ambient music, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles does a lot to impress, even a casual Resident Evil fan like myself.
5) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
This game won runner-up for Soundtrack of the Year 2010 even though the game released at the tail-end of 2009. It felt wrong to exclude it from voting because of this little caveat. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is the latest in the Crystal Chronicles line of (so far) Nintendo-exclusive games. I don't know which soundtrack I prefer better, the original Crystal Chronicles on the Gamecube or Crystal Bearers. This sounds like the perfect setup to an SPC Showdown!
4) Kirby's Epic Yarn
Heavily relying on the piano, Kirby's Epic Yarn was an easy game to beat as the little pink powderpuff could not die. Instead when he took damage, he'd lose a copious amount of beads. Collecting enough beads in a level opened up new levels to take on. Regardless, the music in Kirby's Epic Yarn was mellow at some times, chaotic at others (most notably during boss encounters). If you're into a memorable soundtrack, KEY is the game for you despite its ease of difficulty.
3) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Not number one because most of the music are of the remixed variety, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is an impressive beast. Not only is it loaded with content and things to do, characters, stages, trophies, and modes to unlock, but it's packed with remixes from every single Nintendo staple, including long-forgotten ones! A myriad of Japanese composers including Nobuo Uematsu (who composed the main theme of the game), Motoi Sakuraba, and Yoko Shimomura contributed to this project of a grand scale.
2) Super Mario Galaxy
Mario returns to the third-dimension, and this time he's brought the Mario Galaxy Orchestra with him to perform epic symphonic tunes, perfect for a space odyssey the likes Nintendo fans have never heard before. With so many memorable melodies and remixed tunes, it's no wonder fans are concocting shrines (not literally) to the then unknown composer, Mahito Yakota. It just doesn't get any better than this, does it?
1) Super Mario Galaxy 2
Well, if number one on our list has anything to say about it, it does get better than Super Mario Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2. With more orchestral music, more galaxies to explore, and more boss fights than you can shake a bee suit Mario at, there's no other Wii game in the universe with this much musical goodness. Just listen to the examples provided to find out just how awesome this soundtrack is. Go on-- I'm done talking for now!
Throwback Galaxy
Melty Monster Galaxy
Bowser's Galaxy Generator
Final Bowser Battle
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Melty Monster Galaxy
Bowser's Galaxy Generator
Final Bowser Battle
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Some notable titles excluded from this list include de Blob, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Mario Kart Wii. What do you think of this list? Let me know in the comments section. Until Monday when I pull out the VGMs, have a great weekend.
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