Favourite Sonic Music

My favorite track from the entire series would have to be Underground Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit). This isn't so much due to the structure or tones that make up the actual tune, but rather because it was the BGM to the first level of the first sonic game I played when I was a kid. I remember being over at a friends house when I was 6 years old, and he had a badly beat-up Master System I hooked up to a tiny old television. I flipped out over the game (having only played mario bros. on NES) and the tracked burned itself into my memory.

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My favourite songs would have to be:

From Sonic 3 and Knuckles - Flying Battery act 1, Lava Reef act 1, Azure Lake

From Sonic Adventure - Red Hot Skull, Azure Blue World, Skydeck a Go! Go!, and Windy Hill


I like Flying Battery act 1 because I think it sounds really... I suppose impressive is the word I'm going for. When S3&K was new and I was playing it all those years ago, I remember thinking how awesome Flying Batter was because of the music, and I couldn't readily think of another video game that had music like that. Heck, I still can't really think of one.

Lava Reef act 1 I just liked the melody. Not much more to it than that. Azure Lake makes me think cheerful thoughts.

Now Red Hot Skull I like the beat, and the general rhythm. I wish Knuckle's theme in SA and SA2 had a beat more like that, instead of the terribly campy songs we did get for him. Even the instrumental versions sound silly.


Azure Blue World and Windy Hill I like for the same reason I like Azure Lake. Except they're more calming due to a slower tempo.

Skydeck a Go! Go! not only sounds super awesome, but has an awesome name, and Skydeck was one of my favourite levels from Sonic Adventure so I played it a lot and the song stuck with me.

 

Far too many to list here, so I'll just do my favourite for each game:



2D Sonic's:

Starlight Zone (Sonic 1)

Bridge Zone (Sonic 1, MS version)

Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic 2)

Ice Cap Zone - Act 1 (Sonic 3)

Flying Battery Zone - Act 1 (Sonic and Knuckles)

Marina Madness (Knuckles Chaotix)

Stardust Speedway - Good Future (Sonic CD, American version)

What U Need (Sonic Rush)



3D Sonic's:


Speed Highway: At Dawn (Sonic Adventure)

Eternal Engine - "On the Edge" (Sonic Adventure 2)

Rail Canyon (Sonic Heroes)

Super Shadow transformation (Shadow the Hedgehog)

Wave Ocean: The Inlet (Sonic 06)

Unawakening Float (Sonic and the Secret Rings)

Molten Mine (Sonic and the Black Knight)

Rooftop Run - Day (Sonic Unleashed)

 

Wow, that really does sound very similar. Thanks for ruining my nostalgia!

At least Flying Battery still sounds better. Now that I know about this, it actually sounds like they took this song and made it better, and put that into Sonic.

 

I have a couple of classic favorites that might or might not be game sonic songs, and for some of them I discovered their existence by... lurking on the wiki and making use of the oh-so-fucking-awesome feature of listening to stage themes on their corresponding pages. (I just LOVE the wiki just for that)

Here's a few of mine, and my why on each.

Chemical Plant Zone on Sonic 2 MD/Gen
The instant classic, the song all the NG Audio Portal noobs (like myself once!) botcher trying to remix it the most, if it isn't Icecap, it's THE overused song everybody loves because it's Chemical Plant. But why is it so much liked? I think it's the instantly epic catchiness, the feeling that urges you to speed through this Mega Mack-filled factory, knowing perfectly it's not gonna be as fast as you expect, you still wanna follow the rhythm and beats of the song. It's a bit hard to explain, it's just a very, very fitting song for the level it was for, it's hasty, catchy, techno-ish, it's CPZ.

Death Egg Zone, A1 on Sonic & Knuckles
That's a personal favorite of mine, and probably the theme song I'm the ultimate harshest to criticize if I am to search for remixes and/or arranges, and trust me, I do search for some EVERY DAY. This is the definite Egg atmosphere, and in my opinion the best song for a 100% hostile environment such as the mighty Death Egg - which also points out at the fact that the Death Egg is, to me, the second best creation of the doctor, behind Metal Sonic. Again, this song speaks through its feel, and this feel makes the entire stage breathe with this emotion of "we're close to the end now" and "better not fuck up, this is EGGHELL". Actually, I love so much this theme this is actually one of the very rare theme songs I enjoy listening to more than remixes. Maybe it's just remixes I heard so far that sucked (at the possible exception of Project Chaos?)

Chrome Gadget Zone on Sonic 3 Multiplayer
This might be a curious choice of mine, but hell, Chrome Gadget Zone has some sort of odd feeling, in a positive way, I've been having ever since I discovered the game, up until now, the grown-up old-schooler I am. While this is maybe mostly made out of nostalgia goggle effects, I had some sort of nostalgic, or at least, ancient, familiar-sounding feeling while listening to CGZ's theme. It's a simple tune made for a simple game mode, but it has a particular atmosphere. I don't know, I just love this theme because it sounds gorgeous. And it is. It's such a shame Chrome Gadget isn't a full-fledged 1 player zone. I would've seen it so much as Sonic 3's Chemical Plant...

Flying Battery Zone on Sonic and Knuckles
Another S&K song. Don't blame me, I think I played more S3&K than any other Sonic game ever. Flying Battery, another very used song in the musical community, another instant classic everyone loves. Surprisingly, it's once again the second stage of a game, and it feels like CPZ, the same sense of haste and wish to speed through the stage remains. However, instead of the whole techno/factory ambiance, we are given a flying fortress, and the song that's accompanying has a powerful, eagle-like feeling, almost militaristic (Wing Fortress anyone, in just more epic?). It's one of those songs showing how much organized power Eggman is capable of making ,yet the rather high tempo of the stage reflects how much Sonic is able to breeze through all those ranks. On a personal life note, this is probably the song I would like played instead of the French National Anthem if I was to organize how things would be on July 14th (National Day here). Patriotism + Sonic = Flying Battery? Very much, yes. Takashi Iizuka was very clear: FBZ was born to have distinctive music. That is a success.

Stardust Speedway Bad Future on Sonic CD US Version
As much as I think Sonic CD JP's OST is very japanese and Sonic CD US's is very american, SSBF US version feels really good for the kind of stage it was featured in. As a musical piece that is made with FM instruments rather than the Genesis' sound chips, it stands out as a "different" song.
This fits once again perfectly with the "you failed to save future" theme like all Bad Future stages try to do by pushing that into your mind - as if seeing devastated or bleak stages wasn't enough - but SS Bad Future does it in a different way. Instead of having a "It's all over you screwed up" mood, it's rather like it's saying "You're gonna get a hell of a challenge", something Good Future doesn't have ; instead it has a heroic "You fucking MADE IT!", almost Rock-FM if not outright Daytona USA-esque cheesy mood (which is, for the DU fan I am, something that makes me smile), which is just as good in my opinion. I just love Bad Future over Good Future because it has more epic and less cheesy.
Not to mention that this song is the DEFINING song for Metal Sonic and that there is no better stage for a duel with him. Good Future is too (ch)easy (sic). Bad Future is real hardcore. That's the same for musical moods. For once, kudos to you Spencer Nilsen. I absolutely enjoyed this duel with my favorite Sonic character, I just regret that it is ... too short. I can't enjoy the music long enough. But hey, Sonic CD is Sonic CD. It's gotta keep the fast pace.

 

Oh man...I couldn't mention every song I like, but here goes as far as the games go -

Sonic 1 - 3. With only a few songs in S3K and the 2 Player S2 themes, these games have the best music in Sonic for me, bar none.

Sonic Unleashed - I love the soundtrack so much for this. Everything just fits exactly for the locale it is played in, and the stage music is also fast, upbeat and...just generally very fun in the day stages. The night themes are darker, slower, and provide a nice variation on the quicker day time pieces. I'm a sucker for orchestral pieces too, so the main theme won me over instantly.

Sonic 2006 - Mainly the cutscene music, for the reason stated above. The ending parade music, along with the boss fights, huge scores that wouldn't be out of place in a film. Truly excellent.

 

Sonic 3D Blast (Gen/MD) - Rusty Ruin Act 1

Sonic Rush Adventure - Coral Cave Act 1 and 2

Sonic Advance 2 - Techno Base Act 1

Sonic And The Secret Rings - White Of The Sky

Sonic Unleashed - Cool Edge (Night)

Sonic 3 (Gen/MD) - Launch Base Act 1 and 2, with Death Egg at a close second

Knuckles' Chaotix - Speed Slider and Tachy (Tacky?) Touch

And I almost forgot: Sonic CD (US) Metallic Madness Zone (all ages)

I guess most of the themes I like are the mysterious sounding ones.

 

I must say that both of the Sonic CD soundtracks, US and JAP, work for me as far as game defining music goes. Both incredibly nostalgic, both very influenced by the era they came from, and both help set the mood for their respective versions, even changing the experience in some levels.

 

The Doom from Shadow the Hedgehog.
All the boss music from the Sonic Advance series.
Sonic Unleashed

Everything else gets a big eh from me.

 

Have to agree with Sonic Unleashed. The music just seems to fit with the levels so well, It's so upbeat but mellow at the same time.... if that makes any sense.

Just ashame that the game had a werewolf in it. Isn't it?

 

Probably going to have to go with Sky Troops from Shadow the Hedgehog or Molten Mine from Sonic and the Black Knight.

That's off the top of my head, mind.

 

I don't know why, but, as a kid, Sonic Jam's credit song stuck with me for the longest time. Just listening to it evoked all kinds of imaginative feelings.

 

I pretty much love the whole soundtrack to Sonic CD (English and Japanese), Sonic 1, Sonic 2, S3&K, Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors.

I also like most of Crush 40 and Runblebee's music. I actually like Jun's music, even for Sonic 4 (though, even I have complaints about it, like that it needed better instrumentation).

I've never actually hated any Sonic game's music, except Sonic Labyrinth, Sonic R, Sonic Chronicles, and some other spinoff games. But never been disappointed by a main series game's OST. Though I do hate Cash Cash's two vocal tracks in Sonic Colors.

 

My favourite tracks so far are in games that stuck to its 2D roots, excluding Sonic Rush.

Sonic 1 has Star Light Zone, Sonic 2 has Mystic Cave, Sonic 3 has Hydrocity Act 2, Marble Garden Act 1 and Launch Base Act 1, Sonic 4 has Splash Hill Act 2 and Mad Gear Act 1.

 

Decisions decisions! I'm gonna try to narrow this down as much as possible. Genesis only games to keep the list short! LOL

Sonic 1 Genesis
Green Hill Zone-What else can I say about this one that hasn't been said? The Classic Track in a Classic Game!
Star Light Zone-This has always been my "chill" song. Excellent track!
Final Zone-The final showdown. Good vs Evil. This track sets the mood perfectly. Someone's gonna go down!

Sonic 2 Genesis
Chemical Plant Zone-Love the Bass Line in this track. Gets you pumped! Also very catchy!
Aquatic Ruin Zone-Very relaxing song for the dreaded water levels.
Casino Night Zone-Fits the Casino theme perfectly!!! Let's rack up some Rings!!!!
Hidden Palace Zone-I used to listen to this track through the Sound Test BITD. Excellent!

Here's where it get's hard! LOL

Sonic 3
Hydrocity Zone Act 2-Fits the water level perfectly! IMO, so perfect that when I listen to this I completely forget I'm playing a water level!
Ice Cap Zone Act 2-Had to mention this one! One of my "chill" songs. Up there with Star Light Zone
Staff Credits-This track is perfect! Everyone knows who composed it so I won't mention that. VERY fitting for the final song!
Competition Menu-Another perfect "chill" song. I used to leave the menu up just so I could listen to this!
ALL the 2-Player Stages-Yes, ALL of them. A shame alot of people didn't hear these unless they went 2-Player.

Too lazy to type up my S&K faves! LOL

Knuckles' Chaotix
Door Into Summer-Another great "chill" song!
This Horizon-Excellent title track that gets you ready to play!
Surging Power-IMO the best Invincibility Theme!
Just Another Day-Excellent Good Ending Track!

 

oh, where to start?
My favourite soundtrack is the MD Version of Sonic 3D Blast. Particularly Panic Puppet act 1, and Diamond dust 2. They have a great sense of energy and pace, the instruments are super nice, too.
Other individual stand-outs would be Ice Cap Zone (big surprise, eh?) and the final boss music from s3&K (the one before Doomsday) it fits just right to the gameplay. Bridge zone is a lovely arrangement, too. The sound on my Game Gear doesn't work though, so I have to go hook up my SMS to play it/hear it.
In newer-ish stuff I like Planet Wisp Act 1 from Colours, actually, a lot of the music in that game is awesome. On guitar these days I can't stop playing Seaside Hill, and Azure Blue World(Emerald Coast) they're fun to play.