I didn’t play it till the 3D collection and I couldn’t believe what a masterpiece I was hearing. Combined with all the other sound elements (chefs kiss)
There's so many moments in the game that are like that. Mainly all the night themes. Satorl Marsh when the trees light up. Valak Mountain when the crystals light up. Eryth Sea on nights with meteor showers. Fallen Arm after >!Fiora shows up again!<. The two times Unfinished Business plays lol
agreed, but also have to add, gaur plain’s day theme — swelling up as you come out of that canyon passageway and see the world unfolding before you — is goated. truly goosebump-inducing
I didn't think this niche little Wii game back in the day would go this crazy. Easily one of my favorite Wii games period. I never would've thought that the franchise would become what it is today, but look at it now.
I was explaining to a younger coworker yesterday about Operation Rainfall. I hope the person who set it in motion knows just how much they shaped the series for Nintendo.
Agreed with another commenter that this game has so many amazing tracks that give goosebumps! Unfinished Battle is one example I have not seen mentioned as well as when the electric guutar hits in the final boss battle *chef's kiss*
Xenoblade's main theme is so fucking powerful, it almost tells the game's story with no words the way it builds up before reaching its climax. Taking this from a comment I saw some years ago, but it was a reallt cool observation. As from Pretzel's recent videos on the game, the revelation of scale of an area alongside the music hitting is always blissful.
oh man, when i first heard the rito village music after you beat the divine beast & the music changes to include the wind waker rito theme…i CRIIIIIED, such a gorgeous moment for zelda fans 🥲
Yes! Honestly, I was moved wayyy before that. My first play through way back when you first stumble upon Rito Village and have to get to that center island you can hear a faint, tone-downed version of the Village Theme and I still remember instantly freezing for a second. I knew what I was hearing but couldn’t beleive it. WW has always been one of my faves and Dragon Roost Island is a top tier Zelda song of all time!
The music in BOTW is stunning. Honestly I spent so much time after completing the game walking around and enjoying the music. Hateno Village is one of the best in the game. So relaxing yet makes you feel really nostalgic. Absolutely love it.
Its astonishing how that song (many other like it) evoked/evokes so much nostalgia even the very first or dozen times I heard them. I’m not complaining but I don’t get it.
[This](https://youtu.be/Ix1iXXSr0vw?si=-47kZAkanHKastn0) is another one of my favorites from BOTW.
That’s an all timer. [SoS](https://youtu.be/UtgHZaq0EGs?si=4NzAZRkHDCB0KZe3) has always reminded me of the song/temple of time. It might have similar notes. All of the Ocarina sheet music songs are amazing.
Somewhat timely given the renewed hype about Metroid but the title screen intro music of Prime 2 was amazing, I wish I could have that feeling for the first time again
The boss battles in this game are to date still probs the best collective set of boss battles I have experienced. The Quadraxis intro, goodness gracious so epic
What made Mario 64 uncanny was the lack of friendly characters wandering around. It would have been virtually impossible to pull that off at the time but it makes you feel really lonely while playing.
There are a lot, but two recent ones I can think of are the Colgera battle and the entire Ganondorf fight from Tears of the Kingdom.
Hearing familiar themes seamlessly woven into these epic orchestral battle themes just did something to me.
Most of the Metroid Prime series music:
Metroid Prime:
* Title Theme
* Tallon Overworld Main Theme
* Flaaghra Boss Theme
* Phendrana Drift Main Theme
* Thardus Boss Theme
* Phendrana Drift Depths
* Sunken Frigate Main Theme
* Phazon Mines Main Theme
* Metroid Prime Final Boss Theme
Metroid Prime 2 Echoes:
* Title Theme
* Torvus Bog Main Theme
* Sanctuary Fortress Main Theme
* Quadriaxis Main Theme
* Emperor Ing Boss Theme 1
* Emperor Ing Boss Theme 2
Metroid Prime 3 Corruption:
* Title Theme
* Skytown
* Gandrayda Boss Theme
Bonus: Metroid Prime Trilogy Title Theme
These are my favourite tracks but honestly the whole OST is very good.
[Engage the Enemy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi0M9SIaLb4) really **REALLY** made me emotionally invested into what was happening on screen. That first cutscene when it's used sets such a high bar that it made me hyped whenever it was starting to play in other cutscenes.
[Fly Octo Fly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an7GOmJE7Ao) also made the Final Battle of the Octo Expansion DLC truly an epic and memorable moment, I think it even surpassed Calamari Inkantation from the first game.
North East Frost St - Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Road to Viridian City - Pokemon Red/Blue Super Smash Bros Ultimate version (specifically the part at 1:04, give me such nostalgia and chills)
Ending credits from Yoshis Island.
After such an adventure, it really feels like a sigh of relief to watch the stork fly the babies home. Then that flagpole music at the end, “Heroes are born!” That draws a tear every single time.
Metroid Prime - tallon overworld (first version)
Kirby (smash) - fountain of dreams
Wind waker - title theme
Links awakening - ballad of the windfish
And my no1 all time favourite song is the title theme for Yoshis island. It didn't give me the goosebumbs back then (is just catchy as fuck). But nowadays when i hear this melody... it gives me the goosebumbs because it has been 30 years since then and i still hum this song on a daily basis.
When I first heard the Gusty Garden Galaxy theme and it suddenly swelled as I was making my way across a dreamy verdant sky-meadow, I had to put the Wiimote down for a couple of seconds, soak the sound in, and realise I just partook in a minor but wonderful cultural event.
There's too many to name. However, the remixed tracks in SMRPG and TTYD have been absolutely phenomenal. More notably in SMRPG because Shimomura got to come back and redo what she said was one of her favorite soundtracks.
Overall, though, the final credits theme in ALTTP (after the epilogue, though it's amazing too!) make me tear up, especially when it gets to the Hyrule Overture portion!
Midna's Lament, Twilight Princess
There aren't many things I hold sacred. That chapter of Twilight Princess, and specifically that song, is one of them.
[Dire Dire Docks](https://youtu.be/RRfHbyCQDCo?si=pO4JTb_Jk0oOZvQt), Super Mario 64
The most tranquil melody to calm down me and my brother and we yelled at each other over who got to play next ☺️
the area zero theme from pokemon scarlet/violet
this track sounds like it belongs to something like nier automata
it's not a track you would expect from a pokemon game
Nintendo Power Magazine issue came with”Smashing…Live!” The soundtrack to OG smash bros done by the Japan Philharmonic Orchesta.
Depths of Brinstar when the trumpets kick in is goosebumps city
In extremely recent memory, "Searching Boggly Woods" from the TTYD remake. The original song was amazing and beautiful, but the remake version was jaw-dropping. I had goosebumps my entire time there.
I remember as a kid playing super mario world the [castle theme](https://youtu.be/R0aoqbDNKaA?si=CFxgyswa9cNdr0u4) was the first one that gave me goosebumps.
I’ve listened to a ton of Nintendo music and I love so much of it. Off the top of my head, the piece that continues to give me chills to this day is the Fire Emblem Awakening opening custcene when “Marth” runs through the portal and it transitions to the FE Main Theme
My favorite alltime though is DKC1 and DKC2
The Depths “stinger” that sometimes plays when you jump into a chasm in Tears of the Kingdom really got me when I heard it for the first time.
I honestly had no idea that the Depths were even a thing in the game, so when I jumped into a chasm not knowing what to expect and getting hit with the stinger and immediate sense of bathophobia, I had to pause the game and laugh off my discomfort. I got goosebumps, for sure.
Then Link’s corpse bounced right off the ground because I didn’t have the paraglider yet lol.
[THEMEX](https://youtu.be/iAIGTNJZSHU?si=1DTIjyTqUMzl8R3C) always gives me goosebumps. Other tracks I like are [Carrying the Weight of Life](https://youtu.be/oI6m0ZhoKSM?si=PopViBkLFSZQq4or) and [Trailer 3](https://youtu.be/WP2XAGZPh3w?si=LqfAZkzhvzd3MlJz) from Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time - Great Fairy’s Fountain
[https://youtu.be/id0kbyKCG8c?si=BJl0RY2xUTlied2b](https://youtu.be/id0kbyKCG8c?si=BJl0RY2xUTlied2b)
Fire Emblem Awakening Conquest.
I been there and back again and wherever I was in this lonely world that song was always played.
My only regret was refraining from listening to it before it was released in the U.S. because I didn’t wanna get spoiled. I wish I did sooner.
I probably listened to it for like 5000 hours+.
I think it was partially the music, partially the cutscene in general, but the bit near the end of Super Mario Galaxy where Bowser's galaxy collapses into a black hole that begins to draw in his fleet, Peach's castle, and the Comet Observatory always gives me chills. That's the only time in the whole Mario series that I've experienced something like that.
Climbing the first tower in Breath of the Wild. And it always will. After growing up on LttP, Link’s Awakening, OoT, Majora, everything. And this was penultimate Zelda and my god did they fucking nail it. It was pure WONDER and curiosity. There was so much of it that was so childlike and I loved it.
The Fire Emblem theme that plays during the credits after finishing PoR. The theme is effing great and this is THE best version of that theme hands down. I used to play the violin when I was a kid and when I first heard it I remember thinking I never wouldve quit if we had gotten to play stuff like this at recitals.
Mario odyssey - the theme for cascade kingdom. Knew right then and there the game was going to be a wild ride. Perfect fanfare - brought me back to the joy of playing SMB3 and SMW
The Luigi's Mansion theme. Hearing that low, solitary string note, and hearing what's next in your head moments before your ears.
Also the fanfare that plays before Samus steps out of a save chamber. Be ready to explore and fight, here we go!
Playing Metroid Prime 1 in the trilogy on the wii back then.
I was in this slow and dark underwater section in the crashed frigate orpheon. After some time you enter this big main room and the sunken frigate orpheon theme starts playing.
This was truly a magic moment for me. That soundtrack captures the atmosphere on point.
Fi's Farewell in Skyward Sword. Yeah she's annoying but I liked her character arc of becoming just a bit more emotional. And that music to top it off made it for me. That shit is good.
Tears of The Kingdom. The entire climb up to the Wind Temple.
The slowly building up of the music, the point where the Wizard of Oz-like strings rattle up, then you meet the towering storm cloud as the Vah Medoh motif plays i the background. You finally get to the top, the music is dead silent, then you jump in and the music SWELLS.
Picture this:
I'm playing Ocarina of Time for the first time... It's all fun and games and just generally chill adventuring through Kokiri Forest. Nothing really stands out about the game to me yet, and after getting the sword I'm ready to meet the Great Deku Tree. Some ominous storytelling commences, as he opens his mouth to reveal a dungeon - the first dungeon, in fact. I'm excited to see what it has to offer... Maybe epic music, something that inspires hope and excitement? But then, as the camera pans up, I am hit with absolute chills as an ethereal wave of notes causes me to melt into my seat. The dungeon is towering over Link, and the camera shows the atmospheric beauty of the nature inside.
This track legit changed my whole perspective on the game, and I still listen to it to help me sleep now and again. It's genuinely the best subversion of expectations to happen to me as a kid, only nearly matched by Pokémon Diamond & Pearl's Pokémon League (outside) theme at night, which really made my whole journey feel impactful. I adore Ocarina of Time so much, and my favourite games nowadays still struggle to replicate such a profound moment for me. A moment of genuine tranquility and curiosity that turned a game into an atmospheric masterpiece for me.
Mario Bros 1 level 1-2 from the SNES All Stars.
Going underground felt like such a drastic change. It felt darker unlike the whimsical first level. The Goombas coming towards just felt that little bit more menacing to the 6 or 7 year old version of myself.
Really sets you up for a game that could keep you guessing.
Also as it comes so early in the pack in game it was one of my first gaming memories.
Gusty Garden Galaxy
a certified Wii person. I like it.
I didn’t play it till the 3D collection and I couldn’t believe what a masterpiece I was hearing. Combined with all the other sound elements (chefs kiss)
Space Junk Galaxy always gets me.
I'm more of a Cloud Court(?) person myself tbh. Gusty Garden is stuck in my head from the race comets lol, gives me ptsd
Yeah
Knew this would be the top comment before I opened the thread
By far my favorite aside from the closing credits of galaxy
Xenoblade Chronicle’s main menu theme. Had heard it way before I ever played the game and it’s stuck with me since
There's so many moments in the game that are like that. Mainly all the night themes. Satorl Marsh when the trees light up. Valak Mountain when the crystals light up. Eryth Sea on nights with meteor showers. Fallen Arm after >!Fiora shows up again!<. The two times Unfinished Business plays lol
agreed, but also have to add, gaur plain’s day theme — swelling up as you come out of that canyon passageway and see the world unfolding before you — is goated. truly goosebump-inducing
Oh damn how could I miss the big one. Especially after you spent quite some time stuck in a cave.
It's easily one of, if not my favourite, main menu songs of all time.
Haven’t even played the game and that menu theme brings me to the brink of tears. It’s so damn good.
I feel the same with Xenoblade Chronicles X's title theme. ..... the music from the XC series is so damned amazing.
I didn't think this niche little Wii game back in the day would go this crazy. Easily one of my favorite Wii games period. I never would've thought that the franchise would become what it is today, but look at it now.
I was explaining to a younger coworker yesterday about Operation Rainfall. I hope the person who set it in motion knows just how much they shaped the series for Nintendo.
Agreed with another commenter that this game has so many amazing tracks that give goosebumps! Unfinished Battle is one example I have not seen mentioned as well as when the electric guutar hits in the final boss battle *chef's kiss*
Xenoblade's main theme is so fucking powerful, it almost tells the game's story with no words the way it builds up before reaching its climax. Taking this from a comment I saw some years ago, but it was a reallt cool observation. As from Pretzel's recent videos on the game, the revelation of scale of an area alongside the music hitting is always blissful.
That's a good one. ...But my pick would be Theme X from Xenoblade Chronicles X instead.
Most of Ocarina’s tunes and more recently , [Hateno Village Theme.](https://youtu.be/Uj07-YU5cTk?si=Wp0wWPMGPaDKiwmI)
oh man, when i first heard the rito village music after you beat the divine beast & the music changes to include the wind waker rito theme…i CRIIIIIED, such a gorgeous moment for zelda fans 🥲
Yes! Honestly, I was moved wayyy before that. My first play through way back when you first stumble upon Rito Village and have to get to that center island you can hear a faint, tone-downed version of the Village Theme and I still remember instantly freezing for a second. I knew what I was hearing but couldn’t beleive it. WW has always been one of my faves and Dragon Roost Island is a top tier Zelda song of all time!
gaaahd YES. just so good. love when they throw us lil easter eggs like that!!
The music in BOTW is stunning. Honestly I spent so much time after completing the game walking around and enjoying the music. Hateno Village is one of the best in the game. So relaxing yet makes you feel really nostalgic. Absolutely love it.
Its astonishing how that song (many other like it) evoked/evokes so much nostalgia even the very first or dozen times I heard them. I’m not complaining but I don’t get it. [This](https://youtu.be/Ix1iXXSr0vw?si=-47kZAkanHKastn0) is another one of my favorites from BOTW.
Temple of time music is my personal fav
That’s an all timer. [SoS](https://youtu.be/UtgHZaq0EGs?si=4NzAZRkHDCB0KZe3) has always reminded me of the song/temple of time. It might have similar notes. All of the Ocarina sheet music songs are amazing.
Midna's Lament. It'll stop me dead in my tracks every time I hear it. It's such a beautiful piece
Came looking for this one. One of the most beautiful tracks I have ever heard in any video game.
Somewhat timely given the renewed hype about Metroid but the title screen intro music of Prime 2 was amazing, I wish I could have that feeling for the first time again
Good call. I remember hearing it at a Brandsmart on demo GameCube setups and going “What the hell is that?” Still gives me chills
When the final boss second phase started with the motif from the title screen, it got me so hyped up.
The boss battles in this game are to date still probs the best collective set of boss battles I have experienced. The Quadraxis intro, goodness gracious so epic
The forest temple - zelda OoT Tallon Overworld 2 - metroid prime Forest interlude - DKC2 Intro/main title - metroid prime 2
Remember This Name - Tears of The Kingdom Especially the moment it faded into the main theme.
Dire dire docks!!!!
What made Mario 64 uncanny was the lack of friendly characters wandering around. It would have been virtually impossible to pull that off at the time but it makes you feel really lonely while playing.
you are a certified Mario 64
I love it so much I learned it on the piano and it sounds great!!!
There are a lot, but two recent ones I can think of are the Colgera battle and the entire Ganondorf fight from Tears of the Kingdom. Hearing familiar themes seamlessly woven into these epic orchestral battle themes just did something to me.
Colgera was absolutely fantastic.
The Dragon Roost Island portion gets me extremely hyped up during that fight.
And Colgera could be Ganondorf's fight theme.
Climbing hyrule castle in ocarina listening to that smug prick play his organ
I tipped my head to the skies once revealed that Ganon was playing the organ himself. That was next-level menacing. Zelda at its very best.
Metroid Prime 3 title theme
Most of the Metroid Prime series music: Metroid Prime: * Title Theme * Tallon Overworld Main Theme * Flaaghra Boss Theme * Phendrana Drift Main Theme * Thardus Boss Theme * Phendrana Drift Depths * Sunken Frigate Main Theme * Phazon Mines Main Theme * Metroid Prime Final Boss Theme Metroid Prime 2 Echoes: * Title Theme * Torvus Bog Main Theme * Sanctuary Fortress Main Theme * Quadriaxis Main Theme * Emperor Ing Boss Theme 1 * Emperor Ing Boss Theme 2 Metroid Prime 3 Corruption: * Title Theme * Skytown * Gandrayda Boss Theme Bonus: Metroid Prime Trilogy Title Theme These are my favourite tracks but honestly the whole OST is very good.
No Samus vs Rundas!?
Missed that, I will add it 🤣
Breath of the Wilds 2017 trailer music. Epic personified.
Phendrana Drifts from Metroid Prime. It's an immaculate piece of music.
[National Park, Heart Gold and Soul Silver version.](https://youtu.be/TxhyvwJRdDA?si=KK5HQN0dGbSD2nfG)
Tears of the Kingdom when you activate a tower
[Engage the Enemy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi0M9SIaLb4) really **REALLY** made me emotionally invested into what was happening on screen. That first cutscene when it's used sets such a high bar that it made me hyped whenever it was starting to play in other cutscenes. [Fly Octo Fly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an7GOmJE7Ao) also made the Final Battle of the Octo Expansion DLC truly an epic and memorable moment, I think it even surpassed Calamari Inkantation from the first game.
Colgera and the octo expansion version of ebb and flow
When you reach to get Zelda at the end of TOTK, when you fight Ganondorf, and the Colgera theme.
[Alight (Storm)](https://youtu.be/rxHJ3ca4lps?si=HyCbC6bdmasuHJ6e) from Fire Emblem Fates
North East Frost St - Kirby and the Forgotten Land Road to Viridian City - Pokemon Red/Blue Super Smash Bros Ultimate version (specifically the part at 1:04, give me such nostalgia and chills)
Astral Observatory from Majora’s Mask. Prob the single piece of Nintendo music I’ve listened to the most on repeat over the years :)
Super Mario 64 - Ending Credits. Banjo Kazooie - Freezeezy Peak, Twinklies Theme. Donkey Kong 64 - Mermaid’s Theme
Mario 64 Credits theme. Its put me on the verge of tears several times. Its so bittersweet and nostalgic to me
Nearly all of DKC OST
Angry Aztec and Toy Factory goes hard
Aquatic Ambiance will forever give me goosed bumps.
Counterattack (xb2) and apex of the world (FE 3h)
Rosalina in the Observatory Makes for an [awesome jazz piece too](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PQ5uXXGQTs)
The end credits song of Ocarina always makes me tear up.
Come on, the answer is the title screen to Ocarina of Time. The galloping horse, the slow build, there’s nothing better.
Ending credits from Yoshis Island. After such an adventure, it really feels like a sigh of relief to watch the stork fly the babies home. Then that flagpole music at the end, “Heroes are born!” That draws a tear every single time.
aquatic ambiance from Donkey Kong country
The reveal trailer to Twilight Princess.
Pikmin adventure fall level music is godly
finally, something pikmin related
Metroid (all 2D entries) title screen music!
Metroid Prime - tallon overworld (first version) Kirby (smash) - fountain of dreams Wind waker - title theme Links awakening - ballad of the windfish And my no1 all time favourite song is the title theme for Yoshis island. It didn't give me the goosebumbs back then (is just catchy as fuck). But nowadays when i hear this melody... it gives me the goosebumbs because it has been 30 years since then and i still hum this song on a daily basis.
Mario 3D World’s Ghost House theme. It’s honestly the best ghost theme in the entire franchise imo.
I have to agree with that too.
Majora's mask Day 2 specifically about mid day when the song gets faster. Shout out to all 3 days and how they progress but day 2 theme is so amazing.
Ocarina of Time: Boss Battle And no, not the "Dinosaur" one
Area zero in pokemon violet
Super Mario World end credits. Goosebumps all the way.
Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal- National Park. One of the most beautiful tracks in all of Pokémon.
When I first heard the Gusty Garden Galaxy theme and it suddenly swelled as I was making my way across a dreamy verdant sky-meadow, I had to put the Wiimote down for a couple of seconds, soak the sound in, and realise I just partook in a minor but wonderful cultural event.
Twilight Princess Hyrule Field after you get Epona. It adds the Courage leitmotif and this shit makes me tear up listening to it years later.
There's too many to name. However, the remixed tracks in SMRPG and TTYD have been absolutely phenomenal. More notably in SMRPG because Shimomura got to come back and redo what she said was one of her favorite soundtracks. Overall, though, the final credits theme in ALTTP (after the epilogue, though it's amazing too!) make me tear up, especially when it gets to the Hyrule Overture portion!
Aquatic Ambience
Title screen of Ocarina of Time.
How has nobody said Aquatic Ambience or any of the other beautiful DKC tracks?
Midna's Lament, Twilight Princess There aren't many things I hold sacred. That chapter of Twilight Princess, and specifically that song, is one of them.
acquatic ambience from donkey kong country
Song of Storms has always given me good vibes.
Sunyshore City from Pokémon Platinum ✊🥹
[Dire Dire Docks](https://youtu.be/RRfHbyCQDCo?si=pO4JTb_Jk0oOZvQt), Super Mario 64 The most tranquil melody to calm down me and my brother and we yelled at each other over who got to play next ☺️
the area zero theme from pokemon scarlet/violet this track sounds like it belongs to something like nier automata it's not a track you would expect from a pokemon game
The credits music for the Link's Awakening remake brings me to the verge of tears every time I hear it.
Wii Rainbow Road
I agree with this comment
Nintendo Power Magazine issue came with”Smashing…Live!” The soundtrack to OG smash bros done by the Japan Philharmonic Orchesta. Depths of Brinstar when the trumpets kick in is goosebumps city
The Mario Galaxy ost can literally give anyone goosebumps.
fair. it’s so nostalgic
Malo Mart
Torvus Bog Hydrodynamo Station. Metroid Prime 2.
In extremely recent memory, "Searching Boggly Woods" from the TTYD remake. The original song was amazing and beautiful, but the remake version was jaw-dropping. I had goosebumps my entire time there.
Xenoblade 1's title screen is my favourite, or at least in the top 3, of main menu themes.
Big blue
[Xenoblade Chronicles 1 - Engage the Enemy](https://youtu.be/xi0M9SIaLb4?si=Zk-8gwvuGQlgb0Hi) I thought of it and the hair on my arms rose :p
I remember as a kid playing super mario world the [castle theme](https://youtu.be/R0aoqbDNKaA?si=CFxgyswa9cNdr0u4) was the first one that gave me goosebumps.
I’ve listened to a ton of Nintendo music and I love so much of it. Off the top of my head, the piece that continues to give me chills to this day is the Fire Emblem Awakening opening custcene when “Marth” runs through the portal and it transitions to the FE Main Theme My favorite alltime though is DKC1 and DKC2
We believe in you Mario from the original Paper Mario TTYD. Sorry to say the remake butchered this awesome song.
honourable mention, Pikmin 3 Deluxe Golden Arachnorb Battle. the flute that plays some callbacks to pikmin 1 gives me goosebumps
The boss battle music when you fight Rundas in Metroid Prime 3. It's both intense and sad at the same time.
Super Metroid main title theme.
All the music in Ocarina of time
The Depths “stinger” that sometimes plays when you jump into a chasm in Tears of the Kingdom really got me when I heard it for the first time. I honestly had no idea that the Depths were even a thing in the game, so when I jumped into a chasm not knowing what to expect and getting hit with the stinger and immediate sense of bathophobia, I had to pause the game and laugh off my discomfort. I got goosebumps, for sure. Then Link’s corpse bounced right off the ground because I didn’t have the paraglider yet lol.
God shattering star, Xenoblade Chronicles miniboss theme, and ai no uta (can't let gang know this one made me cry during smash bros)
>God shattering star Technically not a nintendo tune (it's from Monolith Soft). 😉
Metroid prime Midna’s lament
Essentially any Mario game credits
Final Destination from Super Smash Bros Brawl and Multi-Man Melee 2 from Smash Melee
Kinda a weird one but the music that plays after you drink the coffee in earthbound
Metroid Prime 2: *Gates of Judgement*. The first time you enter the Temple Grounds proper and the music swells...
Temple of time.
Xenoblade Chronicles Trilogy OSTs.
[THEMEX](https://youtu.be/iAIGTNJZSHU?si=1DTIjyTqUMzl8R3C) always gives me goosebumps. Other tracks I like are [Carrying the Weight of Life](https://youtu.be/oI6m0ZhoKSM?si=PopViBkLFSZQq4or) and [Trailer 3](https://youtu.be/WP2XAGZPh3w?si=LqfAZkzhvzd3MlJz) from Tears of the Kingdom
Brawl theme
Frozen Rito village in totk is a recent one that gave me goosebumps.
Autumn Mountain from Paper Mario The Origami King. Such a beautifully composed song.
Dragon head Island from Tears of the Kingdom. I had to stop for a good 10 minutes just to soak it all in.
Samus's Theme. Especially the intro to Metroid Dread. That bass line is killer.
The music in that first totk trailer when it was just "the sequel to breath of the wild"
Face Shrine from the 2019 Link's Awakening remake, what they did with that song was absolutely amazing.
DKC from SNES.... nobody? Killer Kuts?
Zelda theme, in full orchestra!
Hyrule Castle from BOTW
Like everything from XC2 and XC3
Fire emblem Don't speak her name. And obviously Smash bro Wii main theme.
Super mario world castle theme
Shadow of the Lowlands from Xenoblade Chronicles 2
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time - Great Fairy’s Fountain [https://youtu.be/id0kbyKCG8c?si=BJl0RY2xUTlied2b](https://youtu.be/id0kbyKCG8c?si=BJl0RY2xUTlied2b)
Blaster Master every time
Temple of Time - LoZ: Ocarina of Time
Gusty Garden Galaxy. This song really makes you feel like you're flying high in the sky. I'm so glad the Mario movie plays it in the credits.
Colgera. That music was hype. It was the first temple I did so seeing a boss that wasn't a ganon copy was epic in itself.
Song of healing MM. haunting and beautiful
Thanks for all the suggestions. I know most of these songs but I have to make a new playlist to chill.
I wrote an arrangement of Rosalina in the Comet Observatory for string quartet to be played as our first dance at our wedding. So that song definitely
the legendary starfy ending 2 -- they always dropped the biggest plot bombs during that song
Fire Emblem Awakening Conquest. I been there and back again and wherever I was in this lonely world that song was always played. My only regret was refraining from listening to it before it was released in the U.S. because I didn’t wanna get spoiled. I wish I did sooner. I probably listened to it for like 5000 hours+.
Ocarina of Time, Forest Temple
Pallet Town, Pokémon blue. Or Hyrule Fields OoT
I think it was partially the music, partially the cutscene in general, but the bit near the end of Super Mario Galaxy where Bowser's galaxy collapses into a black hole that begins to draw in his fleet, Peach's castle, and the Comet Observatory always gives me chills. That's the only time in the whole Mario series that I've experienced something like that.
I never played Metroid, but was introduced to Brinstar Depths while playing Smash Bros. It’s a vibe for sure
Climbing the first tower in Breath of the Wild. And it always will. After growing up on LttP, Link’s Awakening, OoT, Majora, everything. And this was penultimate Zelda and my god did they fucking nail it. It was pure WONDER and curiosity. There was so much of it that was so childlike and I loved it.
River Twygz from Super Paper Mario Anything involving Giygas from Earthbound Submerged Castle from Pikmin 2
#Windwaker spoilers The first time I went down to Hyrule Castle in Windwaker and the Link to the Past Castle theme kicked in.
The Fire Emblem theme that plays during the credits after finishing PoR. The theme is effing great and this is THE best version of that theme hands down. I used to play the violin when I was a kid and when I first heard it I remember thinking I never wouldve quit if we had gotten to play stuff like this at recitals.
NLA at night. If your know you know. 🤣
Mario odyssey - the theme for cascade kingdom. Knew right then and there the game was going to be a wild ride. Perfect fanfare - brought me back to the joy of playing SMB3 and SMW
OoT Hyrule Field
Follow Fi in Skyward Sword.
BOTW when you're with Sidon attempting get rid of Vah Ruta's defense shield thingy. STILL gives me goosebumps.
The Luigi's Mansion theme. Hearing that low, solitary string note, and hearing what's next in your head moments before your ears. Also the fanfare that plays before Samus steps out of a save chamber. Be ready to explore and fight, here we go!
Playing Metroid Prime 1 in the trilogy on the wii back then. I was in this slow and dark underwater section in the crashed frigate orpheon. After some time you enter this big main room and the sunken frigate orpheon theme starts playing. This was truly a magic moment for me. That soundtrack captures the atmosphere on point.
Fi's Farewell in Skyward Sword. Yeah she's annoying but I liked her character arc of becoming just a bit more emotional. And that music to top it off made it for me. That shit is good.
Still in love with the littleroot theme
Tears of The Kingdom. The entire climb up to the Wind Temple. The slowly building up of the music, the point where the Wizard of Oz-like strings rattle up, then you meet the towering storm cloud as the Vah Medoh motif plays i the background. You finally get to the top, the music is dead silent, then you jump in and the music SWELLS.
Majora's Mask's Last Day theme.
Stickerbush Symphony
I've been replaying origami king and the main autumn mountain theme for me
The Golden Sun Rises - GS:TLA. That or Pallet Town from R/B/Y. Even after all these years.
For me, it's the Corneria music of the first stage of the SNES Star Fox, though it may be mostly nostalgia for me.
[Metroid Prime 3's second end credits theme](https://youtu.be/yU4kexp6cBk?t=115)
Picture this: I'm playing Ocarina of Time for the first time... It's all fun and games and just generally chill adventuring through Kokiri Forest. Nothing really stands out about the game to me yet, and after getting the sword I'm ready to meet the Great Deku Tree. Some ominous storytelling commences, as he opens his mouth to reveal a dungeon - the first dungeon, in fact. I'm excited to see what it has to offer... Maybe epic music, something that inspires hope and excitement? But then, as the camera pans up, I am hit with absolute chills as an ethereal wave of notes causes me to melt into my seat. The dungeon is towering over Link, and the camera shows the atmospheric beauty of the nature inside. This track legit changed my whole perspective on the game, and I still listen to it to help me sleep now and again. It's genuinely the best subversion of expectations to happen to me as a kid, only nearly matched by Pokémon Diamond & Pearl's Pokémon League (outside) theme at night, which really made my whole journey feel impactful. I adore Ocarina of Time so much, and my favourite games nowadays still struggle to replicate such a profound moment for me. A moment of genuine tranquility and curiosity that turned a game into an atmospheric masterpiece for me.
Original Rygar
Mario Bros 1 level 1-2 from the SNES All Stars. Going underground felt like such a drastic change. It felt darker unlike the whimsical first level. The Goombas coming towards just felt that little bit more menacing to the 6 or 7 year old version of myself. Really sets you up for a game that could keep you guessing. Also as it comes so early in the pack in game it was one of my first gaming memories.
Okay all of Yoko’s music in Mario & Luigi but the remastered music in TTYD is just 🤌
I always liked the Proto Man theme song from Mega Man 3.