• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

What is the best song that Koji Kondo has ever composed?

T

To Far Away Times

Member
Koji Kondo has composed so many great tracks that it feels wrong to pick just one, as there's no way to do so without shortchanging a bunch of classic songs.

That being said, Dire Dire Docks gets my vote.
 
H

HyruleGuardian

Member
Song of Healing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G_aaak-tDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUq49NecOeE

Ballad of the Windfish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAkjemBf3M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpXOqL9WtnM

Ballad of the Goddess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ReyoNpyrM

Zelda's Lullaby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAVn71rNImI

Ocarina of Time Title Theme:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ShzyggtsCs

Wind Waker Title Theme:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o78T9-I4OGA

The Great Sea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J_bL2bjQ-k

That's in addition to many of the great ones that have already been mentioned... and there are so many more! Many of these themes have amazing orchestrated versions as well, but you can't find them on youtube (except in very low quality).
 
W

Why would you do that?

Member
First thought was the really short but amazing Sheik's Theme:

http://youtu.be/8Yc7kp_ETGU

Runner ups include Spirit Temple (OoT) and the credits to Link to the Past:

http://youtu.be/c8sdSfEa26o

Seriously, one of the best credits music ever. I really wish Kondo would go back to composing whole game soundtracks...

HyruleGuardian said:
Song of Healing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G_aaak-tDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUq49NecOeE

Ballad of the Windfish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAkjemBf3M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpXOqL9WtnM

Ballad of the Goddess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ReyoNpyrM
Click to expand...

I don't think he did those... I know that he didn't do Link's Awakening but not 100% sure about the other ones.


Piston Hyundai said:
I would never put any of his shit on my MP3 player (really, why would you)
Click to expand...

There's no shame of putting music you like on an mp3 player. About 90% of the music I listen to is video game music.
 
Y

Yonafunu

Member
The OoT soundtrack is amazing. The MM OST is awesome, but that was co-composed by Toru Minegishi, so I'm not sure who did what.
Same thing goes for WW and TP, which were both composed by at least 2 composers besides Kondo, with 3 for WW.
I'm always to call out tracks from MM and upwards for that reason.
 
A

AdanVC

Member
Gerudo Valley, the Thread.
But seriously, this is such a difficult thing to answer, OP! Kondo is one of my favorite gaming musicians. I need at least an entire afternoon to make a proper top ten list or something because there's just so many awesome songs created by Kondo-sensei. But I would choose three that I've been listening a lot lately:


Cave Dungeon - Super Mario 64 << This is my all time favorite arrangement of the famous Underworld theme from Super Mario Bros. The rythms, the sounds, everything fits so damn perfect with this song.

Athletic Theme - Yoshi's Island << It's insanely catchy and it makes you happy since the first second it starts playing. Love the Charleston vibe in it.

Dragon Roost Island - Zelda Wind Waker << The first time I heard this song back in 2003, my 13 year old-self spend like 1 hour just walking around the island because of how beautiful and catchy this song is. I actually wanted to take guitar lessons and everything at that time just to play this song. Wonderful melody.
 
H

HyruleGuardian

Member
AdanVC said:
Gerudo Valley, the Thread.
But seriously, this is such a difficult thing to answer, OP! Kondo is one of my favorite gaming musicians. I need at least an entire afternoon to make a proper top ten list or something because there's just so many awesome songs created by Kondo-sensei. But I would choose three that I've been listening a lot lately:


Cave Dungeon - Super Mario 64 << This is my all time favorite arrangement of the famous Underworld theme from Super Mario Bros. The rythms, the sounds, everything fits so damn perfect with this song.

Athletic Theme - Yoshi's Island << It's insanely catchy and it makes you happy since the first second it starts playing. Love the Charleston vibe in it.

Dragon Roost Island - Zelda Wind Waker << The first time I heard this song back in 2003, my 13 year old-self spend like 1 hour just walking around the island because of how beautiful and catchy this song is. I actually wanted to take guitar lessons and everything at that time just to play this song. Wonderful melody.
Click to expand...

Yoshi's Island music makes me so happy. It's my second favorite game of all-time, behind only The Wind Waker.
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
Shit, that's an impossible question for me. The man is a legend.
 
M

Mr-Joker

Banned
Has anyone ever gotten sick of listening to any of Kondo song on repeat?

Personally I haven't so I am guess his technique actually works for me.
 
A

Azure J

Member
If you had asked me this before yesterday, I'd probably pick one from either Grass Land (seriously the theme of childhood for me) or Water World Map Theme from Super Mario Bros. 3, Dire Dire Docks or the Staff Roll from Super Mario 64, Safety in the Sanctuary (I legit got chills the first time I heard this) or the Light World Dungeon theme from A Link to The Past.

Now though? Murasame Castle from The Mysterious Murasame Castle, easily. I didn't even know the fucking NES/Famicom was capable of this.
 
A

Asbear

Banned
No one has mentioned the most epic tracks he's composed yet, wtf??

Ocarina of Time - Ganondorf Battle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKjEwQeGAEU

Ocarina of Time - Final Showdown with Ganon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmL3xSeAmsw

Wind Waker: Molgera Battle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlF0-Qs2xkI

Wind Waker - Ganondorf Battle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iGyaa-QhwA

Wind Waker - Phantom Ganon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtIM1bpOLe8

Skyward Sword - Legend of Skyloft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcTSN7Sr9s
 
L

Lunar15

Member
It's Hero of Light, the ALTTP credits, already listed in this thread.

So fucking amazing.

Also, if you listed anything post Majora's Mask, it's most likely not Kondo, save for a few exceptions.

TWW and SS are mainly Hajime Wakai, and TP is mainly Toru Minegishi and Asuka Ota.
 
T

tookhster

Member
It's impossible to pick a single song for me, but man if I had to pick a soundtrack without any nostalgia involved, it would probably be Twilight Princess. I loved how he didn't try hard to be all orchestral and instead used high quality MIDIs that had great tunes. Midna's theme, that little song that played when you exposed the weak point of a boss(love little touches like that), and all the remixes from OOT...it was all great. And I loved how every dungeon song had its own distinct theme, because even Skyward Sword failed at that.

It also had the most epic collection of Zelda finale music.....like 5 different, epic songs back-to-back for each boss during the end of the game, and it topped off with one of the greatest fights(with the best music) in the series.

EDIT: Well according to people here, I guess Kondo didn't the music.... oh well it's still great.
 
L

Lunar15

Member
tookhster said:
And I loved how every dungeon song had its own distinct theme, because even Skyward Sword failed at that.
Click to expand...

Every dungeon in SS had it's own theme as well.

TP was the soundtrack that used the same motif over and over again. I like the soundtrack overall, but that main theme is way overused.
 
T

timetokill

Banned
Best thing about Kondo is he doesn't "overcompose" or overcomplicate things. He makes very strong melodies and lets them do the talking. If any of these songs aren't actually by Kondo, let me know so credit can go where it's due.

The Top 10 Koji Kondo songs:

01. Hyrule Castle Theme (A Link to the Past) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uR7doemZD0
So dramatic and beautiful. Its usage in Link to the Past is noteworthy in particular, in that it feels like it represents something different each time you hear it. Early, it feels big and almost oppressive, and later it feels almost triumphant. It sounds royal, epic (not a word I use lightly), intense, solemn, powerful. So great.

02. Song of Healing (Majora's Mask) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G_aaak-tDE
There is so much emotion wrapped up in this song. It fits the melancholy world of Majora's Mask so effortlessly that it basically defines it. It's beautiful.

03. Castle Theme (Super Mario World) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdmS4ndSAT8
Every part of this is incredible. The "spooky" feeling at the beginning transitioning to intense drama midway through is my favorite part (0:40 onward)... it just propels you forward, that descent into the "madness" and "despair" of the castle.

04. Intro Theme (Legend of Zelda) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyMKWJ5e1kg
This song basically convinced me that games were something special. It instantly transported me into the world of Zelda. As with many Kondo themes, he has a dramatic, solo instrument transition to accompaniment with a steady march that makes you feel as though adventure is afoot.

05. Final Battle (Ocarina of Time) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmL3xSeAmsw
I can't listen to this without getting chills. Kondo knows exactly what to play here... it's dramatic but understated, a chorus over a rolling snare beat. The perfect accompaniment to the most perfectly executed final boss battle of all time.

06. Final Hours (Majora's Mask) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcpd0lhYMQI
Nothing captures "the end times" like this song. Rather than make you feel like a hero, it makes you feel like it's just over... nothing you can do, with only despair and sadness left.

07. Gerudo Valley (Ocarina of Time) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXCzilsqThA
This song is the shit, and everyone knows it.

08. Bowser's Road (Super Mario 64) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM5nOBgpDsQ
Fantastically redone in SMG2 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvH5BTOf2qk
Kondo's instrument choices are so good in Mario, they're so different from other games but always manage to sound so uniquely "Mario." This one makes Mario feel like he's on a journey against all odds, a marathon of skill and effort.

09. End Credits (Super Mario 64) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVKj3u8JUm0
I can't help but feel happy listening to it. It makes me just want to start another play through immediately.

10. Staff Roll (Ocarina of Time) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPjLgDF1hUg
At the end, when Navi flies away, the music always makes me want to cry. So touching. A great way to close out the game, taking you back through your journey in a way that is both happy, sad, nostalgic and proud.
 
S

Subaru

Member
Randomizer said:
Super Mario World Ending

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNcIAC30mWI
Click to expand...

I love that song too!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9u2pcabagO9dGVadlNnU1FrZHBqOFRIRzBqMXluX2Z1Vl9j/edit?usp=sharing

This version is INCREDIBLE, It's hard to find, I don't know where I found but I believe I've download more than 12 years ago. It's from early 90's I guess.

Really guys, I think everybody should listen to this version, it's AWESOME! <3

I also love Skyward Sword's "Ballad of the Goddess", it's so beautiful!

It's hard to choose even 10, he's soooo awesome.

I guess if I had to choose the most MEMORABLE song to me it would be SMB 3 - Athletic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS6WpCkxd1g

It's perfect and I still prefer the original 8-bit version than any remix. It feels so adventurous, so cool! Oh god I'm crying =~
 
W

wmlk

Member
I don't like how everyone assumes that Kondo composes every track. There are a lot of talented composers in Nintendo, and I go to YouTube and see on GAF thanking Kondo and not appreciating the people who actually worked on the music.

Same thing with how Game Freak makes the Pokémon games, not Nintendo. Let's give those guys credit for literally heading one of the biggest franchises for anything in the world.

Anyway, here are my favourites. Dude's music just transports you into a really positive place.

Rosalina's Observatory - Super Mario Galaxy
Good Egg Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy
Sunside Seaside - Super Mario 3D World
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu finds recent game music “boring” – here’s why
Opinion
37
2K
Guilty_AI replied
The man who owes Nintendo $14m: Gary Bowser and gaming’s most infamous piracy case
2
85
5K
SHA replied
Super Mario Bros theme is first Video Game soundtrack added to US Library of Congress National Registry Of Recordings
21
2K
LRKD replied
Solar Ash - one of the best 3D platformers of all time
LTTP
25
2K
diffusionx replied
LTTP: Super Mario Odyssey
LTTP Review 2
75
4K
mayham2199 replied
Top Bottom