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Which games have better music: Mario, or Sonic?

Both series have consistently great music, but Sonic has a much wider variety than Mario. Chances are that, with knowledge of all that both series have to offer, one would find Sonic's offerings more interesting, ambitious, and catering to a certain genre or sound one prefers. That being said, it's been nice seeing the Mario series stretch its legs a bit with Galaxy, 3D World, and Mario Kart 8.

For me though, it's Sonic all day. Sega's sound team (and its collaborators) has always been such a ridiculous musical force. Even when things look grim on the game development end, it's hard to catch em slouching.
 
allenpergallon said:
Both series have consistently great music, but Sonic has a much wider variety than Mario. Chances are that, with knowledge of all that both series have to offer, one would find Sonic's offerings more interesting, ambitious, and catering to a certain genre or sound one prefers. That being said, it's been nice seeing the Mario series stretch its legs a bit with Galaxy, 3D World, and Mario Kart 8.

For me though, it's Sonic all day. Sega's sound team (and its collaborators) has always been such a ridiculous musical force. Even when things look grim on the game development end, it's hard to catch em slouching.
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I think this is the key for me. Mario music always sounds like "Mario music" -- at least until very recently. Sonic music goes all over the place.
 
Sonic. The Genesis games easily beat the 8 and 16 bit Mario games, no contest. Even the 3D Sonic games with their cheese tend to be catchier and more consistent overall than recent Marios.

There's a reason so many posts in this thread are calling out Galaxy songs though; Galaxy and Galaxy 2 were fucking stellar in the soundtrack department.
 
Mario generally has fantastic music but I'm gonna go with Sonic.

Genesis era Sonic music was mind-blowingly good and generally music is the one thing that's always good in like 99% of his games. It's ridiculous.
 
Übermatik;212501106 said:
Mario. Obviously. So many more MEMORABLE tunes, and with the help of Galaxy, some genuine orchestral mastery too.
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They're memorable because they're repeated and remixed in every Mario-related game.
 
Toxi said:
They're memorable because they're repeated and remixed in every Mario-related game.
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That is my biggest issue with Mario music sometimes. The games re-use the same themes often and it can be distracting. Like, 3D Land is a great platformer but its music pales compared to Galaxy thanks to all the same remixes from past Mario games re-used over and over again. I did love the new Ghost House Theme from 3D Land though and the final boss theme for Bowser was really good :D.

3D World fixed this and games like Mario Kart 8 had amazing soundtracks. Mario is getting better on the music front after some of the NSMB games and 3D Land disappointed on the musical front sometimes.
 
Sonic dominated Mario in the music department during the following years:

1992
1993
1994

And that's only because no mainline Mario games released during those three years and Sonic had like four mainline titles launch during this timeframe.
 
Seven Force said:
I don't care if the shit technically isn't even out yet, I fuck with Studiopolis Zone
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As the description reads, it is very Sonic CD like.

And speaking of Sonic CD....

Collision Chaos Bad Future (JP version)
Collision Chaos Past (produced right on the Sega CD soundchip, no redbook.
Metallic Madness Bad Future (JP)
Metallic Madness Past (yet again, chip tunes)
Quartz Quadrant Past (I love all the past music, as it is the most unique sounding stuff in the game)
Stardust Speedway Good Future
Stardust Speedway Past
Wacky Workbench Present
Wacky Workbench Bad Future
Tidal Tempest Past



I even like a lot of the US tracks...

Collision Chaos Good Future
Quartz Quadrant Present
Stardust Speedway Present
Tidal Tempest Present
Wacky Workbench Good Future
Wacky Workbench Bad Future
 
Depends on the game. Sonic 3 had amazing music, but nothing I've heard in a Sonic game since has been any good, or just outright terrible like the buttrock in the first two Wii games.

Mario has its low points like the NSMB series, but then there's Super Mario Galaxy..

Sonic Mania might break the decades long trend of awful Sonic music though.
 
Sonic has great music and is better than Mario.

Nessus said:
Depends on the game. Sonic 3 had amazing music, but nothing I've heard in a Sonic game since has been any good, or just outright terrible like the buttrock in the first two Wii games.

Mario has its low points like the NSMB series, but then there's Super Mario Galaxy..

Sonic Mania might break the decades long trend of awful Sonic music though.
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dude look up any song from sonic rush. that's a kickin' rad soundtrack!
 
Hmmm

Mario 64:

Bowser's Road
Dire Dire Docks

Mario Sunshine:

Nothing worth noting

Mario GalaxY 1-2:

Godtier soundtrack

The 2D ones don't really have anything that great, some memorable and iconic themes though.
 
Well, Sonic isn't very consistent. For example I thought the music in Sonic Lost World didn't really jive with the character and would have suited Mario better.
 
Since I have more Sonic songs than Mario songs in my iPhone...I'll go with Sonic without a shadow of a doubt.

I like Mario songs, but the sheer consistent quality and variety in Sonic is unmatched.
 
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