Celebrating Mario Day: Reveling in the Music That Makes the Series Memorable

In sanctified observance of Mario Day, here’s our list of main series games with soundtracks that make a plump plumber worthy of celebration.

Written by Sandeep Bhakta

With a catalog that spans over 35 years, the “Super Mario” series is a juggernaut in the world of video games. Having installments made in 8-bit, 2D, and 3D, the “Super Mario” universe is no stranger to evolution. But with revised aesthetics come reconstructed soundtracks. The music that’s been following Mario through all of these adventures has culminated into musical scores that ooze with nostalgia and radiate with energy.

1. “Super Mario Bros” (Famicom/NES, 1985)

You can’t begin a list of Super Mario soundtracks without paying homage to the one that started it all. While a bulk of its composition makes use of short, repetitive sounds, these sounds still resonate with fans and non-fans even after decades have passed. Matching the bit-like style of the game, this soundtrack’s simplicity paves the way for its greatness. The iconic overworld track resonates with gamers and non-gamers alike, and it’s a sound that’s synonymous with the name Mario. Each track, though brief, helps set the tone of their associated levels. The fast paced “Castle Theme” matches the panic one would feel while attempting to dodge lava pits and fireballs, while the “Starman” theme captures the euphoria felt when effectively becoming a god amongst anthropomorphic mushrooms. The purity of this soundtrack lays the foundation for a decades-long series.

2. “Super Mario 64” (Nintendo 64, 1996)

This game of firsts is best known as the first Super Mario title to feature 3D gameplay. Like its predecessors, this soundtrack fills original players with a healthy dose of nostalgia. For those who’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing “Super Mario 64,” the soundtrack represents a collection of songs that are diverse and weird, but in a good way. The game’s main theme and the track “Slider” give off an infectious energy, while tracks like “Dire, Dire Docks” are sweetly synthy and resemble a melody you’d find in a ‘90s after school special. These songs may not necessarily be able to stand on their own, but together they create a novel soundtrack representative of ‘90s nostalgia.

3. “Super Mario Sunshine” (Gamecube, 2002)

Cleaning a city graffitied by a shadowy doppelganger has never been more fun. And that’s in part due to this game’s criminally underrated soundtrack. Playing on the departure from the norm that’s now a staple in 3D Super Mario games, this installment’s main credit is in creating an atmosphere that’s tropical, relaxing, and folky. While you’ve got classic tracks like “Shadow Mario” that evoke the same feelings of fast-paced panic when fighting the bosses, the iconic “Delfino Plaza” theme uses accordion, guitar, and percussion sounds to give life to a beach city. This soundtrack is filled with vibrant instrumentation and eclectic melodies that provide a fun and memorable listening experience.

4. “Super Mario Galaxy” (Wii, 2007)

Arguably the most thematically cohesive, “Super Mario Galaxy” has a soundtrack that’s out of this world. Puns aside, this soundtrack is the first series game to make use of a symphony orchestra. There’s a confluence of sounds that are both classical to the Mario universe and futuristic. The use of physical instruments and computer-generated instrumentation creates a sound that befits a bold space motif. The sounds vary from tracks that are crisp and glassy, like the song “Luma” to tracks that are purely dramatic, like “Bowser’s Galaxy Reactor.” The closing track, “Space Junk Galaxy,” ends the game by evoking sadness that the journey ended but content that it happened. The highs and lows of Mario’s galactic saga are wrapped expertly in the songs that compose its soundtrack.

5. “Super Mario Odyssey” (Nintendo Switch, 2017)

While still a relatively new edition, “Super Mario Odyssey” has a soundtrack that’s marked by the sheer amount of energy it produces. Although certain tracks have a serene sound, it’s the action-packed songs that make this musical score a strong one. In a refreshing twist, the track “Jump Up, Super Star” uses actual lyrics making it the first vocal theme of any “Super Mario” game. The track sets the whole mood of the game with its jazzy vocals and uplifting horns and creates a bubbling feeling of pure enjoyment derived from manipulating the persistent plumber. “Steam Gardens” also serves as a representation of the game’s focus on fun by resembling a song you’d hear in an ‘80s detective series. It’s fast, determined, and exciting — exactly how you’ll feel when playing this Super Mario game.

Afterglow ATXMarch 10, 2020