Since its origin on the Nintendo 64, theSuper Smash Bros.franchise has been home to some of gaming’s greatest characters colliding for the very first time. From all-stars of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, to obscure retro characters, and even beloved third-party representatives,Smashmay be the best love letter to gaming history there ever was.
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It’s only fitting that a fighting game dedicated to video game history also pays tribute to the best music from its represented games. In the most recent title,Super Smash Bros Ultimate, there are over 1,000 music tracks available in the game. Of the ones created especially for theSuper Smash Brosfranchise, these are the most memorable.
12Tetris (Type A)
Tetrisis one of the highest-selling video game franchises of all time, rising to popularity after its release on the NES in 1989.The game’s origins date back to the Soviet Union, as it was originally created by a Russian software engineer named Alexey Pajitnov. Fitting with its creator’s heritage, the original Type A theme ofTetriswas based on a Russian folk song.
When the song appeared as a remix inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, it carried over some elements from the original folk version of the tune. However, its creepy vibe makes it much more unique than the chiptune version from the original game. When placed on the Luigi’s Mansion stage, it makes for a creepy yet thrilling piece of music to fight to.
11Gourmet Race
For the first twoSmashgames,Kirbywas the sole representative of his franchise. That changed withSuper Smash Bros. Brawlfor the Wii, which added Meta Knight and King Dedede to the roster. Along with their inclusion, a whole new selection ofKirbymusic was added to the franchise, including a new remix of the music for the Gourmet Race level.
This song previously had remixes in the Nintendo 64 game andMelee, but itsBrawliteration is more fast-paced, with electric guitars and synth solos. It definitely sounds more intense than the original version fromKirby Super Star. It’s quite addictive to listen to, especially given how hardcore it is for aKirbytrack.
10Magicant
Super Smash Bros for 3DSwas the first portable title in the series' history. To separate it from its companion game,Super Smash Bros for Wii U, the two games have mostly different stages. For the 3DS game, that included the new stage from theMotherseries, Magicant, based on the dream world fromthe popular SNES RPG,Earthbound.
The theme music for Magicant, as featured in the 3DS & Wii U games, is a beautiful orchestral rendition of the Magicant theme. The original SNES game’s music sounds very odd and creepy, which is fitting for the game’s tone. Particularly, the remix’s single violin melody makes it sound more melancholic than its original version.
9Ryu Stage
Ryu was the first newcomer to be added as DLC forSuper Smash Bros for 3DS & Wii U. Of course, this meant that lots of music from theStreet Fighterseries would be added to the mix. The remix of Ryu’s stage theme fromStreet Fighter IIis a good example of aSmash Brosremix that reinterprets a piece of music while still keeping a lot of similar qualities.
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From the energetic drums to the 80’s-esque synth line, this music fits perfectly on the Suzaku Castle stage in bothSmash 4andUltimate. It even has a moment where the music speeds up to incorporate what it’s like when a player reaches low HP in theStreet Fighterseries. It even has a folk violin section that comes in halfway through the song.
8Underworld
Pit debuted inSuper Smash Bros Brawl, making his first appearance in a game sinceKid Icarus: Of Myths and Monstersfor the GameBoy. His appearance was enough to warrant a revival of the series developed bySmashdirector Masahiro Sakurai himself, calledKid Icarus: Uprising. Suffice it to say, but Sakurai brought manySmashremixes to the game.
One of these remixes was a re-interpretation of the NESKid Icarusgame’s Underworld theme. Its iteration inKid Icarus: Uprisingis more fast-paced and rock-sounding, while the version that appears inSuper Smash Bros Brawlis orchestral and triumphant. If there is any reason to continue theKid Icarusseries, it’s to get more iconic music.
7Gerudo Valley
There is no shortage of great songs fromThe Legend of Zelda, especially when it comes toSmash Brosremixes. There’s the iconic Temple Theme fromMeleeand even a remix of Kass’s Theme fromBreath of the Wild. However, the spot on this list has to go from the Gerudo Valley theme remix fromSuper Smash Bros for 3DS & Wii U.
This music was a fitting inclusion in the fourthSmash Brosinstallment, as the 3DS version included a Gerudo Valley stage. The song even made a return inUltimate, along with the stage. It’s a catchy, acoustic guitar-driven tune that perfectly fits the tribal, desert landscape of Gerudo Valleyas it appears inOcarina of Timefor Nintendo 64.
6Lost In Thoughts All Alone
The new age of theFire Emblemfranchise has included some of the series' best music thus far.Fire Emblem Awakeninghas the iconic “Id (Purpose),” which also has a remix in theSuper Smash Brosseries. However, one of the franchise’s stand-out tracks is “Lost In Thoughts All Alone,” the main theme of the 3DS titleFire Emblem Fates.
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The song plays a pivotal role in the game’s story, as it’s sung by the main character Azura. The remix of it that appears inSuper Smash Bros Ultimatedoesn’t include its lyrics but makes up for that by being an epic reinterpretation of a truly stellar main theme. It also includes an interpolation of theFire Emblem Fatessong “End of All” that plays during the final boss.
5Ashley’s Song
Sadly,Ashley from theWarioWaregamesdoesn’t appear as a playable character inSmash Bros. She does show up as an Assist Trophy, but her best representation comes in the game’s music. InSuper Smash Bros Brawl, a remix of “Ashley’s Song” fromWarioWare: Touched!debuted, becoming one of the fewSmashremixes with lyrics.
The song sounds like a delightfully charming Halloween jingle, with a jazzy flair. The lead female vocalist takes the role of Ashley herself, threatening to cast a hex on any person who won’t be her friend. When playing onWarioWarestages inUltimate, it can be difficult to get this catchy big-band tune out of your head.
4Route 209
LikeThe Legend of Zelda,Pokemonis another Nintendo franchise that features a notable selection of great remixes inSuper Smash Bros Ultimate. One remix originated inSuper Smash Bros Brawl, adapting the music that plays on Route 209 inPokemon Diamond & Pearl. However, this remix is unique for how closely it resembles the original track.
Route 209 comes early on inDiamond & Pearl, making this route one of the more leisurely strolls in the fourth-generation games. ItsSmash Brosremix is equally chill, incorporating a lot of the same instruments as its original version. It nonetheless becomes a weird choice for the stage Spear Pillar, though that can be forgiven for how delightful it is to listen to.
3Spiral Mountain
The inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie in aSuper Smash Brosgame had been something fans clamored for sinceMelee. The bear and bird finally got their shot at revival as DLC inSuper Smash Bros Ultimate. Along with their inclusion, the game received the Spiral Mountain stage, based on the iconic starting area from the originalBanjo-Kazooiefor Nintendo 64.
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Its remixed music inUltimatealso bears some close ties to the original franchise. The theme for Spiral Mountain, which played during Banjo’s reveal trailer, was composed by the original games' composer Grant Kirkhope. It, therefore, captures a lot of the charming energy of the original game, making it one of the most dedicated remixes inUltimate.
