By Justin Polak
Co-founder, Ambassador to the Mushroom Kingdom

Image from giantbomb.com.

I was a huge a fan of Sonic from the very instant I saw the first title being advertised on TV. As soon as I saw the blue blur reach impossible speeds, I knew I wanted to play it. I would eventually pick up a Sega Genesis for that very reason, and I enjoyed the hell out of each Genesis title. Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t focus on the music as much as the games themselves. Needless to say, like many other games I hold close to my heart, half the fun was listening to the jams blasting out of my TV speakers.

Let me get this out of the way, as it is rather noteworthy. It has been long rumoured that Michael Jackson worked on the music for Sonic The Hedgehog 3. After his death, Sega employees released contradicting statements concerning the issue. If it is true, it would explain why that soundtrack is so damn catchy. Anyway, enough about that mystery, I’m here to discuss the music!

10. “Mystic Cave Zone” (Sonic the Hedgehog 2) – Despite the track screaming that it’s from the early 90′s, I feel it has aged well over time in terms of how well it fits with level design. The zone itself is set in a dim, creepy cavern, where plenty of traps and sneaky enemies lurk. In a way, I view this song as a warning that it might be a better idea to watch yourself in some places rather than burn through the zone as fast as you can. At the same time, it kind of has a creepy fun house vibe to it that adds a unique charm not found in any other track in Sonic 2.

Image from captainwilliams.co.uk.

9. “Scrap Brain Zone” (Sonic the Hedgehog) – I’ll admit that this track intimidated me as a child. The song starts with a haunting build up leading to a depressing melody which grabs hold of you immediately. Combined with the polluted scenery and rampant machinery, I felt as if Dr. Robotnik was letting Sonic know that he’s making his last stand, and now Sonic is in his world. If Robotnik had his way, the entire world would look like the Scrap Brain Zone. Hey, I know a video game track is good when I find my imagination running wilder than Sonic himself.

8. “Death Egg Zone” (Sonic the Hedgehog 2) - It’s a shame that most players only hear the first few seconds of this one, because you are compelled to run into a boss fight right away. Those of you who let Sonic sit around for a bit were treated to a genuinely weird, but awesome track. When the main portion of the song kicks in after a sinister sounding synth intro, a 2001: A Space Odyssey-like vibe takes control from there. I’m willing to bet that was intentionally done, seeing how Sonic is in a giant Space Station (just imagine what the Death Star would look like if it had a giant mustache). Next time you find yourself in the Death Egg Zone, stick around for a bit and listen.

7. “Final Boss” (Sonic The Hedgehog 2) - It’s appropriate that the most epic boss theme heard throughout the series is heard soon after the Death Egg Zone track. First, industrial-like sounds open the track up right after Robotnik confronts you with his biggest machine yet. What soon follows is an epic battle with equally epic music. I have trouble with this boss to this day since the margin of error is very slim, and Sonic is equipped with no rings at all (for those of you who have never played a Sonic game, that means you will die in one hit). The situation at hand also brings out the desperation felt throughout the song, and to me, that’s why it was Sonic and Robotnik’s best battle.

6. “Chrome Gadget Zone” (Sonic The Hedgehog 3) - Being the only multiplayer track in Sonic 3 that has been burned in my mind throughout the years, I figure it might be worth mentioning. In all seriousness, I look back on this track fondly simply because it reminds me of being a young kid and living carefree days. I had a friend at that time that loved to play the competition mode constantly, so I suppose that’s why it stands out so much in my mind. As for the track itself, it kind of sounds like a lost Final Fight or Street Fighter II tune. It just has a real nice flow and chill feeling to it, like you should be cruising in a convertible on a cool summer night. All in all, this is an underrated track that is usually ignored since it wasn’t included in the single player mode, so check it out and give it some love!

Lava Reef Zone. Image from screwattack.com.

5. “Lava Reef Zone, Act 1″ (Sonic & Knuckles) – Again, this track might have 90′s written all over it, but damn do I love that beat. Who would have thought that such a poppy song could match the look of a level built out of stone and lava? Despite the violent nature of the level, the song does have a comforting feel to it, and it does a great job of showing that the Genesis could showcase clear music if used properly (I personally found that a lot of Genesis tracks distorted to the point of obnoxious buzzing far too often). I also have a soft spot for this track because I can’t help but notice how much the song structure could pass for a Mega Man song very easily.

4. “Hidden Palace Zone” (Sonic The Hedgehog 2) – Although the Hidden Palace Zone was featured in Sonic & Knuckles, it was originally cut from Sonic 2. How do I know this? Because the track was left in the game’s sound test mode! It’s a shame, because had this level been included in Sonic 2, it probably would have been my favorite level only because of how much this could pass for an RPG or adventure genre track. It has a magical, mystical sound to it, and every time I hear it I pine for what could have been had it made the final cut of the game.

3. “Green Hill Zone” (Sonic The Hedgehog) - The very first level Sonic ever blazed through happens to be one of the best Sonic tracks of all time. Having a lighthearted, uplifting composure, Green Hill Zone is to Sonic as the Super Mario Bros. theme is to Mario, despite the song not being nearly as iconic. Beautiful waterfalls, green…hills, kick ass level design and serene scenery may be the main course, but the actual track itself is the cherry on top. Quite frankly, this track ranks up there as one of the greatest songs of all time from a video game.

2. “Hydrocity Zone Act 2″ (Sonic The Hedgehog 3) – Not only is Hydrocity Zone the best water themed level ever, but it also has one of the best sounding songs in any Sonic game bar none. With a jazzy vibe mixed into pop blend perfectly, this is quite easily one most unique songs found in any Sonic game. Being a faster remix of Hydrocity Zone Act 1 is appropriate, since you have to quickly move from an advancing wall of doom the second the level starts. From there, the level just gets crazy as Sonic finds himself being flung around multiple loops, underwater slides, conspicuous devices and actually running on water itself! This is one of those video game levels in which everything blended together perfectly, and the music plays a big part in it all.

Ice Cap Zone. Image from captainwilliams.co.uk.

1. “Ice Cap Zone Act 1″ (Sonic the Hedgehog 3)–Yup, I’m one of those Sonic fans. I hate to be predictable, but I can’t deny how catchy this damn song is! I guess that’s what you get when you mix Sonic with trance, after all. I honestly had trouble choosing between this or the Act 2 remix, since they are both so exquisite. I’ll just say this:  There is a very good reason why this is one of the most commonly remixed track in the video game music community. Warning:  If you listen to this song even once not only will it get stuck in your head, but you will imagine Sonic running around a rave punching fat bouncers that resemble Robnotnik…or maybe that’s just me.

With Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 coming this year, I can’t help but wonder if more classic video game music is headed our way. You could say I am pumped because not only will Sonic 4 be modeled after its Genesis counterparts (mostly), but it will be a direct continuation after the end of Sonic & Knuckles. After the Genesis era was over, Sonic’s music was unfortunately plagued with cheesy sounding hair ballad songs. Here’s hoping that Sonic 4 brings a fraction of Genesis’s style back. If I get lucky, I might have to adjust my list.

Front page image from gamersdailynews.com.