Favorite pre-Super Mario Bros. game music?

[Segataritensoftii]

As we probably all know, Super Mario Bros was one of the very first games to have a truly classic soundtrack and kick off the first video game music renaissance of the mid to late 1980s. What many people don't know, however, is that there were some pretty classic soundtracks and music before that, as well. Off the top of my head, I can name three tunes from the pre-SMB era that really stood out for me.

 

-Crazy Comets - Main theme (C64)

-M.U.L.E (Atari 8 bit, C64)

-New Rally X - Ingame (Arcade)

 

What are some gems that you can name from that era?

Edited June 11, 2009 by Segataritensoftii

[JamesD]

Since my computing at that time was TRS-80 Model 1, CoCo, and Apple II+ I don't think I even remember a game having a soundtrack of any kind.

Which is sad really because the CoCo could actually do some impressive music in the right hands. Programs in magazines made better music.

 

Now I would definitely put M.U.L.E. on the list.

[NE146]

I dunno but Gyruss in the arcade is the one that stands out in my mind where I really heard "real music" in a game. I remember going home to my brother and trying to describe it to him but failing with my limited vocabulary

[Pixelboy]

All on ColecoVision:

 

- Antarctic Adventure

- Bump 'n' Jump

- Cabbage Patch Kids Adventures in the Park

- Gyruss (J. S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor)

- Mr Do's Castle

- Pitfall II - Lost Caverns (music was very good too on Atari 2600)

- Spy Hunter (Peter Gunn theme)

[missioncontrol]

Spy Hunter

[cimerians]

A lot of C64 games. The almighty SID chip!

 

[vdub_bobby]

Pitfall II (2600)

Moon Patrol (2600)

[Reaperman]

pengo

 

can't think of too many other games with decent music that wasn't totally annoying in the pre-smb years.

[108 Stars]

I can remember the simple jungle-groove from Jungle Hunt on VCS 2600, when you are where the cannibals have your gf in that big pot.

 

um-ba-ba-um-ba-ba-um-ba-ba-um-ba-baum-ba-ba-um-ba-ba-UM

[chrisbid]

the intellivision had some good music

 

snafu

buzz bombers

burgertime

shark shark

thin ice

beauty and the beast

 

just to name a few

[Video]

The Castles off DR CREEP for the C64 had a bunch of kick ass classic music. M.U.L.E had a kick ass original soundtrack (get the 64 version, the NES pails in comparrision, didn't know about the A8, that's probably cool too)

 

Pitfall II for the 2600, both tunes(everybody seems to forget about the balloon)

 

Lots of games had some short ditty, and those useually were good, like ms Pac-mans intro and coffee breaks.

[108 Stars]

David Crane´s excellent Ghostbusters game had great music!

[mbd30]

The Star Wars arcade game has amazing audio for the time. That synthesized rendition of the film's soundtrack music gets your adrenaline pumping.

 

 

Also, Frogger's music has a certain charm.

[Crazy Climber]

Reactor was cool

[JamesD]

Since my computing at that time was TRS-80 Model 1, CoCo, and Apple II+ I don't think I even remember a game having a soundtrack of any kind.

Which is sad really because the CoCo could actually do some impressive music in the right hands. Programs in magazines made better music.

 

Now I would definitely put M.U.L.E. on the list.

After thinking about it, Donkey King played the tune at the start of each level but that's pretty minimal.

Megabug played la kukaracha or whatever it's called.

 

There were several arcade machines that played good tunes but most have already been mentioned. I think I liked Gyrus and Reactor the best.

[gdement]

Hard for me since the NES is the first system I experienced that actually had good sound.

 

So I have to pick something I saw on the NES before SMB. All I can think of is Popeye. I think I used to like the music in that game.

 

Or I can go with 2600 Frogger.

 

It's kind of like asking what was my favorite baby food.

[+RevEng]

I totally agree with M.U.L.E on the Atari 8-bit. Reactor was rocking too.

 

But the first one I thought of was Preppie on Atari 8-bit. Well executed, and it perfectly matched the game.

[Segataritensoftii]

David Crane´s excellent Ghostbusters game had great music!

Wasn't that released AFTER Super Mario Bros. though?

[lushgirl_80]

E.T. (2600) I play the intro really loud so my neighbor's can hear.

 

Asteroids (2600)

 

Pengo (5200)

 

Gremlins(5200)

 

Tombstone City (TI-99 4A)

 

Popeye(5200)

 

Demon Attack(2600)

 

Vs.The Goonies(arcade)

[shadow460]

BallBlazer on the 7800 (or was that released after SMB?)

 

The rest are 2600 titles:

 

Pitfall II

Pressure Cooker

The Official Frogger

Rabbit Transit

Party Mix

Bump 'n' Jump

[lushgirl_80]

Ohh forgot to add :

 

 

Mappy (arcade)

 

Xevious (arcade)

 

 

Especially the music from Mappy during the bonus stages.....I think alot of NES games ripped off the music from Mappy.

Edited June 13, 2009 by lushgirl_80

[+thegoldenband]

I can remember the simple jungle-groove from Jungle Hunt on VCS 2600, when you are where the cannibals have your gf in that big pot.

 

um-ba-ba-um-ba-ba-um-ba-ba-um-ba-baum-ba-ba-um-ba-ba-UM

Ha, that was the first thing I thought of too! For whatever reason, that little groove tune stuck with me. There's something almost...insinuating?...about it.

 

Jungle Hunt and Crystal Castles were two of the only 2600 carts I owned as a kid that had substantial music during gameplay, though many carts had a memorable tune here or there (Frogger comes to mind). Most of my other pre-NES VG music memories are of arcade games, Tron and Galaga especially. I didn't get to play the other early consoles much, and my home computer was a Coco 2/3, whose games had very little music, as someone already pointed out...

 

Oh, one more! I did have a few 5200 carts growing up, and Mr. Do's Castle had quite the theme. Funny how I never really noticed it per se, though -- as a kid, I don't remember ever thinking to myself that "This game has music that plays throughout, and most of my 2600 carts don't." Since I'm now a professional musician, that's a little surprising.

Edited June 13, 2009 by thegoldenband

[AtticGamer]

Alien (C64) (SMB came before 1984 in the Famicom I think)

Mappy

Phoenix.