30-Day Video Game Music Challenge - Hard Mode: No Repeat Games (All in ONE Post)

Day 1 - Title screen music 

Mega Man 3 - Title Screen

Mega Man 3's opening theme always pumps me up for the battle ahead. To this day, I still feel like this sequel feels like the longest task that put all of the Blue Bomber's skills to the test. The first eight Robot Masters, then the eight Doc Robot encounters scattered throughout the levels, along with the skirmishes with Break Man (who would later be called Proto Man in the sequels) THEN squaring off with Dr. Wily at his fortess made for a pretty grueling task. 

Day 2 - Opening level music 

Mega Man 8 - Intro Stage

I remember Mega Man 8 fondly for a lot of reasons. For one, it was the first game that I heard actual voice acting in for the dialogue, but it was the first title I got for my original PlayStation as a birthday/Christmas present that year. I love ALL of the music from this game, but I don't mind offering this track as the sole representative of it. 

Day 3 - 8-Bit music music 

Kung-Fu (NES) - Stage Theme

I have a lot of fond memories playing this for hours with my cousin, taking turns trying to get through both playthroughs of the game. 

Day 4 - Music from a console exclusive series 

Halo - Main Theme

Whether you're a Xbox, Nintendo, PlayStation or PC loyalist, no gamer cannot deny how iconic and epic this theme is.

Day 5 - Hub world or Overworld music

 Chrono Cross - Dream of Another Shore Near (Another World)

While I understand that there's fans of the original Chrono Trigger that feel that this sequel pales in comparison to the original game, I thought the music in Chrono Cross was some of the best in the PSX era of Squaresoft (now Square Enix) RPGs. 

Day 6 - Music that makes you feel relaxed 

God Hand - Gene's Rock-a-Bye

When I first discovered this game, I would just let the game idle on the world map just to listen to this theme on a loop. 

Day 7 - Music from an indie game 

Super Meat Boy - World Select Theme

That reminds me that I never finished the last world of this game... 

Day 8 - Music from a shooter (first or third person) 

Max Payne 3 - TEARS by Health (Airport version)

This track came up randomly on shuffle via my Google Play Music account and it really took me back as I completely forgot about this song. That final level with this as the background track really amplified an already powerful moment in the game. 

Day 9 - Music from a licensed game 

Ducktales Remastered - Moon Theme

Any fan of Ducktales and the original NES game can tell you that this was one of the most beloved tracks in the game. My personal favorite is the Transylvania one, but this one was a close second place if I'm being honest. It was really cool to see the current Disney XD Ducktales reboot even adapt it into their show in some capacity. 

Day 10 - RPG battle music 

Final Fantasy XIII - Blinded by Light

I'll go on record and say that I honestly didn't care for much of the music in FF13, but holy hell that the normal battle theme was so awesome.

Day 11 - Puzzle game music 

Yoshi Cookie - Game Type C Music

I was never any good at it, but I used to dabble with Yoshi Cookie here and there on my original Game Boy when I got bored with some of my other games. 

Day 12 - Music that makes you sad

NieR - Song of the Ancients - Fate

I'm sure a lot of RPG fans will cite Aerith's theme as their "sad" entry, but I had to put a lot of thought into this one and I had to go with NieR. NieR has a lot of points in that game where it tugs on your feels in terms of emotional punches to the gut, but this version that plays during a particular boss fight towards the end of the game that sees the protagonist and his two allies face off against two individuals that were highly regarded as your best friends during this emotional journey in a life or death battle, just really hits hard. There's only one winner and loser at the end of this battle but in reality, no one really wins with everything at stake. 

Plus I think everyone can relate to this moment in the game as we've all had friends, family, and colleagues "betray" our trust. 

Day 13 - Music you like from a game you don't like 

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z - Dragon Ninja

I reviewed Yaiba ages ago and I still consider that to be the worst Ninja Gaiden title that I have had the displeasure of playing. The only upsides to that game was the banter and a clever homage to the NES original Ninja Gaiden music here. 

Day 14 - Music featuring vocals 

Street Fighter IV - Indestructible

(Laughs) I find it hilarious that people in and out of the FGC swore up and down that they flat out hated this song, but time and time again, there's a major pop at events when a crowd busts out and starts singing it. It's that song we all love to hate, apparently. 

Day 15 - Boss battle music 

Axiom Verge - Trace Rising

Far too many boss themes that I simply adore, but I don't ever hear anyone mention Axiom Verge's boss theme or any of the great music from that game. I can't wait for the sequel/prequel BTW.

Day 16 - 16-Bit music 

Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2) 

Whenever I think of Sonic music, my mind goes IMMEDIATELY to this track, the boss track, or Casino Night Zone's in terms of 16-Bit music. 

Day 17 - Music you never get tired of 

Punch-Out!! (Wii) - Main Theme

I've never been an expert at the Punch-Out!! games, but who doesn't get tired of this theme? This was an excellent revamp of the NES original track.

Day 18 - Game Over Music 

Yu-Gi-OH! Forbidden Memories (You Lose)

Note: This game has two distinct Game Over tracks, so I went with the first of two of them.

Day 19 - Cover of music by a different artist 

Mega Man X6 (Blaze Heatnix Guitar Cover)

If you're a Mega Man X fan and don't like this theme then I don't know what to say to you. I could feel my face melting from the sheer awesomeness of this guitar cover. 

Day 20 - Music from a racing game 

SSX Tricky - Character Select Theme

I wish EA Big never went under so we could have gotten a HD remaster to this game or something. You don't see this amount of personality and polish into today's sports games, I swear. As for the theme itself, it was so fitting, much like everything else about this game.

Day 21 - Music you associate with frustration 

Silent Bomber  - Mission 10

One of the most hated levels of this entire game is the one towards the end of the game where you are tasked with protecting Anri from Bio-Weapons while she hacks the computer servers. The Bio-Weapons were already a very annoying enemy type all on their own, but coupled with a glorified escort mission, this was a recipe for disaster. 

Day 22 - Town/village music 

Pokemon Red/Blue - Pallet Town

The place where a lot of Pokemon fans' journeys first began. 

Day 23 - Underrated music 

ARMS - Main Theme/Title Screen

If I remix of this or just the raw version of this isn't in Smash Bros. Ultimate then I'm going to be disappointed. ARMS has a lot of great tracks like this one. 

Day 24 - Music you constantly have stuck in your head 

No More Heroes 2 - Philistine (Rank 4 - Margaret)

One of the most unique and unforgettable tracks to come out of No More Heroes 2, but Jesus Christ this gets stuck in your head while fighting her.

Day 25 - Music that gets you pumped 

Devil May Cry 5 - "Devil Trigger" 

I'm not ashamed to admit that I rock out to this track more days than not on my commute(s) to and from work. I loved a LOT of things in Devil May Cry 5, but the music - specifically this track - is among the thing I loved the most about it. Well, that and Vergil's return to the series. 

Day 26 - Music you like from a game you have't played 

The Last of Us Part II - Main Theme

From the sound of the reviews, I doubt I will play this either - at least not anytime soon. 

Day 27 - Music from a handheld game 

Donkey Kong '94 - Escape!

Donkey Kong ('94) doesn't get enough love and praise that it deserves as part of Mario and Donkey Kong's rich history. That being said, I wanted to make sure that I give it some love on this list. 

Day 28 - Music that makes you nostalgic 

Final Fantasy VIII - Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec (Edea's Parade Theme)

I have recently revisited this game on PlayStation 4 via Final Fantasy VIII Remastered and got chills from this music during the climax of Disk 1. It was so appropriate as a contributing factor in setting the stage for Sorceress Edea's pivotal role as the key major antagonist in the first half of the game.

Day 29 - Final boss music 

Heavenly Sword - Bohan The Raven King

Heavenly Sword was one of the first PlayStation 3 titles that I reviewed for this blog and it was the first PS3 exclusive that I had the pleasure of playing. It served as another reminder - along with Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and DmC: Devil May Cry - of Ninja Theory's brilliance years before they would work on Hellblade. 

Day 30 - Credits music 

Tenchu: Stealth Assasins - Ending Theme (Far Away)

Tenchu: Stealth Assassins had a lot of stellar tracks in this game with this ending theme being no different.