This post has not been edited by the GamesBeat staff. Opinions by GamesBeat community writers do not necessarily reflect those of the staff.
I can't believe we made it all the way to 30! This week's special edition features instrumental arrangements of classic video game numbers. Not surprisingly, the community picked a ton of favorites from old Square, Sega, and Nintendo titles. But hey, it goes without saying that these publishers created some of the most memorable games of all time.
Jukebox archivist Evan Killham, site moderator Lance Darnell, and contributor Bryan Glynn all chose different tunes from The Legend of Zelda series. Bitmobbers Ryan Conway and Mark Whitney keep the 16-bit era alive with two great selections from Square games. Finally, Bitmob intern Jasmine Maleficent Rea and the inimitable Alex Cronk-Young do what Nintendon't with a couple jams from Sega's salad days. And of course, a certain mustachioed plumber sneaked his way in there somewhere….
Want to wow the community with your amazing taste in music? Hit the jump to find out how to join in the fun!
I've got three ways to get the orchestra ready:
Method 1: Pick and Choose
Community Selections
1) Wily's Requiem taken from Mega Man 2 (by Nekofrog)
2) Chocobo Theme taken from Final Fantasy (by Zack Kim) suggested by Ryan Conway
3) Metroid Metal: Lower Norfair taken from Super Metroid (by Stemage) suggested by Aaron Rivers
4) Kakariko Viilage taken from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (by The Red Wings) suggested by Evan Killham
5) The Ultimate Super Mario World Medley taken from Super Mario World (by VGPianoMan) suggested by Michael Pangelina
6) Green Hill Zone taken from Sonic the Hedgehog (by The OneUps) suggested by Jasmine Maleficent Rea
7) Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross Themes taken from Chono Trigger and Chrono Cross (by Play! Symphony) suggested by Mark T. Whitney
8) Symphonic Suite taken from Shining Force 2 (by Motoaki Takenouch) suggested by Alex R. Cronk-Young
9) Main Theme taken from The Legend of Zelda (by Apocalyptica) suggested by Lance Darnell
10) Gerudo Valley taken from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (by The Hyrule Symphony) suggested by Bryan Glynn
11) Super Mario Christmas taken from Super Mario World (by The OneUps) suggested by Brian Petro-Roy (++good)
Method 2: Let It Ride
(Click here to listen in a separate window.)
Method 3: I'm Tired of This Playlist
Tired of this week's Jukebox selections? Want to scope which classic songs other Bitmobbers have already nabbed? Then check out The Bitmob Community Jukebox Archive. Contributor Evan Killham created — and maintains — a comprehensive list of every song that the community and I have ever chosen.
With hundreds of tunes available in the Archive, you don't need to fret if this week's jams aren't to your taste. Just click the link, and the records keep on spinnin'!
For all you newcomers, here's how it works — I've got just two simple rules for submitting songs:
1) Songs from music games with original music and licensed songs from game soundtracks like Grand Theft Auto are OK. Submissions from games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band will not be accepted. Otherwise, this post may turn into a competition between people's favorite bands.
2) Only one submission response per person, per week.
When you've thought of a selection, put it in the comments below. And don't worry about the theme you see in the title of the post — I name each edition retroactively.
I will always try to find the official name of any song I use — whether it comes from myself or the community. If I am unable to verify a song's title, I will mark it with an asterisk (*).
Finally, if you'd like to win the Double-Plus Good Song of the Week (the weekly best of award), try to think of an obscure song or a song you think the community and I have overlooked in previous posts.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who pitched in a pick for this special edition. Also, my apologies to Jeff Grubb, Eric Sapp, and Jimmy Flores: Your songs weren't instrumentals. Ack!