meu2

It is often said that the sound of the ocean is a source of great comfort. The movement of gently lapping waves presumably provides a sense of serenity for some. It always just sounds like water to me. Perhaps I have spent too long playing video games because for me serenity and water don't go hand in hand. Water based gaming is usually just infuriating. Ecco the dolphin is one notable example that springs to mind.

It is also said that there has to be an exception to prove the rule. If that’s the case then Aquatic Ambience from Donkey Kong Country is that exception. The original DKC drew a lot of attention when it was released thanks to its use of pre-rendered 3D graphics. The game was so successful, in large part due to the graphics, that it enabled Nintendo to extend the 16-bit generation well into 1996. The obsession with DKC's pre-rendered graphics is unfortunate though, as the standout feature of the DKC series is, in my opinion, its music. David Wise truly made the SNES sound chip sing and managed to produce a dizzying array of excellent tracks throughout the short series. Jungle Groove, Stickerbrush Symphony, Hot Head Bop and Mining Melancholy, to name but a few, could have all claimed the top spot on this list. Aquatic Ambience ultimately got the nod due to its ability to make a video game water level feel serene, something I never thought possible.

Constructing a list of your personal favourite music tracks, or any list for that matter, is never easy and is ultimately futile. It was only after I completed this list that I realised that I omitted one of my favourite 8-bit soundtracks entirely, the Master System's magnum opus Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap. If I was to do this list again in a year's time, or even a year ago, I'm sure I would have produced something entirely different. For a start I'd like to think I wouldn't forget Wonder Boy 3 again. The one thing I don't see changing though is the inclusion of a track from the DKC trilogy at the top of the list. It was actually because of the DKC trilogy that I decided to limit each franchise to one entry; otherwise the list would have been better titled "The Best Tracks from the DKC Trilogy and Friends".


Aquatic Ambience

Finally, here are some Wonder Boy 3 tracks that should have been considered for this list.


Monster Lair

Side Crawler's Dance