When you think of iconic video game composers, the same few names come up again and again. And while many players have fond memories of the soundtracks composed by the likes of Nobuo Uematsu, Yoko Shimomura, and Yasunori Mitsuda, Nintendo’s Koji Kondo stands above the rest.
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PostsKoji Kondo’s compositions have arguably become as iconic as the games themselves. Often referred to as the “John Williams of gaming,” his works have scored the lives of gamers young and old, creating a legacy that will endure for decades to come.
This list will only cover video game soundtracks that Koji Kondo composed entirely by himself or with only minimal contributions from other composers.
10 Punch-Out!!
Back To Where It All Began
The arcade version of Punch-Out is unlikely to be remembered as one of Koji Kondo’s most iconic soundtracks, but it is significant to his career for being the first video game he ever composed the music (and sound effects) for. Being an arcade boxing game, Punch-Out’s music is extremely limited, but the work that is there already showcases Kondo’s knack for writing energetic, catchy tunes that fit the mood of the game.
Shigeru Miyamoto was the artist on Punch-Out, marking this as the first time these two legendary names in Nintendo collaborated on a project. Thanks to his work on Punch-Out, Koji Kondo had a launch pad to take his composition skills to the next level.
9 The Legend Of Zelda
As Legendary As They Come
Hot off the heels of his success composing the soundtrack for Super Mario Bros, Koji Kondo showcased his diverse skill set by scoring The Legend of Zelda for the NES. And the rest, as they say, was history.
The Legend of Zelda may not have the longest track listing in the world, but nearly every single piece of 8-bit music is ingrained within the ears of gamers worldwide. The Overworld Theme has come to represent a sense of boundless exploration and adventure that only a game like The Legend of Zelda can capture.
8 Super Mario Bros.
A Super Soundtrack
Name a piece of video game music more widely recognized than the Overworld Theme in Super Mario Bros? We’ll wait. A twenty-four-year-old Koji Kondo absolutely hit it out of the park with this soundtrack, immediately setting the groundwork for all Mario music to come.
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PostsAnd while everyone and their grandmothers can hum the Overworld Theme, the Underground, Underwater, and Castle Themes each hold their own special place in the video game soundtrack canon. Super Mario Bros’ soundtrack is an effortless display of 8-bit composition that fully immerses you within the world of the Mushroom Kingdom.
7 Super Mario Bros. 3
A More FiNESsed Mario Soundtrack
Koji Kondo had three more years to develop as a composer between the release of the first and third Super Mario Bros, and his growth shines through clearly in the soundtrack for Super Mario Bros 3. The game’s increased scope provides Kondo with the larger playground he needs to compose melodies that bounce, pop, and glide all around the NES’ sound chip.
There’s a ragtime piano feel to the soundtrack of Super Mario Bros 3 - an appropriate musical direction given the now-confirmed fan theory that the entire game was just a stage play. You know what this means? It’s time for Koji Kondo to compose Super Mario Bros 3: The Musical.
6 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Koji Kondo’s Most Atmospheric Work
If there is one thing holding back Majora’s Mask’s soundtrack from placing higher on this list, it’s the fact that the game reuses or remixes several pieces of music from Ocarina of Time. However, the new compositions that are present highlight Koji Kondo stretching his talents to evoke a sense of mood and atmosphere that still gives you goosebumps to this day.
The Song of Healing, Clock Town themes, Stone Tower Temple, Calling the Four Giants, Astral Observatory…the list of achingly beautiful tracks in this game is a testament to Kondo’s way of eliciting deep - almost primal - emotions from his music. Majora’s Mask is often considered one of the best Zelda games, and Kondo’s soundtrack is a big reason for that.
5 Super Mario World
A Whole New World Of Sound
The Super Nintendo’s 16-bit sound chip allowed composers to create far more advanced soundtracks than on the NES – a benefit that Koji Kondo immediately put to good use with Super Mario World. Featuring a complexity of sounds, rhythms, and arrangements that console gamers hadn’t heard up until that point, Super Mario World was the perfect game to usher in the SNES era of audio.
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PostsThere are neat little touches dotted throughout the entire soundtrack – such as the slightly remixed themes that play whenever Mario is riding Yoshi. The tracks effortlessly float between sounding energetic and mellow without ever breaking the continuity of the game’s musical identity, much like Koji Kondo’s own easy transition between console generations.
4 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
A Turning Point For Both Zelda And Kondo
You could make a strong argument that the soundtrack to A Link to the Past was the first soundtrack from Koji Kondo to truly express a wide range of tones and emotions. Every piece of music fully embraces the mood Kondo is trying to convey – whether it’s adventurous, soothing, daunting, or playful.
So many classic Zelda tunes have their roots in A Link to the Past’s soundtrack. You have Koji Kondo and this game to thank for Zelda’s Lullaby, Kakariko Village, and the Hyrule Castle theme, just to name a few. This soundtrack was a giant leap for the series, and ultimately, for Koji Kondo’s composition career.
3 Yoshi’s Island
A Koji Kondo Classic
Widely regarded as one of the best SNES games of all time, Yoshi’s Island has stood the test of time thanks to its gorgeous picture book art style and imaginative level design. But you would be remiss not to mention Koji Kondo’s exceptional soundtrack as another contributing factor to the game’s legacy.
By this point, Koji Kondo had fully mastered the Super Nintendo’s sound chip. The Yoshi’s Island soundtrack buzzes with an infectious energy that, more often than not, puts a big smile on your face. Even when the music takes a darker turn, Kondo delights through his penchant for experimentation, delivering an idiosyncratic auditory experience that defines both the game and its era.
2 Super Mario 64
A New Sound For A New Dimension
Mario’s jump to the third dimension didn’t just affect the visuals and gameplay, as the Nintendo 64 allowed for a whole new level of audio sophistication for composers to play around with. And with the Super Mario 64 soundtrack, Koji Kondo came out with all guns firing.
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PostsEvery piece of music fits the mood and style of their levels like one of Mario’s gloves. From the ethereal ambiance of Dire Dire Docks to the exotic sounds of Lethal Lava Land, this soundtrack is packed with classic after classic. And back in 1996, it was enough to help ensure that 3D gaming, the Nintendo 64, and Koji Kondo were all here to stay.
1 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
A Soundtrack That Resonates Across Time
The last video game soundtrack that Koji Kondo would ever fully compose by himself was also his greatest ever work. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s soundtrack isn’t just one of the strongest in the series, it is now firmly established as an all-time great across gaming.
The problem with praising Ocarina of Time’s soundtrack is the same problem as praising Ocarina of Time as a game. What is there left to say? This game’s music showcases a master of their craft, reaching the peak of an already glittering career and resonating with generations of gamers. Unless he scores the complete soundtrack for another Mario or Zelda game, it looks unlikely that Ocarina of Time will ever be supplanted as Koji Kondo’s greatest work.
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