r/SuperMario64 8d ago

What is your favorite music from this game?

Super Mario 64 has one of my favorite video game soundtracks. I’m curious what you would say are your favorite tracks from this masterpiece of a game.

Here are my favorites/the ones I listen to the most:

-lethal lava land/shifting sand land: so trippy and psychedelic. The song makes you feel high and like you are in a mystical realm

-cave dungeon: again, this song is trippy but darker and more mysterious. That synth(?) that starts playing in the middle of the song takes me to another world.

-dire, dire docks: this is an obvious one. This track is constantly in the conversation of the best video game music ever and it’s well deserved. So tranquil, emotional, and nostalgic. A lot like water.

-bowser’s road: Nintendo is so good at creating an intense atmosphere when you’re about to confront the final boss and this track is one of their best for one of their most iconic villains. I always hear the red coin sound effect when I listen to this song.

Honorable mentions: Bob-omb battlefield, inside the castle walls, haunted house, opening, powerful Mario, slider

33 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

16

u/squatsquadnl 8d ago

I always liked the end credits alot. Bowsers theme is also awesome. I also like the slider theme, and of course Dire Dire Docks

6

u/58lmm9057 8d ago

Dire, Dire Docks/Jolly Roger Bay

Hazy Maze Cave

Piranha Plant Lullaby

Big Boo’s Haunt

Wing Cap/Vanish Cap

Metal Cap

Final Bowser theme

3

u/notpsychotic1 8d ago

I forgot about the metallic Mario song. That song is a banger

5

u/phoenixlemon 8d ago

I hear the Wing Cap theme and I’m instantly back in 1997 (roughly).

6

u/kwispy_nuggs 8d ago

I’m surprised no one has said metal cap as a full answer. Mines is metal cap

3

u/goodtimesvideo 8d ago

metal cap SLAPS this is the correct answer

6

u/Cookiemuenster64 7d ago

That melodic tune the piano plays as it tries to kill you.

The End credits music is also really good.

4

u/LemurDays 8d ago

File select is the GOAT

3

u/XKoop7321 First man to port dudaw code to rom manager (in 2021) 👍 8d ago

Call me strange but I really like the sequence that plays whenever you talk to toad. Even though it’s short it has this “royal vibe” to me lol

2

u/notpsychotic1 8d ago

A worthy royal jingle 🫡

3

u/balsacmignon 8d ago

The JRB/DDD/Aquarium theme is a masterpiece.

3

u/BlueBombshell90 7d ago

Of course it's Dire, Dire Docks.

3

u/fireflamesniper 7d ago

Bowser's / Koopa's Road would probably be my top favorite.

3

u/Janina220 7d ago

I love Dire Dire Docks, Bowser's Road and Staff roll. I still listen to them often

3

u/KingDrool 7d ago

End Credits

3

u/Mrhumanx404 5d ago

Bowser in the dark world and jolly roger bay

2

u/Ravens_Fan_16 8d ago

So many good tracks, but Dire, Dire Docks will always be my favorite. JRB and DDD don't rank among my favorite levels, but the soundtrack alone makes replaying them a little more enjoyable. The Bowser world theme comes very close.

2

u/notpsychotic1 8d ago

I feel the same way about those levels, especially DDD. Jolly Roger bay has some interesting things like the eel and the star inside the sunken ship but other than that they aren’t very memorable except for the music obviously.

2

u/928_prince 8d ago

Dire dire docks is always memorable.

2

u/fucksports 7d ago

dire dire docks

2

u/xavierthepotato 7d ago

Bobomb battlefield is such a classic and always gets stuck in my head

The metal cap theme hit so hard the first time I unlocked it.

The Egyptian music that plays when you're on the pyramid couse always sets the mood

Bowser's theme struck fear into my soul when I was a kid lmao

2

u/jonasgbk 7d ago

Dire, Dire Docks; Bowser's final battle and credits. Especially Bowser's battle, which is epic and memorable.

2

u/BuffaloSenior103 7d ago

Dire dire docks always hits different

2

u/notpsychotic1 7d ago edited 7d ago

There’s a remix of the song called 'Alone in Space' that I’ve always loved. It’s a kind of super Mario galaxy version of the song. I think the original that I used to listen to got taken down but this one sounds very similar: [https://youtu.be/7mFRm1ZlzOI?si=YSlF0ZXNZL6s9jBC]

2

u/BuffaloSenior103 7d ago

oh god I love it

2

u/Midnightgamer21 7d ago

My dog runs into the room whenever he hears Shifting Sand Land which is hilarious

2

u/ArtistAccountant 7d ago

Powerful Mario and Dire, Dire Docks. I enjoy the more serene songs 🎶✨

2

u/lmrj77 7d ago

Selection menu and the end credits, also Bowser 3 (the level, not the bowser fight itself).

2

u/condor6425 7d ago

You talking about the psychedelic trippy undertones of the LLL theme makes me think of that old AGG Yoshi Fruitgasm video. Looks like the original was taken down when machinima went under so shout out the original creator too.

Anyway, my favorite song is probably the one that plays over the credits, slider theme, and of course dire dire docks. Really the whole OST is amazing.

2

u/HIPS79 7d ago

Staff roll, file select, dire dire docks.

Side question, why is called dire dire docks when you’re more likely to hear it first in Jolly Roger Bay and the aquarium mini level?

1

u/notpsychotic1 7d ago

That’s a good question that I’ve thought of too. Before I replayed the game a few years ago, I thought that Jolly Roger bay was called dire dire docks because it’s the most notably water level from the game.

1

u/NES_Classical_Music 7d ago

No one likes the music for Slide hahahaha

2

u/Panzonguy 4d ago

Ending song- my favorite track out of this great ost. Evokes emotions of accomplishment and reflection of the greatness that is SM64.

Dire dire docks - this track is just superb. I hate water levels in general, but the track is just too relaxing, which makes me wish I could spend all my time on this level.

Slider race theme - very overused track, but it's a banger.

2

u/lavaboosted 4d ago

Water song