Gaming Music Playlist

In the return of our new regular feature, industry figures compile a playlist of their favourite gaming music, and discuss the appeal of the tracks chosen. This week: Team Meat's Edmund McMillen.

Track: Wicked Child
From: Castlevania (NES)
Listen

"The music from level 3 in Castlevania (the Mummy level). I used to hum this tune when i was 8.

Something about it just stood out to me as creepy yet awesome. Castlevania has always been one of my favourite games. There was something magical about the first title because nothing was really explained much, and in a lot of ways it was one of those dream games where as a kid you said "wouldnt it be cool if there was a game where you got to fight all the classic movie monsters!?""

This is an ad:

Track: Character Select Theme
From: Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Listen

"I actually broke into my neighbour's house to play Mario 2 after getting a taste of it on his birthday.

I was the last kid on my block to get an NES and one day I stayed home sick, snuck over to my friend's house and turned on his new NES so I could play.. till his mom caught me and scared the shit out of me.

This is an ad:

Mario 2 was another magical experience as a kid: YOU GOT TO PLAY AS OTHER CHARACTERS! and that character select theme is forever burned into my head.

Its crazy how a game that wasnt ever intended to be a Mario game would become one of the most important ones when it comes to character development and all those amazing Mario Bros. tropes we see now in all the 3D games. Such a great game."

Track: Main Theme
From: Ghosts'n'Goblins (NES)
Listen

"This track is one that still pops into my mind today. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I heard this song a million times, because as a kid I couldn't ever get past the first boss in it, or the fact that it's just amazing.. but I have a feeling it's a combination of both. Its so dark yet fun, and I definitely have a thing for creepy but fun themes in games.

I did end up getting much farther in G'n G later in life...but I never beat it."

Track: Theme A
From: Tetris (Gameboy)
Listen

"I clearly remember taking a nap in my Dad's car after playing Tetris on my gameboy till the batteries exploded...I could still hear the music playing in my head.

This game saved me from suicide on a number of long boring car rides with my father to see his family... and I love it for that."

Track: Guile's Theme
From: Street Fighter II (SNES)
Listen

"Last is Guiles theme song from Street Fighter 2.. why?
Because it goes with everything!"

You can keep up to date with Team Meat's current projects through their official site. The last Gaming Music Playlist, as picked by Hogrocket, can be found here.