Ever since hearing the Super Smash Bros Melee version of Pollyanna from Mother, the song still being my favourite to this day, I've been an avid fan of video game music. Yeah, gamers already know video game music rocks. However, beyond the Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu works, there are many that tend to fall under the radar and don't get the credit that they deserve. Hence, I will attempt to help shed some light on these hidden jewels.
Around December, I picked up a copy of Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz from the local bargain bin. Having read previews and reviews of the game, I expected a very challenging game with controls that seem to be good or bad depending on how good one is at hand-eye coordination. It turned out to be quite fast and fun, and I quite enjoyed it. However, one thing I wasn't expecting was the music. Since everyone seems to remember Monkey Ball for fast gameplay and endless fallouts, I expected a generic sound sample. It was a pleasant surprise, then, to experience the highly upbeat and addicting soundtrack. The levels just felt more entertaining, from the frenzied Monkey Island to the atmospheric Pirates' Ocean, and it was great motivation to keep continuing on despite multiple failures. Witness the ear candy here: