This guest post is written by Greg Gadwood, a co-worker of mine. He’s an interesting guy, who watches Battlestar Galactica and lent me his DVDs of The Prisoner.

For most people in their 20’s and 30’s, we have been surrounded by video games most of our lives. It all started in 1972 with a game called “Pong” – and this popular form of entertainment has been going like gangbusters ever since. While many in this demographic moved on to other interests and hobbies as they reached adulthood, there are still many who continue to play. According to the Entertainment Software Association, the average game player is 33 years old, and has been playing for 12 years.

I thought it would be interesting to revisit the most memorable video game themes of days past. I refer specifically to the glut of games that hit arcades and consoles (Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Amiga) throughout the 80’s. Then, games were usually 8-bit and had tinny, synthesized MIDI-style music. It was simple – yet effective.

These are the top 6 most memorable game themes that push my Nostalgia buttons:

6. Crystal Castles

Imagine the pitch for this one: “O.K., you’re a bear. And you like to collect gems. You run around mazes, and in your way stand witches, roving monster plants, menacing bowling balls, and tornadoes that will stop at nothing to see you dead. Your only respite from the sheer terror is a magic hat which – when donned for a short time – renders you impervious to the evil that lurks at every turn!”. Sounds like a bad trip. Nonetheless, this is a whimsical fantasy theme not to be forgotten.

5. Metroid

Nintendo Entertainment System. Eerie and other-worldly best describe the main theme played on the start-up screen. The intention was clearly to evoke the strange, unsettling tones of Jerry Goldsmith’s original score to “Alien.” This transitions into a rousing call to action as the game begins.

4. Pac-Man

The bubbly opening theme to this arcade classic is playful and iconic. Short, yet oh so sweet. The segue-way into a police-car-like siren sound keeps the viewer alert and ready to face the action ahead… but the opening bit prepares the player for the fun that lies ahead.

3. Frogger

Who can ever forget the snippet of music that played at the startup of this fantastic game, which turned the concept of “playing chicken” on its head. It placed the gamer in the role of a hapless frog forced to navigate a freeway busier than I-80 during rush hour, only to deal with a crocodile-infested river before returning safely home.

2. Super Mario Brothers

Nintendo Entertainment System. Simply because all NES consoles came packaged with this game, there are few who did not know it well. Because the game was such addictive fun, the theme brings back fond memories. None of the themes to any of the sequels could come anywhere near to the power this one has to recall hours of gaming pleasure.

1. The Legend of Zelda

Nintendo Entertainment System. Link, goin’ back to basics. Here we’ve got a stunning intro music at the start screen, proceeded by a thrilling adventure loop that, for the most part, plays continuously during the many, many hours it takes to follow this game from beginning to end. Because of the time I invested as a young ‘un into playing this game, the theme will forever be ingrained into my memory.

Thanks Greg! This was a real trip down memory lane.

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