I know that the Japanese version of the soundtrack is far superior when it comes to, well, every other song in the game, but I’d say the whole US endeavour was worth it just for this. It’s got a synth melody that’s just outdated enough to feel charming to modern ears, a beat that’s basic enough that it doesn’t distract from all of the other wonderous stuff going on in the song, and the lyrics, oh lord, the lyrics, I’ll eat all of that right up. You want slightly outdated 90s pop? This is basically all you could ever want of it rolled into one song. In a level with so much variety like Ice Cap Zone, it’s nice to have a track that stays relatively consistent to tie the whole thing together, keeping you going with a beautiful melody as it does so. It doesn’t sacrifice everything to nail the level’s feel, though, as the constant bassline is once again used as a brilliant tool to keep the feeling of speed.

Ice Cap Zone is arguably one of the prettier levels in Sonic 3, and this soundtrack goes along with that. I don’t know what kind of instrument they used for that melody, but it fits the cold and frozen feel of the level so wonderfully. Once you crash down into the cave, the main melody kicks in, which is absolutely beautiful. Much like Haunted Ship, this track starts out with a quiet, but fast beat that lines up perfectly with the opening section of the level where you rocket down a mountain on a snowboard. If you’ve never seen it, look up ‘Smooth Criminal – Ice Cap Zone Remix’ on YouTube, you’ll see what I mean. Although he did eventually leave the team as he was unhappy with the poor sound quality that Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive produced, his fingerprints are still all over the game’s soundtracks, and this is the level where that is the clearest. It’s widely known by this point in time that Michael Jackson was at one point among the artists that were putting together the soundtrack for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It’s being held together by bits of fraying rope and splintered wood, which is what helps make this track quite an intense one. This is absolutely perfect for the feel of the level, which is one of a stage that could fall apart at any moment. The track also has a bit of a disjointed nature to it, as the melody swings wildly through different phases. The quick and complex bassline continues throughout the entire track, helping that sense of unease persist throughout every moment in the level. Then the guitar kicks in as things in the level get going, and it matches up perfectly with the Sonic Rush series’ boosting mechanic which, if you do it right, should persist throughout almost the entire level. Immediately the tense factor is there, pushing you to get a move on and blast your way through the rundown area.

The beat starts off very fast, but also quite quiet. The music looks to add to that while also helping bring some of the action to the forefront. Combine this with the thick fog that covers both the background and the foreground of the level, and you’ve got yourself a level with a very intimidating presence (when you’re not bouncing off of bright blue trampolines). There are grey and white coloured ghosts all over the place, while the ship itself is lined with dark yellow and pale turquoise. The colour palette for the level in incredibly muted. – Open Your Heart for being bloody mental 10 – Haunted ShipĪrguably one of the best stages in the DS title Sonic Rush Adventure, Hunted Ship has a fast and tense track to go with it. – Sky Sanctuary Zone for being insanely emotional

– Press Garden Zone for being incredibly unique So, for each one, I will specify in which game it originally appeared and which version of the track I like the best. Before we start, I should clarify that several of these tracks (especially the classic ones) have been reused and remixed in many games throughout the franchise over the years. So, let’s have some fun and explore some of the best tracks the franchise has ever produced. Every level in every game is paired up with a track that is able to capture the feeling and setting of the surrounding level, while still being able to provide an exhilarating ride as you roll around at the speed of sound (little spoiler for you there).

The main point is that (almost) all of it has been great. There are the classic 16-bit soundtracks, the late 1990s/early 2000s punk-rock, and even a small foray into pop music towards the turn of the 2010s. The Sonic soundtracks have gone through a few phases. However, one thing that has been of a relatively consistent quality throughout the franchise, is the music, which has remained incredible. The Sonic the Hedgehog games have been on quite the ride over the past 29 years, with some of the best games ever made and…well…some of the worst as well.

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