My most precious save file: My dad's Zelda saves. He was always the first slot. Mine second. He passed away in 2008. I will never delete those files.

SMRPG's menu is happiness personified. I've always loved the background. Not only does it contain scrolling images of cheerful clouds, stars, boos, and bob-ombs, it's freely manipulable by the player. Pressing L+R and the d-pad changes the scroll direction. Pure whimsy.

Unique mechanics make Mario 3 special. -Enemies and powers appearing in only one level -Overworld mechanics (e.g., boat) used in only one world -Rare OP powerups (hammer suit) -Secret levels (coin ship, white Toad House) Every feature feels new.

Long live Mega Man's frantic stage themes.

Green Memories is another Chrono overworld theme whose beauty lies in its simplicity. The song uses just three instruments: a piano alternating between melancholy and hopeful arpeggios, a lone wind for the main theme, followed by strings for depth. A promise longing for home.

Majestic Castle - Gavotte de Château is a favorite DQVIII track. The song plays when kind King Pavan conquers his grief over the loss of his wife, Queen Sasha. It evokes baroque and classical imagery, aided by a harpsichord at night. Classy, regal, and dignified.

Let's Play Geno is another favorite remix in Super Mario RPG. It transforms World's iconic theme into a children's lullaby, taking a video game track and using it to represent physical play (within yet another game). A multigenerational homage for a new genre.

Super Pipe House (SMRPG) is one of my favorite remixes of Mario's iconic theme. The accordion jingle and tweaked timing distinguish it just enough to feel like a new creation. The cheer remains, transformed for a new genre. Mario's first song for his first RPG.

As a kid, World 8 in Mario 3 felt so imposing due to the sheer number of levels you must beat before reaching 8-1. World 8 has only two numbered levels, but this psychological trick was nasty (and effective).

It took me time to warm to FFX's Prelude, but now I love it. FFX embraces it immediately. The game deploys it during the opening Zanarkand sequence, signaling that what was old is new again. A new beat for a new console. Different aesthetics. Familiar soul.

Shadow (FFVI) trades a trope for a triumph. A guitar and whistle evoke lone wolf Western cowboys, which circularly mirror Eastern samurai. At VI's end, these instruments become strings and harp, signaling a change. And incidentally, Relm's background fare.

Kirby's Adventure's OST is an NES GOAT. The game is chock-full of catchy tracks. Take Vegetable Valley, which borrows the energetic harmony structures of Green Greens and layers a new snappy melody on top of it. Late stage NES was special.

The percussion of Yearnings of the Wind embodies Chrono's theme. The introduction features an alternating tambourine and woodblock eerily resembling the ticking of a clock. After a pause, the block returns to resound once more. There's no escaping the flow of time.

Few were ready for the adventure awaiting us on the other side of this glade.

Genius pervaded 1994-1997 Square

Gau's Theme (FFVI) reveals his backstory. Eschewing the feral Veldt beat, the song features a somber melody played over cello and flute. This shift focuses on Gau's mournful, yet moral, character. It ends with allusions to Blackjack. Despite fate, the sky's the limit.

Coin of Fate (FFVI) is such an emotional track. It opens by reframing the once-triumphant Figaro theme into a mournful dirge. It transitions into an Awakening-esque sequence as close brothers accept their (fixed) fates. One for family. One for freedom.

Always loved Chatting from Dragon Quest VIII. It's homey, inviting, and immediately familiar. It's bustling, but in a vintage, provincial way. A perfect track for high fantasy hijinks in a small town. It's an NES creation for the modern age.

Few Paths Forbidden (SD3) is such a catchy cave track. Like other Mana songs, it uses pan flute and mallet to evoke an exotic island vibe. A mysterious yet inviting melody promises adventure in caverns deep as a jungle beat amps atmosphere and fills gaps. Darkness beckons.