Today is
Halloween and to "celebrate" that, here’s a list of Top 29 Creepy Music from
non-horror games. It contains music that is just simply creepy by itself or
creepy together with the moment it plays at in the game. The list is in no
particular order. Without further ado, let’s begin:
Caverns of Winterns – EarthBound
This plays
during many cave locations in Earthbound, often rather generic caves. This
track was actually used in a popular creepypasta Sonic.exe.
Giygas’ Theme – Earthbound
One of the
most well-known things in EarthBound is one of the creepiest bosses in
non-horror games. Giygas is a bodyless remain of the the final boss from Mother
1. If the imagery wasn’t disturbing enough, it is accompanied with the
disturbing mix of sounds and music. The backstory of the boss battle just adds
up to the creepiness of the battle.
Giygas’ Theme (aka Lucas’ Nightmare) – Mother 3
This is an
unused theme from Mother 3 that became known as Giygas’ Theme, however it was
most likely to be used in the original final battle named by the fans Lucas’
Nightmare. This theme has a dark voice talking along with background
noises/screaming. The voice can be misheard as “Lucas, help”, “Why me Lucas” or
1-2-3-5. It reality it is OJ saying “one two three five (or four?) along with
crowd cheering, slowed down to this creepy level. Despite that, it is really
creepy.
!SPOILER ALERT! Battle Against The Masked Man –
Mother 3
Cave of Bad Dreams/The Chase – Rayman 2
This is
more of a personal one. This level creeped me out as a kid with the creepy arms
in the walls, etc. Oh yeah, and that creepy ass chase scene at the end along
with a boss battle that was hard at the time as I was still used to
sidescrolling NES platformers.
Tomb of the Ancients – Rayman 2
This is the
theme of one of the later levels in Rayman 2 where you visit a dark, ominous
place called Tomb of The Ancients, full of ghosts, deadly “water” etc. The
music and the setting are creepy.
Shadow Temple – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of
Time
The music
itself is creepy, but you know what’s really creepy? Those damned Dead Hand
monster. Seriously, as if the re-dead with their creepy screams weren’t creepy
enough.
Fire Temple – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of
Time
The
original theme was changed as it contained Islamic chanting, but in my opinion,
it was the best one as the chanting made it so much creepier. I can understand
why they have removed it though.
Cave – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of
Time/Majora’s Mask
I put these
two as one entry as they are very similar. They’re both barely even music and
more of an ambience of creepy sounds. Both themes made the caves in N64 Zelda
games so much more intimidating and scary.
World of Nothing – Super Paper Mario
Mario games
are happy games, right? Well, most of the time. Super Paper Mario had the most
serious story of them all and it featured a void threatening to end all the
worlds. At one point in the game, one world is destroyed and once you come back
there’s nothing but white background and a single flat line as ground. This
track plays during your journey to the place, making the fact you’re visited an
erased world even creepier.
River Twygz Bed – Super Paper Mario
Another
track from Super Paper Mario can be heard once you dive into the River Twygz in
the Underwhere, a “parody” of River Styx in the Greek Underworld. I don’t think
there’s any need to describe why this theme is so disturbing and creepy.Oh yeah, and it sounds exactly the same in reverse
Zant at Lakebed – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight
Princess
This plays
after you complete the Lakebed Temple and encounter Zant. If the theme itself
isn’t scary enough for you, here’s a cutscene from a short while later.
Still wanna
talk about how kiddie Nintendo is?
Twilight – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight
Princess
This plays
while you’re in the regions of Hyrule taken over by the “Twilight”. This music helped to make those areas feel
even more unfriendly that they already are. This is one of the things that made
Twilight Princess into my favorite Zelda game. There’s just so much atmosphere
in that game.
Strains of Insanity – Chrono Trigger
I never
really played Chrono Trigger (but probably will in the near future), but I’ve
heard this song in numerous videos and well, it is scary. The really scary
thing here is that voice. You can’t tell if it’s laughing or crying. You know
what? SNES had some pretty awesome music for its time.
A Great Spirit Lies in the Walls – Okami
This music
gives me goosebumps every time. The instrument itself makes a rather creepy
sound, but the echo just makes it so much better, especially considering it
plays in a big cave just before a big boss. The whole soundtrack of Okami is
one of the best soundtracks ever, as well as the game itself. Sadly, it sold
far less than it deserved.
Strange House – Pokémon Black & White 2
Situated
outside a volcanic road in Unova there’s a place called Strange House. It’s a
haunted house with spooky music and lots of creepy sound effects in the
background. And before the song loops, it stops for a while just to let the
sounds be louder for a while. Perfect!
N’s Room – Pokémon Black & White 2
N’s Castle
is in ruin and the composer did an amazing job at portraying that with music.
N’s Castle Theme only plays half of the notes and sounds as if played from an
old gramophone. But that one is just atmospheric, while the theme of N’s Room
takes it to another level by making it creepy by slowing down at times like a
broken record. It kinda reflects N’s broken childhood as well. In fact, N’s
character and the story in Gen 5 makes it the best story in the games.
Battle! Ghetsis – Pokemon Black/White and
Black2/White2
This one
isn’t really creepy but it again reflects the character really well. The first
one is strong but calm, as Ghetsis himself is sure that he will win, while in
Black2/White2 it matches with his mental breakdown and determination.
Final Hours – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s
Mask
At the
beginning I mentioned that some of the entries are tied to an event in the
game. This is the best example of it. The song itself isn’t that creepy, it is
the situation. The moon is about to crash into Termina and there’s only a few
minutes left. The bells only make it feel more serious.
Ikana Valley – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s
Mask
It is no
secret that Majora’s Mask is a dark and scary game, at Ikana Valley is one
scary area. It is the land of the dead.
Dark Hogwarts – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone
Harry
Potter was the first PC I owned (aka pre-installed on my computer) and I
remember it very well. It felt really serious as a kid and the atmosphere is
still great to this day. The scariest part of the game was always areas with
this music. They were always the darkest places, as the name suggests.
Willow Level 2 – Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets
THE
CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE. That’s the text
written with bloody red letters on a wall in Hogwarts and the game reminds you
of its scary presence every time you entered the corridor leading to it.
Big Boo’s Haunt – Super Mario 64
Super Mario
64 is a child-friendly game. That is until they get to this level and hear this
music or go near that GODDAMN PIANO. Seriously, who didn’t get scared by it the
first time?
Item Room – Super Metroid
Super
Metroid is a game where you’re all alone, without any outside help whatsoever.
The theme that plays during item rooms along with most of the soundtrack sets
the mood for the game’s theme
The Great Northern Cavern – Final Fantasy VII
This is
again a track that is mostly tied to the event itself. It replaces the main
overworld theme once the Meteor is hanging above the world of Gaia. Just as
with Final Hours, this sets the mood for the disaster that is about to happen.
But don’t worry, this depressing music is replaced as soon as you board
Highwind or a chocobo.
Trial of Blood – Final Fantasy VII
This track
plays during more serious and creepy parts of the game. There isn’t much I can
say here. It just is kinda scary.
Dementors – HP3 GBA
Gameboy
Advance had a rather crappy sound card (chip?) and this particular thing makes
this part much scarier. Combined with the sound effects, it truly reflects the
creepiness of the dementors.
The Haunted Mansion Ambience – Dust: An Elysian
Tail
It’s really
that much of a musical track, but I has music elements in it and it really damn
creepy. This plays while you’re visiting one of the several mansion in The
Sorrowing Meadow. It would seem that the ghosts of the people handed over into
Gaius’ hand still roam these places, reminding of the awful events that
happened in the past.
Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire Music - £64,000 - £500,000
Yes! It
is a TV show, but it got a game on PS1. I remember watching this as a kid as I
loved the concept and the soundtrack in general in freaking awesome. The music
that plays during the later questions is pretty creepy and I can just imagine
how it “helps” the player to feel the fact he or she came a long way and can
easily lose now. When the player reaches the 1 million dollar (or whatever
currency that is in your version) most of the instruments stop and you are left
with a single background sound and the heartbeat. Probably what the player’s
heart itself sounds like.
And that’s
it for this awfully big list. Hope you’ve enjoyed it and Happy Halloween
everybody!