Main Theme (Super Mario 64)

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"Main Theme"
The "Main Theme" in Super Mario 64
The image for "Main Theme" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Key C major
BPM 114
Time signature 2
2
(with swung eighths)
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance Mario Kart World (2025)

The "Main Theme,"[1] also known as the "Super Mario 64 Main Theme,"[2] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario 64, where it plays in Bob-omb Battlefield; Whomp's Fortress; Tall, Tall Mountain (outside only); and Tiny-Huge Island (outside only).

Reuses[edit]

The following list does not include ports or remakes of Super Mario 64.

Game Description
Super Smash Bros. Brawl The "Main Theme," now titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)," can play in the Delfino Plaza stage.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U The "Main Theme," now titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)," can play in the Delfino Plaza stage.
Minecraft The "Main Theme" is one of the several themes that can play in the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate The "Main Theme," now titled "Main Theme - Super Mario 64," can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.

Arrangements[edit]

This section is a stub. Please consider expanding it to include any missing information. Specifics: Super Nintendo World information

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 64[edit]

See also: Slider, Cool, Cool Mountain (theme)

Super Mario 64, its Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and its Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, feature several arrangements of the "Main Theme."

A portion of the "Opening"[1] theme that plays at the beginning of the game includes an arrangement of the main motif of the "Main Theme."

The "Slider"[1] theme is a frantic bluegrass/country arrangement of the "Main Theme" played in D major at a presto tempo. In Super Mario 64, this arrangement plays in all slide areas; in Tick Tock Clock, Rainbow Ride, Tower of the Wing Cap, Vanish Cap Under the Moat, and Wing Mario Over the Rainbow; and during all of Koopa the Quick's footraces. "Slider" has been reused and rearranged in many games of the Super Mario franchise since Super Mario 64.

The "Cool, Cool Mountain"[1] theme, which is the background music for Cool, Cool Mountain and Snowman's Land, is a winter/Christmas arrangement of the "Main Theme."

The "Course Clear"[1] theme, heard after the player collects a Power Star, is a brief arrangement of the "Main Theme."

The "Game Over"[1] theme, heard when the player gets a Game Over, is a slow, depressing-sounding arrangement of the "Main Theme."

A very short arrangement of the "Main Theme" is used as a sound effect for when Red Coins are collected. Each additional coin increases the pitch of the sound.

"Opening," "Slider," "Cool, Cool Mountain," and "Course Clear" all return in the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack in the Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch versions of Minecraft. "Course Clear" and "Game Over" return in Super Mario Maker, where they play when the player finishes a level or loses a life, respectively, with a Mario Mystery Mushroom. "Course Clear" returns in Super Mario Odyssey, where it plays when the player collects a Power Moon in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Icon of an audio speaker. Opening - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
File info
0:30
Icon of an audio speaker. Slider - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
File info
0:30
Icon of an audio speaker. Cool, Cool Mountain - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
File info
0:30
Icon of an audio speaker. Course Clear - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
File info
Icon of an audio speaker. Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
File info
Help:Media fileHaving trouble playing?

Super Mario Sunshine[edit]

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In Super Mario Sunshine and its Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, the sound effect heard when the player collects a Red Coin is a very short arrangement of the "Main Theme" very similar to the arrangement heard in Super Mario 64. However, the pitch does not change as more Red Coins are collected.

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]

In Super Mario Galaxy 2, a jazz arrangement of the "Main Theme," titled "Throwback Galaxy" in the game's official soundtrack, plays in the galaxy of the same name, as Throwback Galaxy is a faithful recreation of Whomp's Fortress from Super Mario 64, which used the original "Main Theme" as its background music. Additionally, the sound that plays when a Comet Medal is collected is based on the Red Coin sound from Super Mario Sunshine.

Icon of an audio speaker. Throwback Galaxy - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Galaxy 2
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Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

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In Super Mario Odyssey, the theme that plays after the player collects a Power Moon (sans the Mushroom Kingdom) is an arrangement of "Course Clear" from Super Mario 64.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[edit]

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The Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games features an arrangement of the "Main Theme" as a playable theme. This arrangement returns in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, and the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]

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In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, an arrangement of the "Main Theme," titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)," can play in the Peach's Castle stage, which was added as downloadable content on July 30, 2015. This arrangement also incorporates the "Opening" theme at the end. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now titled "Main Theme - Super Mario 64 (Remix)," where it can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

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In "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a short arrangement of the "Main Theme" can be heard while Mario follows Toad around Toad Town. This track was arranged by the film's composer, Brian Tyler.

Mario Kart World[edit]

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In, Mario Kart World, two different arrangements of the "Main Theme" can play in Free Roam.

Other arrangements[edit]

Bayonetta 2[edit]

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In Bayonetta 2, a short piano arrangement of the theme plays when the player unlocks the Chain Chomp weapon in the Nintendo Switch version of the game.

Nintendo Live 2023[edit]

Nintendo Live 2023 in Seattle, Washington, USA featured a live performance by the Super Mario Super Big Band of themes from various Super Mario games, including the "Main Theme."[3]

Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Nintendo 64 1996 Original "Main Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Arrangement "Opening"[1]
"Slider"[1]
"Cool, Cool Mountain"[1]
"Course Clear"[1]
"Game Over"[1]
Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo GameCube 2002 Arrangement
Super Mario 64 DS Nintendo DS 2004 Original "Main Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Opening"[1]
"Course Clear"[1]
"Game Over"[1]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii 2008 Original "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)" Koji Kondo
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Wii 2009 Arrangement
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii 2010 Arrangement "Throwback Galaxy"[4] Shigetoshi Gohara
 
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Wii 2011 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games)
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games)
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014 Original "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)" Koji Kondo
20151 Arrangement "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)" Hiroyuki Kawada
Super Mario Maker Wii U 2015 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) Koji Kondo
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 20151 Arrangement "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)" Hiroyuki Kawada
Minecraft: Wii U Edition Wii U 2015 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64)
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U 2016 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games)
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition Nintendo Switch 2017 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64)
Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition New Nintendo 3DS 2017 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64)
Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch 2017 Arrangement
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64)
Minecraft Nintendo Switch 2018 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018 Original "Main Theme - Super Mario 64" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U) "Main Theme - Super Mario 64 (Remix)" Hiroyuki Kawada
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Nintendo Switch 2020 Original "Main Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Opening"[1]
"Course Clear"[1]
"Game Over"[1]
Past arrangement (Super Mario Sunshine)
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement

1 - Added as downloadable content on July 30, 2015

Film and television[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 Arrangement "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" Brian Tyler

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack 1996 Original "Super Mario 64 Main Theme" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Opening"
Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits 1996 Original "Super Mario 64 Main Theme" Koji Kondo
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live CD 2003 Past arrangement (Mario & Zelda Big Band Live [Live performance]) "SUPER MARIO 64 Opening Theme ~ Overworld Theme (NINTENDO64: 「SUPER MARIO 64」)" Shigeo Nukita, The Big Band of Rogues (Tokyo Cuban Boys Jr.)
Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection 2005 Original 「メインテーマ」 (Mein Tēma) Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) 「オープニング」 (Ōpuningu)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2) "Throwback Galaxy" Shigetoshi Gohara
The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music 2015 Original 「メインテーマ」 (Mein Tēma) Koji Kondo
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2023 Past arrangement (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" Brian Tyler

Live performances[edit]

Event Year Location Type Title Credits
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live 2003 Nihon Seinenkan Hall, Tokyo, Japan Arrangement "SUPER MARIO 64 Opening Theme ~ Overworld Theme (NINTENDO64: 「SUPER MARIO 64」)"[5] Shigeo Nukita, The Big Band of Rogues (Tokyo Cuban Boys Jr.)
Nintendo Live 2023 2023 Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, Washington, USA Arrangement Super Mario Super Big Band

Other media[edit]

Work Format Year Type Title Credits
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live DVD 2003 Past arrangement (Mario & Zelda Big Band Live [Live performance]) 「スーパーマリオ64 オープニングテーマ〜地上のテーマ」
(Sūpā Mario 64 Ōpuningu Tēma 〜 Chijō no Tēma)
Shigeo Nukita, The Big Band of Rogues (Tokyo Cuban Boys Jr.)

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese メインテーマ[1]
Mein Tēma
Main Theme

Notes[edit]

  • On the Nintendo Music app, "Main Theme" is labeled as "Selects," classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library," originating from Super Mario 64. "Main Theme" shares this title with "Slider" and "Dire, Dire Docks."

References[edit]