Main Theme (Super Mario 64)
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| "Main Theme" | |
|---|---|
| "Main Theme" in Super Mario 64 | |
Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |
| Key | C major |
| BPM | 114 |
| Time signature(s) | 2 2 (with swung eighths) |
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (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).
History[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]
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Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "Main Theme", and it returns for the same purpose in the Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It is also included in the following official albums:
- Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack
- Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits
- Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection
- The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music
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". This theme is featured in the Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack and Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection official albums.
The "Slider"[1] theme is a frantic bluegrass/country arrangement of the "Main Theme" played in D major at a presto tempo. 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.
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.
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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.
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Super Mario Maker[edit]
"Game Over" returns in Super Mario Maker, where it plays when the player loses a life with a Mario Mystery Mushroom.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the original version of "Main Theme", now titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)", can play in the Delfino Plaza stage.
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.
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the original version of "Main Theme", now titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)", can play in the Delfino Plaza stage.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the original version of "Main Theme", now titled "Main Theme - Super Mario 64", can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. The Super Smash Bros. for Wii U arrangement also returns, now titled "Main Theme - Super Mario 64 (Remix)", where it can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series[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.
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 appearances[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.
Minecraft[edit]
In the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack for the Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and New Nintendo 3DS versions of Minecraft, the original versions of "Main Theme", "Opening", and "Course Clear" can play.
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]
Image for "Opening" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music
Image for "Course Clear" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music
Image for "Slider" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music
Image for "Cool, Cool Mountain" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music
Image for "Throwback Galaxy" from Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Music
"Main Theme - Super Mario 64" in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
"Super Mario 64 Main Theme", "Slider", and "Snow Mountain" in Super Mario 3D All-Stars
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] | ||||
| "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) | |||||
| 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] | ||||
| "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]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Nintendo Music
- ^ Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack
- ^ Hitbox Hero (September 3, 2023). Nintendo Live 2023 - Super Mario Super Big Band uncut full show (12:36). YouTube (English). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack
- ^ Mario & Zelda Big Band Live CD