Game music of the day: Silver Surfer

GR's ongoing tribute to the beloved world of videogame music

Words: GamesRadarBrettElston on October 1, 2010

23 Comments

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Game: Silver Surfer

Song: Track 01

Composer: Tim Follin, Geoff Follin

Above: Track 01 from Silver Surfer

By now you should have recovered from the soul-shredding awesomeness that is Solstice, but before those wounds can truly heal I must once again summon Tim Follin to rend the flesh from your bones - with music, of course. Tim (and brother Geoff) are behind some of the very best NES music, and in the case of Silver Surfer, salvage a game that's otherwise utter garbage.

There aren't names or designations to the Surfer songs, as they play across various stages. But the moment I heard this particular piece, it hit me so hard my shadow was permanantly fused to my bedroom wall. This is beyond what anyone else was doing on the NES, both in technical prowess and quality of arrangement. It's a pity the game was impossibly difficult and ugly as hell, because a soundtrack this good belongs on a similarly amazing product.

Above: The second you turn on the game - BAM - this title screen music kicks you in the nuts

Above: Angry Video Game Nerd's immensely accurate critique

So yeah, the game itself is criminally awful. Like, one of the worst things that's ever been put in a cardboard box. But the music is outrageous and a must-listen for anyone who enjoys game music or just strong electronic compositions in general. Effing ace.

Game music of the day: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Main Theme by Koji Kondo and Mahito Yokota

Game music of the day: Vectorman
Dance-y beats from Jon Holland

Game music of the day: Spider-Man and the X-Men
More awesomeness from Tim Follin

Games:

Silver Surfer

Platforms:

NES

Topics:

Game music , Old-school

23 comments

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JayBeat - October 5, 2010 11:43 a.m.

I'll comment properly after I pick up the fragments of my jaw.
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Strangleme - October 3, 2010 3:51 p.m.

Wow Brett!! This music is fuckin' SWEET!!! Never played this one but I wish I had now that I hear the music. You never disappoint me Brett.
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TheElephantManchurianCandidate - October 3, 2010 2:17 p.m.

Wow I've seen that AVGN review loads of times but never noticed the soundtrack was so good
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KickmanX - October 2, 2010 11:12 p.m.

This.
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philipshaw - October 2, 2010 10:59 a.m.

This music makes me want to jump around the room. If they played this out at a club, I would go mad
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MoChilla - October 2, 2010 6:31 a.m.

Samurai Jack Rave episode.
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Brutus - October 2, 2010 3:02 a.m.

Just cheered me up after I rage quit Reach on Legendary, lol. I love the surfer, and while I've never played the game that shit is AMAZING. I wish he still had his own comic... weep weep sob cry weep
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BroGamer - October 2, 2010 2:56 a.m.

OH MY GOD, I WANT THIS TO PLAY WHILE I'M RIDING A FLAMING HORSE, SWINGING MY LASER SWORD AT THE GIANT ALIEN ARMADA AND KILLING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE BASTERDS!!!!! Silliness aside, I find it remarkable similar to the songs on Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. I mean, that intro blew my mind!
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FauxFurry - October 2, 2010 2:41 a.m.

That wasn't the right link at all! To make up for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd7TtUn1jd4&feature=related versus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSLgJMQpJfY&feature=related
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mEgAzD - October 2, 2010 2:26 a.m.

Finally! Amazing ost, sh*tty game.
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ZiegZeon - October 2, 2010 1:47 a.m.

THANK YOU!! I knew I would see SS up hear someday!
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FauxFurry - October 2, 2010 1:31 a.m.

I'm honestly surprised that Silver Surfer's soundtrack wasn't first in the Game Music of the Day features. It was literally the game's most noteworthy feature but one that was the most noteworthy of its entire era. I'm sure that even the game makers knew that which is why there is an invincibility code which essentially reduces the game portion of the package to a music video. Have Skate or Die 2 or Street Fighter 2010 been touched on yet? They ought to be mentioned right alongside Silver Surfer as so-so- games with excellent soundtracks (though there are fan remixes which blow the original compositions away.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlg2vDmxtkY&feature=related). reCAPTCHA:"the wileek"--is that the name of monster behind the phenomenon of bad games with great soundtracks? Now we have a name. Now we know what to hate.
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HumorTumor - October 2, 2010 12:45 a.m.

I love that title theme music so god damn much. Good work on the article Brett
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batmanboy11 - October 2, 2010 12:26 a.m.

Good music from a game that I don't remember...
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KREATIVEassassin - October 1, 2010 11:43 p.m.

Fuckin' FINALLY!
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thedutewaw - October 1, 2010 11:40 p.m.

Well I just got back from the emergency room but I'm now less of a man after that insane title theme just swooped in from deep space on a collision course with my scrotum. Damn you Elston! How will I ever recover my manhood after that vicious attack. I will of course be forwarding my hospital bill to you. I expect payment within the next 30 days. reCAPTCHA: through mansord Oh what cruel irony having just lost my mansord, damn your site to the deepest reaches of hell!!!
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Tenfey - October 1, 2010 11:05 p.m.

Why do bad games get good music? Another example would be the NES Rambo game, which has this bad ass track that plays while you run around the jungle, but the game itself is a pile of dildos.
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grappler51 - October 1, 2010 10:56 p.m.

Love the title screen music, the games way too goddamn hard though.
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juicenpancakes - October 1, 2010 10:46 p.m.

As great as this is, I'm still going to need a few more weeks to repair my body which exploded when hearing Solstice.
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SausageLozenge - October 1, 2010 10:42 p.m.

Norrin Radd
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