You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Welcome to GamesRadar's daily blast of all things pertaining to the ever-growing field of game music. Each post will introduce new sounds, games, composers and fan-made remixes of gaming's greatest aural achievements
March 29, 2010
Game: Daytona USA
Song: The King of Speed
Composer: Kouichi Namiki and Takenobu
Above: Also known as "Rolling Start"
WARNING: PERSONAL ANECODOTE! It was Christmas of 1996, a perfect storm of good behavior (good grades and a year without an arrest)led to an opportunity that rarely arose from two parentswho hatedgames: I was getting a new game console! Not only that, Mom had pulled strings I never thoughtpossible. By calling in every favor she'd earnedfrom a lifetime of Sears loyalty, the fat oldladyhad cleverly landed one the hottest gifts of the Holiday season: The "Ultra" rare, Nintendo 64.
However, my little world was forever rocked upon viewingthis commercial. Following its surprise launch in 1995, the Sega Saturn was still struggling in the marketplace. To combat the much more popular PlayStation and Nintendo’s newest console, Sega was offering THREE of its greatest arcade titles FREE! We weren’t rich,so I had to carefully weigh the offer against the N64 and its smattering of launch titles, all $60 -a price then thought to be insane. The choice seemed clear.
Above: The greatest bad music EVAR!
I gave the sought after 64 to a friend to ensure it remained close, and picked up the system that provided the maximum value and I don’t regret the decision one bit… outside to the inherent replayabilityfound inthe bundled arcade ports, or lack thereof. I beat Virtua Cop in ten minutes and quickly exhausted Virtua Fighter 2’s single player experience. Oddly enough, it was Daytona USA that provided the most replay value.Not only did it kickstart an undying love of 3D racing games, the hyper-cornball “RO-LLING STAAAAAAAART!” remains one of the greatest level opening’s ever forged.
Yeah, I know it’s cheesy as hell. But hey,it received more praise than damn near any other music we’ve used in our podcast after we used it to kick start the 2nd segment ofTalkRadar 74. Plus, it’s practically synonymous with the sounds of mid 90’s arcades, thusmany a gamer from my generation hears "King of Speed"asa call to quarter-slingin' arms!Don’t believe me? Asktheswitcher. We’re bothin agreement that the jamshould kickoffevery game.
Above: The madness begins around 1:10
Game music of the day: the most HATED tracks
Sonic Spinball, Cruisin' USA and more!
Control Station by Norgate, Kirkhope, Beanland
Hear the games that dared to be more than noise
