A Place in the Sun

Nostalgia and summer go hand-and-hand, so it’s fitting that we’d kick off this countdown with a gem from the 8-bit era. Wonder Boy III is the greatest Sega Master System game of all time, and “Side-Crawler’s Dance” is possibly my favorite piece of music to ever grace the console. It fits perfectly with all of the palm trees and enemy crabs, and the upbeat tempo never fails to put a smile on my face. Shinichi Sakamoto’s original composition was remixed in Lizardcube’s excellent 2017 remake, but my favorite rendition appeared in Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. This version added several instrument tracks to the mix, and the snappy trumpets somehow made the song sound even more cheerful. It perfectly captures the feeling of carefree exploration, and it helps push you forward on your adventure. I debated whether or not a remixed track deserved a place on this list, but I feel that it represents what summer is all about. Much in the same way that every summer feels a little bit different than the one before, every rendition of the song has its own style.

Animal Crossing is one of the most carefree franchises of all time, and most of its music could be described as laidback or relaxing. If you need a vacation from reality, then Animal Crossing‘s got you covered! In fact, the series even has a contingency for those times you need a vacation from your vacation! The daily grind of New Leaf isn’t especially stressful in the first place, but it’s always nice to get away. With that in mind, the game let’s you take a break from your mayoral duties and visit the perpetually sunny Tortimer Island. Whether you want to catch fish or catch sun rays, the island will provide. This is especially true in the winter months. Regardless of what season it is on the mainland, it’s always summer on the island! You know you’re in for a good time as soon as you step into the lobby, and the music sets the tone for the entire excursion. I can’t decide if the steel guitars remind me more of a luau or an episode of Spongebob Squarepants, but the warped Hawaiian twang is unmistakable. Tortimer Island is covered with all sorts of exotic fruit and interesting creatures, but I often visit just to hear the lobby music!

There are countless tracks from the Mario universe that deserve a place on this list. The entire Super Mario Sunshine soundtrack is built around a summer theme, for instance, while the main theme from the original Super Mario Bros. has a distinct calypso rhythm that would be well-suited for steel drums. It’s not unusual for Mario games to feature summer-themed locales, but “Koopa Beach 1” from Super Mario Kart has the distinction of being the first beach that Mario and his friends ever visited in-game. (While there were numerous underwater levels, Mario never had the opportunity to go to a proper beach until he took up go-karting as a hobby.) Koopa Beach is a relatively simple course with easy-to-find shortcuts, and racing around the small group of islands is surprisingly assuasive. Like the course itself, the background music somehow manages to be upbeat and relaxing at the same time. Although you will ostensibly be in a rush to reach the finish line, the pleasant music eliminates a lot of the inherent stress. Even when your opponents are bombarding you with Koopa shells and banana peels, the music helps keep the anxiety at manageable levels.

Wave Race 64 was one of the most inventive racing games of its era. The play mechanics and course designs were completely original, and the groundbreaking wave physics made you feel like you were riding on a JetSki. Boats and watercrafts are inherently linked with the summertime, so it’s not surprising that most of the game is set against the backdrop of sandy beaches and beautiful palm trees. The summer theme is immediately apparent when you turn on the game, and the intro showcases a rider crashing through waves, jumping off ramps, and racing alongside dolphins! The brazen lens flairs accentuate the “fun in the sun” dynamic, and the background music ties everything together brilliantly. The main theme sounds like the intro of a cheesy 1980s television show, and it kind of feels like Baywatch without the tits. The track captures the spirit of the game perfectly, so it’s only fitting that several variations of the song are used throughout the game. You’ll hear the theme in Sunset Bay and Southern Island, for instance, and a remixed version even plays during the end credits. I’m partial to the original version, however, and I wind up watching the entire intro every time I play the game.

Final Fantasy XV was decidedly more modern than its predecessors. The high fantasy venues that defined earlier entries were replaced with contemporary areas that could potentially exist in the real world. This tonal shift is immediately apparent when you visit a town like Galdin Quay. The once-quiet fishing village was reshaped into a seaside resort with a world-class spa, exquisite dining, and luxury suites suspended above the ocean. It’s the perfect place to rest after a long grinding session, and it makes you feel like you’re taking a break from the main adventure. The music that plays throughout the area has a distinct bossa nova rhythm, and it immediately lets you know that it’s okay to let your guard down. The song could be likened to The Girl From Ipanema in many regards, and the melodic vibes wouldn’t be out of place on a Brazilian beach. It’s arguably the most relaxing track in the entire Final Fantasy series, and it helps me appreciate the game’s contemporary setting. If Galdin Quay was real, I’d happily spend my vacation there.

Chrono Trigger was recognized on our list of greatest video game soundtracks, and the sequel deserves to be in the same conversation. Even though Chrono Cross employs the same freelance composer as its predecessor, the overall vibe was completely different since the setting was so unique. While Chrono Trigger was an epic globe-trotting adventure, the sequel used a tropical archipelago as its backdrop. Yasunori Mitsuda drew inspiration from Mediterranean, Celtic, and African music, and Old World cultural influences were weaved throughout his compositions. Although the soundtrack included original material for the most part, a few of the tracks borrowed melodies and leitmotifs from Chrono Trigger. “Fields of Time ~ Home World” was essentially a remixed version of Chrono Trigger‘s main theme, but the soft interplay of steel drums and acoustic guitars made it more appropriate for the tropical setting. Since the track is used as the theme for the overworld map, it sets the tone for the entire game. The music plays whenever you move from island to island, and it makes you feel like you’re sailing through a gentle ocean breeze. It’s the perfect way to eliminate your stress and anxiety before carrying on with your adventure.

Emerald Coast is the first stage in Sonic Adventure, and I maintain that it’s still the highlight of the 3D Sonic games. The level was like a slice of paradise with its beautiful beaches and majestic palm trees, and everything from the lens flares to the flocking seagulls amplified the summer themes. I loved watching the dolphins jump out of the ocean, and I was blown away when the colossal killer whale started chasing me down the pier with reckless abandon. The stage serves as an introduction to the adventure, so it’s not especially stressful by design. Since the sense of danger is largely superficial, you can basically relax as you race through the level. Although the stage is intentionally laidback, it still puts an emphasis on speed. This creates something of a juxtaposition, but Azure Blue World ties everything together. The guitar-driven track is lively and up-tempo without being overly frantic. You’ll be encouraged to get on your feet and move forward, but you won’t be too stressed to enjoy your surroundings. The Dreamcast was the first console I ever had an opportunity to play on its launch day, and my first trip through Emerald Coast felt like a glimpse into the future. Hearing Azure Blue World has the opposite affect on me today, however, as it takes me back to 1999.

Treasure Trove Cove is intrinsically linked with the sounds of summer. Grant Kirkhope’s upbeat tune is largely defined by steel drums and an cheerful rhythm, and the interlaced sounds of crashing waves make you feel like you’re by the ocean. Banjo-Kazooie has a dynamic soundtrack that changes in accordance to what’s happening on screen, and this accentuates how ingenious the music truly is. Although the basic melody stays the same, the instruments and tempo will change periodically. The pace picks up when your fighting a tough enemy, the acoustics change when you’re indoors, and the sounds are muffled when you’re underwater. This approach ensures that the music is always perfectly suited to what’s happening in the level. Whether you’re running around on sandy beaches, exploring the inside of a pirate ship, or frantically trying to evade a hungry shark, the background music is beautifully woven into the fabric of the game. The Treasure Trove Cove theme is the type of track that would only work in a summer setting, and I’m pretty sure that it would be illegal to play the song in a winter level.

No series is more closely associated with summer than Dead or Alive Xtreme. The games are set on tropical islands and focus almost entirely on summertime activities like beach volleyball and rock climbing. Most of the events take place near the ocean or by the pool, and you’re fortunate enough to share the islands with a charismatic cast of characters. If you like skimpy outfits, massive tits, and oversexed teenage girls, then the Xtreme games are like a gift from heaven. Hold My Lovin’ is one of the tracks that plays during the evening scenes in Xtreme 3, and it’s also heard during the closing credits. It’s the perfect way to close out the game, as it encapsulates what the franchise is all about. The steel drums and off-beat reggae rhythms have an obvious tropical vibe, and the imagery that accompanies the music will make you reminisce about all the fun you had in paradise. You can almost smell the sea salt and coconuts, and Honoka’s impromptu hula hoop performance brings back fond memories of wardrobe malfunctions, tan lines, and groundbreaking jiggle physics. Playing Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 is akin to taking a relaxing vacation, so it’s only fitting that the closing theme would be so laidback and mellow.

Metal Gear Solid 3 is an espionage thriller that takes place in the 1960s. The game plays tribute to the decade in many meaningful ways, and this is especially true of the soundtrack. The intro is an obvious nod to the James Bond films, for example, while Sea Breeze is an homage to Brazil’s bossa nova pioneers. The track is stylistically similar to Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Agua De Beber, and it features the same rhythmic structure. (The track is credited to a fictitious musician named Sergei Mantis, which is an apparent reference to a renowned Brazilian jazz musician named Sergio Mendes.) In any regard, it’s one of the most relaxing tracks to ever appear in a video game. It’s the type of song that makes you feel like you’re sitting on the beach and looking out at the ocean. Fittingly, you can restore your life and stamina by listening to the track on the game’s secret “healing radio” frequencies. The track is also pre-loaded onto the iPod in Metal Gear Solid 4. It’s the perfect song to listen to while you’re sneaking around, and the syncopated sounds of assault rifles fit surprisingly well with the unconventional samba beats.