Megaman X - Intro Highway

Composers: Setsuo Yamamoto, Makoto Tomozawa, Yuki Iwai, Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama

I was probably in third or fourth grade when this game first came out. I'd known of the Megaman series on the original Nintendo, but had never played them before. For a young kid, the difference between an original NES and the brand spankin new SNES was too gargantuan; no way could I go back to crappy 8 bit games after experiencing the wondrous lifelike amazingness of the 16 bit revolution. So I missed out on the original Megaman experience. I don't pretend to claim that I actually shelled out the $50 for the game, no doubt it was given to me as a birthday or Christmas present - I don't really remember. And that's really besides the point.

This track is found on the opening highway stage when you first start a new game. From the READY that flashed on the screen as the first few measures of this song kicked in, it was immediately obvious that this was going to be one kick-ass game. It's actually rather amazing when you listen in detail - solid computer drum beats and fills hold down the rhythm perfectly, the main riffs bending over the flowing bassline, and the simplistic rhythm of fifth-notes.

The bass impresses me the most. Though hard to hear on first listen, the bass lines are just as intricate and well thought out as the lead riffs. The bass octave (?) slaps leading into the second verse are completely natural - amazing to think they were programmed into an archaic early 90s 16 bit synth processor. The drum rolls in the segue leading back into the first verse towards the end are a little much, but hardly overkill. When you take the whole piece in context, the bleeps, beeps and beats don't sound nearly as dated as the very-synthed 90's style drum rolls.

And finally, something I most appreciate about video game music, is how the rhythm and structure dictate the lead riffs more than anything else. For example, in the opening riff, how the notes bend from one into the other - not that uncommon for a riff composed on a guitar, but played through a keyboard? My understanding of keys and synths is very rudimentary, and to be honest I have absolutely no idea how early video game soundtrack composers wrote these pieces, let alone transferred them into a 16 bit cartridge. So maybe the lead bends aren't as impressive as I thought. No matter, all assembled, this makes for one amazing video game track, and perhaps the best opening stage tune that comes to mind.

Most importantly, though, is it sets the stage for one amazing video game. Plenty more great tunes are to be found in this game, and only time will tell how many days it takes me before I am forced to revisit another one of the game's excellent tracks (hint: I am 100% positive it will happen at least once, if not two or three more times).