Koji Kondo

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Koji Kondo in the 2000s.

Koji Kondo (born 1960-08-13) is a Japanese video game music composer who has been working for Nintendo since 1984. He is certainly Nintendo's most famous composer, and one of the most famous video game music composers in history. His music spans many different genres.

The first game I heard which had Kondo's music in it was Super Mario Bros. I had no idea at the time who composed the game's music, but I enjoyed it (except the underwater music!). It was The Legend of Zelda soundtrack which really made me take notice that video game music could convey a since of emotion. I would often leave the game's opening demo running on my TV just to keep listening to the title music. I also loved Kondo's soundtracks for Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3. When the SNES came out, I very much enjoyed the soundtracks for Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. I don't remember exactly when I became aware of Koji Kondo as a person, but I don't think it was until even after I heard the soundtrack of Super Mario 64.

Gameography

The rank column is based exclusively on my enjoyment of Kondo's soundtrack. A "?" indicates I'm not familiar enough with the soundtrack to rank it, an "N/A" indicates Kondo didn't contribute enough to the soundtrack to consider it in the rankings.

Released Title Platform Rank Notes
1984-02-?? Punch-Out!! Arcade 15 Mostly covers; original music is just jingles.
1984-05-01 Golf Famicom N/A Game only has sound effects.
1984-06-12 Vs. Stroke & Match: Golf Vs. System  ?
1984-10-05 Devil World Famicom 11 With Akito Nakatsuka.
1985-04-09 Soccer Famicom 14
1985-05-?? Arm Wrestling Arcade N/A Reused music from Punch-Out!!
1985-06-21 Kung Fu Famicom 12
1985-09-13 Super Mario Bros. Famicom 09
1986-02-21 The Legend of Zelda Famicom Disk System 05
1986-04-14 The Mysterious Murasame Castle Famicom Disk System  ?
1986-05-03 Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan) Famicom Disk System N/A Same music as the original with an FDS ending.
1986-07-21 Volleyball Famicom 13
1987-07-10 Yume Koujou: Doki Doki Panic Famicom Disk System 07
1987-09-04 Famicom Mukashibanashi: Shin Onigashima Famicom Disk System  ?
1988-10-?? Super Mario Bros. 2 NES 06
1988-10-23 Super Mario Bros. 3 Famicom 04
1990-11-21 Super Mario World Super Famicom 03
1990-12-21 Pilotwings Super Famicom N/A Composed Helicopter song
1991-11-21 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Super Famicom 01
1995-08-15 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Super Famicom 10
1996-06-23 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 64 02 Programmed by Hideaki Shimizu
1996-08-?? Tetris Attack Game Boy N/A Yoshi's themes.
1996-09-?? Tetris Attack SNES N/A Yoshi's themes.
1997-05-27 Star Fox 64 Nintendo 64 N/A Sound effects.
1998-11-21 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 64 08
1998-12-18 Mario Party Nintendo 64 N/A Sound support.
1999-12-17 Mario Party 2 Nintendo 64 N/A Sound support.
2000-05-27 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo 64  ? With Toru Minegishi.
2000-08-11 Paper Mario Nintendo 64 N/A Original themes.
2000-12-07 Mario Party 3 Nintendo 64 N/A Sound support.
2001-02-27 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages Game Boy Color N/A Original music.
2001-02-27 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Game Boy Color N/A Original music.
2002-07-19 Super Mario Sunshine GameCube  ? With Shinobu Tanaka
2002-10-21 Mario Party 4 GameCube N/A Sound support.
2002-12-13 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker GameCube N/A Composed Grandma's Theme
2004-03-18 The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures GameCube  ?
2006-05-15 New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo DS N/A Composed Ground BGM; Sound Director
2006-11-19 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii N/A Composed Orchestra Piece #1
2007-11-01 Super Mario Galaxy Wii  ? Composed Rosalina in the Observatory, Egg Planet
2008-01-31 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii N/A Arrangements
2009-12-07 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Nintendo DS N/A Composed Ending
2010-05-23 Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii  ? Composed Yoshi Star Galaxy, Starship Mario, Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla
2011-11-18 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Wii N/A Composed Legend of Skyloft
2013-11-21 Super Mario 3D World Wii U  ? Composed Chain-Link Charge, Sunshine Seaside
2014-11-21 Super Smash Bros. For Wii U Wii U N/A Arrangements
2015-09-10 Super Mario Maker Wii U N/A Arrangements
2017-04-28 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch N/A Composed Battle Theme
2017-10-27 Super Mario Odyssey Switch  ? Composed Wooded Kingdom, Bowser Castle
2018-12-07 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Switch N/A Arrangements

Songs

This is a list of some of my favorite Koji Kondo songs. For all his songs, see Koji Kondo Songs.

Title Game
Above Ground BGM Super Mario Bros. 2
Above Ground BGM Super Mario Bros. 3
Athletic BGM Super Mario Bros. 3
Athletic BGM Super Mario World
Dark Forest The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Dire, Dire Docks (under water version) Super Mario 64
Ending Super Mario World
Hyrule Castle The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Kakariko Village The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Kakariko Village The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Overworld BGM Super Mario World
Slider Super Mario 64
Snow Mountain Super Mario 64
Staff Roll The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Super Mario 64 Main Theme Super Mario 64
Title BGM The Legend of Zelda

Media

Links

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