Culture

The Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony featured video game music and gamers are losing their s**t

Tokyo Olympics video game music

Twitter: aitaikimochi

JRPGs are among Japan’s greatest exports, so to hear music from the greatest series at the Tokyo Olympics was a real joy for gamers.

Just imagine walking out into an Olympic stadium to the Hero’s Fanfare from Final Fantasy.

That’s exactly what happened for this year’s Olympians, with the Parade of Nations flag-bearing parade accompanied by orchestral versions of video game music.

The Final Fantasy fanfare is played at the end of each battle; now it’s the soundtrack to sporting heroes.

The lengthy orchestral medley also included songs from other great Japanese series, from Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts to Sonic the Hedgehog, Monster Hunter and even NieR.

Here’s a full list of songs at the Olympics according to Nikkan Sports and translated by VGC.

Dragon Quest – Introduction: Roto Theme

Final Fantasy – Victory Fanfare

Tales of Series – Sley’s Theme

Monster Hunter – Proof of Hero

Kingdom Hearts – Olympus Coliseum

Chrono Trigger – Frog Theme

Ace Combat – First Flight

Tales of Series – Royal Capital

Monster Hunter – Wind of Departure

Chrono Trigger – Robo’s Theme

Sonic the Hedgehog – Star Light Zone

Winning Eleven (PES) – eFootball Walk-On Theme

Final Fantasy – Main Theme

Phantasy Star Universe – Guardians

Kingdom Hearts – Hero’s Fanfare

Gradius (Nemesis) – 01 Act 1-1

NierR – Initiator

Saga Series – Makai Ginyu Poetry Saga Series Medley 2016

SoulCalibur – The Brave New Stage of History

Sadly there was no Nintendo music included, despite Japan’s Prime Minister arriving at the Rio Olympics closing ceremony from a warp pipe back in 2016.

Gamers lose their sh*t at gaming music at the Olympics

Shocked and surprised at the music, gamers took to social media to collectively lose their sh*t.

Of particular interest was the Kingdom Hearts theme, especially as the series has its own version of Olympus thanks to Hercules.

As one account put it, “it’s cool to think about how video game music can bring together people from all walks of life”.

 

 

 

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