Track of the Week: Gelato Beach (Super Mario Sunshine)

With summer is officially upon us, we thought it would only be fitting to kick off the season of sun and all-night gaming sessions with a track from the most summery game in Nintendo’s history…

There are a number of games that I’ve personally come to associate with summer, but no title embodies the essence of the season as well as Super Mario Sunshine. From the sun-drenched villas and sandy beaches that make up its locales, to the crystalline waves that gently lap at their shores, Mario’s adventure on the beautiful island resort of Isle Delfino remains one of the most charming outings in the plumber’s career, and its distinctive environments and tropical soundtrack have helped cement it as the definitive summertime game.

This week’s theme in particular, which accompanies Sunshine’s largest beach level, is perhaps the best musical representation of summertime in all of gaming. With a simple, Calpyso-flavored melody, the tune does a wonderful job of evoking images of pristine sands and clear, blue skies, making it the perfect way to kick off the season. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go relax in the sun with a nice watermelon smoothie.

What gaming tunes do you associate with summer? Share them with us in the comments below!