Track of the Week: Moon Theme (DuckTales)

Since the days of the original Nintendo, gaming has come a long way. The simpler graphics and chip-tune tracks that were once a staple of the industry have been replaced by sprawling 3D worlds and fully orchestrated music. But there’s something that remains inherently charming about the simplicity of those older games, particularly in the audio department. Take, for example, the Moon Theme from Capcom’s DuckTales. While the song is undoubtedly a product of its era, there’s something about it that makes it enduring. It’s certainly one of the reasons that DuckTales is still fondly remembered over 20 years after its release.

The Moon Theme is easily the highest regarded of the original game’s tracks. Despite the limitations of the NES cartridge, the song manages to perfectly capture the level’s setting and tone. As Scrooge McDuck bounces around the moon fighting aliens and giant rat creatures, the music perfectly fits the feeling of adventure.

As the video game industry moves forward and evolves, it’s interesting to see what works remain a relevant part of the public consciousness. While titles like Super Mario Bros. 3 were guaranteed a place in history, a licensed tie-in like DuckTales could have easily been lost to time. Instead, the game’s memory has been kept alive by punk bands, acapella singers, and recent remasters. Not bad for an NES game based on a cartoon that ended in 1990.

What tracks would you like to see featured in Track of the Week? Let us know in the comments below!