Track of the Week: Underground (Yoshi’s Island)

2014 is already turning out to be another great year for 3DS, and it looks like it’ll only keep getting better with this week’s release of Yoshi’s New Island. Mario’s dino companion has proven to be a viable gaming mascot in his own right, starring in a handful of charming titles across most of Nintendo’s home and handheld consoles, and Yoshi’s New Island marks but the first of his new outings this year. (Wii U owners also have Yarn Yoshi to look forward to, presuming its development doesn’t hit any snags.) In anticipation of the game’s release, we’re going to be taking a look back at Yoshi’s breakout role for this week’s musical highlight.

While most of the tunes associated with Yoshi’s adventures range from sprightly to saccharine, some of them could also be quite atmospheric, as the Underground theme from the original Yoshi’s Island proves. Not only was the track a decided shift from the bouncy melodies that accompanied the game’s overworld levels, the stages themselves were markedly more complex than those found aboveground, featuring winding, maze-like layouts and branching pathways. This greater emphasis on exploration was perfectly reflected in their theme, which carried an air of mystery that impelled players forward through their cavernous depths. Even now, it’s impossible to listen to the theme without conjuring up images of cave floors glistening beneath Yoshi’s feet, while sparkling waterfalls cascade in the distance– a perfect testament to the track’s effectiveness.

What are some of your favorite tunes from the Yoshi series? Share them with us in the comments!