#10 – Star Light Zone (Sonic The Hedgehog)
Starting off this list is a song from the original Sonic the Hedgehog game. Star Light Zone is a fan favorite stage, partially because of its appearance after one of the most difficult zones in the 1991 side-scroller that started the franchise. Along with a relatively easy map to give players a break after running through the Labyrinth Zone, the Star Light theme is jolly and paced to match the laid back feel of the stage.
#9 – Toxic Caves (Sonic Spinball)
Sonic Spinball may not be the first OG Sonic game that comes to mind when fondly remembering titles that starred the blue hedgehog, however, the first stage is one many people have tried, even if they never beat it. Toxic Caves is where you start your adventure in the pinball themed spin-off and it had a dirty song to match the surroundings as Sonic bounced from one end of the board to the next. Just because this game didn’t feature the typical running style of Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic CD, its soundtrack was just as good, which is easy to tell when you listen to this jazzy tune.
#8 – Stardust Speedway (Sonic CD)
Kids now may not know about Metal Sonic, or about the song that plays while you fight him, but Stardust Speedway has to be on the list because of that very reason. The slow start could easily lull you into a false sense of security. A pretty map, a slow beat. Then you meet with this mechanical version of the Blue Blur, Metal Sonic. Complete with sirens and maniacal laughing, this song tells you (after the false start that is) to hurry the hell up and beat this final challenge before Eggman, with the help of his robot invention, traps you and seals your fate.
#7 – Flying Battery Zone (Sonic 3 & Knuckles)
Even if you haven’t played Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Flying Battery Zone may sound familiar. That’s because, rightfully so, the exciting map that has you chasing down Robotnik through his airborne fortress is being revisited in Sonic Mania. This futuristic-styled jam really drove home that you were attempting to take on the main antagonist in his home territory and never let you forget that even when you were inside, you were flying across the sky.
#6 – Ice Cap Zone Act 1 (Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Ice maps, like water maps, are not always the most fun to navigate, but the music playing in the background of Ice Cap Zone made the map as enjoyable as any featured in the original games. That and the lack of annoyingly slippery surfaces made the zone and its theme even more memorable. Just like the rest of the songs designed for the old school games, it fits very well to its environment and has you humming as you break ice blocks and shred the side of a mountain with a sweet snowboard. Until you crash and lose it, that is.
#5 – Emerald Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Not as popular as its sister stage, Emerald Hill Zone was a variation of the old Green Hill Zone that has managed to stand out on its own. Through countless remakes of the first stage ever made for Sonic, Emerald Hill refuses to be buried, and it’s in part from having Sonic’s pal, Tails, following close behind as well as the differing theme that introduced players to the Sonic the Hedgehog sequel flawlessly. Live on Emerald Hill!
#4 – Robotnik (Sonic 3 & Knuckles)
Whether you are in camp Eggman or camp Robotnik, 90’s kids knew that the baddie was on his way when this theme played. Robotnik has been a part of the Sonic franchise since the beginning, but his theme was perfection in Sonic & Knuckles. Compared to its Sonic 2 version, this one had a lot more life and drama. The quick ramp up built the suspense when he appeared from one of the sides of the map and the deep tones that play through out could help you picture exactly when he would attack.
#3 – Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Here it is. The main Sonic theme nearly everyone who has played any of the games can identify. Whether it was back in ’91 or even as recently Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Green Hill Zone theme and stage has been remade and revamped and reused time and time again. There’s really no argument against this song being a video game classic. Just its history alone of being the first zone players ran through makes it a permanent favorite of fans, and is often one of the first songs newcomers to the Sonic franchise will end up hearing.
#2 – Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Chemical Plant may not be “the” zone like Green Hill is, but with views across various YouTube videos right up there with Green Hill Zone in spite of that means that this is one of the most memorable themes of the franchise. The design for the map was colorful and challenging as you made your way through various railways and even plummeting into purple ooze that filled the stage easily made the zone stand out, but the music made it timeless. And, like Green Hill, it has seen a few remakes now, including one in Sonic Mania.
#1 – Sonic Boom (Sonic CD)
The opening and ending songs for Sonic CD, with its original 2D animation not only showed off Sonic as more than just a speed demon but did so with one of the most amazing 90’s anthems of any OG Sonic fan’s childhood. Unlike the others on this list, it features uplifting and well-written lyrics, making it a classic in the franchise. There have been plenty of impactful Sonic songs since then that featured vocal performances and is certainly not the only song to break the style of music we know so well with older 8-bit games, but this was where it started.
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