Nintendo Music Celebrates What Most Streaming Services Devalue

As a lifelong gamer and music enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in Nintendo’s rich and vibrant worlds, I can confidently say that Nintendo Music is a breath of fresh air. It’s like a nostalgia-inducing time machine that takes me back to my first adventures with Mario, Zelda, and Samus.


Nintendo has always made strange decisions. The latest such example is the launch of Nintendo Music, a mobile app that can be downloaded completely free by Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Chances are, most people didn’t expect Nintendo to release a competitor to services like Spotify and Sirius XM, but the company has rolled out a music streaming service with no ads, a growing library, and an unbeatable price. These are all ways Nintendo Music is somewhat superior to other music apps on the market, but there’s a more important way that it beats them: Nintendo Music actually feels like a celebration of music as an art form.

Today, the value of media in our contemporary times is sadly diminishing, and streaming services appear to be a significant contributor to this trend. Instead of purchasing and treasuring music, TV shows, and films as we once did, subscriptions have become like troughs, overflowing with low-quality content and forced upon an eager audience. New content is frequently added without much fanfare, and companies swiftly move on to the next promotion. This situation often leaves one feeling that there’s no longer a genuine appreciation for the effort put into artistic creation. Companies don’t help matters, as content is regularly taken down while executives argue over whether to replace human artists with artificial intelligence-generated content. To make things worse, we have curators who are destroying their own products for tax benefits instead of preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

Amidst all this bustle, the Nintendo Music service offers a refreshing change. Its existence seems groundbreaking, as if it’s challenging the status quo. For years, video game music has persisted more due to its dedicated fanbase than major companies like Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, or Sega. Companies have often viewed this music as disposable, only featuring it once in a single game and then promptly forgetting about it. It’s been the fans who’ve kept this content alive, sharing it through YouTube rips or performing covers at concerts. On rare occasions, popular games receive soundtrack releases, but even some of the most renowned franchises have had only occasional exposure. Now, we have a dedicated app that allows users to enjoy high-quality versions of these tracks, create personal playlists, and even listen to extended versions.

Music is an integral part of the gaming experience. The best music tracks can immediately take us back to playing these games for the first time. When I hear Aquatic Ambiance or Phendrana Drifts, I feel like I’m transported to the first time I swam on Enguarde’s back, or watched snow gently fall on Samus’ visor. These tracks also remind me why I enjoyed these games in the first place. It wasn’t just the visuals or gameplay that first captured my imagination; the atmosphere was integral. I’ve listened to these tracks countless times over the years, and even replayed these games over and over again just to hear them. I’m certainly not alone in that, and it’s wonderful to see the industry acknowledge just how important music is to the gaming experience. And for those that never got a chance to play these games, seeing these tracks highlighted on Nintendo Music might even convince them to try a game they might never have played.

It’s worth noting that while Nintendo Music is great, there’s certainly room for improvement. One aspect that could use some work is the lack of recognition given to artists and composers whose works are featured on the app. Enabling users to search by artist and witness the development of talents such as Koji Kondo or David Wise would significantly enhance the service. In a short span of time, Nintendo Music has already expanded its library with music from games like F-Zero X and Brain Age. Here’s hoping that credits for artists will be included in future updates to further boost user satisfaction and honor the musical talents employed by Nintendo. This change is crucial if we want to take the listening experience to new heights.

Occasionally, Nintendo demonstrates its forward-thinking nature with moves like the introduction of Nintendo Music, a remarkable feature in Nintendo Switch Online. This aspect is poised for growth and refinement over time. Currently, it offers a glimpse into the artistic depth behind the company’s music, which sets it apart from typical streaming services. While there are areas where improvement is needed, I hope this service will inspire other gaming companies to appreciate the worth of their musical archives.

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2024-11-28 19:41