One of the most iconic parts of playing Pokemon is the music playing in the background that helps create a feel for the different battles. Here are 18 of of the best picks from the Pokémon soundtracks to make sure your 2018 starts out right, in no particular order.
1. Ultra Necrozma Battle Music (Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon)
This song was the perfect way to stress out players who kept restarting their game or used too many revives to pass this tough boss.
2. Vs. Team Magma & Team Aqua Leader (Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire / Emerald)
What a classic. Those bosses had questionable goals, yet hold a special place for being some of the hardest to understand individuals. Each battle against them was a challenge, causing players to stock up on revives and hyper potions back in the gameboy days. Players needed to turn the gameboy volume on max so everyone could hear this jam.
3. Ruins of Alph (Pokémon Gold / Silver)
These games had a lot to offer as far as storyline and visiting multiple regions. The Alpha Ruins was a complex way to collect each type of Unknown. Many people spent hours playing there, and this was the perfect track to listen to while solving puzzles and searching for every form of Unknown.
4. Lusamine Mother Beast Battle Music (Pokémon Sun / Moon)
This battle in Pokemon Moon really proved how out of her mind Lusamine was. She had a sort of fixation on Ultra Beasts and their “beauty” throughout the game, but literally fusing with one of them in battle is an entire new level.
5. Arceus Battle Music (Pokémon Diamond / Pearl / Platinum)
A theme fans only heard if they used an action replay code, this song is perfect to battle the “god of all Pokémon.” The azure flute was required to trigger this event; however, creators took this event out of the game and chose to distribute Arceus through a Mystery Gift event. It is a shame because climbing the “stairway to heaven” that opened up to battle Arceus, only to hear this eerie music afterward, really was one of the best Pokémon battles to date.
6. Battle! Champion Cynthia Music (Pokémon Diamond / Pearl / Platinum)
Truly a masterpiece. Being the first female champion, Cynthia made a name for herself for being one of the hardest Pokémon battles. With a diverse team of different Pokémon types, Cynthia had some heavy hitters and tanks, including Milotic and Lucario.
7. Battle! Wally Music (Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire)
This song gave Wally the redemption he deserved. In the original games, Wally was seen as a sickly boy who wasn’t a true rival, but showed players that a Pokémon named Ralts could be caught on Route 102. Even in the final battle on Victory Road, Wally seemed shy and said he was just going home after losing. However, in the remakes players see real character development within Wally, even growing a special bond with his Gallade and mega evolving. This was a wonderfully placed theme surrounded by flowers, representing his gentle heart. He also was an excellent partner for the Battle Resort, especially when we used the Mega Gallade and Mega Gardevoir combo.
8. Mystery Girl, Again (Pokémon Heroes The Movie)
This theme is reminiscent of the original concept of the Kalos region. The“mystery girl” was actually a Latias disguised as her friend, Bianca, from one of the earlier Pokémon movies. The movie was beautiful and sad, with an intense storyline that started as book thieves and ended with almost the entire city of Altomare being destroyed by a mysterious machine. Latios and Latias are the guardians of the city, and this theme is played throughout the movie representing the rich culture the Johto region has to offer.
9. Lugia’s Song (Pokémon The Movie 2000)
Originally played on a special seashell, this theme brought the three legendary birds of Kanto and Lugia together, solving the conflict that happened from a Pokémon collector trying to capture them. The prophecy that was told in the movie named Ash the chosen one that the world would fall to when this exact conflict occurred, almost destroying the world. It was up to Ash and his friends to find the orbs representing the three birds and bringing them to this area where Lugia’s song would be played and it would be summoned to calm the frustrated Pokémon.
10. Oracion (Pokémon The Rise of Darkrai)
Speaking of songs that could save the world, Oracion was a song for the leaf whistle that was passed down from Alice’s grandmother that matched a song that could be played by the Space-Time towers in Alamos town. To prevent Palkia and Dialga from fighting and ruining the balance of time and space, this song was played in the towers and restored peace between the two Pokémon. It was a beautiful scene and the music played by the towers was a perfect fit.
11. Surfing (Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire / Emerald)
This is a theme players heard a lot during gameplay, considering most of the region is made up of water (causing IGN’s review-turned-meme “7.8/10 too much water”) . However, the entire Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald soundtrack is special. As long as players have repels handy to fight off the abundance of Tentacool in Hoenn’s waters, surfing can be one of the greatest pastimes the game has to offer while searching for cool dive spots and hidden items.
12. Ultra Recon Squad Battle Music (Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon)
This song was perfectly chosen for two of the most mysterious characters in the Alola region. The franchise made us believe they were part of an evil organization, but they helped the player later on in the game. They were from another world entirely and the theme represents just that.
13. Decisive Battle! N (Pokémon Black / White)
Pokémon Black and White finally addressed the ethics of Pokémon itself, creating Team Plasma that sought out for the “liberation of Pokemon.” The king of Team Plasma, N, was a boy raised by Pokémon and can understand their language. He wanted his friends to be free and no longer suffer, so he was confused by the protagonist whose Pokémon seemed fond of them. He sought guidance from either Reshiram or Zekrom and you were able to capture the other legendary dragon. This decisive battle would be the deciding factor in if he would liberate all Pokémon or listen to the player and let them stay with their trainers. This theme was as quizzical as he was, representing his character and how strong his vision was.
14. Battle! Ghetsis (Pokémon Black / White)
After the decisive battle, Ghetsis revealed being the mastermind behind Team Plasma and true reasoning for wanting to liberate Pokémon: to be the only one in Unova with Pokémon. He calls N a disappointment and battles the player before accomplishing his goal. This theme was intense as it was scary, for the player were fighting for the freedom of themselves and the other trainers in Unova.
15. Battle! Deoxys Music (Pokémon Emerald / Firered / Leafgreen)
Only a handful of fans got to hear this theme through Gameboy speakers, this song was one of the best in the games. It was full of bells and alternative kinds of music for an “out of this world” effect, considering Deoxys is from outer space. Unfortunately, players could only experience this battle if they got the Aurora ticket through Mystery Gift for the Gameboy, which is unavailable now. However, some fans have used cheats to revive the event and experience the battle and music that came along with it on Birth Island.
16. Battle! Zinnia Music (Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire
Zinnia’s theme was as interesting as she was and it’s completely different from other songs Pokémon has placed with characters. It was disappointing that you could only battle her once to hear this song.
17. Lavender Town (Pokémon Red / Blue)
This theme was the first burst of creepiness that the franchise placed into games that suggested darker themes lie within Pokémon games. This song brings nostalgia to older fans who enjoy the original games and can still scare players when listening to it at night. Lavender Town was always one of mystery, where the player literally defeats a ghost of a Marowak who was a mother to Cubone. Pokédex entries for Cubone continued the creepiness for years to come, but the theme fit the part.
18. Battle! Champion Music (Pokémon Red / Blue / Yellow)
This theme is one for the ages. This battle is an all out brawl to see who was the best trainer to come from Pallet Town, which makes the player feel like they truly have a rival that is their equal. Luckily, multiple battles with Blue allows the player to know the type of Pokémon he uses and strategize against him. Whatever works, Blue’s theme is one of the greatest, showing the intensity of the battle and pushes the player to work harder.
