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Pirate Homeworld[1] is a recurring theme in the Metroid series, associated with the Space Pirates. It was originally composed by Kenji Yamamoto.
Description[]
It first appeared as Crateria - The Space Pirates Appear (クレテリア 宇宙海賊出現)[2] in Super Metroid, which is heard when Samus is ambushed by Zebesians in Tourian's ruined Zebesian Command Center. After this sequence, it is also heard in old Brinstar and nearly all of the left part of Crateria. It will also play in the far-right caverns of Crateria if Samus enters them from Maridia, despite the complete lack of Pirates there. This theme is included on the Super Metroid: Sound in Action CD as an arranged version, which includes Planet Zebes - Arrival on Crateria, another Super Metroid track.
The choir uses the "Galeere" sample, which is included in State of the Art (Volume 1) by Pro-Rec. However, the original source of the sample is unconfirmed.[3]
Two different variations are heard during Metroid: Zero Mission, when Zero Suit Samus is forced to escape Zebes through Chozodia (including a section of the Wrecked Ship) and the Space Pirate Mother Ship. The former version plays during the stealth sequences, while the latter version plays when Zebesians spot her and is included as number 20 in the Sound Test. Both versions are permanently replaced by Brinstar (Metroid) once the Ruins Test has been completed.
This theme is heard in Pirate Command and the Pirate Mines in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, where it replaces Heion2 after Samus's initial visits to the planet. It is one of the songs available for purchase in the Soundtrack Gallery. Unlike most other versions of the theme, this one has a deeper, more electronic-sounding instrumentation and tone. Pirate Homeworld also does not use the recognisable melody from the Space Pirates Appear until about 26 seconds in. On the UK Corruption website, it is known as Track_10 in the music player.
The original theme has been performed in orchestra twice; first by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in 1994 as part of a medley (which arranges The Space Pirates Appear in a more lighthearted manner), and then in 2013 by the WDR Radio Orchestra as part of Into Red, Into Dark.
The theme from Super Metroid can be heard here: [1], the arrangement from Sound in Action here: [2], the theme when Samus Aran is avoiding the Space Pirates here: [3] and the one where Samus Aran is being chased here: [4] and the theme from Corruption here: [5].
Trivia[]
- In Zero Mission, if Samus manages to sneak through Chozodia without ever getting detected by Space Pirates, neither version of this theme will ever be heard.
References[]
- ^ Soundtrack Gallery
- ^ Super Metroid: Sound in Action
- ^ SynaMax. "Super Metroid Samples Sources" YouTube. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022. (starts at 2:36)