Title (theme)

This article is written from the Real Life point of view

This article is about the series' main theme. For other uses, see Title (Disambiguation).

Title
Sheet music of the Title leitmotif
Featured in	Metroid Fusion Metroid e-Manga Metroid Prime Hunters Metroid: Other M Animal Crossing: New Leaf Metroid Dread
Location	Title Screen
Composer	Hirokazu Tanaka
Other titles	01
Related	Title (Metroid) Opening (Destroyed Science Academy Research Station) Metroid Prime Theme Chozo Shrine Phazon Mines Metroid Prime Battle Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Theme Hunters MP3 Title Music Metroid Prime Trilogy Title (Return of Samus) Staff Credit

The Title theme is the main musical theme of the entire Metroid series. It was originally composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.

Description

The Title theme consists of a six-note leitmotif, which can be broken down into two three-note phrases. The first phrase consists of an ascending minor sixth interval followed by a descending perfect fourth interval. The second phrase consists of an ascending minor seventh interval followed by a descending major second interval. There may be additional patterns added, such as harmonies or repeated notes, but this pattern will always remain the same.

Since its debut in the original Metroid, the Title theme has been reused in multiple subsequent music tracks, appearing in every game except Metroid II: Return of Samus, Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, and Metroid Prime: Federation Force. In most instances, it can be heard in the game's respective Title Screen themes, but is also heard in other tracks, such as Chozo Shrine and Metroid Prime Battle. Therefore, this leitmotif can be considered a main theme for the entire Metroid series.

Versions

The title theme of Metroid set the formula for future Metroid games to follow. It opens with the dark and mysterious Title leitmotif, then transitions to a lighter section. This original version would be later remixed in Kid Icarus / Metroid Original Soundtrack Orchestra Version, Brinstar (Melee), Depth of Brinstar, Metroid: Zero Mission, Video Games Live, WarioWare D.I.Y., PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

The leitmotif received its first remix in a Metroid game with Opening (Destroyed Science Academy Research Station) of Super Metroid. After a tense opening, a slow and foreboding version of the Title theme is heard. This version is also orchestrated in A Symphonic Poem and Into Red, Into Dark. However, when Opening (Destroyed Science Academy Research Station) was remixed in Zero Mission, it was without the inclusion of the six note Title theme.

The version in Metroid Fusion is slower, more brooding and features beeps, arranged against the scene of Samus Aran's Gunship crashing into an asteroid belt. It can be heard here: [1]

Metroid Prime features multiple remixes of the Title theme. The Metroid Prime Theme incorporates the Title leitmotif, played by a high-pitched flute-like synth instrument and distorted with heavy static; this version is also remixed in Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Chozo Shrine has a calmer and more serene version of the Title theme. The melody of Phazon Mines is a slow, deep-pitched version of the Title theme. Metroid Prime Battle is the first time that the Title leitmotif was incorporated into a boss theme, with this version sounding aggressive and climatic; this version was later remixed in Metroid Prime Pinball.

In the Metroid e-Manga, an electronic version of the Title theme is heard over the manga's title page. The melody is reminiscent of high-pitched beeping, and it is quietly underscored by descending chromatic notes, similar to the ambience in various Dark Aether tracks such as Swamp Chika Dark, and atmospheric wind-like sound. It can be heard here: [2]

In the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Theme, the Title leitmotif is heard, played quietly by a flute and accompanied by an electric guitar rhythm. This version was also remixed in Metroid Prime Pinball.

The Title theme of Metroid Prime Hunters is darker in tone, and the notes are higher-pitched and given reverb. In the Music Test, it is track 01. It can be heard here: [3] Another version of the Title leitmotif is heard during Hunters, performed with a classic sci-fi synth instrument. Gorea Returns features another boss remix of the Title theme, sounding very similar to Metroid Prime Battle. Lawrence Schwedler arranged all of these themes.

While the Title leitmotif is not clearly heard in MP3 Title Music, the title theme of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the extended version heard during the credits opens with a haunting version of the six-note theme sung by a female choir. This was also performed live by the State Choir of Latvia during the Symphonic Legends concert. This is the only version of the Title theme included on the Samus Archives Sound Selection CD.

The compilation rerelease Metroid Prime Trilogy features a new title theme instead of the previous Prime title themes. This version features the Title leitmotif with very similar instrumentation and static heard in the first Metroid Prime, plus the addition of heavy drumbeats for dramatic emphasis.

The title theme of Metroid: Other M features the Title leitmotif played on plucked strings over dark ambience. The first few notes of this version can be heard when interacting with the Metroid item in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. It can be heard here: [4] Another Title remix is heard at the beginning and ending of the credits music: [5]

While Return of Samus did not feature this leitmotif at all, it was directly incorporated into the remix of that game's own title theme in Metroid: Samus Returns. This version is also heard in many trailers for the game. Another Title remix is heard during the Staff Credit medley, during which the theme is performed by a choir and played alongside Theme of Samus.

The title screen of Metroid Dread features a remix of the theme that has more eerie and mechanized ambient noises in the background. It continues to play throughout the game's Samus Files, Gallery, and other menus. This rendition was first heard in the teaser Glimpse of Dread, and heard again at the end of Metroid Dread - Trailer 2. The Dread title theme was played at The Game Awards 2021 when Doug Bowser went onstage to accept the award for Best Action Adventure Game, which Dread won. It can be heard here: [6]

Trivia

• Despite the Title theme being the apparent main theme of the Metroid series, Super Smash Bros. Brawl erroneously refers to Brinstar (Metroid) as the Main Theme.
• Only four title themes in the Metroid series do not feature the Title leitmotif in any capacity: Title from Metroid II: Return of Samus, the piece of piano music from Metroid: Other M, the title theme from Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, and Main Theme from Metroid Prime: Federation Force.