The Power of Atmosphere in Nintendo Games

One of the best parts of any video game are the many different unique atmospheres they have. A combination of impressive visuals, great music, and story context can immerse you into the world in a way no other medium is capable of. All the best Nintendo games have fantastic atmospheres, so I put together a collection of some of my favorites while talking about why they can be so powerful.

Music Used (In Order of Appearance):
-Forest Temple - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
-Title Theme - Super Metroid
-Song of Healing - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
-Final Hours - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
-Prologue (After Choosing House Location) - Animal Crossing: New Leaf
-Inside the Deku Tree - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
-Water Temple - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
-Sanctuary Fortress - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
-The Forest of Hope - Pikmin
-S.S. Drake - Pikmin 3
-Space Junk Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy
-To the Gateway - Super Mario Galaxy
-Spire of Order Failure - Splatoon 3: Side Order
-We're So Back - Splatoon 3
-Satorl Marsh (Night) - Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
-Eryth Sea (Night) - Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
-Crashed Frigate Orpheon - Metroid Prime
-5 AM - Animal Crossing: New Horizons

#Nintendo

[voyan]

The transition from dark, borderless hallway to colorful, mystic music the first time you walk into the Astral Observatory. It's peak

[Tnk]

I couldn’t agree more with what you said about Galaxy. I’ve never felt an atmosphere that conveys those feelings of isolation and vast emptiness quite like I did in Space Junk Galaxy, floating around with rock and debris. I don’t think I’ll ever find a hub world I love more than the Comet Observatory too - though that may partly be due to nostalgia :’)

[doglegs]

Atmosphere and music is the most memorable things in games for me so I’m glad you made videos on both

[duckfriend]

First of all I just wanted to say, your thumbnails are super well made. Something about them always draws me into your videos, even if it's for a game I don't pay attention to that much. Second, I love that you talked about atmosphere in video games. While I don't go out looking for videos on this topic very much, I do feel like it often gets overlooked as a key part of what makes a video game enjoyable, and doesn't get talked about in-depth all that much, so thank you!

[SmashMaxLP]

I won't go too in-depth because I have a whole video written about this, but Mario Galaxy has always been one of the games with the best atmospheres to me. It's so drastically different too, y'know? Like, one minute you're floating through space and it's just a pure feeling of isolation and loneliness; you're so far from everything you hold dear, and it's terrifying, and it's only amplified by something like Space Junk Galaxy's music. But then, you have these super epic moments where you're blasting straight ahead while super orchestral music is playing, you feel like you're in control and you're gonna kick Bowser's ass. The contrast there is really amazing I think.

[wizawhat]

Immersing oneself in a thick layer of atmosphere in a game is definitely one of the best ways to allow yourself to slow down from the fast and hectic pace of life. I'm often at my most peaceful when listening to soundtracks from a few of the games you mentioned like Pikmin and Metroid Prime. The solitude especially appeals to me.

[Kyler]

I think my favorite case of atmosphere in any Nintendo game is Coral Capers from Donkey Kong Country. Aquatic Ambience is such a soothing song with really good vaporwave undertones that drive the underwater aesthetic home.

[zachbaker]

You’re such a good writer man. Love your videos

[skyevlyn]

Wow, a whole video appreciating one of my favourite parts of games ^^ This was so fun to get to enjoy many games' vibes in a short span of time, what a wonderful package you made! I heard someone say awhile ago they were "playing this game less like a game and more like a hang-out-in-the-game-world simulator" and I realized, oh, that's just how I play games. And it's because of how awesome and diverse they feel! Thank you for explaining so perfectly why I like a game like Ocarina of Time despite not finding the gameplay that fun. It's just giving me something to do to continue spending time in its world. Thank you for the video!

[Fishygobrrrrr]

Always a good day when Nintendo hero uploads :)

[ninjakonstapeln]

Hello,
I am new to your channel but have watched this video. You communicate the topic excellently, such good editing and even better writing. This detail in the intro; different cuts with the Forest Temple score stringing it together, it’s just great.
Thank you for this video!

[Kohana]

Thanks for focusing on Prime 2 specifically :)

[PGReviews_]

Seeing that big door open in the Mechonis for the first time forever altered my brain chemistry

[brendanroberts]

The base building of Pikmin 4 is fantastic, and feels like you're on a quest to explore this world and save everyone. But there's something about the total isolation in the original Pikmin that just hits different

[BondforgedSky]

There's really nothing else quite like the atmospheres in Nintendo games. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I've do have a strong love for the atmospheres in the Xenoblade games, Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Galaxy, and Animal Crossing City Folk ( the only other mainline game I've played besides New Horizons )

[Versehen]

I like to watch videos like those at 3am. Atmosphere is everything indeed. Good vid.

[Lucatak]

You are probably the best Nintendo YouTuber i ever watch.

[arturbb]

Amazing video. I'm really enjoying your channel, you deserve WAY more views and subs, please keep up the great work!

[Enan]

One of my favorite things of Nintendo video games or any video games by AAA or Indie. Is when the music and graphics work well together to make an perfect Example of this!
Super Mario Bros Wonder
Pizza

[splatspen]

Its definitly my nostalgia for splatoon 2 being my first game in the series, but the vibes in inkopolis square during splatfests vastly out perform the other lobbies in my opinion. I find myself just taking it all in, listen to off the hook perform We're So Back. It gives me the same feeling as to when I first heard color pulse during 2's splatfest world premiere.