Easily the biggest talking point – from a pure geek perspective – of the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony was the use of video game music as the athletes entered the stadium.
That’s right, as every single team competing at the games entered the mostly empty stadium in the Japanese capital they were soundtracked by music from Japan’s rich history of video games and the music from those games developed by the likes of SEGA, Capcom and Square Enix.
To the uninitiated, the tunes might have gone over many viewers’ heads but, for those in the know, it was a very fun hour or so trying to guess the scores that were being used.
The tunes were taken from well-known franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy and Pro Evolution Soccer as well as cult favourites like Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger.
For viewers, it was a chance to momentarily geek out and shout ‘I know that song.’
Sonic music (Star Light Zone) during the Olympics opening ceremony? Don't mind if I do pic.twitter.com/HAxYqrq7pw
— Chris Scullion (@scully1888) July 23, 2021
THE KINGDOM HEARTS OLYMPUS THEME
— Lulu🌈🎏 (@luulubuu) July 23, 2021
AT THE OLYMPICS
THIS IS SO MUCH pic.twitter.com/DfIezJGV47
Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Monster Hunter, Kingdom Hearts, Sonic the Hedgehog, NieR, and a ton of other video game music playing during the olympics opening ceremony where everyone in the world can finally hear them feels so nice 🥺❤️✨
— TAHK0 ☕️ (@TAHK0) July 23, 2021
Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Monster Hunter, Kingdom Hearts, Sonic the Hedgehog, NieR, and a ton of other video game music playing during the olympics opening ceremony where everyone in the world can finally hear them feels so nice 🥺❤️✨
— TAHK0 ☕️ (@TAHK0) July 23, 2021
Me spotting every video game soundtrack they’re using to play out the athletes #OpeningCeremony #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/iEobD6XSBK
— James Thompson (@jamesthompson8) July 23, 2021
Of course! DRAGON QUEST theme at the Olympics opening ceremony! #DragonQuest 😍#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/NeazACmRAl
— Mario Da Hedgehog (@MarioDaHedgehog) July 23, 2021
And, yes, followed up by the victory music from Final Fantasy. Did the #Olympics just level up? #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/zvGcIblhE7
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) July 23, 2021
They are really playing nier music at the Olympic pic.twitter.com/HWeufeFRFG
— Emre (@EmreKonkgllr) July 23, 2021
Assembling the teams then playing the Soul Calibur character select screen music: a masterstroke #Tokyo2020
— Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) July 23, 2021
If I was walking out in the Olympics to the music from Nier, I’d be winning a gold in everything.
— R L FLORENCE (@robertflorence) July 23, 2021
Japan freaking gets it.
— Alex Moukala (@alex_moukala) July 23, 2021
THANK YOU. #Olympics https://t.co/2L9d2VaEGu
Watching the Olympics opening ceremony and the Star Light zone theme from Sonic comes on. pic.twitter.com/F2wxH7CLem
— TapersCrazy (@TapersCrazyYT) July 23, 2021
they are playing final fantasy and dragon quest music at the olympics opening ceremony I CANT BELIEVE IT pic.twitter.com/XABsbHpWOA
— Lulu🌈🎏 (@luulubuu) July 23, 2021
Zambia just walked out to the theme from Monster Hunter I'm losing my god damn mind
— Chainsaw Kam (@kambolecampbell) July 23, 2021
According to Nikkan Sports, these were the songs used:
Dragon Quest - ‘Introduction: Lotto Theme’
Final Fantasy - ‘Victory Fanfare’
Tales of Series - ‘Sley’s Theme-Guru’
Monster Hunter - ‘Proof of Hero’
Kingdom Hearts - ‘Olympus Coliseum’
Chrono Trigger - ‘Frog Theme’
Ace Combat - ‘First Flight’
Tales of Series - ‘Royal Capital-Dignified’
Monster Hunter - ‘Wind of Departure’
Chrono Trigger - ‘Robo’s Theme’
Sonic the Hedgehog - ‘Star Light Zone’
Winning Eleven (Pro Evolution Soccer) - ‘eFootball walk-on theme’
Final Fantasy - ‘MAIN THEME’
Phantasy Star Universe - ‘Guardians’
Kingdom Hearts - ‘Hero’s Fanfare’
Gradius- ‘(Nemesis) 01 ACT 1-1’
NieR - ‘Initiator’
Saga Series - ‘Makai Ginyu Poetry-Saga Series Medley 2016’
Soul Caliber - ‘The Brave New Stage of History’
Sadly the likes of Pac-Man, Tetris and Asteroids didn’t make the cut nor would it seem Nintendo themes from Super Mario, Zelda or Pokemon which are amongst some of the popular games ever.
