System Screen: Select (Sonic Heroes [2003])
To no one’s surprise, 1 of my fondest memories of this game is going idle on the menus to appreciate this cheerful masterpiece of a composition! The upbeat nature of this track is self-evident, precisely setting the proper tone for a simpler, more lighthearted 3D adventure than its predecessors.
Sounds deserving of mention include the fun Whistle, the uplifting Strings, and the cheesy Horns. At the very end of the track, we even get a light beach vibe as it relaxes itself for a bit, before the Whistle brings it back to the borderline marching parade atmosphere the rest of the track has to it. In most cases this full version can’t be heard in-game, but Sega Superstars Tennis is a wonderful exception!
I sadly can’t recommend Sonic Heroes, for the simple reason of forcing the player to play the same game with slight stage length differences 3 times over, more special stage tunnel nonsense, and only 1 of the 4 playthroughs having different objectives, all for an underwhelming finale. I’d rate the game above 2 stars if it wasn’t for that major turnoff.
Of course I don’t want to end the description on an awful note, so let me tell you that Wavemaster Inc’s music is top-notch just about everywhere, Sonic-related or not; this track isn’t anywhere near the end of their talent. I’ve brought Wavemaster Inc up multiple times over the course of this list, so you might already get a good idea of which soundtracks to look over for their best works. I encourage you to try it for yourself like I did, you might be surprised at what you get!
(Length before loop: 2+ minutes)