With the UK release of Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon last week, I thought I’d take a quick look back over the OST of Pokémon Sun/Moon and see if I could nail down a favourite ten. Which I admit now, I found somewhat difficult to do, as I didn’t think much of the Sun/Moon OST was that standout, compared to earlier games.
10. Ultra Beast Battle Theme
Sounds otherworldly, and sets the scene for the Ultra Beast fights.
9. Dexio and Sina Battle Theme
I really like this remix of the Kalos battle theme.
8. Officer Nanu’s Theme
For some reason, it makes me think of a cop film from the 1980s – which I guess is suitable, all things considered with Nanu. And it’s pretty chill, like him.
7. Tapu Battle
I quite like it, and I think it’s one of the better legendary themes in this game.
6. Abandoned Site
I think what I like most about this track is how the music occasionally cuts out for static in the game, or suddenly skips – almost as if one of the Ghost Pokémon in the abandoned megamart is interfering with the background music…
5. Aether Paradise
I think the music for the Aether Paradise goes some way towards helping with the foreshadowing of what happens eventually with the Aether Foundation… it’s clinical for sure – fitting for a location which cares for maltreated Pokémon, but at the same time, something sounds a bit off with the music…
4. Team Skull Encounter Theme
Oh I like how they’ve put vocals into nearly all of this. If you’re going to have a team of thugs, well, better make sure they have a rap for an opening theme!
3. Team Skull Grunt Battle Music
I have to admit, I really like the way they added the vocals into all of the Team Skull themes, and how they link into the kind-of gang feel that Team Skull has.
2. Team Skull Admin Battle
I think I like the Team Skull tracks a bit too much. But I think this is a brilliant enemy team admin theme, especially with the way the moody violin plays off against the vocals in this track.
1. Po Town Theme
I admit now – considering that Po Town is taken over by Team Skull, I was honestly expecting the music for this area to be some kind of upbeat hip-hop theme. And instead, we got this? But then thinking about – the music is fairly depressing, but then scratch under the surface in Po Town – yes, it’s taken over by Team Skull – but most of the teenagers in Team Skull are implied to be homeless, and then you see the poverty in Po Town, and the music fits the atmosphere so well.
Maybe it’s a case of the games reaching their peak a couple of generations ago, as far as the OSTs go, but I didn’t feel this set of games had the magical, memorable OST that previous games did.
Written by Karen