PokéTunes V: Route Themes
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Introduction
Astra
One key yet overlooked part of every mainline Pokémon game is the variety of routes in each of them. Nearly all of them have their differences, from how linear they are, to their weather and terrain, to, of course, the Pokémon you can find on them. One important part that differentiates all of them, however, is their song tied to them. Not only does it make every route unique, but it also really sets the tone for them. For example, many early-game routes have very simple but welcoming melodies, while late-game routes house very strong, triumphant tracks, often symbolizing the final battle with the Champion. In this edition of Pokétunes, we'll be looking at some of the tracks you can find on some routes spanning many regions and see how our panelists feel about them.
Art by Breadboy.
RSE Route 113
GatoDelFuego
While I usually think remastering a song is always an improvement, something about this track never sits right with me. The original one seems to capture the emotion a lot better.
First off, the original song is... downright eerie. Hidden ninja children appear from the ground. Mysterious new Pokémon are everywhere. Ash...falls from the sky? The haunting synth melody plays as you beat a path through the bush. This kind of feeling really is lost on the remade version; it just sounds too pleasant to me.
At this point in the game, you're farther away from a town than ever before in any Pokémon series. This is not one, not two, but four routes away from Mauville on the journey to your next destination. There's a sandstorm and cave behind you and you're in the middle of a ghost forest. Could you make it back to the healing house if something went wrong? You'll push onward to the new frontier, find professor Cosmo, and move the plot forward. All of this is accompanied by this incredibly unique track that could not fit anywhere else, not just in Hoenn but all of Pokémon. I'm fairly certain this is the only time that synth MIDI is EVER heard in the games. And it makes the pleasant, homey theme of Fallarbor all the more sweet!
DPP Route 225
GatoDelFuego
Wow! What a track. In a soundtrack best known for piano, choir, and synth, we have an amazing standout with two guitar instruments. That high-pitched guitar hit, echoing out...it makes you feel something!
A word to describe this song is "adventure". You've just conquered the biggest challenge in the game, beating the champion. Oh, did you think the story was over? It's just getting started. There's a whole new island to explore. It won't be easy—but you're up to the challenge. You are the champion after all! What are a few wild Fearow going to do?
All these emotions are captured in this song's different sections, weaving a story as you pass through the route. There's a few minor sections, but the overall tone is overwhelmingly positive. In fact, out of all songs in the game that change at night, almost all of them pitch down and get slower. This track defies that and pitches UP instead. Even the solemn night can't stop this adventure!
Jayi
After finishing Platinum for the first time, hearing this route theme was super uplifting, especially when finding new Pokémon in this route. It's something about this unique theme that just boosts your mood, whether it is the clapping or the beautiful intro. Even when it's night, this theme does not disappoint, with a higher pitch involved compared to the daytime theme. This is definitely one of my favorite routes no matter what, so to have that backed up with a great theme is awesome.
Blitz
As one of my favorite themes DPP has to offer, this one really encompasses a "beginning" at the end of a journey. This track plays in the post-game areas around the Fight Area and Survival Area, signifying the trek all the way to Stark Mountain. The guitar and synthesizer give you that starting route vibe while also making you feel like you're in a place like Jubilife... it's a feeling that says "nothing can stop me when I've made it this far!" Whether you're traversing the maze of a route that is 225, or Rock Climbing across Route 227's cliffs, the ambience set by theme makes the exploration feel earned.
HGSS Route 47
GatoDelFuego
For those that didn't know about it from press releases, finding Route 47 was an incredible moment. Even out here, on the edge of the map, HGSS offers... "something new". A light and airy track, it instills a feeling of genuine exploration. What's out there? We don't know! Being untethered to a previous melody gives you a lot of room for exploration, and the result is something unlike anything else in the soundtrack. I really love the constant chimes in the background! The song doesn't get too complex in the middle, but this suits it. It's sort of a bonus route thrown in, so it doesn't need to be a grand conclusion of a game and stand all on its own. There's just not much more to say! A perfect example of 4/5.
Ryota Mitarai
Having received Pokémon HeartGold as my first game 11 years ago (as of writing this), it would not be a surprise to anyone that I would display a preference to its music. Nonetheless, Route 47 has a really unique theme that fits well with the route's environment. The waterfalls, in particular, add up even more to the harmonic and calm feeling the theme introduces upon listening to it, making it the perfect theme for exploring new areas (even for GSC veterans, as Route 47 was not in GSC). In all honesty, they should have not put any trainers in there so I could just explore the area without their encounter themes disturbing me.
Aaronboyer
What makes Johto Route 47's theme so great is all the little minute details coming together as one melodic line. The eighth and sixteenth notes keep the propulsion of the music going as it takes us on a minute-long journey over cliffs, bridges, and crystal-clear waterfalls. Perhaps my favorite part of this route's theme is right before it loops again; I can imagine myself sitting on the bed of sand outside the entrance of the lowest cave exit or on the overhanging bridge with my feet dangling beneath, pointing out shooting stars and enjoying the night sky.
BW Route 10
Ryota Mitarai
A favorite of mine (and many other Pokémon players), Unova Route 10 manages to be a top Pokémon theme due to the very appropriate feelings it fills me (and probably other players) up with. Typically, when the player goes to the route after beating the eighth Gym Leader, they hear a victorious theme, encouraging them to go and prove the world they are the best. However, Route 10 in Unova is a huge exception to this. Instead of sounding victorious and filling you up with confidence, it sounds more melancholic and sadder and instead fills you up with doubts about the future. Team Plasma still hasn't been defeated and they already have a powerful tool to complete their goal of liberating all the Pokémon, and you are the only one that can stop them, and thus everything depends on you. Because the theme fits perfectly with the fact that not everything is over yet, despite defeating all the Gym Leaders, Unova Route 10's theme has made a name for itself as one of the most liked Pokémon themes in the whole franchise.
Jayi
Whilst listening to this theme, you automatically think of Unova. It really gives off a chill vibe about it and it's all so nice. The intro is quite mellow and chill whilst leading to a sweet melody—although what I'd have to say is that it doesn't really match the route, as this is the route that leads up to the Badge Checks Gate, so I feel as if this theme should be a bit more aggressive leading up to the player going to Victory Road. Nonetheless, it is a great theme to chill to.
Aaronboyer
This route's theme has always brought up imagery of France and walking down the Champs-élysées, which for me didn't mesh very well with the rest of Unova's music and wasn't fitting for the final route before reaching Victory Road. That being said, I do think the music was fitting for you, the protagonist, to watch Cheren and Bianca realize how far they've progressed; I also think Route 10's melodramatic accompaniment points back to Nuvema Town and makes you realize how far you've come. Perhaps in that sense, it does fit well for the route before Victory Road: it's just not what one might initially expect from the Pokémon series. To have emotional depth at this stage of your Pokémon journey is something only a Unovan adventure could effectively pull off. The last thing I want to note: the octave jump at the tail end of the track always made me feel reassured and believe in myself that we could defeat N.
XY Route 15
Jayi
This is also another great theme, quite different to be honest. The intro was quite odd when it came to my first time listening to it but then it really grew on me. Following on from the intro, you could hear a really nice heroic theme play. I'm personally not a huge fan of the route itself because the game itself was quite forgettable, but it's fair to say some of the route themes in this generation are awesome and Route 15 is one of them.
Blitz
While XY itself isn't the most memorable game to many fans, this powerful theme really stands out. I honestly remember this vividly from when I hunted for a Klefki in 2013 to add to my party, and listening to it again fills me with joy. You're almost at the end of your adventure, and the tone set by this song makes you aware of that, yet it is also so uplifting that it makes you want to keep going forward. The route's beautiful scenery only adds to the senses, giving it a type of serenity that fits Kalos like a glove given its French inspirations!
ORAS Route 111
Ryota Mitarai
Fitting the environment in which this theme plays (in this case, a route with a desert), the track has a very Egyptian feeling to it. Despite being related to a desert that would easily tire you out, the theme is rather energetic. I could imagine some snakes with cowboy hats in there dancing to the music as some "welcome to the desert" ceremony. I really like how it progressively changes; it kind of makes me imagine the maps of the desert worlds in the Super Mario Bros. games, as the Mario themes tend to have this progressive change in them.
Blitz
The desert theme in ORAS cranks it up to eleven compared to its predecessor, and this is a great thing! Running into the wild Pokémon, trying to figure out if the Mirage Tower is in the game, finding the hidden fossils, or discovering Regirock's home while this plays really adds to the environment. It keeps you pumped to explore a seemingly endless world of sand, but you keep finding some nooks and crannies along the way... until you get out! The energy that the theme gives you feels rewarding and you just want to go back and listen to it more.
Conclusion
Astra
We may have only talked about a few, but there are so many other songs you can find on routes from every single region that really add a lot to their respective route. From how they can bolster the route's atmosphere to their unique sounds inspired by the region's own inspiration, there are definitely underrated gems from the soundtrack catalogs from every mainline game. I'm excited to see how Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will revitalize the already great tracks you can find on many of Sinnoh's routes. Until next time!
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