(Soundtrack Spotlight is a weekly CFD! feature devoted to all things VGM. Every week we celebrate the best in-game music, highlight new releases and forgotten tracks, and bring you the best in auditory awesomeness.)

In addition to claiming the title of absolute best game on the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy had the honor of being the first entry in the Mario franchise to feature a fully-orchestrated soundtrack. Composed by Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo, this audio reinvention was a perfect fit for Mario’s new astral surroundings, and added a newfound sense of grandiosity and cheerfulness.

There was a brief worry that Nintendo would be replacing the much-beloved orchestral style in SMG2 after a preview demonstration featured only MIDI-like tunes, but Nintendo quickly addressed the concern and announced that the orchestrated music would indeed be implemented into the final game. Read more