Game Over (theme)

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"Game Over"

"Game Over" in Super Mario Bros.
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Key C major
First appearance Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Latest appearance Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) (2024)

"Game Over"[1] is a recurring musical theme composed by Koji Kondo, first appearing in Super Mario Bros. In its original appearance, as well as in most of its reappearances, the theme can be heard whenever the player loses all of their lives or otherwise gets a Game Over. It is a brief arrangement of the Super Mario Bros. "Ground Theme."

Composition[edit]

"Game Over" is an arranged excerpt of the "Ground Theme" taken from the first few notes that follow its opening bar. Koji Kondo's idea behind this theme was to motivate players to try again, rather than using sounds that would otherwise discourage them.[2][3]

Reuses[edit]

Super Mario-related media[edit]

The following list does not include ports or remakes of Super Mario Bros.

Work Description
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels reuses the soundtrack from Super Mario Bros., including "Game Over"
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2 "Game Over" plays in the Super Mario Bros. style when the player loses all of their lives.
Super Mario Bros. 35 "Game Over" plays whenever the player loses a round.

Other media[edit]

Work Description
Wii Sports Resort In the Island Flyover event, if the player flies near the Hillside Cabins, "Game Over," as well as the "Ground Theme" and "Lost a Life," can sometimes be heard.

Arrangements[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Special[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Special features a slightly slower and much choppier version of "Game Over." It is used for the same purpose as in Super Mario Bros.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Bros. Special
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Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)[edit]

In 1986, a very short arrangement of the theme was made for Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch, Crystal Screen series). This arrangement would reappear unchanged for the Special Edition (1987) and New Wide Screen (1988) versions.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)
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Super Mario All-Stars[edit]

Super Mario All-Stars features a 16-bit arrangement of "Game Over." This arrangement is used in both Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels when the player loses all of their lives.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World and Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition.

Audio.svg Game Over (Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels) - The arrangement heard in Super Mario All-Stars
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Super Mario Sunshine[edit]

Super Mario Sunshine features an arrangement of "Game Over", likewise titled "Game Over" in the game's official soundtrack, that plays when Mario loses his last life.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Sunshine
File infoMedia:SMS Game Over Theme.oga
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Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

In Super Mario 64 DS, a music box arrangement of "Game Over" plays after losing in VS Mode.

Audio.svg VS Mode Lose - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64 DS
File infoMedia:SM64DS VS Mode Lose Theme.oga
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Super Mario Galaxy[edit]

In Super Mario Galaxy, an arrangement of "Game Over" plays whenever the player loses their final life.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Audio.svg Lost a Life / Game Over - The arrangements heard in Super Mario Galaxy
File infoMedia:Super Mario Galaxy Game Over.oga
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Super Mario 3D Land[edit]

In Super Mario 3D Land, an arrangement of "Game Over" plays when the player loses their last life.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, as well as in Super Mario Maker 2 in Super Mario 3D World-style levels.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 3D Land
File infoMedia:Super Mario 3D Land Game Over.oga
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The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]

Some episodes of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! feature various arrangements of "Game Over."

Mario the Juggler[edit]

In Mario the Juggler, an arrangement of "Game Over" play whenever the player loses all three lives.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Mario the Juggler
File infoMedia:Mtjover.wav
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Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario[edit]

In Paper Mario, an arrangement of "Game Over" plays whenever the player gets a game over.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Paper Mario
File infoMedia:PM Game Over Theme.oga
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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, an arrangement of "Game Over" similar to the one heard in Paper Mario plays whenever the player gets a game over.

In the game's Nintendo Switch remake, this arrangement plays when the player gets a game over while the Nostalgic Tunes badge is equipped. It is titled "Game Over" in the Sound Gallery.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
File infoMedia:PMTTYD Game Over Theme.oga
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Super Paper Mario[edit]

Like prior Paper Mario games, Super Paper Mario features an arrangement of "Game Over" plays whenever the player gets a game over.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Paper Mario
File infoMedia:SPM Game Over.oga
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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)[edit]

The Nintendo Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door features a new arrangement of the "Game Over" arrangement from the Nintendo GameCube original. This arrangement plays whenever the player gets a game over if the Nostalgic Tunes badge is not equipped. It is titled "Game Over" in the Sound Gallery.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in the Nintendo Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
File infoMedia:PMTTYDNS Game Over.oga
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Donkey Konga[edit]

Donkey Konga features a saxophone-heavy medley arrangement of several themes from Super Mario Bros., including "Game Over," titled "Super Mario Theme."

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl features an arrangement of the Super Mario Bros. "Ground Theme" titled "Ground Theme 2 (Super Mario Bros.)" that also incorporates arrangements of "Game Over," as well as the "Underground Theme" and "Course Clear." This track was arranged by Masaaki Iwasaki and can be played on the World 1-1 version of Mushroomy Kingdom.

This arrangement does not return in later Super Smash Bros. installments, making it the only Super Mario-related arrangement from Super Smash Bros. Brawl to not reappear in a later game.

Art Style: PiCTOBiTS[edit]

In Art Style: PiCTOBiTS, an arrangement of "Game Over" can be heard at the end of the game's credits theme.

Audio.svg Credits - The arrangement heard in Art Style: PiCTOBiTS
File infoMedia:PiCTOBiTS End Credits SMB Lose a Life & Game Over.oga
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WarioWare: D.I.Y.[edit]

WarioWare: D.I.Y. features an arrangement of the Super Mario Bros. "Ground Theme" that ends with an arrangement of "Game Over" as one of 9-Volt's Records, simply titled "Super Mario."

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]

In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, an arrangement of "Game Over" plays after losing a battle. It was arranged by Grant Kirkhope.

Audio.svg Game Over - The arrangement heard in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
File infoMedia:M+RKB Game Over Theme.oga
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Other arrangements[edit]

Wii series[edit]

Wii Music[edit]

Wii Music features an arrangement of the "Ground Theme" as a playable song titled "Super Mario Bros." that ends with an arrangement of "Game Over."

This arrangement was performed during the showcase of Wii Music at Nintendo's E3 2008 press conference.[4]

Wii Party U[edit]

In Wii Party U, one of the songs in the mode "Dance with Mii" is an arrangement of the "Ground Theme" that end with an arrangement of "Game Over." It is titled "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros.)," and the in-game description reads, "The theme song from the original Super Mario Bros.!"

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Entertainment System 1985 Original "Game Over"[1] Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros. Special NEC PC-88, Sharp X1, Samsung SPC-1500 1986 Arrangement
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Family Computer Disk System 1986 Original Koji Kondo
VS. Super Mario Bros. VS. System 1986 Original Koji Kondo[5]
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Crystal Screen) 1986 Arrangement
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Special Edition) 1987 Past arrangement (Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch, Crystal Screen))
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (New Wide Screen) 1988 Past arrangement (Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch, Crystal Screen))
Mario the Juggler Game & Watch 1991 Arrangement
Super Mario All-Stars Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1993 Arrangement Soyo Oka
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1994 Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) Soyo Oka
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Mini Classics) 1998
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Game Boy Color 1999 Original Koji Kondo
Paper Mario Nintendo 64 2000 Arrangement
Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo GameCube 2002 Arrangement "Game Over"[6]
Donkey Konga Nintendo GameCube 2003 Arrangement
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo GameCube 2004 Arrangement "Game Over"[7]
Super Mario 64 DS Nintendo DS 2004 Arrangement
Super Paper Mario Wii 2007 Arrangement
Super Mario Galaxy Wii 2007 Arrangement Mahito Yokota
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii 2008 Arrangement "Ground Theme 2 (Super Mario Bros.)" Masaaki Iwasaki
Art Style: PiCTOBiTS Nintendo DSi 2009 Arrangement
WarioWare: D.I.Y. Nintendo DS 2009 Arrangement "Super Mario"
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) Mahito Yokota
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition Wii 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) Soyo Oka
Super Mario 3D Land Nintendo 3DS 2011 Arrangement Mahito Yokota
Super Mario 3D World Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Super Mario 3D Land) Mahito Yokota
Super Mario Maker Wii U 2015 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2016 Original Koji Kondo
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Nintendo Switch 2017 Arrangement Grant Kirkhope
Super Mario Maker 2 Nintendo Switch 2019 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 3D Land)
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Nintendo Switch 2020 Past arrangement (Super Mario Sunshine) "Game Over"
Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy)
Super Mario Bros. 35 Nintendo Switch 2020 Original Koji Kondo
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch 2020 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Nintendo Switch 2021 Past arrangement (Super Mario 3D Land) Mahito Yokota
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo Switch 2024 Arrangement "Game Over"[7]
Past arrangement (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door [Nintendo GameCube]) "Game Over"[7]

Film and television[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! 1989 Arrangement

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario World 1991 Original 「ゲームオーバー」 (Gēmu Ōbā) Koji Kondo
Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music 2004 Original 「ミス~ゲームオーバー」 (Misu ~ Gēmu Ōbā) Koji Kondo
Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection 2005 Original 「ミス~ゲームオーバー」 (Misu ~ Gēmu Ōbā) Koji Kondo
Super Mario History 1985-2010 2010 Original "Game Over" Koji Kondo
SUPER MARIO BROS. 25th Anniversary Special Sound Track PRESS START Edition 2010 Arrangement 「スーパーマリオブラザーズ 〜PRESS START 2009より〜」
(Sūpā Mario Burazāzu 〜 PRESS START 2009 Yori 〜)
Nobuo Kurita
Super Mario Sunshine Original Soundtrack 2020 Past arrangement (Super Mario Sunshine) "Game Over"

Live performances[edit]

Event Year Location Type Title Credits
E3 2008 2008 Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, USA Arrangement "Super Mario Bros."

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Italian Gioco finito[8] Game over

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Super Mario History 1985-2010 tracklist
  2. ^ Iwata Asks : Super Mario All-Stars : Music Follows Function. Nintendo of America (American English). Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Schartmann, Andrew (June 25, 2015). The Genius of the Super Mario Bros. “Game Over” Theme. Slate (English). Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  4. ^ ScottBoyyyyyyyyyd (July 16, 2008). Nintendo E3 2008: Wii Music Performance. YouTube. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Super Mario World. VGMdb (English). Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  6. ^ Super Mario Sunshine Original Soundtrack tracklist
  7. ^ a b c Sound Gallery track list in the Nintendo Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
  8. ^ Super Mario History 1985-2010 track list on Nintendo.it