| This article is written from the Real Life point of view |  |
- "Area 2 (theme)" redirects here. For the themes titled Area 2 in the internal files, see Area2 Basic or Area2 Add1.
| “ | I'm always trying to include at least one musical piece from the previous title to satisfy old Metroid fans. It's like a present for them. For example, the music we used by following this theory is the jingle when Samus appears on the screen, and the music we prepared as the present for Metroid fans are the pieces for the lava caves in Metroid Prime and underwater music for Metroid Prime 2. | „ |
Magmoor Caverns (known as Lava Caves (ラヴァケイブス) on the Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks) is the main theme of the area of the same name, which appears in Metroid Prime. It is a remix of the Norfair Ancient Ruins Area (ノルフェア 古代遺跡エリア) theme heard in Lower Norfair in Super Metroid, which was composed by Kenji Yamamoto. The theme was remixed again for the multiplayer menu in Metroid Prime Pinball, instead of the table based on the Magmoor Caverns itself. The original Magmoor Caverns theme is also one of the songs available for purchase in the Soundtrack Gallery of New Play Control! Metroid Prime and the Metroid Prime Trilogy.
An orchestrated version of the theme, composed and vocalized by Ryo Nagamatsu, appears in Nintendo Land in missions 8, 9 and 14 of Metroid Blast. An interview about it can be read here: [2].
In 2011, the theme was performed by live orchestra during the Metroid arrangement of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony. In 2013, the theme was arranged by the WDR Radio Orchestra as part of Into Red, Into Dark in Symphonic Selections.
Metroid: Samus Returns features another remix of this song in superheated areas of SR388. Because superheated rooms are present in Area 1 through Area 5, the theme plays in all of these areas. It constitutes as a boss theme, as some Metroids are fought in extreme heat while this music is playing. This version is included in the Samus Archives Sound Selection soundtrack packaged with the Special Edition of the game. The game's internal data refers to the song as ravacaves2, while the Sound Test titles it Area 2.
The original version from Super Metroid was also used as the song for the Chronicle entry for Super Metroid in the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc. The Magmoor Caverns theme has become one of the series' most popular themes, and has appeared in some form on all three official Metroid soundtracks to date - Super Metroid: Sound in Action, Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks and Samus Archives Sound Selection.
The original theme from Super Metroid can be heard here: [3], the theme from Prime here: [4], the theme from Corruption here: [5], the theme from Pinball here: [6], the theme from Nintendo Land here: [7] and the theme from Samus Returns here: [8].
Composition
The theme of Lower Norfair begins its motif in C Phrygian, continues to play the same motif in D# Phrygian, F# Phrygian, and A Phrygian, the key in which the rest of the piece is set. It also featured repetitive synthesized chants that progressively grow louder.
Appearances
- Super Metroid (first appearance)
- Super Metroid: Sound in Action
- Play it Loud! Original Soundtrack Volume 1 (Compilation SNES album offered by Nintendo Power in 1996)
- Metroid Prime (remix)
- Metroid Prime & Fusion Original Soundtracks
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc (original theme is used for Super Metroid video in Chronicle)
- Metroid Prime Pinball (Magmoor Caverns remix)
- Nintendo Land (remix)
- Metroid: Samus Returns (remix)
- Samus Archives Sound Selection