Video Gains: A Man’s Guide for Game Music at the Gym

Ever since a Pure Gym opened rather close to my work, I’ve tried to attend at least thrice a week. It normally goes down to twice depending on bothered I can be and whether I brought my gym attire with me. Some people I know like to go to the gym together so they can spot each other and probably have a nice chat about the weather as they’re pumping iron. Personally I like to gym alone. Headphones in and let the melody dictate my pace. During some tracks I found myself going at a leisurely pace when the melody wasn’t that fast, but as the tempo kicked up my speed increased. Here shall be the archive of video game tracks that have found their way into my ears during a workout, updated whenever I find a new one, with some potential advice.

Many names for machines/equipment may not be their actual names, just what I call them in my head.

Oh, I also know bugger all about music.

1: Duck Tales Remastered: The Amazon

Coincidentally enough this started playing when I was on the rope pulling thing, mirroring the vine climbing action of Scrooge McDuck in this level. When the music hit the 1.40 mark and kicked up, I was pulling like a beast. Or a rich duck.

Another strong contender was The Moon level theme, which I will concede is also very pumping, but I would personally have that on the cross trainer or treadmill.

2: Mario Kart 8: Bowser’s Castle

I found this rather useful on the cross trainer. It has a soft-ish tone that means you can relax a little, but you can go hardcore and still work up a sweat to the sweet guitar rhythms.

3: Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones: Vangrel (Sentinel theme)

This is one of those tracks where you feel like a boss just walking to work because of the ultimate power it makes you feel. Like you’re the final boss walking towards the puny heroes about to beat the shit out of them.

4: Pokémon (anime): Burning Battlefield

Not directly from a game I know, but a heavily inspired remix of one. High speed guitar action with some slower (barely) orchestral bits so you can catch your breath.

Naturally there are more ch00ns out there from games for you to get your gains on to. I couldn’t stop at the ones provided, and let us be honest, why would I? You can’t always work out to four songs. People need variety at times. I go through periods of obsession where I get so caught up in a couple of songs that I listen to them constantly until I get tired of them. Currently it’s a lot of The Offspring songs. Anyways, on to the gains.

5: Portal 2 – Science is Fun

When I came across the soundtrack for this, even before I found a track I deemed appropriate, I knew I wanted something from it in this list because I love the Portal games, even more so that they have taken my surname and attached it to a character. It makes the Wheatley Laboratories t-shirt I own all the more special to me.

Another strong contender was Bombs For Throwing At You and An Accent Beyond, but settled for Science is Fun because it is the first I came across and it offers a short rest period at the 0.43 mark.

6: Super Hexagon – Courtesy

This was a bit of a toughie since either of the other two tracks could go on the list, this is a case of personal preference.

7: Crash Bandicoot – Hog Wild, Whole Hog

This track is from two levels which involve Crash jumping on a hog and charging his way through the level. It may be as “hard” as the other tracks you will find on this list, but it holds a special place in my heart as a game I played to death when it was released in 1996.

8: Mario Golf Toadstool Tour – Peach’s Castle Grounds

Again, another track which is more laid back than the rest, but you can’t have everything too face-paced. Plus when it mixes in the Peach’s Castle theme from Super Mario 64 in there as well with a steel drum – never fails to bring a smile to my face. Happy listener equals Happy Gains.