History Main / Level1MusicRepresents

* ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUBsXUt5RQE Underworld]] is basically the theme of [[TheHero Pit]] and synonymous with his [[TheBusCameBack return]] in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'' (with a riff of it becoming his and [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros4 later]] Palutena's victory theme), and is referenced a decent amount as a {{Leitmotif}} for the side of light in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising''. This may seem ironic for a theme called ''Underworld'' in a series starring a heroic angel where LightIsGood, and possibly like a simple decision of recognizability, but the context of its original early-game use in the Underworld area was for Pit's escape and comeback from the prison Medusa sent him to after seizing Skyworld - fittingly, the Overworld now under the villainous gorgon's control has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6jUb5RSofo a more treacherous and less upbeat theme]]. It's clear listening to the original title's soundtrack that Underworld being a significant heroic theme was the intention from the first game, as it shares an intro with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOg2NWQgltI the peaceful title screen music]] (though the two themes differ from there), and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjYvGiMiEbk Sky Palace]], the theme that plays [[ThemeMusicPowerUp as Pit soars to the final boss with the Three Sacred Treasures in hand]], heavily incorporates the same progression recognizable from both themes, with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8MBiOIZ1gY the credits theme]] harking back to both Underworld and the title theme. Though, it probably doesn't help that [[NintendoHard very few people]] [[EarlyGameHell actually got past the Underworld stages]].

* ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER|1}}'': "Pollyanna" is the overworld tune that plays at the start of the game when Ninten is the only party member. It is not considered the theme song for the game (that is usually either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5_R4WMBZjg "Mother Earth"]] (the title screen theme) or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85XM_Nl7_oo "Eight Melodies"]]), but it is considered the theme for the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series as a whole.

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] with ''[[VideoGame/TouhouKoumakyouTheEmbodimentOfScarletDevil Touhou 6: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil]]''. Its most popular song is "U.N. Owen Was Her?" which only plays during the BonusBoss fight.

* ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0Hr9CrFRc Underworld.]] It has the same intro as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p08wyrAYMrs the title screen music]], but the two themes differ from there. It doesn't help that [[NintendoHard very few people]] [[EarlyGameHell actually got past it]].

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqQPr3ZcbtE "Ruined Castle Corridor"]], the BGM for the first area of ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Aria of Sorrow]]'', is used to represent the game in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDespair'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.

** Also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78706bv98S8 "Beginning,"]] the Level 1 theme for [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse the third game]].
*** Note that these three tunes are featured more than any others across the series. For example, in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaJudgment'', they're used as the respective themes of Simon Belmont, Carmilla, and Trevor Belmont.

** "Freedom" from ''Dariusburst Chronicle Saviours'', notably the only in-game track in the series with lyrics and is either seen as SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic or {{Narm}} mixed with SoBadItsGood.

** "Captain Neo" from ''Darius''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O04bPRzqEEk "Battle in the Jungle,"]] which is remixed in ''Contra: Shattered Soldier'' and ''Contra 4''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tifv7qh_hmY "Battle in the Jungle,"]] which is remixed in ''Contra: Shattered Soldier'' and ''Contra 4''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi}}'' had a bit of a twist when represented in ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]''. Not only did the composers look to ''VideoGame/ShinobiIIIReturnOfTheNinjaMaster'' for inspiration as opposed to earlier entries (including the Creator/YuzoKoshiro-scored ''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi''), but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf9vutxnL9k the theme]] for its sole track, Seasonal Shrines, is a medley of two songs from ''III'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFZQWCg99l4 "Idaten"]] (the Stage 2-1 theme)... and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVmaou-eQfY "Japonesque"]] (the Stage 1-1 theme).

** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqtKBlK3YII title theme]] of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' was an arrangement of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBx-8jqiGfA underwater theme]] from [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 the original.]]

* ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule'', an IntercontinuityCrossover between ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecrodancer'', does this for both continuities. ''The Legend of Zelda'' is represented, as ever, by its Overworld Theme, discussed below. ''Crypt of the Necrodancer''[='=]s 1-1 music, [[https://dbsoundworks.bandcamp.com/track/disco-descent-1-1 "Disco Descent,"]] serves the same purpose for the ''Necrodancer'' side. Music from both continuities show up in the game's music, but these two themes serve as the primary theme for each, most prominently combined in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf1bckXK99Y Tutorial and Kakariko Crypt.]]

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep9N-jFCht4 "DK Island Swing,"]] also known as "Jungle Level," or by the name of its rearrangement for ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'', "Jungle Japes." Slightly unusual in that the music changes tone halfway through in the original game, due to it actually being a mashup of two different pieces, but only the first half is usually remembered.

* The ''VideoGame/BionicCommando'' theme appears to be a straight example, being the Zone 1 music from the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEnterntainmentSystem NES]] game, but in the original arcade game, the music is used on the second level.

** The {{retraux}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwbQi_G9cB0 advertisement]] for ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' featured a cheesy jingle set to the tune of the opening stage of ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man X|1}}'', of all things.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' keeps having opening stage music as his themes in crossover games, but ''which game''[='=]s opening stage music they can't quite settle on yet. In ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'', X's theme is that of ''VideoGame/MegaManX4''[='=]s opening stage. In ''Project X Zone 2'', it's instead ''VideoGame/MegaManX3''[='=]s opening stage. In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', it's ''VideoGame/MegaManX1''[='=]s opening stage.

** The ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' subseries averts this by having "The Flutter Vs. Gesellschaft" theme from later in the game as the iconic theme for the subseries as a whole. The song would go on to represent Volnutt/Trigger in ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'' and Tron Bonne in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has "Burning Town", which gets a new variation in every entry afterward (except ''Seven Sirens'').

* ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA_e0QpVdLc Haunted Graveyard,]] which was used as Arthur's theme for ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone''. Also used as an alternate EasterEgg theme for [[BigBoosHaunt Shade Man's stage]] in ''VideoGame/MegaMan7''.

* ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule'', an IntercontinuityCrossover between ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecrodancer'', does this for both continuities. ''The Legend of Zelda'' is represented, as ever, by its Overworld Theme, discussed below. ''Crypt of the Necrodancer''[='=]s 1-1 music, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPe3LT37h-Y "Disco Descent,"]] serves the same purpose for the ''Necrodancer'' side. Music from both continuities show up in the game's music, but these two themes serve as the primary theme for each, most prominently combined in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf1bckXK99Y Tutorial and Kakariko Crypt.]]

** "Olga Breeze" in ''Darius II''. The conversation between the pilots, including the infamous [[SignatureLine "I always wanted a thing called tuna sasimi"]] line, is actually hard-coded into the music.

* The two themes most associated with the original ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'' are Gaur Plain, the overworld music from the titular second major area of the game, and "You Will Know Our Names", the boss battle music.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF9ZLNxHaBY Green Hill Zone]] from [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog the first game]]. Because composer Masato Nakamura owns the copyrights to his ''Sonic'' soundtracks and Creator/{{Sega}} has to pay him royalties whenever they want to use 'em in later games, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ9l1BsqvAo the original title theme]] rarely appears these days unless as a throwback (such as the title screen in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', itself [[MuseumGame a throwback to the whole series]]), as it's primarily Green Hill that Sega is willing to pay Nakamura royalties for.

* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' has the appropriately named "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVe1Y6TcARc Theme of Puyo Puyo]]" from the first arcade game, which plays in the main course between Draco and Witch's matches. However it gained a lot more traction as the main theme for the series as a whole when Creator/{{SEGA}} took over, with the theme being used as a recurring leitmotif for Arle Nadja starting with ''Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary''. It's also used as the main battle theme in ''Puyo Puyo!! Quest'', the counterpart for "Korobeiniki" in ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'', and the main menu song for ''Puyo Puyo Champions''.

* ''VideoGame/FZero'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0WzWdSVFmE Mute City.]] It's telling that, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', though the series had Port Town: Aero Dive from ''F-Zero GX'' as its representative stage (so far the only time in ''Smash'' Mute City and/or Big Blue did not fill this role), a remix of Mute City's theme was used as the "main" BGM for the stage while the actual Port Town theme from ''GX'' wasn't even selectable as an alternative track!

* ''VideoGame/{{Furi}}'' has "Danger 6:24", [[WarmUpBoss The Jailer]]'s battle theme, which gets a DarkReprise during the final battle with The Star.

* ''VideoGame/FZero'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0WzWdSVFmE Mute City.]] It's telling that, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', though the series had Port Town: Aero Drive from ''F-Zero GX'' as its representative stage (so far the only time in ''Smash'' Mute City and/or Big Blue did not fill this role), a remix of Mute City's theme was used as the "main" BGM for the stage while the actual Port Town theme from ''GX'' wasn't even selectable as an alternative track!

* ''VideoGame/Haven2020'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0BegO-9h-g Home,"]] which plays on the Islet where Yu and Kay land the Nest at the start of the game.

* ''VideoGame/FZero'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0WzWdSVFmE Mute City.]] It's telling that, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', though the series had Port Town: Aero Drive from ''F-Zero GX'' as its representative stage (so far the only time in ''Smash'' Mute City and/or Big Blue did not fill this role), a remix of Mute City's theme was used as the "main" BGM for the stage while the actual Port Town theme from ''GX'' wasn't even selectable as an alternative track!

* ''VideoGame/{{Raiden}}'': "Gallantry."

%% Cutoff point for alphabetization. Will be removed in the next edit.
* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' has several main battle themes for each game. However, most crossover games tend to feature the first battle themes of each game.
* ''VideoGame/RadRacer'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBu92QFScvA BGM 1m,]] AKA Sunset Coastline.
* The first stage music of ''VideoGame/SupraMayroBross'' returned for ''VideoGame/SupraMayroKratt'' as the stage select theme. Since then, it is considered the main theme of the series.
* The first stage's theme from the first ''VideoGame/RushingBeat'' game has appeared in all of the games. However, the theme plays in the last levels of the sequels instead of the first.
* ''VideoGame/PanelDePon'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_MKZTib23k Lip's stage theme.]] Notable in that the series has its own theme song, heard in the title, ending, and map themes from the original game.
* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' has the appropriately named "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVe1Y6TcARc Theme of Puyo Puyo]]" from the first arcade game, which plays in the main course between Draco and Witch's matches. However it gained a lot more traction as the main theme for the series as a whole when SEGA took over, with the theme being used as a recurring leitmotif for Arle Nadja starting with ''Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary''. It's also used as the main battle theme in ''Puyo Puyo!! Quest'', the counterpart for "Korobeiniki" in ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'', and the main menu song for ''Puyo Puyo Champions''.
* Most Zone A and Alpha themes in the main ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'' games, several of which also appear in ''VideoGame/GrooveCoaster'', another Creator/{{Taito}} series. Examples include:
** "Captain Neo" from ''Darius''.
** "Olga Breeze" in ''Darius II''. The conversation between the pilots, including the infamous [[SignatureLine "I always wanted a thing called tuna sasimi"]] line, is actually hard-coded into the music.
** "VISIONNERZ" from ''Darius Gaiden''.
** "Good-bye my earth" from ''Dariusburst''.
** "Photoconductivity Suite No. 1 'Iron Fossil'" from ''Dariusburst Another Chronicle'', which is actually only one part of a three-segment track that plays if you pick the game's uppermost path.
** "Freedom" from ''Dariusburst Chronicle Saviours'', notably the only in-game track in the series with lyrics and is either seen as SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic or {{Narm}} mixed with SoBadItsGood.
* ''VideoGame/{{Lumines}}'' has Mondo Grosso's "Shinin'", the first stage of the original game. Or as many fans put it: SHININ', SHININ', SHININ', SHININ', [[BrokenRecord SHININ', SHININ', SHININ', SHININ'...]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has "Burning Town", which gets a new variation in every entry afterward (except ''Seven Sirens'').
* ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule'', an IntercontinuityCrossover between ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecrodancer'', does this for both continuities. ''The Legend of Zelda'' is represented, as ever, by its Overworld Theme, discussed above. ''Crypt of the Necrodancer''[='=]s 1-1 music, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPe3LT37h-Y "Disco Descent,"]] serves the same purpose for the ''Necrodancer'' side. Music from both continuities show up in the game's music, but these two themes serve as the primary theme for each, most prominently combined in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf1bckXK99Y Tutorial and Kakariko Crypt.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Celeste}}'' has "First Steps" in Chapter 1, which provides [[ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack the main theme for the game as a whole]].
* ''VideoGame/MystikBelle'': "[[https://youtu.be/Yi8mskCjnI4 Dubious Castle Safety Gigue]]", the HubLevel theme.
* ''VideoGame/Haven2020'': "[[https://youtu.be/x0BegO-9h-g Home]]", which plays on the Islet where Yu and Kay land the Nest at the start of the game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Furi}}'', also by The Game Bakers, has "Danger 6:24", [[WarmUpBoss The Jailer]]'s battle theme, which gets a DarkReprise during the final battle with The Star.

* The ''VideoGame/BionicCommando'' theme appears to be a straight example, being the Zone 1 music from the UsefulNotes/{{NES}} game, but in the original arcade game, the music is used on the second level.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** In [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64 the original game for the Nintendo 64]], this trope was in effect for most of the stages (including the aforementioned Mario, DK, Zelda, etc.). However, Kirby's stage uses "Gourmet Race" from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' instead.
** ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee Melee]]'' stepped it up with the Rainbow Cruise level, which uses "Slider" from ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''; said theme was used for the GrandFinale of the live orchestral rendition of the soundtrack (a recording of which was used as a subscriber bonus by ''Magazine/NintendoPower''). Though the theme plays in multiple levels, and actually gains its name because it's used in all of the slide sub-levels (one of which is accessible ''very'' early in the game, though not right at the start), the level also cemented the tune as being associated with the absolute ''last'' non-Bowser level, Rainbow Ride.
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqtKBlK3YII title theme]] of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' was an arrangement of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBx-8jqiGfA underwater theme]] from [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 the original.]]
** Likewise, when ''VideoGame/SuperMarioAllStars'' gave each game their own title themes, they were all based on the underwater theme as well. In order, here are the ''All-Stars'' themes for the original ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBny76cJGgc Super Mario,]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE1U6iM1glA Lost Levels]]'' and ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9UmwpiCZZE 3.]]''
** The most iconic music of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'' is that of the HubLevel, Delfino Plaza, which is commonly used to represent the game in ''Super Smash Bros.'' and others.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' is most associated with the vocal track "Jump Up, Super Star," which features prominently in the New Donk City stage. You'd think, from the previews so heavily advertising it (and the stage inviting frequent comparisons to ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'''s main hub world Station Square), that New Donk City would be the first level in the game. However, it's actually one of the middle stages. Going further, the main instrumental theme associated with the game is "Fossil Falls," which is the theme for the second level, not the first.
* The ''Franchise/MegaMan'' series is all over the place with this trope:
** ''VideoGame/MegaMan1'': Cut Man's theme is a straight example, as it is usually the first level selected.
** Averted and subverted in ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'', where the title theme is used to represent Mega Man in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' and the other iconic theme is the first level... of the final fortress, which also represents Mega Man in ''Smash Bros.'' as a medley with the title theme.
** The {{retraux}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwbQi_G9cB0 advertisement]] for ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' featured a cheesy jingle set to the tune of the opening stage of ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man X|1}}'', of all things.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' keeps having opening stage music as his themes in crossover games, but ''which game''[='=]s opening stage music they can't quite settle on yet. In ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'', X's theme is that of ''VideoGame/MegaManX4''[='=]s opening stage. In ''Project X Zone 2'', it's instead ''VideoGame/MegaManX3''[='=]s opening stage. In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', it's ''VideoGame/MegaManX1''[='=]s opening stage.
** Reversed in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero1'' where the first level's theme was Zero's theme from the original ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man X|1}}''. ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' averts this by using the Copy Zero battle theme from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX2 X2]]''.
** The ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' subseries averts this by having "The Flutter Vs. Gesellschaft" theme from later in the game as the iconic theme for the subseries as a whole. The song would go on to represent Volnutt/Trigger in ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'' and Tron Bonne in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.
* ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'':
** The title theme is played during [[ThemeMusicPowerUp the final boss battle]], but during the bonus sibling match that occurs when two players complete the game together, the music changes to the Mission 1 theme. This also holds true to the NES version, which has Machine Gun Willy as the [[DemotedToDragon penultimate boss]] and Jimmy Lee [[AdaptationalVillainy as the final boss]].
** The arcade version of ''Double Dragon II'' uses a BossRemix of the title theme in its penultimate battle (again with Willy), prior to the final battle with the [[MirrorBoss Lee clones]]. In the NES version, where Willy is absent, this remix plays during the tractor battle in Mission 6.
** ''Super Double Dragon'' has a different title theme and the classic Double Dragon Theme is instead used as background music for Mission 5. The Japanese version ([[MarketBasedTitle titled]] ''Return of Double Dragon'') restores the Double Dragon theme to its rightful place and uses an arranged version of the Mission 1 theme from the original arcade game for Mission 5.
* In ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 2'', the theme for the Battle of Hulao Gate, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k_kgBN3bA8 "Jump Into the Battlefield,"]] is extremely popular and well-known, even though the Battle of Hulao Gate is the second stage in the game after the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
* ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER|1}}'': "Pollyanna" is the overworld tune that plays at the start of the game when Ninten is the only party member. It is not considered the theme song for the game (that is usually either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5_R4WMBZjg "Mother Earth"]] (the title screen theme) or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85XM_Nl7_oo Eight Melodies]]), but it is considered the theme for the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series as a whole.
* ''VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams'' plays with this trope. While the main character's theme, "Dream Dreams," is considered the series' main theme, the first level's song, "Paternal Horn," is treated as a secondary theme and is used in every ''VideoGame/SegaSuperstars'' game that features a ''[=NiGHTS=]'' level.

* The Stage 1 music in ''Shockman'' is the title theme.
* Typically played straight in Namco Arcade games but there are exceptions.
** ''VideoGame/PacMan'' lacked any level music in the orginal game. However, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJd6TMOZuJQ Intermission music]] is often used instead. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d6mvLswDkU A remix]] is the theme for Pac-Man's room in ''[[CompilationRerelease Namco Museum]] Vol. 1'', and it's also remixed into the theme of the second set of levels from ''Pac-Mania'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sir7iTg_CU Pac-Man's Park,]] which in turn is used as a recurring theme in other games and as ThemeMusicPowerUp in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/PacManAndTheGhostlyAdventures''. However, the music from the first set of ''Pac-Mania'' levels, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlg9weUmP9w Block Town,]] is used [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaJIqf0b56c as part of a medley]] with the Pac-Man Park theme in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U''.
** VideoGame/WonderMomo's theme isn't the level music but rather [[ThemeMusicPowerUp the theme that plays when in Wonder Mode]].
* ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv0TSofXC1w "Unbreakable Determination"]] (aka "Ryu's Determination"), which despite being an iconic song from the series actually appears in Stage 4-2 of the NES original.
* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] with ''[[VideoGame/TouhouKoumakyouTheEmbodimentOfScarletDevil Touhou 6: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil]]''. Its most popular song is "U.N. Owen Was Her?" which only plays during the BonusBoss fight.
* Similarly, the most famous song from ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' is "Megalovania," the theme of [[LateArrivalSpoiler (ironically enough)]] [[spoiler:Sans, by far the most difficult FinalBoss in the game]]. It even represented the game in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'':
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMqTOz5lHoQ&index=2&list=PLF0FAD6732B277862 "Bombing Mission"]] continues from the opening cutscene to the first few screens, with a musical transition between the two. The whole thing is iconic to the game.
** By far the most well-known track from the game is "One-Winged Angel", the FinalBoss theme.

* ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}''. The most-remembered tune is "Lemming 1", which ''is'' the first level music in the DOS version. [[note]]A bug in this version makes the music rotation revert to "Lemming 1" every time you fail a level, so it's also ''by far'' the music you will hear most often.[[/note]] But in the original Amiga version, and most others, "Lemming 1" is the ''second'' level music, after the Can-can.
* The two themes most associated with the original ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'' are Gaur Plain, the overworld music from the titular second major area of the game, and "You Will Know Our Names", the boss battle music.

The background music of the first level in many video games frequently becomes the theme associated with the series. Sometimes, the "first level" theme becomes so representative of the series that it supplants the planned Main Theme in later games and advertising material. After all, chances are that people will spend more time on the first level learning the ropes rather than admiring the title screen. Since most developers are aware of this, they'll be likely to spend a little more time on the Level 1 music, and perhaps put it in a higher number of levels due to the extra work put into it, further feeding into this trope. This trope is more common in linear games (like platformers and shoot-em-ups) as opposed to sandboxes or [=RPGs=], where level 1 is often either [[QuicksandBox not clearly defined]] or played after spending an appreciable amount of time on the TraversibleWorldMap.

A SubTrope of BootstrappedTheme. If sequels continue to use the level 1 music from the first game, it's also a form of FirstInstallmentWins. If the Level 1 music gets remixed in a darker style, it's DarkReprise.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': The "Ground Theme." This also tends to be an [[InvertedTrope inversion]], however, as while the music plays on all the above-ground levels, it's mostly associated with World 1-1 specifically.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF9ZLNxHaBY Green Hill Zone]] from [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog the first game]]. Because composer Masato Nakamura owns the copyrights to his ''Sonic'' soundtracks and Creator/{{Sega}} has to pay him royalties whenever they want to use 'em in later games, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ9l1BsqvAo the original title theme]] rarely appears these days unless as a throwback (such as the title screen in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', itself [[MuseumGame a throwback to the whole series]]), as it's primarily Green Hill that Sega is willing to pay Nakamura royalties for.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6NaZrPQGfY "Escape from the City,"]] the song that plays in Sonic's first stage of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', is much more iconic than its actual main theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gPBmDptqlQ "Live and Learn."]] The song, as well as the stage itself, was remixed (twice) for ''Sonic Generations''.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpEzYEoV9qY The Overworld Theme]]. It also became remixed for the title theme after the original planned title theme (Music/MauriceRavel's "Bolero" for those curious) turned out to not be in the {{public domain|Soundtrack}} in Japan at the time.
* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCH6nQYflwY Green Greens.]]
* ''VideoGame/FZero'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0WzWdSVFmE Mute City.]]
* ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0Hr9CrFRc Underworld.]] It has the same intro as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p08wyrAYMrs the title screen music]], but the two themes differ from there. It doesn't help that [[NintendoHard very few people]] [[EarlyGameHell actually got past it]].

* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-2sE0Napg0 Brinstar]] from [[VideoGame/Metroid1 the original]]. They played with it in the VideoGameRemake, ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' -- there, the item/save tunes are versions that sound far closer to the original game's, which has a different melodic focus than the versions that came from ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' and one that gamers tend to be more familiar with. This is used to great effect when [[spoiler:Samus gets her Power Suit back after being shot down by the Space Pirates]], causing the modified later-game jingle to sound out, reorchestrated, in full force.
** Speaking of ''Super Metroid'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAQfpbsymU Theme of Super Metroid]] is also considered to be this by some as well.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFight'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgJq48fcySk BGM 1]] was remixed as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy8VW_VXgOA Guy's theme]] [[BootstrappedLeitmotif in almost all of his fighting game appearances]] (starting with the original ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha''), and also served as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqE-5y_q1dk Haggar's theme]] in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''. A hip-hop version of the title theme would be used as Cody's theme in ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV Super Street Fighter IV]]''.
* ''Franchise/StarFox'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eclAC0JQJYk Corneria]] from [[VideoGame/StarFox1 the SNES original]].
* ''VideoGame/RType'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXrxov_0oj0 "R9, To the Front!"]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Raiden}}'': "Gallantry."

* ''VideoGame/BlasterMaster'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7L9KXVMSQs "Area 1 (Forest)."]] Remixes of this appeared in the first levels of ''Blaster Master: Blasting Again'', ''Blaster Master: Overdrive'' and ''Blaster Master Zero''.
* ''VideoGame/JourneyToSilius'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjG2ZjPqzzE "Space Colony Ruins"]] which is better remembered than the [[http://youtu.be/jkWYvENgxwA title theme]] (although the former uses the same bassline as the latter in its refrain) and [[BookEnds is reused for the last stage]].
* The NES ''VideoGame/{{Batman|Sunsoft}}'' game's first stage theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIAk6SQjXQY "Streets of Desolation,"]] is closely associated with the title and there are plenty of covers and remixes of the song, both because of its sheer coolness and because the NintendoHard nature of the game made it the most frequently heard tune for players.
* ''VideoGame/{{Valis}}'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPl24eXTZTA "Flash of Sword"]] (Stage 1), although the series also has an official recurring title theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM-D5TV0ND4 "Fantasm Soldier."]]
* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh8Odw3wQbE The Theme of Tara]], the main infiltration theme [[VideoGame/MetalGear1 in the MSX2 version]], was later reused as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2swZCYSRFt8 Metal Gear's theme]] in ''VisualNovel/{{Snatcher}}'', as well as the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW0BurBNB58 VR Training]] theme in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLRIn6NwbTI plays]] during Solid Snake's debut in the story mode of ''Super Smash Bros Brawl''. Despite the first NES game using a different base theme, ''VideoGame/SnakesRevenge'' features [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XJCSg4UgrQ a more upbeat rendition]] that plays during the first enemy base.
* ''VideoGame/GanbareGoemon'': The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5LxQvPVDmw Stage 1]] theme was remixed as the background music for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R45Wch50aYI Sundowner's Garden]] in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''.
* The opening section of ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege'' features music that seems to have been written with this idea in mind, as the name of that track is "Main Theme 1," and variations on the theme are used in places throughout the game, including during the FinalBattle and the credits. The FinalBattle theme was also carried over into the tutorial level for ''Dungeon Siege II''.
* ''VideoGame/DynamiteHeaddy'' uses a variation of the Level 1 music as its title theme.

* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' has several main battle themes for each game. However, most crossover games tend to feature the first battle themes of each game.
* ''VideoGame/RadRacer'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBu92QFScvA BGM 1m,]] AKA Sunset Coastline.
* The first stage music of ''VideoGame/SupraMayroBross'' returned for ''VideoGame/SupraMayroKratt'' as the stage select theme. Since then, it is considered the main theme of the series.

** In [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64 the original game for the Nintendo 64]], this trope was in effect for most of the stages (including the aforementioned Mario, DK, Zelda, etc.). However, Kirby's stage uses "Crash! Gourmet Race" from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' instead.

* ''VideoGame/{{Furi}}'', also by The Game Bakers, has "Danger 6:24", The Jailer's battle theme, which gets a DarkReprise during the final battle with The Star.