From the PlayStation to the SteamDeck, plenty of game systems have given us memorable startup sounds. But which one is the best?
Contents The first time you boot up a new gaming system can be a magical moment when done right. There’s always a built-in bit of tension anytime you get a new video game console, as you gingerly unbox it and set it up. That prelude can feel like an orchestra tuning its instruments, building anticipation for the moment where you’ll finally get to power it on and hear the opening notes of a long symphony.
The worst: Atari Jaguar The Atari Jaguar Startup. To emphasize what makes a great startup sound, we must first start with what makes a terrible one. So let’s start by dissecting the worst of the bunch: the Atari Jaguar. The sequence gets off to a bad start with a simulated jaguar growl. It’s corny, but I suppose it at least gets your brain ready for a “wild” experience. It doesn’t stop there, though.
Instead of discussing that, let’s talk about the Dreamcast. The system had a few different startup sounds, but the one I want to highlight is its most ambient one, which featured raindrop-like sounds as an orange ball bounced around the screen. There’s something otherworldly about the sequence, as an airy, sustained note plays underneath those echoing droplets. It almost sounds like you’re floating.
7. Nintendo DS Nintendo DS startup sounds While I could wax poetic about a lot of sounds on this list, Nintendo’s strength often comes from its simplicity. The original Game Boy, for instance, only gives players a joyful two-note chime that makes it sound like the system itself is happy to be powering on. The Nintendo DS stays true to that simple idea, quite literally doubling down on it.
4. Game Boy Advance To this day, the Game Boy Advance jingle brings a smile to my face. I don’t think that’s solely my childhood nostalgia speaking either. Nintendo seemingly designed the handheld’s opening sound to be bright and welcoming. That’s apparent in its initial glissando, which arcs in such a way that it feels like a rainbow .
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