Ypx here—today we’re going to be listening to “Trophy Gallery” from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Released in 2008 as the third installment of the notable Super Smash Bros. franchise, Brawl introduced some new features to the series and most notably several characters. The game has been a critical mix, noting the poor competitive play but an expansive single player experience, while the game also a marked improvement in graphics for the series.
The Trophy Gallery is unlocked and filled by obtaining trophies in the game, and like many Nintendo sub-menu tunes, is heavily inspired by Bossa Nova. The instrumentation is fairly typical for the genre. Following a short introduction where we are introduced to the piano’s vamp accompanied by an upright bassline, a smooth guitar melody, and percussion including shakers and claves, the first major phrase features a piano melody roughly in the middle of the instrument. The second phrase features an extremely similar melody in the upper register of the piano that is taken over and modified by the flute complete with many flourishes. The next section features a bass solo and introduces the triangle before building back up with flute to a point that can loop to the beginning.
