Mega Man 7 is the first classic Mega Man soundtrack to not use chiptune, and I think that caused it to be very overlooked. It's a lot more light-hearted and less rock-heavy, but if you can look past all that, this is easily one of the best Mega Man soundtracks. It's got so many absolutely incredible tracks, along with all that classic SNES soundfont charm, with some killer slap bass lines, quirky instrumentation, and a wider range of genres and styles. It's also pretty unique for a Mega Man soundtrack as it's a collaboration between a bunch of Capcom's composers rather than just a solo project, though that unfortunately means it's not always apparent who did what. The composer list includes Yuko Takehara of MM6 fame, Makoto Tomozawa, and Toshihiko Horiyama. Horiyama in particular is a very important Mega Man composer due to the sheer amount of soundtracks he's worked on, and his distinctly weird and melancholic style is established right from the get-go in MM7.
Just for fun, I also want to try to guess who did what track. I'll mark out if each prediction is based off of a confirmation or my own prediction.
Mega Man 7
6 Months Later
Composer: Yuko Takehara (predicted)
Mega Man 7 pulls a Mega Man 2 and remixes the ending theme of the previous game for its opening. This is much slower and more pleasant version of the MM6 staff roll, but it still sounds quite great. I'm predicting Takehara for this one since it was her theme initially.
4/5 Stars
Searching For The Master
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
The second half of the opening theme is mostly just menacing ambience. I'm predicting Tomozawa since it kinda sounds like Wily Stage 2 which we know he composed.
1/5 Stars
A Fated Confrontation
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
Fantastic title theme! It's so energetic and driving, and the melody is super catchy, it's just a shame it's so short. Definitely a Tomozawa track
4/5 Stars
Ruined Street
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
For a few games, classic Mega Man had opening stages and they were great. Ruined Street makes a fantastic first impression, with a badass synth melody and some rocking bass-lines leading to an incredibly propulsive and fast-paced track. This track is confirmed to be by Tomozawa who also did MMX themes like Spark Mandrill and Storm Eagle, so I think it's fair to say that all the blisteringly fast tracks are by him.
5/5 Stars
Friend Or Foe
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
Bass's theme is pretty great too. It's a bit sparse, but the repeated bass line and the tense main melody still make for a really memorable and intimidating track. That being said, this isn't my favorite version of Friend Or Foe, that'll be for a later game...
4/5 Stars
Password Screen
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
Hey, a rare good password screen theme. Though, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering it's by the guy who built his career on the Mega Man X password theme. The twinkling keys in the backgrounds and uplifting melody never fail to put me in a good mood.
3/5 Stars
Stage Select
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
Definitely one of the best stage select themes in my opinion, maybe even the best. It's got that fun and groovy energy that marks all the best Mega Man 7 tracks, with a catchy and adventurous melody that does a great job at getting the player pumped. It has that driving groove that Ruined Street had, so I'm going with Tomozawa for this one.
4/5 Stars
Iceberg Area
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
Easily one of the most iconic tracks in the game thanks to its distinct and memorable melody, Iceberg Area is yet another stellar ice stage themes that puts some uniquely icey synths to very good use, especially in its ethereal chorus. Horiyama at his absolute best.
5/5 Stars
Forgotten Factory
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
Forgotten Factory is probably the definitive Mega Man 7 song, with the game's distinct synth and bass in full display. The 80s-sounding melody, wild percussion, and groovy basslines make for an incredibly fun and well-rounded piece. It's got all the hallmarks of a Tomozawa track.
5/5 Stars
Medical Science Lab
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
Medical Science Lab feels like Forgotten Factory: Part 2 for a number of reasons I'll get into later, but for now, just know that it has the same instrumentation, pacing, and sheer unrepentant grooviness to it that I loved about the previous track. I actually think I like Medical Science Lab just a bit more for that bassline and fantastic chorus.
5/5 Stars
Weather Research
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
Another Horiyama track. It's got that same airy vibe that Wind Man's theme, but with a touch more melancholy in its main melody. I particularly like the echoing notes in the chorus, it just sounds so light and pleasing to the ears.
4/5 Stars
Dr Light's Lab
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
While a bit too high-pitched for its own good, Dr Light's Lab still has the same uplifting vibe and earwormy melody that the password theme had.
3/5 Stars
The Robot Museum
Composer: Tatsuya Nishimura (confirmed)
The Robot Museum is a pretty neat remix of several classic Mega Man tracks, particularly Guts Man, Heat Man, and Snake Man. The Guts Man and Snake Man parts sound fantastic, but for some reason, Heat Man's part is absolutely ear-piercing which drags down what could've been one of the best tracks in the game.
4/5 Stars
Auto's Shop
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
Uggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh...
Look, Horiyama, I love you, but this was a rare miss and a big one. With a short loop, an ear-piercing volume, and an abrupt loop, Auto's Shop is one of the most irritating pieces of music in the franchise. Not as bad as MM4's password theme, but very close. At least in Mega Man 4's case, I already wasn't a huge fan of the soundtrack. This track is a blight on what's otherwise one of the best soundtracks in the series.
0/5 Stars
Boyoyon Paradise
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
Ah, that's better. Spring Man's theme is still the weakest of the Robot Master themes, but it's still a fun and bouncy tune with a wacky melody that sounds like it's ricocheting off the walls.
3/5 Stars
Jurassic Jungle
Composer: Yuko Takehara (confirmed)
This is the one confirmed track by Yuko Takehara and wouldn't you know it, it's the best track in the game. Jurassic Jungle has everything that made MM6's music great and then some, it's got that same cadence and powerful feel to it. The melody is ridiculously catchy and intricate, and the chorus just makes you want to clap to it.
5/5 Stars
Horror Fortress
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
Aaaaaannnnnd this is probably the second best track in the game. The central riff is so charmingly spooky, and it's got the fast and groovy pace of Tomozawa's other tracks to boot.
5/5 Stars
Giant Trailers
Composer: Toshihiko Horiyama (confirmed)
Not one of the more remarkable Robot Master themes, but still a solid and fun track with a wonderfully frenetic melody. I particularly like the chorus and how it just keeps building in volume and intensity.
4/5 Stars
Ghouls N Ghosts
Composer: Ayako Mori (original composer), Makoto Tomozawa (possibly did the arrangement?)
While I still slightly prefer Horror Fortress, the fact that you can play the Ghouls N Ghosts theme as an easter egg is still wonderfully, and this is easily one of my favorite versions of the track. The MM7 bass helps to lend it such a groovy feel.
5/5 Stars
Boss Battle
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
Gotta say, I'm surprised Tomozawa was confirmed to have worked on this one! This almost felt like a Horiyama track. Either way, this is a fantastic boss theme, easily one of my favorites. It's got such a chaotic and frantic feel to it, using high pitched notes to great effect without it coming off as annoying or ear-piercing.
5/5 Stars
Got Weapon
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
Eh, this one's pretty weak. The bass sounds good, but the keys in the background sound a bit off-beat to me.
2/5 Stars
Bass' Betrayal
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
A pretty basic track. It gets across the tragedy of... well... Bass's Betrayal... quite well but it's not worth listening to beyond that.
2/5 Stars
Entrance
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
Entrance, on the other hand, manages to do both. This is a phenomenal piece of music, and easily ranks among the best Wily Castle themes (yes, it's better than MM2's). From the ominous intro, to the wailing guitars, to the tense basslines, to that phenomenal percussive drop midway through, Entrance perfectly captures the vibe that Mega Man has had enough with Wily, while also being a super groovy track on its own.
5/5 Stars
Turtle's Realm
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
This is probably the weakest Wily Castle theme, though that's not saying much considering how good they all are. The bass and percussion are as fantastic as always, but the melody itself is a bit muted.
4/5 Stars
Walk The Invisible
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
This is it, the musical climax of the entire game. Walk The Invisible is a fusion of Forgotten Factory and Medical Science Lab, and it's phenomenal. It's such a triumphant, energetic, and climactic track that has everything that makes MM7's soundtrack so special in abundance. Groovy bass, catchy synth, uplifting melodies, tight percussion, it's all there.
5/5 Stars
The Hatches
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
In terms of its tempo and percussion, The Hatches is pretty much a direct continuation of Walk The Invisible, though it's a lot shorter. The melody is still super catchy, though, and the looping is incredibly clever.
4/5 Stars
Wily Machine No 7
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
The Wily Castle boss theme in Mega Man 7 is really good... but I'm gonna be honest here, I'm kinda at a loss as to why it's good. This is a very quirky track that with a blistering melody that feels faster than the backing track, but the track still comes together really well without feeling out of sync. I don't know what to tell you, it just sounds really good.
4/5 Stars
Final Wily Battle
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (predicted)
This track has the guitars so I'm guessing it's Tomozawa again. As much as I loath this boss fight, this is easily one of the best final boss themes in the series. It's tense, frenetic, and really puts you in a state of panic (fitting given the boss fight).
4/5 Stars
A Hero Returns
Composer: Makoto Tomozawa (confirmed)
Mega Man 7 easily has the best end credits theme in the series. It's so unbelievably badass, with an incredibly smooth melody and bass line. Every part of the track flows so seamlessly into the next, culminating in the chorus ending off with one of the coolest chord progressions ever. And the fact that this track plays while Mega Man is walking away unflinchingly from a burning Wily Fortress is just so perfect, this theme knows Mega Man is cool.
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