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Kenji Yamamoto is a composer working for Nintendo, known for providing the soundtrack for several titles in the Metroid series among other games. He joined the company in 1986.

He is not the same person as the programmer who also works at Nintendo or another composer with the same name who has worked on the soundtrack of Dragon Ball games and anime.

History[]

After graduating with a Degree in Music in the Osaka University of Arts (the same university Koji Kondo attended), he joined Nintendo in 1987. While he started in the R&D2 department composing the soundtrack to the NES Punch-Out!, he would later switch to the R&D1 department, where he worked on games such as the Famicom Detective Club series and Super Metroid.

Years later, he became the Group Manager of the Sound Department of Nintendo SPD, where he served as supervisor for other composers working on that department. Currently he is mostly involved as sound director or supervisor on various games, but he has still composed music on projects like Metroid Prime or Excite Truck.

Game Works[]

Special Thanks[]

Song Credits[]

Punch-Out!! (NES)[]

Kenji Yamamoto is the only person listed on Punch-Out!! on Wii as "Music of NES "Punch-Out!!"", which implies that he was the sole composer of this title despite the fact that the NES title credits more people as "Music Composer"

Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind[]

Kenji Yamamoto was the sole composer for this title

Super Metroid[]

  • Theme of Super Metroid -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Planet Zebes - Crateria Arrival -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Crateria - Space Pirates Appear -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Brinstar - Plant Overgrowth Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Brinstar - Red Soil Wetland Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Norfair - Scorching Lava Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Norfair - Ancient Ruins Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Samus Aran's Last Cry -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Mysterious Statue Chamber -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Planet Zebes Explosion -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
  • Ending -- Composition (w/Minako Hamano)[4]

Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind (Super Famicom)[]

Kenji Yamamoto was the sole composer for this title

Metroid Prime[]

While Kenji Yamamoto is the only person credited under "Music" in the western release of this title, Koichi Kyuma is credited as "Music (Assistant)"; however, Kyuma's contributions to the soundtrack if any are currently unknown

Nintendo Sound Selection vol.2 Koopa <Loud Music>[]

  • Oni Fortress -- 1st Guitar

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[]

Kenji Yamamoto was the sole composer for this title

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[]

  • SkyTown -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
  • Theme of Rundas -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
  • Theme of Gandrayda -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
  • Ending Credits -- Composition & Arrangement[5]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]

  • Main Theme (Metroid) -- Arrangement[6]
  • Opening / Menu (Metroid Prime) -- Composition & Arrangement[6]

Metroid Prime Trilogy[]

  • Menu -- Composition & Arrangement[5]

Donkey Kong Country Returns[]

  • Mine Menace -- Composition & Arrangement[7]

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[]

  • Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocal) -- Arrangement[8]

Interviews[]

References[]

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