2015 vs 2010 soundtrack, which is better?

[HardwareRabbit]

What is the better one?

[Radio Lemon]

Tbh i really like the 2015 forest and dark forest theme. but C.H.A.D. boss fight music 2010 is the best :D

[DaAlexSeed]

Personally, I think 2010 was better and fit the game more. Everything was themed together, especially in the overworld. Every overworld map track had the exact same tempo, percussion, and very similar instruments, which really helped bring together the theme. Despite this, they all sounded like completely different tracks, which was great. The new ones feel a lot more disorganized, and while they're not necessarily bad, they're not really connected. Boss themes in the original also fit a lot better. The original Lil' Slugger theme gave the feeling that the forest was burning down, and you had a sense of panic. The new one is just kind of "Whee! Banjo! Yee-haw!" and just doesn't fit the theme of the boss. The original just kind of brought the game together as a whole, while the newer one doesn't.

[Garo]

2015 has some pretty good tracks, but 2010 just fits the game much better. (It also slaps better fight me.)

[Suchara|67]

2010 100%

[HyperSonic]

The reason why I got this version of the game is so I can experience both OSTs, and just like Sonic CD, both OSTs have their own heights and their downfalls. Coincidentally, this game and Sonic CD have a LOT more in common than expected, but that's a different topic for later.

For the Original Soundtrack (2010):
I really liked The Forest and Hell the most in this soundtrack. The World Map themes were a mixed bag (some were great, some were not so great). Typically, the Dark World themes were better than the Light World themes, and the Warp Zones had overall great instrumentation.

My particular favorite or notable tracks are the following:
Overworld 1 (Unused Overworld Theme)
Overworld 2010 (Overworld Theme)
Ch 1 Light World Map
Ch 1 Dark World Map
Forest Funk (Flash)
Forest Funk (Ch 1 Light World) <--- The first Meat Boy song I loved.
Ballad of the Burning Squirrel (Ch 1 Dark World)
Forest Funk Retro (Ch 1 Warp Zone)
Ch 2 Dark World Map
C.H.A.D.'s Broken Wind (Ch 2 Dark World)
Ch 3 Light World Map
Salt Factory (Flash) <---- AMAZING!! Way better than the final version.
Rocket Rider (Ch 3 Dark World)
Fast Track to Brown Town (Ch 3 Boss)
Hell (Flash) <---- I know it's Ch 5 Light (Flash), but it's a Hell track.
Hot Damned (Ch 4 Light World)
Devil 'N' Bass (Ch 4 Dark World) <---- *Probably my favorite in this OST. I'm unsure.*
Hot Damned Retro (Ch 4 Warp Zone)
It Ends With a Whimper (Ch 5 Dark World Xbox Version) <--- Actually made me cry.
It Ends Retro (Ch 5 Warp Zone)
It Ends 2: End Harder (Ch 6 Levels)
Carameaty Burauna (Ch 6 Boss) <---- Better for Light World Final Boss.
Ch 7 Dark World Map
McLarty Party People (Ch 7 Levels)
Meat Spin (The Internets Menu)

For the 5th Anniversary Soundtrack (2015):
It felt like a DLC expansion of what I liked about both of Sonic CD's US and JPN OSTs (which are two of my favorite gaming soundtracks ever made). Scattle and Laura felt more like the JPN OST, and the rest by Ridiculon was like the US OST. The world maps here gave more personality to the worlds (except for Ch 7). The warp zones were...interesting...to say the least. The Dark Worlds were better than Light Worlds (except for Ch 6).

My favorite and notable tracks in this soundtrack were the following:
Title Screen 2015 (The main theme without the lead guitar.)
Coming to a Deli Near You (Overworld Theme)
GristleToe Light (Ch 1 Light World Map)
Amputation (Ch 2 Light World Map)
Overdose (Ch 2 Dark World Map)
Bedside Manner (Ch 2 Light World)
Lights Out (Ch 2 Dark World)
Doctor's Orders (Ch 2 Warp Zone)
Hypertension (Ch 3 Light World) <--- This is the main reason why I wanted a version with the 5th Anniversary OST. This song is amazing!
The Seasoning (Ch 3 Dark World)
White Gold (Ch 3 Warp Zone)
Hell Toupé (Ch 4 Dark World) <--- Probably the best pun in this soundtrack.
Fasten Your Meatbelts (Ch 4 Boss) <--- I'm typically not a fan of boss themes, but WOW!
Meat You in Hell Light (Ch 5 Light World Map)
Meat You in Hell Dark (Ch 5 Dark World Map)
Steak Thru the Heart (Ch 5 Light World) <--- Another reason why I wanted both OSTs.
Dream Meater (Ch 5 Dark World) <--- Simply amazing.
Leather Glove (Ch 6 Light World Map)
Well Done (Ch 6 Dark World Map)
Meat Continuum (Ch 6 Light World) <---- Probably the best song in the game.
Ashes to Ashes (Ch 6 Dark World) <----- Why is there not a Dark World OST in End 2010?
Throw Another Barbie on the Fire (Ch 6 Warp Zone) <---- Sadly not used in the game, plus Danny did NOT compose a track here for some reason despite there being a Warp Zone here. What a missed opportunity.
Meatel Acropolis (Ch 6 Boss) <---- Better for Dark World Final Boss.
Track Meat (Ch 6 Escape)
Credits Theme 2015
Cotton Candy (Ch 7 Light World)
Bandage Girl Boogie (Ch 7 Dark World) <----- Why is there not a Dark World in 2010?

Keep in mind that I am COMPLETELY NEW to Super Meat Boy:
My only experiences prior to this year was playing the flash version in early 2020, and listening to Forest Funk and its Warp Zone theme alongside Hot Damned before 2020. I also watched a Super Meat Boy video by Plasmaman123 where he tried to beat the game as Tofu Boy. He used the 2015 OST in his footage (that's how I came to like Bedside Manner, Hypertension, and Steak Thru the Heart). This event is also why I even KNOW of the existence of a second OST since I thought the game had the 2010 OST that I heard in the background in the many Super Meat Boy speedruns and a let's play that I watched. Let's also not forget that this game was very popular back in the early 2010s, and I saw people in school wearing Meat Boy merchandise.

This year I bought and played the game in January until I got all Bandages, every A+ on every level of every world that's not Ch 7, and beat Dr. Fetus in the Dark World of Ch 6. I didn't get all achievements until a few weeks ago in a month long grind. Throughout playing, I swapped both soundtracks to get a feel of how they work in the game.

For example: Even though Forest 2015 objectively fits a forest better than 2010 with the banjos and industrial sounds, I was not a big fan of its instrumentation in its melodies like the 2010 OST, which can still suit a forest decently and actually fits the rage theme of the game, even if the levels were incredibly easy and not rage inducing. That's not to say I dislike Forest 2015 (I appreciate some things from it), but I don't consider it a favorite.

There are some times where I like one OST, but I like the other one better. The best example is Hell Dark, where I have listened to the 2015 version a LOT more than 2010 version because of how cool and rage inducing the guitar is (no wonder Super Meat Boy Forever used it as inspiration for its Title Screen). That being said, I still like the 2010 version more because as a song, it sounds amazing, plus it fits the tiresome that Hell Dark felt like on my first playthrough, and it fits the chaotic gameplay better (I got Demon Boy with ease with this song blasted to 100 in the settings. I love it THAT MUCH!). Also, guess who's listening to it right now?

My Verdict:
I like and enjoy both OSTs of this game. 2010 had better Warp Zones while 2015 had better Level Themes (both Light and Dark World). The Map Themes were interesting since 2015 had better personality, but 2010 had some catchier tracks. Boss themes were a mixed bag in both OSTs since I'm not a big fan of normal boss themes overall. I however do like Final Boss themes, and both OSTs had a great final boss track.

[󠁳⁧⁧ k4cpi]

2010 probably
when i first bought SMB i didnt like the OST because it was on 2015 and then i saw that i can change it to 2010 which now is my fav OST

[senlikhuseyin3]

2010

[jsb2]

2010

[Cacledemon]

At first i was sh**ting on 2015 soundtrack, since it was so...weird, unfitting and out of place for the atmosphere the game already had for it's levels - 2010 soundtrack gives you speed, drive and feel of rush to go fast through levels, while 2015 felt like a soundtrack of a different game tied to world exploration, like The End is Nigh or maybe even SMB Forever. After revisiting this soundtrack once more it's...kinda not that bad and definitely don't deserve all that hate and sh*t people gave him back in the days. He gives you a whole new perspective and point of view on the same levels, with different atmosphere and vibe completely - just listen to Dark Rapture's 2010 and 2015 version, they're SO MUCH different from each other. There are some tracks that are complete garbage though - Dark Salt Factory and both worlds of Cotton Alley for example, i can't stand them.
2010 is still the goat tho, it just fits better