EarthBound is a role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, released in Japan in 1994 and in North America in 1995. Its boss encounters use short musical cues to mark the shift into a major fight, and this brief intro has been clipped and shared by retro gaming fans for years. As EarthBound kept a loyal cult following through re-releases and online playthroughs, the sound became a handy shorthand for an intimidating opponent. Creators still use it today because it is instantly recognisable to fans and immediately sets up a challenge.