Leitmotif’s went from really cool to just wanting it to end.
Yeah I get it calling back to the stArt of the adventure or whatever allegorical bullshit you can cook up is cool, But everyone is doing that it’s not unqiue, it’s not special, it’s certainly not interesting or thought provoking in any way, it’s just elitist at this point tbh, just throw a short melody there as an Easter egg and have the rest of it be unique, kid Icarus uprising got it right.
I also think it just doesn’t work in 2d platformers, sonic mania is imo the perfect 2d platforming soundtrack.