Rare's first Xbox game, and the soundtrack leans hard into spooky cartoon fun. Grabbed by the Ghoulies is a beat-em-up set in a haunted mansion, and the music treats every room like its own little horror comedy vignette.
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The main theme sets the tone immediately, big orchestral stabs mixed with this playful, creeping energy that says "scary but not actually scary." "Ballroom Disco" is the standout for sheer absurdity, a haunted house disco track that sounds like it belongs in a Scooby-Doo chase scene.
"Vampire Chickens" exists as both a track name and a concept, and the music somehow sells it. "Ninja Imps" has this sneaky, percussive groove, while "Zombie Pirate" goes full swashbuckling horror. Each enemy type gets its own musical identity, which is a surprisingly thoughtful approach for what looks like a simple brawler.
"Baron I" and "Baron II" escalate the stakes for the boss encounters, going bigger and more dramatic. "Haunted TV" and "Haunted Coat" keep things weird and lighthearted. It's compact at seventeen tracks, but every one commits to the bit.
Peak Rare charm, even if the game itself flew under the radar.