Top 10 8-bit JRPG overworld themes

As I've played through a very large number of old-school Japanese RPGs over the last several years, I've paid quite close attention to the music. While there are lots of limits on what you can technically do on an 8-bit system, I've always felt that enough themes have been able to convey their intent even on a limited system.

So I've decided to make a list of my favorite overworld themes from 8-bit JRPGs. I've tried to find YouTube videos of the original themes, as well as, when possible, updated versions from a re-release or alternate soundtrack. Although I'm providing links to orchestrated versions, my ranking is based on my perception of the original 8-bit versions.

10. "Main Theme" from The Final Fantasy Legend
Though termed a Final Fantasy game, the naming was done so for marketing reasons, and the game really belongs to the SaGa series. While the SaGa-style stats progression isn't really my cup of tea, I did enjoy the main theme from this game.

A symphonic arrangement was created as a tribute to Nobuo Uematsu:

9. "Traveling with Friends" from Dragon Quest II
This is the second overworld theme from Dragon Quest II (known as Dragon Warrior II in North America). It's a little repetitive, but still catchy:

The symphonic version:

8. "Homeland" from Dragon Quest IV
Dragon Quest IV has five chapters and six overworld themes. This is the first theme from Chapter 5.

The symphonic version. Note that at about 2:23 it begins to transition into the second overworld theme from Chapter 5.

7. "Main Theme" from Tōjin Makyō-den Heracles no Eikō
The first game in the Glory of Heracles series is not widely known outside of Japan, never having been released in North America. It was only recently fan-translated into English. Even if it had been made available earlier in English, it'd probably remain overshadowed by contemporary Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy releases. Even so, the overworld/main theme is nice. Sadly, I can't find a clean copy of the theme itself, but you can get an idea from this short gameplay video (the main theme starts at 0:11):

6. "Main Theme" (a.k.a. "The Promised Land") from Final Fantasy II
I like the melancholy in this one. (Note: to be clear, this is not from the first Final Fantasy II released in North America; that game was for the Super Nintendo and has now been consistently, and properly, labeled as Final Fantasy IV in re-releases.)

Here's an orchestrated version from the PSP re-release of the game:

And, finally, a vocal version:

5. "Three Kingdoms" from Destiny of an Emperor
This is the second overworld theme from Destiny of an Emperor, a JRPG by Capcom very loosely based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This theme is heard at the very end of the game.

4. "Eternal Wind" from Final Fantasy III
Again, this is III by the original (and correct) Final Fantasy numbering. The symphonic  version uses a high solo trumpet. Not what I had in mind, but it definitely works extremely well.

The orchestrated version:

3. "Adventure" from Dragon Quest III
The first overworld theme from Dragon Quest III is a stirring march in 6/8:

The orchestral version:

And there was also a vocal version (mostly Japanese lyrics):

2. "Wagon Wheels March" from Dragon Quest IV
This is the final overworld theme of Dragon Quest IV, heard after a complete party of eight is assembled in the final chapter.

And the orchestral version:

1. "Pollyanna (I Believe in You)" from Mother
Mother (sometimes referred to as Earthbound Zero for being the predecessor to Earthbound, which was the name of Mother 2 as released in North America) has some great music. The first overworld theme ("Pollyanna") is no exception.

A later soundtrack added English lyrics consistent with the optimism of the theme: