On your Gusty Garden transcription, the I chord in measure 5 actually sounds like, to me, a cadential 6/4 (V6/4-5/3) that resolves on the V chord in the next measure. That said, the iv right before it is also actually iv6, with the bass on the b6 scale degree.
Also, the following bVI-bVII-I actually has the root notes for IV-V-I in the bass, with the b6-b7-1 scale degrees in the soprano. It might be, and it probably is, a substitution/variation for the original bVI-bVII-I progression, but because of the bass notes, it might actually be more fitting to call it iv-v-I.

I also love the Gusty Garden music, especially the chorus. I have a “tonal” idea as to why it sounds so good, but I don’t know how valid it is Xp

It’s the same progression I use for most of my choruses (bVI, bVII, V, bVI, bVII, I).

Probably the Alanis Morissette influence too, but whatever.

Keep up the good work man, would love to read more stuff like this!

n.b. You should speak to the guys at OCRemix too, if you don’t already. If you talk about this sort of thing often, that is

I found another one: the exquisite Lost Woods theme from Link to the Past.

I could talk forever on the bVI – bVII – i progression, and I somehow completely missed just how often Kondo used it his variation of it. In hindsight, it also makes up a considerable portion of the Dire, Dire Docks theme from Mario 64, as well.

I’ve noticed, in other games, that there is a lot of VI – VII – Isus – I, with the tonic triad originally being minor, but having a Picardy 3rd thrown in after the suspension to serve as the end to a section, i.e.

- The Musashi Legend, Brave Fencer Musashi
- Battle Theme, Golden Sun

The title theme from a very little-known NES game called Magic of Scheherazade has (what I think is) an interesting variation of this progression, as well. It has a bIII – IV – Vsus4 – V – I.

A lot of video game scores – not just by Kondo – use VI – VII – i in the minor mode, and I’d love to see you do a post on that. Some examples:

- I Am Impact! from Legend of the Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon
- Mountain Theme, Angry Sea Theme from Crystalis
- Battle Theme, Last Castle, Lava Dome from Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
- Elf Field from Lagoon
- Frog’s Theme from Chrono Trigger
- War Demon from Wild ARMs
- Twinpeak Mountain from Brave Fencer Musashi (which also has an awesome octatonic opening)
- Battle with Gilgamesh from FFV (and I’m sure many other Uematsu pieces, this is just the first that comes to mind)
- Dr. Wily’s Castle from Megaman 2
- Guile’s Theme from Street Fighter 2
- Level 1 Theme from Journey to Silius

I’ve been arranging video game music for a little ensemble I lead, and the VI – VII – i progression is one that seems to pop up all over the place. I totally never made the connection with Kondo, though.