thread of video game composers blatantly recreating moments in popular music

Wild Arms' soundtrack was composed entirely by Michiko Naruke[37] and is heavily inspired by Spaghetti westerns, featuring instrumentation from mandolins, acoustic and electric guitars, finger cymbals, trumpets, and whistling to produce an Old West sound to fit the game's setting and stylistic approach. A classical theme is also present in many tracks with the melody being provided by string instruments and deep drums to heighten the mood or increase tension.[38] The game's overworld theme "Lone Bird in the Shire", contains the melody from Ennio Morricone's "The Ecstasy of Gold" originally from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.[38] The opening theme "Into the Wilderness" is of Riz Ortolani's "Day of Anger" from Day of Anger. The melody that plays while Mother is reawakened sounds very similar to the melody of the song "Farewell to Cheyenne" from the popular western, Once Upon a Time in the West.

there has always been arguing over whether this should be considered referential or literally plagiarism. the opening theme was iconic to me as a kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVOFibwVMw0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0dqQ-8FOII