SPC Highlights

Friday, April 12, 2013

Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition (Wii U) Review

The majority of the gaming world was rocked with the news of a brand-new prequel to both Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. The studio behind that game, WB Games Montreal, worked on one of the launch titles for the Wii U, Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition. Is it just as fun the second time around, or if you've never played the original Arkham City, is this Wii U version the best place to start?

The Definitive Dark Knight?


In 2011, the sequel to the excellent Batman: Arkham Asylum released, Batman: Arkham City. It had a larger open world setting, much more to do, and a broader cast of Batman heroes and villains. The game was so good that it won the Multi-platform Game of the 2011 award at the SPC Best of 2011 Awards. Now that game is getting a prequel with Batman: Arkham Origins. The same team that is currently working on that game worked on the Wii U port, an enhanced version with system exclusive features known as Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition. Do new features make for a good reason to take a second trip to Arkham City?

Bruce Wayne becomes captured by a task force working under Hugo Strange and gets locked up within the confines of Arkham City, a place where only the darkest of the dark outcasts and prisoners prowl. While tied up, Strange reveals scarce yet ominous information regarding something called Protocol 10. Strange also tells him that if Batman tries to interfere, he vows that he will tell the world the Dark Knight's secret, that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Wayne escapes and has Alfred remotely drop off his Batsuit via the air. Can whatever Protocol 10 is be stopped before Hugo Strange has his way, or will Batman's secret be broadcast to the world? The plot of the game keeps players engaged, and I found myself consistently wanting to play just to see the story's next twist and which character I would come across next, as Arkham City houses a who's-who of Batman universe players.

The structure of Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition has players running, jumping, climbing, and gliding across city streets, rooftops, and waters as they go from specified area to specified area to progress the story.

Did someone ask for a detective?
Batman can enter Detective Mode where he can gain a pulse of what awaits him around his current positions. The mode detects heat signatures, shows detailed information about henchmen and objects, and is somewhat akin to Samus Aran's different visors in the Metroid Prime trilogy, if that comparison helps. Detective Mode is an invaluable resource for Batman as it allows him to see enemies from behind walls, as well as view secrets.

Even the coldest villain in Mr. Freeze
sports his own heat signature.
On Easy Mode one can pretty much throw caution to the wind and use little thought or stealth strategy to clear out a room. However, in more challenging difficulties, and especially when foes carry guns, stealth is key. Hiding in vents, looking down on foes from above, and peeking around corners are just some of the stealthy tasks Batman can partake in. Batman can perform a stealth takedown on unaware enemies from behind or take out an enemy from above while sitting atop a perch-- both actions can happen as long as Batman's cover hasn't been blown. If he does get spotted, Batman needs to get to high ground and quickly grapple out of his foes' sight. The enemies will still be alarmed, but they will eventually split up and search for Batman.

The Batman stalks his prey.
When stealth is not needed (or wanted), Batman is a capable brawler, and he'll need to have all of the brawn he can muster. Generally there are huge groups of foes that the caped crusader can cycle through, racking up an insane combo streak. When an enemy gets a prompt over his head, that means he is about to attack. With a well timed press of the block button, Batman will avoid the attack and keep his combo streak. The combat of Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition is just a phenomenal, flowing, and functional bit of fun. Racking up combos exceeding 30 is always great entertainment. This holds true for all of the combat challenges that are separate from the story mode, requiring players to earn medals for excellent play.

Combat in Arkham City was so good that 
games like The Amazing Spider-Man couldn't 
help but be inspired by it!
There are some RPG elements to Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition. As foes are defeated Batman earns experience points. When enough points have been accumulated, he can learn new skills and abilities, such as more protection against ballistics and melee attacks, for instance, or upgrades to his current equipment.

Be one with the bat in this game's combat.
Batman certainly has plenty of equipment as well. As he upgrades and retrieves his equipment, Batman  can access previously unreachable areas. This makes for a Metroid-like game at parts, with players needing to return to past areas for things they couldn't get the first visit. From his trust Batarang to hit faraway objects to an electric gun that shoots volts at certain machinery to get it to function, Batman has definitely got the goods this go around. Three tools can be mapped to the left, right, and down directions on the d-pad, and the up direction allows players to switch between weapons via the GamePad's touch screen.

As Mortal Kombat's Scorpion 
would say, "Get over here!"
Outside of the main campaign, Arkham City is filled with flurry of side quests to complete. These side quests provide some back story to the main events of the game, and introduce Batman to characters he would otherwise not meet. From racing from phone to phone to trace the call of a serial killer who threatens to carve up his victims if Batman does not engage him to investigating the gruesome murders of victims who have had their faces removed, Arkham City holds plenty to see and do.

Catwoman has her own part to play
in the story of Arkham City.
By far the biggest side quest in Arkham City is that of the Riddler's. Just like in Arkham Asylum, the Riddler has placed hidden trophies and solutions to riddles all around the game world, inside and out. Finding all of these and saving the Riddler's unfortunate victims will most likely be the last task completionists will do in the solo story mode. While the main game lasts around ten hours to beat, doing all of the side quests will make that number go up exponentially.

The Wii U version of Batman: Arkham City holds all of the downloadable content that PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners had to pay for and download digitally already on the disc, such as playing as Catwoman and the epilogue to the game's story, Harley Quinn's Revenge. The Armored Edition intermingles Catwoman sections with Batman sections of the story. The woman with nine lives also has her own set of Riddler trophies to find, and plays similarly to Batman, save for the ability to glide. All of the unlockable costumes like the Batman costume from the 1990's animated series and Year One Batman are included too.

The nostalgia... I feel it so bad.
What makes the Wii U version so great in addition to all of that is the GamePad. While off-TV play is possible, the fact that one can explore around Arkham City without ever having to pause is fantastic. The map is on the Wii U GamePad's screen, meaning all one has to do is look down instead of constantly pausing the game. Additionally, there are touch controlled mini-games performed when Batman needs to digitally unlock a door. These games aren't too obnoxious, but they are rather too frequent. There are also sections of the game where players will need to hold up the GamePad towards the screen to investigate crime scenes. It's a novelty, but it's a cool one at that, at least for me it was. The only issue with Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition is that this version of the game has some problems keeping its frame-rate. They don't happen all too often, but it is noticeable when they do occur.

One of the many convenient uses of 
the Wii U GamePad.
Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition might be late to the party, but if you're a Wii U owner who has never played Arkham City, you should definitely try the game out. There's no better opportunity than this one. While frame-rate issues are problematic, the added Wii U GamePad features like conversations and radio dialogue coming out of the controller's speakers, included DLC on the disc, and great controls make for a port that is the definitive version of Batman: Arkham City.

[SPC Says: 9.5/10]

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Project X Zone (3DS) Global Gamers' Day Trailer

A game that many thought wouldn't make it to the West (but we still had hope) is Project X Zone, a collaboration between three of the biggest Japanese publishers in the gaming industry. Play as over 50 unique characters from such franchises as Resident Evil, Mega Man X, Virtua Fighter, Valkyria Profile, Tekken, and Xenosaga in this epic looking game. Project X Zone releases June 25 in North America.

Top Five Spider-Man Games (2013 Edition)

While the Dark Knight is currently getting all of the attention in the gaming world thanks to the announcement of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (even on SPC), let's not forget about another superhero who has great intellect and a sensational stable of villains to contend with, Spider-Man. Several years ago I posted a list of my favorite Spider-Man games. It's two years later, and it's time to revisit the topic of what the best Spider-Man games of all time are. How will the list different from 2011? Let's find out as we explore SPC's personal favorite superhero, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

5) Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro (PS1)

The original Spider-Man on PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, and Sega Dreamcast was a phenomenal game. In fact, you might be seeing it appear on this list later on. Hint, hint. The sequel, Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro was exclusive to the original PlayStation. It not only allowed Spidey to actually swing on ground level as opposed to being stuck to the rooftops, but the game had a new feature that its predecessor lacked, which was the ability to mix and match up to three abilities from unlocked costumes, adding some strategy into what load-out you chose. While the game is not nearly as memorable as the original PS1, N64 and Dreamcast game, it is still a worthy Spider-Man game to play.

4) The Amazing Spider-Man (Multi)

Without a doubt the best Spider-Man game to come out of this past generation of game consoles, The Amazing Spider-Man is the companion game to the feature film which released last summer. The game serves as an epilogue to the events that happened in the movie, while bringing a myriad of side missions to partake in and costumes to unlock. Web slinging is much more beginner-friendly, but it's not brain-dead easy  either so no worries there. Abilities like the Web Rush made combat and controlling Spidey all the easier, and it made for some insane stunts and actions that would otherwise be impossible to do. Whether you stick with the PS3, 360, or Wii versions or go with the Wii U Ultimate Edition, Amazing Spider-Man will satiate your appetite for more of everyone's favorite webhead.

3) Spider-Man 2 (PS2, GCN, XBX)


Oftentimes cited as one of the best Spider-Man games period, if not the best, Spider-Man 2 was also released as a companion game to the movie of the same title. The cast featured Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, and  Alfred Molina as Doctor Otto Octavius, a.k.a. Dr. Octopus. The game had a web-swinging system that took a little getting used to, but it was much more realistic to games prior. For instance, one could not swing off the heavens like previous games. You needed a nearby building to swing off of. Spider-Man 2 featured a varied amount of missions, plenty of side content, and let's not forget the most epic, challenging boss fight in any Spider-Man game, the battle with Mysterio at the convenience store! 

2) Spider-Man (PS1, N64, DC)

Our second favorite Spider-Man game is simply named after the webhead and that's it. Neversoft developed this title for the PS1 version while Treyarch did the Dreamcast version. The same engine for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was the one used for this game. The actual gameplay itself had Spider-Man roaming around in various levels-- some indoor, some outdoor-- completing objectives or simply trying to get from the start of the level to the goal. Unlockable costumes gave players new abilities and a new perspective on the game. We love the version of Spider-Man so much, not just due to nostalgia, but due to how it proved that Spidey could be great in a 3D game. 

1) Ultimate Spider-Man (PS2, GCN, XBX)


The webhead's most wonderful effort in SuperPhillip Central's favorite Spider-Man game is Ultimate Spider-Man, based off the comic of the same name. The game's look was heavily inspired by the comic books, offering a gorgeous and stylish cel-shaded art style that still comes off as nice to gaze at to this day. Like Spider-Man 2 and The Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man had plenty of things to do in its open world setting, such as races and finding and collecting tokens. The arsenal of familiar characters only made for a better time with faces like Carnage, Silver Sable, Beetle, Shocker, R.H.I.N.O., and of course the second playable character in the game, Venom. It all adds up to the quintessential Spider-Man experience on any platform and in any game.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Top Five Batman Games of All Time

The announcement of not one but two new Batman games (Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate) has sent the gaming world abuzz. We, too, at SuperPhillip Central are excited as well, and we thought we'd take this opportunity to list our favorite games starring the Dark Knight. Get your utility belt, cape, and cowl, and get ready to sit down and peruse our picks for the best Batman games of all time.

5) Batman: Vengeance (PS2, GCN, XBX)


Batman: Vengeance is based off the second Batman cartoon that premiered on Kids WB. This time Ubisoft published the title alongside a joint deal with Warner Bros. A majority of voice actors from the cartoon were prominent in the game, and that only added to the look and feel of the game. The actual gameplay itself had Batman running through open environments making up the various levels of Vengeance. All of Batman's tools were at his disposal: grappling hooks, batarangs, flash bombs, and more, to help him get the drop on the villains ruling Gotham City's streets. With accessible combat, nearly an hour of engaging cinematics, and an original story that will have players hooked till the very end, Batman: Vengeance ranks number five on our list.

4) LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Multi)


The recently released LEGO City Undercover got us thinking a lot about this fourth game on our list. It's LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Instead of just dealing with Batman and his trusty sidekick Robin, players were able to control the likes of Superman, Aquaman, the Martian Manhunter, and even play as some villains too. Each character archetype had their own abilities, which allowed them access to areas other characters could not. As for Gotham, the city was an open world setting this time around, with plenty of nooks and crannies to find new characters, vehicles, and challenges to complete. While the LEGO series of games are not for everyone admittedly, SuperPhillip and the gang here really loved and found LEGO Batman 2 immensely charming and fun.

3) The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES)


Based off the award-winning and critically acclaimed 1990's cartoon that aired on Fox Kids, The Adventures of Batman & Robin released on the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, and Game Gear. We'll be focusing on the Super Nintendo version, which we consider the definitive version. The game was an action platformer where Batman could equip different gadgets like x-ray vision, for instance, to advance in the game's multiple levels, each ending with a battle with a famous Batman villain. What sets The Adventures of Batman & Robin apart is the supreme amount of variation seen in the levels, whether in gameplay or level locale. Also, it just gives us awesome memories of the excellent 90's animated series.

2) Batman: Arkham Asylum (Multi)


Many were skeptical about Batman: Arkham Asylum. In fact, at the time, developer Rocksteady didn't have much to their name except a generic-sounding first-person shooter known as Urban Chaos: Riot Response. It was until the reviews came in from various media outlets that people began believing, and when they actually played the game? Step back, boy. To call Arkham Asylum one of the best superhero video games of all time would not be something we'd call hyperbole. It really is that great. Set up as a quasi-Metroid styled game, with Batman gaining new gadgets to access previously unreachable areas, Arkham Asylum was a marvel of game, combat, and level design, a one-two-three punch of greatness.

1) Batman: Arkham City (Multi)


Our pick for the greatest Batman game of all time put the Dark Knight in an open world setting where crime, criminals, and psychopaths roamed the streets. Arkham City was simply everything about Arkham Asylum that fans of the game liked, but bigger and better. While some don't appreciate the larger setting of the game, we found it liberating and less claustrophobic. Figuring out cases, participating in optional tasks, and showing Riddler who's boss by solving his riddles and collecting his trophies scattered around Arkham City all made for an excellent and replay value-filled time. The game was a who's who of Batman characters, featuring the likes of Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Catwoman, and many more that we won't spoil for those who still haven't tried the game yet. (Seriously, play it. Now.) The same combat that tested players' reflexes and skills with combos returned, and it flowed just as splendidly as Arkham Asylum. If you're looking for the ultimate Batman experience, get under the Dark Knight's cowl with Arkham City.

===

That is our list of the best Batman games. What are your favorites? Let everyone on the interwebs know by posting your thoughts in the comments section.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Trying to Explain Some Nintendo Fans' Aversion to Third Parties

It's no secret that the general belief regarding Nintendo home consoles is that you only buy them for Nintendo games, and third party titles are generally ignored. That's the price you pay when you're Nintendo, one of the best game publishers in industry history. However, not all of the Nintendo fan base ignores third party games, and for those that do, I surmise that there is a believable reason as to why they do. Note that I don't necessarily agree or disagree with the rationale some fans use towards their animosity towards third parties. I'm simply trying to get a better understanding of their mindset and explain that.


In the NES and Super Nintendo days, Nintendo had a very strict policy regarding third party games. At one time publishers could only put five games a year on Nintendo's systems as a means to avoid an Atari situation  where there was more garbage games than good games. In fact, some publishers created new companies just to get around Nintendo's rule. As a third party company you had to get licensing from Nintendo to get around their lockup chip in order to develop games for the big N's platforms.

With the Nintendo 64, the most damning thing Nintendo did was stay with cartridges as opposed to the new medium for games, compact discs. This cost Nintendo a ton of support of which they never recovered from on home consoles.


The GameCube is an interesting case because it's the opposite of what Nintendo is doing now. Nintendo developed a console that was in the same power bracket as the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox. In fact, in many ways it outclassed Sony's machine. However, third parties eventually stopped supporting the system as the console's sales were not particularly impressive. The added inclusion of mini DVD discs for games only hindered Nintendo's system and relationship with third parties. What makes this so memorable to older Nintendo fans is that Nintendo had a powerful console and yet third parties still ignored the system for the most part. Rockstar ignored it, for example. It gave the belief that no matter what Nintendo does, third parties will never support their systems.

Then there's the Capcom 5, a term used by many journalists and Capcom themselves. These were supposed to be five exclusive games for Nintendo's indigo lunch box... er... console. However, one of the games, Dead Phoenix, was cancelled, one game was eventually ported to the PS2 with new content (Viewtiful Joe), one came out the same time as the GameCube version on the PS2 (Killer 7), and one was announced right before the GameCube release, basically killing any chance of the game selling well on Nintendo's system (Resident Evil 4). By the end of the fiasco, only one game remained exclusive to the GameCube, and that was P.N. 03. If you were a Nintendo fanatic during this period, there's no doubt you were miffed at this arrangement by Capcom. It wouldn't be the last time that one could say Capcom "screwed over" (as some have put it) Nintendo fans either.

This is actually the HD port of Resident Evil 4.
Let's talk Wii, shall we? I believe this was the generation that made Nintendo fans particularly weary of third party efforts on Nintendo home consoles. Nintendo was coming off the GameCube, a console that many third parties abandoned towards the end of its lifespan. This is pretty much where the "third party games don't sell on Nintendo consoles" mantra came from. Seeing the GameCube as a wasteland for third parties and thinking that Nintendo's next home console, the Wii, would not fare any better than its last effort, third parties essentially put all of their eggs in the two HD twins' baskets, ignoring Nintendo's new system, save for publishers like Ubisoft.

But then something bizarre happened that many people could not have expected (and for those that did expect it, mad props to you): the Wii broke through as a sales juggernaut. Third parties were basically caught with their pants down. They had invested all of this money in HD development, and here they had the low power Wii being sold out everywhere.


Rather than admit they were incorrect in their assumption that the Wii would sell poorly and invest in the Wii with some genuine support, most third parties doubled down on their HD bets. They figured the Wii would be this one year fad, and soon Nintendo would be at the bottom of the home console food chain once again. However, this did not happen.

Some third parties supported the Wii at the start. Ubisoft had Red Steel, whose execution was on the off side. However, Capcom had games like Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition that sold over one million copies on the system alone. Instead of following it up with a new game in the series with the same excellent controls, Capcom opted to make a light gun shooter as the RE followup for the Wii. This action pretty much ruined their momentum on the Wii. What followed were a series of "test games", which practically boiled down to "buy this game and maybe you'll see some honest support from us." These so-called "tests" were essentially made for Wii owners to fail. Thus, sufficient support never came, and thus, you have a reason for Nintendo fans to be bitter.

Another reason for this is the quality of the games. You see, most third parties stayed with their major franchises on the HD platforms. When a port of one of those games arrived on Wii, it was made by a B or C team-- never the original developer, and god forbid if it ever was an A team. And no, I'm not talking about the one with Mr. T on it.

When effort was put into a third party game, it was sent to die, for lack of a better phrase. No marketing, little word of mouth on message boards, and so forth. Games were essentially doomed to failure, and many Nintendo fans had the paranoid thought that third parties were intentionally setting their games up to fail so they would have an excuse not to support Nintendo consoles. It's important to note, though, that some efforts that DID get marketing did well, but sometimes it didn't. This isn't and wasn't an exact science. Sometimes a game gets all the backing in the world and it still bombs. On that token, some success stories included Monster Hunter Tri, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, Red Steel, and the series of wonderful Tiger Woods PGA Tour games.

By the time real effort was put into games like Red Steel 2, for instance, the damage had been done. Wii owners were incredibly weary of third party games, because they had been burned by half-baked efforts for the longest time. Who can blame them after seeing how much crap was put on the Wii by said third parties? Therefore, Wii owners stuck with Nintendo games, and simply perpetuated the stereotype that Nintendo fans only buy Nintendo games.

Red Steel 2 was an excellent game, but
it came out too little too late for most.
Now we have the Wii U, which third parties have already abandoned for the most part. The argument is that Nintendo fans don't buy third party games anyway, but I'd argue that the Wii told a different story at first. It's my opinion that third parties destroyed any goodwill with Nintendo console owners with the Wii by initially ignoring the platform and turning their backs on the system and its user base. I don't blame third parties alone for not supporting the Wii U, and neither should Nintendo console owners. No, Nintendo is very much to blame, specifically Satoru Iwata, company president. When you say you're gunning for third party support this time around, and somehow you have less support than previous generations, I'd hate to see what their idea of ignoring third parties would be.

The latest fiasco was Rayman Legends. I won't go into too much detail as you can read SPC's entire piece on the debacle here, but Ubisoft took a finished game and delayed it more than six months so it would release the same time as the newly announced PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. To say that this incident ruined a lot of Wii U owners' opinions of Ubisoft would be an understatement. It's another example of a third party doing something questionable against Nintendo console owners.

Wii U owners would be playing this game now
had it not been unfortunately delayed.
Hopefully by now you can understand why some Nintendo fans avoid third party gaemes. Who knows if the relationship between Nintendo and third parties will ever heal. Some Nintendo fans still hold grudges for multiple reasons, like some explained above. Regardless, indie studios seem to be interested in the Wii U while the bigger publishers seem to be ignoring the system. Reading between the lines you can say it's because of the system's sales, but it's sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy because without games, there's little interest in the system, thus leading to low and anemic sales. Is the relationship between Nintendo fans and third parties irreparable, or can they finally trust publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and Activision to deliver compelling content to Nintendo's home consoles?

We're interested in your thoughts on this article. Did SuperPhillip get it wrong this time? Let us know in the comments section. Remember to be respectful to your fellow commenters.

Monday, April 8, 2013

LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins (3DS) Trio of Commercials

The ad campaign for April 21's LEGO City Undercover prequel, The Chase Begins, has begun. See the origins of LEGO City and its hero Chase McCain in the open world adventure. I adored the Wii U original game (as seen here), so it seems natural I'd be interested in this 3DS prequel. Take a look at the three ads Nintendo has put out for the game.





Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS) Tourism Trailer

One of my most wanted Nintendo 3DS games is Animal Crossing: New Leaf. My brother and I played the hell out of the GameCube original, Wild World, and City Folk. New Leaf promises many new features: the most prominent of which is the ability to be the mayor of your own village. Animal Crossing: New Leaf releases in early June in North America.

SPC's Favorite VGMs - This Time It's Not an April Fools' Joke Edition

Last week we did have VGM volumes 346-350, but that was all part of an elaborate April Fools' joke, as Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood's music is god awful. On this week's edition of the Favorite VGMs, we have the real volumes 346-350, featuring music from Metroid Prime, Samba de Amigo, and MadWorld. It's our hope that you enjoy the songs being presented to you this week. As always, click on the song title to listen to it.

v346. Metroid Prime (GCN) - Phendrana's Edge


Metroid Prime is a beautifully captivating game with atmospheric worlds and an atmospheric soundtrack to go along with that. Phendrana's Edge plays during the sections of Phendrana Drift where Samus is deeper in the area of the game. It's where she gets the very welcomed Gravity Suit, allowing her to freely move in water without being weighed down so much. I can only hope that Nintendo returns to this franchise soon, as a lot of gamers miss it.

v347. Samba de Amigo (DC) - Vamos a Carnival


Quite likely my favorite piece from the maraca-shaking game Samba de Amigo, Vamos a Carnival gets you in the mood for a fun fiesta! The lyrics are perky, the music is catchy, and the beat grooves through your body. A Wii installment of the series released several years ago, but unfortunately the Wii Remote just could not pick up the more complicated shaking later levels and difficulties needed.

v348. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) - Jr. Street


This track comes from the CD soundtrack of Mario Hoops 3-on-3. While the final game is nothing to write home about, the music by Masayoshi Soken is phenomenally good and catchy. Jr. Street, a court that takes place in a Las Vegas-like casino boulevard setting, is an infectious jazz piece.

v349. Phantasy Star Universe (360, PS2) - Neudaiz


Phantasy Star Universe was yet another disappointing game from Sonic Team, during their long stretch of mediocre titles. That said, one thing you can be sure of with that development team is that their games will possess some insanely good soundtracks. This song Neudaiz is a wonderful example of that.

v350. MadWorld (Wii) - Ain't That Funny


MadWorld is an interesting soundtrack to me because I don't particularly care for hip-hop and rap most of the time, but in this game's case, I really found it enjoyable. This track is a great example of that, Sick YG performs this oriental-sounding track that plays during a Chinatown-esque level in the game.

===

This ends another edition of SPC's Favorite VGMs. If you're hankering for more music, check out the VGMs Database, where every VGM ever highlighted is listed. Until next week, the VGMs are going out to enjoy this lovely spring weather.