Well, I'm making a VGM list (to make a modest correction), and I think I've checked it waaaaay more than just twice! Nevertheless, it's the first edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs of December, meaning the holiday preparations are underway! Hang up the mistletoe, decorate the tree with lights and ornaments, and start listening to some Christmas music to get yourself in the mood! Actually, instead of Christmas music (which you have the whole month to get around to and enjoy), how about some good, old video game music? That's what I'm stuffing in my readers' stockings this December all month long with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs.
This first full work week of December sees us traveling to a quaint animal-filled village with Animal Crossing: Wild World. From there, the pace quickens and the action heats up with music from Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia and a related game, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. The only good thing that war is good for is that it brought us Battalion Wars 2, which has a song featured this week. Finally, we get cool and relaxed with a jam from Yoshi's Story.
For all past VGM volumes on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs' past editions, check out the VGM Database with this link. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1516. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) - 7 AM
Ah, just in time for the relatively recent release of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp! Animal Crossing: Wild World came out around the time I first got seriously involved in online gaming. Even such a limited (even for the time) online infrastructure would amaze someone like me who hadn't any experience playing a video game online. Wild World holds a special nostalgic place in my gaming heart, as I played with online folks I had never met, yet we enjoyed the company of one another in our online towns. The music of the Animal Crossing series also brings many memories coming back, and certainly tugs on my nostalgia greatly.
v1517. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (3DS) - With Mila's Divine Protection
My first actual Fire Emblem game I've played through and beaten was the Nintendo 3DS's Fire Emblem: Awakening, which I imagine was a starting point for many other players outside of those who jumped in with the Game Boy Advance Fire Emblem games. When I heard this theme within this past spring's Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, it sounded the memory bells. I knew this song. I heard it originally in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Hearing it remixed in an actual Fire Emblem game, and in the remake of the original Fire Emblem game it appeared in, was so satisfying to me as a listener.
v1518. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (Wii U) - Mid Boss Battle
There are a handful of Wii U games that need to make the jump over to the Nintendo Switch. There are obvious ones, but Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE was a late Wii U offering that released when the system was on its way out and most of the gaming world had its sights on the Switch. For those who gave this JRPG a try, however, they experienced a rewarding game that they would probably recommend to others. Unfortunately, the game's currently stuck on the Wii U. Perhaps a Switch port would give it a bigger audience? HINT! HINT!
v1519. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii) - Scorched Earth
Related to the Advance Wars series here in the West (and in Japan, even earlier than that with the Famicom Wars line of games), the Battalion Wars series forgoes the strategy RPG aspects of the Wars series for standard real time war gameplay, whether players assume the role of an infantryman, enter a vehicle like a tank, plane, or battleship. Battalion Wars 2 features similar gameplay to the GameCube original and expands on the types of missions included for an overall grander campaign. The symphonic score such as this piece played during the "Scorched Earth" mission highlights the exciting action on battlefields both big and small.
v1520. Yoshi's Story (N64) - Yo-Yo-Yoshi
Yoshi's Story's soundtrack features a lot of tunes that use the same melody to greater and lesser extents. This time around, the theme appears in limited quantities while the main star of the show is the "Yo-Yo-Yoshi" vocals popping up in this heavily funky tune. Yo-Yo-Yoshi is generally played in Yoshi's Story's cavern levels as Yoshi explores labyrinthine mazes searching for fruit to gobble up, preferably melons.
Showing posts with label best vgm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best vgm. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "A Different Day for a Special Milestone" Edition
No worries, all. I wasn't late with posting SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs this week. This edition being posted on a Tuesday serves a purpose as this is a very special edition of the Favorite VGMs indeed. We've finally arrived at the historic 1500th VGM volume of this long-running SPC staple as of this edition's conclusion! That means that this weekly series has now delivered 1,500 different video game songs to this site's readers from hundreds of different games across dozens of platforms!
Let's strike while the iron's hot and go in to what games are featured this week in this very special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Two Nintendo 3DS kick things off in the form of Metroid: Samus Returns and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (coincidentally, the latter being a game that will be reviewed later this week). Moving on from two Nintendo 3DS games we turn to two Nintendo GameCube games, F-Zero GX and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. Finally, the main star of this week's edition, the 1500th VGM is here, and it is a theme from Banjo-Kazooie, one of the best 3D platformers ever created, at least to a certain SuperPhillip Central writer here (wink, wink).
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs will resume its regular schedule of being posted on Mondays next week. Until then, check out this week's selection of tunes (just click on each volume's link to be redirected to the YouTube video featuring it), and as always, click on the VGM Database for all previous 1495 VGM volumes. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1496. Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS) - Surface of SR388
Let's start off this special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with the awesome return of Samus Aran and the Metroid franchise. After an absence of games since the Wii's Metroid: Other M, Metroid as a franchise exited from its 2D hibernation and graced fans with a remarkable Nintendo 3DS adventure. Metroid: Samus Returns serves as a reworking of Metroid II, originally on the Game Boy, and made for a better game, at least in this writer's opinion. One of my favorite themes from the Game Boy classic returned on the Nintendo 3DS in superior-sounding glory, the surface theme for planet SR388!
v1497. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (3DS) - Hoohoo Village
We go from a re-imagining to a complete remake with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, also for the Nintendo 3DS. (Slightly off-topic but too good not to include: expect a full review from SuperPhillip Central later this week!) Using the graphics engine of the previous Mario & Luigi games on the Nintendo 3DS, Superstar Saga was rebuilt and included some new improvements and even a bonus mode as well for posterity. The music was also updated courtesy of original composer Yoko Shimomura. This theme's named specially in the sound test of the game, but let's just stick with the name of the area the song plays to keep it simple!
v1498. F-Zero GX (GCN) - Cover of Mute City
F-Zero's Mute City theme has been heard in countless forms in and out of F-Zero games, but the one played in F-Zero GX is one of my favorites. This particular version is an unlockable within F-Zero GX that you can substitute for the techno/electronic theme that ordinarily plays on the Mute City tracks within the game. Along with this musical version of Mute City being one of my favorites, F-Zero GX happens to be my personal favorite F-Zero entry in the entire franchise. Here's hoping a Nintendo console will get the taste of another high-octane F-Zero game that will fulfill thirsty fans' need for speed.
v1499. Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (GCN) - Battle for Storm Hill
Another GameCube game on this week's edition is Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. I'm probably not telling you anything you didn't already know, but the team behind this nontraditional 2D platformer (after all, you control it by banging on a bongo drum, for Cranky Kong's sake!) would make their next game for Wii. It's something you might have heard of or read about called Super Mario Galaxy. In fact, this Friday they have a new game called Super Mario Odyssey that might make some waves. Who knows, though -- I'm not that smart when it comes to game predictions.
v1500. Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA) - Gruntilda's Lair
Here we are with a special game for a special VGM volume number! It's Banjo-Kazooie, one of my favorite 3D platformers and games of all time, and its song, Gruntilda's Lair, is the one represented as VGM volume #1500! Based off the villain's theme, this jaunty and spirited song plays while exploring the hub world of Banjo-Kazooie. Much larger than Peach's Castle in size, Gruntilda's Lair shows that bigger isn't always better, as more rooms to platform through means time it takes to get through it. Still, with this playful theme at your side, that's not too much of an annoyance.
Let's strike while the iron's hot and go in to what games are featured this week in this very special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Two Nintendo 3DS kick things off in the form of Metroid: Samus Returns and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (coincidentally, the latter being a game that will be reviewed later this week). Moving on from two Nintendo 3DS games we turn to two Nintendo GameCube games, F-Zero GX and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. Finally, the main star of this week's edition, the 1500th VGM is here, and it is a theme from Banjo-Kazooie, one of the best 3D platformers ever created, at least to a certain SuperPhillip Central writer here (wink, wink).
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs will resume its regular schedule of being posted on Mondays next week. Until then, check out this week's selection of tunes (just click on each volume's link to be redirected to the YouTube video featuring it), and as always, click on the VGM Database for all previous 1495 VGM volumes. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1496. Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS) - Surface of SR388
Let's start off this special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with the awesome return of Samus Aran and the Metroid franchise. After an absence of games since the Wii's Metroid: Other M, Metroid as a franchise exited from its 2D hibernation and graced fans with a remarkable Nintendo 3DS adventure. Metroid: Samus Returns serves as a reworking of Metroid II, originally on the Game Boy, and made for a better game, at least in this writer's opinion. One of my favorite themes from the Game Boy classic returned on the Nintendo 3DS in superior-sounding glory, the surface theme for planet SR388!
v1497. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (3DS) - Hoohoo Village
We go from a re-imagining to a complete remake with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, also for the Nintendo 3DS. (Slightly off-topic but too good not to include: expect a full review from SuperPhillip Central later this week!) Using the graphics engine of the previous Mario & Luigi games on the Nintendo 3DS, Superstar Saga was rebuilt and included some new improvements and even a bonus mode as well for posterity. The music was also updated courtesy of original composer Yoko Shimomura. This theme's named specially in the sound test of the game, but let's just stick with the name of the area the song plays to keep it simple!
v1498. F-Zero GX (GCN) - Cover of Mute City
F-Zero's Mute City theme has been heard in countless forms in and out of F-Zero games, but the one played in F-Zero GX is one of my favorites. This particular version is an unlockable within F-Zero GX that you can substitute for the techno/electronic theme that ordinarily plays on the Mute City tracks within the game. Along with this musical version of Mute City being one of my favorites, F-Zero GX happens to be my personal favorite F-Zero entry in the entire franchise. Here's hoping a Nintendo console will get the taste of another high-octane F-Zero game that will fulfill thirsty fans' need for speed.
v1499. Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (GCN) - Battle for Storm Hill
Another GameCube game on this week's edition is Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. I'm probably not telling you anything you didn't already know, but the team behind this nontraditional 2D platformer (after all, you control it by banging on a bongo drum, for Cranky Kong's sake!) would make their next game for Wii. It's something you might have heard of or read about called Super Mario Galaxy. In fact, this Friday they have a new game called Super Mario Odyssey that might make some waves. Who knows, though -- I'm not that smart when it comes to game predictions.
v1500. Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA) - Gruntilda's Lair
Here we are with a special game for a special VGM volume number! It's Banjo-Kazooie, one of my favorite 3D platformers and games of all time, and its song, Gruntilda's Lair, is the one represented as VGM volume #1500! Based off the villain's theme, this jaunty and spirited song plays while exploring the hub world of Banjo-Kazooie. Much larger than Peach's Castle in size, Gruntilda's Lair shows that bigger isn't always better, as more rooms to platform through means time it takes to get through it. Still, with this playful theme at your side, that's not too much of an annoyance.
Monday, August 14, 2017
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Down and Dirty With the Dark and Edgy" Edition
No, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs isn't sharing depressing music or anything somber this week! Far from it! Instead, it's delivering music from games that have dark undertones and/or settings, games with a bit of an edge to them, and songs that are featured in final boss fights against sinister villains.
Beginning with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, we will listen to a fantastic arranged theme from this third Castlevania on the Nintendo DS. Then, we move on and take flight with the arcade shmup Ikaruga before feeling the edge of Jak 3. Intelligent Systems' attempt at creating a successful new franchise for Nintendo may have backfired commercially, but Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. offers great music and gameplay to boot. Ending this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is a final boss theme from Final Fantasy XIII.
Just click on the VGM volume name to go to the YouTube page where you can hear that song. Per usual, check out SuperPhillip Central's VGM Database for every song mentioned on this weekly segment. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1446. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS) - Dusk Holy Mark (Arranged)
I have editions of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs planned out in weekly chunks, already having what games and songs I want to feature each week. A song from Anarchy Reigns was set for this edition to kick things off, but because of the horrific and terrifying events over the weekend in Charlottesville, the game, song, and lyrics in question were too inappropriate, tacky, and tasteless to use in this week's edition.
Instead, we have a wonderful replacement with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia! It's an arranged track from the game in the form of Dusk Holy Mark. The original song used in the Nintendo DS release was great enough already, but this arranged version is simply delightful as well. I find Order of Ecclesia to be one of the most difficult of the Metroid-styled Castlevanias out there. Would you agree?
v1447. Ikaruga (Multi) - Chapter 01 - Ideal
Take flight in this color-coded shmup that was originally released on the Sega Dreamcast and then later the Nintendo GameCube. Ikaruga's main gameplay feature is being to change colors to avoid enemy bullets. It's quite the bullet hell shooter, but this ability to change between two colors on the fly brings something new to the table. Plus, the game is addictive as all get out. This theme that represents Ikaruga on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs launches players into the fast and fluid action with some spirited music to accompany them.
v1448. Jak 3 (PS2) - Haven City Battle
It's no secret that I thought that Naughty Dog changing Jak from the first Jak and Daxter into an edgier version with guns was laughable at best and worthy of cringing at worst, but the games that succeeded The Precursor Legacy ended up being okay affairs all to their own. Influenced by open world games at the time like Grand Theft Auto--and what better way to connect with the kids than turning a colorful platformer into a gritty and edgy third-person shooter/platformer hybrid--Jak II and more impressively Jak 3 offered engaging gameplay and solid enough music to be enjoyable experiences.
v1449. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS) - Deadly Dance II
Intelligent Systems churned out challenging, innovative, and interesting new IP with Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., a strategy RPG that was quite atypical compared to its competition. The slowness of enemy turns created a lot of disinterest for the game, and while it was very quickly fixed with a patch soon after launch, the damage had already been done. Now, one can readily find a copy of Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. lingering in bargain bins for low prices. It's a shame, as not only is the gameplay really rewarding, but the style of the game in both creativity with the story and characters, the settings, the art, and of course, the music were all terrific. Well, I'm obviously speaking subjectively here.
v1450. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 360, PC) - Nascent Requiem
Last Thursday, SuperPhillip Central showed off a special edition of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History which showcased some recent awesome final boss battles. To round out this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, let's hear the theme for the final boss of Final Fantasy XIII. Despite a lot of things within the game that went wrong, leading to its negative critic and fan feedback, one part of Final Fantasy XIII that truly shined was Masashi Hamauzu's incredible score for the game. Seriously, take an afternoon to listen to the full soundtrack. You won't be disappointed.
Beginning with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, we will listen to a fantastic arranged theme from this third Castlevania on the Nintendo DS. Then, we move on and take flight with the arcade shmup Ikaruga before feeling the edge of Jak 3. Intelligent Systems' attempt at creating a successful new franchise for Nintendo may have backfired commercially, but Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. offers great music and gameplay to boot. Ending this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is a final boss theme from Final Fantasy XIII.
Just click on the VGM volume name to go to the YouTube page where you can hear that song. Per usual, check out SuperPhillip Central's VGM Database for every song mentioned on this weekly segment. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1446. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS) - Dusk Holy Mark (Arranged)
I have editions of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs planned out in weekly chunks, already having what games and songs I want to feature each week. A song from Anarchy Reigns was set for this edition to kick things off, but because of the horrific and terrifying events over the weekend in Charlottesville, the game, song, and lyrics in question were too inappropriate, tacky, and tasteless to use in this week's edition.
Instead, we have a wonderful replacement with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia! It's an arranged track from the game in the form of Dusk Holy Mark. The original song used in the Nintendo DS release was great enough already, but this arranged version is simply delightful as well. I find Order of Ecclesia to be one of the most difficult of the Metroid-styled Castlevanias out there. Would you agree?
v1447. Ikaruga (Multi) - Chapter 01 - Ideal
Take flight in this color-coded shmup that was originally released on the Sega Dreamcast and then later the Nintendo GameCube. Ikaruga's main gameplay feature is being to change colors to avoid enemy bullets. It's quite the bullet hell shooter, but this ability to change between two colors on the fly brings something new to the table. Plus, the game is addictive as all get out. This theme that represents Ikaruga on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs launches players into the fast and fluid action with some spirited music to accompany them.
v1448. Jak 3 (PS2) - Haven City Battle
It's no secret that I thought that Naughty Dog changing Jak from the first Jak and Daxter into an edgier version with guns was laughable at best and worthy of cringing at worst, but the games that succeeded The Precursor Legacy ended up being okay affairs all to their own. Influenced by open world games at the time like Grand Theft Auto--and what better way to connect with the kids than turning a colorful platformer into a gritty and edgy third-person shooter/platformer hybrid--Jak II and more impressively Jak 3 offered engaging gameplay and solid enough music to be enjoyable experiences.
v1449. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS) - Deadly Dance II
Intelligent Systems churned out challenging, innovative, and interesting new IP with Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., a strategy RPG that was quite atypical compared to its competition. The slowness of enemy turns created a lot of disinterest for the game, and while it was very quickly fixed with a patch soon after launch, the damage had already been done. Now, one can readily find a copy of Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. lingering in bargain bins for low prices. It's a shame, as not only is the gameplay really rewarding, but the style of the game in both creativity with the story and characters, the settings, the art, and of course, the music were all terrific. Well, I'm obviously speaking subjectively here.
v1450. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 360, PC) - Nascent Requiem
Last Thursday, SuperPhillip Central showed off a special edition of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History which showcased some recent awesome final boss battles. To round out this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, let's hear the theme for the final boss of Final Fantasy XIII. Despite a lot of things within the game that went wrong, leading to its negative critic and fan feedback, one part of Final Fantasy XIII that truly shined was Masashi Hamauzu's incredible score for the game. Seriously, take an afternoon to listen to the full soundtrack. You won't be disappointed.
Monday, June 5, 2017
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Anniversary Antics" Edition
As stated in an earlier post today, June 5, 2017 is SuperPhillip Central's nine-year anniversary! Let's continue the celebration with the Favorite VGMs! Every week around this day I post five new video game themes, sometimes themed, most of the time not so much.
This week we have a varied selection of games, as we usually are wont to have. Beginning with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't due to hype of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite), we hear an electric character selection theme. Moving on from there is a tense flight track from the Wii U game Star Fox Zero. Two PlayStation 2 classics then follow: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King and Gran Turismo 4. Finally, we round this celebratory edition of the Favorite VGMs out with another racing game, Mario Kart DS.
Just click on the VGM volume name to hear that song in YouTube form. Finally, click on the VGM Database link here to see all past VGMs featured on this weekly segment of SuperPhillip Central. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1411. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Multi) - Character Select
Using the main theme of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as the base for the character select theme, this is certainly much different and, at least for me, more exciting than hearing "Gonna Take You for A Ride" for the umpteenth time in a Marvel vs. Capcom game. The composer behind Ultimate and the base Marvel vs. Capcom 3 game before it, Hideyuki Fukasawa, also did the music for Street Fighter IV, its many bonus versions, and Street Fighter V.
v1412. Star Fox Zero (Wii U) - Sector Omega
Sector Omega is the penultimate mission in the quite polarizing Star Fox Zero. Its blistering fast speeds through space debris and enemy ships is an exhilarating ride all to itself. Coupled with the exciting theme, Sector Omega is one wild trip through the stars. It all concludes with an updated take on Star Fox 64's alternate Corneria path boss, this time in full 3D.
v1413. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2) - Majestic Castle ~ Gavotte de Chateau
Unfortunately, with all of its improvements and upgrades from the original PlayStation 2 version, the Nintendo 3DS port of Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King lacks the orchestrated goodness found in the PS2 game. Regardless, we've previously come across two great VGM volumes based on the PS2 base game, and that continues with this third for Gavotte de Chateau, a majestic theme for a majestic castle.
v1414. Gran Turismo 4 (PS2) - Green Monster
The Bad performed this track, an updated version of a theme from the very first Gran Turismo. It feels much more fitting for our current millennium. Green Monster is one of just a small fraction of wholly original themes that can be played while racing in the ultimate driving simulator. Everything else is mostly commercial music. Still, tracks like Green Monster certainly hold their own compared to all else on the Gran Turismo 4 soundtrack.
v1415. Mario Kart DS (DS) - Circuit
For our last VGM volume of our edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, celebrating nine years of SPC, we move from a realistic driving and racing game to a completely arcade and cartoon one with Mario Kart DS. This entry remains one of my favorites with its fun tracks and most of all, its Mission Mode. I could very much do without pulling off continuous mini-turbos to perform a "snaking" mechanic, but overall, I really enjoyed Mario Kart DS.
This week we have a varied selection of games, as we usually are wont to have. Beginning with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't due to hype of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite), we hear an electric character selection theme. Moving on from there is a tense flight track from the Wii U game Star Fox Zero. Two PlayStation 2 classics then follow: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King and Gran Turismo 4. Finally, we round this celebratory edition of the Favorite VGMs out with another racing game, Mario Kart DS.
Just click on the VGM volume name to hear that song in YouTube form. Finally, click on the VGM Database link here to see all past VGMs featured on this weekly segment of SuperPhillip Central. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1411. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Multi) - Character Select
Using the main theme of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as the base for the character select theme, this is certainly much different and, at least for me, more exciting than hearing "Gonna Take You for A Ride" for the umpteenth time in a Marvel vs. Capcom game. The composer behind Ultimate and the base Marvel vs. Capcom 3 game before it, Hideyuki Fukasawa, also did the music for Street Fighter IV, its many bonus versions, and Street Fighter V.
v1412. Star Fox Zero (Wii U) - Sector Omega
Sector Omega is the penultimate mission in the quite polarizing Star Fox Zero. Its blistering fast speeds through space debris and enemy ships is an exhilarating ride all to itself. Coupled with the exciting theme, Sector Omega is one wild trip through the stars. It all concludes with an updated take on Star Fox 64's alternate Corneria path boss, this time in full 3D.
v1413. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2) - Majestic Castle ~ Gavotte de Chateau
Unfortunately, with all of its improvements and upgrades from the original PlayStation 2 version, the Nintendo 3DS port of Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King lacks the orchestrated goodness found in the PS2 game. Regardless, we've previously come across two great VGM volumes based on the PS2 base game, and that continues with this third for Gavotte de Chateau, a majestic theme for a majestic castle.
v1414. Gran Turismo 4 (PS2) - Green Monster
The Bad performed this track, an updated version of a theme from the very first Gran Turismo. It feels much more fitting for our current millennium. Green Monster is one of just a small fraction of wholly original themes that can be played while racing in the ultimate driving simulator. Everything else is mostly commercial music. Still, tracks like Green Monster certainly hold their own compared to all else on the Gran Turismo 4 soundtrack.
v1415. Mario Kart DS (DS) - Circuit
For our last VGM volume of our edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, celebrating nine years of SPC, we move from a realistic driving and racing game to a completely arcade and cartoon one with Mario Kart DS. This entry remains one of my favorites with its fun tracks and most of all, its Mission Mode. I could very much do without pulling off continuous mini-turbos to perform a "snaking" mechanic, but overall, I really enjoyed Mario Kart DS.
Monday, May 22, 2017
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Mario Madness 2017" Edition
Fresh off the excitement of SuperPhillip Central's 750th review which featured Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs continues the wave of celebration with an all-Mario edition to kick off this next batch of one-hundred VGM volumes.
We begin this Mario-fied edition of the VGMs with Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D Land, a duo of Mario games in a similar style. Then, we go retro in a big way with Super Mario Bros. 3 before returning to the present with Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. Finally, we go back to the past with Super Mario Land, and a catchy theme at that.
Just click on the VGM volume name to hear the song described. Click on the VGM Database link right here to hear all 1400 past VGM volumes. If you didn't know by now, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs have been going on for a good while now! Now, let's get on to the music!
v1401. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U) - Switch Scramble Circus
We begin with a celebratory uptempo theme from one of Super Mario 3D World's earliest stages, a song that appears in every circus-based level in the game. Whether Mario and friends are vaulting from trapeze to trapeze, scrambling across switches, or on the big stage, this high energy theme plays, a great way to kick off the first of our 1400th series of VGM volumes!
v1402. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) - Castle Theme
But, before there was Super Mario 3D World on Wii U, there was Super Mario 3D Land on the Nintendo 3DS. It merged the 2D style of point-to-point platforming and flagpole goals with 3D environments and spaces. An awesome game, and the castle levels were some of the greatest found in the game, all ending with a confrontation with either Bowser or Dry Bowser (and all based on platforming which I really loved). This tense tune lets you know you're in for a challenge indeed!
v1403. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - Waterfront (Akihabara Electric Circus Version)
A special soundtrack was released alongside the launch of Super Mario Bros. 3 featuring performances, medleys, and remixes from the the game, all done by the Akihabara Electric Circus. This particular track is a combination of multiple themes, such as the Dark Land theme, but mostly the theme of Water Land, hence its title of Waterfront. It's definitely got a '90s feel to it, but it still manages to be satisfying to the ears.
v1404. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS) - Where's Toad?
Where's Toad? Well, Toads are everywhere in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, and that was one of the problems a good deal of players and critics had with the game. I didn't dislike the game as much as some players did, but one spot that everyone was agreement with was how good the soundtrack was. Then again, how could it have been bad when Yoko Shimomura was behind it! This theme plays during one of many sections in Paper Jam where Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario must hunt for missing Toads.
v1405. Super Mario Land (GB) - Muda Kingdom
Super Mario Land stands as one of the weakest Mario platformers to me, even being a little weaker than the very vanilla New Super Mario Bros. That said, I happen to like both games regardless. "Hip" Tanaka provided a much better soundtrack to Super Mario Land than Nintendo's new batch of composers did with New Super Mario Bros., and the proof is in themes like this, the Muda Kingdom's theme. Catchy, infectious, and delightful, Tanaka-san's work is exquisite.
We begin this Mario-fied edition of the VGMs with Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D Land, a duo of Mario games in a similar style. Then, we go retro in a big way with Super Mario Bros. 3 before returning to the present with Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. Finally, we go back to the past with Super Mario Land, and a catchy theme at that.
Just click on the VGM volume name to hear the song described. Click on the VGM Database link right here to hear all 1400 past VGM volumes. If you didn't know by now, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs have been going on for a good while now! Now, let's get on to the music!
v1401. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U) - Switch Scramble Circus
We begin with a celebratory uptempo theme from one of Super Mario 3D World's earliest stages, a song that appears in every circus-based level in the game. Whether Mario and friends are vaulting from trapeze to trapeze, scrambling across switches, or on the big stage, this high energy theme plays, a great way to kick off the first of our 1400th series of VGM volumes!
v1402. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) - Castle Theme
But, before there was Super Mario 3D World on Wii U, there was Super Mario 3D Land on the Nintendo 3DS. It merged the 2D style of point-to-point platforming and flagpole goals with 3D environments and spaces. An awesome game, and the castle levels were some of the greatest found in the game, all ending with a confrontation with either Bowser or Dry Bowser (and all based on platforming which I really loved). This tense tune lets you know you're in for a challenge indeed!
v1403. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - Waterfront (Akihabara Electric Circus Version)
A special soundtrack was released alongside the launch of Super Mario Bros. 3 featuring performances, medleys, and remixes from the the game, all done by the Akihabara Electric Circus. This particular track is a combination of multiple themes, such as the Dark Land theme, but mostly the theme of Water Land, hence its title of Waterfront. It's definitely got a '90s feel to it, but it still manages to be satisfying to the ears.
v1404. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS) - Where's Toad?
Where's Toad? Well, Toads are everywhere in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, and that was one of the problems a good deal of players and critics had with the game. I didn't dislike the game as much as some players did, but one spot that everyone was agreement with was how good the soundtrack was. Then again, how could it have been bad when Yoko Shimomura was behind it! This theme plays during one of many sections in Paper Jam where Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario must hunt for missing Toads.
v1405. Super Mario Land (GB) - Muda Kingdom
Super Mario Land stands as one of the weakest Mario platformers to me, even being a little weaker than the very vanilla New Super Mario Bros. That said, I happen to like both games regardless. "Hip" Tanaka provided a much better soundtrack to Super Mario Land than Nintendo's new batch of composers did with New Super Mario Bros., and the proof is in themes like this, the Muda Kingdom's theme. Catchy, infectious, and delightful, Tanaka-san's work is exquisite.
Monday, November 14, 2016
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Second Xenoverse, Not the Same as the First" Edition
A new week brings a new series of video game music to your ears! It's SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, and five more VGM volumes are here! We're in the middle of November, and the temperatures are slowly but steadily falling.
This week, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 kicks things off. Then, we shrink things down Minish-size with The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour launches a shot from the tee, while Mighty No. 9 brings a boss battle theme into the fray. Finally, the original Suikoden wraps things up this week.
Click on the name of the VGM volume to hear the song featured. Lastly, the VGM Database is still around for you to see and hear past VGM volumes featured on this weekly SuperPhillip Central segment.
v1266. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (PS4, XB1, PC) - Hyperbolic Time Chamber Stage
Let's begin this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a song from a recent release, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Improvements were made to the battle system, and hopefully that also goes to the RNG of unlocking moves and costumes! What didn't need improvement, however, was the fantastic soundtrack of the original game. The music is just as good from what I've heard so far from Xenoverse 2. Check out this theme for the Hyperbolic Time Chamber stage of the game.
v1267. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) - Hyrule Town
One of the most underrated Zelda games in my opinion is The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. It was the last Zelda that Capcom developed. It was just as special as its Oracle duo of titles from the Game Boy Color. Hyrule Town is planted right in the middle of the kingdom of Hyrule, and there, houses and neighbors go forth, living their lives. And it's all to this upbeat and catchy theme!
v1268. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) - Ring Attack
It might no longer be golf season in most areas of the United States, but that isn't stopping the Favorite VGMs from incorporating a song from Mario Golf's GameCube outing. Ring Attack is a mode where the goal is to not only drive and chip the ball through one ring or several, but you must also make it in the hole with at least par. Motoi Sakuraba is the constant composer behind Camelot Software Planning's various games, and without him, a great deal of what makes the sound of the developer's games would be lost.
v1269. Mighty No. 9 (Multi) - Allies Obstruct
I cannot really remember a lot of themes from the disappointing Mighty No. 9. This is mostly in part due to how much talking from the characters goes on in stages. However, I do very much enjoy the boss battle theme, which pits Beck, Mighty No. 9, against the corrupted Mighty Numbers that plague the city. This rock-centric boss battle theme keeps fights engaging and frenetic.
v1270. Suikoden (PS1) - Beautiful Golden City ~ Gregminster Theme
Let's cap off this week's edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a uptempo city theme with a Middle Eastern flair. It's theme for Gregminster of the original Suikoden, yet another franchise locked tight in the chest that is Konami's. Here's hoping Konami one day starts using its immense catalog of franchises once more. Ah, a boy can dream...
This week, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 kicks things off. Then, we shrink things down Minish-size with The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour launches a shot from the tee, while Mighty No. 9 brings a boss battle theme into the fray. Finally, the original Suikoden wraps things up this week.
Click on the name of the VGM volume to hear the song featured. Lastly, the VGM Database is still around for you to see and hear past VGM volumes featured on this weekly SuperPhillip Central segment.
v1266. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (PS4, XB1, PC) - Hyperbolic Time Chamber Stage
Let's begin this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a song from a recent release, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Improvements were made to the battle system, and hopefully that also goes to the RNG of unlocking moves and costumes! What didn't need improvement, however, was the fantastic soundtrack of the original game. The music is just as good from what I've heard so far from Xenoverse 2. Check out this theme for the Hyperbolic Time Chamber stage of the game.
v1267. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) - Hyrule Town
One of the most underrated Zelda games in my opinion is The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. It was the last Zelda that Capcom developed. It was just as special as its Oracle duo of titles from the Game Boy Color. Hyrule Town is planted right in the middle of the kingdom of Hyrule, and there, houses and neighbors go forth, living their lives. And it's all to this upbeat and catchy theme!
v1268. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) - Ring Attack
It might no longer be golf season in most areas of the United States, but that isn't stopping the Favorite VGMs from incorporating a song from Mario Golf's GameCube outing. Ring Attack is a mode where the goal is to not only drive and chip the ball through one ring or several, but you must also make it in the hole with at least par. Motoi Sakuraba is the constant composer behind Camelot Software Planning's various games, and without him, a great deal of what makes the sound of the developer's games would be lost.
v1269. Mighty No. 9 (Multi) - Allies Obstruct
I cannot really remember a lot of themes from the disappointing Mighty No. 9. This is mostly in part due to how much talking from the characters goes on in stages. However, I do very much enjoy the boss battle theme, which pits Beck, Mighty No. 9, against the corrupted Mighty Numbers that plague the city. This rock-centric boss battle theme keeps fights engaging and frenetic.
v1270. Suikoden (PS1) - Beautiful Golden City ~ Gregminster Theme
Let's cap off this week's edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a uptempo city theme with a Middle Eastern flair. It's theme for Gregminster of the original Suikoden, yet another franchise locked tight in the chest that is Konami's. Here's hoping Konami one day starts using its immense catalog of franchises once more. Ah, a boy can dream...
Monday, July 25, 2016
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Retro-ing Out of July Edition
Another Monday means another edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs! This week the VGMs bring some retro goodness into your lives and your ears!
We start off fast and loose with a song from Sonic Advance 2. Continuing with the sequel idea, we then jump into Shenmue 2. Streets of Rage follows with its well known boss theme, and then we go into a puzzle mood with Tetris Attack. Finally, Mega Man 5 wraps things up with a song from the Complete Works version.
Just click on the VGM volume name to hear its song. And as always, check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes featured. Now, let's get onto the music!
v1191. Sonic Advance 2 (GBA) - Leaf Forest Zone, Act 1
The first level of Sonic Advance 2 takes Sonic and the gang to the Leaf Forest Zone, an engaging first zone in the game full of places to speed through with wild abandon. Despite the Game Boy Advance's sound chip being relatively weak, composers did their best to produce good music and sound regardless, as heard with this song.
v1192. Shenmue 2 (XBX) - Dou Niu Rooftop Battle
With the upcoming Shenmue 3, it seems like an opportune time to bring up one of the two other Shenmue games. However, rather than go for the obvious pick with the revolutionary and more well known Dreamcast Shenmue, I'm going with the Xbox sequel. While the track name isn't official by any stretch of the imagination, what is genuine here is just how good this battle theme sounds.
v1193. Streets of Rage (GEN) - Stage Boss
We continue our Sega theme for one more VGM with the boss theme of the excellent beat-em-up Streets of Rage for the Sega Genesis. Yuzo Koshiro shows his brilliance with a catchy theme that makes for great background music to beating up the bigger threats that Streets of Rage possesses enemy-wise.
v1194. Tetris Attack (SNES) - Ice World - Bumpty Stage
Developed by Intelligent Systems, Tetris Attack is the western version of the Super Famicom's Panel de Pon. Instead of original characters like the Japanese version had, Tetris Attack used a Yoshi's Island theme with it. Tetris Attack remains one of my favorite falling block puzzle games for any platform. It's addicting, easy to learn, but tough to master.
v1195. Mega Man 5 (NES, PS1) - Gravity Man (Complete Works Version)
Various Mega Man games got a second life on the PlayStation with a Complete Works version. This brought the NES classics to Sony's system with new remixed songs. The example here is for Mega Man 5's Gravity Man stage. Whether you prefer the beeps and boops of the original NES soundtrack or these new renditions on the PS1, you're getting some wonderfully infectious music regardless.
We start off fast and loose with a song from Sonic Advance 2. Continuing with the sequel idea, we then jump into Shenmue 2. Streets of Rage follows with its well known boss theme, and then we go into a puzzle mood with Tetris Attack. Finally, Mega Man 5 wraps things up with a song from the Complete Works version.
Just click on the VGM volume name to hear its song. And as always, check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes featured. Now, let's get onto the music!
v1191. Sonic Advance 2 (GBA) - Leaf Forest Zone, Act 1
The first level of Sonic Advance 2 takes Sonic and the gang to the Leaf Forest Zone, an engaging first zone in the game full of places to speed through with wild abandon. Despite the Game Boy Advance's sound chip being relatively weak, composers did their best to produce good music and sound regardless, as heard with this song.
v1192. Shenmue 2 (XBX) - Dou Niu Rooftop Battle
With the upcoming Shenmue 3, it seems like an opportune time to bring up one of the two other Shenmue games. However, rather than go for the obvious pick with the revolutionary and more well known Dreamcast Shenmue, I'm going with the Xbox sequel. While the track name isn't official by any stretch of the imagination, what is genuine here is just how good this battle theme sounds.
v1193. Streets of Rage (GEN) - Stage Boss
We continue our Sega theme for one more VGM with the boss theme of the excellent beat-em-up Streets of Rage for the Sega Genesis. Yuzo Koshiro shows his brilliance with a catchy theme that makes for great background music to beating up the bigger threats that Streets of Rage possesses enemy-wise.
v1194. Tetris Attack (SNES) - Ice World - Bumpty Stage
Developed by Intelligent Systems, Tetris Attack is the western version of the Super Famicom's Panel de Pon. Instead of original characters like the Japanese version had, Tetris Attack used a Yoshi's Island theme with it. Tetris Attack remains one of my favorite falling block puzzle games for any platform. It's addicting, easy to learn, but tough to master.
v1195. Mega Man 5 (NES, PS1) - Gravity Man (Complete Works Version)
Various Mega Man games got a second life on the PlayStation with a Complete Works version. This brought the NES classics to Sony's system with new remixed songs. The example here is for Mega Man 5's Gravity Man stage. Whether you prefer the beeps and boops of the original NES soundtrack or these new renditions on the PS1, you're getting some wonderfully infectious music regardless.
Monday, July 18, 2016
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Back from Vacay! Edition
A storm with heavy winds erupted in the Central City area last week, resulting in power going out for about 48 hours in my neck of the woods. It gave me an impromptu vacation from the site, but now I'm back with regular updates for SuperPhillip Central, and that starts with a new edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs!
This week we kick things off with a battle theme from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. We then rock out with a menu theme from Sin and Punishment: Star Successor. Buck Bumble gives us an atypical title theme that gets us bum to the bass. Mega Man Battle Network then gives us a triumphant victory theme after a hard-fought battle, and finally, Final Fantasy V bestows this edition with a song great to begin a fun adventure with.
As always, just click on the VGM volume name to listen to the song mentioned. And also, as always, the VGM Database is there if you want to be linked to the 1,185 VGM volumes previously listed on the old Favorite VGMs!
v1186. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN) - Battle Theme
Perhaps this is blasphemy, but I find the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door soundtrack to be the weakest in the Paper Mario series. In fact, as unpopular an opinion this may be, but I find the Sticker Star soundtrack to be the best and most varied. Regardless, the battle theme of Thousand-Year Door has the motif of the Super Mario Bros. main theme sprinkled throughout it. Get ready to battle and perform well on stage to give the audience a battle for the ages!
v1187. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor (Wii) - Menu
It was amazing to see Nintendo actually come out with a sequel to what was formerly a Japan-only Nintendo 64 game. Two generations later, Wii owners across the globe got to enjoy Treasure's sequel to Sin and Punishment, the glorious Star Successor. The music has a heavy rock focus as evident from the sensational menu theme. It's almost worth the price of entry alone! ...Well... almost!
v1188. Buck Bumble (N64) - Title Screen
The slightly out-there pick of the Favorite VGMs this week, Buck Bumble's title screen theme is a rhythm rappin' delight. Bum to the Bass, baby! Buck Bumble itself is a widely overlooked gem in the Nintendo 64 library, a console that wasn't short of games that some consider cult classics and diamonds in the rough.
v1189. Mega Man Battle Network (GBA) - Winner!
You've just deleted a series of viruses or evil Net Navi. What is your present? Well, not only some zenny and perhaps even a new chip, but you also get this peppy victory theme! Well done, Mega Man.EXE. Your virus busting abilities are top notch, and you're just the Navi to save the Web from the WWW!
v1190. Final Fantasy V (SNES) - Ahead On Our Way
The west missed out on Final Fantasy V when it originally released. We'd see it finally hit our side of the world with the Final Fantasy Anthology for the PS1, containing both Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI on one disc. Ahead On Our Way is the opening theme for the former, a catchy song that gets one invigorated and in the mood for adventure!
This week we kick things off with a battle theme from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. We then rock out with a menu theme from Sin and Punishment: Star Successor. Buck Bumble gives us an atypical title theme that gets us bum to the bass. Mega Man Battle Network then gives us a triumphant victory theme after a hard-fought battle, and finally, Final Fantasy V bestows this edition with a song great to begin a fun adventure with.
As always, just click on the VGM volume name to listen to the song mentioned. And also, as always, the VGM Database is there if you want to be linked to the 1,185 VGM volumes previously listed on the old Favorite VGMs!
v1186. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN) - Battle Theme
Perhaps this is blasphemy, but I find the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door soundtrack to be the weakest in the Paper Mario series. In fact, as unpopular an opinion this may be, but I find the Sticker Star soundtrack to be the best and most varied. Regardless, the battle theme of Thousand-Year Door has the motif of the Super Mario Bros. main theme sprinkled throughout it. Get ready to battle and perform well on stage to give the audience a battle for the ages!
v1187. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor (Wii) - Menu
It was amazing to see Nintendo actually come out with a sequel to what was formerly a Japan-only Nintendo 64 game. Two generations later, Wii owners across the globe got to enjoy Treasure's sequel to Sin and Punishment, the glorious Star Successor. The music has a heavy rock focus as evident from the sensational menu theme. It's almost worth the price of entry alone! ...Well... almost!
v1188. Buck Bumble (N64) - Title Screen
The slightly out-there pick of the Favorite VGMs this week, Buck Bumble's title screen theme is a rhythm rappin' delight. Bum to the Bass, baby! Buck Bumble itself is a widely overlooked gem in the Nintendo 64 library, a console that wasn't short of games that some consider cult classics and diamonds in the rough.
v1189. Mega Man Battle Network (GBA) - Winner!
You've just deleted a series of viruses or evil Net Navi. What is your present? Well, not only some zenny and perhaps even a new chip, but you also get this peppy victory theme! Well done, Mega Man.EXE. Your virus busting abilities are top notch, and you're just the Navi to save the Web from the WWW!
v1190. Final Fantasy V (SNES) - Ahead On Our Way
The west missed out on Final Fantasy V when it originally released. We'd see it finally hit our side of the world with the Final Fantasy Anthology for the PS1, containing both Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI on one disc. Ahead On Our Way is the opening theme for the former, a catchy song that gets one invigorated and in the mood for adventure!
Monday, June 27, 2016
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Back from a Short Break Edition
I'm back from an extended weekend for a new installment of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs! Just click on the VGM volume link to be taken to that song's YouTube video!
This week I'm dedicating this edition to colorful mascots. We start off with Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Then we take a trip with Klonoa in Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil. Following that is a voyage to space in Bomberman 64: The Second Attack. Then, Blinx the Time Sweeper represents the original Xbox, and Mario Hoops 3 on 3 wraps things up.
As always, check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes featured on this weekly segment. Now, on to the music!
v1171. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (PS1) - Warp Room
To celebrate the announcement of Crash Bandicoot's original three games getting the remake treatment on the PlayStation 4, here is a song from the third game in the series, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. This catchy tune plays in the room where you transport to the game's various levels.
v1172. Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2) - Moonlight Museum Ver. 1
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil is a severely overlooked PlayStation 2 platformer from a series that doesn't get its due diligence. Sure, some gamers have gotten to experience the glory of Klonoa, but not enough! This ethereal theme from Klonoa 2 plays in the Maze of Memories. The alternate version of this song can be heard here.
v1173. Bomberman 64: The Second Attack (N64) - Planet Select
The theme that plays on the planetary map in the intergalactic adventure Bomberman 64: The Second Attack, Yasunori Mitsuda of Chrono Trigger, Cross, and Xenogears fame composed the music for this game, as one of his more under-appreciated roles. Good luck finding a copy of this game if you don't have one already. Used, cartridge-only copies can easily go for $150+!
v1174. Blinx the Time Sweeper (XBX) - Forgotten City
Some platforming stars have stuck with us to today: Mario, Sonic, and even Rayman. However, most have not. The Xbox's Blinx the Time Sweeper is one of the latter, and actually saw two games devoted to the time-shifting feline mascot. Still, while the games weren't the most interesting around on the Xbox, the music was quite good, as Forgotten City is a nice example of.
v1175. Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (DS) - Bowser Castle
A heavy metal version of the castle theme from the original Super Mario Bros., Bowser Castle's theme is pure rockin' awesomeness. Masayoshi Soken, the composer for Mario Hoops 3 on 3 would go on to compose many of the pieces for the expansion to Final Fantasy XIV. How far he has traveled as a composer in this industry!
This week I'm dedicating this edition to colorful mascots. We start off with Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Then we take a trip with Klonoa in Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil. Following that is a voyage to space in Bomberman 64: The Second Attack. Then, Blinx the Time Sweeper represents the original Xbox, and Mario Hoops 3 on 3 wraps things up.
As always, check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes featured on this weekly segment. Now, on to the music!
v1171. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (PS1) - Warp Room
To celebrate the announcement of Crash Bandicoot's original three games getting the remake treatment on the PlayStation 4, here is a song from the third game in the series, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. This catchy tune plays in the room where you transport to the game's various levels.
v1172. Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2) - Moonlight Museum Ver. 1
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil is a severely overlooked PlayStation 2 platformer from a series that doesn't get its due diligence. Sure, some gamers have gotten to experience the glory of Klonoa, but not enough! This ethereal theme from Klonoa 2 plays in the Maze of Memories. The alternate version of this song can be heard here.
v1173. Bomberman 64: The Second Attack (N64) - Planet Select
The theme that plays on the planetary map in the intergalactic adventure Bomberman 64: The Second Attack, Yasunori Mitsuda of Chrono Trigger, Cross, and Xenogears fame composed the music for this game, as one of his more under-appreciated roles. Good luck finding a copy of this game if you don't have one already. Used, cartridge-only copies can easily go for $150+!
v1174. Blinx the Time Sweeper (XBX) - Forgotten City
Some platforming stars have stuck with us to today: Mario, Sonic, and even Rayman. However, most have not. The Xbox's Blinx the Time Sweeper is one of the latter, and actually saw two games devoted to the time-shifting feline mascot. Still, while the games weren't the most interesting around on the Xbox, the music was quite good, as Forgotten City is a nice example of.
v1175. Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (DS) - Bowser Castle
A heavy metal version of the castle theme from the original Super Mario Bros., Bowser Castle's theme is pure rockin' awesomeness. Masayoshi Soken, the composer for Mario Hoops 3 on 3 would go on to compose many of the pieces for the expansion to Final Fantasy XIV. How far he has traveled as a composer in this industry!
Monday, June 20, 2016
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Summer Solstice 2016 Edition
Wasn't it just two days ago that we dipped into an edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs together? Why, yes, it was, but now the old VGMs are back on a Monday where they belong! Today is the first day of summer, and boy, the temps out there make me believe it!
This week's summer solstice edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs starts off with a blazing hot orchestral rendition of Star Fox 64's Katina theme as heard in Star Fox Assault. Then we go to the forest in two games, Donkey Kong and The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse. We then sneak into Blackwell Mansion in LEGO City Undercover, and end this edition with a battle theme from The Legend of Legacy.
Just click on the VGM title to hear a given song. And if you want even more VGM goodness, then check out the VGM Database! And now, on to the music!
v1166. Star Fox Assault (GCN) - Katina (Frontier Serenade)
Listed last week as my third favorite Star Fox game in SPC's Rank Up segment, Star Fox Assault sports my favorite soundtrack from the Star Fox series, sporting delightfully orchestrated tunes. Many of its tunes are taken from Star Fox 64, such as this one for Katina. The opening fanfare rouses much excitement inside my body. It's just a phenomenal song in a phenomenal soundtrack.
v1167. Donkey Kong (GB) - Forest
Originally coming into Donkey Kong's Game Boy romp, I, like many players at the time, were lulled into a false sense of security, expecting and receiving traditionally Donkey Kong "reach the top of the level" gameplay much like the arcade game. What I got after the initial four levels was an amazing puzzle platformer, and one of the original Game Boy's greatest games.
v1168. The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES, GBA) - Treetops
The Treetops is the first of six worlds in the highly enjoyable The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, released originally in 1993 on the Super Nintendo and then later ported to the Game Boy Advance almost a decade later. The soundtrack is pure '90s Capcom goodness with instrumentation as heard in a game quite unlike this one, Capcom's own Breath of Fire.
v1169. LEGO City Undercover (Wii U) - Blackwell Mansion
LEGO City Undercover's soundtrack is home to various '70s cop show and spy themes. Blackwell Mansion, one of the 15 missions in the game, has a theme that's the latter. The smooth sax and accompanying brass sends shivers down my spine, especially when I'm infiltrating said mansion.
v1170. The Legend of Legacy (3DS) - Twin-Dimensional Battle
Masashi Hamauzu is the composer behind the music for The Legend of Legacy, a critically panned Nintendo 3DS RPG which very much has old school sensibilities to it. The highlight of the game is the score, done beautifully by Hamauzu, who's most known work is the Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack, another panned game by RPG enthusiasts.
This week's summer solstice edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs starts off with a blazing hot orchestral rendition of Star Fox 64's Katina theme as heard in Star Fox Assault. Then we go to the forest in two games, Donkey Kong and The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse. We then sneak into Blackwell Mansion in LEGO City Undercover, and end this edition with a battle theme from The Legend of Legacy.
Just click on the VGM title to hear a given song. And if you want even more VGM goodness, then check out the VGM Database! And now, on to the music!
v1166. Star Fox Assault (GCN) - Katina (Frontier Serenade)
Listed last week as my third favorite Star Fox game in SPC's Rank Up segment, Star Fox Assault sports my favorite soundtrack from the Star Fox series, sporting delightfully orchestrated tunes. Many of its tunes are taken from Star Fox 64, such as this one for Katina. The opening fanfare rouses much excitement inside my body. It's just a phenomenal song in a phenomenal soundtrack.
v1167. Donkey Kong (GB) - Forest
Originally coming into Donkey Kong's Game Boy romp, I, like many players at the time, were lulled into a false sense of security, expecting and receiving traditionally Donkey Kong "reach the top of the level" gameplay much like the arcade game. What I got after the initial four levels was an amazing puzzle platformer, and one of the original Game Boy's greatest games.
v1168. The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES, GBA) - Treetops
The Treetops is the first of six worlds in the highly enjoyable The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, released originally in 1993 on the Super Nintendo and then later ported to the Game Boy Advance almost a decade later. The soundtrack is pure '90s Capcom goodness with instrumentation as heard in a game quite unlike this one, Capcom's own Breath of Fire.
v1169. LEGO City Undercover (Wii U) - Blackwell Mansion
LEGO City Undercover's soundtrack is home to various '70s cop show and spy themes. Blackwell Mansion, one of the 15 missions in the game, has a theme that's the latter. The smooth sax and accompanying brass sends shivers down my spine, especially when I'm infiltrating said mansion.
v1170. The Legend of Legacy (3DS) - Twin-Dimensional Battle
Masashi Hamauzu is the composer behind the music for The Legend of Legacy, a critically panned Nintendo 3DS RPG which very much has old school sensibilities to it. The highlight of the game is the score, done beautifully by Hamauzu, who's most known work is the Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack, another panned game by RPG enthusiasts.
Monday, April 4, 2016
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - An Intro to April Edition
This edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is the first of April, and I have some excellent VGM goodness to share with SPC's readers this week. We begin with a beautiful and quaint theme from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Then, we go to war, but the cute and adorable kind with Battalion Wars 2. The Rabbids take control with Rabbids Go Home for the Wii, Mega Man scours the net in Mega Man Network Transmission, and Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles wraps things up.
Whether you want to wait until after you've listened to this week's five VGMs or want to jump in immediately, the VGM Database is where you can listen to an immaculate compilation of the best video game songs in the history of the medium. Go on, give it a try!
v1111. Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS) - Shh... Easy now girl. I won't hurt you.
What a provocative song title! We kick things off on this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a song from Fire Emblem: Awakening. It's a lighthearted affair with strings, woodwinds, and piano. It's the type of pretty song that I can let play from beginning to end with this extended YouTube version.
v1112. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii) - Up Periscope
I'm going to let the cat out of the bag and let you know that this week I'm planning a top ten on long lost Nintendo franchises that I'd love to see return on Nintendo's upcoming codename NX console. Battalion Wars is one of these franchises, and it's such an awesome action-packed series that makes war seem adorable. I don't know how war veterans would take such a cute approach and representation to the frontlines, but that's a topic for another day!
v1113. Rabbids Go Home (Wii) - Ciocarlia
One of the more underrated games on the Wii's massively underrated library, Rabbids Go Home had the funk of past Rabbids games that were merely mini-game collections. This is all the while Rabbids Go Home being an action adventure with some platforming elements. The soundtrack is a treat for the ears, inspired by Romanian folk music. It's wild, wacky, and wonderful!
v1114. Mega Man Network Transmission (GCN) - Garden System (Needle Man's Stage)
Needle Man's stage is based in a zone of the net that is teeming with plant and garden life. Watch out for the thorns of all shapes and sizes, as well as enemies that look to do nothing by erase Mega Man.EXE from existence. Mega Man Network Transmission is one of the harder Mega Man games released, but it's not for 100% the right reasons. Regardless, the soundtrack is full of synthesized goodness that makes at a play-through worthwhile.
v1115. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP) - Red Dawn
Combo breaker! What I mean by that is that we've had four games from Nintendo systems thus far. Let's end with a PSP game, and a fantastic one at that, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, a remake of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood with some bonus unlockable games in its package. Red Dawn is a level theme that fits the Gothic mood of this game tremendously.
Whether you want to wait until after you've listened to this week's five VGMs or want to jump in immediately, the VGM Database is where you can listen to an immaculate compilation of the best video game songs in the history of the medium. Go on, give it a try!
v1111. Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS) - Shh... Easy now girl. I won't hurt you.
What a provocative song title! We kick things off on this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a song from Fire Emblem: Awakening. It's a lighthearted affair with strings, woodwinds, and piano. It's the type of pretty song that I can let play from beginning to end with this extended YouTube version.
v1112. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii) - Up Periscope
v1113. Rabbids Go Home (Wii) - Ciocarlia
One of the more underrated games on the Wii's massively underrated library, Rabbids Go Home had the funk of past Rabbids games that were merely mini-game collections. This is all the while Rabbids Go Home being an action adventure with some platforming elements. The soundtrack is a treat for the ears, inspired by Romanian folk music. It's wild, wacky, and wonderful!
v1114. Mega Man Network Transmission (GCN) - Garden System (Needle Man's Stage)
Needle Man's stage is based in a zone of the net that is teeming with plant and garden life. Watch out for the thorns of all shapes and sizes, as well as enemies that look to do nothing by erase Mega Man.EXE from existence. Mega Man Network Transmission is one of the harder Mega Man games released, but it's not for 100% the right reasons. Regardless, the soundtrack is full of synthesized goodness that makes at a play-through worthwhile.
v1115. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP) - Red Dawn
Combo breaker! What I mean by that is that we've had four games from Nintendo systems thus far. Let's end with a PSP game, and a fantastic one at that, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, a remake of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood with some bonus unlockable games in its package. Red Dawn is a level theme that fits the Gothic mood of this game tremendously.
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