SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - After Egg Day Edition

It's the day after Easter, and I still haven't found the rest of those hidden eggs. Though they are starting to smell a bit, so it should become easier to find them as time passes on. Regardless, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is here as it usually is on Mondays to deliver a healthy dose of VGM goodness to you.

This week we feature a song from Mario Kart 8 that actually comes from another Nintendo property. Then, we take on Spark Mandrill's stage with Mega Man X. Following that is some boss battle theme greatness from Final Fantasy VII. Finally, we hit the road at supersonic speeds with F-Zero: GP Legend and Sonic Colors.

As is customary at the end of the introduction here, here's a reminder to check out the VGM Database for all VGM volumes of the past.

v1106. Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) - Big Blue

Coming from the second batch of DLC tracks from Mario Kart 8, one of the greatest handling of DLC I've had the pleasure to enjoy, F-Zero's Big Blue fits perfectly with Mario Kart 8's anti-gravity. It's a course that has three different phases as opposed to having three laps. This version of Big Blue's traditional theme is my favorite of any variation, offering organ, sexy sax, and hardcore guitar.

v1107. Mega Man X (SNES) - Spark Mandrill

One of the original eight Mavericks that Mega Man X had to take down, Spark Mandrill is weak against Chill Penguin's special weapon, Shotgun Ice. It freezes the foe in place, and with the right timing, X can take the Maverick down before he can even reach our hero with his fist. I've always enjoyed the capabilities of the Super NES sound card more than what the Genesis delivered. Are you in the same camp or a different one on this?

v1108. Final Fantasy VII (PS1) - Still More Fighting

The standard boss theme of Final Fantasy VII, Still More Fighting is a rock 'n roll lover's dream. The soundtrack, along with the graphics, higher focus on story elements, and new technology all signaled a new shift and generation of Final Fantasy. While it's not even my favorite Final Fantasy game on the PlayStation, it's one heck of a milestone for the series. Here's hoping Final Fantasy XV gives the series some increased relevance and importance in the gaming world.

v1109. F-Zero: GP Legend (GBA) - Lightning

We have a double dose of F-Zero for this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, though this VGM volume comes directly from an F-Zero game instead of having a cameo appearance. F-Zero: GP Legend is based off the anime of the same name, thus having a heavier focus on story. I plan to do a retro review of this game, as my thirst for F-Zero is pretty high as of late!

v1110. Sonic Colors (Wii) - Terminal Velocity Act 1

The final level in the fantastic (and not just for a 3D Sonic game either) Sonic Colors, Terminal Velocity has Sonic running down the side of a space elevator towards Earth. This is all the while dodging enemy attacks and jumping over holes in the platforms. The song is a guitar-driven track with some great brass backing.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - Mega Men, Sky Pirates, and Bounty Hunters Edition

Welcome to a new week of SuperPhillip Central content. As we often do, we kick things off with our list of our favorite video game themes from past to present. We'll be focusing on the past with this installment, with titles like Final Fantasy III, Mega Man 2, and the first appearance of Super Metroid on our list. If you want to catch up on past VGM choices (and you have a significant amount of hours in your life to spare), check out our VGM Database. Now, let's get onto the music!

v511. Final Fantasy III (DS) - Dungeon

Haunting yet beautiful, the dungeon theme remastered for Final Fantasy III's much awaited arrival in the West is short but oh-so-sweet. One can imagine walking through a mysterious cavern, not knowing what monsters their party will run into. It's a sense of discovery that the creators of Final Fantasy games post XII seem to have forgotten about.

v512. Mega Man 2 (NES) - Wily Stage 1/2

A theme that has been long overdue, no favorite VGM list is complete without Mega Man 2's Wily Stage 1/2. Whether you prefer the NES original or the Complete Works version, there is no question that this theme from Mega Man 2 is one of the most revered of the 8-bit era.

v513. Skies of Arcadia (DC) - Last Battle (Opportunity)

As you can probably discern from this theme's title, this song plays during the final boss battle within Skies of Arcadia. No worries. We won't spoil anything. We just loved how Skies of Arcadia's battle themes would change depending on whether you were on the winning or losing end of the various fights. There was nothing like hearing a triumphant theme as you whittled away the last hit points of a boss. It was greatly satisfying.

v514. Star Fox Assault (GCN) - Aparoid Blitz (Boss 1)

Star Fox Assault was disappointing in a fair number of ways, but it's a much better Star Fox than what we received on the Nintendo DS. Regardless, one point of Assault that was nowhere near disappointing was the rousing orchestral soundtrack. This was one of the Nintendo's first forays into fully symphonic music, predated solely by Super Smash Bros. Melee.

v515. Super Metroid (SNES) - Brinstar (The Jungle Floor)

Samus Aran's debut on the original NES was mired with confusing and similar-looking hallways, making exploration practically impossible without charting your own map. As kids, we did such a thing, but nowadays we don't have the patience for that. Super Metroid made everything better-- the map system, the visuals, the structure, the gameplay, the controls, and yes, pertaining to this segment, the music.