SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Decision 2016 Edition

It's Tuesday, November 8th, and the United States of America has an important decision ahead of it today. However, here at SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, the decision is just as important-- which five VGMs will represent this week?!

I've settled on the following for this week! We begin with some Sunglow Ridge from Paper Mario: Color Splash. Next, the Wii U gets represented again with a song from Pikmin 3. Then, we double up on Mega Man with an arranged version of a song from Mega Man Battle Network 2 and go cyber once more with Mega Man X4. Finally, the Burning Rangers lead us to victory with a cheesy yet awesome vocal theme.

Just click on the VGM volume name to hear that song, and check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1261. Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U) - Sunglow Ridge

Whatever your opinion of Paper Mario: Color Splash may be (SuperPhillip Central will have its verdict on the game later this month), I think we can all agree that the soundtrack of the game is without question quite good. It says something about a game soundtrack that it makes you smile even without having played the game to know its proper context. All I know is that songs like Sunglow Ridge make me very eager to play Color Splash for myself.

v1262. Pikmin 3 (Wii U) - Midboss Battle

Let's go from one Wii U exclusive to another, though one that released closer to the system's launch, Pikmin 3. A well designed game with some of the best-looking fruit this side of your local grocery store, Pikmin 3 also sports a rather nice soundtrack as well. This theme obviously plays during battles with slightly stronger than normal foes that aren't large enough to be considered actual bosses. Hence, the term midboss.

v1263. Mega Man Battle Network 2 (GBA) - YOU CAN'T GO BACK (Rockman.EXE 15th Anniversary Version)

The Rockman.EXE 15th Arrange Best Track album consists of a dozen or so arranged versions from songs throughout the Mega Man Battle Network sub-series of Mega Man games. YOU CAN'T GO BACK is the final area theme of Mega Man Battle Network 2, and it's especially awesome with this rockin' rendition. Definitely check out the rest of the songs on this sensational arranged album.

v1264. Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT) - Cyber Peacock

We had a double dose of the Wii U earlier, and now we have a double dose of Mega Man! Mega Man X4 is one of my favorite Mega Man games, though the original Mega Man X is my personal fave of the entire bunch. Still, Mega Man X4 brought the X sub-series to the 32-bit era with gorgeous visuals, well animated cutscenes, and meme-tastic dialogue. Don't forget about the soundtrack, as well, which is sort of important here at SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs!

v1265. Burning Rangers (SAT) - We Are Burning Rangers

The Sega Saturn gets some more representation here on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with the main theme of the cult classic from Sonic Team, Burning Rangers. It's "We Are Burning Rangers", featuring a very '90s mix of jazz and rap. It's cheesy, yes, but oh-so awesome at the same time.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - A Masters Masterpiece Edition

The Masters is over, and the most exciting event in golf is now in the past. However, SuperPhillip Central has the perfect answer to-- okay, what am I talking about. This edition has no golf in it whatsoever, and I just needed a catchy edition name.

That notwithstanding, some stellar titles are featured this week, starting off with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. We then take it to the court with Mario Tennis Open. Following this is a trip to Terranigma, then an excursion to Pirate Lagoon from Diddy Kong Racing. Finally, we wrap up with a cheesy (in all the good ways) vocal theme from cult classic Burning Rangers.

For those interested in perusing past VGM volumes of SuperPhillip Central's weekly segment, check out the VGM Database at this link.

v1116. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS) - Title Theme

I couldn't help but bring back a game to SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs that is honest to goodness my favorite of all time. Now, that's not to say I remember everything about it. It isn't as easy to remember every facet and quirk about it as, say, a shorter game like Mega Man X, also a favorite. However, I do hold the game very dear. Touching songs like the one heard here for the title sequence as Link moves across beautiful Hyrule Field certainly help this feeling. The piano and ocarina combination is indeed a very endearing and romantic one.

v1117. Mario Tennis Open (3DS) - Wario Dunes

While Mario Tennis Open was a disappointment for many, I enjoyed the game and found a good amount of play time from it. Things could only go up with the next Mario Tennis, right? Well, about that... Anyway, the soundtrack for Mario Tennis Open, penned by Motoi Sakuraba, is full of tremendous grooves and catchy rhythms. It's great to play a spirited match of tennis to.

v1118. Terranigma (SNES) - Crysta

It's only fair that North America didn't see Terranigma while the rest of the world did. I mean, Startropics didn't see a Japanese release at all, and for the longest time (until the Wii Virtual Console, to be somewhat exact) Super Mario RPG was unavailable to Europeans. Since I'm based in the States (middle America, to be somewhat exact), I missed out on Terranigma, and I because of this I hold no emotional attachment to the game. That's how I know the game's soundtrack is something special.

v1119. Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - Pirate Lagoon

One of the lone hovercraft-only courses in Diddy Kong Racing, Pirate Lagoon has you carefully navigating your craft through hostile waters, tight turns, through a narrow cavernous chamber, and back outside near a wrecked pirate ship. Dave Wise once again delights with his music stylings, delivering a catchy, upbeat, and uptempo soundtrack that gets regular plays on my iTunes.

v1120. Burning Rangers (SAT) - Angels With Burning Hearts (English Version)

Rock out with this final VGM volume for this week. It's from a cult classic game for a cult classic system. It's Burning Rangers from the Sega Saturn. The game isn't totally unknown, as it got a new audience with the Burning Depths course in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. One of my least favorite tracks due to its hard to see turns, but a track in the game all the same. Gotta love the cheesy vocals, rock guitar, and sax!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Double the Dope Sounds Edition

Since we did not do our regular weekly segment of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs last week due to E3, the best video game music themes from past to present return this week with a vengeance. We have double the amount of VGM goodness to make up for the absence of this segment last week. That's right. You will be getting ten different video game themes this week! Such games featured in this edition include: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, LittleBigPlanet 2, Mega Man X4, and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.

v641. Star Fox Adventures (GCN) - Cape Claw

Although the final product left much to be desired, Star Fox Adventures possesses a fantastic soundtrack, as one would expect from the masterful musical minds at Rare. Star Fox Adventures would end Nintendo and Rare's relationship on home consoles on a sour note, unfortunately, as again, the game left much to be desired.

v642. LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) - Eve's Asylum

Whimsical, weird, and wonderful all at the same time, this theme from the Eve's Asylum world of LittleBigPlanet 2 delivers delightful sounds to the listener. The game's level creation tools are unparalleled to this day on consoles, but they're not for everyone, especially if you dislike the game's floaty physics.

v643. Burning Rangers (SAT) - I Just Smile (English)

It's been a while since we've last taken a look and listen to a SEGA Saturn exclusive title. We venture into the world of Burning Rangers and its signature song, "I Just Smile." The last reference from SEGA concerning the Burning Rangers franchise occurred in the arcade kart race Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, where one of the final tracks took place in the Rangers' base.

v644. Blinx The Time Sweeper (XBX) - Time Square

The original Xbox received a myriad of fascinating, imaginative, and charming titles. Plenty of experiments were had on the system, especially in comparison to what the Xbox brand pumps out in more recent years. While Blinx The Time Sweeper is by no means a platformer of great virtuosity, it did try to change up the formula of the 3D platformer, and for that, we salute the game.

v645. Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast (Wii) - DK Jungle

Another game that could be considered an experiment, Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast is an atypical racer where players control one of many Donkey Kong Country related characters through shaking both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The game was originally supposed to use the bongo controller of the GameCube, but then the project, much like Super Paper Mario, had its development turned over to the Wii.

v646. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS) - Hyrule Castle (Orchestra)

We love orchestrated versions of classic video game themes-- when done right, that is. The Hyrule Symphony album which takes various The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time themes and arranges them into themes for almost solely string instruments is one of those albums that sits high on our list of great rearranged soundtracks. This theme is the one heard in the castle market of Hyrule.

v647. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (360) - Parading the Jiggoseum

Imagine a coliseum filled to the brim with things to do and tasks to complete. That is what you get when you visit the Jiggoseum world of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts for the Xbox 360. If you know your Banjo-Kazooie series music, then you can no doubt pick up on the motif of Hailfire Peaks from Banjo-Tooie. Although Nuts & Bolts was not the game fans of the franchise were hoping for, it's by no means a poor game at all.

v648. Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT) - Intro Stage (X)

Mega Man X4 contains one of our favorite soundtracks from the entire Mega Man series. That's a ton of games, so you know it must be something special! Mega Man X4 was the X franchise's first foray into 32 bit gaming on the original PlayStation and the Saturn home consoles. It was also the first game in the series where players could freely select between Mega Man X and Zero right from the start of the game, each having their own story line. This single-handily doubled the amount of replay value to the game.

v649. Chibi Robo! (GCN) - Midday Majesty

Nintendo is known for having a lot of weird game franchises to go along with its more traditional series. For every Mario and Zelda there is a series like Chibi Robo! to enjoy. Chibi's debut was on the Nintendo GameCube, and to call the game "quirky" would seriously be considered an understatement. What can you say about doing chores around a house where one of the daughters dresses up and talks like a frog? We can say that that's awesome!

v650. Final Fantasy VII (PS1) - One-Winged Angel

One of the most popular themes in the Final Fantasy franchise, the battle theme that plays during the final form of Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII certainly astounds with its heavy use of chanting, synth symphonic instruments, and tense feeling.