SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Crystal Clear Edition

As stated last week, this edition of SP's Favorite VGMs will be the final edition where I highlight one particular game. We're going back to normalcy next week. The game we'll be looking at today is Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, a game with a spectacular soundtrack. The game itself was received with mixed reviews across the board. However, I think most, if not all of us, can agree that the entire score is marvelous.

v246. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) - Lett Highlands

A gentle theme for the hero's journey across the verdant plains of Lett Highlands, this song possesses a great acoustic guitar melody and accompanying fiddle. The entire theme is a perfectly peaceful one, which is terrific for scampering between towns in the world of The Crystal Bearers.

v247. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) - Alfitaria Capital

The theme to the capital city of Alfitaria, an early stop in The Crystal Bearers, starts out with some funk. That part precedes the main melody which is brought to the listener by the bagpipe. Funk and the bagpipe? What kind of sorcery is this?

v248. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) - Catch and Throw

The battle theme of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, Catch and Throw is quite unlike any other Final Fantasy battle theme. It rocks players with its country roots, its guitar, its piano, its harmonica, its banjo, and its fiddle. Certainly it sounds like something straight out of The Dukes of Hazzard.

v249. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) - Selkie Guild

The Selkie tribe's home is aboard a shipyard with the sunset beating down on it. Though the Selkies are nothing but thieves, they do help Layle out during his adventure. This theme, Selkie Guild, has a nice rustic, worldly feel to it.

v250. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) - Neighborhood Tinkerer

If you haven't guessed by now, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers' soundtrack is full of wonderful variety. This last theme is fitting for the old oaf it was composed for, Cid's theme, Neighborhood Tinkerer, is a slow, plodding theme that one cannot help but snap one's fingers along with.

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When SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs return next week we'll be going back to the standard formula-- five games in five volumes. I hope to see you around then. Until then, check out my VGMs Database for all my favorite video game songs.

Top Ten Final Fantasy Soundtracks

Time to continue the celebration of 25 years of Final Fantasy. You read my opinion on the Best of Final Fantasy Music (best dungeon themes, battle themes, boss themes, character themes, world map themes, airship themes, etc.) and my thoughts on Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. Now, it's time to read my opinion on what I consider to be the most magnificent Final Fantasy soundtracks of the series's 25 year history. From mainline games to spinoffs, this list has the best covered with selected tracks for you to sample and enjoy. So sit back, relax, and get ready to feel waves of unbridled nostalgia.

10) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii)

We start off with one of the more recent additions to the Final Fantasy universe, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Nintendo Wii. This game actually replaced Final Fantasy X in the eleventh hour on this list. I await your letters, but hopefully after hearing the samples provided you'll see why I went this direction. Using a wide range of musical styles, the soundtrack is quite compelling, sometimes soothing, sometimes energizing, and always fun to listen to. There's the opening track in Kuule Taa Unelmain, Ephemeron, also performed by Donna Burke, then you have Selkie Guild, a refreshing song to stroll around the countryside in Lett Highlands, a theme used for battle, something out of The Dukes of Hazzard in Catch and Throw, the particularly moving Althea's Waltz, and the beach-bumming fun of Girls, We Have to Win. The soundtrack is a veritable smorgasbord of musical genres, fitting for number ten on this list.

9) Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 360)

The final game may be severely disappointing but the soundtrack is far from that verdict. It is remarkable. Composed by Masashi Hamauzu, Final Fantasy XIII's soundtrack is a cornucopia of sensational songs. There's one of the best traditional battle themes in the franchise's illustrious history in Blinded By Light, a brilliant boss theme in Saber's Edge, my favorite Chocobo theme of all in Pulse de Chocobo, nice area themes like The Sunleth Waterscape, gentle character themes like Serah's and Lightning's. Whatever kind of mood you are in there is certainly a track from Final Fantasy XIII that will fit it.

8) Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS)

Composed primarily by Hitoshi Sakimoto, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is a playful yet at the same time serious soundtrack for the Nintendo DS tactical RPG game. It features themes from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance as well as some from Final Fantasy XII. At one point the music is touching as can be, while others  get you invigorated and ready for battle, Final Fantasy Tactics A2's music is lovely. Tracks like Green Wind, Crossing Over the Hill (aka Ozmone Plains in Final Fantasy XII), Gathering Allies, Summer Vacation, and more all add up to a particularly enjoyed Final Fantasy soundtrack of mine.

7) Final Fantasy VIII (PS1)

Considered by a good portion of Final Fantasy fans as a black sheep installment of the franchise, Final Fantasy VIII contains a substantial amount of incredible music within its four disc set. Right away from the opening you know that you're in for an impactful ride with Liberi Fatali. The boss battle theme Force Your Way, normal battle theme Don't Be Afraid, and final boss theme The Extreme certainly paint a powerful picture as well. Don't forget The Landing either. Then there's a touching track like Love Grows and the spirited Waltz for the Moon for the romance between Squall and Rinoa. Final Fantasy VIII may not be universally liked, but it certainly delivers when it comes to wonderful music. But who would doubt that when Nobuo Uematsu is at the helm?

6) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN)

Composed almost solely by Kumi Tanikoa, the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles soundtrack is one that invokes memories of Renaissance and medieval times with its interesting choice of musical instruments like the recorder. It is a perfect fit for the rustic world the game presents players. From songs that deliver a rich sense of ambiance and wonder like Into the Gloomy Darkness to songs that portray a vibrant rural community like A Gentle Wind Blows, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has such an under-appreciated soundtrack. It truly is magnificent and unlike many soundtracks in the series. Other terrific tracks include: Magi is Everything, Daemon's Court, Amidatti, And Eleonor Too, and When the Northern Sky is Clear.

5) Final Fantasy IV (SNES)

Before it was well known as Final Fantasy IV in the West, it was known as Final Fantasy II. The game was the first Final Fantasy to be created in 16-bits, and it was made all the better for it, from graphics to our focus, sound. Nobuo Uematsu once again showed why he is one of the best when it comes to composing for video games with tracks like the Main Theme of Final Fantasy IV, Battle 1, a bombastic boss theme in Battle 2, one of the great dungeon themes of all time in Into the Darkness, Mt. Ordeals, the moving Troian Beauty, and how could anyone forget Battle with the Four Fiends? Those tracks just scratch the surface of the impressive amount of unforgettable themes heard within the reaches of Baron, Damcyan, and Troia.

4) Final Fantasy VII (PS1)

The first Final Fantasy game to leave a Nintendo system, but more importantly, enter 3D, Final Fantasy VII sports a marvelous memorable soundtrack. The new direction the series took, casting aside medieval themes and technology of yore, going with a futuristic approach, allowed for new musical styles and sounds. It features one of the most cherished final boss themes in RPG history, One-Winged Angel, possesses touching character songs like Aerith's Theme, the Opening ~ Bombing Mission theme that puts the player right into the action, more ethereal tunes like J-E-N-O-V-A, one of the great RPG airship themes, borrowing Final Fantasy VII's Main Theme, in Highwind Takes to the Skies, and even a marching tune thrown in for good measure in Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony. I don't have the same kind of nostalgia for Final Fantasy VII as most people, but I still find the soundtrack to be incredibly good.

3) Final Fantasy IX (PS1)

My favorite of the mainline Final Fantasy soundtracks on the PlayStation 1, Final Fantasy IX invokes memories of old school games in the franchise, and it has the music to back that stance up. Cid's Theme gives a marvelous march that plays in Lindblum's castle. Then we get medieval with Freija's Theme which is played in The Gizamulke's Grotto dungeon. I'd be amiss if I didn't mention the intense boss theme, Kuja's Theme, The Airship, Hildagaldy, The Dark Messenger, and Beyond the Door. I list Final Fantasy IX's soundtrack so high because of the sheer amount of quality tracks that permeate throughout the soundtrack set's multiple discs. It's the type of soundtrack that I can enjoy as someone who is a casual Final Fantasy player but can admire thrilling music.

2) Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)

One of the most stirring soundtracks I have ever had the pleasure of listening is made even more spectacular by hearing the music played throughout the duration of the game. Yes, this is the fabulous Final Fantasy Tactics soundtrack from the best Final Fantasy spinoff in existence. The duo of Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata combined their compositional mastery and crafted one hell of a score for the game. Tense battle situations get even more unsettling as themes like Antipyretic, Trisection, Battle on the Bridge, Apoplexy, and Decisive Battle. But don't think that it's all struggle and intensity with the music. No, there's plenty of heart-tugging themes such as Ovelia's Theme (one of my favorite tracks of the game), Overlia's Worries, and Chapel, as well as jaunty themes like Pub and Tutorial to behold.

1) Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

And here we have it, the best of the best in Final Fantasy soundtracks. Coming from one of my favorite entries in the series, Final Fantasy VI possesses the greatest bevy of terrific tunes, memorable melodies, and powerful tracks. We have Terra, the world map theme of the World of Balance, the chaotic boss battle theme of The Decisive Battle, the truly haunting sounds of The Phantom Forest, the homely sounds of Kids Run Through the City Corner, the massively moving Aria De Mezzo Carattere, the riotous The Fierce Battle, and the airship theme of the World of Ruin, Searching for Friends. Then you have what I consider to be the best final boss battle theme in video game history, Dancing Mad. The many layers the song contains and how it segues into each movement makes for a wonderful theme. What all of these musical songs and elements make together is one of most celebrated, enduring, and impactful video game soundtracks of all time. It is just one of the reasons why Final Fantasy VI is so cherished by both fans of the franchise and simply those who adore superb RPGs.

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The Final Fantasy series comprises a large amount of my love for video game music. It is what got me interested in composition, and made me enjoy listening to other genres of music that I might not have otherwise tried. It's the fantastic minds of the composers behind the franchise's games that have in part made Final Fantasy such a cherished brand.

As with most of my lists, I'm sure you won't agree with my order. Perhaps you won't even agree with my omissions of Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XII. That's just fine as well. If those are some of your favorites, what are your most liked tracks from those games, then?

The 50 Best Nintendo DS Games - Part Two

Last week began the five week series of what I perceive to be the 50 best Nintendo DS games of the system's exhaustive library. The first ten can be seen here. This week we delve into ten more top titles for the Nintendo DS, one of the best-selling dedicated gaming platforms of all time, currently at around 150 million units worldwide across all revisions. On these ten titles for this week, we have a menagerie of memorable characters and series like Mario, Mega Man, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Remember that these games must have released in North America to be on this list. With that out of the way, are you ready for round two?

Mario Kart DS

Quite possibly the finest iteration of the highly popular Mario Kart franchise, Mario Kart DS was Nintendo's first dabbling with online play. It was a much hyped title for that reason alone, regardless of how bare bones the online actually was. When played with friends across the world, the game was quite fun online. Otherwise it was mediocre. Regardless, that isn't even what I consider to be an important part of the game. No, the inclusion of four Retro Cups based on tracks from past Mario Karts was an exciting addition to the series and brought back waves of nostalgia. The incredible Mission Mode added boss battles and other challenges, something I wish future Mario Kart games would have implemented. (It was a sad exclusion of Mario Kart 7.) Not only all that, but the track design was impressive and showed off wonderful new ideas and courses such as Luigi's Mansion, Waluigi Pinball, Airship Fortress, and Delfino Square (one of my favorite tracks of all time). If you feel the need for speed, Mario Kart DS is the apt choice to get your motor running.

Tetris DS

While Tetris: Axis on the Nintendo 3DS featured a smorgasbord of modes to choose from, Tetris DS is my preferred means to get my Tetris fix because of the Nintendo NES nostalgia added to the game. Each mode in the game, from Mission to Marathon, has a Nintendo theme from games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Balloon Fight. For players who wish to expand from the single-player fun of the title, there is online play for up to four opponents to outplay one another. The game is out of print as Nintendo lost the Tetris license shortly after the game was manufactured. If you can find a copy, jump on it. This is one of the best versions of Tetris on any platform, and if you get feelings of warmth for anything Nintendo -- especially the NES era, this is the must-have version to acquire. 

Picross 3D

Are you familiar with nonograms? These are clever logic puzzles where you have to work with cells on a grid and color them in based on numbered clues. The end result creates a picture. We've seen Nintendo run with this idea with Mario's Picross on the original Game Boy and with an earlier Nintendo DS title, Picross DS. The idea went fully 3D with Picross 3D. Instead of having a 2D grid containing cells, you had a three-dimensional box which needed to be chipped away at to create a specific shape, creature, or object. The catch here is that numbers on all axes clarify how many blocks are present in a given row or column. Trying to break a block that is a part of the finished puzzle results in a strike. Get three strikes and you fail. I loved this version of Picross more than any other because of how the ending shapes animate once a puzzle is completed. I also adored the complexity of the game and the plethora of puzzles included. With the bonus of downloadable puzzles and the ability to create your own, the fun doesn't end for a long time with Picross 3D.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

The third and final Castlevania game for the Nintendo DS was Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. It tried some new things with what some were calling a tired and stale formula. Levels weren't all attached to one another. Instead, different areas were split up on a world map. Don't be mistaken, though, as there was plenty of exploration and secrets to be found, and even an immense castle to plunder. Additionally, a new Glyph system was introduced, allowing the heroine of the game, Shanoa, to find and equip over 100 unique Glyphs, or powers, to unleash on foes and get through the game. Outside of the main game there were side quests to complete, each giving the player a prize for helping out a denizen. I consider Order of Ecclesia to be the most arduous of the DS Castlevania trilogy. That damnable crab in the lighthouse will always give me nightmares as a gamer. If you're looking for a challenge, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia will bring it to you in spades.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Objection! And thus a million GIFs and messages were posted on forums and comment sections everywhere, with each person using the phrase thinking they were more creative than the last. Originally released in Japan on the Game Boy Advance in 2001, Gyakuten Saiban would finally make it to gamers outside of Japan in 2005, but this time with touch screen controls on the Nintendo DS. Us Western gamers known the game and subsequent series as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. This adventure game follows the cases of the titular lawyer, Phoenix Wright, as players perform two types of gameplay: investigation and trial. Finding the right clues, cross examining witnesses, providing the right evidence at the right time, and yes, objecting when appropriate were all features of this out-there game and series. There is an ardent fan base for the Phoenix Wright series, and the game would spawn numerous sequels and even various spinoffs. If you want a game that is outside the normal realm of what's mainstream, Phoenix Wright may just be "wright" for you.

999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

From one adventure game to another, 999 is no reference to Herman Cain's presidential campaign tax plan. No, it is more in line with the mature-rated adventure game starring a cast of characters all held against their will aboard a cruise ship which is set to sink within nine hours. By solving puzzles and working together (despite much suspicion of one another), the nine souls must try to survive their kidnapper's gruesome game. 999 is full of puzzles that the player must solve, and choices in dialogue and doors that affect which of the many endings they will see. 999 is a thrill ride and possesses one of the better stories in gaming. Your decisions definitely affect how you play the game, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing till the very end (or ends). With Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward soon coming for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita, there's no better time to try out 999 if you haven't already.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time

If there is one type of game that I immensely enjoy that haven't had much influx on handhelds, that would be the action/loot RPG. I've chosen Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time over its predecessor, Ring of Fates, for two main reasons: 1) Magic is much more easier to use. There are no obnoxious combinations to that are forced on the player to use, and instead of having to use Magicite, there is simple MP to use, and 2) There is the addition of much appreciated online play. There's nothing like jumping around, hacking and slashing enemies, unleashing spells, finding treasure, battling bosses, unfolding the story, and teaming up with friends across the globe for one common goal. Echoes of Time was also made available for the Wii that not only does that version show just how poorly third-parties handled and blew it with the system, but it shows that Echoes of Time is more suited for a handheld than a console. A great pickup for loot lovers and action-RPG fans, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time shines just like a crystal: bright and majestic.

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter is the type of game that was destined to be overlooked. It was a new IP, it released near the end of the Nintendo DS' life cycle, and it didn't receive much in the way of advertising. It wasn't just one of those things that damned it to oblivion. It was the combination of variables. Regardless, who can resist controlling a bipedal canine in a mech suit which can grab, throw, and destroy opponents, explore islands in the sky, and complete over 80 missions that advance the story (with many more available for download for free)? I'm not even a dog person and I found the cast to be adorable and interesting. Outside of the main character's mech, he can have better mobility in the form of reaching otherwise inaccessible areas via swimming and climbing ladders, he can flip switches, and he can uncover treasure chests full of valuable booty. The North American version came with a soundtrack CD, sporting off the superb music which is just one part of the impressive presentation this DS game has. Pick up a copy if you're in the mood for something new and something reminiscent (at least to me) of Tail Concerto. 

Sonic Rush

You know, Sonic the Hedgehog has received a lot of criticism over the past decade, some just and some unjust. The handheld (at least on the GBA and DS) Sonic games I view as quite competent titles. Some might rely heavily on speed to overshadow their inadequacies (such as too many bottomless pits), but overall, they are titles that I enjoyed. Sonic Rush is but one of these, and it was the first Nintendo DS Sonic game. It featured zones that sprawled across both screens, the ability to play as both Sonic and newcomer Blaze the Cat, fun special stages, and one of the most sensational DS soundtracks I've ever heard. The game is a joy to look at, the 3D bosses and stages are intriguing and enjoyable, and the level design is mostly well done. It seems many of the more punishing pundits for 2D Sonic compare the more recent titles to the classic Genesis ones and judge them off of that. I judge the games based on how fun they are and how well they control, and not so much how close they are to the original Genesis games. For instance, you can keep me away from Episode I and II, but don't start talkin' trash about the Sonic Advance trilogy or the duo of Sonic Rush games.

Mega Man ZX Advent

The final game of this second set of ten best DS games is Mega Man ZX Advent. It completely abolished my main problem with its predecessor in that it had a much more capable and complete map to see where areas were interconnected for easier travel. Also different from the original ZX is that the game features a full English voice cast for its translation. Very nice. The game is somewhat Metroid-like in where receiving new forms and Biometals allow the main protagonists (either Ashe or Grey) to reach new areas, battle new bosses, and uncover hidden routes and pathways. The ability to transform into defeated bosses takes the classic Mega Man approach of simply taking a Robot Master's weapon and kicks it up to the third degree. If you're afraid of a good challenge, there is always the Beginner difficulty to start out with to get your feet wet with the game. As for replay value, over 80 secret disks containing info regarding the cast (main characters and enemies) are available to be found, multiple medals for defeating the game's bosses by accomplishing specific goals, and multiple difficulties make for a Mega Man experience that was built to last.

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Part Two is now complete, meaning that 20 of the best Nintendo DS games are in the books. Join me for next week when ten more top titles are listed. Will your favorites be among those ten? Only one way to find out, and that's by checking here next Thursday.

Top Five Final Fantasy Spinoffs

Let us continue our celebration of all things Final Fantasy with a pit stop from the mainline titles. Spinoffs are common in television, and they are a tool to extend the brand or universe they are comprised of. Video games are really no different, and the Final Fantasy series is no different either. The short list that follows are favorite spinoffs of the Final Fantasy franchise.

5) Final Fantasy Fables

In the west, games like Chocobo's Dungeon and Chocobo and the Magical Picture Book were re-branded under the Final Fantasy Fables label. Both of these - as you can most certainly guess by their titles - star the indomitable Chocobo character, a smaller, cuter form than seen in the mainline games. In fact, everything is cuter in the world of Final Fantasy Fables. Chocobo Tales on DS was an adventure that had exploration, mini-games, and card battles to advance the story whereas Chocobo's Dungeon on Wii (and in Japan also on the DS) was a roguelike that was well suited for beginners. Both games features elements of the Final Fantasy universe, from characters to familiar music. I can't help but hold hope for a sequel to Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon as it is without a doubt one of my favorite under-appreciated Wii games.

4) Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

The most recent Final Fantasy spinoff to enter the gaming landscape, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy takes the franchise to a new place - the rhythm game. Through tapping, touching, sliding, and dragging the stylus on the bottom screen when the upper screen's Triggers cross the mark, you score points and hopefully chain together tons of Critical hits. The music selection begins with a sizable seventy or so tracks from every mainline Final Fantasy game, but always coming downloadable songs for $0.99 per song makes the library of unforgettable music even larger. Leveling up your party of Final Fantasy all-stars like Cloud (FFVII), Terra (FFVI), Cecil (FFIV), and Lightning (FFXIII), battling formidable foes like Kefka (FFVI), Rubicante (FFIV), Gilgamesh (FFV), and Safer Sephiroth (FFVII), and successfully earning Rhythmia are all activities one can partake in with Theatrhythm. For my full review, check out this link.

3) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

While I doubt Nintendo holds exclusivity rights for the Crystal Chronicles spinoff of the Final Fantasy franchise, all games under the Crystal Chronicles moniker have been solely on Nintendo platforms. Starting with the GameCube original, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, which was an action RPG that allowed four friends to play together, even being able to opt to use the ill-advised Game Boy Advance connectivity option for greater rewards and assistance. The pair of DS games known as Ring of Fates and Echoes of Time - the latter would be ported to the Wii with cross-play capabilities - were loot RPGs. Echoes of Time would even allow players to hop online and participate in quests. The Nintendo Wii would see its fair share of Crystal Chronicles love, too, in the form of the WiiWare service's My Life as a King and the drastic departure from prior Chronicles games, The Crystal Bearers. What makes the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles spinoff series number three on this list is that even with all these releases, the quality of the spinoff series is still impeccable.

2) Kingdom Hearts

What happens when you team up an unlikely pairing, the Disney universe and the Final Fantasy universe? You get something spectacular, at least for a majority of the titles. The series is an action RPG set mostly within the worlds of Disney. There's Aladdin's Agrabah, Beauty and the Beast's Beast's Castle, Hercules' Olympic Coliseum, and many more locales and brands to explore. The main character of the series is a young boy named Sora, and he is usually assisted by Donald Duck and Goofy. The developers spared no expense, even getting the official Disney voice actors to lend their voice talents to the game. But as for the story, well there's really nothing more convoluted and confusing this side of Metal Gear Solid fan-fiction. Seriously, it's a mess that makes you scratch your head, look at the script, scratch your head again, and notice the scars on your scalp from scratching your head so much in disbelief and confusion. Aside from that, even the more frowned upon installments of Kingdom Hearts, 358/2 Days (even the title is a puzzle!) and Re:Coded, are fun in short bursts.

1) Final Fantasy Tactics

One of the original Final Fantasy spinoffs, Final Fantasy Tactics made its mark on the gaming world shortly after the release of the incomparable (except to the superior Final Fantasy VI) Final Fantasy VII. The game was quite unlike anything the series had seen before. It was a turn-based strategy game with an assortment of elements from the mainline Final Fantasy games including familiar summons like Ifrit, Shiva, and Carbuncle, items like Potions, Elixirs, and Phoenix Downs, a job system that hadn't been seen since Final Fantasy V, and even a secret character in the form of VII's Cloud Strife. Two more Final Fantasy Tactics games would be released, but they would be far after the original PS1 classic and much different in tone, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA) and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS). An enhanced PSP port of Final Fantasy Tactics would be made and released subtitled The War of the Lions. The amount of hours one could sink into each game, completely quests, leveling up characters, learning new spells, and mastering job classes could easily go into the hundreds of hours. This is what makes Final Fantasy Tactics my favorite Final Fantasy spinoff.

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There are other Final Fantasy spinoffs not listed here that include Chocobo Racing, Dissidia, Adventure, Legend, and Dimensions. However, they obviously did not make my top five picks. Do you agree with the order I have chosen, or do you have some arguments you'd like to make? Feel free to debate with me in the comments section below.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - E3 2012 Edition

There's a break in the action at E3 with Microsoft's press conference being over and EA's conference beginning in less than an hour. Now's the perfect time to strike while the iron's hot and reveal five more of my favorite tracks from video game history. I have a wide range of musical styles for your ears to be pleasured by including songs from God of War, F-Zero X Guitar Arrange, and Wild Arms 2. I must hurry before even more news comes from E3 to overshadow my precious VGMs!

v121. God of War (PS2) - The Great Sword Bridge of Athena

A track fitting for the legend of Kratos, The Great Sword Bridge of Athena booms in with big brass and an accompanying choir. Kratos isn't really a likeable fellow, yet the games that feature him are still some of the best action games around. That really says something about the God of War series when you can't stand the main character yet can still enjoy the games, doesn't it? Rhetorical question. No need for an answer.

v122. Bomberman 64 (N64) - Green Garden

A happy-go-lucky tune fitting for the first world of the overlooked Bomberman 64 where our hero explored colorful vistas, marine resorts, volcanoes, and frozen fjords, blasting away all that opposed him. When Konami purchased Hudson Soft, the minds behind Bomberman, Konami essentially took a proverbial bomb to the character and blew most traces of him away. Now, Konami is practically good for Metal Gear games and nothing more. How the mighty have fallen, indeed.

v123. F-Zero X (N64) - Crazy Call At Cry (Guitar Arrange Version)

You got boost power! F-Zero X and F-Zero GX are the pinnacle of the futuristic racing genre in my view. F-Zero X is one of the few games on the Nintendo 64 that had a high up there framerate that was quite consistent. As for the music, I have selected an instrumental track from the 1999 CD release F-Zero X Guitar Arrange, featuring heavy rock-focused songs based off the Nintendo 64 release. I wouldn't recommend listening to this CD while cruising the highways. You might end up with an unintended speeding ticket from letting yourself go wild.

v124. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN) - Into the Gloomy Darkness

An appropriate song for a cavern filled to the brim with darkness, the string instrument leads with drums serving as accompaniment. The song sounds forlorn. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was the first Square Enix to hit a Nintendo platform since Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, way back on the Super Nintendo. Reunited and it feels so good~. The Crystal Chronicles series has basically been Nintendo-exclusive with the most recent release being The Crystal Bearers on the Wii. Regardless, no Crystal Chronicles soundtrack has ever come close to beating Kumi Tanioka's magnum opus.

v125. Wild Arms 2 (PS1) - Battle VS Lord Blazer -rocking heart-

From a CD which featured several Japanese game music composers trying their hand at turning several themes from the Wild Arms series into rock anthems, Wild Arms 2's Battle VS Lord Blazer -rocking heart- is modeled after the final boss theme of the game. The remixed version comes from the capable mind of Ryo Yonemitsu while the original theme is the work of Michiko Naruke, the franchise's main composer. You gotta love the heavy rock guitar and sweet sax, no?

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Hopefully this article doesn't get lost in the shuffle of big E3 news. If it does, you can always check past VGMs at my database. I hope you enjoyed the five tracks I have shared with you.

Killer Soundtracks - My Personal Favorites, Part One

Coming fresh off the heels of beginning the next 100 VGMs is a new article celebrating video game music and all of its eccentricities! I promised I would be revealing my most cherished soundtracks, the ones that are just as strong today as when I first played the games they accompanied. For Part One of this feature I have ten soundtracks to share from games from consoles and handhelds far and wide. Let's see which ones make the grade!

Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

Final Fantasy VI is in my mind Nobuo Uematsu's magnum opus. It is the culmination of all of his compositional prowess. You get the World of Balance theme, Terra, you have the fight with the weapons in The Fierce Battle, the theme of flying in the World of Ruin in Searching For Friends, the fabulous boss theme in The Decisive Battle, one of my favorite town themes in Kids Run Through the City, the hauntingly beautiful theme of The Phantom Forest, the glorious character theme of Celes, and of course, the big one, Dancing Mad. It is the bounty of memorable tunes that makes Final Fantasy VI one of my favorites.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (GCN)

I adore the soundtrack of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for its worldly instruments and its wonderful music by Kuni Tanioka. The opening song is Kaze no Ne while you have incredible dungeon themes such as When the Northern Sky Is Clear, Magii is Everything, and Daemon's Court. You also get the fast-paced boss theme, Monster's Dance ~Rondo~. Then there's town tunes like Amidatti, And Eleonor Too and the lovely A Gentle Wind Blows. Darn it-- now I want to play Crystal Chronicles all over again!

Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)/Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP)

Whether you are playing the original second Star Ocean or its PSP port with character portraits and voice acting, you are definitely going to get a healthy dose of excellent video game music thanks in total by veteran composer Motoi Sakuraba. You have breaths of fresh air like The Venerable Forest and Pyroxene, you have town themes like Shower of Blossoms, Walk Over, and Let's Walk in a Parade, the sad Theme of RENA, and tense tunes like Rescue Operation and Dynamite, the boss song. Whatever your preference in music, Star Ocean 2 most likely has something for you.

Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)

I never owned the ill-fated Sega Dreamcast, but that didn't stop me from playing Sonic Adventure 2. It thankfully came the Nintendo GameCube's way in the form of Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Jun Senoue and friends provided a rocking at times, jazzy at other times soundtrack. Escape From the City, That's the Way I Like It, Won't Stop, Just Go!, and Keys the Ruin make up my favorite blue blur themes while other character themes like This Way Out and Rumbling HWY for Tails' stages, Soarin' Over the Space for Dr. Eggman, and the cool feeling Bright Sound and Lovely Gate 3 for the cleavage-showing bat Rouge. Not only the best Sonic the Hedgehog soundtrack in his 3D escapades, but it is just fun to listen to outside the game.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)

The fine and ultra-talented composers at Rare pushed the Super Nintendo's sound drivers as much as Rare's graphical side pushed how far the Super Nintendo's technical capabilities could be shoved. It most indubitably shows too. Atmospheric tunes like the underwater sloshing of Lockjaw's Saga, the volcano journey of Hot-Head Bop will full lava bubble sounds, the buzzing of bees in Flight of the Zinger, and the peaceful tranquility of Forest Interlude made for an engaging OST. But it didn't end there. Tracks like Snakey Chantey, borrowing the melody of the original DKC's Gang-Plank Galleon, Disco Train, and the fan-favorite in Stickerbush Symphony led the way to make Donkey Kong Country 2's soundtrack my favorite of the Super Nintendo era.

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

To make a play-on words, the soundtrack of Super Mario Galaxy is without a doubt out of this world. Who would have thought that Mario's space epic would be backed by an entire orchestral score? You have sensational galaxy themes like Egg Planet, Wind Garden, Floater Land, Stardust Road, Battlerock, Hell Prominence, and Galaxy Plant. Mahito Yokota-- who previously worked on the music for the GameCube's Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat-- wrote most of Mario Galaxy's music. Sometimes I found myself sitting in a particularly galaxy with Mario in an idling animation just so I could hear the soundtrack for extended periods of time. Sure, it's even more exhilarating to have the symphonic score accompany Mario's platforming pursuits, but that's just how good the music really is.

Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)/
War of the Lions (PSP)

Get enough Final Fantasy yet? Final Fantasy Tactics is most likely my favorite PlayStation 1 soundtrack. Its majestic, poignant, and medieval themes set against a war-torn world in Ivalice make for a stunning and moving score. The game's music is one of the few that makes me heavily nostalgic. Yes, Final Fantasy Tactics has had various spinoffs, but none come close to the original article. I love the beauty that is Ovelia's Theme and Ovelia's Worries, or the jaunty Tutorial theme. Then there's such tremendous battle tunes that get the heart racing as you make strategies to clear the map of enemies with songs like Apoplexy, Battle on the Bridge, Decisive Battle, and Trisection. I'm not going to say the soundtrack alone makes the game worth buying, but it's pretty darn close.

Katamari Damacy (PS2)

I mentioned something about my eccentricities earlier in this article. Well, if there is one game that is full of eccentric music, it has to be Katamari Damacy. Have a favorite genre of music? Katamari probably has you covered. From jazz in A Crimson Rose and a Gin Tonic and Que Sera Sera to hard rock in Katamari Love to just random craziness in Lonely Rolling Star and You Are Smart, the varying musical stylings of the game are present and accounted for. Who doesn't love a choir of young children with Cherry Blossom Color Season? You'd have to have no soul if you don't.

Mega Man X (SNES)

Even though Capcom doesn't care for the blue bomber anymore, I will always have a soft spot for Mega Man and his many forms. My favorite would have to be Mega Man X. The quality of his games dipped between X5-X7, but X8 got him back on track in my opinion. Songs like Opening Stage, Spark Mandrill, Flame Mammoth, Storm Eagle, Armored Armadillo, Sigma Stage 1, and Zero's Theme all kick serious robotic butt and still sound pleasant on the ears to this day. Mega Man X is one of the greatest Super Nintendo games in existence. The PSP remake is good, but it doesn't hold a candle to the original great.

Xenogears (PS1)

Yasunori Mitsuda was listed as my fifth favorite composer of all time on a list I did way back when, and for good reason, he has brilliant range. Xenogears is a soundtrack that makes this point highly evident. With the score you get such songs like the opening theme, Star of Tears, the timeless and charming My Village is Number One, the better-get-outta-here-now theme Fuse, the militant Flight, one of my favorite airship themes in Wings, the final boss theme Awakening, the chilling and powerful epilogue song The Beginning and the End, and finally, one of the best vocal songs in gaming, Small of Two Pieces. You want to know how I know this soundtrack is outstanding? I've never made it very far in this game, and I still adore the music.

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Did you enjoy listening to some of the samples I listed? What soundtracks from video games are your favorite? Nonetheless, stay tuned next week for Part Two of Killer Soundtracks - My Personal Favorites! I'll have ten more excellent scores to share.

SPC Showdown - 8/3/2011

It's the middle of the week, so why not begin our sixth segment of the SPC Showdown? This is where we pit games, companies, and more against each other to see which reigns supreme when all is said and done. Today we'll discover which installment of Super Mario Galaxy is best, whether ModNation Racers can outrun Mario Kart Wii, and which Final Fantasy experience on Wii outshines the other. That's just the beginning, but for now let's get this showdown started!

Round One: Super Mario Galaxy VS. Super Mario Galaxy 2

Two of the best games on the Nintendo Wii-- nay, this generation-- bar-none, but which is king of the 3D platformer?

Super Mario Galaxy

Mario and company enter territory last seen in Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins' Space Land in Super Mario Galaxy. With colorful worlds, rich visuals, an inspired orchestral score, and well-designed galaxies, Super Mario Galaxy is a treat to view as well as play. Reintroducing ideas such as the fire flower and presenting new ones such as the ice flower, Super Mario Galaxy keeps showing that Nintendo knows how to craft one amazing gaming experience.


Super Mario Galaxy 2

Reentering the stratosphere once more for some good old fashioned running and jumping action is Mario with pal, Yoshi, this time around in Super Mario Galaxy 2. The challenge bar has been raised this time with multiple shadow Marios chasing after our hero, endurance runs to tackle where a single hit will make Mario have to begin his mission anew, and big bad bosses to defeat. Those who complete all of these challenges will be entitled to a whole new series of stars to gather, and if all of those are collected, a brand-new galaxy, the Grandmaster Galaxy will be unlocked. It is with this, an improved soundtrack and galaxies, and unforgettable galaxies to explore that I bid Super Mario Galaxy 2 with this victory.


Winner: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Round Two: Super Mario Bros. 3 VS. Super Mario World

This duo of memorable 2D platformers are the champs of their respective systems, but which one outclasses the other?

Super Mario Bros. 3

Introducing a map system where players could completely skip individual levels if desired (but with how great they were all designed, who would want to?), Mario and Luigi plowed through eight themed lands in their latest adventure. From grass to desert, water to sky, Mario and Luigi bashed goombas, koopa troopas, lakitus, spinies, and even creamed Bowser in the end after a long, arduous trek through a tank-infested dark world. This game would be remade and ported to the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance with the latter receiving new levels via the doomed e-Reader peripheral. Does it take down Super Mario World, however?


Super Mario World

For the first time ever, players were introduced to Mario's lovable sidekick, Yoshi, a dinosaur who could gobble up certain enemies and came in several different colors. Expanding upon the map concept severalfold, Super Mario World featured secret paths leading to hidden levels, a challenging Star Road and Special World, and completing these turned koopa troopas into costumed Mario impersonators. Who could forget tackling all eight worlds, defeating the Koopalings, and chucking Mechakoopas into Bowser's cruiser in order to defeat him and save Yoshi's homeland? Plus with the new cape power-up, flying was never easier. It is with this that Super Mario World wins over a fierce opponent.


Winner: Super Mario World

Round Three: Mario Kart Wii VS. ModNation Racers

Two racers revving it up, ready to go. Which will reach the finish line first?

Mario Kart Wii

Doing away with snaking by having the player drift long into a boost around corners and turns, Mario Kart Wii did a lot of things right. Yes, with twelve racers that meant more chaos with items in heated races, but competent players could obtain enough of a lead where a barrage of blue shells wouldn't matter in the long run. With a fine selection of retro tracks including Delfino Plaza and Bowser's Castle (N64) and excellent new tracks from Coconut Mall to DK Summit, Mario Kart Wii also possesses some of the most fun online play to see the Wii. Does it speed past United Front Games' ModNation Racers, however?


ModNation Racers

Sony's foray into the kart-racing genre was not without faults. Regardless, it was a very innovative gem of a title. The ability to craft your own racer, tracks, and stickers was a pretty complicated process, but once mastered, you could build highly-detailed and impressive creations. But if you thought rubberband AI was a problem in Mario Kart, you ain't seen nothing yet in ModNation Racers. Opponents will abuse weaponry to take the lead from you, slam you off the road, and use any means necessary to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Frustrating as this may be, ModNation Racers is still a competent beast. It, though, just doesn't beat out Mario Kart Wii.


Winner: Mario Kart Wii

Round Four: Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon VS. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

We have a duo of underrated Final Fantasy games for the Nintendo Wii. Which is the most classic of the two?

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon

This simplistic roguelike took players through dungeons based on the memories of the game's main village's townspeople. As Chocobo you equipped talons and other garments and entered their memories, beating down familiar Final Fantasy villains such as bombs, goblins, and iron giants in your quest to figure out the mystery behind the town. With the best arrangements of classic Final Fantasy tunes period and quite engaging gameplay, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon is a charming adventure that many Wii owners shouldn't hesitate to experience.


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Finally, a Final Fantasy hero who isn't androgynous! The hero of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers has the power to pick up foes and chuck them into walls, explosive barrels, or other enemies in order to damage them. While the main quest is nothing more than a collection of high-production mini games, The Crystal Bearers possesses a great amount of things to do and enemies to conquer. However, all the running around and tremendous music aside, it has nothing on Final Fantasy Fables.


Winner: Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon

Round Five: Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus VS. Sly 2: Band of Thieves

The Sly Collection recently was released in HD for the PlayStation 3. The top two titles in the compendium go up against each other. Which outwits the other?

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

Sly Cooper debuts in this cool caper that was originally released for the PlayStation 2. The sneaky raccoon would receive two sequels on the same system. In this title Sly goes after the sinister group of criminals involved in stealing his family's coveted treasure, the Thievius Raccoonus, a book featuring all of their family's stealthy moves. Each boss in the game has a page, so Sly leaps on poles, crawls through air ducts, swings from chandeliers, and performs other otherworldly feats of dexterity to get them back. More linear in progression than its sequels, that may be the reason I like the original Sly Cooper game.


Sly 2: Band of Thieves

Progressing more into an open-world-like game, Sly 2: Band of Thieves opened up the gameplay for Bentley and Murray to step in and tackle their own missions. Each world was its own heist. Bentley planned it out to the finest detail, and the trio of thieves would converge on the baddie's hideout, taking out objectives and missions. The goal? To stop a new group of villains from reincarnating Clockwerk, the Cooper family's sworn enemy. While the sequel isn't as enjoyable as the first, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is still worthy of one's money.


Winner: Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

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Five rounds are over, and with that, we've completed yet another SPC Showdown. Stay tuned in the coming months for our next showdown where more games, more companies, and much more will duke it out for supremacy. Until next time, see ya'!