SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "These Could Be Contenders" Edition

SuperPhillip Central returns for a brand-new week of content, and as the site tends to, the week begins with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, a weekly recurring onslaught to your ears of tremendous video game music!

Two potential Game of the Year contenders in the form of Horizon: Zero Dawn and NieR: Automata lead things off with a duo of exciting compositions. Then, we move on from those epic tales to something more calming, say, a round of golf with the infectious main theme of Everybody's Golf. While he can't usually beat his once-rival much at anything anymore, Sonic got the jump over Mario this time around by having a worldwide odyssey not only first, but years ago with his exploits in Sonic Unleashed. Last but not least, we round this edition out with a gorgeous orchestrated theme from EarthBound.

Also, be sure to check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes featured here every Monday. Let's get on to the music!

v1491. Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4) - A Boon

This edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs begins with two games that many outlets and gamers alike have already deemed worthy of "Game of the Year" nominees. Our first game is the terrific Horizon: Zero Dawn, which will be receiving new story-related single player content early next month. The soundtrack itself matches the wild and dangerous expanses of protagonist Aloy's world.

v1492. NieR: Automata (PS4, PC) - Wretched Weaponry (Dynamic - Vocals)

The second "Game of the Year" worthy title on this edition is NieR: Automata, a brilliant action game directed by Yoko Taro and developed by Platinum Games. Automata would become a major sales success for Square Enix and a critical darling by the media, both relatively unexpected outcomes. One of my favorite parts of the original NieR was its glorious soundtrack, and this crossed over into the game's sequel in a most beautiful way.

v1493. Everybody's Golf (PS4) - Main Theme (Clap Your Hands)

This bright, bouncy, and super catchy vocal theme from Owl City serves as the main theme for the latest entry in the Everybody's Golf franchise, formerly known in North America as Hot Shots Golf. The song is all about bright sunny days of putting, driving, and spending all your free time outside on the links in the idealistic world of Everybody's Golf. This song was featured in most if not all trailers for the game, giving listeners a yearning for the full song, now available to enjoy as the game's finally out.

v1494. Sonic Unleashed (Multi) - Apotos - Windmill Isle (Day)

Mario have an worldwide odyssey in just under two weeks' time, but Sonic the Hedgehog beat him to the punch several years ago with the Blue Blur's globe trotting journey in Sonic Unleashed. This cross-generation game seems like a masterpiece compared to what Sonic Team is currently trying to stumble out of the door with the abundantly lackluster-looking Sonic Forces. Nevertheless, Unleashed features one of my favorite 3D Sonic soundtracks, each providing stellar rhythms, catchy melodies, and superb instrumentation.

v1495. EarthBound (SNES) - Theme of Eagle Land (Orchestrated)

This version of the Eagle Land theme comes from a series of concerts performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in the mid 1990s. Alongside Mother 2 (or as the West knows it as EarthBound), other Nintendo and Super Nintendo games like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy IV, and Final Fantasy VI were featured.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Take Me Out to the Ballgame Edition

Here in the States, Major League Baseball is celebrating its all-star break. I'll go into more detail for the rest of the world on this in one of the VGM volume descriptions. For now, though, as usual with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, I have five favorite themes from video games to share with you, albeit on a Tuesday instead of a Monday.

We begin with Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, a lesser entry in the series, before taking it to the court in Hot Shots Tennis. We rock out with a final boss theme from EarthBound which takes us to a completely opposite in tone theme from Alundra. Finally, Mario and crew take it to the diamond with Mario Superstar Baseball, a timely VGM volume if there ever was one!

Take a glimpse and listen to past VGM volumes featured on this weekly segment with the VGM Database. Now, let's get onto the music!

v1181. Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (PS3) - Main Theme

Kicking off this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs comes the main theme from when the Ratchet & Clank series saw a lull in the quality of its releases. While it's always nice to try to change things up, the multiplayer-focused Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One didn't satisfy most Ratchet & Clank fans. However, its main theme most certainly does, featuring a heroic brass theme.

v1182. Hot Shots Tennis (PS2) - Queen's Tennis Garden

While the Hot Shots crew are more well known for their myriad golf outings, don't rest on their tennis entries, which the series has seen two. The one we'll be talking about in this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is the original Hot Shots Tennis for the PlayStation 2. The music is as peppy and perky as ever, great for playing sets and intense matches with.

v1183. EarthBound (SNES) - Porky Means Business

The final boss theme of EarthBound, a cult classic for the Super Nintendo, starts off with an 8-bit flair and fever to it. Then, about a minute or so into the theme, it goes full metal. It's a nice transition that lets you know that you're in a serious battle for sure. Just another memorable moment in not just another memorable Nintendo game.

v1184. Alundra (PS1) - The Village of Iona

Alundra is an action-adventure game on the original PlayStation that incorporated a lot of puzzles into it. One could easily say that Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series was a big inspiration of this excellent game. The Village of Iona is a subdued and relaxing piece, played during the opening village that Alundra finds himself in.

v1185. Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) - Mario Stadium

In the States, Major League Baseball is in the middle of an all-star break, where two major events happen: the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game itself, pitting stars form the National League and the American League against one another. That's just a quick background to introduce this last VGM volume for this edition, a chipper theme for Mario Stadium in the Mushroom Kingdom's version of baseball, Mario Superstar Baseball!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - Labor of Love Edition

It's Labor Day for the United States, but we're not really having five new video game themes to showcase because of that. No, we're showcasing five new video game themes because that's just what we do every Monday. On today's edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM, we have music from classic games, like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, EarthBound, and Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

v451. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) - The Dark World

Koji Kondo may not compose a lot of original music nowadays, but his reputation will forever be of a person who wrote some of the most memorable gaming music of all time. His The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past soundtrack is but one of those.

v452. Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA) - Sensei's Theme

Sensei is the oldest character in Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, a tremendous sequel that appeared on the Game Boy Advance and introduced a new foe in the Black Hole army. Sensei's theme is an absolute treat for the ears, somewhat goofy, somewhat militaristic, but 100% good.

v453. Mario Party 3 (N64) - Let's Get a Move On

One of the mini-game themes in Mario Party 3, the final of the Mario Party games on the Nintendo 64, Let's Get a Move On has a whole lot of whimsy and charm. Mario Party 3 is a fun entry in the series, but it happens to be our least favorite of the Nintendo 64 games.

v454. EarthBound (SNES) - Onett

After years of passionate fans wanting EarthBound on Nintendo's Virtual Console service, the game was unceremoniously released one day to the great surprise of many. The ten dollar price tag certainly beats paying a hundred for an original cartridge, now doesn't it?

v455. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (GB) - Battle vs. Gym Leader

The composers at Game Freak certainly tested the abilities of the Game Boy sound card with their magnificent compositions for Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow, the games that started the phenomenon known as Pokemon. It's a particularly tense theme when you're down to your last Pokemon and Blue summons a Blastoise to counter your Charizard!

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Countdown to 200 Edition

As we reach volume 191 of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs, next week we will approach the milestone of 200 total VGMs. Since this list started anew in January, we've had 190 different games being represented here. This tradition continues with volumes 191-195. We have music from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Earthbound, and Ice Climber.

v191. Earthbound (SNES) - Because I Love You (Orchestrated)

The theme of the city of Fourside of Earthbound fame, Because I Love You comes from a series of Japanese game concerts that were spread out across numerous CDs. It's a moving piece for certain. The Earthbound series in Japan is known as Mother, probably something a lot of gamers know, but I'm just throwing it out there for those that maybe didn't. Only one of the three Mother games would reach North American shores, Mother 2. A N64 game would be in development, but it was cancelled, much to the chagrin of Earthbound fans everywhere.

v192. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) - Rookie and Popple

A fast and frenetic boss theme for several encounters within Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance, Rookie and Popple is yet another grand theme composed by the mind of masterpieces, Yoko Shimomura. One of her most recent projects was the Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance soundtrack. Perhaps that will be showing up sooner rather than later on the favorite VGMs of mine. Hint, hint.

v193. Dewy's Adventure (Wii) - An Instrument Called Wind

A peppy tune sporting a pop feel and piano, An Instrument Called Wind plays throughout the first world of the highly underrated Wii game, Dewy's Adventure, one from the creators of Elebits, a near-launch Wii game. Dewy's Adventure had the titular hero, a dew droplet, sliding around the levels, attacking foes with lightning and sharp icicles as his body changed forms. The tilt controls of the game sometimes felt you were moving around a stick of butter on a very slippery skillet, but overall, Dewy's Adventure is a recommended game to look into.

v194. Ice Climber (NES) - Main Theme (Brawl Version)

When a pair of adorable Eskimo children appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee, fans of the game wondered just who these two kids were. Turns out they were from a classic NES game, Ice Climber. The two are generally always tethered together for double the attack power. Their appearance in Brawl was marked with better fur shading on their parkas, a brand-new stage called Summit, and this rockin' remix of the main theme of the NES game, arranged by Toshiyuki Sudo.

v195. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) - Medley (Orchestrated)

We conclude this edition of the VGMs with a piece that was performed in 2010 at the Press Start 2010 orchestral event, performed by the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. We have a medley of New Super Mario Bros. Wii music, including the Wii menu theme for NSMBWii, the ground theme of the game, the castle theme, and finally the athletic theme. Some who listen to this piece wonder why the music of the New Super Mario Bros. series doesn't go orchestrated. Well, I am of the opinion of many that it simply wouldn't fit a 2D game. I'm not saying better instruments as seen in Rayman Origins wouldn't work, but a full orchestra is overkill for such a game. What do you think?

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Multiple editions of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs down, and our voyage to 200 reaches its destination next week. What will be the 200th VGM? Don't ask me - I haven't decided yet! But I'm sure I'll be able to find something that will please a lot of people. Until then, check out my VGM Database for all songs listed from January to now.