SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "X Marks the Spot Twice This Week" Edition

Last week saw an article on SuperPhillip Central showcasing six more underrated games with underrated soundtracks. Two of the games featured on that list are a part of that article, so check it out here.

Nevertheless, as the title of this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs hints, two games with X's at the end of their titles get featured this week. These are Xenoblade Chronicles X and F-Zero X to begin with. (Sorry this time around, Mega Man X fans!) Then we go on a bit of a rampage in Platinum Games' Anarchy Reigns.

And while X does mark the spot twice this week, so do arranged albums. F-Zero X's selected song comes from the Guitar Arrange album for the game while Mega Man Battle Network 3 has an entry from the Rockman.EXE 15th Anniversary Arrange Best Track album. Last but not least, Road Rash is pure, unfiltered chiptune awesomeness in music form.

To remind you, just click on each VGM title to hear the song spotlighted via YouTube video. Meanwhile, the VGM Database has all past 1465 VGM volumes spread out for more than five years of SPC's nine-year history. For now, however, let's get on to the music!

v1466. Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U) - Re:Arr X

Monolith Soft, the developer behind Xenoblade Chronicles X, does not only create games for Nintendo systems exclusively now, but the studio also helps out on the tech and development side for other Nintendo projects. A notable case here is the Nintendo Switch launch title and Wii U game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Hiroyuki Sawano mostly sticks to anime in which he composes scores for, but this time around he lent his talents to the Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack with varying degrees of success. This revival of Theme X from the game's soundtrack is one of my favorites in the entire game.

v1467. F-Zero X (N64) - Grand Prix Ending (Guitar Arrange Version)

Alongside 1998's release of F-Zero X in Japan, members of the sound team for the game got together and put out a Guitar Arrange album, a Japan exclusive. It featured most of the major tracks in F-Zero X with real instruments as opposed to synth waves and the like. I've featured a handful of F-Zero X Guitar Arrange since the beginning of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, and for good reason, as there is absolutely no dud on the album.

v1468. Anarchy Reigns (PS3, 360) - Kill 'Em All

Known as Max Anarchy in other parts of the world, I'd like to use the North American name of the game, as I live on the continent. Anyway, Anarchy Reigns was a spiritual successor to the Nintendo Wii's MadWorld, even featuring several characters from that game. Instead of black, white, and red being the only colors of the game as seen in MadWorld, Anarchy Reigns consists of a larger and wider color palette, though you can tell it's a seventh generation game due to how brown and dark the overall visual appearance is. The music in Anarchy Reigns is a mix of hip-hop, rock, and rap, just like MadWorld before it.

v1469. Mega Man Battle Network 3 (GBA) - Final Transmission (15th Anniversary Arrange Best Track Ver.)

I talked about F-Zero X's Guitar Arrange Album, but recently, the Mega Man Battle Network received a special 15th anniversary album of arranged tunes from all games in the series. Rather than all being rock like F-Zero X's arranged album, this Battle Network one is much more varied. It's nice to hear the wonderful tunes of the Mega Man Battle Network series with much better clarity and more importantly, less painful chiptune music than what the Game Boy Advance could only offer at best.

v1470. Road Rash (GEN) - Pacific Coast

I'm just trying to go for a ride on the Pacific Coast, officer. So what if I took this chain and whacked a few dozen competing riders off of their bikes and probably caused immeasurable damage and harm? Road Rash is a series that needs to come back in some form. Heck, I even loved the 3D incarnations. Regardless, there's no question that the original Road Rash is one that most Genesis owners have fond memories of, and that's also due to the appealing music. Gotta love the distinctive sound of Sega Genesis chiptune music!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Ace in the Whole Sky" Edition

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs provides a weekly dose of great video game music goodness, and this week is no different. This week's edition is named after the Ace Combat series, which saw a new trailer for its upcoming seventh entry release last week. However, there's more than just that series featured this week.

Starting off, of course, with Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, we go even more retro with a character theme from Battle Arena Toshinden 2. Then, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles changes things up with a more subdued tone before things pick up again in rockin' fashion with a tune from F-Zero X. Finally, No More Heroes delivers a delightful theme for one of its more popular bosses.

As always, just click on the VGM volume name to hear its song, and be sure to check out the VGM Database for all past VGM volumes represented on this long-running series of articles. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1321. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (PS2) - The Unsung War

We begin this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a majestic and sometimes forceful choir and orchestral piece from Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. This PlayStation 2 exclusive remains the top seller in the Ace Combat franchise, sporting over one million sales in North America alone. I figured we'd take a listen to a song from the series with the latest trailer from Ace Combat 7 popping up last week.

v1322. Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (ARC, PS1, PC) - Theme of Tracy

Time for something completely different. Between your Street Fighters and Tekkens, there have been a great deal of fighting game franchises that didn't last as long as the more popular Japanese fighters. Battle Arena Toshinden is one of those. This weapon-based fighter packed a serious punch in arcades and then later on the PlayStation One and PC. Let's pour one out (a bottle of Dr. Pepper, so no one below drinking age gets any ideas) for this franchise with a rockin' '90s character theme from the second game in the franchise.

v1323. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN) - Eternal Oath

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles's story has various caravans from each village in the game going out to dangerous dungeons to get crystal energy to protect their homelands from the deadly miasma mist in the air. A lot of villages and their caravans are success stories, but some, like the village turned dungeon where this somber and sullen theme is heard, fail. Composer Kumi Tanioka brought a rustic, earthen sound to the Crystal Chronicles soundtrack's marvelous melodies, something that makes it one of my favorite Final Fantasy soundtracks to date.

v1324. F-Zero X (N64) - Drivin' Through on Max

Both F-Zero X and F-Zero GX fight in many F-Zero fans' minds for best game in the franchise. Where do you stand? Musically, while I do like the techno and electronica music heard in GX, the hard rock and heavy metal of F-Zero X beats GX for me. It's amazing that such sound was possible from the Nintendo 64's hardware, and composers Taro Bando and Hajime Wakai delivered a delightfully peppy and energizing soundtrack.

v1325. No More Heroes (Wii) - Season of the Samurai

A chill start breaking into a guitar-driven romp caps off this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, Season of the Samurai from No More Heroes is the theme song to female samurai Shinobu. Her battle is one of the first true challenges of No More Heroes where the difficulty most certainly picks up. Be careful and watchful for her one-hit kill attack which will cut Travis Touchdown down to size in a jiffy.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Off to the Races Edition

Welcome, SuperPhillip Central readers-- both regular and new, to SuperPhillip Central's weekly look/listen to some of my favorite video game music tracks. This is a special themed week that is based on arcade-style racing games. There is no need to slow down on these turns! Such games featured this week include Super Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing, and Sonic R! If you'd like to travel back in time and visit past VGM selections, race on over to my VGM Database!

v756. Super Mario Kart (SNES) - Rainbow Road

The original Rainbow Road delivers high speed thrills and chills, as there are no rails to keep you from falling into the abyss below, adding a lot of unneeded seconds to your overall time. Rainbow Road from Super Mario Kart is such a popular track that it has since appeared in three Mario Kart games: Super Circuit, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart 8's DLC. Its luxurious theme plays during all iterations of the track, but I prefer this classic version.

v757. Crash Team Racing (PS1) - Crash Cove

Crash Team Racing has many fantastic attributes to it. Its track design is splendid, its shortcuts are cleverly crafted, its item balance is fair, its challenge is adequate, and its adventure mode is terrific. One thing that isn't so amazing is the soundtrack. While there are a few standouts such as Crash Cove, the first major track of the game, a lot has the ears leaving much to be desired.

v758. Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - Boulder Canyon

Diddy Kong Racing is still my favorite kart racer ever created. Rare really got onto something good by introducing adventure elements into the kart racing genre. In fact, Crash Team Racing would be quite different had DKR not laid the foundation beforehand. Boulder Canyon has two parts to its theme. One plays when you're riding the rapids in your hovercraft, while the other plays when you're inside the interior of a castle and accompanying caverns. Dave Wise, I bow to you! *bows*

v759. Sonic R (SAT) - Back in Time

A cheesy soundtrack for sure, Sonic R's music has that feeling of charm (and awesome vocals, too) that makes it work somehow, even if the actual racing wasn't the top of its class. You still have to give Sega credit for making an adventure out of racing, with multiple shortcuts, extra areas, and much more. Back in Time is a uptempo Euro-pop tune, a definitive artifact of when it was originally released.

v760. F-Zero X (N64) - Dream Chaser

Nothing like speeding down a zero G track at highly dangerous speeds to get the blood pumping. It's even better when you have Taro Bando's rocking F-Zero X soundtrack to accompany you! Just don't go too far over the limit, or you might find yourself careening off course... and off the course, too! F-Zero X has one of the best soundtracks for the Nintendo 64, and just hearing this theme again makes the thirst for a new F-Zero oh-so real.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Happy Endings Edition

It is the final day of 2012. While it is a time for reflection for some, for SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs, it's a time for five more video game tracks! This is a special edition of my VGMs. Because it is the end of the year, we're going to listen to five songs that were at the end of their respective games. From Super Mario 64 to Xenogears, the music selection is definitely eclectic.

v281. Super Mario 64 (N64) - Staff Roll

Let's go inside the castle and have some cake. Lord knows that Mario worked out enough running and jumping in his first 3D platforming adventure that the calories from the cake shouldn't really factor into things. This peppy credits theme from Super Mario 64 plays while the game shows off all of the courses Mario trekked through. Koji Kondo really shows why he's a marvelous VGM composer with this doozy of a theme.

v282. Star Fox Adventures (GCN) - Credits

The staff roll theme for Star Fox Adventures begins with a tribal beat followed by the Star Fox 64 main theme. It soon fades out and we enter into a rocking good time with the electric guitar playing. The end of this credits theme has a sultry sax, a fond memory of the relationship between Fox McCloud and his new friend Krystal.

v283. F-Zero X (N64) - Staff Roll (Guitar Arrange Version)

This version of the F-Zero X staff roll theme comes from a guitar arrange album released after the launch of F-Zero X. It's a fusion of metal and jazz, and it is quite brilliant, more so catchy as well. If you have the chance, look into the entire F-Zero X Guitar Arrange album, as it features some incredibly awesome tracks from an incredibly awesome game.

v284. Resident Evil 4 (PS2, GCN) - Sorrow

This credits theme from Resident Evil 4 starts out very dreamlike with the gentle flute playing the main melody. However, the dream turns into a nightmare when the song gets a heavy dose of strings. You didn't really think the credits theme for one of the best [survival horror] games of all time would end on a perky note, did you?

v285. Xenogears (PS1) - Small of Two Pieces ~ Restored Pieces

One of my favorite ending themes from a video game, Xenogears's Small of Two ~ Restored Piece features a moving melody and wonderful vocals, done by Joanne Hogg of Ireland. While the first verse is lovely, the second brings in some percussion to give the song a beat to go along with its beauty. This song is one terrific treat for those who beat Xenogears.

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We're not quite through with 2012 yet. Not only is there one more brand-new review to see, but we have the SuperPhillip Central Best of 2012 Awards to start tomorrow. Stay tuned to SuperPhillip Central as this week is going to be very busy!

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.