SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Tuesdays with Philly" Edition

In honor of Memorial Day in the United States, a day where we honor fallen soldiers (though we should try to do that every day, of course), I wanted to take the Monday off from doing an edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs.

Now, it's Tuesday morning, and the Favorite VGMs are here to start a new week of new content for the site. I hope to have a followup to my Best Title Screens article with a Best Intros article, as well as some reviews for everyone before the month closes out.

Before that, however, let's get to the games that will have songs featured from them for this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. We begin with a wonderful version of the Final Fantasy Prelude theme with Final Fantasy XV. Then we shift from a highly epic game to a highly adorable one with Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Following that is one of the best 2D platformers of all time (subjectively speaking, of course), Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Finally, Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Dynasty Warriors Gundam (an unlikely duo if there ever was one) wrap things up both game-wise and musically.

Just click on each VGM volume to hear the song it features, and use the VGM Database to listen to all 1400+ past VGM volumes ever spotlighted on this weekly-occurring segment. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1406. Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XB1) - Prelude (for World of Wonder)

Many would remark that Hellfire is one of Final Fantasy XV's soundtrack, but it really doesn't do much for me. But hey, that's why musical tastes are subjective, after all. One track that was showcased in a pre-release trailer for FFXV that absolutely wowed me and cemented my purchase in the game, showing off wildlife and nature within the world, was Yoko Shimomura's absolutely phenomenal version of Nobuo Uematsu's Prelude composition. It's the ultimate Prelude theme in a Final Fantasy game for me.

v1407. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS) - 12PM

It's noon, so that usually meant in the world of Animal Crossing: New Leaf that my character just woke up and totally missed the morning. Oh well! I was always more of a nighttime party-er anyway! And by "nighttime party-er" I mean "playing New Leaf late into the night and into the wee hours of the morning." Each of the 24 real-time hours of Animal Crossing: New Leaf has a unique tune that plays during it, always welcoming players to their little digital bastion away from the worries of the real world.

v1408. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U) - Amiss Abyss

A level that takes place underwater, Amiss Abyss comes complete with a remarkably chill theme with soft piano melody and pan flute accompaniment. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze doesn't just sport this exquisite Dave Wise-composed soundtrack. It also sports one of the best 2D platforming experiences this side of Mario, Mega Man, and other elites in the genre. Some might even call it the best. Here's hoping like I said a couple of months ago that Tropical Freeze isn't left stuck on the Wii U and will come to the Switch.

v1409. Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB) - Big Forest

One of the early levels of Kirby's Dream Land 2 takes place in Big Forest. The game introduced multiple animal buddies for Kirby to team up with. This peppy tune for the Big Forest world is a delight to listen to, and it even received an awesome update in the Wii U's Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. Listen to that remix here.

v1410. Dynasty Warriors Gundam (PS3, 360) - The Other Side of the Planet

Let's finish off this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a song from the very first Dynasty Warriors crossover with the long-running Gundam anime series, Dynasty Warriors Gundam. The Other Side of the Planet played a lot in space missions within the game. Not just limited by the ground anymore in certain areas of maps like you were on planet-based missions, your Gundam or mobile suit could soar through the stars, all the while unleashing heck all over your enemies.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "RNG-ing in the New Year" Edition

It's the first Monday of 2017, so that means it's time for the first SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs edition of 2017 as well! We're RNG-ing in 2017 with five songs from some very fun RPGs this special themed edition.

Starting off with the most modern game on the edition, Final Fantasy XV gives us a powerful and intense battle theme. Then, Chrono Cross delivers a lovely dungeon theme. The World Ends With You takes us to Tokyo with some J-Rock, while Legend of Mana gives us an earlier taste of Yoko Shimomura's musical style. Finally, Paper Mario sends us home with a fun little song for desert outpost exploration.

If you need a reminder (and no worries if you do), just click on the VGM volume name to hear that song. Also, check out the VGM Database for a whole healthy heap of VGM volumes collected throughout the years! Now, let's get on to the music!

v1301. Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XB1) - Stand Your Ground

Yoko Shimomura kicks off 2017's first edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with the standard battle theme for Final Fantasy XV, a game ten years in the making. It still feels unreal that the final product is actually out and people can play it! Stand Your Ground is a tense track, using strings for the main melody with some nice brass eventually backing the song. It even has a callback to the Prelude theme from the Final Fantasy series near the beginning. This is just a sample of the excellence that is the soundtrack of Final Fantasy XV, one that was so special that it was SuperPhillip Central's pick for Best Original Soundtrack at our Best of 2016 Awards.

v1302. Chrono Cross (PS1) - Ancient Dragon's Stronghold

From one prolific composer to another, Yasunori Mitsuda worked on all of the music for Chrono Cross, a classic PlayStation RPG. Ancient Dragon's Stronghold plays during the Fort Dragonia dungeon of the game. There, one must process the overarching puzzle inside related to the direction that dragon heads point. The theme starts out slow and mysterious, and then the main melody kicks in, a catchy piano riff. It's a nice dungeon theme that doesn't really grating despite all the time you'll be spending in the fort, and you WILL be spending a good deal of time there!

v1303. The World Ends With You (DS) - Emptiness And

On the official The World Ends With You soundtrack, this song is labeled Bonus Track. It's a hard rock song that plays during specific enemy encounters within the game, and its chorus gives a pretty intense feel to it. All sounding great, however. It's a song that really fits the modern world and modern Tokyo that the game is based in. Now, Tetsuya Nomura-- where is our long-teased sequel?!

v1304. Legend of Mana (PS1) - Hometown Domina

We started off this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with Yoko Shimomura's latest released soundtrack, Final Fantasy XV. Now, we enter the way-back machine and listen to one of her earlier works, a pleasant town theme from Legend of Mana, a cult classic PlayStation original. I think that word "pleasant" is the perfect word for this theme. Hearing it brings such nostalgia, especially if you have a fondness for the beginning town in the game.

v1305. Paper Mario (N64) - Mysterious Dry Dry Outpost

Placed smack dab in Dry Dry Desert stands the Dry Dry Outpost, home to the Dry Dry townspeople, bartering for goods and living their lives. This hokey tune plays as Paper Mario carouses through the booths and homes of the outpost, getting ready to make his way to a puzzle-filled pyramid. Compared to the music of Paper Mario: Color Splash, however, Paper Mario doesn't seem to compete, despite having some nice tunes. At the same token, gameplay-wise Color Splash doesn't seem to compete with the original Paper Mario!

SuperPhillip Central Best of 2016 Awards - Top Five Most Pleasing Visuals

Graphics usually take the backseat for me in importance when judging the overall quality of a game. However, that doesn't mean they don't serve a genuine purpose when examining a game. When I judge the visuals of a game, I'm not looking for the most impressive pushing of polygons or pixels; I'm looking at the games that have a desirable art style and use that art style well. These five games fit that bill rather nicely to show what I mean.

5) The Last Guardian (PS4)

Like something out of a children's storybook, The Last Guardian's visuals present a gorgeous display that assists the world to being a character as much as Trico and its young boy keeper are. Trico itself never fails to make me gaze at the creature in awe, much like the detailed world that I also saw myself stopping every bit of the way to take in. Performance problems aside on the OG PlayStation 4, The Last Guardian's visuals ultimately delight and help establish a wondrous setting for a wondrous adventure.

4) Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XB1)

The developers of Final Fantasy usually show mastery in getting a lot of the hardware each entry is placed on. Despite being a less than desirable game, Final Fantasy XIII is a true beauty. With ten years of planning, development, and stumbling points, it didn't seem like Final Fantasy XV would turn out well, especially starting out on the PS3. However, not only is the game superb, but so are the visuals. From the huge draw distance showcasing jaw-dropping vistas and tremendous views to the immaculate character and enemy models (and how about those food dishes!), Final Fantasy XV is a visual showcase on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, giving it the four spot on this top five countdown.

3) Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Despite being weaker hardware compared to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the Wii U has shown many times that it can hang with the big boys, if not by visual fidelity then by style alone. Paper Mario: Color Splash is one such game that makes a case for how a game's art style can really bring out a healthy heaping of beauty. The paper characters look fantastic, and the environments made also of paper but also cardboard create a world that is both fun to explore and mighty pleasing to the eyes. Nintendo and Intelligent Systems may not have gone the desired direction with the gameplay, but visually, Paper Mario: Color Splash is a sight to behold.

2) Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)

There are few games that make me do double-takes upon seeing the visuals. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is one such game. From the amazingly lifelike visuals, showing realistic human models that don't delve too deeply into the uncanny valley, immensely detailed backgrounds and environments, and special effects that boost the visual splendor to magnificent levels, Uncharted 4 is an amazing achievement visually. Naughty Dog's graphical team really nailed the look of the game and mastered the PS4 hardware, making it all the more exciting to see how The Last of Us 2 turns out.

1) Ratchet & Clank (PS4)

Ratchet & Clank is the PlayStation 4 game that most impressed me this year, especially seeing it played on the PS4 Pro. I'll always take a fantastical world and characters over realism any day, and Ratchet & Clank's colorful visual style checks that box well. The game looks like the film of the same name only in interactive form. The different planets are truly marvels to look at and engage in, and the character models exude personality, charm, and push plenty of polygons. These reasons alone put Ratchet & Clank as the game with the most pleasing visuals for SuperPhillip Central's Best of 2016 Awards.

SuperPhillip Central Best of 2016 Awards - Top Five Original Soundtracks

Welcome to the first of a variety of lists here on SuperPhillip Central! It's the ninth annual "SuperPhillip Central Best Of Awards", this time celebrating all the good and all the bad of 2016. While the world wasn't a winner this past year, in gaming, the industry truly shined. The SuperPhillip Central Best of 2016 Awards kicks off tonight with a look at the best original soundtracks of the year.

Video game music is something that is highlighted every Monday with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, so it only makes sense that an awards category is dedicated to the best music of the year. Here we go with the top five original soundtracks of 2016!

5) Fire Emblem Fates (3DS)

This inaugural list of the SuperPhillip Central Best of 2016 Awards begins with Fire Emblem Fates, which saw three versions released early this year. Between the gorgeous melodies of story sequences and the more intense battle themes, Fire Emblem Fates has players and listeners covered with a variety of themes to fit any emotional mood.

A Dark Fall

End of All (Land)

Quest of Shade

Past Light

Road Taken

4) Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)

Yoko Shimomura delivers a lighthearted and catchy soundtrack with Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, the latest in the long-running handheld RPG franchise. You have a sense of wonder with themes like Forest Fairy Melody, while with other songs you get a feeling of rushing adrenaline as you face foes like with the songs of Big Bang! and Final Battle. Which ever song you listen to, you're bound to love it.

Big Bang!

Forest Fairy Melody

Time's Running Out!

Where's Toad?

Final Battle

3) Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U, 3DS)

It doesn't matter the quality of the game-- whenever Sonic Team heads a game, you can bet your gold medal that the soundtrack is going to be exquisite. In Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games' case, not only is the soundtrack, a perfect representation of Rio, wonderful, but the game isn't too bad either. Nothing gets the feel of Rio better than the soundtrack of this game, crafted by some of Sega's brightest composers.

Main Theme

Copacabana Beach (Hub)

Maracanã

Football (Vocal Mix)

Cycling

2) Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

We just can't get away from Mario, can we! An assortment of composers created the superb sounds of the Paper Mario: Color Splash soundtrack. Regardless of what you think of the direction the gameplay of Color Splash went, I think most of us can agree that the soundtrack is nothing short of heavenly with blissful tunes and hum-able ditties. For much of the soundtrack, a smile never fails to be implanted upon my face. For these reasons (and the music just being marvelously crafted), Paper Mario: Color Splash is the runner-up this year for Best Original Soundtrack.

Main Theme

Rumble with Wendy

Bloo Bay Beach

Cherry Lake

Sunglow Ridge

1) Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XB1)

Yoko Shimomura makes her presence felt yet again, but this time with a much grander in scope soundtrack, the Final Fantasy XV soundtrack! Though she composed a lot of the music for the game, Tetsuya Shibata, Yoshitaka Suzuki, among others also had a hand in crafting the glorious goodness of Final Fantasy XV's music. Pure, raw emotion is sewn into each track with the utmost of care, creating an end result that makes Final Fantasy XV's soundtrack the best original soundtrack of 2016 here at SuperPhillip Central.

Stand Your Ground

Wanderlust

Hunt or Be Hunted

Bros on the Road

Cape Caem

We continue with more of the SuperPhillip Central Best of 2016 Awards tomorrow evening. Stay tuned, as the lists continue now until New Year's Day!

16 in '16: Most Wanted Games

It's a yearly tradition here at SuperPhillip Central for me to list the games that most excite me in the upcoming year. Last year I wrote the 15 games of 2015 that most interested me, and the year before that I wrote up the 14 games of 2014 that enthused me. Here's hoping I'm not still writing this blog in 2040, or I'll have to come up 40 games on a list!

Regardless, many games that were on my 2015 list are on my 2016 list, funnily enough. Let's just hope that most of the games on today's list remain with us in the year 2016 and aren't delayed. From the big consoles to handheld releases, today's list is nice and varied with the big and small releases that 2016 will hopefully see.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)

After being delayed a couple of times, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is finally set to release this year, April to be exact! Set to be the final entry developed by Naughty Dog, Uncharted 4 will be Nathan Drake's ultimate journey, making for a lot of predictions from fans as to what we'll see. No doubt the excellent gunplay of the past Uncharted games will be making its appearance known, updated and upgraded to great effect. No doubt we'll see the most incredible set pieces, gunplay, battles, and narrative ever seen in an Uncharted game with the increased power of the PS4, and that has me excited beyond words... except for the ones I just typed out.

Ratchet & Clank (PS4)

My favorite PlayStation franchise finally receives a full-fledged adventure, the type of full-fledged Ratchet & Clank game that hasn't been seen since 2009's A Crack in Time. Simply titled Ratchet & Clank, this new game is a reboot of sorts for the franchise, a remake of the original Ratchet & Clank to tie in with the new CG film releasing this year. Looking as great as a Pixar film in graphical quality, Ratchet & Clank is certainly one game that will get me hyped about getting a PlayStation 4 in the future.

Gravity Rush 2 (PS4)

Not much is known yet about this next game, besides being set for release in 2016 sometime. It's the sequel to the PlayStation Vita's Gravity Rush, a game that starred a girl named Kat that could use the powers of gravity to move through the areas of the game. A remastered version has already released of the original game onto the PS4 in Japan, and the West will be receiving it this February. It'll give PS4 owners a chance to see what they missed out on with the original Vita release, as well as get a taste of what's to come with the much awaited sequel.

Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XONE)

This next game takes a much different route than previous Final Fantasy games. Its history is one that span ten years already, formerly known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Final Fantasy XV is set to be an open world game that forgoes the traditional turn-based combat the series is known for, instead utilizing a battle system more akin to the Kingdom Hearts series. Vehicle-based exploration is available to explore the immense world size of the game. Here's hoping 2016 is the year that Final Fantasy XV gets released, as a lot of us have been waiting a long time for this game!

Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, XONE)

This might be a fool's errand to hazard the guess or assume that Kingdom Hearts III will be releasing this year, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the game. Kingdom Hearts III takes place after the Nintendo 3DS spin-off Dream Drop Distance, and it will feature a host of returning and new characters. New worlds are planned, such as Rapunzel's Tangled world and a setting from Disney's Big Hero 6. New Attraction Flow moves take famous Disneyland theme park attractions and turns them into special attacks. It's been a long time coming for Kingdom Hearts III, and it's safe to say that fans have been ready for a loooong time for this third numbered entry.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (PS4)

The fifth game in the mainline series, following the PS3 and Xbox 360 game The Last Hope, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out in March in Japan with a TBA date for Europe and the Americas. This sequel brings the similar action role-playing fun the series is known for into the eighth generation, set on a world thousands of light years away from the planet Earth. Tri-Ace, developer of the series, returns for this sequel, showing that Square Enix is committed to the quality of the Star Ocean franchise. As a huge fan of The Second Story on the original PlayStation and as one who liked Till the End of Time on the PS2, I'm quite thrilled to see this fifth installment happening.

World of Final Fantasy (PS4, Vita)

Take control of twins Lann and Reyne in the wondrous world of Grimoire, full of characters from the Final Fantasy world in chibi form. Meant to be a game for fans of the Final Fantasy franchise as well as younger players, World of Final Fantasy is meant to be modeled after earlier Final Fantasy games. The game utilizes the ATB (Active Time Battle) system of earlier games, and it features characters from various Final Fantasy titles as well. As a dual release on the PlayStation 4 and the Vita, this intended 2016 release excites me as a fan of old school Final Fantasy games. No doubt it excites other Final Fantasy fans as well.

Mirror's Edge Catalyst (PS4, XONE)

Once again we find Faith Connors as the star of this greatly desired sequel to the cult classic Mirror's Edge. This time she's taking on a myriad of corporations taking control of the city of Glass. Along the way, Faith uses her tremendous parkour style to get around areas, stealthily subdue enemies, and jump across large chasms in the city sky. This time around cooperative multiplayer is available as well as a competitive multiplayer mode. Whether you want to play alone or with/against others, Mirror's Edge Catalyst will have something for everyone when it releases in May.

Mighty No. 9 (Multi)

While this next game has received a lot of controversy with how funds with the project have been utilized and how project lead Keiji Inafune has asked for more money over the course of the project. However, I can't say no to a Mega Man spiritual successor that doesn't look bad to me at all. Containing a mix of 2D gameplay and 3D models, Mighty No. 9 is pure fast-paced platforming in a variety of locales and locations. The main gameplay mechanic, hero Beck's dash ability, allows players to rush into foes, scoot across gaps, and much more. After seeing many major delays, Mighty No. 9 finally releases next month. Here's hoping the wait has been worth it.

The Legend of Zelda (Wii U)

Announced several two E3s ago, we have only seen about five minutes of footage for the newest adventure in The Legend of Zelda series. What we do know is that the game will be much more open-world focused than past games in the series. Whether this Wii U exclusive Zelda will remain Wii U exclusive (i.e. released on Nintendo's next system as well as the Wii U) is at this point unknown, but that hasn't stopped people from speculating. Regardless, in whatever form we see the latest Legend of Zelda, history shows that the game will probably be fantastic.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Wii U)

(Note: GameCube screen shown.) It's quite surprising to me that Nintendo hasn't done more HD remasters of classic games as a way to pad its lineup on the Wii U. We've seen in the past The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, a marvelous remaster, and now we see The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess receiving the same treatment. What additions this time around will be seen is unknown, but there's plenty to speculate about. It'll be nice returning to Twilight Princess' version of Hyrule when the game releases this March.

Star Fox Zero (Wii U)

The Wii U is winding down, but it has delivered a lot of excellent exclusives in its short life, both retail form and digitally. 2016 may be a slowing down period for the system, but the Wii U isn't totally finished yet. Star Fox Zero looks to bring a lot of the fun of the series to the Wii U with optional two-screen GamePad usage. The game was delayed from its November 20th date to April 2016, and here's hoping this Platinum Games developed title has received even more TLC to make it more impressive than it was early on. If more enemies get added, the excitement will be palpable for me, as that was really my only complaint with past demos and footage. Here's hoping Star Fox's return is a grand one and not just a blip on the radar.

Fire Emblem: Fates (3DS)

Another system that is winding down, the Nintendo 3DS still has a LOT of titles releasing in its twilight years. Fire Emblem: Fates is just one of these, and this strategy RPG is set to deliver intense battles requiring smart strategy, character relationships, and even online multiplayer this go around. With three versions to choose from, each offering a different side to the same story, Fire Emblem: Fates is going to be a game that players will dive into and remain with for a long time.

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past (3DS)

After more than three years of waiting for a localization announcement, last month Nintendo delivered with the word that Dragon Quest VII would finally be hitting the West. Given the subtitle Fragments of the Forgotten Past, this Nintendo 3DS remake of the original PlayStation game features fabulous 3D worlds, on-screen enemy encounters, and much, much more. This intended summer release seems like the perfect cure for the dog days of summer. Now, excuse me while I catch up on my Dragon Quest by playing the DS remakes!

Final Fantasy Explorers (3DS)

With over a year's wait in tow, Final Fantasy Explorers will finally hit North America and Europe. The game is an action role-playing romp where custom characters can enter one of many job classes based off of early Final Fantasy games. Combat features battles against foes like monsters like Behemoths and Malboros, and summons like Ifrit and Shiva. Both offline and online quests are available, as is local play. I tend to enjoy the spin-offs of the Final Fantasy series more than the mainline games, besides a select amount of examples, so I eagerly await Final Fantasy Explorers when it releases at the end of the month.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)

Releasing in the middle of the month, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam puts the worlds of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario together for one (most likely) very humorous adventure. The team of Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario venture through colorful worlds, solving puzzles, and use each character's unique abilities to access new areas otherwise inaccessible to the player. Battles continue to contain the timed-button system of past Mario RPGs, making for more involved combat than simply mashing on a button and going through the motions. Note that Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is already available in Japan and PAL territories, so this game on my list refers to the North America version.

Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XONE) Jump Festa 2014 Trailer

At Japan's Jump Festa event, Square Enix unveiled this all-new and incredible (if I might add) trailer for Final Fantasy XV. Will it be a grand return of the franchise after the less than fantastic Final Fantasy XIII trilogy? I hope so!

Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XONE) Tokyo Game Show 2014 Trailer

After over a year in hibernation, Final Fantasy XV sees a brand-new trailer just in time for this year's Tokyo Game Show. Witness the phenomenal visuals and seemingly open-world setting of the game with this impressive and captivating trailer.

Top Five Most Exciting PlayStation 4 Games

Last Friday we spent some time talking about the Xbox One titles that excited us the most. This week we're changing focus from Microsoft's next generation offering to Sony's with the PlayStation 4. There are great number of interesting games, and this list was very difficult to make. Once you've read through our list of five games and rationale for why we've placed them here, why not tell us which titles that you deem most exciting and buzz-worthy from what PlayStation 4 is currently offering?

5) Killzone: Shadow Fall

A very much hyped launch title for the PlayStation 4, the Killzone series debuts in next gen with Killzone: Shadow Fall. Guerrilla Games promises an action-packed game that runs at 30 frames per second and in glorious 1080p resolution. For those that aren't very tech savvy, Shadow Fall will play as stunning as it looks. The series might not have been the Halo-killer that so many were wishing for, but Guerrilla Games' Killzone: Shadow Fall looks to be a grand shooter for the PlayStation 4's highly anticipated launch.

4) Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is seeing Hideo Kojima's legacy series releasing on both current generation and next generation consoles. The game offers a similar ability that Peace Walker possessed in which players can build their own base, developing their own weapons and items from this location. Story events can be completed in a nonlinear order this go around, through the player choosing missions at their own leisure. Furthermore, Metal Gear Solid V has expanded the setting of the game to be more open world than before. Additionally, there is a day and night cycle that occurs in real time. Just how this will affect missions (or if it will at all) is unclear. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is shaping up to be a must-have game for fans of the series, and even we are excited, the people who thought the fourth entry in the series was a big disappointment.

3) Kingdom Hearts III

After years of rumors, it was finally confirmed that Kingdom Hearts III was truly in development for not one, but two platforms, the PlayStation 4 and, for the series' first time on a Microsoft platform, the Xbox One. Kingdom Hearts III comes fresh off the heels of last year's Dream Drop Distance on Nintendo 3DS. The game will see the return of such familiar faces such as Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey and many more. Square Enix is promising new Disney worlds to explore. Perhaps we may finally see some Pixar representation in the worlds. We anxiously await more news from Square Enix on Kingdom Hearts III, as it has really been a long time coming for fans like us.

2) Final Fantasy XV

Amid rumors of Final Fantasy Versus XIII being cancelled due to the game not being seen in ages, E3 2013 showed that the game's name had been changed to Final Fantasy XV, a new mainline entry in the cherished RPG series. The game is set to be a dramatic shift from past games, in both gameplay and tone. Firstly, XV will be an action RPG instead of the traditional turn-based systems of past non-MMO entries. It will also feature third-person shooter elements. The world is set to allow for much more exploration than say, Final Fantasy XIII, offering large kingdoms, dungeons and maps to traverse, each with multiple pathways to reach one's destination. All of this sounds almost too good to be true coming after the disappointing saga of Lightning and the Final Fantasy XIII namesake. Still, we have high hopes that Tetsuya Nomura and his team can make Final Fantasy XV work and work wonderfully.

1) inFAMOUS: Second Son

While this game may not be making it to the PS4 launch, we are most excited for Sucker Punch's inFAMOUS: Second Son, due out in early 2014. The title is looking like one of the most impressive eighth generation games when it comes to its visuals. Second Son promises both familiarity and freshness, a combination that will delight players of the PlayStation 3 inFAMOUS games. Delsin Rowe is the protagonist of Second Son, and we know a little bit of his conduit powers. They allow him to use multiple steam-based attacks. However, Sucker Punch has made it clear through not-so-subtle hints that steam is just one of the many types of powers that Delsin will acquire through the game. Fans of the past games will be glad to know that Seattle, the city that Second Son takes place in, will have the same amount of freedom to explore and parkour fun that previous games had in spades. These reasons have us most hyped for inFAMOUS: Second Son than any other release for the PlayStation 4 so far.

Top Ten Most Wanted Games of E3 2013

Just like that, E3 2013 is over. The announcements have been made, the new consoles got their time in the light, and the awkward moments will forever be remembered. We get teased for agonizing months that seem to tick away at a snail's pace, and finally E3 came and it's over faster than the blink of an eye. Regardless, this E3 was one of the best for gamers, as not only were two consoles unveiled almost fully, but we got an enormous amount of new game announcements and new glimpses at already revealed games that we are as giddy as schoolboys.

To cap off our E3 coverage, we have in store for you a list of ten of our most wanted games from the show floor of E3 2013. Many of these games came from left field, while some were previously announced but impressed nonetheless. After we're done broaching about our faves, why not share with us which ten titles excited you most by posting in our comments section?

10) Dead Rising 3 (XONE)

When we saw the gameplay footage of Dead Rising 3, coming from one of our favorite new franchises of this past generation, we had only one thing in mind besides how awesome the footage looked. We were thinking, "please don't let this be exclusive, please don't let this be exclusive, please don't let this be exclusive!" Turns out, yep, Capcom's comedic horror franchise's third installment is an Xbox One exclusive. However, the blow wasn't as powerful as we were thinking. Capcom is saying that Dead Rising 3 is supposed to be more serious than past games, however, a good portion of the fun of the series was through its dark and morbid humor. We'll wait and see before we pass judgment on Dead Rising 3.

9) Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360)

The first Metal Gear Solid game developed using the all-new Fox Engine, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is set to release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and thankfully PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, for those who don't want to make the jump to next gen immediately. Metal Gear Solid V offers unprecedented freedom in the series, allowing players to select which missions they wish to do in whatever order they desire (while maintaining an understanding of the plot), an open world setting, and the ability to build and customize their own base. A day and night cycle will be implemented as well. Metal Gear Solid 4 was a disappointment to us, so Kojima Productions has a lot to prove to us for MGSV. Right now, it is looking like they may just impress us yet!

8) Destiny (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360)

What a shot to Microsoft's nuts having Bungie at a PlayStation press conference must have been. Regardless, what Bungie and publisher Activision showed at the conference did a lot to excite us. Their game is Destiny, something similar to Borderlands concerning all of the loot and weaponry you can acquire, and it features a ton of action. We get tired of all of the shooters out there, but this one seems less garden variety than the usual fare. Teaming up to take down a colossal mechanical creature looked awesome during the press event, and we eagerly await more information on Bungie's first product under Activision.

7) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

There was a lot of disappointment regarding Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. It was all due to gamers not knowing what Retro Studios' project was. When it was revealed to be their second foray into the world of Donkey Kong Country, hearts were crushed and souls were shattered. However, then we got to see more of the game through live demos and the trailer, and then it all of a sudden didn't seem so bad after all. The game looks solid, challenging, and full of surprises. The addition of Dixie Kong and a secret fourth playable character intrigues us, and having David Wise back as the main composer for the series gives us tingles of nostalgia. We can't wait for the November release of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

6) inFamous: Second Son (PS4)

A game set to release after the PlayStation 4's launch, inFamous: Second Son debuted at Sony's February PlayStation event. Protagonist Delsin Rowe specializes not only in smoke-based abilities, but he can also copy the abilities of other conduits. This open world action game is the third in the inFamous series, is set in Seattle (as opposed to a fictitious city like the previous two inFamous games) and is due for an early 2014 release. From the gorgeous graphics we've seen to the action-packed footage that has littered E3 (in a good way), inFamous: Second Son is the PS4 exclusive we're most excited about.

5) Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Another disappointment at the Nintendo Direct was the unveiling of the new 3D Mario. Many assumed, including us, that the new Mario game would be akin to Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. It would be something that really pushed the Wii U hardware. What we got instead was a sequel to Super Mario 3D Land with Super Mario 3D World. Again, the disappointment quickly went away when we saw the game in action. The new cat power-up looks phenomenally fun, having four unique characters is a great treat, and having actual multiplayer in a 3D Mario title is something that we can't wait to try out for ourselves. Super Mario 3D Land is one of the Nintendo 3DS system's best titles, so even though we started off sour on Super Mario 3D World, we welcome a sequel.

4) Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

While Super Mario 3D World certainly doesn't push the Wii U hardware as much as we'd like, a game that does is Mario Kart 8, the latest in this stellar kart racing series. The graphics look absolutely jaw-dropping, showcasing Mario and company with an immense amount of hardware power. Now, karts and bikes can ride along walls and ceilings with the F-Zero style anti-gravity gameplay. Alongside that, the developers are aiming to get the game at a consistent 60 FPS, making for one fast and fluid ride. Mario Kart is always a blast to play, and with all of the features packed into Mario Kart 8, we might be seeing the best version of the series yet!

3) Final Fantasy XV (PS4, XONE)

There was an extraordinary amount of rumors that Final Fantasy Versus XIII would turn into Final Fantasy XV. The countless people who suggested this and theorized were absolutely right. After struggling to recapture the quality of previous games in the series with Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIV (the latter of which had to be revamped and re-released), Final Fantasy XV looks to be Square Enix back to its old form. Maybe it's too early to say such a thing, but you can feel free to shove this article in our faces if FFXV turns out to be bad.

2) Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, XONE)

Just one more thing... Tetsuya Nomura followed the Final Fantasy XV announcement trailer with one more new game announcement. That game announcement was none other than the long awaited Kingdom Hearts III. After all of those spin-off titles after Kingdom Hearts II, we finally have a new mainline installment to cheer for. In the trailer, we saw Sora standing at the Destiny Islands with keyblade in hand, and then we saw him scurrying away from a tidal wave of heartless in Twilight Town. This short amount of footage gives a large amount of hype for this game. What's great is that it's multiplatform for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Here's hoping Kingdom Hearts III strikes a nice balance between Disney and Final Fantasy.

1) Super Smash Bros. (Wii U, 3DS)

Wii U version

Nintendo 3DS version

We listed Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and for Nintendo 3DS as our most anticipated titles leading into E3. Now that we have seen the games in action, our anticipation is at a fever pitch. Seeing that both the Wii U and 3DS installments to the Smash series will feature different stages, Nintendo already has us biting at their bait, hook, line and sinker. The addition on the first third-party character in Mega Man was an announcement that made us giggle with glee like the man-children we are. We're just a bit sad that we have to wait until next year at the earliest to get our hands on the final build of both Super Smash Bros. games.