SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Midterm Madness Edition

For many students (including yours truly), it's midterm season. No wonder SuperPhillip Central has been bare this week until now! However, now the midterms are over, and it's time to pump out new content like crazy!

This all starts with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, taking a special Friday place on the SPC weekly calendar this time around. Folklore gives us a mystical theme to start things off, and then we go to school with some Bully. White Knight Chronicles and Final Fantasy XI give us some RPG goodness, and then, Valkyria Chronicles II fittingly takes us back to class.

Click on the VGM volume title to reach its YouTube video. And if you want more VGMs, check out the VGM Database to get your fill-- and then some! Now, let's get on to the music!

v1241. Folklore (PS3) - To the Unknown World

Let's start off with a mysterious and enchanting theme from the equally mysterious and enchanting Folklore, a PlayStation 3 exclusive that was very much overlooked upon release. The game has since seen a bit of a cult classic status in the PS3 library. As for the song, who doesn't like lovely strings with a delightful choir backing? Don't answer, friends. That was rhetorical!

v1242. Bully (PS2) / Bully: Scholarship Edition (Wii, 360) - Walk Theme

Bully has an open world that wasn't the largest that Rockstar has ever created-- far from it-- but it was one of the most charming and dynamic. Being so small, Rockstar was able to craft a nice and cozy neighborhood that changed throughout the school year. If you're wishing for a sequel to Bully like I am, then join the club! There's thousands of us!

v1243. White Knight Chronicles (PS3) - Craydol Plain

White Knight Chronicles wasn't the most exciting RPG on the PlayStation 3, but I enjoyed the time I spent with it all the same. However, the reason I didn't finish it was because of the gnawing thought that played out in my head repeatedly, "Couldn't I be playing something better?" And I did. However, one thing that stays memorable to me in my mind is the glorious soundtrack for the game.

v1244. Final Fantasy XI (PS2, 360, PC) - The Federation of Windurst

From one RPG to another, Final Fantasy XI took the series into uncharted territory-- online! This MMORPG still has quite the following, though Final Fantasy XIV took some of the wind out of XI's sails. Still, there's an enviable charm to the game that is assisted by the stellar soundtrack, featuring a wide array of composers. Naoshi Mizuta composed this particular rustic theme.

v1245. Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP) - Are We A Spoiled Class

Well, they LOOK pretty spoiled! Here's a nice and playful song for the end of this tardy edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Xylophones, wood blocks, and plucked strings are all great ways to bring a sense of playfulness to a theme, and that's exactly what composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (composer of my favorite game soundtrack, Final Fantasy Tactics) has done with this charming theme.

Most Overlooked PlayStation 3 Games - Part Two

Looking at the myriad of fantastic titles in its library, the PlayStation 3 is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Of course, even with a wonderful machine like Sony's PS3, there are bound to be several great titles that fall between the cracks. This ongoing series creatively called "Most Overlooked" aims to fix that, and inform you, the reader, the viewer, the gamer, such titles that need your undying devotion and attention, too. Let's start things off with something speedy, shall we?

Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing

Failure isn't exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version of this awesome kart racer. In fact, all versions failed to light the charts on fire. Filled with cool characters from SEGA past and present including Sonic the Hedgehog (of course), Amy Rose, Dr. Eggman, Ulala (Space Channel 5), B.D. Joe (Crazy Taxi) and much more. The tracks, though lacking in series variety, made up for that with some truly insane and impressive design. Add in some well-balanced items and a unique turbo-boost system, and you have a game that's hard to frown down upon. The most important fact is that it's a game published by SEGA that doesn't entirely suck!


Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection

This gen, the hedgehog just can't seem to catch much of a break. Us critics praised this collection, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, as a competent compendium of Genesis goodies from the original Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy to lesser-known games such as Decap Attack and Ristar. Add to the equation that this game launched at only thirty dollars, has easily obtainable trophies, and runs silky smooth in HD, and this is a hard collection to pass up! Unfortunately, not hard enough to pass up as the sales were abysmal for this collection on both PS3 and 360. If you're in the mood for some classic gaming, stay away from Golden Axe, and pick this game disc up ASAP.


SingStar Volumes 1 & 2

Immensely popular in Sony London's home country but not so much overseas, SingStar's American sales were so poor that future iterations of the series such as SingStar: ABBA and SingStar: Queen are not scheduling their tours to a town near you, unlucky North American singers. While I agree that the song selection for both PS3 volumes is pretty poor, and the cost for downloading new songs is on the high side, SingStar is a bloody good time with friends or even by yourself where no one can hear or see you-- where you can let your inhibitions run wild! You can find either edition of SingStar with mics for under thirty dollars.


Folklore

This treasured to some action-adventure game has all the makings of a fun experience for all. Inspired by Western fairy tales similar to Overlord, Folklore is all about trashing ogres, goblins, and other monstrous creatures on your adventure to uncover a village's mysterious legend. This legend is a gateway that transports the player to various different realms, a virtual border between the real world and a magical dream world. An overlooked gem in the PlayStation 3's vast library, it's one title fans of the genre will definitely enjoy.


White Knight Chronicles: International Edition

We continue with the RPG theme. Released to mixed reviews and modest sales, White Knight Chronicles: International Edition is a hack and slash, free-roaming, turn-based RPG that has you playing the role of the precocious young Leonard on a quest to retrieve a princess who is always in yet another castle it seems. If the story of the single-player doesn't fare you well, you can take your custom-made avatar online and compete in quests with up to three other friends or total strangers! Sure, the quests may seem monotonous, and there's tons of grinding to be had, but wouldn't you love to do it all with friends by your side?


That ends another edition of "Most Overlooked". Have a system or game that you'd like to see featured in "Most Overlooked"? Drop me a comment below.