It only seems apropos that the first non-weekly article series to be posted on SuperPhillip Central in 2018 is First Things First, as this series of articles celebrates the best video game openings from our hobby's past and present. We're on a bit of a hand-drawn kick with Part Five's game and opening selections. From modern takes on old classics like Sonic Mania, to a handful of PS1 classics, this edition of First Things First: Best Openings in Gaming has some very good stuff on offer!
Take a look at past parts of this ongoing article series and then tell me in the comments which games you think SuperPhillip Central is missing so far.
Best Openings in Gaming - Part One
Best Openings in Gaming - Part Two
Best Openings in Gaming - Part Three
Best Openings in Gaming - Part Four
Sonic Mania (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)
Sonic Mania's opening video captures the brilliance that was the Sonic CD opening with a familiar intro, showing off some fantastic animation with crystal clear HD visuals. Starting with a ride up an elevator, our three heroes get pumped and primed to let loose, wild, and free in a white space of impressive geometry, bouncing springs, beautiful vistas, and twisting paths -- and all doing it with that signature Genesis-era attitude that old school Sonic fans adore. To see such an opening was also seeing the preview of the awesomeness that Sonic Mania's actual gameplay content had in store. Maybe we'll be seeing some nominations and potential awards for Sonic Mania during this month's SuperPhillip Central Best of 2017 Awards...!
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 (PS2)
Back in the day, we didn't have any fancy schmancy Dragon Ball Super that continued the adventures of Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, et. al. No, sirs and madams, we had Dragon Ball GT to endure, and Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 was the game that shoved a lot of the characters and designs from that series down our throats. However, we did get an amazing array of Dragon Ball series-related games around that time, sort of the golden years, if you will. Packed with characters and a love letter to Dragon Ball Z fans, Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 emanated quality for both casual fighting game fans and lovers of Saiyans, Namekians, and Earthlings alike. The whole fun, fighting game begins with this introductory cutscene, capturing the essence and spirit of the source material remarkably. Note: The Japanese version is the one represented, but the North American version is great as well. It just features an instrumental rendition of the opening theme.
Wild Arms: Alter Code F (PS2)
First Things First originally saw the Wild Arms series in its very first edition with the debut of the series on the original PlayStation. Now, we turn to the remake of that game -- at least its opening. While not as powerful as the original Wild Arms' opening cutscene, Alter Code F still provides some honest emotion, particularly revolving around that red balloon wafting in the wind and the final scene viewed in the movie at a massive pile of brick and kindling that once was the castle and kingdom of Adlehyde. The new party members in this edition of Wild Arms also are provided time to shine as well. Like I said, it doesn't beat out the original Wild Arms (and that's somewhat due to my own nostalgia towards the game and its opening), but the introduction movie to Alter Code F does the job well all the same.
Chrono Trigger (PS1)
Speaking of the work of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, let's move on to our next game. With the launch of the PlayStation and the ability to use CDs instead of limited capacity cartridges, developers were able to put a lot more data into their games. Not only was the ability to produce richer sound available to devs, but so was the ability to add video. One of my favorite aspects of the PS1 was the introduction of anime cutscenes and how prevalent they were in Japanese games. This was seen even in ports brought over from past platforms, specifically the Super Nintendo. Chrono Trigger was one of these games, and to see so many familiar sights from a game many played in their youth in cutscene form as older and wiser gamers, it was a memorable experience. Akira Toriyama's work from Chrono Trigger was masterfully animated and colored to such rich detail. Then, you have composer Yasunori Mitsuda's theme for the game playing over the footage. It's a familiar yet totally new look at the world of Chrono Trigger, all done in but one, single opening movie.
Mega Man X5 (PS1)
Mega Man X5 was essentially the culmination of the X sub-series of Mega Man games. It was to be the conclusion of the story until Capcom saw its sales as a positive result and pushed for more games featuring X and Zero. The opening of Mega Man X5 is a lot more meaningful with the idea that no more Mega Man X games were going to be made, but it still leaves a nostalgic impact nonetheless. By showing quick glimpses of battles fought in past Mega Man X games, such as X versus Sigma and the villain's trusty attack dog in X1, X battling Serges, Agile, and Violen in Mega Man X2, and Zero dueling with Colonel from X4 -- these moments reminded players of the hard fought battles, victories, as well as losses taken in the war against Sigma and his Mavericks. Everything was on the line story-wise with Mega Man X5, and this cool opening movie helped to hammer that point home.
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
While the PlayStation had its higher capacity compact discs for the addition of better sound and the better implementation of video, the Nintendo 64 didn't have as much capabilities sticking with cartridges. That said, loading times were limited on N64 games. Let's do away with this tech talk, as that bores me! Onto the last game opening of Part Five of First Things First with a non-anime/non-hand-drawn introductory movie! Rare made a ton of amazing games on the Nintendo 64, but some aren't as widely talked about, such as Blast Corps for one, and this game, Jet Force Gemini. This sci-fi epic sees Mizar's insectoid army ambush the peace-loving Tribals as well as Team Jet Force Gemini's ship. The trio of heroes: Juno, Vela, and Lupus escape to their individual escape pods, being flung across the galaxy at opposite corners. You damn, dirty ants! Juno, Vela, and Lupus are about to take the fight right to Mizar's home turf as payback!
Showing posts with label jet force gemini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jet force gemini. Show all posts
Friday, January 12, 2018
Thursday, June 29, 2017
One & Done: Games Without Sequels - Part Two
Welcome to part two of One & Done, a series of articles on SuperPhillip Central that talks about games that never received sequels. Perhaps they sold badly, were eviscerated by critics and/or fans, just faded away into obscurity, or is a title that now no longer seems marketable or worth the cost to make a sequel for the current market. Sometimes there is simply no rational or logical explanation why we haven't seen a sequel to a game on this list.
After checking out SuperPhillip Central's second batch of six picks, which games that never got a sequel are your favorites? Before that, however, see the very first One & Done to see the origins of this hopefully long-running series.
The World Ends With You (DS, iOS)
We begin this second part of One & Done with an innovative and modern JRPG for the Nintendo DS that really used the hardware's features well in a non-gimmick-like manner. It's The World Ends With You, and the game utilized the dual screens of the Nintendo DS in combat to show two different battles at once: one for the main character and one for his sidekick. The bottom screen required touch inputs of various types (swipes, spins, and the like) to attack while the top screen needed button presses. The two worked mutually to create a intuitive and fresh combat system full of fun. A port of the game was made on iOS-enabled devices which had an exclusive ending teasing a sequel with a girl and the words "Another 7 Days." However, it's been more than half a decade since then, and sadly, nothing has transpired as of yet.
Eternal Sonata (PS3, 360)
This next game is also a JRPG, this time on home consoles, particularly the HD twins of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Eternal Sonata's premise was promising: Frederic Chopin is on his deathbed, and has a fever dream consisting of a cast of characters on an adventure. Nevertheless, while the world and premise showed great promise as well as the game possessing a glorious presentation, the execution of Eternal Sonata left much to be desired. With hopeless linear area designs that didn't encourage that much exploration and a weak story, there was wasn't much in Eternal Sonata to keep the attention of players for the long haul. It's unfortunate, as mixed reviews and a low marketing budget really ended Eternal Sonata's chances success on a sour note rather than something that could be improved upon with a sequel. As of now, Eternal Sonata is just yet another HD JRPG without a scent of an upcoming sequel.
Vagrant Story (PS1)
Let's do one more JRPG for this edition of One & Done before we move on to some different genres. One of the most visually pleasing three-dimensional games on the original PlayStation -- a system which has 3D graphics that are mostly hard to look with glee nowadays to many, even those like me who was old enough to be nostalgic for them -- is Vagrant Story. The actual story itself was a sophisticated and deep, following a man accused of murdering a duke, but instead of pursuing what follows, the game rewinds back to a week before the incident. Vagrant Story was part exploration, part platformer, part dungeon crawler, part battling, and more, all resulting in a game that was critically acclaimed across the board. It is a darn shame that after Squaresoft (now Square Enix, of course) released Vagrant Story that the game hasn't even received a port much more a sequel despite the immense, overwhelming love of it. It'd be a treasure to see Ashley Riot or just the Vagrant Story IP return in some regard since it is so beloved.
War of the Monsters (PS2)
Moving from something medieval to something monstrous, we're talking about War of the Monsters now, a multiplayer fighting game featuring a whole host of gigantic monsters rampaging through 3D environments. No doubt the developers found a lot of inspiration from Japanese monster movies like Godzilla and the like as well as mid-20th century sci-fi films to create a roster of appealing combatants. It wasn't just battling either, as players could climb buildings and structures, make a total mess of the city environments where these altercations took place, and carve a path of utter destruction all over. Whether with fists or throw-able objects like vehicles and steel girders. No one really envied who would have to clean this mess up, that's for sure. Though the game has since seen re-releases in digital form on the PlayStation 3 and most recently the PlayStation 4, there has been nothing regarding a sequel to the series. Sony does indeed have a lot of franchises in retirement and new ones that it currently cultivates with the publisher's attention, but a lot of those have seen sequels. War of the Monsters only has one entry, and hopefully that won't be the case forever.
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
Rare was on fire with Nintendo, especially in the Nintendo 64 era. Of course, it's important to note how much more time-consuming and costly it is to develop games today compared to back then. Regardless, Rare kept releasing high quality games at a rather rapid pace, and one of these was in 2000 with a sci-fi third-person shooter brimming with action and variety in Jet Force Gemini. Starring three playable characters that start out on different ends of the solar system, they blast their way through levels, spray the walls and floors of areas with the gunk of their insectoid enemies, explore, collect new weapons, save the local Tribals, and contend with fierce bosses in this engaging and enthralling 3D action-platformer third-person shooter. While many of Rare's homemade franchises have since seen sequels like Banjo-Kazooie, Killer Instinct, and Viva Pinata, Jet Force Gemini is on the list of Rare games that has yet to see a sequel despite a fair amount of fans. With Microsoft seemingly and bizarrely intent on sitting on a valuable collection of characters and IP with Rare, it doesn't seem like Juno, Vela, and Lupus will be getting a second mission any time soon.
Beetle Adventure Racing (N64)
It was a simpler time back in late '90s. Beanie Babies were in style much like Funko Pops are now, the Macarena was more tolerable than Gangnam Style, and lots and lots of people drove Volkswagen Beetles. So much so that a game featuring the rounded cars was created, published by EA. That game was Beetle Adventure Racing, and it wasn't your typical arcade racer. Yes, the controls were easy to get down, but you weren't racing on linear tracks to get the best time or to simply beat all other opponents. And while you didn't have 16+ racetracks to burn rubber on, you did have six or seven that took minutes to complete one lap, with so many sprawling paths, secrets, and shortcuts that you'd need to race on them dozens of time (at least) to learn them all and find everything on them. The racing was responsive, the tracks were indeed adventures in themselves with plenty of points of interests and areas, and the stuff on and off the beaten path was a blast to discover. No doubt a more modern and not-so-dated model of car would be needed for a sequel (Beetle Adventure Racing 2 was rumored to be in development before it was cancelled), but it'd be fantastic to see this type of racing experience return to gaming.
After checking out SuperPhillip Central's second batch of six picks, which games that never got a sequel are your favorites? Before that, however, see the very first One & Done to see the origins of this hopefully long-running series.
The World Ends With You (DS, iOS)
We begin this second part of One & Done with an innovative and modern JRPG for the Nintendo DS that really used the hardware's features well in a non-gimmick-like manner. It's The World Ends With You, and the game utilized the dual screens of the Nintendo DS in combat to show two different battles at once: one for the main character and one for his sidekick. The bottom screen required touch inputs of various types (swipes, spins, and the like) to attack while the top screen needed button presses. The two worked mutually to create a intuitive and fresh combat system full of fun. A port of the game was made on iOS-enabled devices which had an exclusive ending teasing a sequel with a girl and the words "Another 7 Days." However, it's been more than half a decade since then, and sadly, nothing has transpired as of yet.
Eternal Sonata (PS3, 360)
This next game is also a JRPG, this time on home consoles, particularly the HD twins of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Eternal Sonata's premise was promising: Frederic Chopin is on his deathbed, and has a fever dream consisting of a cast of characters on an adventure. Nevertheless, while the world and premise showed great promise as well as the game possessing a glorious presentation, the execution of Eternal Sonata left much to be desired. With hopeless linear area designs that didn't encourage that much exploration and a weak story, there was wasn't much in Eternal Sonata to keep the attention of players for the long haul. It's unfortunate, as mixed reviews and a low marketing budget really ended Eternal Sonata's chances success on a sour note rather than something that could be improved upon with a sequel. As of now, Eternal Sonata is just yet another HD JRPG without a scent of an upcoming sequel.
Vagrant Story (PS1)
Let's do one more JRPG for this edition of One & Done before we move on to some different genres. One of the most visually pleasing three-dimensional games on the original PlayStation -- a system which has 3D graphics that are mostly hard to look with glee nowadays to many, even those like me who was old enough to be nostalgic for them -- is Vagrant Story. The actual story itself was a sophisticated and deep, following a man accused of murdering a duke, but instead of pursuing what follows, the game rewinds back to a week before the incident. Vagrant Story was part exploration, part platformer, part dungeon crawler, part battling, and more, all resulting in a game that was critically acclaimed across the board. It is a darn shame that after Squaresoft (now Square Enix, of course) released Vagrant Story that the game hasn't even received a port much more a sequel despite the immense, overwhelming love of it. It'd be a treasure to see Ashley Riot or just the Vagrant Story IP return in some regard since it is so beloved.
War of the Monsters (PS2)
Moving from something medieval to something monstrous, we're talking about War of the Monsters now, a multiplayer fighting game featuring a whole host of gigantic monsters rampaging through 3D environments. No doubt the developers found a lot of inspiration from Japanese monster movies like Godzilla and the like as well as mid-20th century sci-fi films to create a roster of appealing combatants. It wasn't just battling either, as players could climb buildings and structures, make a total mess of the city environments where these altercations took place, and carve a path of utter destruction all over. Whether with fists or throw-able objects like vehicles and steel girders. No one really envied who would have to clean this mess up, that's for sure. Though the game has since seen re-releases in digital form on the PlayStation 3 and most recently the PlayStation 4, there has been nothing regarding a sequel to the series. Sony does indeed have a lot of franchises in retirement and new ones that it currently cultivates with the publisher's attention, but a lot of those have seen sequels. War of the Monsters only has one entry, and hopefully that won't be the case forever.
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
Rare was on fire with Nintendo, especially in the Nintendo 64 era. Of course, it's important to note how much more time-consuming and costly it is to develop games today compared to back then. Regardless, Rare kept releasing high quality games at a rather rapid pace, and one of these was in 2000 with a sci-fi third-person shooter brimming with action and variety in Jet Force Gemini. Starring three playable characters that start out on different ends of the solar system, they blast their way through levels, spray the walls and floors of areas with the gunk of their insectoid enemies, explore, collect new weapons, save the local Tribals, and contend with fierce bosses in this engaging and enthralling 3D action-platformer third-person shooter. While many of Rare's homemade franchises have since seen sequels like Banjo-Kazooie, Killer Instinct, and Viva Pinata, Jet Force Gemini is on the list of Rare games that has yet to see a sequel despite a fair amount of fans. With Microsoft seemingly and bizarrely intent on sitting on a valuable collection of characters and IP with Rare, it doesn't seem like Juno, Vela, and Lupus will be getting a second mission any time soon.
Beetle Adventure Racing (N64)
It was a simpler time back in late '90s. Beanie Babies were in style much like Funko Pops are now, the Macarena was more tolerable than Gangnam Style, and lots and lots of people drove Volkswagen Beetles. So much so that a game featuring the rounded cars was created, published by EA. That game was Beetle Adventure Racing, and it wasn't your typical arcade racer. Yes, the controls were easy to get down, but you weren't racing on linear tracks to get the best time or to simply beat all other opponents. And while you didn't have 16+ racetracks to burn rubber on, you did have six or seven that took minutes to complete one lap, with so many sprawling paths, secrets, and shortcuts that you'd need to race on them dozens of time (at least) to learn them all and find everything on them. The racing was responsive, the tracks were indeed adventures in themselves with plenty of points of interests and areas, and the stuff on and off the beaten path was a blast to discover. No doubt a more modern and not-so-dated model of car would be needed for a sequel (Beetle Adventure Racing 2 was rumored to be in development before it was cancelled), but it'd be fantastic to see this type of racing experience return to gaming.
Monday, March 27, 2017
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Marching to the End of the Month" Edition
We're at the final edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs for the month of March, so let's close it out in style with music from a wide assortment of games. I'm talking RPGs, racing games, and a duo of Nintendo 64 classics from Rare.
Fire Emblem Fates starts things off with a rousing orchestral theme followed by a rocking boss battle theme from Adventures of Mana. Speeding things up is a song from F-Zero, and then we end this edition with two Nintendo 64 games from developer Rare, Jet Force Gemini and Banjo-Tooie.
Click on the VGM volume name to hear the song featured. If you'd like to listen to past VGM volumes featured on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, check out the VGM Database. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1361. Fire Emblem Fates (3DS) - A Dark Fall (Fire)
With Fire Emblem Echoes releasing in a couple of months on the Nintendo 3DS and word of two new Fire Emblem games hitting the Switch (one Warriors game and one traditional entry), it seemed like an opportune time to showcase a song from the most recent release in the franchise, Fire Emblem Fates. As usual, the orchestration and arrangements heard are as tremendous as ever.
v1362. Adventures of Mana (iOS, Android, Vita) - Fight! II (Boss Theme 2)
Adventures of Mana is a remake Final Fantasy Adventure, a Game Boy game of old. Despite being given an updated presentation, Adventures of Mana is quite old school in its gameplay and how it doesn't really hold the player's hand. There some moments during my play-through of the game where I needed to reference a guide. Still, I couldn't be too frustrated when exploring the world with Kenji Ito's sensational soundtrack. This second boss battle theme is one of the great themes heard in game.
v1363. F-Zero (SNES) - Red Canyon
Let's get retro here on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with some F-Zero! This is indeed a series that many fans of futuristic racers would love to see make a reappearance. Despite this, Nintendo keeps them waiting. Red Canyon is a fast paced theme that received a remixed version in F-Zero GX's story mode, particular its second chapter. Whichever version you listen to, you're going to rock out.
v1364. Jet Force Gemini (N64) - Character Select
One of Rare's most underrated Nintendo 64 games is the excellent Jet Force Gemini, sporting my favorite soundtrack from Rare during that era. That's quite the compliment when Rare had such superb soundtracks like Perfect Dark and Banjo-Kazooie! Jet Force Gemini was more symphonic in its approach, offering tense and thrilling themes. Hell, even the character theme was intense!
v1365. Banjo-Tooie (N64, XBLA) - Jinjo Village
Not getting away from Rare's Nintendo 64 games, our final VGM volume of this edition comes from Banjo-Tooie, a game that provided evidence that bigger is not always better. Worlds were way too big and required many steps just to get the Jiggies in them. That said, the soundtrack was as wonderful for the series as ever, composed by Grant Kirkhope. Here's hoping the spiritual successor from Playtonic Games, Yooka-Laylee, turns out to be a great game.
Fire Emblem Fates starts things off with a rousing orchestral theme followed by a rocking boss battle theme from Adventures of Mana. Speeding things up is a song from F-Zero, and then we end this edition with two Nintendo 64 games from developer Rare, Jet Force Gemini and Banjo-Tooie.
Click on the VGM volume name to hear the song featured. If you'd like to listen to past VGM volumes featured on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, check out the VGM Database. Now, let's get on to the music!
v1361. Fire Emblem Fates (3DS) - A Dark Fall (Fire)
With Fire Emblem Echoes releasing in a couple of months on the Nintendo 3DS and word of two new Fire Emblem games hitting the Switch (one Warriors game and one traditional entry), it seemed like an opportune time to showcase a song from the most recent release in the franchise, Fire Emblem Fates. As usual, the orchestration and arrangements heard are as tremendous as ever.
v1362. Adventures of Mana (iOS, Android, Vita) - Fight! II (Boss Theme 2)
Adventures of Mana is a remake Final Fantasy Adventure, a Game Boy game of old. Despite being given an updated presentation, Adventures of Mana is quite old school in its gameplay and how it doesn't really hold the player's hand. There some moments during my play-through of the game where I needed to reference a guide. Still, I couldn't be too frustrated when exploring the world with Kenji Ito's sensational soundtrack. This second boss battle theme is one of the great themes heard in game.
v1363. F-Zero (SNES) - Red Canyon
Let's get retro here on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with some F-Zero! This is indeed a series that many fans of futuristic racers would love to see make a reappearance. Despite this, Nintendo keeps them waiting. Red Canyon is a fast paced theme that received a remixed version in F-Zero GX's story mode, particular its second chapter. Whichever version you listen to, you're going to rock out.
v1364. Jet Force Gemini (N64) - Character Select
One of Rare's most underrated Nintendo 64 games is the excellent Jet Force Gemini, sporting my favorite soundtrack from Rare during that era. That's quite the compliment when Rare had such superb soundtracks like Perfect Dark and Banjo-Kazooie! Jet Force Gemini was more symphonic in its approach, offering tense and thrilling themes. Hell, even the character theme was intense!
v1365. Banjo-Tooie (N64, XBLA) - Jinjo Village
Not getting away from Rare's Nintendo 64 games, our final VGM volume of this edition comes from Banjo-Tooie, a game that provided evidence that bigger is not always better. Worlds were way too big and required many steps just to get the Jiggies in them. That said, the soundtrack was as wonderful for the series as ever, composed by Grant Kirkhope. Here's hoping the spiritual successor from Playtonic Games, Yooka-Laylee, turns out to be a great game.
Friday, December 11, 2015
The Unpopular Opinion 4: Games We Liked That Many Did Not
The staff at SuperPhillip Central loves games. We live them, we breathe them, we bathe with them, etc. However, we sometimes go outside the norm with our reviews, bashing titles that many others enjoyed, and heralding other games that have received poor scores or negative feedback within the gaming community. This article focuses on the latter type of games. As the title suggests, this is our second go at representing the games that a sizable chunk of gamers and critics lambasted yet we still enjoy. To check out the first, second, and third articles, click this link, this link and this link. After you're done reading our choices, why not list some of your own?
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360)
Docked points by many critics for having shallow gameplay, repetitive battles, and a clunky camera, we still ended up enjoying Dragon Ball: Xenoverse for what it was. It was a Dragon Ball Z fan's dream come true, allowing deep character customization, a story that didn't mind moving away from the typical scenarios of past Dragon Ball Z games, and had a rich variety of characters, character archetypes, and mind-blowing anime graphics. If you're a lover of games with a multitude of customization options, RPG style gameplay, and intense aerial and ground battles, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is the game for you.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS)
While we're not head over heels in love with the latest Legend of Zelda release from Nintendo, the game is a far cry from a disappointment. With The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, Nintendo took a different approach to the series, offering multiplayer for up to three friends or total strangers to go through the game's 32 levels, solving puzzles as a team, defeating foes as a team, and collecting loot to create new, advantageous costumes. While the lack of voice chat hurts the online experience when more complicated puzzles poke their head into the player's way, and the online setup in general isn't the most optimal, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, an enjoyable and well designed level-wise multiplayer experience unlike any other was crafted by the fine folks at Nintendo.
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS)
The majority of reviews slammed this next game from Intelligent Systems and Nintendo for the slow pace of enemy movement. Thankfully, Nintendo quickly patched in the ability to speed up enemy turns dramatically (either 2X on regular 3DS and 3DS XL models, or 3X on New 3DS models). This made for an experience that was much more tolerable and enjoyable than what was previously available to players. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. remains a challenging turn-based strategy game that requires patience and great strategy to complete. Since you're limited in your view to what your characters can see in their third-person views, smart tactical decisions must be made to stay alive and in one piece. It may not have sold anywhere near expectations (it actually bombed quite magnificently), but Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is far from a bad game.
Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash (3DS)
Many critics of this next 3DS game and fans of the Chibi-Robo! series in general came off disappointed by Zip Lash's 2D platformer direction, which went against everything the series had been up to this point, save for the 3DS photo game. That is a shame, as Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is a well put together game, only marred by a bewildering addition of a level wheel that selects which level you'll play next in a given world. Fortunately, it's quite easy to get around the seemingly random picks of levels and get the levels you want, so this is not as big of an issue as many players and critics led us to believe. While the vehicles levels are the weakest part level-wise, Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is all around an entertaining platformer with a lot of heart.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)
The main complaint of many behind Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was that it was unfortunate that players had to focus on the Wii U GamePad's screen when the game was so beautiful that it was a shame that they couldn't keep their attention on their television screen for the HD visuals. The lack of copying powers and repetitive boss encounters also saw points deducted by various sources. Still, the claymation art style delights, the stylus-driven gameplay is as innovative as it was when the Nintendo DS original Kirby Canvas Curse released, and the level design, though somewhat linear, houses a profusion of captivating secrets and hidden treasures. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is by no means the best the Wii U had to offer this year for system owners, but it was also by no means the worst.
Legend of Kay Anniversary (PS4, Wii U, PS3, 360)
An imperfect 3D action/adventure game in every sense of the word, Legend of Kay Anniversary is a remastered version of the PlayStation 2 release Legend of Kay. Of all the games from the PS2 generation that could have been remastered or even remade, Legend of Kay was certainly an odd choice. Regardless, while the game suffers from plenty of problems such as the inability to return to past areas, grating voice work, and some repetitive combat and scenarios, Legend of Kay Anniversary is a very capable game whose budget price made it much easier to overlook the game's issues and become fun enough by SuperPhillip Central's standards.
Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
Shigeru Miyamoto suggested to Rare that instead of using an all-new protagonist and using the Dinosaur Planet new IP, Rare should bring in Fox McCloud and the Star Fox moniker to the game instead. Whether this was because Miyamoto figured the Star Fox license would work better for the game or because he knew that Microsoft would be soon buying Rare, and thus, taking the Dinosaur Planet IP with them is unknown. Regardless, this Zelda-like game was a far cry from what fans of the Star Fox franchise were expecting. However, the actual game, though not without its own problems, wound up as a captivating action/adventure title released in the first two years of the Nintendo GameCube's life. While not the desired finale to Rare's partnership with Nintendo's home consoles, Star Fox Adventures remains a compelling and enjoyable game.
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
Speaking of Rare-developed games, Jet Force Gemini's biggest annoyance to many fans is how in order to reach the final level, the final boss, and see the credits of the game, players need to rescue every Tribal in the game. This requires plenty of returning to past planets and areas to reach new locales within said planets and areas. While many saw this as pure filler, we at SuperPhillip Central found a new appreciation for the levels and planets we previously had explored. The collection and usage of new items opened up grand new areas that were a blast to journey through, mowing down Mizar's insect horde while rescuing innocent Tribals. Of course, it was a pain when we got a little trigger happy and blew the head off a Tribal and had to restart an area...
Banjo Pilot (GBA)
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360)
Docked points by many critics for having shallow gameplay, repetitive battles, and a clunky camera, we still ended up enjoying Dragon Ball: Xenoverse for what it was. It was a Dragon Ball Z fan's dream come true, allowing deep character customization, a story that didn't mind moving away from the typical scenarios of past Dragon Ball Z games, and had a rich variety of characters, character archetypes, and mind-blowing anime graphics. If you're a lover of games with a multitude of customization options, RPG style gameplay, and intense aerial and ground battles, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is the game for you.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS)
While we're not head over heels in love with the latest Legend of Zelda release from Nintendo, the game is a far cry from a disappointment. With The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, Nintendo took a different approach to the series, offering multiplayer for up to three friends or total strangers to go through the game's 32 levels, solving puzzles as a team, defeating foes as a team, and collecting loot to create new, advantageous costumes. While the lack of voice chat hurts the online experience when more complicated puzzles poke their head into the player's way, and the online setup in general isn't the most optimal, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, an enjoyable and well designed level-wise multiplayer experience unlike any other was crafted by the fine folks at Nintendo.
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS)
The majority of reviews slammed this next game from Intelligent Systems and Nintendo for the slow pace of enemy movement. Thankfully, Nintendo quickly patched in the ability to speed up enemy turns dramatically (either 2X on regular 3DS and 3DS XL models, or 3X on New 3DS models). This made for an experience that was much more tolerable and enjoyable than what was previously available to players. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. remains a challenging turn-based strategy game that requires patience and great strategy to complete. Since you're limited in your view to what your characters can see in their third-person views, smart tactical decisions must be made to stay alive and in one piece. It may not have sold anywhere near expectations (it actually bombed quite magnificently), but Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is far from a bad game.
Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash (3DS)
Many critics of this next 3DS game and fans of the Chibi-Robo! series in general came off disappointed by Zip Lash's 2D platformer direction, which went against everything the series had been up to this point, save for the 3DS photo game. That is a shame, as Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is a well put together game, only marred by a bewildering addition of a level wheel that selects which level you'll play next in a given world. Fortunately, it's quite easy to get around the seemingly random picks of levels and get the levels you want, so this is not as big of an issue as many players and critics led us to believe. While the vehicles levels are the weakest part level-wise, Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is all around an entertaining platformer with a lot of heart.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)
The main complaint of many behind Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was that it was unfortunate that players had to focus on the Wii U GamePad's screen when the game was so beautiful that it was a shame that they couldn't keep their attention on their television screen for the HD visuals. The lack of copying powers and repetitive boss encounters also saw points deducted by various sources. Still, the claymation art style delights, the stylus-driven gameplay is as innovative as it was when the Nintendo DS original Kirby Canvas Curse released, and the level design, though somewhat linear, houses a profusion of captivating secrets and hidden treasures. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is by no means the best the Wii U had to offer this year for system owners, but it was also by no means the worst.
Legend of Kay Anniversary (PS4, Wii U, PS3, 360)
An imperfect 3D action/adventure game in every sense of the word, Legend of Kay Anniversary is a remastered version of the PlayStation 2 release Legend of Kay. Of all the games from the PS2 generation that could have been remastered or even remade, Legend of Kay was certainly an odd choice. Regardless, while the game suffers from plenty of problems such as the inability to return to past areas, grating voice work, and some repetitive combat and scenarios, Legend of Kay Anniversary is a very capable game whose budget price made it much easier to overlook the game's issues and become fun enough by SuperPhillip Central's standards.
Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
Shigeru Miyamoto suggested to Rare that instead of using an all-new protagonist and using the Dinosaur Planet new IP, Rare should bring in Fox McCloud and the Star Fox moniker to the game instead. Whether this was because Miyamoto figured the Star Fox license would work better for the game or because he knew that Microsoft would be soon buying Rare, and thus, taking the Dinosaur Planet IP with them is unknown. Regardless, this Zelda-like game was a far cry from what fans of the Star Fox franchise were expecting. However, the actual game, though not without its own problems, wound up as a captivating action/adventure title released in the first two years of the Nintendo GameCube's life. While not the desired finale to Rare's partnership with Nintendo's home consoles, Star Fox Adventures remains a compelling and enjoyable game.
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
Speaking of Rare-developed games, Jet Force Gemini's biggest annoyance to many fans is how in order to reach the final level, the final boss, and see the credits of the game, players need to rescue every Tribal in the game. This requires plenty of returning to past planets and areas to reach new locales within said planets and areas. While many saw this as pure filler, we at SuperPhillip Central found a new appreciation for the levels and planets we previously had explored. The collection and usage of new items opened up grand new areas that were a blast to journey through, mowing down Mizar's insect horde while rescuing innocent Tribals. Of course, it was a pain when we got a little trigger happy and blew the head off a Tribal and had to restart an area...
Banjo Pilot (GBA)
We just can't quit you, Rare! At least when it comes to The Unpopular Opinion 4. Rare has had many divisive games through its impressive lifespan, and one of the final games released on the Game Boy Advance by Rare was Banjo Pilot, a kart racer that originally starred the cast of the Donkey Kong Country series. There are still remnants of that game in the final product, such as the music, for instance. Banjo Pilot isn't a perfect arcade racing game, as the rubber-band AI is indeed an annoyance, but for all of its quirks, the game is in general fun to play. The colorful cast and areas of the Banjo-Kazooie franchise were well-represented in Banjo Pilot, and the actual flight mechanic felt great too. Sure, the game wasn't worth the five year wait for it, but the end product of Banjo Pilot isn't awful by any stretch of the imagination.
Monday, September 14, 2015
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "A Busy Weekend Leads to An Awesome Edition of the VGMs" Edition
Sorry for the unusual lack of posts these past five days. I was involved in a gaming convention here in St. Louis, and I had to prepare as well as be there for the weekend. It was an absolute blast, by the way. Regardless, allow me to get back into the swing of things with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, a weekly occurring segment where I love to share five of my favorite video game themes. Sometimes they're well known, sometimes not so much.
This week's edition kicks off on the ground running with Metal Slug. Then we take flight with Floyd in the excellent Jet Force Gemini, which you can happily play on the recently released Rare Replay for the Xbox One. Following that is some neat Super Nintendo music from Mega Man X3 and Super Castlevania IV. Finally, we end with an easygoing vocal theme from WarioWare: Smooth Moves of all games.
If you'd like to check out all 960 prior VGM volumes, look and listen no further than my VGM Database!
v961. Metal Slug (NGEO) - Assault
Let's start retro with this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. We'll do so with the very first Metal Slug and the action-packed Assault theme. No time to sit and enjoy the scenery. Run and gun, man! Run and gun! Oh, and don't forget to occasionally chuck a grenade and use your Rocket Lawn Chair. Er... rocket launcher.
v962. Jet Force Gemini (N64) - Floyd Missions
Jet Force Gemini possesses my favorite soundtrack on the Nintendo 64. Like they did with the Super Nintendo sound chip and the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Rare's composers (primarily Robin Beanland when it concerns Jet Force Gemini) mastered the Nintendo 64's sound capabilities, creating sounds and music that don't even seem like they should be possible on the system to great effect.
v963. Mega Man X3 (SNES) - Blast Hornet
Mega Man X3 has a much more industrial rock sound to it, if that makes ANY sense whatsoever. If not, just smile and nod anyway. The soundtrack as a whole isn't my favorite of the franchise, but it does have plenty of great songs on it. I particular enjoy this theme, Toxic Seahorse, and yes, as my brother will tell you, the cast roll theme at the end of the game.
v964. Super Castlevania IV (SNES) - Bloody Tears
Halloween isn't until late next month, but that doesn't mean we can't indulge on some Halloween-like goodness with the Castlevania series. Nothing like whipping one's way through the intricate levels of Super Castlevania IV, avoiding stray Medusa Heads and taking down Death, and yes, Dracula himself. Bloody Tears is a standby song in the Castlevania series, and it sounds great in Castlevania's fourth entry.
v965. WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii) - Tomorrow Hill
Who knew such a goofy game could have some lovely songs? Well, if you've been playing games for a little while, you probably did. Regardless, this jaunty vocal theme is part of Warioware's Wii entry, a series of games I haven't given much attention to on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Well, you can obviously see (and hear) that has changed!
This week's edition kicks off on the ground running with Metal Slug. Then we take flight with Floyd in the excellent Jet Force Gemini, which you can happily play on the recently released Rare Replay for the Xbox One. Following that is some neat Super Nintendo music from Mega Man X3 and Super Castlevania IV. Finally, we end with an easygoing vocal theme from WarioWare: Smooth Moves of all games.
If you'd like to check out all 960 prior VGM volumes, look and listen no further than my VGM Database!
v961. Metal Slug (NGEO) - Assault
Let's start retro with this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. We'll do so with the very first Metal Slug and the action-packed Assault theme. No time to sit and enjoy the scenery. Run and gun, man! Run and gun! Oh, and don't forget to occasionally chuck a grenade and use your Rocket Lawn Chair. Er... rocket launcher.
v962. Jet Force Gemini (N64) - Floyd Missions
Jet Force Gemini possesses my favorite soundtrack on the Nintendo 64. Like they did with the Super Nintendo sound chip and the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Rare's composers (primarily Robin Beanland when it concerns Jet Force Gemini) mastered the Nintendo 64's sound capabilities, creating sounds and music that don't even seem like they should be possible on the system to great effect.
v963. Mega Man X3 (SNES) - Blast Hornet
Mega Man X3 has a much more industrial rock sound to it, if that makes ANY sense whatsoever. If not, just smile and nod anyway. The soundtrack as a whole isn't my favorite of the franchise, but it does have plenty of great songs on it. I particular enjoy this theme, Toxic Seahorse, and yes, as my brother will tell you, the cast roll theme at the end of the game.
v964. Super Castlevania IV (SNES) - Bloody Tears
Halloween isn't until late next month, but that doesn't mean we can't indulge on some Halloween-like goodness with the Castlevania series. Nothing like whipping one's way through the intricate levels of Super Castlevania IV, avoiding stray Medusa Heads and taking down Death, and yes, Dracula himself. Bloody Tears is a standby song in the Castlevania series, and it sounds great in Castlevania's fourth entry.
v965. WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii) - Tomorrow Hill
Who knew such a goofy game could have some lovely songs? Well, if you've been playing games for a little while, you probably did. Regardless, this jaunty vocal theme is part of Warioware's Wii entry, a series of games I haven't given much attention to on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Well, you can obviously see (and hear) that has changed!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - East Meets West Edition
Here's a special Tuesday edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM. We bet your Monday was especially dismal without your weekly dose of video game music, but we hope this Tuesday edition will make up for it. As for what's in store for you, we have Donkey Kong Country, Tales of Vesperia, and Sonic the Hedgehog to make your day better!
v481. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - Treetop Rock
We start things off with two Rareware games. The first is the game that brought the developer to many Nintendo fans' attentions. It's none other than the immaculate Donkey Kong Country. Part of what made the game so great was the presentation, and its music is a great part of that.
v482. Jet Force Gemini (N64) Sekhmet
One of the best soundtracks on the Nintendo 64, Jet Force Gemini delivers cinematic scores, perfect for laying waste to armies of Mizar's insect soldiers. Sekhmet is the first mission of Vela, the female of the group. Now that we think of it, Vela's path to Mizar's Palace was definitely the most dangerous of the Jet Force Gemini team...
v483. Grandia III (PS2) - Fight V1
IGN famously stated in their review of this PlayStation 2 RPG classic that the music of Grandia III was highly forgettable. In all honesty, if it wasn't for that line, IGN's own review would be highly forgettable. We believe tracks like Fight V1, among several others, demonstrate that what IGN's review was pure folly.
v484. Tales of Vesperia (360) - A Bet On This Bout
The boss battle theme of Tales of Vesperia, A Bet On This Bet gets quite heated, much like the battles against enemies both big and small in the game. Tales of Vesperia was also released on the PlayStation 3 in Japan, but because we're a North American site, we opted to only list the game as being on Xbox 360. Just so there's no confusion here!
v485. Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3, 360) - Soleanna New City
For as much crap that Sonic the Hedgehog's 2006 outing gets (and deservedly so), one thing that most everyone can agree on is that the soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal. Even the hubs of the game were less main painful thanks to such upbeat themes such as this one.
Don't forget to check out the VGM Database for all things SPC VGM!
v481. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - Treetop Rock
We start things off with two Rareware games. The first is the game that brought the developer to many Nintendo fans' attentions. It's none other than the immaculate Donkey Kong Country. Part of what made the game so great was the presentation, and its music is a great part of that.
v482. Jet Force Gemini (N64) Sekhmet
One of the best soundtracks on the Nintendo 64, Jet Force Gemini delivers cinematic scores, perfect for laying waste to armies of Mizar's insect soldiers. Sekhmet is the first mission of Vela, the female of the group. Now that we think of it, Vela's path to Mizar's Palace was definitely the most dangerous of the Jet Force Gemini team...
v483. Grandia III (PS2) - Fight V1
IGN famously stated in their review of this PlayStation 2 RPG classic that the music of Grandia III was highly forgettable. In all honesty, if it wasn't for that line, IGN's own review would be highly forgettable. We believe tracks like Fight V1, among several others, demonstrate that what IGN's review was pure folly.
v484. Tales of Vesperia (360) - A Bet On This Bout
The boss battle theme of Tales of Vesperia, A Bet On This Bet gets quite heated, much like the battles against enemies both big and small in the game. Tales of Vesperia was also released on the PlayStation 3 in Japan, but because we're a North American site, we opted to only list the game as being on Xbox 360. Just so there's no confusion here!
v485. Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3, 360) - Soleanna New City
For as much crap that Sonic the Hedgehog's 2006 outing gets (and deservedly so), one thing that most everyone can agree on is that the soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal. Even the hubs of the game were less main painful thanks to such upbeat themes such as this one.
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Don't forget to check out the VGM Database for all things SPC VGM!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Best Boss Battles in Gaming History - Part Nine
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Bosses-- some say they are a gaming relic that are best left forgotten. Sure, for a game that is narrative-based or attempting to mirror a Hollywood film, they really don't serve a proper purpose. However, many genres like platformers, RPGs, action games, among others have boss battles that are absolutely well placed and properly executed. Best Boss Battles in Gaming History celebrates these, having reached its ninth part, and as always, we list five of our favorite fights against some of the mightiest of tyrants. This edition's selections include bosses from Metroid Prime, inFamous, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, for starters.
Bosses-- some say they are a gaming relic that are best left forgotten. Sure, for a game that is narrative-based or attempting to mirror a Hollywood film, they really don't serve a proper purpose. However, many genres like platformers, RPGs, action games, among others have boss battles that are absolutely well placed and properly executed. Best Boss Battles in Gaming History celebrates these, having reached its ninth part, and as always, we list five of our favorite fights against some of the mightiest of tyrants. This edition's selections include bosses from Metroid Prime, inFamous, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, for starters.
Monday, January 28, 2013
SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - It's Mario's World Edition
We all just play in it. Last week we arrived at 300 VGM volumes. This week we kick off our quest for 400 with five new themes from video games. On this edition we have a special orchestrated theme of Super Mario World, a piece from Jet Force Gemini, and music from F-Zero GX.
v301. Super Mario World (SNES) - Overworld (Orchestrated)
Performed by the Tokyo City Philharmonic, this Overworld theme from Super Mario World gets the jazz treatment. Moreover, at the rousing conclusion of the symphonic piece comes a big band shift. It's nice getting a different take on a familiar theme, don't you think?
v302. Final Fantasy (Multi) - Cornelia Castle
With harpsichord accompaniment, the theme of Cornelia Castle from the very first Final Fantasy is full of majestic wonder. This particular rendition comes from the PSP port of the game. This version came with FMV cutscenes, a revised soundtrack, greater resolution visuals, and an all-new dungeon.
v303. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GCN) - G.I.A.N.T. E.G.G. (Opening)
Without a doubt the catchiest VGM on this week's edition, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg's opening theme is quite kooky. Perhaps "cuckoo" would be the better word here. Along with the manic pace of the song comes an adorable children's chorus. I am sorry for giving you this VGM. Most likely you'll be humming it all evening now.
v304. Jet Force Gemini (N64) - Eschebone
A long while back (well, 2009 at least) I listed Jet Force Gemini as having the best Nintendo 64 soundtrack. The cinematic route that Rare's composers went with the game set the stage for a fantastic alien-busting romp that blares wonderfully symphonic-sounding music.
v305. F-Zero GX (GCN) - ZEN (Aeropolis)
We conclude this week's tour of my favorite VGMs with a piece from F-Zero GX, one of my favorite (and one of the most difficult) arcade-style racers. I am always amazed when I play the game at how well the visuals have held up. Oh, and I guess the gameplay has to. That is sort of important, too. ZEN starts off with a wintry sound before coming in with an electronica feel. The final lap theme for Aeropolis takes place at the three minute mark.
v301. Super Mario World (SNES) - Overworld (Orchestrated)
Performed by the Tokyo City Philharmonic, this Overworld theme from Super Mario World gets the jazz treatment. Moreover, at the rousing conclusion of the symphonic piece comes a big band shift. It's nice getting a different take on a familiar theme, don't you think?
v302. Final Fantasy (Multi) - Cornelia Castle
With harpsichord accompaniment, the theme of Cornelia Castle from the very first Final Fantasy is full of majestic wonder. This particular rendition comes from the PSP port of the game. This version came with FMV cutscenes, a revised soundtrack, greater resolution visuals, and an all-new dungeon.
v303. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GCN) - G.I.A.N.T. E.G.G. (Opening)
Without a doubt the catchiest VGM on this week's edition, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg's opening theme is quite kooky. Perhaps "cuckoo" would be the better word here. Along with the manic pace of the song comes an adorable children's chorus. I am sorry for giving you this VGM. Most likely you'll be humming it all evening now.
v304. Jet Force Gemini (N64) - Eschebone
A long while back (well, 2009 at least) I listed Jet Force Gemini as having the best Nintendo 64 soundtrack. The cinematic route that Rare's composers went with the game set the stage for a fantastic alien-busting romp that blares wonderfully symphonic-sounding music.
v305. F-Zero GX (GCN) - ZEN (Aeropolis)
We conclude this week's tour of my favorite VGMs with a piece from F-Zero GX, one of my favorite (and one of the most difficult) arcade-style racers. I am always amazed when I play the game at how well the visuals have held up. Oh, and I guess the gameplay has to. That is sort of important, too. ZEN starts off with a wintry sound before coming in with an electronica feel. The final lap theme for Aeropolis takes place at the three minute mark.
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