Rank Up! - Ranking the Paper Mario Series

Yesterday, August 11th, saw the 20th anniversary of the original release of Mario Story in Japan. For most of us on this side of the world, however, we know it fondly as Paper Mario. After pouring through the contents of the latest Paper Mario game, The Origami King, and holding it in rather high esteem as my review shows, it seems like an ample time as any to give the Paper Mario franchise the Rank Up! treatment. Let's do just that!

As always with Rank Up!, I'll be counting down the list of every game in the Paper Mario series, starting with my least favorite of the bunch and slowly working my way down to the very best. After you've checked out my list and rationale for this order, why not share your thoughts and possibly your own ranking!

6) Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)

My least favorite in the Paper Mario series greatly changed the formula of the franchise, and to start off, it was not for the better. While far from an awful game, Paper Mario: Sticker Star failed to live up to previous installments. After being teased with early screenshots featuring partners and the traditional turn-based battles of the series--all typical elements of the series--the final game saw a removal of nearly all of the things that fans of the franchise adored. The turn-based battles were still present, but now one-time use stickers were used for attacks and no experience was gained from battles. Both really undermined the need for players to engage with encounters altogether. Then, there were the dreaded Things, one-time use objects that needed to be used to turn the tide in specific areas of the game. The problem here was that in battles, most of the time the right Thing to use was so unclear that it made boss battles aggravatingly obtuse. Fortunately, Nintendo would use this decidedly shaky foundation to fine tune the concept for future, better installments.

5) Super Paper Mario (Wii)

The start of the shift in Paper Mario's gameplay concepts, Super Paper Mario on the Wii was quite the sizable shift to say the least. Really, one could call the game more of a spin-off due to the complete lack of turn-based battles altogether. Instead, everything was done in real-time via jumping and hammering in this platformer/RPG hybrid. The story of the game went in some truly bizarre and dark (at least for the series) places, offering new foes to face and numerous original characters to encounter. The main gimmick to exploration and world traversal was the ability to shift the camera to a new axis to reveal paths and hidden objects in a 3D perspective that were obscured when viewed from the traditional 2D perspective of the games. It was a novel idea but did lose its luster over the duration of the game. Super Paper Mario was an interesting and mostly successful experiment for the Paper Mario series, but it would lead to a future for the franchise that is quite different from its origin, and one that plenty of fans have and continue to adamantly oppose.

4) Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Released in the final years of the Wii U, it's no surprise that many did not get to experience Paper Mario: Color Splash, either due to not owning the dismally selling Wii U or looking ahead to Nintendo's next console. Those that did would discover a mostly improved sequel to Paper Mario: Sticker Star. While Things were still a part of the game, their implementation was much less of a frustration and cause for headaches. The paint mechanic of coloring in the world brought an abundance of entertainment with regard to exploration, and the personality and humor of Color Splash when compared to its predecessor were much more apparent. This was a hilarious at best and humorous at worst game. It wasn't without its caveats, though, as battles still didn't feel worthwhile to engage with, as attack cards had limited uses. Worse, you had to use the Wii U GamePad in a needlessly convoluted manner to "paint" the cards into more usable forms. Still, I quite enjoyed my time with Paper Mario: Color Splash, and between the sensational presentation (both beautiful graphics and catchy music), exploration, and humor, it's a game that I do recommend... as long as you're not searching for a traditional Paper Mario experience.

3) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN)

Often noted as many a Paper Mario fan's favorite game in the series, I don't have as much of a fondness for the sophomore entry in the Paper Mario franchise. By no means is it a terrible game--well, that much is obvious due to the game being number three on this countdown--but Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has just enough elements that detract from the overall game that it somewhat sours me on it over the other two titles in the series. For one, there is a massive amount of backtracking in multiple chapters, which makes revisits to the game a chore... or at least more of a figurative headache than I would like. Secondly, there are some leaps in difficulty that could have used some more ironing out--particularly the super-challenging final boss. That said, everything else about The Thousand-Year Door is a delight. The humor, writing, and story are on point; the battle system is as engaging and enjoyable as ever; and the worlds are a ton of fun to explore and discover items and badges in. If you have yet to play this classic and have access to both the game and a functioning GameCube, (prepare for an awful pun...) do X-"naut" skip this game!

2) Paper Mario: The Origami King (NSW)

With the direction and approach of the modern Paper Mario games, I certainly did not expect one of the games to give me such a sensation of excitement and pleasure from playing--much less be number two on my list of favorite Paper Mario games. But, lo and behold, Paper Mario: The Origami King, the latest in the Paper Mario series, has achieved that feat. Well met, Origami King. The battles still don't reward experience for completing them, but not only are the puzzles fun to solve by turning and sliding rings to assemble enemies in nice groups to attack, they're also worthwhile this time around. Why? Because coins are more important than ever in The Origami King. They're used for purchasing new attack cards (which don't break after just one use), items, and all-important accessories. Exploration has never been more fun and engaging in a Paper Mario game due to how mesmerizing each location is, how lovely it is to uncover the myriad secrets in the world, and how delightful it is to discover hidden Toads, item boxes, and collectibles. Really, some lackluster moments in the game aside, Paper Mario: The Origami King made me a true believer of this new direction for the Paper Mario series, after just "liking" its two predecessors.

1) Paper Mario (N64)

Sometimes the first things are the best things. ...Is that a saying? I hope not, because it doesn't really roll off the tongue as well I'd like. Regardless, the game that continued the tradition of Squaresoft's Super Mario RPG arrived late on the Nintendo 64 with the original Paper Mario. (Heck, even the tentative title for the game was Super Mario RPG 2!) Paper Mario wasn't overly reliant on the foundation set by Squaresoft's classic SNES Mario game, but it did have several concepts in common, such as turn-based battles that feature context-sensitive button inputs as the main one. The game brought several new ideas to the table as well, and I don't just mean the paper/storybook aesthetic--though that was a big one. The addition of partners with both in-battle and out-of-battle skills that could be switched between to both attack foes and solve environmental puzzles added a fun element to the game. Another new addition was that of badges, which could give Mario and his partners various helpful bonuses in and out of battle. What puts the original Paper Mario over the top when compared to the other entries in the series, most notably The Thousand-Year Door, is that it has great pacing, worthwhile battles, and less aggravating points in it than any other game on this list. Plus, it's just overall the best game for me.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "For Your Convenience" Edition

You might notice something new this week as you scroll down this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Instead of clicking on a separate link to have readers go to YouTube (you can still do that, though), why not just click on the video itself, embedded right into the blog for readers to not have to click so many things? That's exactly what I did, making things slightly convenient for myself in the process. See? We both win!

On this edition, JRPGs are the flavor of the week. We begin with Final Fantasy III with its originally Nintendo DS-only remake before we enter the early days of online console lobbies with Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II. Our palette of color and sound grows with music from Paper Mario: Color Splash. Then, we finally trek onto magical kingdoms and the Wild West with music from Fantasy Life and Wild Arms 3.

As always, check out the VGM Database for all past video game tracks featured on this weekly recurring segment. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1511. Final Fantasy III (Multi) - Memory of the Wind ~ Legend of the Eternal Wind

This composition was specifically made for the 3D remake of Final Fantasy III (a title that hit the West for the first time with this Nintendo DS game). Don't get it confused with what the West previously called Final Fantasy III, and that was actually the sixth Final Fantasy mainline entry, Final Fantasy VI. (Maybe it's just better if you just look that background info up if you need to.) Regardless, this orchestrated piece is a medley of themes from Final Fantasy III, and if you think its welcoming you to a breezy adventure, then you have got another thing coming!



v1512. Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II (GCN, XBX) - A Whole New World

Our theme this week beyond "easier to listen to music" is that of JRPGs. They come in all sub-genres: turn-based, action-RPG, and so forth. Phantasy Star Online presents us with an MMORPG, one of the earliest for consoles. However, this updated version of A Whole New World is heard in Episode II on the GameCube and Xbox. There's slight differences and unique orchestrations here and there, and it's my preferred way to listen to this rousing vocal track.



v1513. Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U) - Battle with Ludwig

While many argue that Paper Mario should return to its turn-based, two-party system where enemies give experience points upon being felled, Color Splash on Wii U certainly wasn't as disappointing to most as the Nintendo 3DS's previous Sticker Star was. Not only were elements of the adventuring upgraded, but so was the script, adding a lot more places for some really hilarious humor. One of my favorite things about Sticker Star and Color Splash is the duo of games' music, which Color Splash just excels at. Catchy themes abound in this delightful late release in the Wii U's life.



v1514. Fantasy Life (3DS) - Great Plains

Nobuo Uematsu has yet to surpass the pedestal he put himself on in my nostalgic heart with his compositions in Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy IX, but I'd by lying if I said his works in Fantasy Life wasn't a contender. Fantasy Life is an action-RPG where you explore fields, caves, dungeons, and more in search of loot and materials needed to upgrade weapons as well as your tools to adequately also level up your job level in addition to your experience level. Great Plains is a fitting theme to march along and begin your trek across the kingdom in search of glorious adventure!



v1515. Wild Arms 3 (PS2) - Gunmetal Action

I don't get a chance to talk too much about the Wild Arms series as it doesn't come up a lot in the articles I write, aside from SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs now and then. Well, I get another opportunity, as you can see, with this edition's entry with this battle theme of Wild Arms 3, the first PlayStation 2 game in the Wild Arms franchise. You definitely need a battle theme that sticks with you and doesn't become grating when it's going to be tagging along with your party the entire game, playing during virtually every random enemy encounter in your Wild West adventure. Composer Michiko Naruke once again made sure that didn't happen with her Gunmetal Action battle theme.

The Unpopular Opinion 6: Games SPC Liked That Many Did Not

Have you ever been on the unpopular side of the equation? Sure, you have. We're all gamers, right? Cheap joke aside, I'm actually referring about having an opinion towards a game that is more positive of an outlook than most. That's where the start of SuperPhillip Central's Unpopular Opinion series of articles took root, setting the stage to allow me to talk about games that I liked that either are extremely polarizing or just considered poor games overall in general. Do you have your own games that you're on the minority in opinion of?

Past installments of The Unpopular Opinion can be viewed with these links:

The Unpopular Opinion
The Unpopular Opinion 2
The Unpopular Opinion 3
The Unpopular Opinion 4
The Unpopular Opinion 5

Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Ever since Paper Mario: Sticker Star on the Nintendo 3DS, the Paper Mario series has strayed from its partner-centric turn-based battles, heavy story focus, and traditional RPG design. Sticker Star was no doubt the change of the Paper Mario series that strayed the most from the winning formula. While Sticker Star was still enjoyable for me, I find the Wii U's Paper Mario: Color Splash to be a stellar entry in the series. While original characters weren't represented--instead it was a myriad of Toads of various outfit colors as typical Super Mario Bros. series characters--there was a larger focus on story and absolutely hilarious dialogue and story segments. Sure, the card battle system still centered around using the right item card or Thing card at the correct time against bosses, and most battles were merely a means to get through the game to the next humorous part of the game, the puzzles involved, the exploration featured, and the memorable world, setting, and characters made Paper Mario: Color Splash a colorful delight to SuperPhillip Central.

Super Bomberman R (NS)

There wasn't too much to choose from retail-wise when it came to the Nintendo Switch launch back in early March. Sure, you had the immense blockbuster of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but if you wanted a multiplayer release, you didn't have much in the way of options at the time--at least on store shelves. Super Bomberman R from Konami not only filled that niche well and saw the return of Bomberman to gaming, but it managed to sell quite well. Critically, the game was filled with issues, such as weird camera angles, limited multiplayer options, hard AI, and the like, but SuperPhillip Central enjoyed the game regardless. Fortunately, most of the issues I found with Super Bomberman R have been fixed via patch. The ability to move the camera away from being diagonal with the action, more multiplayer choices, AI that you can set on multiple difficulties that don't read your controller inputs, and new, free DLC in special maps and characters were all included. Now's the time to return to Bomberman's own return to gaming!

Yoshi's Story (N64)

While it's true that on SuperPhillip Central's Top Five Yoshi Platformers list the Nintendo 64's Yoshi's Story is only ranked higher than the critical and commercial flop, Yoshi's Topsy Turvy on the Game Boy Advance, Yoshi's N64 expedition is an actually good game all the same. No doubt a lot of the criticism around Story's initial release was that it was coming directly off of the entry beloved by fans, Yoshi's Island, but removing that comparison out of the equation, Yoshi's Story presents charming visuals, the ability to choose the game's difficulty by either finding and eating all 20 melons per stage or just consuming all fruit you find, multiple play-throughs as you can only choose one of four stages in each world each time you play, and other enjoyable aspects. Of course, the things that distract from fully loving the game include opportunities to miss melons in levels (resulting in no possibility to complete that level perfectly), a rather low difficulty challenge-wise--especially with bosses, and a huge step down in musical variety from Yoshi's Island (sorry, had to bring Yoshi's Island back into the equation again somewhere here!). Otherwise, Yoshi's Story may not have been the sequel gamers and critics wanted out of Nintendo after Yoshi's starring role on the Super Nintendo, but it was an appealing game all the same.

Disney Epic Mickey (Wii)

Disney Epic Mickey had a lot going for it at first: a project from the mind of Warren Spector, one of the forces behind Deus Ex; a dark, steampunk art direction as seen in the concept art; and for diehard Disney lovers, the return of Oswald the Rabbit. Then, sadly, reality stepped in to crush many gamer hearts. For one, the game was releasing on the less powerful Wii, a system that could only hope to bring 1/8th of the awesome concept art to life in game form; and two: it just wasn't a polished game. So, I know what you're thinking, "Phil! What could you honestly like about Disney Epic Mickey after all this soul-crushing disappointment?" My answer would be that Epic Mickey had plenty of good ideas, and it's just that they weren't executed to their fullest potential. I'm referring to things like the paint and thinner mechanic, the choices in the game at certain parts of the story that overall didn't really do anything, and the quests, which were oftentimes locked off as you progressed through the game. Also, the platforming in general was tight, the worlds that are fun to explore, and the personality put into the game. No, Disney Epic Mickey has more than its share of compromising problems, but the positives outweighed the negatives in this particular case.

Crash Nitro Kart (PS2, GCN, XBX)

Crash Bandicoot is in the minds of both mainstream and veteran gamers thanks to the excellent remasterings of Crash Bandicoot 1-3 on the PlayStation 4, attesting to the fact that Crash still has it in terms of nostalgia, popularity, and hype, evidenced by its sales figures. It's important to note that even though Crash 1-3 and, of course the marvelous Crash Team Racing, are tremendous games, later ones that didn't involve Sony or Naughty Dog weren't all awful. For example, how about Crash Nitro Kart--a game that definitely had influence from Crash Team Racing, including the formula, the structure of the story mode, the modes, and similar kart handling! Crash Nitro Kart had excellently designed levels with creative opportunities to take daring shortcuts, pass by opponents, and make any racer regret getting on the same racetrack as you! Though not featuring as many courses as CTR, Crash Nitro Kart did have some new tricks up its collective sleeve. Perhaps the game was unfairly compared to Crash Team Racing, which to be fair is only one of the best mascot racing games of all time, but don't sleep on the opportunity to give Crash Nitro Kart a chance.

Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PS2, PSP)

After a small absence, Jak and Daxter returned, but this time to the small screen. Well, the small screen in the sense that it first released on the PlayStation Portable before shortly after getting ported to the PlayStation 2 where players hopefully had a bigger TV than their PSPs. Regardless, original developer for the series, Naughty Dog, had since moved far away from Jak, Daxter, and the world they created (and also the edgy crap from Jak II and on that they felt was needed). Thus, a different developer took the role of creating the fourth chapter in the series, The Lost Frontier. Many find this a lesser entry in the Jak and Daxter franchise for various reasons. Some thought it didn't have the same stakes as the original games, some didn't like the lower budget compared to the PS2 trilogy, while others were stupid in thinking that if Naughty Dog didn't grace the game with their amazing, ungodly talent (don't get me wrong--they make great games, but they are far from perfect), then it wasn't a good game. On the other hand, I enjoyed this bite-sized outing with Jak and his wisecracking ottsel companion, running and gunning, blasting away at baddies, and even flight mission segments that were fantastic and broke up the action.

Castlevania Judgment (Wii)

With the recent release of its own limited Netflix series, Castlevania is once again on the minds of many, after being in MIA status for several years. There is no better time to talk about one of the more frowned upon Castlevania games in the series than now! Let's get all of the stuff from Castlevania Judgment that I agree was bad out of the way first: the character redesigns were oftentimes laughable, the implementation of motion controls was terrible (though one could use the Classic Controller for much better precision), and the camera could certainly be more of an enemy than the character you were fighting. However, there were still aspects about Castlevania Judgment that I really enjoyed, such as the character roster and variety, the story mode, the visual for the time (and for the Wii, of course), the rockin' remixes of past Castlevania themes included in the game, the fighting in general (albeit basic), and smaller things that added up to a 3D arena fighter than I overall liked--liked, not loved.

Killer7 (PS2, GCN)

Do you remember the Capcom Five? It was initially a group of five exclusives from Capcom set to release solely on the Nintendo GameCube. Whether a failure of communication or poor planning, only one of these titles actually became exclusive to the GameCube and it was a commercial and critical bomb (P.N. 03), one was cancelled outright (Dead Phoenix) and the others were either given late ports with added content (Resident Evil 4 and Viewtiful Joe), or released at the same time as is the case with Killer7. Killer7 was a psychological thriller with quite polarizing opinions about it. A blend of first-person aiming and shooting with third-person exploration, Killer7's uniqueness laid in its insane story and limited movement capabilities. Instead of being able to roam around, players were forced to move along predetermined paths through levels. Regardless of criticisms to the game, Killer7 has since received a bit of a cult following, as well as it bringing director Suda 51 to a grander audience with clout than ever before in his career.

All-Star Franchises, Underrated Entries - Part Ten

If you've been around SuperPhillip Central for a little while (it's still okay if you haven't, so no harm done), then you know that I like talking about underrated and overlooked games. I've done various series on the subject. However, most of the time, the games mentioned in these articles are from wholly new or overlooked franchises themselves.

There are also a multitude of series that I can think of that have one, two, or a handful of games in it that aren't viewed as highly as the others, whether just or not.

These ideas are where the concept of All-Star Franchises, Underrated Entries comes from, and since part nine (it's amazing that we've reached the tenth installment!), I've come up with six more underrated entries to big-time franchises, some bigger than others. If you'd like to see past parts of this long-running series, check them out here:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Paper Mario - Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Our first game has come up quite a lot in the past month here at SuperPhillip Central, whether it's underrated games with even more underrated soundtracks or Wii U games I'd like to see get a second chance on the Nintendo Switch. There are very good reasons for this. Paper Mario: Color Splash might not have been what fans of the turn-based antics of the series wanted, but if you make peace with Color Splash not being a typical RPG, then you'll find a game that was charming to its very core, a game that possessed insanely clever dialogue, a game with enjoyable puzzles to solve, and a game with battles that, unlike its predecessor Sticker Star, actually were worthwhile to engage in. It being released so late in the Wii U's life made Paper Mario: Color Splash a game that many gamers overlooked as their attention turned to the Switch.

Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic Riders (PS2, GCN, XBX)

It's no secret that Sonic the Hedgehog's transition to 3D from his 2D roots has not been an easy one. That's putting it lightly. However, there are various 3D Sonic games that play rather well and some are even fantastic. Several spin-off games featuring the blue blur are also quite good or at least serviceable. That is what the hoverboard racer Sonic Riders is, a game that released during the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox generation of gaming platforms. With three types of hoverboards: speed, power, and air, players could use each hoverboard type's specific specialty to take shortcuts and paths that other hoverboard types couldn't. The roster of racers was a wonderful combination of well known Sonic friends as well as some surprising SEGA stars, and the races were fast paced and loads of fun. It all added up to a speedy supersonic racer fitting for the blue hedgehog.

Ratchet & Clank - Ratchet: Deadlocked (PS2)

Make no mistake that while I feel Ratchet: Deadlocked is an inferior game to the preceding Ratchet & Clank trilogy of PlayStation games due to its focus on pure shooting over platforming, multiplayer, and needless desire to be darker, the game remains an entertaining third-person shooter with much of the charm the series is known for. Deadlocked began with Ratchet, Clank, and gadget-maker Al being abducted and forced to compete in an interstellar deathmatch with their survival on the line. Missions were decently varied, though they could have used a little less repetition, and the controls were as tight as ever. Shooting felt fun, and while the story was darker (for some reason both Naughty Dog and Insomniac felt their respective platforming franchises needed to be edgier, totally losing the plot of why the games were popular in the first place), the humor of the series was maintained. Ratchet: Deadlocked was a nice break for the tried and true formula established for the Ratchet & Clank series and ended up being entertaining.

Metal Gear - Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)

After several games taking on a different gameplay approach than most Metal Gear Solid fans were used to, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops returned to the classic action-stealth gameplay that made the series such a well known quantity. Working well with the portable approach of the PSP, the game is divided up between bite-size missions, requiring the player to not only recruit allies but also to form squads. Each soldier had their own highs and lows in what they could contribute to the squad, such as some being better at providing intel to the squad than others who might be more proficient at healing ailing squad members. Due to it being on a handheld with struggling software sales (at least in the West) instead of on a home console, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops isn't as popular as other entries in the Metal Gear mythos, but don't be like a tranquilized soldier and sleep on this game, as it's quite the action-packed, squad-based superstar.

Castlevania - Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (PSN, XBLA)

From one Konami-owned property to another, we move on from Metal Gear and look towards the Gothic would of Castlevania. Like Portable Ops, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair sported an atypical approach to its mother series. This time around the game focused on multiplayer to be done in short bursts. Harmony of Despair offered a handful of levels each with multiple rooms to fight enemies and find items in, all ending in a boss to take out. While the Xbox Live Arcade version strictly limited multiplayer to online, the PlayStation 3 version offered both online and local multiplayer. Sure, Harmony of Despair wasn't a traditional Castlevania by any stretch of the imagination, but with so many entries prior to this one emulating Symphony of the Night, it was nice to have a change for once.

Resident Evil - Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii, PS3)

Light gun and on-rails games generally don't amass a lot of content, but that changed with the duo of Resident Evil games in that style for the Wii and later the PS3. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles made multiple changes from its predecessor, The Umbrella Chronicles, and these improved the experience, such as having players have their own separate health bars, giving players an easier time at nailing head shots, and full customization of weapons. The game featured multiple scenarios, from familiar stories like a retelling of Resident Evil 2 and an abridged version of Resident Evil: Code Veronica's events to two scenarios starring Leon Kennedy and Jack Krauser from Resident Evil 4 based in South America that reveal how Krauser turned on his country and gave into Umbrella. There is a lot of stuff to do in The Darkside Chronicles and the challenge is great enough to make for a super satisfying rail shooter worthy of any fan of Resident Evil or the genre in general.

Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks - Part Five

SuperPhillip Central habitually checks out underrated and overlooked games throughout the year, and every Monday we post music from various video games. So the idea came years ago to combine these idea into one new series of articles: Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks! We're now on our fifth installment since beginning some time ago. Part five of this series looks at underrated gems like the recently released Gravity Rush 2, Paper Mario: Color Splash, and a Wii U launch title, Nintendo Land.

To check out past parts of this article series, here are some convenient links for you:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Gravity Rush 2 (PS4)

We begin with a game that if I hadn't already owned it, the soundtrack would have pushed me to do so. That's how fantastic Gravity Rush 2's soundtrack truly is. The music of this very overlooked early 2017 PS4 exclusive is composed by Kohei Tanaka, whose resume is as long as it is impressive. Such composition credits include his work on the PS1 cult classic Alundra, as well as working on anime like a little known title called One Piece. Tanaka-san brings his embarrassment of composition riches to Gravity Rush 2 with a lot of playful themes on top of more rock and jazz focused numbers. Gravity Rush 2 itself is a much improved sequel to the PlayStation Vita original, offering better gameplay and control. If you're looking for a game with lots of charm and personality for your PS4, Gravity Rush 2 is that game.

Title Menu

Storm and Triumph

Fire-Bound Lions

Combat II

Pleasure Quarter

Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Speaking of charm and personality, you get that sevenfold with Paper Mario: Color Splash. You also get one of the funniest games on the Wii U and recently released in general. Color Splash is a marked improvement over the base gameplay found in the Nintendo 3DS's less than well received Sticker Star. It brings forth a reason to participate in battles, it offers more direction with its puzzles, and you'll seldom be frustrated as to what you need to do next. Then there's the music, which like Sticker Star is quite catchy and memorable. Color Splash has one of my favorite soundtracks of last year, taking familiar themes and giving them a clever twist, as well as wholly original compositions that stand up to any other pieces in the game. By virtue of releasing near the end of the struggling Wii U's life, Paper Mario: Color Splash didn't receive much fanfare from the gaming community, but don't be mistaken-- the game is well worth checking out if at least not listening to its stellar soundtrack.

Ruddy Road

Cherry Lake

Onstage at Oceanfest

Sunglow Ridge

Chateau Chanterelle 

Nintendo Land (Wii U)

Nintendo Land didn't exactly have the greatest reveal. With a lackluster appearance of gameplay and no fireworks to speak of, Nintendo Land and consequently the Wii U in retrospect were doomed from the start. Nevertheless, Nintendo Land itself is a really entertaining party game with 12 attractions all based around Nintendo franchises, such as Mario, Zelda, Pikmin, and more. Many of these have multiplayer components to them, and they showcase the Wii U's asymmetric gameplay where one player uses the Wii U GamePad while other players use the Wii Remotes. Each side is doing a different gameplay task, hence the term "asymmetric gameplay." If it's still not clear, don't worry. It's hard to explain perfectly, and that's part of the reason why the Wii U itself was hard to market. Regardless, Nintendo Land isn't just special as a party game; its soundtrack is a collection of familiar remixes of Nintendo franchise music.

Main Plaza

Gerudo Valley (The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest)

Mission 10: Battle Kraid (Metroid Blast)

Stage 1 (Mario Chase)

Stage 1 (Animal Crossing: Sweet Day)

Rayman Legends (Multi)

Rayman Legends is a similar game like Rayman 2 before it in the case that Ubisoft just can't help but port it to every system under the sun. The Wii U was the original, and that was ported to the PS4 and Xbox One. Then, the Vita got its own version. Now, the Nintendo Switch is due up for what Ubisoft is calling the "definition edition." Whether or not the version of Rayman Legends is the definitive one or not, what you're going to get is platforming nirvana with a side of charm, humor, and gorgeous art using the Ubi Art game engine. The music is also quite nice, offering a boisterous orchestra to accentuate all the action. Pretty much everything about Rayman Legends is well crafted and makes for an engaging experience, particularly in multiplayer and particularly if you own the Wii U version which delivers some of that asymmetric multiplayer I was talking about in the Nintendo Land blurb.

Mysterious Swamps

Babel Tower

Storming the Castle

Enchanted Forest

Luchador

MadWorld (Wii)

MadWorld was quite the interesting game. It was unapologetic in its violence and crude humor, and it was the Wii of all consoles, a platform known for its more family friendly content compared to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Despite this, Platinum Games' MadWorld ended up being a really fun game even with its somewhat repetitive gameplay. That wasn't what players jumped on first, however. No, it was the game's showcase black and white art style which accentuated all the red blood that would pour from enemies. The soundtrack is all original rap and rock music, and damn awesome ones at that. Sure, songs like "come with it" are a bit too vivid and detailed with their violent imagery and wording, but it's all catchy and it all fits the game really well. It says something when I can enjoy a game's soundtrack despite not having a major love for rap music. Whatever the case, MadWorld was an underrated gem in the underrated library of the Wii.

come with it

Survival

ain't that funny

Let's Go!

You Don't Know Me

Mega Man X8 (PS2, PC)

After some stumbles in the Mega Man X franchise with Mega Man X6 and then the failed attempt for the X sub-series to enter 3D with Mega Man X7, it was a greatly pleasant surprise to discover that Mega Man X8 was a winner of a game. Sure, it had its own problems like two of the eight Maverick stages being vehicle-based and not traditional platforming stages, but overall, Mega Man X8 was a good game. Like X7, Mega Man X8 used fully 3D polygonal models instead of 2D sprites, and this was used to nice effect with some levels wrapping around themselves, fully using 3D depth and the like. The soundtrack continues the Mega Man X sub-series' penchant for excellent music. Most of X8 is hard rock, as you can see-- er... hear-- by these examples provided below.

Main Theme

Middle Boss Battle

Booster Forest

Boss Battle

Lumine 2nd

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Dancing (And Fighting) in the Streets" Edition

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs generally marks the beginning of each week of content on the site. That tradition continues with a new edition with music that will have you wanting to get up and dance! ...Or at least bob your head up and down as you listen to them.

We start out with Capcom's Street Fighter V. Then, we listen to two really catchy tunes, one from Paper Mario: Color Splash and the other from Kirby: Planet Robobot. The fighting isn't done, however, as Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden rocks us out afterwards. Finally, Wild ARMs 5 rounds out this wonderful edition of great music.

As a friendly reminder, just click on the VGM volume name to hear the song represented, and check out the VGM Database for all 1350 previous VGM volumes seen on this weekly SuperPhillip Central segment! Now, let's get on to the music!

v1351. Street Fighter V (PS4, PC) - City in Chaos - Round 1

We start with a fighter that was pure awesomeness to play at launch. It's just that Street Fighter V launched with so little substance to it content-wise. This led to the game doing less sales than Capcom would have liked. Beyond that, Street Fighter V has shaped up to provide more value for players, and both its visuals and stellar soundtrack make for a solid presentation regardless.

v1352. Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U) - Ruddy Road

Next up are two games that have soundtracks that seldom fail to make me smile. The first here is Paper Mario: Color Splash, which turned out to be a really good game that I greatly enjoyed. Ruddy Road is the first destination Mario heads to after his initial arrival on Prisma Island. Its song incorporates the Super Mario Bros. main theme motif while offering an original arrangement and melody of its own. Catchy is understating this song!

v1353. Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS) - Gorgeous-Go-Round

Moving from one joyful game and song to another, Kirby: Planet Robobot rocked the Nintendo 3DS last summer with a sensational platforming adventure. Gorgeous-Go-Round is played during casino levels in the game. Kirby will take on playing cards, billiards tables, and more on his journey through these levels. Like Paper Mario: Color Splash's Ruddy Road, Gorgeous-Go-Round is fantastically catchy and is a terrific feelgood song.

v1354. Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden (3DS) - Menu

Unfortunately the sound quality on this song isn't as high fidelity as the others. There exists MP3 versions that sound better, but they haven't been bestowed a YouTube video. Regardless, this rocking theme with a marvelous guitar riff at the beginning greets players who start up the oft overlooked Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden. Unlike many current Dragon Ball fighters, this one used hand-drawn sprites instead of polygonal models. It's definitely worth picking up, especially since you can now find it on the cheap.

v1355. Wild ARMs 5 (PS2) - When the Heart Ignites

While not a soundtrack by longtime series composer Michiko Naruke, Wild ARMs 5's soundtrack still maintains its delightfully wild western spirit. With this theme, When the Heart Ignites, you get a healthy dose of rambling guitar, whistling, and then some electric organ. Hey, if you're going to shake things up, then why not go all the way?