Classics I Can Return To - Part Seven

It's been over a year since this article type has been seen on SuperPhillip Central. Now, "Classics I Can Return To" is back with part seven, showcasing six more gems that I can't help but yearn to replay due to how fantastic and solid of gaming experiences they are. From Ratchet & Clank to Final Fantasy, multiple series are represented this time around.

To see all six prior parts to "Classics I Can Return To", look no further than these links:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Ratchet & Clank (PS4)

Not just a great rebirth of the Ratchet & Clank series, but one of my favorite games of 2016. Ratchet and Clank's PlayStation 4 debut had all the trappings of a good time: superb level design, tight controls, awesome weaponry, an alluring campaign that made me want to replay it multiple times, great humor, and some very beautiful graphics. The game didn't mirror the original PS2 Ratchet & Clank 100%, so it felt like a wholly brand-new game with some familiar enemies, story beats, and locales. Whether developer Insomniac decides to continue this reboot of Ratchet & Clank games with Going Commando or go down a fresh new path for the franchise, I'm both game and on board.

New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)

One of the main complaints of the New Super Mario Bros. series is how sterile and bland the visuals are. Plus, there is the fact that there have been three previous New Super Mario Bros. games, with one that had just released three months prior to the Wii U version, though on Nintendo 3DS. That said, New Super Mario Bros. U brought the series to HD with an assortment of goodies, such as gorgeous backgrounds, the return of co-op multiplayer, insanely good level design that was filled to the brim with secrets, a Super Mario World-styled world map, and an incredibly fun Challenge Mode. I really think that had New Super Mario Bros. U not have had so many similar-looking sequels of the New Super Mario Bros. name before it, this game would have been more accepted, despite its critical acclaim. Well, that and getting rid of the "Bah, bahs!" in the music.

Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U)

The Wii U possesses a lot of really good games. However, being stuck to the poor-selling system meant that good deal of consumers and gamers never got to play them. Thankfully, many of these games are getting second chances, either with Nintendo 3DS versions or rumored Switch versions. Yoshi's Woolly World is one of those Wii U games getting a second chance to shine early next year with a Nintendo 3DS port. The game is a tremendous 2D platformer, and it really surprised me with its quality, whether that was in its music, amazing presentation, level design, and secrets to discover. Since Yoshi's Island on the Super Nintendo, we've seen the big N try and try again at making worthwhile Yoshi games that live up to the SNES classic, but they always came too short. However, Yoshi's Woolly World is not just a game that finally lives up to the quality of the original Yoshi's Island, but in some ways I would argue that Woolly World surpasses it.

Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

Nowadays, you can find Final Fantasy VI on a plethora of platforms, whether it's the Super Nintendo original release, the lackluster-due-to-loading-times PlayStation version, the Game Boy Advance port, or the iOS enhanced port with unsatisfying sprite art. Regardless of the platform, Final Fantasy VI remains one of the entries in the long-running franchise that I possess a profound sense of nostalgia towards. It's not unfounded nostalgia either, as the game still contains an immense amount of stellar scenes, an engaging battle system, memorable characters, fantastic music (one of Nobuo Uematsu's greatest scores, in my opinion), and a wonderful world. I would very much love for the Final Fantasy series to take a step back and look towards its past to influence its future, as games like Final Fantasy VI represent some of the best quality the series has yet to see.

Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1) / Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP)

Regardless of whether I play the PS1 original or the PSP enhanced port, I'm always enthralled by Star Ocean 2's world and characters. This is a game that I continue to return to just for the fun of it. Exploring Expel, recruiting new characters, taking on side quests, venturing through dungeons and towns, participating in intense real-time battles, and replaying the game multiple times to see changes in the story depending on which characters were recruited are all activities that make Star Ocean 2 shine and shine brightly. Motoi Sakuraba's warm and wonderful soundtrack is one of my favorites in video games. All of these things add up to one RPG experience that not only gives me nostalgia but makes me realize how Star Ocean 2 has withstood the test of time.

Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)

Three things come to mind when I play Kirby: Canvas Curse on the Nintendo DS; 1) This game is fun as heck, 2) For me, it single-handily made the touch screen of the Nintendo DS system worth it, and 3) This type of game would be pretty killer on mobile. Nevertheless, Kirby: Canvas Curse was an atypical Kirby game where tapping Kirby with the stylus would give him a boost forward while drawing lines would guide Kirby around levels. Kirby's traditional abilities taken from enemies were here, and several were needed to access secret portions of levels to find special medals, the collectibles of Canvas Curse. The addition of three unlockable playable characters and a host of modes meant that I was playing Canvas Curse for a seriously long time. If you have a Nintendo DS, 2DS, or 3DS, you're missing out if you haven't played Kirby's touch-centric adventure with Kirby: Canvas Curse.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Happy Rosh Hashanah Edition

It's the Jewish new year today, and I'm glad I could catch it before the day's end. The Jewish calendar is more than a few thousand years ahead of the standard Roman calendar that we generally use. And it's around more than four thousand digits ahead of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs VGM volume total.

Regardless, as is customary on Mondays, the Favorite VGMs are here to deliver great video game music to all readers of SuperPhillip Central. This week, the critically mixed Star Fox Zero leads off with its version of Corneria. Then, Mario Kart 7 races onto the scene. Star Ocean: The Second Story is one of my favorite video game soundtracks of all time, so this week I'm showing off a world map theme for the game. Next, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars delivers a titillating tune. Finally, Me & My Katamari busts out a ten minute-long funk-a-licious song.

As always, click on the VGM volume name to reach the YouTube video featuring that song. And if you want to listen to past VGM volumes featured on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, look no further than the always-updated VGM Database. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1236. Star Fox Zero (Wii U) - Corneria: Galactic Hub of Peace

The first mission of Star Fox Zero takes players into familiar territory, the home world of the forces to face off against the evil Andross, Corneria! While Star Fox Zero's incarnation of Corneria's theme is wholly original and doesn't have the same memorability as what was heard in Star Fox and Star Fox 64, you do get a wonderful and riveting orchestral piece all the same. Expect to hear more from Star Fox Zero not only this week, but in future editions of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs.

v1237. Mario Kart 7 (3DS) - Toad Circuit

Last week, the final review of September 2016 was posted, a Review Redux of Mario Kart 7. Now, we take a listen to the song of the first circuit in the game, Toad Circuit, a simple track with easy, long curves and a wide track size. It's a perfect introductory course featuring a theme that also plays during the Mario Circuit track.

v1238. Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1) / Second Evolution (PSP) - Field of Expel

I think the statute of limitations on spoilers for Star Ocean: The Second Story and its PSP port is over. Therefore, I can say that this theme, Field of Expel, plays as the world map theme of the first planet our heroes travel across. Motoi Sakuraba has yet to create a soundtrack that I love as much as his work on the Star Ocean: The Second Story score. The warm synth, memorable melodies, and robust rhythms make for a soundtrack that I do find to be Sakuraba-san's best work.

v1239. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (Wii) - Yatterman's Workshop

One of my favorite fighters from last generation just so happened to be a Wii exclusive of all things. It's Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, which is by no means a stranger to SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. The game's music gets you prepped and primed for the engaging 2-on-2 battles between Capcom's best and the Tatsunoko anime company's greatest warriors. Even though online is no longer available, you should still own a copy if you're a fighting game fan and Wii owner.

v1240. Me & My Katamari (PSP) - Katamari on the Funk

Ready to get funky? Well, how about getting funky with a ten minute-long song! That's exactly how SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is ending this edition. This catchy vocal theme never outwears its welcome, bringing the funk to you and the colorful and wacky world of Katamari Damacy.

How Was I Supposed to Know THAT!? ~ Obtuse Things in Games - Volume One

Time for an all-new series of articles for SuperPhillip Central! Here, I'll be talking about those moments in games, whether they be puzzles or parts, where the solution to progressing isn't very clear. In fact, it might just be incredibly obtuse, resulting in you rushing towards a walkthrough or guide. Hopefully you'll find this series as enjoyable as SuperPhillip Central's others (and hopefully you actually like THOSE!).

The Red Barrel of Doom - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN)

This first "How Was I Supposed to Know THAT!?" moment in games has been mentioned before, and for good reason! It is such an error and example of obtuseness in game design that the creator even apologized for it. It's the otherwise fantastic Sonic the Hedgehog 3's infamous red barrel of doom! Dun-dun-dun!

The barrel in question is located in Carnival Night Zone Act 2. There are myriad barrels throughout the first and second acts, but none of them are required like this one is. Therefore, the player never has to interact with them, nor do they have to solve how to get past them.

The premise here is that a barrel that bobs up and down when weight from Sonic and Tails land on top of it must somehow move down enough a shaft for Sonic to sneak through a gap to continue the level. Considering that mindlessly jumping up and down on the barrel shows some kind of progress doesn't help things. In fact, it's totally misleading.

What you actually have to do is alternate between the up and down directions on the d-pad in time with the bobs of the barrel. This makes it so the barrel adequately moves enough for Sonic and Tails to move past this otherwise impossible to pass obstacle. Many fruitless efforts were had trying to cheese my older brother's and my way past the obstacle. The zones after Carnival Night seemed like impossible dreams that would never come true. The only thing that ever did come true before learning the truth about the red barrel of doom was the time always running out on us while playing this formerly cursed level.

Canary Mary's Second Stand - Banjo-Tooie (N64, XBLA)

Canary Mary is a human-like character dressed up as a canary, gifted with the power of flight. She requires Banjo and Kazooie to race her twice within Banjo-Tooie in order to get two separate Jiggies from her. (Jiggies being the equivalent of Super Mario 64's Power Stars, for the uninitiated.)

The first race in Glitter Gulch Mine is by no means that difficult. All that is required in this race is to mash a button repeatedly to speed across a rickety rail system through the tunnels of the mine. Beating Canary Mary to the finish line results in her surrendering her Jiggy to the bear and bird pair.

However, it's the second race, a flying spectacle in Cloud Cuckooland, that took most players, including yours truly, through the wringer. It seems to follow the same format as the first race-- rapidly mash on a button to coast to the finish, thus beating Mary. Nonetheless, this line of thinking is folly.

What isn't said about this second and final race is that Canary Mary has rubber band AI. This means that the faster you mash the button to speed up, the faster Canary Mary will fly, eventually making it so it's not possible to beat her without having a heart attack after mashing on the button like a madman. No, the goal here is to not actually rapidly press any button, just do so gingerly. This will make the race all the more feasible to complete.

That Final Freaking Percentage Point - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)

Many of you who read a lot of articles and reviews on SuperPhillip Central probably are deep into gaming. You most likely want to get the most out of your gaming purchases, and that means doing as much in a game you enjoy that you possibly can. For Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (which for the longest time I mistakenly [and stupidly?] read the subtitle as Diddy Kong's Quest), the mighty goal here was to collect all of the bonus coins, DK Coins, beat the Lost World, and get the ultimate percentage amount possible for the game, in this case, 102%.

However, many players, including myself, fought with plenty of effort to find every hidden bonus barrel, complete every bonus challenge, find every secret DK Coin, and battle and defeat Kaptain K. Rool not once but twice and only end up with 101% to show for it. Where is the other percentage point?

It turned out that players needed to visit all four of the Kong buildings in the game at least once. This meant going to pay Cranky, Wrinkly, Funky, and Swanky a visit to get that final point. It's something that for the most part, most players wouldn't think about or even have a reason to visit half of those locations. It took me a long time to figure that stipulation for 102% out myself, and that was only because I caved and bought the Nintendo Power players guide!

Kneel Before Zod-- Er.... This Innocuous Wall! - Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)

What a horrible night to have to put up with incredibly cryptic crap. Now, to be fair, I only used the word "crap" for alliteration purposes, but then again, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest isn't the best game in the series. In fact, I'd call it one of the worst. Featuring cheap deaths aplenty, an annoying day and night cycle that interrupts the player with ten seconds of slow, scrolling text every time the sun rises or sets, and some astonishingly obtuse progression, Simon's Quest has more than its fair share of issues.

I could really pick a lot of instances within Simon's Quest to focus on and complain about, but the part of the game I'd like to pick apart, albeit briefly as I was never one to like getting angry, is an instance where your character reaches a curious dead end in an outdoor area. There is no hint that there is anything to this wall, even though you're supposed to go through it. Also, merely walking up to the wall and physically walking through it is impossible.

No, what needs to be done is something totally non-intuitive. First, you need to have the red crystal highlighted. Next, you have to crouch down and thus kneel in front of the wall. You are required to do this for more than five seconds before a small tornado appears and whisks you away to the next area.

Imagine this game not having any hints about this, and you as a young player or however old you might have been when Simon's Quest originally released trying to explore every area of the game to make some form of progress. By the time you've exhausted every potential possibility, you wind up with no progress made whatsoever. Simon's Quest was essentially impossible to beat without the help of magazines like Nintendo Power and tip hotlines. It's an example of a game that is unfortunately filled with ambiguous and enigmatic design, having Simon's Quest make Lords of Shadow 2 look like the greatest Castlevania game in comparison.

The Trials and Tribulations of Reaching The Cave of Trials - Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

The Cave of Trials in Star Ocean: The Second Story (also available on the PSP with the subtitle of "Second Evolution") is a secret, end-game dungeon that houses some of the most powerful weapons and abilities in the game for Claude and Rena's party. Unfortunately, it also houses some of the most challenging creatures, monsters, enemies, and bosses in the game, also making it so the real final boss of the game is significantly more difficult to beat by a fine measure.

With such goodies lying about in treasure chests inside, just waiting to be opened, a player enjoying the second Star Ocean would most likely want to enter and explore the dungeon. The process upon doing so is something that I don't know how anyone would do without a guide.

It revolves around reaching the final save point within the last dungeon of the game (the one just outside the final boss' chambers) and leaving the tower to head back to a specific town within a game. It's not just that, but it's a specific and unassuming NPC in a crowd of countless others in the back of a coliseum that must be spoken to. Talking with him with transport the party back into the past where the first planet of The Second Story, where most of the game took place. It's here where the party's power of flight, not previously available to the player, allows Claude and Rena to reach a desert island where the dungeon is located.

How the player would know they needed to return to a game's town and a specific NPC after reaching the last save point in Star Ocean: The Second Story is something that weighs on my mind like a sumo wrestler would. Many RPGs, specifically JRPGs, feature some off-the-wall and unimaginable ways to get end-game and post-game content, and Star Ocean's second game has one of the greatest.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - You Have Gotta Be Kyd-in' Me Edition

Much like two Final Fantasy games were the bookends of the gaming music goodness that was last week's edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, this week's edition is bookended by music from Jesper Kyd. First, we start off with a track of his from Assassin's Creed. We then end this edition with a track from The Adventures of Batman & Robin, going really deep into his career as a game composer! In between this Kyd-based carnage is music from one of my favorite soundtracks, Star Ocean: The Second Story. Finally, we have music from Radiant Historia and Digimon World! D-D-Digimon! D-D-Don't go anywhere-- there's video game music to be listened to, friends!

v861. Assassin's Creed (PS3, 360, PC) - Chase Theme

We start out with the Chase Theme from Assassin's Creed, which if you read my introduction of this edition of the VGMs like a good boy or girl, you'll know is composed by Jesper Kyd. You'll also know if you read my introduction of the VGMs like a good boy or girl that this is the first of a duo of Jesper Kyd-composed tracks. The second is the final of five VGM today!

v862. Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1) - Moderate

Star Ocean: The Second Story is one of my favorite video game soundtracks ever devised. Motoi Sakuraba really did wonders with the music for the game, and I love the soundtrack for many of its warm sounding synths and lovely melodies, much like the ones heard in Moderate, a theme for Mars Village. This is the hometown of Celine, a magician girl who can unleash mighty magic upon foes while they're distracted by her *ahem* clothing choices.

v863. Radiant Historia (DS) - The Edge of Green

We continue with an RPG theme, but this time we're going for something a little more modern, music from Yoko Shimomura's Radiant Historia soundtrack. The Edge of Green is one of the battle themes within the game, offering magnificent music to mash monsters and other enemies to. Yoko Shimomura is gaining much publicity as she is the main contributor to the upcoming Final Fantasy XV soundtrack.

v864. Digimon World (PS1) - File City (Day)

Did someone call for some Digimon? No? Well, I hope you don't mind having some anyway! This song, File City (Day), comes from the very first Digimon World game for the original PlayStation. The game series would go on to see entries on other platforms, such as the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, and even the Nintendo DS for a dual release.

v865. The Adventures of Batman & Robin (GEN) - Big Machines

Jesper Kyd wasn't always making magnificent scores for AAA games. His beginnings began with smaller titles, as one would expect. While The Adventures of Batman & Robin is available on both the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, we're focusing on the Genesis soundtrack, as Mr. Kyd was able to create one of the best sounding and most impressive Genesis soundtracks from a technological standpoint. Is it any wonder why his game composition career took him to such great heights as he's at nowadays?

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.

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (30-21)

On June 5, SuperPhillip Central turned five years old. We're celebrating big the only way we know how, with a list of our favorite 100 games of all time. SuperPhillip Central's staff has come together to come up with this list. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, we hope you'll at least agree with our picks, and if you don't, at least you can read our rationale for our choices. Regardless, for ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking.

If you missed a previous edition of our countdown, look no further than these links:

Games of All Time (100-91)
Games of All Time (90-81)
Games of All Time (80-71)
Games of All Time (70-61)
Games of All Time (60-51)
Games of All Time (50-41)
Games of All Time (40-31)

Let's return to the countdown!

30) God of War II (PS2)

God of War was featured last week on SPC's list of 100 games. This week we have its sequel, which took the combo-based combat, spectacular set pieces and brutal ultraviolence to new heights to create a bigger, better and bolder game. Betrayed by Zeus, stripped of his title as the God of War and ruthlessly murdered, Kratos seeked the Sisters of Fate to go back in time and thwart his betrayal. God of War II showcased the power of the PlayStation 2 and just how tough that little black box was. The game contained more challenging puzzles, as well as a healthy helping of bosses-- easily multiple times more bosses than the original game. All of this was coated in a fantastic fighting system that towed the line between casual and hardcore players beautifully. Case in point, God of War II is one of finest action games ever devised, and it's without a doubt one of the best offerings in the PlayStation 2's robust library of intriguing games.

29) Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

While this is a game that probably wouldn't make it on most lists this far into a top 100 list, Star Ocean: The Second Story is a title that gives us great flashbacks of our days with the old PlayStation. However, it's not just nostalgia, as we recently played the PSP port Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and the combat was just as refined and hectic, the presentation (especially that music by Motoi Sakuraba) was brilliant and beautiful, and the dozens upon dozens of hours that could be lost to this game, regardless of which version, made for many sleepless nights. The Second Story already provided excellent replay value, but when you consider there's two main characters that can be chosen, as well as a wide cast of party members that can be recruited, you have a game that is one of the highest RPGs listed on our top 100 countdown.

28) Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT)

The second Mega Man game to be released on a PlayStation platform, and the first Mega Man X game to enter the 32-bit era, Mega Man X4 took the series to new heights with two protagonists, each with their own characteristics, stories and cutscenes. X specialized in long range attacks and was the easier of the two playable characters to complete, while Zero focused on short range assaults with his sword. Though many classic series that moved into the PlayStation era jumped into 3D or used some kind of 3D visuals, Mega Man X4 stayed tried and true to its roots, and it looked absolutely glorious in 3D. The game contained flashy visuals, had plenty of replay value thanks to the aforementioned two heroes, and it was a game that was challenging for all the right reasons. Mega Man X4 is a shining example of a terrific 2D platformer in the 32-bit era.

27) Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)

The first Ratchet & Clank was a fun, albeit forgetful and flawed game. However, Insomniac Games' second try with the franchise blew minds, including our own. Right away through viewing the game, you could see how incredibly improved the visuals of Going Commando were to its predecessor. Not only that, but the gameplay was much more refined, and the developers even included some role-playing elements in the mix. This came in the form of weapons that could be upgraded through repeated use. A small cluster bomb could turn into one that sent out dozens of bombs once the initial one exploded. By far the most fascinating aspect of Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was its terrific level design. Each planet generally had two ways to go, each leading to a different destination, adding to the longevity of the game. Also adding to that was the challenge mode after completing the game. This mode delivered more bolts (the currency of the series) to players. Without a doubt our favorite in the Ratchet & Clank series, Going Commando still hasn't been beaten by any other PlayStation platformer yet.

26) Mario Kart DS (DS)

This might be a controversial choice for this list because of a little thing called snaking. However, if you found a like-minded friends who promised not to snake, you'd find much enjoyment in the online. Sure, the emblem creator made it so you could see the glorious, glorious drawings of crudely done wangs, but you could always stand to appreciate art as you see it. Regardless, Mario Kart DS was one of Nintendo's first attempts at an online game, and while the online part isn't even why we considered the game to be on our list, it was a nice feature to have. Mario Kart DS' most exciting part was its offline play, featuring something that needs to return desperately to the series, a mission mode. The game also featured some stunning and well designed tracks, including Airship Fortress, Luigi's Mansion and Delfino Square. Mario Kart DS really felt like the most complete Mario Kart that had been released as of yet, and in many regards it still does.

25) Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 3DS)

Recently released on the Nintendo 3DS with eight new levels and the removal of waggle to perform actions, Donkey Kong Country Returns saw the revival of Rare's classic Super Nintendo series. This time the game was developed by a different Western developer, Austin, Texas' Retro Studios. Despite the long hiatus between games, Donkey Kong Country Returns really felt like the series had just picked up where it left off. Levels constantly introduced new concepts and gimmicks to make it so you never knew what was coming next. Puzzle pieces and bonus areas were hidden well to make players explore every crack and crevasse of a given level. Then you had the Kongs' interactions with each level. Sometimes being shot from the foreground to the background and vice versa. (This looked particularly impressive on the Nintendo 3DS.) It is for these reasons that we cannot wait to see what Retro Studios delivers next with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U this holiday season.

24) Mega Man X2 (SNES)

The second Mega Man X game to hit our list in the same week (and the second Mega Man X game overall) is Mega Man X2. The game introduced a trio of baddies known as the X-Hunters, looking to take down the reploid that brought down the leader of the Mavericks, Sigma. Each member of the X-Hunters had a piece of Zero that players could go after optionally to rebuild the pony-tailed Maverick Hunter and get the good ending of the game. Mega Man X2 had all of the features of its predecessor, such as eight initial levels to complete, Mavericks to defeat, special weapons to obtain, capsules to find, Energy and Heart Tanks to uncover, and all the shooting, wall climbing and dashing fans of the original Mega Man grew to love. Mega Man X2 might not have reinvented the wheel, but it didn't have to. It simply took what made Mega Man X great and attempted to improve upon it. Depending who you are, it might have been the better game.

23) Super Metroid (SNES)

The best in 2D Metroid-vania games, Super Metroid brought with it some of the greatest atmosphere in a 16-bit title. The game followed bounty hunter Samus Aran as she followed her nemesis Ridley to a new planet, after Ridley had murdered the scientists studying the Metroid infant Samus uncovered at the end of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The game was structured in a way that had Samus venturing around the many areas of the planet, uncovering new abilities from Chozo statues and left behind from bosses to reach new, previously inaccessible portions of the game world. At the start of the game, Samus' repertoire of moves wasn't that stellar. By the end of the game, however, Samus had the ability to freeze foes, spin attack right through them and unleash holy heck on any enemy that got in her way. The final battle with Mother Brain still stands as one of the most defining boss battles in Metroid history, as Super Metroid itself is one of the most defining, if not THE most defining, game in Metroid history.

22) Mega Man 3 (NES)

It's bizarre that we find Mega Man 3 to be the best game in the classic Mega Man series. We say so because series creator Keiji Inafune believed the development of the game was one of the most stressful times in his career. All artists much suffer, we guess, and Mr. Inafune's suffering gave gamers this delightful title. We find Mega Man 3 better than its much loved (we love it too) predecessor for several reasons. We enjoyed the levels, challenge, storytelling, and length better than Mega Man 2. There was also no Crash Bomb boss, which meant if you ran out of Crash Bombs during that boss, you had to commit robo-cide and refill your weapon energy in a boring grind-like fashion. The additions of Rush, Proto Man and Mega Man's sliding ability added even more charm to the series. Despite Capcom's best efforts to make Keiji Inafune's creation down and out, we'll always love you, Mega Man.

21) Super Mario 64 (N64)

One of the most influential and groundbreaking video games of all time, Super Mario 64 wasn't the first fully 3D game, but it was the first to show how a proper 3D game with proper 3D models should be done. Worlds were open-ended, offering immense amounts of exploration-- just mind-blowing at the time. Super Mario 64 shifted gameplay focus from completing linear platforming levels to completing multiple unique missions within each world of the game. In doing so, the developers still had mechanics from past Mario games so Super Mario 64 had a bit of familiarity in its brand-new bold package. The game worlds were fun to explore. Heck, even messing around in Peach's castle, the hub world of the game, was an absolute blast. Revolutionary is a not word to be used lightly, but Super Mario 64 represents that word sensationally well. Other 3D Mario titles would be evolutionary, including several that are higher on this list.

===

There are only two weeks left for our Top 100 Games of All Time countdown. The next games are even better than the ones listed here! Is that even possible? Find out next Wednesday!

Top Ten Soundtracks of All Time

We love music. We love video game music. In honor of SuperPhillip Central's five year anniversary, we have been listing our top 100 games ever. To go alongside that, we've decided to do a top ten regarding our collective's favorite soundtracks of all time. From classics to modern titles, this list have got them all. Obviously music is very subjective, so you don't need to agree to our choices. That said, if you have video game soundtracks of your own that you'd like to share with us, give us a holler in the comments section below.

10) Wild ARMS (PS1)

Michiko Naruke delivers a blend of old west and orchestral sounds with her Wild ARMS soundtrack, a true classic in every sense of the word. Right when the intro cutscene plays as To the End of the Wilderness accompanies it, you know you're in for an exciting adventure. Wild ARMS: Alter Code f redid plenty of the themes from this game, but we will always prefer the original music to the remixes. These are warmer sounding and are drenched with glorious nostalgia.

To the End of the Wilderness

Hope

Abbey

Adlehyde Castle

Return to Ashes

9) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP)

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a remake of the SNES game Ys III: Wanderers of Ys. The gameplay is severely different from the SNES game. The music is also remade, featuring some fantastic versions of old favorites. There is a lot more rock-centered focus to Ys: The Oath in Felghana, and it is very much a welcome one. The rhythm and beats that drive the songs are a great companion as you play as Adol, trying to save the world. From the tense sounds of Snare of Darkness to the epic final battle theme The Strongest Foe, Ys:  The Oath in Felghana comes with a stellar soundtrack.

Be Careful

Snare of Darkness

Sealed Time

Beat of Destruction

The Strongest Foe

8) Mega Man X (SNES)

No worries, SPC faithful. There will be plenty of classic soundtracks on our list, too. The first of which is the original Mega Man X. There's nothing better than good ol' synth, and that is exactly what you get with Mega Man X's soundtrack. These themes will forever be a part of video game music history, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Armored Armadillo

Storm Eagle

Spark Mandrill

Stage Select

Sigma Palace Stage 1 (Palace Grounds)

7) Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)

Kid Icarus: Uprising is a Nintendo 3DS exclusive that not only brought with it hilarious dialogue, fast paced flying and ground-based action, but it also contained an amazing orchestrated soundtrack. Composed by an all-star team including Yasunori Mitsuda, Motoi Sakuraba, and Yuzo Koshiro (for starters), Kid Icarus: Uprising has a wide range of musical styles, from Aurum Island's jazz to Lightning Battle's hard rock. SuperPhillip Central didn't award the soundtrack of the year award to this game last year for no reason!

Magnus's Theme

Chapter 4: The Reaper's Line of Sight

Chapter 14: Lightning Battle

Chapter 15: Aurum Island

Chapter 21: The Chaos Vortex

6) Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

Speaking of Motoi Sakuraba, if we had to choose a soundtrack of his that we would point to as his greatest, we'd point to Star Ocean: The Second Story (also available on PSP as Star Ocean: Second Evolution). The sounds of the synth the game uses fills us with warmth and the melodies heard make us wax poetic. Everything from The Venerable Forest to Pyroxene gives us such a nice feeling when we listen to it.

The Venerable Forest

Shower of Blossoms

Walk Over

Pyroxene

Breezy Afternoon

5) Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)

The best the Donkey Kong Country series has to offer in both gameplay and music is Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. David Wise brings his A-game, offering atmospheric and melodic tracks that are way ahead of their time. To this day, there are still soundtracks that don't come anywhere close to matching the charm and ambiance that David Wise's works on Donkey Kong Country 2 possess.

Hot Head Bop

Lockjaw's Saga

Flight of the Zinger

Stickerbrush Symphony

Snakey Chantey 

4) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Originally when Super Mario Galaxy was shown, it contained a synthesized soundtrack. When the game came closer to release, it was revealed that the majority of songs would be orchestrated-- a first for the Mario series and something not usually done by Nintendo. The end result is just magical. Forgive us if we use too much emotionally-charged wording here. It's no wonder people dislike what they hear regarding the New Super Mario Bros. series' music, because Super Mario Galaxy has spoiled us so greatly. Without a doubt our favorite song from the series is Gusty Garden Galaxy. So spectacular...

Gusty Garden Galaxy

Battlerock Galaxy

Buoy Base Galaxy

Waltz of the Boos

Rosalina's Comet Observatory 3

3) Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN)

If you're like us, then you're drooling at the thought of playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. If you're like us also, then you absolutely love the soundtrack of Super Smash Bros. Melee, featuring many orchestral remixes of familiar Nintendo themes. Hearing the bold brass of the Legend of Zelda theme playing in Great Bay and the awesome guitar work of Mute City brings joy and happiness to our bodies and smiles to our faces.

Great Bay

Hyrule Temple

Fountain of Dreams

Mute City

Mother

2) Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)

We tried to limit this list to just ONE Final Fantasy soundtrack, but we couldn't do it in the end. Instead, we have two Final Fantasy soundtracks on our list. This one is from a spin-off series, Final Fantasy Tactics. Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata teamed up to create this sensational soundtrack that plays on the emotions of its listener. From dramatic themes like Tension 1 to poignant character themes like Ovelia's Theme, Final Fantasy Tactics' soundtrack remains as wonderful as it was back in released in 1997.

Tension 1

Decisive Battle

Ovelia's Theme

Apoplexy

Desert Land

1) Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

Here we go with our favorite video game soundtrack of all time-- Final Fantasy VI (or as it was known in the West for a period of time, Final Fantasy III). Final Fantasy VI contains Nobuo Uematsu's greatest work, and imagine having to work within the confines of the SNES sound chip to produce such a superior soundtrack. The music still sounds fantastic to this day, and we're still floored by tracks like the multi-tiered Dancing Mad, one of the greatest boss themes ever composed, as well as character themes like Terra and Celes. Nobuo Uematsu continues to be the most prolific composer in the video game industry-- at least that's our story (which we are sticking to!).

Kefka

The Mystic Forest

Kids Run Through the City Corner

The Decisive Battle

Celes

===

You have read our thoughts on our favorite soundtracks, but which ones do you deem your favorites? They need not necessarily be the best-- they just need to be ones you enjoy the most. Let us and the SPC community know in the comments section below.