SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "One Last Leap in July" Edition

On this final day of July, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs greets us with a new installment, a platformer-filled edition! Be it games that are purely platformers or one that feature characters famous for their platforming antics. Okay, that's enough of the word "platform" or any variation of it because I've already use the word too much in this opening paragraph!

We begin with a game that will soon reach the Nintendo Switch with Rayman Legends. Moving on from that limbless wonder we turn a pink gluttonous blob with Kirby: Triple Deluxe. Mario is featured next, but not in a traditional platforming (dammit, I can't stop using the word!) role. Instead, we see him in his first RPG ever with Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Finally, two PlayStation platformers, one modern with Puppeteer and one classic with Jumping Flash! rounds out this edition.

Click on the VGM volume name to hear that song. Click on the VGM Database to see and hear any past VGM volume featured on this weekly SuperPhillip Central segment. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1436. Rayman Legends (Multi) - Enchanted Forest

As I stated in the opening, Rayman Legends is coming to yet another platform! This time around it's the Nintendo Switch which is being deemed by Ubisoft as the Definitive Edition. Almost everything about Rayman Legends is satisfying and stupendous, like the level design, tight platforming, amount of content, and of course, the music! So good! But I did say almost everything. What wasn't so terrific about Rayman Legends? Well, to some, the Murfy levels, but for me, that really awful special series of levels at the end of the game.

v1437. Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS) - Hypernova All-Stars

Yes, Kirby is our gluttonous hero, but no matter his craving and insatiable appetite, we'll always have a fondness for him, now won't we, ladies and gentlemen! In his first Nintendo 3DS outing, Kirby could transform into an ultra powerful version with tremendous suction power, able to open his massive mouth up wide and inhale enemies both small and large as if they were nothing. He could even move gigantic objects to solve environmental puzzles. This was the theme that played during these action-packed gameplay segments in a Nintendo 3DS adventure that many Kirby fans adored.

v1438. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Let's Do the Fooka-Fooka!

Moving from one Nintendo platforming all-star to another, though admittedly a much more popular one by far, we have Mario's first RPG adventure with Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. It would be the last project then-Squaresoft would make for a Nintendo system until the GameCube's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and the Game Boy Advance's Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Let's Do the Fooka-Fooka! plays in Nimbus Land, the home of Mallow, who--SPOILER ALERT!--isn't actually a tadpole. He's a cloud, and the prince of Nimbus Land at that!

v1439. Puppeteer (PS3) - Kutaro

The severely underrated Puppeteer for the PlayStation 3 released late in the console's life. This was the same season the PlayStation 4 launched, taking a lot of attention away from the PS3 lineup that year. Puppeteer sports and insanely whimsical and jaunty orchestral soundtrack that really makes you feel you're in a part of a seriously wonderful adventure. And you ARE! Puppeteer's play-like presentation is only boosted by Patrick Doyle's impressive score.

v1440. Jumping Flash! (PS1) - World 1-1

Jumping Flash! might not be a household name by any stretch of the imagination, but not only was it an early example of 3D platformer, but it was an early example of a 3D platformer done right. As the main character you launched into the air, leaping with high velocity to progress through environments. Beyond the sublime gameplay, Jumping Flash! sported a cheery and jovial soundtrack as well. Sadly, the composer behind the game's music, Takeo Miratsu, passed away in 2006 due to liver cancer. His spirit most definitely lives on in his music, whether in Jumping Flash! and its sequel, in Legend of Dragoon, or in the Beatmania IIDX series of games which he contributed regularly to.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Leap Day with Nintendo Edition

Welcome to a rare, every-four-years occasion. No, I'm not referring to the presidential election season. It's best we leave politics off the table here at SuperPhillip Central. I'm talking about Leap Day! Not only that, but what's even rarer is an edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs on Leap Day!

This special edition is all Nintendo-themed this week. We start off with the Wii U launch title Nintendo Land. Then we have some cooperative action with The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. Following up with that is a retro title, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Finally, we trek through a winter wonderland with Yoshi in Yoshi's Woolly World and do battle in Splatoon.

As it's a tradition to mention the VGM Database, be sure to check it out for over 1,000 past VGM songs!

v1086. Nintendo Land (Wii U) - Metroid Blast - Infestation

Starting off with this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, we have Metroid Blast, an attraction from the Wii U launch title Nintendo Land. It's such a delight to hear themes from the Metroid series given rousing orchestral versions, such as this particular theme. It makes shooting down enemies as Samus's dropship or as your Mii a much more thrilling experience.

v1087. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS) - Main Theme

Overall, this next game was satisfactory. The online was quite uneven, especially if you were paired with jerks as teammates. However, the actual sum of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes' parts was pretty good. The soundtrack remains excellent like many Zelda games before it. Even if Tri Force Heroes was more of a spin-off title, it is well worth playing.

v1088. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Fight Against Monsters

We go a bit retro with the 1,088th VGM volume here with the normal battle theme, Fight Against Monsters, from Mario's first ever RPG. It was none other than Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, a then-historic partnership between Nintendo and Squaresoft. Yoko Shimomura contributed the majority of songs to the soundtrack while famed Nintendo composer Koji Kondo and even Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu contributed some tracks.

v1089. Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U) - Fluffy Snow, Here We Go!

With winter wrapping up, I feel this song for one of the snow levels in the superb (dare I say better than the original Yoshi's Island!) Yoshi's Woolly World for the Wii U is posted at an optimal time. Fluffy Snow, Here We Go! is an uptempo track that is both cheery and playful, perfect for a romp in the snow with Yoshi.

v1090. Splatoon (Wii U) - Now or Never!

We wrap up this Nintendo-centric edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with some music from Splatoon, Nintendo's wildly popular third-person squadron shooter. Now or Never! plays during the climax of battle, when time is just about to run out. Splatoon has such an eccentric soundtrack to it that only adds to the wacky and zany aesthetic of the game.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - #VGMGate Edition

I think it's time to bring up something important regarding gaming. It's an issue that's been permeating to a boiling point, and now it's time to take some action.

Yes, there was no edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs last week. Where did it go? Who is responsible? What is the excuse for this lack of preparedness? That is what #VGMGate is all about.

While I try to uncover the answers for this amazing controversy, I urge you to listen to this week's VGM picks. We have music from Xenoblade Chronicles, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, and Mario Kart Wii, to kick things off.

v701. Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) - Hometown

Yoko Shimomura delivers a mellow symphonic treat with the Hometown theme of the first area within Xenoblade Chronicles. There's no doubt still a line of hype that leads to Shulk's inclusion in the new pair of Super Smash Bros. games, so it seems reasonable to include a theme from the game he comes from. Let's not forget about the sequel that will hopefully be releasing on Wii U in 2015!

v702. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 360) - City of Revelry

One of the greatest parts of the less-than-awesome final chapter in the so-called Lightning Trilogy, aside from the great graphics is the stellar soundtrack. We've previously listened to Savior of Souls, one of the battle themes heard within Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Now, we listen to City of Revelry, a terrific track featuring a very sexy saxophone!

v703. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - Coconut Mall

One of my favorite Mario Kart tracks of all time is Mario Kart Wii's Coconut Mall. It's an absolute blast to speed through the halls and lobbies of an Isle Delfino-inspired shopping mall, pulling off tricks off of fountains and steps, and racing through the home stretch parking lot. Coconut Mall would return in Mario Kart 7 with some nice alterations. Regardless of which version you race on, you're guaranteed a fun and enjoyable ride!

v704. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Fight Against an Armed Boss

Yoko Shimomura does double duty on this week's installment of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. The composer known for her work on Kingdom Hearts did the music for Super Mario RPG way back on the Super Nintendo. This theme plays when you battle a boss that holds one of the legendary seven stars. It's a catchy little number that uses the Smithy theme as a motif throughout.

v705. Phantasy Star Universe (360, PS2) - Save This World

While Phantasy Star Universe on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 was a decidedly disappointing entry in the franchise, the music was one bright spot in an otherwise dull and repetitive game. Save This World is the main vocal theme of the game, and it's a combination of symphonic sounds and grooving rock. Hey, SEGA, how about that Phantasy Star Online 2 localization for the West, huh?

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - A Day Late & A Dollar Short Edition

Our apologies for not having our weekly segment up on the usual day, Monday. We didn't forget about it-- we just didn't have the time to put it up. Today we do, however, and we have five more video game songs to share with you. Such games that will be represented today include Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards and Golden Sun: The Lost Age. After you've listened to this week's music, check out our VGM Database.

v416. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP) - Tues Deus Meus (in manibus tuis)

One of two boss themes of Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, Tues Deus Meus (in manibus tuis) takes listeners on an intense ride with its rousing orchestral hits and choir. We can think of no better boss theme to a Castlevania game than this one.

v417. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64) - Horobita (Rock) Star

Kirby's sole adventure on the Nintendo 64 took the pink puffball into a 2 1/2D game with Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Horobita Star, or Rock Star, is an uptempo tune full of pan flutes and synthesized brass, perfect for inhaling enemies and stealing their abilities.

v418. Hot Shots Golf Fore! (PS2) - Aloha Beach Golf Course (Spring/Summer)

We started this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs on a tense note with that boss theme from Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Now we shift focus to something more delightful and soothing. Well, that's until you hook a shot on this golf course and it falls into the ocean. Then it's not so delightful or soothing...

v419. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - The Merry Marry Bell Rings

We missed this song in June, the month where weddings traditionally take place, but being a little late is okay... except if you're the bride in a wedding, of course. One of Yoko Shimomura's (Kingdom Hearts, Mario & Luigi) earliest works, the Super Mario RPG soundtrack delivers on all fronts.

v420. Golden Sun: The Lost Age (GBA) - Tropical Apojii Islands

Another dose of tropical wonderment, the theme of the beautiful Apojii Islands from Golden Sun: The Lost Age evokes memories of sunshine shimmering on the clear blue waters and this theme.

Top Ten SNES Soundtracks

The Super Nintendo is one of our favorite systems of all time. We don't say that out of pure nostalgia either. A lot of the games available for the system that we enjoy are classics that remain as good now as they did then. Rather than talk about our favorite games for the system (we can do that at a later date), we want to talk about the music of the software for the system. Picking and choosing ten out of the immense library of great games with great soundtracks is no easy task. We know we left out favorites of people. That's what's so great about the Super Nintendo-- there's so much good music and so many excellent games to select from. We hope that at least you will understand our reasons for picking the ten titles that we have. Let's get to the sensational sounds, shall we?

10) Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 

The first game our list is a game that starred Yoshi as the hero, with Mario in the backseat, so to speak, in baby form. It's Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, a classic in every sense of the word, from its gameplay to its level design and of course, music. You have such catchy tunes like Flower Garden and Athletic, but then you also have dramatic tunes like Castle & Fortress, Boss, and Final Boss. It's a grand soundtrack, for sure, and one that evokes memories of tossing eggs and screaming babies.

9) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

A soundtrack fitting for a game set in the mystical Mushroom Kingdom, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is a marvelous masterpiece of magnificent music. The soundtrack was composed by Yoko Shimomura, whose works you might recall from the Kingdom Hearts series. No doubt fans of this game are really familiar with the themes heard in the game such as Beware the Forest Mushrooms, Fight Against an Armed Boss, Rose Town, Let's Do the Fooka Fooka (Nimbus Land), and Goodbye Geno.

8) Donkey Kong Country

David Wise needs employment at some big studio. He's deserved that, hasn't he? Is he still out of work? Someone answer us!! Anyway, we exclaim all these things because Mr. Wise's work on the Donkey Kong Country trilogy is absolutely phenomenal. Don't believe us? Foolish mortal! Take a listen to these atmospheric tracks that are not only catchy but full of delightful ambiance. There's Jungle Groove, Mine Cart Madness, Treetop Rock, Ice Cave Chant, and Fear Factory. Glorious, glorious music! The Donkey Kong Country soundtrack is a work of art, but it's not Wise's best work on the system. Stay tuned for that game coming up on this list!

7) Mega Man X

Right when you press start and enter the opening Central Highway level, you're greeted with this rocking song, letting you know you're in the thick of some seriously awesome action. Then, after the initial level has been completed and Zero has saved X's hide, you get a great stage select theme. Don't miss out on the excellent level themes, such as Flame Mammoth, Storm Eagle, and Sigma 1st. Choosing which Mega Man X game from the original SNES trilogy was a tremendous challenge, and it was a toss-up between X1 and X2. We figured we might as well go with old true blue.

6) Super Mario World

We put Super Mario World's soundtrack at the sixth position for a variety of reasons. Well, actually two. 1) We have a good bit of nostalgia that comes out when we hear this soundtrack, and 2) It's just a well done soundtrack. Koji Kondo provided the simple yet virtuoso-like tunes for Super Mario World. The classics are so classic that we don't even need to describe them to most people. Just listen and be taken back to your childhood, or if you were born in the year 1995 onward, we're so sorry for your misfortune. There's Overworld, Athletic, Underwater, Castle and Ending.

5) Breath of Fire

The original Breath of Fire is one of our favorite RPGs of the 16-bit era. Even though it has been outclassed by other games of the same genre, we still hold a special place for Ryu and the gang in our gamer hearts. Breath of Fire's soundtrack was composed by Alph Lyla, what was then Capcom's in-house composition team, featuring Mari Yamaguchi, Minae Fuji, Yasuaki Fujita, and Yoko Shimomura. Like any great RPG soundtrack, you have a wide range of feelings that you get from listening to the music. From sadness with Fate to a warm feeling of nostalgia with Day and Night. Then there's memorable themes like A Road, Battling, and Dawn.

4) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of most well regarded games in the history of this fine hobby of ours. Not even Zelda's creators could create a 2D Zelda that topped it. You're free to disagree, however. Regardless, the soundtrack is also something that made A Link to the Past so special, composed by Nintendo veteran Koji Kondo. There's, of course, the Overworld Theme, which plays in virtually every Zelda game, but this one is one of the more majestic versions. Then there's Hyrule Castle, The Dark World, Forest of Mystery, and the introduction of a legacy theme for the series, Zelda's Lullaby. Bah! Now we want to replay A Link to the Past for, like, the fiftieth time!

3) Chrono Trigger

The third best SNES soundtrack comes from the marvelous mind of Yasunori Mitsuda. Well, actually that isn't entirely true. You see, Mr. Mitsuda was so stressed out with the undertaking of composing the music for Chrono Trigger that he needed the assistance of Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu to contribute some tracks. Regardless, this team effort stands as one of the greatest SNES soundtracks. How could you not enjoy this time traveling epic with songs like Zeal Palace, To Far Away Times, Battle With Magus, Brink of Time, and Battle 2?  

2) Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

David/Dave Wise had a little support composing the soundtrack to our next game, but most of the music comes from him and him alone. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest features a wide array of musical styles that are as atmospheric as the levels they are played in. Plunder the deep with Lockjaw's Saga, party like it's 1975 with Disco Train, get mellow with Hot-Head Bop and Stickerbrush Symphony, and hear the melody of DKC's Gangplank Galleon with Snakey Chantey. David Wise's music accentuates each level splendidly, and the masterful compositions are ones that sound great to this day.

1) Final Fantasy III

Not just our favorite Super Nintendo soundtrack, but also one of our favorite soundtracks of all time, Nobuo  Uematsu's Final Fantasy III (or as it's now known in the West by its true name, Final Fantasy VI) provides a wide range of musical styles and emotions. The forlorn and beautiful Celes brings tears to our eyes, the sound of Terra makes us ready for adventure, and the town theme of Kids Run Through the City Corner gives us such a warm feeling with its instrumentation and melody. Final Fantasy VI also possesses several of the greatest boss battles themes from a game, such as The Decisive Battle, The Fierce Battle, and Dancing Mad. Final Fantasy III is a music composition triumph, regardless of what medium it is in.

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We've named our favorite Super Nintendo soundtracks, and there's many we wanted to add but had no room, like Super Metroid, Final Fantasy II, Secret of Mana, Mega Man X2, and Kirby Super Star! However, even though we've listed our favorites, there's just the matter of answering this one question: What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments section.

Killer Soundtracks - My Personal Favorites, Part Three

Music makes the world go 'round, and it is something I feel like a bit of a connoisseur about. Y'know, but without being all snotty and uppity. This makes three weeks in a row that I am sharing my personal favorite soundtracks from unforgettable video games, some more memorable than others. I hope with this part of Killer Soundtracks, like the two that came before it, it will have you listening and enjoying the samples of songs I link to. With that out of the way, let's get ten more soundtracks some time under the sun.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Quite possibly one of my most cherished Zelda soundtracks, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the first time featured a full orchestra for the majority of musical pieces. Hajime Wakai, Shibo Fujii, Mahito Yokota, Takeshi Hama, and Koji Kondo all lent their creative compositional expertise to this stellar soundtrack. Note: the track names are entirely unofficial. We have the familiar classic of File Select on one hand while on the other we have new classics like Romance Theme 1, the Asian flair of Bamboo Isle, a boss theme in Koloktos/Moldarach, the full choir of Final Ghirahim, the overly triumphant theme of the Staff Roll (featuring Ballad of the Goddess and The Legend of Zelda Main Theme), and the beautiful piano-filled Fi's Farewell. While nostalgia tells me that A Link to the Past has the better music, Skyward Sword is still up there as one of the best.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Speaking of Mahito Yakota, he lent his abilities to the superb Super Mario Galaxy 2 soundtrack. I actually prefer the sequel's music to the original, but it really is a heated race between the two. I mean, how can you not love fully symphonic pieces like the familiar Throwback Galaxy, Bowser's Galaxy Generator, the increasing tension of Melty Monster Galaxy, the grandiose nature of Final Bowser Battle with full choir, Haunty Halls Galaxy with the returning Ghost House theme from Super Mario World, the super perky Puzzle Plank Galaxy, and the second homage to Super Mario 64, Bowser's Lava Lair?

Jet Force Gemini (N64)

The composers at Rare, as proven last week by their incredibly impressive Perfect Dark soundtrack, are some kinds of sorcerers. How they managed to push the Nintendo 64's sound card is anyone's guess. Seriously, feel free to guess-- I'm all ears. Anyway, the team once more put forth an excellent treat for the ears with Jet Force Gemini's wondrous soundtrack. There's the militant march of Character Select for starters, Rith Essa, S.S. Anubis, Eschebone, Sekhmet, Ichor Military Base, and the ultra tense Boss Battle theme. Jet Force Gemini amazed me way back when it released in 1999 or so and it absolutely floors me now in retrospect.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)

Yoko Shimomura (mostly known for her work on the Kingdom Hearst franchise) contributed the lion's share of music for Mario's first foray into the RPG genre, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. It would also be Square's last game on a Nintendo system for an extended period of time. Of course, we all know tracks like Beware the Forest's Mushrooms and Hello, Happy Kingdom (which would get a remix in the Wii's Fortune Street), but what about lesser talked about themes like Fight Against An Armed Boss, The Merry Marry Bell Rings, Going Shopping in Ripple Town, Let's Do the Fooka-Fooka!, and Goodbye, Geno? Those are all tremendous tracks worthy of one's attention. A cute, quaint, and charming soundtrack, Super Mario RPG is near and dear to my heart.

MadWorld (Wii)

From cute, quaint, and charming to brutal, violent, and visceral, MadWorld's music is mostly vocal. It's also quite explicit lyrics-wise, so be forewarned, you younger scamps who visit SuperPhillip Central! The majority of music is hip-hop, rap, and hard rock. You can hear this in songs like Come With It, Survival, You Don't Know Me, the Asian beat of Ain't That Funny, Crazy, Body That which was used in the North American ads for the game, and the credits theme, Get It Up. I generally dislike the types of music MadWorld contains, but something in the game infected my mind like a brain worm.

Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)

How do you segue from rap to the gentle, flowing tunes of the adorable Kirby's Epic Yarn? I'm a good writer, but I'm not that good. Regardless, Tomoya Tomita penned and possibly performed the majority of music for this simple-to-beat game. The piano-heavy music really complemented the easygoing nature of Epic Yarn. You have songs like Fountain Gardens, VS. Fangora, Snowy Fields, Lava Landing, Outer Rings, and last but not least, the recital-sounding Patch Castle. Like I said, the music marvelously matches the calm nature and pace of Kirby's Epic Yarn.

Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

Now, here's a simple segue. Both Kirby's Epic Yarn and Wario Land: Shake It! were developed by Good-Feel. They're talented people who work at the company, and the quality of their titles is pretty good. While Epic Yarn had more of a piano focus, Shake It! branches out much more to incorporate a wide menagerie of musical instruments. We have the Latin-flavor of Launchpad Labyrinth, the Egyptian-flavor of Whoopsy Desert, the African rhythm of Savannah Valley, the professional piano of Gurgle Gulch and Run-Down Pyramid, the glitzy Glittertown (as inspired by Wario World), and the rocking Windbreak Bay. Wario Land: Shake It! supplies listeners with an abundant array of themes from multiple musical genres in fine fashion.

Mega Man X6 (PS1)

Now, if you have followed SPC for an lengthy period of time, you know my thoughts on Mega Man X6. It wasn't a really good game. In fact, a lot of it was pretty bad. That is except for the music which was sensational. We rocked out to Blaze Heatnix Stage (Magma Area), and even after hearing it loop over and over again while fighting the same mid-boss in different arenas, the song still holds up. Then there's great tracks like Gate's Laboratory 1-2, Commander Yammark Stage (Amazon Area), Shieldner Sheldon Stage (Laser Institute), Infinity Mijinion Stage (Weapon Center), Gate, and Sigma 2nd. I'm not saying such songs make up for a less-than-stellar game, but it did make the experience all the more bearable.

Sonic CD (SCD)

There are two versions of the Sonic CD soundtrack-- the JPN/PAL soundtrack and the U.S. soundtrack. I am in the camp that prefers the latter. I find the JPN/PAL one to be too goofy and not having as many memorable melodies and songs as the U.S. one. It could also have to do with the fact that I grew up on the U.S. soundtrack. We have numerous cool and soothing to hard and rocking songs like Palmtree Panic Zone (Present), Palmtree Panic Zone (Bad Future), Collision Chaos Zone (Good Future), Stardust Speedway Zone (Good Future), Stardust Speedway Zone (Bad Future), Wacky Workbench Zone (Present), and Special Stage. Overall, a nice soundtrack, though I do like Japan's Palmtree Panic Zone (Present) version.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP)

Ys: The Oath in Felghana was an unexpected surprise and my first encounter with the Ys series, one that I wish to dive into even further after finishing off Felghana. One reason (other than the brilliant action gameplay, of course) is the music, remade and remixed for the PSP. If you didn't like the PSP's music, you could switch to the originals. But why do that when you get wonderful songs like the final boss theme of The Greatest Foe, The Boy's Got Wings, the theme of the clock tower, Sealed Time, dungeons themes like A Searing Struggle, Steeling the Will to Fight, Snare of Darkness, and Be Careful? Combining violin with electric guitar and synth made the PSP version of the Ys: The Oath in Felghana soundtrack amazing to the ears.

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If you somehow missed a previous part of Killer Soundtracks, you can easily get to them through one of the following links:

Killer Soundtracks - My Personal Favorites, Part One
Killer Soundtracks - My Personal Favorites, Part Two 

As for everyone else, what did you think about Part Three's soundtrack and song selections? Give me a holler in the comments section.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - In Like A Lion... Edition

The arrival of a new work week means the arrival of a new installment of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs. What's on tap for this week? We have music from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, and Banjo-Tooie. I'm sure you'd rather listen to the songs for this week, so I will kindly be quiet now!

v71. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS) - Azure Wanderings


A gentle piano melody plays throughout this peaceful piece as our heroine makes her way through Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the Nintendo DS. This was the final game of the DS Castlevania trilogy, and it was the most difficult game of the three with some incredibly challenging boss battles and scenarios. It is my second favorite of the three games with Dawn of Sorrow being my all-time favorite Castlevania game, yes, even beating Symphony of the Night.

v72. de Blob (Wii) - DB 606 (Euphoric)


Are you in the mood for some funk? If you are, then you've arrived at the right place. de Blob was a commercial and critical success on Wii with its titular character painting the town red, green, blue, and whatever other primary and secondary color you can think of. Its sequel did not do so hot sales-wise even though it appeared on every major platform. In fact, it was a commercial failure and was the game that shut down the developer, Blue Tongue. Yet another developer closing thanks to the HD generation. So sad.

v73. Elebits (Wii) - Fancy Some Candy?


The second of two games from Konami on today's edition of the VGMs (Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia being the first), Elebits released within the launch window of the Nintendo Wii, a criminally underrated system with criminally underrated games. The goal of the game was to move around various landscapes and areas, sucking up Elebits to power up a vacuum. This tool would then be able to open up new sections of levels to explore. You had a strict time limit to accomplish your task, so be vigilant and swift in your actions. The composer for the Castlevania series worked on some of the music for Elebits. True story.

v74. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Beware the Forest's Mushrooms


Yoko Shimomura is a fantastic composer, and she is one of the best female video game music artists in the industry. Her catchy melodies have given her praise from players around the world. Her works include Breath of Fire, Kingdom Hearts, and the subject of this VGM volume, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the Super Nintendo. This would be the last game that Squaresoft would put on a Nintendo platform for a looooong time. It wouldn't be until the GameCube's Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles that Square would return to the house that Mario built.

v75. Banjo-Tooie (N64) - Glitter Gulch Mine


Composer Grant Kirkhope has since left Rare (as any level-headed genius would do) to work on new projects for his new employer, but his golden days were with Rare in the Nintendo 64 generation. One of his best soundtracks was Banjo-Kazooie, so he had a lot to prove with its sequel. Let's just say that he lived up to expectations splendidly as evident by the various tracks of Banjo-Tooie. Glitter Gulch Mine harks to times sitting down by the ol' watering hole, playing a harmonica, and strummin' a banjo. Keep up the great work, Mr. Kirkhope, and enjoy your time away from Rare. You've earned it.

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That's a wrap on this week's lovely choice of VGMs. Next week we will be at it again with five more themes from video game history. We'll see you back here in a week, friends!