SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Two in a Row? Why Not?" Edition

What? We're doing two of these SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs segments in two consecutive posts? Why, yes, we are!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs are back on Mondays where they belong! This week we start out with a familiar boss theme from Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. Then we head to the resistance base with Mega Man Zero. Metroid Prime: Hunters delivers a sweet hunter theme while Viewtiful Joe 2 makes sure we don't go off-rails. Finally, Dynasty Warriors Gundam enters into the fray with an awesome theme to wrap things up.

As always, click on the VGM volume name to hear that song. Also, check out the VGM Database for past VGMs featured on this weekly-occurring segment! Now, let's get on to the music!

v1246. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Wii) - Raffaello Battle

Clash on the Big Bridge is the classic Final Fantasy V song represented in the battle against Raffaello. The Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon soundtrack is choco-full of remixes of past Final Fantasy themes, focusing mostly on the first nine mainline Final Fantasy games. This wonderful piano-centric version of Clash on the Big Bridge makes it one of my favorite versions of Nobuo Uematsu's classic theme.

v1247. Mega Man Zero (GBA) - Resistance

With Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 out now on the Nintendo 3DS eShop, it makes sense to look back at one of that game's developer's earlier works. Mega Man Zero on the Game Boy Advance started a new Mega Man franchise, this time starring fan-favorite Zero, though in altered form. The theme Resistance plays at (to the surprise of no-one) the Resistance Base, housing the group that battles against Neo-Arcadia.

v1248. Metroid Prime: Hunters (DS) - Kanden Boss Theme

Metroid Prime: Hunters remains an enjoyable game to play, despite online no longer functioning. Even when it was available, you'd best play with a group of friends, or else suffer the fate of nonstop hackers cheating their way to victory. The single-player campaign wasn't the greatest the Metroid series has seen, but it did offer some practice for you to get used to the controls before hopping online. A fun aspect of this Nintendo DS classic was the various opposing hunters that Samus Aran crossed paths with, such as Kanden, for instance.

v1249. Viewtiful Joe 2 (PS2, GCN) - Railroad Battle

This rocking theme plays during a fast-paced pushcart section through a mine shaft in Viewtiful Joe 2's second level. While the overall game didn't quite hit the same highs that its predecessor did, Viewtiful Joe 2 remains a very fun character-driven action game worthy of your time. The soundtrack is almost as good as the original, which is a high compliment considering how good the first's soundtrack was!

v1250. Dynasty Warriors Gundam (PS3, 360) - Breakthrough in Your Fate

Tying together the mass slayings of enemies in the Dynasty Warriors series with the mecha magnificence of the Gundam anime series, Dynasty Warriors Gundam saw a mishmash of two iconic brands. The first game remains the one that I has the best soundtrack to me, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3's fantastic cel-shaded art style.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - Costume Party Edition

Halloween is this Thursday, and we have a very spook-tacular edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM! Well, not really. There aren't any scary games to speak of. In all honesty, it's just your normal, every week edition. Such games featured this week include Metal Gear Sold 3: Snake Eater, Sonic: Lost World, and Donkey Kong 64. After you've listened to these five tracks, check out our VGM Database for every past VGM entry ever listed.

v491. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2) - Escape From the Fortress

We start things off with some Naked Snake. SuperPhillip Central's favorite of the Metal Gear Solid series is Snake Eater, which debuted on the PlayStation 2, and this generation has seen it ported to multiple platforms in HD and 3D forms. This theme occurs as the Shagohod chases after Snake and Eva as they escape from a military fortress. Hence the name of the song, we guess...

v492. Viewtiful Joe 2 (PS2, GCN) - Happier Ending

One of our deepest regrets is never being able to see the conclusion of the story of Viewtiful Joe 2. The first game ended on a cliffhanger, then so did the second game. It's a shame, as Viewitful Joe is one franchise we'd love to see get revived, but Capcom doesn't seem too interested in doing so. That said, we have fond memories of the soundtrack, such as Happier Ending, the credits theme to Viewtiful Joe 2.

v493. Sonic: Lost World (Wii U, 3DS) - Wonder World

The main theme of Sonic: Lost World, Wonder World brings an uptempo orchestral piece to players on both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. The duo of games have already released elsewhere in the world, such as Europe, but North America will be receiving them tomorrow. Sounds like a perfect time to listen to the game's main theme, no?

v494. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (GCN) - Amidatti, and Eleonor Too

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles was Square's first game on a Nintendo home console since Super Mario RPG, after the fallout between Nintendo and Squaresoft. The game was an action-RPG with an earthy, rustic soundtrack. It's one of our absolute favorites, proving you don't need a sweeping orchestra to deliver a great video game score. Not to say it doesn't hurt, but Kumi Tunioka's compositions for Crystal Chronicles surely didn't need one!

v495. Donkey Kong 64 (N64) - Monkey Smash

Grant Kirkhope delivers another winning soundtrack for a so-so game. Donkey Kong 64 was plenty of times too overwhelming, requiring players to collect essentially everything under the sun just to complete the game. That said, you can't get too angry at the game when you have this happy-go-lucky soundtrack to listen to as you play through the game.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Christmas Eve 2012 Edition

Much like the yearly SuperPhillip Central Best of Awards, selecting songs for the holiday season is a tradition too-- albeit not a tradition that is as long as my awards ceremony. Today on SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs, I have a special edition to share with you. Think of it as your Christmas bonus from yours truly. It is ten winter-themed video game tracks from games like Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Kirby's Epic Yarn, and even some Final Fantasy IX for you RPG buffs out there.

While you enjoy the holidays with your friends and family this season, join the SuperPhillip Central family as we celebrate the season with some SuperPhillip-approved video game songs. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year to you and yours! May your season be merry and bright. With that said, let's get to the music!

v271. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - Ice Cave Chant

The oldest song on this list of ten VGM volumes is from Donkey Kong Country, and it sounds just as good as many of the themes on this list. Although the theme only plays once during Donkey and Diddy Kong's first platforming adventure, the Slipslide Ride level, its impact is astounding. It's an extremely catchy piece full of winter wonder.

v272. Banjo-Kazooie (N64) - Freezeey Peak

A winter wonderland full of angry snowball-chucking snowmen, a family of polar bears in crisis, a bear-hating walrus, cozy cabins, a bright Christmas tree, and a giant snowman with corn cob pipe and yellow and red scarf resting in the center of the level, Freezeey Peak already has that wintry feel to it. The piece that accompanies the level furthers the feeling. Even though a lot of the level wants to see Banjo and Kazooie dead, you can't help but sit back and enjoy Freezeey Peak.

v273. Final Fantasy IX (PS1) - Ice Cavern

Nobuo Uematsu probably composes music in his sleep. That's how much I feel he has mastered his art. Final Fantasy IX features some of my favorite music from the series, and I admire most of the pieces the game uses, despite never having completed the game. Ice Cavern is one of the early dungeons of Final Fantasy IX, and this xylophone-filled piece is what is played during the duration of it.

v274. Tales of Symphonia (GCN) - A Snow Light

The beautiful city of Flanoir is covered in feet of snow. It is a veritable winter wonderland. I cannot help but feel warm and cozy sitting in my room and traversing through the town. With Motoi Sakuraba's A Snow Light playing, the ambiance of Flanoir is only accentuated further. I especially love the piano that plays its descending melodic phrases.

v275. Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - Frosty Village

David Wise should be a familiar fan to Rare fans. He has composed a plethora of soundtracks for the developer such as the Donkey Kong Country trilogy. Frosty Village is a rockin' Christmas-sounding tune, perfect for the wintry village that Diddy and the gang speed through. I have many great memories of Diddy Kong Racing. It's only my favorite kart racer of all time, after all!

v276. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) - Sherbet Land

From one kart racer to another, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is one of my most cherished entries in the Mario Kart franchise. Its dual racer mechanic was fresh and innovative, I loved the track design, and the soundtrack is one of the series's best. Kenta Nagata (who did work on Mario Kart 64 and most recently Mario Kart 7) and Shinobu Tanaka teamed up to compose the cheery music for this game. The end result is tracks like Sherbet Land, that make you hum along and then curse the game for that one blue shell at the final stretch on the final lap.

v277. Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii) - Snowy Fields

Everything about the Snowy Fields track yells "Christmas." We have sleigh bells, regular bells, and a happy disposition. Kirby's Epic Yarn's soundtrack is a terrific one, and it's one of the Wii's best. If you were a music love this generation, you had plenty of opportunities for fantastic music. Kirby's Epic Yarn was just another example of this statement.

v278. Mega Man 8 (PS1, SAT) - Frost Man Stage

The first thing that you generally associate with a level is its aesthetics-- its music, its background, its visuals, and so forth. With Frost Man's level from Mega Man 8, players who go through the level will probably just associate it with one thing, "Jump. Jump. Slide. Slide." The pace of the snowboard sections only quickens, making the computer voice instructing Mega Man on what to do speak even more swiftly.

v279. Paper Mario (N64) - Cold Reception in Shiver City

Two Mario games on the same Favorite VGMs edition? Craziness! Paper Mario was a departure from Squaresoft's Mario RPG, and many consider the game all the better for it. The Paper Mario series is known for its grand humor and timing-based battles. Cold Reception in Shiver City unsurprisingly plays during Shiver City, a frosty town full of talkative penguins.

v280. Viewtiful Joe 2 (PS2, GCN) - Ice Edge (The Polar Movie Land)

If I had but one video game-related wish for this Christmas season, it would be for Capcom to somehow, someway create a new Viewtiful Joe-- a Viewtiful Joe 3. Sure, there was a third game in the series in the form of Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble on the Nintendo DS, but that wasn't of the original's quality. Ice Edge has all the makings of a holiday tune-- sleigh bells and a frosty piano to enjoy.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Post Father's Day Edition

I hope all of your dads had a wonderful Father's Day. And if your fathers aren't with you anymore, hopefully you were reminded of a lot of cherished memories. That said, the sappy stuff is no longer permitted. I have five of my favorite VGMs to share with the SPC faithful today. They come from games such as Diddy Kong Racing, Phantasy Star Online, and Pokemon Red/Blue! Get in your listening to music position and enjoy!

v131. Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - Crescent Island

Not only the theme of the Crescent Island racetrack, but it is also used as the second credits theme of Diddy Kong Racing, my personal favorite kart racer around. It introduced the genre to a well done story mode filled with unique challenges and boss races as well as brought hovercrafts and airplanes into the mix. This was when Rare was at the top of their game with Nintendo. 

v132. Viewtiful Joe 2 (PS2, GCN) - True Heroes

The final boss theme of Viewtiful Joe 2, a slightly worse sequel to the original Viewtiful Joe, True Heroes has our viewtiful heroes facing off against the ultimate evil, striving to steal the power of the Oscars for himself. While Viewtiful Joe was a breath of fresh air with the character's never-before-seen powers and cel shaded glory, the sequel was somewhat more of the same with a new partner in Sexy Sylvia added to the mix. Most people's opinion on the game is that it is inferior to its predecessor, and I am in that camp.

v133. Phantasy Star Online (DC) - Can Still See the Light

A haunting vocal piece in the first half, followed by a rousing orchestral movement at the end, Can Still See the Light is the ending theme of Phantasy Star Online, originally a Dreamcast exclusive before it was ported to the GameCube and Xbox with an added part full of four new areas. I remember spending countless hours bobbing and weaving through perilous foes in search of survival and treasure alike. The upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to PC and the PlayStation Vita, and I'm sure it will continue the tradition of quality the series is known for. (We won't talk about Phantasy Star Universe.)

v134. Kirby's Adventure (NES) - Butter Building (Brawl Version)

Kirby's Adventure was the very first Kirby title for a home console. Kirby had previously been exclusive to the Game Boy. This all-new platforming romp allowed Kirby to gobble up foes and steal their powers. Don't mess with a Kirby scorned or he'll send the pain right back at ya'. Kirby's Adventure would most recently go on the 3DS eShop in the form of a 3D Classics game. Now you can play through the scrolling parallax backgrounds in full stereoscopic 3D. Now that's progress!

v135. Pokemon Red/Blue Versions (GB) - Route 1

Nothing like ending an edition of the favorite VGMs with some retro goodness. And that is exactly what we get a sample of with the Pokemon games that started it all, Red and Blue. Route 1 is the jaunty tune that plays on the path that connects your hometown of Pallet with Virdian City. Catch some Rattata and enjoy the scenery as this song plays. Ah, the simplicity of childhood and a world where the biggest threat to humanity is a group of fashionably dressed Pokemon criminals named Team Rocket...

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We have finished off another week of my favorite VGMs. If you want even more VGM goodness, check out my VGM database where all past VGM tracks are there for your listening and viewing pleasure. Until later, have a terrific week!