10 PlayStation Franchises I'd Like to See Revisited

The PlayStation is home to a great many awesome franchises, and since the very first PlayStation, the brand has accumulated a wealth of exclusive first-party series. Sony as a publisher is not afraid by any stretch of the imagination to take a risk on new IP, and while that is no doubt incredible and worthy of praise, there are a lot of classic franchises in the PlayStation's past that need attending to, as well. From platformer classics to arcade racers, this list of ten PlayStation franchises is full of the ones that I'd love to see Sony return to. Note: The franchises on this list are ones that Sony (for all I know) has rights to, so no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro the Dragon, for instance.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

The idea of a PlayStation crossover akin to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. seemed like a brilliant way to receive millions upon millions of sales. After all, if any publisher outside of Nintendo has enough big franchises to put into an all-star fighter it's Sony. However, the execution of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale left a lot to be desired from most players. The need to perform all-star moves on opponents to score points made the actual fighting seem lacking in comparison. The PlayStation brand also has a sizable amount of characters and franchises to draw from, so the character selection in the finished product didn't excite too much. With a sequel, I'd love to see a new developer at the helm, trying to better understand what makes Super Smash Bros. so successful, even if it's a blatant copy or something more akin to Power Stone, a 3D brawler.

Jak and Daxter

With this next franchise, I don't really mind if Naughty Dog doesn't have a hand in this. After all, the studio turned a lighthearted 3D platforming series into a gritty, tryhard platforming series, so I don't really have as much trust in them as other fans do. In a perfect world, Jak and Daxter would receive the same type of reboot treatment as Ratchet & Clank's upcoming film and game releasing in April. The PlayStation brand already has a third-person shooter/platformer hybrid, so why follow the Jak II route? Instead, a new developer could put their spin on the 3D platformer with colorful worlds, characters who aren't eye-rolling-ly extreme and gritty like Jak II and on, the same humor the series is known for, and huge worlds to explore. Less like Jak II, Jak III, and The Lost Frontier, and more like the original Jak and Daxter.

Wipeout

Nintendo's F-Zero is on indefinite hiatus, and has been for over a decade now. Now, Sony's Wipeout has also careened off course and is in hibernation as well. While there have been similar futuristic racing games from indie developers, nothing comes close for the PlayStation brand than the lightning fast, weapons-filled fun of the Wipeout series. The original developer of the series is no more, but hopefully that doesn't mean that no other developer is able to take control of this blistering fast racing franchise. Just imagine how astonishing a PlayStation 4 Wipeout title would look. The series was already amazing to look at and play on the PS3 and Vita, but can you possibly fathom how the upgrade to the PS4 would be? Make it so, Sony!

Sly Cooper

The last time we visited the world of Sly Cooper it was on the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. That game ended on a cliffhanger, and I'd definitely like to see the conclusion to it. Much like Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper and his merry band of thieves are receiving their own full feature film, though with a much altered art style. Whether the cliffhanger from Thieves in Time will be resolved or not is unknown. It does make sense for a game tie-in to release around the time of the movie, again like Ratchet & Clank. Whatever happens, Sly Cooper deserves another chance to shine, and the PlayStation 4 can never have too many 3D platformers, a genre sorely lacking in gaming these days.

Ape Escape

Ape Escape was a cult classic series on the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PSP. On the PS3 it received a PS Move-enabled title that was more of tease of what could have been than a real game that fans of the franchise wanted. Ape Escape as a series generally has players roaming around levels, searching for monkeys, and using a variety of tactics to catch them, whether stealthily sneaking up behind them or chasing them down and nabbing them with a net. After a decade of waiting for a successor to the series, Ape Escape fans like myself are chomping at the bit for a new sequel that plays like the traditional games. Until then, I guess we can just catch monkeys in gorgeous HD in our dreams.

MediEvil

Like some franchises on this list, Sony hasn't completely forgotten about these games, as Sir Daniel Fortesque, leading skeleton in the MediEvil franchise, had an appearance in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. However, since his last starring role in 2005 in the re-imagining of the original game for the PSP, MediEvil: Resurrection, Sir Daniel hasn't had much to get excited about, nor his fans. MediEvil might have been resurrected on the PSP, but since then, the series has stayed dead and buried. The series was known for its quirky humor, ghastly enemies, clever puzzles, and hack-and-slash combat. It'd be quite the treat to see Sony revive this classic PlayStation series, as it was one of the first that allowed the PlayStation brand to make its mark on gaming.

ModNation Racers

Essentially combining the intense arcade racing action of the Mario Kart series with the customization and creation aspects of the LittleBigPlanet series, ModNation Racers allowed players to craft their own racers, vehicles, and tracks. While the tools aren't as sophisticated or as convoluted as LittleBigPlanet's, ModNation Racers did offer a multitude of creative tools to let players make some truly wondrous creations. The actual racing was top notch and balanced, not having the same item spam that more recent Mario Karts have been known for. Sony's great selling console is in desperate need of an excellent cartoon-y mascot racer, and ModNation Racers is the perfect series to take the checkered flag.

Resistance

I'm one of those outsiders who considers Resistance to be Sony's superior first-person shooter, over Killzone. While journalists and bloggers were quick to label Killzone as the Halo-killer and whatnot, Insomniac's Resistance series gave me more enjoyment than before, something I'm obviously in the minority on. Regardless, the lore of the Resistance series, its level design, and even its multiplayer enthused me more with each entry, save for the Vita versions of both Resistance and Killzone, which was the only time I thought Killzone was easily the better of the two games at the time (to be fair, Killzone: Mercenary IS one of my favorite FPS of all time). I'd love for either Insomniac or another developer in Sony's control to give Resistance another chance. This might be a fool's wish, however, as both Resistance 3 and the Vita's Burning Skies did little sales-wise to give much in the way of encouragement.

Puppeteer 

This PS3 game had the misfortune of releasing during the same time period as the PS4's launch, making it grossly overlooked by pretty much everyone but a small few. Those of us who got to play Puppeteer found a charming, spirited platforming adventure that played out like a theatre production. Sure, the story oftentimes got in the way of the gameplay, but that's always something that could be fixed with a sequel. Heck, I'd even be satisfied with a remaster, giving this under-appreciated PS3 game a second chance in the sun. Whatever the case may be as to how Puppeteer is once again put on PlayStation, I hope it's given some attention this time around.

Wild Arms

This final PlayStation franchise pick that hasn't seen the light of day in a while is a science-fiction RPG series that takes place in the Wild West, Wild Arms. The signature ARMs are powerful weapons that carry a stigma to them, reminding the people of Filgaia of mysterious and ancient technology of war. Wild Arms has since seen six entries since its debut in 1996. The most recent entry is the PlayStation Portable Wild Arms XF, which was an atypical game in the series, being a tactical RPG rather than a turn-based one. It would be wonderful to see Wild Arms return to the PlayStation with a new title. The combination of sci-fi and the Wild West is a clever one, and it would further boost the PS4's increasing lineup of JRPGs.

First Things First: Best Openings in Gaming - Part One

Earlier in the week we took a look at some great credits sequences in games. To wrap up the work week here at SuperPhillip Central, there is a completely new series of articles that makes the rounds. The best games have a terrific opening to hook players into playing them. This new series of articles delves into the absolute best openings ever seen in gaming history. These can be completely cutscenes or they can be interactive. For part one of this list, we'll be dealing with the former. Click on the game name to watch the opening mentioned.

Final Fantasy VIII (PS1)

One of the most intense openings on this first part of this list, Final Fantasy VIII's opening is an epic menagerie of pulse-pounding scenes and imagery. From the beginning with the words protagonists and love interests Squall and Rinoa say to one another later in the game to the sensational battle of blades between Squall and Seifer which leads to both men receiving permanent scars on their faces, the opening of Final Fantasy VIII ups the pageantry and drama immensely. This is all while the excellent Nobuo Uematsu composed vocal theme Liberi Fatali plays. It all adds up to an unforgettable opening in an otherwise flawed, but still enjoyable, Final Fantasy game.

Chrono Cross (PS1)

"What was the start of this? When did the cogs of fate begin to turn? Perhaps it is impossible to grasp that answer now, From deep within the flow of time..." And with those words do the slow and steady start of Chrono Cross' opening begins. After the poetic words wrap up, the instruments and rhythm kick in, as do the gorgeous visuals. Through a series of brief glimpses at events that happen throughout the game, the icing on this enticing cake is Yasunori Mitsuda's brilliant composition, Time's Scar, also known as Scars of Time in some parts of the net. Chrono Cross isn't a perfect game, but if the quality of the title was as good as the opening throughout, it certainly would have been.

Wild ARMs (PS1)

Wrapping up our look at original PlayStation game openings, we have Mediavision's Wild ARMs opening to enjoy. This opening is unlike the prior two as it is devised up of sleek and stylish anime visuals instead of computer-generated graphics. The animation is top-notch, and the theme song heard invokes memories of the Old West, fitting for Wild ARMs' Western world mixed with sci-fi. The opening shows interactions between all three main characters of the game, Rudy, our silent protagonist; Jack, our treasure hunter; and Cecilia, our magic user. The combination of glorious anime visuals, awesome imagery, and sublime music makes for a memorable opening.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN)

We move away from serious openings to something more comical with this upcoming pair of Mario sports title openings for the GameCube. The first of which is Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, colorful and great playing arcade golf game featuring the lovable Mushroom Kingdom cast. This opening shows Wario and Waluigi up to know good in very hilarious ways. Whether they're putting opponents to sleep in how long they take to sink a putt to being chased by Bowser due to hitting him with a stray drive, this dastardly duo definitely gets their just desserts in this incredibly humorous opening. Certainly makes the effort (or lack thereof) that went into Camelot's latest sports title, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash look all the more disappointing.

Mario Power Tennis (GCN)

Wario and Waluigi just don't know when to quit, do they? After earning their comeuppance in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour's opening, the two are at it again in the opening of Mario Power Tennis. Angry over their initial loss to the team of Mario and Luigi, Wario and Waluigi add some graffiti to the Mario Bros' tournament picture, resulting in getting some undesired attention by some police robots. The robots humorously chase Wario and Waluigi all around the Peach Dome before the two escape by entering a door. This door leads them to Bowser's secret training room where the King of the Koopas put the pair through the wringer. Through the torturous training, Wario and Waluigi feel strong enough to take on Mario and Luigi. However, instead of a traditional tennis match, the pair launch Bob-Ombs from a tennis ball shooter at the Mario Bros. All heck breaks loose with explosions everywhere, including one that destroys Bowser's flying blimp and Wario and Waluigi in the process. The comedy is rich in Mario Power Tennis, and the game itself is one of the better ones of the series.

Mega Man 2 (NES)

Sometimes all you need is some simplicity to have a memorable and awesome opening. That's at least the case with Mega Man 2's opening. It tells the tale of how Dr. Wily was defeated in the first game, and how he plans his revenge through creating eight of his own Robot Masters. What follows is the screen rising upward along the side of a tall building. At the very top stands Mega Man against the night sky, hair blowing in the wind. The riveting title music plays, energizing players to go on a new adventure with the Blue Bomber.

The Top 50 Game Soundtracks of All Time - #10-1

Here we are! After four previous weeks of ten of what I consider the best gaming soundtracks, we have arrived at the final night! This list will feature numbers 10-1 on the top 50 game soundtracks of all time. As usual, there are but two rules that I follow: 1) The music must not be mostly made up of licensed tracks, and 2) I must have played the games in some extended capacity.

Before we get to the top ten, here are links from the past four weeks to get everyone up to speed!

Check out entries #50-41 here.
Check out entries #40-31 here.
Check out entries #30-21 here.
Check out entries #20-11 here.

And now on to the final ten!

10) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

We kick this final list of ten game soundtracks off the same way we did for the past two weeks-- with a Legend of Zelda game. A remarkable game, and one of my all-time faves, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past sports a soundtrack full of wholly memorable themes that resonate with players and remain some of the greatest classic songs in video game history. Koji Kondo deserves nothing but immense praise for his fantastic work on this game's soundtrack.

Time of the Falling Rain

Hyrule Castle

Hyrule Field Main Theme

Sanctuary Dungeon

The Dark World

9) Wild Arms (PS1)

Michiko Naruke composed the music to this early PlayStation RPG. Wild Arms consists of rare orchestral soundtracks at special scenes during the game, while everything else is based off synth. What this combination brings is a high amount of memorable themes, emotional songs, and unforgettable tracks to anyone who plays this very unique Wild West RPG.

Into the Wilderness

Funeral March

Hope

Adlehyde Castle

Battle: Mother

8) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PC, PSP)

Falcom's sound team is one of gaming's best, offering amazing music that mixes hard rock, heavy metal, and classical music to create a sensational sound. Ys: The Oath in Felghana is what I consider the best of the bunch when it comes to Falcom's work. Everything is memorable, all is basically catchy, and no note is wasted when it comes to this blissful soundtrack.

Trading Town of Redmont

The Boy's Got Wings

Be Careful

Steeling the Will to Fight

Sealed Time

7) Mega Man X (SNES)

Another Super Nintendo soundtrack that is full of tremendous music, Mega Man X is another instance of being one of my favorite games of all time, so it makes sense that it would show up somewhere near the top of my list. The killer themes heard throughout the action-oriented Mega Man X deliver thrills and chills as Mega Man X busts through Maverick stages, eliminating threats, and saving all human and reploid-kind.

Central Highway (Opening Stage)

Flame Mammoth

Storm Eagle

Armored Armadillo

Sigma's Palace 1 

6) Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)

A soundtrack made up of a menagerie of sensational Japanese game music composers, such as Motoi Sakuraba, Yasunori Mitsuda, and Yuzo Koshiro, for starters, Kid Icarus: Uprising blew me away with its beyond stellar soundtrack, action-oriented tracks, orchestrated glory, and catchy motifs. It's a soundtrack that heightens the game, making the entire package something truly very special.

The Return of Palutena

Boss Fight 1

Magnus's Theme

The Reaper's Line of Sight

The Seafloor Palace

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

David Wise is some kind of wizard as his Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest soundtrack shows. The ability to compose such great sounding music from the Super Nintendo's modest sound card is absolutely amazing and still astounds me to this day. Though all the technological prowess and mastery means nothing if the songs aren't catchy and memorable. Thankfully, with DKC2, this is no issue whatsoever as evident by the enormous collection of terrific music that comes from the game.

Lockjaw's Saga

Snakey Chantey

Flight of the Zinger

Hot-Head Bop

Stickerbush Symphony

4) Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

Motoi Sakuraba is a wonderful game music composer, and I absolutely adore his Star Ocean: The Second Story soundtrack. The synth samples provided in the soundtrack give off a nice warm feeling that is hard to explain unless you listen to several songs of the score. It fills me with such happiness listening to the various themes, even those that aren't meant to be so happy sounding.

The Venerable Forest

Pure a Stream

Shower of Blossoms

Walk Over

Dynamite

3) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Mario entered the seventh generation in style with an otherworldly 3D platformer that took the Super Mario series to new heights and introduced a masterful orchestral score to most of the game. While Super Mario Galaxy 2 has more quantity, Super Mario Galaxy has more quality with its smaller amount of themes. It's without a doubt my favorite Super Mario soundtrack to date.

Star Festival

Good Egg Galaxy

Space Junk Galaxy

Battlerock Galaxy

Gusty Garden Galaxy

2) Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

Nobuo Uematsu is one of my favorite video game music composers. He's so consistent that it's hard to find a bad soundtrack he has done-- if such a thing exists. It's more so hard to find a soundtrack that I could pick as his best. Well, I think I have done so with my selection of Final Fantasy VI (aka Final Fantasy III on the SNES). So many nostalgic moments come calling when the songs and themes of this soundtrack are played. Whether it's exploring a town, participating in the iconic opera scene, or facing a powerful boss, Final Fantasy VI has a tremendous amount of great themes in it.

Locke

The Phantom Forest

Kids Run Through the City

Celes

Terra

1) Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)

Yes, the Final Fantasy series holds the top two spots on my list due to their wonderful quality and quantity of excellent tracks. There isn't a song that is wasted on either soundtrack, and given how many there are total, that is one heck of an impressive feat. Final Fantasy Tactics holds some of my most precious gaming memories, and it's because of the soundtrack that backs these moments that makes it all the more special. The music sets the dramatic and action-packed tone for the game, and for all of these reasons it is why I have selected Final Fantasy Tactics as the best gaming soundtrack of all time.

Character Introductions

Trisection

Decisive Battle

Ovelia's Theme

Apoplexy 

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Now that you've witnessed and gone through each of my greatest soundtrack selections, what do you think? What would you add to the list? Let your voice be heard in the comments section below!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Park Your Keister, It's the Day After Easter, Meister" Edition

Easter Sunday was yesterday, so it only makes sense to follow that up with a Monday edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs that features classic RPG and action-adventure games. Why does it make sense? Okay, you got me. It really doesn't. I was just looking for any excuse to bring out some nostalgia to SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. This week's list of games starts big with Chrono Trigger, continues with Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, moves on to Breath of Fire II, moves to the Sony side of the spectrum with Wild ARMs, and concludes with a heartfelt theme from Alundra. Let's get to the music!

v846. Chrono Trigger (SNES) - Frog's Theme

One of the more popular party members to join Chrono's cause in the Super Nintendo RPG classic Chrono Trigger is Frog. His theme has a majestic sound to it, as well as a Far Eastern flavor. It's the perfect song to get ready for an epic battle against enemies both small and large!

v847. Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES) - Town of Forest

Like you'll hear with the next VGM volume, Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest's Town of Forest gives a great sense of homeliness. It's a warm theme thanks to the warm synth that is played that invites you to stay in the safe boundaries of its town, chat with the locals, and upgrade your equipment.

v848. Breath of Fire II (SNES, GBA) - My Home Sweet Home

This theme is played in the majority of towns in Breath of Fire II. It says something to the longevity of My Home Sweet Home that you can hear it so much (and you will hear it so much in the game) and still never grow tired of it. It's a theme that brings a sense of home and comfort every time it is heard in the rough and dangerous world of Breath of Fire II.

v849. Wild ARMs (PS1) - Adlehyde Castle

Wild ARMs is one of my favorite RPG soundtracks of all time. It is in the same league as Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy Tactics, Star Ocean: The Second Story, and Xenogears to me. Part of that is the myriad of memorable themes and leitmotifs that come from the soundtrack, including this familiar theme from Adlehyde Castle. Michiko Naruke did a fantastic job with this soundtrack.

v850. Alundra (PS1) - The Shrine of the Lake

A heavily piano-centric piece from Alundra, essentially Sony's response to The Legend of Zelda series, The Shrine of the Lake is a beautiful, magical piece of music that evokes an emotional feeling with its motif and accompaniment. Almost makes you want to relive Alundra if you've already played it, doesn't it? Heck, I'm going to relive it now!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - A Sane Oasis in the Desert of Crazy Edition

I find it hard to care about writing about games when there's something much more infuriating happening about 15-20 miles away from my present location. I find it even harder to care about stupid little "outrages" like Ubisoft not pledging any more "mature-rated" content to Nintendo systems or how Samus Aran is wearing too skimpy of an outfit when there's far more important crap happening nearby. When you have an incident like the one in Ferguson occurring so close to you, it really puts the trivial garbage into perspective.

That said, I don't want to completely get consumed by what's happening near my location, 'else I'll lose what little is left of my mind. Therefore, here's SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, bringing you and most importantly me, some video game tunes, something always sane in this always crazy world. This week's edition features music from Wild Arms, Nier, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

v686. Wild Arms (PS1) - Into the Wilderness

This plays during the pre-title cutscene in the original Wild Arms for the PlayStation. Of all the RPG franchises that have since laid dormant for a good while, one of the top series that I'd love to see make a return to a PlayStation home console is Wild Arms.

v687. Nier (PS3, 360) - Song of the Ancients Devola

To those who have played Nier, one of the most interesting and memorable parts of the game is the soundtrack, which is sensational. A lot of themes have a rustic feel to it or are supported by vocals. Coincidentally enough, both Nier themes represented on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs have vocals of the female variety.

v688. Ragnarok Odyssey (PS3, Vita) - The Shining Plains

Ragnarok Odyssey's soundtrack was composed by Kumi Tanioka, who assisted in creating one of my favorite soundtracks, the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles soundtrack for the Nintendo GameCube. Ragnarok Odyssey is a more beginner-friendly Monster Hunter clone that received an expansion version in the form of Ragnarok Odyssey ACE. The latter will be the subject of a review later this week.

v689. Beyond Good and Evil (PS2, GCN, XBX) - Home Sweet Home

We're in an industry where old gameplay is masked as new IPs all the time. Big publishers release new franchises, yet these new franchises feel exactly like the old crap being released in the first place. Beyond Good and Evil was released at a time where budgets weren't as wild, creativity wasn't limited to mostly indies (whom hardly even existed back then), and new IPs were all about new gameplay and not just new characters and settings.

v690. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS) - Lorule Castle

I did not expect to be as blown away with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds as I was. The amount of freedom was rare for a modern-day Zelda game, the world was familiar yet fresh enough to feel great to explore, and the wall merge mechanic was absolutely awesome. And oh, my Hylia, the music! This theme, Lorule Castle, builds layer upon layer as each segment of the final dungeon is completed.

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

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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.

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (90-81)

We know it's E3 week, but that isn't stopping us from continuing our list of favorite games!

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 have 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. Let's get to the countdown!

90) Ultimate Spider-Man (PS2, GCN, XBX)

Based in the universe of the comic book of the same name, Ultimate Spider-Man distinguished itself from its contemporaries by possessing an authentic cel-shaded art style that looked like something lifted from a comic book. The game was a free-roaming open world action game where players switched off between assuming the roles of Spider-Man and later Venom. Through accomplishing city goals, players progressed through the game's storyline, loosely tying into the comic book series. Ultimate Spider-Man is not just an excellent Spider-Man game or a great looker, but it is an excellent game in general.

89) LEGO City Undercover (Wii U)

From one open world game to another, take on the role of Chase McCain, ace cop who has returned to LEGO City to help track down criminal mastermind Rex Fury. LEGO City was an open world game where there was literally something to do on every block and street corner, whether it was participating in a race, performing platforming feats of incredible prowess, or collecting a hidden trinket. LEGO City Undercover was a massive game with loads of charm, a terrific sense of humor about it, and quite honestly one of our favorite open worlds in any game. This was a killer app for us with regards to the Wii U, and if more people get the chance to play it, the better off the gaming world will be!

88) Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II (GCN)

Phil remembers lining up outside his local Toys 'R Us on a cold November morning, conversing with other prospective GameCube owners. He got three games once the doors opened: Luigi's Mansion, Madden NFL 02 (blech), and this game, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II. As he puts it, the game made you feel like you were right inside the cockpit of an X-Wing, Y-Wing, or Snowspeeder. Being able to play and interact with scenarios from the original trilogy made for some awesome gaming moments. Heck, the first mission put you right into the action as you ran along the Death Star trench, aiming to blow that baby up. Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II still looks phenomenal to this day, and we can't help but pour one out for Factor 5.

87) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP, PC)

The next game on this list was a remake of a Super Nintendo title, Ys III: Wanderers of Ys. With a greater focus on action rather than item and equipment management, Ys: The Oath in Felghana brought with it lots of monsters and enemies for Adol to slice and dice with his sword, as well as an updated presentation, including graphics, sound, and story. This was our first foray into the Ys series, and it sparked our interest in the rest of the games in this storied franchise. From dungeons full of platforming peril to booby trapped corridors, Ys: The Oath in Felghana focused on combat, exploration, and discovery to create one killer gameplay combination.

86) Wild ARMS (PS1)

An RPG series exclusive to PlayStation platforms, the Wild ARMS series takes new tech into an Old West environment for an intriguing mix. The original Wild ARMS was one of the first PlayStation RPGs to have a full 3D battle system, albeit a bit ugly now. The hero Rudy and his friends could utilize tools in the game world to solve puzzles to progress in the game and to reach optional areas. The amount of optional content in the game, whether it be hidden bosses or secret dungeons, was immense. Wild ARMS may seem like a relic compared to more contemporary RPGs, but it is still a classic in every sense of the word.

85) Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA)

It was about time Luigi got his name on a game title! That was exactly what happened with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the first in the Mario & Luigi series (the fourth installment is releasing on the Nintendo 3DS this August). Like all other Mario RPGs, Superstar Saga featured a comedic story, whimsical characters (one particular character had fury), and a timing-based battle system to make for a game that kept players on their proverbial toes. Controlling both plumbers on the various maps of the game set up some fun puzzles and platforming to enrich the experience even further. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga set itself apart from past Mario RPG games fantastically, and we eagerly await Dream Team this August because of it.

84) Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN)

Back in the day, when there were no message boards to wage fanboy wars on, the original console wars took place on playgrounds across the world, where kids would argue who was best: Nintendo or SEGA. Up until 1991, SEGA did not really have a hot selling mascot character to call its own. That was until the Blue Blur, Sonic the Hedgehog, blazed a trail on the SEGA Genesis with his "blast processing" power (i.e. marketing mumbo jumbo). The original Sonic the Hedgehog was made up of six differently themed zones, each with three acts. The game was a mixture of super fast speeds and slower, more meticulous platforming gameplay (e.g. the Marble Zone and Labyrinth Zone). Not only is Sonic the Hedgehog on this list because of its classic status, but it's also here because it is still a tremendous game.

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

Our favorite Mario RPG is Mario's very first run-in with the genre, courtesy of a partnership between Nintendo and Squaresoft (now Square Enix). Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars introduced a wide cast of characters into the Mushroom Kingdom, a relatively deep story (in comparison to most Mario games), a timing-based battle system, and prerendered graphics to make a memorable RPG experience. There were worries that turning the Mario series into an RPG would take away the portly plumber's identity, but those were put to bed by all of the jumping, coin collecting, nods to the series, and platforming that Super Mario RPG contained.

82) Resident Evil (GCN)

Don't pee your pants! Wait. We're saying that for the wrong Resident Evil. (If you don't get the reference, don't worry about it.) During the PlayStation 2 generation, for some unexpected reason, the Resident Evil franchise shifted from the PlayStation to the GameCube. The GameCube saw an abundance of past titles from the series, as well as Resident Evil 4 and this one, a remake of the original PS1 classic. Yes, tank controls were still in fashion, but perhaps that was what made the game even more horrifying and gave us a large sense of helplessness. The updated graphics, additional locales, richer story, and scarier scares all add up to one unforgettable survival-horror experience. Permission to pee pants, Shinji Mikami!

81) Okami (Multi)

For such a popular and well regarded series, there have not been too many games that are inspired and take many elements from The Legend of Zelda series. Clover Studios (R.I.P.) decided to take inspiration from Nintendo's historic action-adventure series and create their own personal touch to it. The final result was Okami, where players controlled a great spirit in the form of a wolf. Like Ultimate Spider-Man, Okami featured a cel-shaded art style, though this game looked like a watercolor painting come to life as opposed to a comic book. Following the lead of The Legend of Zelda, Okami contained a wide range of combat, puzzles, and exploration to make for a magical quest. Perhaps our only beef with the great Okami is that the game sort of drags on a bit too long for our liking.

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Be here next Wednesday we SuperPhillip Central counts down games 80-71 of our Top 100 Games of All Time list! See you later!