I happened to really enjoy the most recent Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game, Gates to Infinity. That game WAS my first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, so I was more lenient to it than those who had played previous entries. Regardless, the latest in the series, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon hits the Nintendo 3DS on November 20, offering every current Pokemon known to man, woman, and trainer.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Monday, November 9, 2015
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Remember the Ninth of November Edition
Yes! Do indeed remember the ninth of November, as it is the day that SuperPhillip Central enters its second batch of 1,000 VGM volumes! Sure, we might not realistically make it to 2,000, but we can have fun trying! We kick this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs off with music from Command & Conquer: Red Alert. We then go back and forth through time with Final Fantasy XIII-2. Next up is Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All. Concluding this edition of the VGMs is music from The Wonderful 101.
As you can see, we have quite the lineup this week! Check out the past 1,000 VGM volumes with the VGM Database. With all the exposition out of the way, let's get to the music!
v1001. Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC) - Hell March
Starting the second set of 1,000 VGM volumes (who knows if SuperPhillip Central will make it to 2,000 VGM volumes or not, realistically) is a song from a series that hasn't had any representation on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs yet... until now. It's Command & Conquer, and it's the highly popular Red Alert game that we take this musical example from. Rock on, cadets. Rock on!
v1002. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 360) - Caius's Theme
Caius is the main villain within Final Fantasy XIII-2, which was a marked improvement over the original Final Fantasy XIII. One thing that was high quality in the latter that was still present in XIII-2 was the extraordinary soundtrack, featuring more vocal themes than any preceding Final Fantasy game around. It was an exemplary sounding score to go with an improved game over FFXIII.
v1003. Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN) - Miror B Battle
Miror B returns! He was originally found in the campaign of Pokemon Colosseum, and then he made a second appearance within the world of Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness. Many desire a full fledged Pokemon game on a console similar to the adventure modes of both GameCube Pokemon Colosseum-styled games. Would it work? Who knows! All we should care about at the moment is diggin' this wacky tune!
v1004. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All (DS) - Pursuit ~ Cornered (2002)
When this theme from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All plays, you just KNOW stuff is about to go down! Crack shot lawyer Phoenix Wright is at the cusp of getting a confession out of a perp who is about to perjure themselves into next week. It's a tense theme and a super catchy one for the courtroom drama that is about to unfold.
v1005. The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) - Tables Turn
The Wonderful 101 prepare for battle against the alien forces that threaten the planet Earth's way of life. Unite form! The Wonderful 101 is a Platinum Games developed treat, under the helm of Hideki Kamiya (the original Bayonetta, Okami, Viewtiful Joe, and more). If you're looking for an atypical character action game, look no further than the high intensity of the Wii U's The Wonderful 101!
As you can see, we have quite the lineup this week! Check out the past 1,000 VGM volumes with the VGM Database. With all the exposition out of the way, let's get to the music!
v1001. Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC) - Hell March
Starting the second set of 1,000 VGM volumes (who knows if SuperPhillip Central will make it to 2,000 VGM volumes or not, realistically) is a song from a series that hasn't had any representation on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs yet... until now. It's Command & Conquer, and it's the highly popular Red Alert game that we take this musical example from. Rock on, cadets. Rock on!
v1002. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 360) - Caius's Theme
Caius is the main villain within Final Fantasy XIII-2, which was a marked improvement over the original Final Fantasy XIII. One thing that was high quality in the latter that was still present in XIII-2 was the extraordinary soundtrack, featuring more vocal themes than any preceding Final Fantasy game around. It was an exemplary sounding score to go with an improved game over FFXIII.
v1003. Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN) - Miror B Battle
Miror B returns! He was originally found in the campaign of Pokemon Colosseum, and then he made a second appearance within the world of Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness. Many desire a full fledged Pokemon game on a console similar to the adventure modes of both GameCube Pokemon Colosseum-styled games. Would it work? Who knows! All we should care about at the moment is diggin' this wacky tune!
v1004. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All (DS) - Pursuit ~ Cornered (2002)
When this theme from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All plays, you just KNOW stuff is about to go down! Crack shot lawyer Phoenix Wright is at the cusp of getting a confession out of a perp who is about to perjure themselves into next week. It's a tense theme and a super catchy one for the courtroom drama that is about to unfold.
v1005. The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) - Tables Turn
The Wonderful 101 prepare for battle against the alien forces that threaten the planet Earth's way of life. Unite form! The Wonderful 101 is a Platinum Games developed treat, under the helm of Hideki Kamiya (the original Bayonetta, Okami, Viewtiful Joe, and more). If you're looking for an atypical character action game, look no further than the high intensity of the Wii U's The Wonderful 101!
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Top Five Vita Games That Deserve A Second Chance on the PS4
Obviously original titles are much more welcomed to a system than remastered ones, but the PlayStation Vita's software is in a precarious position, as many in the West have overlooked the system's sensational offerings. It only makes sense, then, that if former Vita-exclusive games like Tearaway and Gravity Rush can get a second chance to shine on the PlayStation 4, then why can't others? Not only would these titles be great additions to the PS4 lineup, but they would have a better shot of selling. They might also be quite easy to port over, even if just released digitally like Gravity Rush is here in North America. It is with this list that SuperPhillip Central details five PlayStation Vita offerings we'd like to see come to the PS4 for a second chance in the spotlight.
5) Freedom Wars
Selling remarkably well in Japan, Freedom Wars has already seen success in one country. However, the game hasn't seen the same level of success in the West. This is why for this first game on SuperPhillip Central's list I think Freedom Wars should gain another chance to shine, this time on the PlayStation 4. What would bolster the community online already would be cross-play with PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4 players, offering a whole new sector of players to jump in and enjoy the game with the already active player base. It's no question that the PlayStation Vita is as niche as niche can be here in the West, so getting Freedom Wars on the PlayStation 4 would get this late release on the system in more hands, and that can only be good. Then again, we're hardly sales analysts here.
4) Wipeout 2048
The final Wipeout game before SCE Liverpool was shuttered, Wipeout 2048 was a technical showcase of the PlayStation Vita's horsepower when it released as a launch title for the system several years ago. The game excels in fast speeds, amazing, high-intensity courses full of boost pads and shortcuts, strong-powered weaponry, and online that is a blast to play. The solo campaign delivers an obscene of content with different modes across the game's awesomely design tracks, too. While SCE Liverpool is indeed no more, the studio's legacy and final title could be celebrated on the PlayStation 4 with a release. After all, there is hole not just in the PS4 library, but the current gen library as well, for a futuristic, fast-paced racer that gets the adrenaline pumping like nothing else.
3) LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
LittleBigPlanet 3 was a massive disappointment to SuperPhillip Central. We kept thinking it would improve from the glitchy, bug-ridden mess it was, but months later, it's still not up to snuff. Meanwhile, you have one of the best entries of the LittleBigPlanet series sitting on the PlayStation Vita, and since many don't own the system, it didn't get anywhere near the acclaim it deserves. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita offers many PlayStation Vita hardware-exclusive controls, but as we saw with Tearaway: Unfolded, also from a series that Media Molecule created, the controls can be executed with the PlayStation 4 controller in mind, creating an experience that would definitely be an improvement over what we saw with LittleBigPlanet 3!
2) Killzone: Mercenary
The number two game on SuperPhillip Central's list is one that I enjoyed immensely, and it is certainly one of my favorite games on the PlayStation Vita, despite not really being a fan of the Killzone franchise itself. Killzone: Mercenary may have but nine missions, but these are so replay-able because you can opt to do different objectives. For instance, the demolition objectives may have you blowing up a tank that in the vanilla mission all you had to do was avoid it. These objectives open the levels up immensely, giving you a different experience each time. Most of us have come to the conclusion that the PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall was a bit of a disappointment. What better way to bring the series back to a high note (other than a higher quality new installment, of course) than a remastering of what many fans consider an excellent entry in the Killzone franchise, an overlooked gem because of the system it was released on, for sure.
1) Uncharted: Golden Abyss
It was disappointing when this number one game on this list didn't get to appear in The Nathan Drake Collection that was released early last month on the PlayStation 4. Even if it were just released as a digital release, much like when Ratchet: Deadlocked as was released digitally when the Ratchet & Clank Collection came out for retail in PAL territories. Regardless, Sony Bend's effort with Uncharted: Golden Abyss is highly impressive, but unfortunately, being on the Vita, not as many people as Sony would have liked played it. A second chance on the PlayStation 4, if but a digital release, would be a great way to play the entire Uncharted series of games on one system. Sounds like a good idea to me.
5) Freedom Wars
Selling remarkably well in Japan, Freedom Wars has already seen success in one country. However, the game hasn't seen the same level of success in the West. This is why for this first game on SuperPhillip Central's list I think Freedom Wars should gain another chance to shine, this time on the PlayStation 4. What would bolster the community online already would be cross-play with PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4 players, offering a whole new sector of players to jump in and enjoy the game with the already active player base. It's no question that the PlayStation Vita is as niche as niche can be here in the West, so getting Freedom Wars on the PlayStation 4 would get this late release on the system in more hands, and that can only be good. Then again, we're hardly sales analysts here.
4) Wipeout 2048
The final Wipeout game before SCE Liverpool was shuttered, Wipeout 2048 was a technical showcase of the PlayStation Vita's horsepower when it released as a launch title for the system several years ago. The game excels in fast speeds, amazing, high-intensity courses full of boost pads and shortcuts, strong-powered weaponry, and online that is a blast to play. The solo campaign delivers an obscene of content with different modes across the game's awesomely design tracks, too. While SCE Liverpool is indeed no more, the studio's legacy and final title could be celebrated on the PlayStation 4 with a release. After all, there is hole not just in the PS4 library, but the current gen library as well, for a futuristic, fast-paced racer that gets the adrenaline pumping like nothing else.
3) LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
LittleBigPlanet 3 was a massive disappointment to SuperPhillip Central. We kept thinking it would improve from the glitchy, bug-ridden mess it was, but months later, it's still not up to snuff. Meanwhile, you have one of the best entries of the LittleBigPlanet series sitting on the PlayStation Vita, and since many don't own the system, it didn't get anywhere near the acclaim it deserves. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita offers many PlayStation Vita hardware-exclusive controls, but as we saw with Tearaway: Unfolded, also from a series that Media Molecule created, the controls can be executed with the PlayStation 4 controller in mind, creating an experience that would definitely be an improvement over what we saw with LittleBigPlanet 3!
2) Killzone: Mercenary
The number two game on SuperPhillip Central's list is one that I enjoyed immensely, and it is certainly one of my favorite games on the PlayStation Vita, despite not really being a fan of the Killzone franchise itself. Killzone: Mercenary may have but nine missions, but these are so replay-able because you can opt to do different objectives. For instance, the demolition objectives may have you blowing up a tank that in the vanilla mission all you had to do was avoid it. These objectives open the levels up immensely, giving you a different experience each time. Most of us have come to the conclusion that the PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall was a bit of a disappointment. What better way to bring the series back to a high note (other than a higher quality new installment, of course) than a remastering of what many fans consider an excellent entry in the Killzone franchise, an overlooked gem because of the system it was released on, for sure.
1) Uncharted: Golden Abyss
It was disappointing when this number one game on this list didn't get to appear in The Nathan Drake Collection that was released early last month on the PlayStation 4. Even if it were just released as a digital release, much like when Ratchet: Deadlocked as was released digitally when the Ratchet & Clank Collection came out for retail in PAL territories. Regardless, Sony Bend's effort with Uncharted: Golden Abyss is highly impressive, but unfortunately, being on the Vita, not as many people as Sony would have liked played it. A second chance on the PlayStation 4, if but a digital release, would be a great way to play the entire Uncharted series of games on one system. Sounds like a good idea to me.
Monday, November 2, 2015
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - 1,000 Reasons to Celebrate Edition
It's a very special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs this week! We celebrate with our 1,000th VGM volume! Leading the celebration is a fantastic final boss theme from Radiant Historia. Then we delve into the feudal fairy tale of Okami, have our drinks shaken and not stirred with James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, and brave one of Bowser's strongholds with New Super Mario Bros. Finally, we celebrate the 1,000th VGM with the Monster Hunter series.
If you'd like to go back in the past to check out the past VGM volumes before this one (and I know you do), then check out the VGM Database.
v996. Radiant Historia (DS) - An Earnest Desire of Grey
This high intensity final boss theme from Radiant Historia starts this very special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs off. One of the queens of VGM, Yoko Shimomura, poured her heart and soul into making the magnificent music for this often overlooked Nintendo DS RPG. If you have the time and the money, definitely check out Radiant Historia, as it is one of the DS's best original RPGs available.
v997. Okami (PS2, Wii) - Dragon Palace
We move on from Radiant Historia's RPG gameplay to the action-adventure, Zelda-inspired gameplay of Okami. Dragon Palace is a calming and tranquil theme that delivers raw emotion. Okami may have run on too long for its own good play time-wise, but there are far worse games that have outstayed their welcome.
v998. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (PS2, GCN, XBX) - Everything or Nothing
With the 24th James Bond film out now in the U.K. and it releasing in the U.S. this Friday, it seems like a good time to delve into a past game featuring 007. Everything or Nothing was Pierce Brosnan's final outing as the iconic MI6 special agent. The actual game is quite good, rivaling GoldenEye in excellence, though this game was third-person. The theme song is something that easily sounds like something from an actual movie!
v999. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - Castle
After a long hiatus from 2D platformers, Mario returned on the Nintendo DS with New Super Mario Bros. While all of the future New Super Mario Bros. games outperformed the DS game in quality (in this site's opinion), the original NSMB is still quite the game. Sure, it feels more vanilla and uninspired compared to future entries, but compared to other platformers on the system, it's still highly competent.
v1000. Monster Hunter (series) - Proof of a Hero
Performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, this theme, Proof of a Hero, was one of many that audience attendees got to hear at Monster Hunter's fifth anniversary concert. This bombastic string and brass flavored theme gives a heroic and majestic feeling to listeners, making it more than worthy of being SuperPhillip Central's 1,000 VGM volume.
If you'd like to go back in the past to check out the past VGM volumes before this one (and I know you do), then check out the VGM Database.
v996. Radiant Historia (DS) - An Earnest Desire of Grey
This high intensity final boss theme from Radiant Historia starts this very special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs off. One of the queens of VGM, Yoko Shimomura, poured her heart and soul into making the magnificent music for this often overlooked Nintendo DS RPG. If you have the time and the money, definitely check out Radiant Historia, as it is one of the DS's best original RPGs available.
v997. Okami (PS2, Wii) - Dragon Palace
We move on from Radiant Historia's RPG gameplay to the action-adventure, Zelda-inspired gameplay of Okami. Dragon Palace is a calming and tranquil theme that delivers raw emotion. Okami may have run on too long for its own good play time-wise, but there are far worse games that have outstayed their welcome.
v998. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (PS2, GCN, XBX) - Everything or Nothing
With the 24th James Bond film out now in the U.K. and it releasing in the U.S. this Friday, it seems like a good time to delve into a past game featuring 007. Everything or Nothing was Pierce Brosnan's final outing as the iconic MI6 special agent. The actual game is quite good, rivaling GoldenEye in excellence, though this game was third-person. The theme song is something that easily sounds like something from an actual movie!
v999. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - Castle
After a long hiatus from 2D platformers, Mario returned on the Nintendo DS with New Super Mario Bros. While all of the future New Super Mario Bros. games outperformed the DS game in quality (in this site's opinion), the original NSMB is still quite the game. Sure, it feels more vanilla and uninspired compared to future entries, but compared to other platformers on the system, it's still highly competent.
v1000. Monster Hunter (series) - Proof of a Hero
Performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, this theme, Proof of a Hero, was one of many that audience attendees got to hear at Monster Hunter's fifth anniversary concert. This bombastic string and brass flavored theme gives a heroic and majestic feeling to listeners, making it more than worthy of being SuperPhillip Central's 1,000 VGM volume.
Review Round-Up - October 2015
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| Yoshi's latest adventure left SuperPhillip Central in stitches. |
Grand Theft Auto V (PS3, 360) - A-
Extreme Exorcism (Wii U eShop) - B-
Freedom Planet (Wii U eShop) - A-
Toto Temple Deluxe (PS4, XONE, Wii U eShop) - C
Q.U.B.E.: Director's Cut (PS4, XONE, PS3, Wii U eShop) - B-
Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash (3DS) - B
Momonga Pinball Adventures (Wii U eShop) - C
Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U eShop) - A
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| Yoshi's Woolly World may not be a Halloween-style game, but it certainly packs some spooky surprises! |
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