Fave VGM #1214: Training ~ Isao Kasai & Tomohiko Satou StakeJade 2013-09-05 | Snowboard Kids is one of my favorite games on the Nintendo 64 and that really has to do with its memorable soundtrack. All the trails have exciting tunes which really gets me in the right frame of mind for the kawaii fun game. (I don't normally enjoy playing snowboarding or skiing games.) Even the training has an infectious melody.
Fave VGM #1250: Mok Zoh (Desert Moon) ~ Chris Stevens StakeJade 2015-12-22 | When I had a Sega CD add-on for my Genesis, I remember enjoying it. At the time, I never experienced FMVs or CD quality music before in a video game. I was blown away by it... especially while playing games like Lunar and Sonic CD. While I wasn't interested in shooters back then, I've always liked the soundtrack of Stellar-Fire. The theme of the fifth planet, Mok Zoh, is my favorite. I find it to be very eerie and ominous; kind of like how I would imagine being stranded alone in the middle of the desert at night.
Fave VGM #1249: The Future ~ Glenn Stafford StakeJade 2014-10-03 | If I remember correctly, the Lost Vikings games were the first puzzle platform games that I ever played. Back then I thought that they were supposed to be played like any other platform game like Castlevania or Super Mario Bros. and I used to get really frustrated by them. But now, with age and gaming experience, I really like the Lost Vikings games. However, I've always liked their catchy soundtracks. I tend to bob my head to the beat of "The Future" song in particular. The longer I listen to it, the harder it is to get it out of my head.
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U): Toad Harbor StakeJade 2014-06-03 | During this race, an intense rivalry between Baby Mario and my avatar Pink Gold Peach materialized! It was so intense that I actually forgot about all the other racers. All through out the race, it was just me and the little brat it seemed. Anyways, at the end of the race I got him really good. I had a super horn when I turned towards the finish line and started racing to it. Baby Mario was coming up to the turn in front of me so I steered towards him. As I was about to ram him, I used the super horn and sent him flying backwards, leaving me to be the first to pass over the finish line. To further add insult to his injury, as Baby Mario was flying backwards, Toad came up behind him and passed him for second place!It was one of the most fun races that I had in single player. Too bad that I couldn't upload the whole race. I would've loved to show the big hit at the end! LOL!
Fave VGM #1248: Victorious ~ Hirokazu Tanaka StakeJade 2014-04-28 | Here's a question for you all. What was the first game you played that had you controlling a female character as the main protagonist?For me, it was Metroid for the NES. However, I did not know it until the end of the game where she took off her battle suit depending on how well I played. Of course, this is just common sense by now since the game is 28 years old. But the fact that I was playing as a woman made me think that women can indeed become the hero and not just someone to be saved. Maybe Metroid planted the seed in my mind which then germinated and blossomed into my liking to play games like Kya: Dark Lineage, Beyond Good and Evil, Tomb Raider and Primal to name a few.
Fave VGM #1247: Demise Battle (Part 2) ~ Hajime Wakai, et al. StakeJade 2014-04-22 | Am I the only one who feels the following?When I think of the main antagonist of Skyward Sword in the Legend of Zelda franchise, the first person I think of is Ghirahim. And when I DO remember Demise as being the antagonist, the first thing that comes to mind is his form as the Imprisoned and not his restored form during the final battle of the game. Also, I must admit that I was underwhelmed by him during the final battle. The setting was cool and his character design was intimidating but the battle paled in comparison to the final battle Twilight Princess or even Ocarina of Time for me. However, I truly love this final battle theme with the choir. It really makes the battle feel artificially epic.I may be a little too hard on this battle because I was disappointed in Skyward Sword as a game. I found the game to be very linear. The only time I could branch off of a path through the overworld or dungeon was to open up a shortcut so I didn't have to do the puzzle that I just completed again. Also, I found the overworld areas disconnected from each other almost as if they were seperate levels and not part of the same world like in the previous Zelda games. And some of the missions seemed tacked on to artificially lengthen the play experience. One such mission was where Link had to swim in the flooded Faron Woods to find sequences of hidden Tadtones. While doing that particular mission, I actually felt like I was doing a mission in Super Mario Galaxy. Oh well. At least there will be a new Zelda game on the Wii U which could very well wow me!
Fave VGM #1246: Theme of Mitochondria ~ Yōko Shimomura StakeJade 2014-04-15 | Before playing Silent Hill 2 which introduced me to the survival horror genre, Parasite Eve was the game which introduced me to horror and unsettling occurances. I mean, the scene at the opera where Melissa Pearce (the second Mitochondria Eve) does her best impression of Carrie, burning and melting all the audience was horrific and that was just at that start of the game. I remember getting Parasite Eve because it was by Square and at the time I didn't know how dark it was. I just knew that it was an RPG from Square. After the initial shock and disgust, I began to enjoy the darkness of the game. I guess it kind of got me ready for Silent Hill and its survival horror genre.
Fave VGM #1245: Ghost of Rattman ~ Mike Morasky StakeJade 2014-04-13 | Doug Rattman, a schizophrenic Aperture Science employee, is never seen in any of the Portal games, even though his multiple lived in "rat dens" can be found in behind malfunctioning walls or in the guts of the test facility. The player doesn't really hear the Rat Man either as they undergo the testing.In Test Chamber 17, you can find one of his dens littered with cans over a floor with a giant fan in it. As you enter this song starts to play. It has a very sinister tone to it with the female vocals and slow tempo. Then another vocal slowly fades in and sounds like it's talking gibberish. It's quite chilling when you realize that the mentally unstable ramblings may be the Rat Man on the other side of the wall. Or maybe this is where he finally met his demise and what is heard is really his ghost. The first time I heard it gave me goosebumps.
Fave VGM #1244: The Ghost Ship ~ Kōji Kondō, et al. StakeJade 2014-04-11 | If you didn't know when it would appear, it would be quite frightening and unsettling to suddenly see blue flames floating around an unmanned pirate ship on the dark sea. At least, that's how I always feel when it appears out of thin air sometimes when I sail to islands to get my Sea Chart filled up. I've come to really like its minimalistic ominous theme though with its drum beat and chant. Whenever I do find the ghost ship, I just like to slowly follow it and listen to the song.I'm just disappointed that the ship is just a single room when I do manage to climb aboard it. Oh well, at least in Phantom Hourglass they fleshed the ghost ship out into a proper dungeon.
Fave VGM #1243: Something Called Trust ~ Riei Saito StakeJade 2014-04-09 | When exploring the abandoned Kurato Kankou Hotel, Seto and Sai encounter the distrustful spectral Chiyo who halts their progress through the hotel. In an effort to deter Seto's efforts to get past, the young girl gives him seemingly impossible missions to complete. After a few backtracking fetch quests and finding a ring, Seto and Sai return to Chiyo. After receiving the silver ring she reminisces about a man, most likely the one who gave her the ring, indicating that she may have had a husband or lover in the past. Chiyo then recognizes Seto's sincerity and allows them to gain passage into the room that she was guarding. In the room is her bedridden elderly body. It is there where she teaches the two about cherishing life.
Fave VGM #1242: Theme of Sorrow ~ Nobuo Uematsu StakeJade 2014-04-08 | Uploaded in fond memory of John Pinette & Mickey Rooney.Final Fantasy IV, as it is on the SNES under the name Final Fantasy II, will always be one of the most nostalgic games of the franchise. Quite frankly the enhanced GBA version or the 3D remakes on the NDS and iOS pales in comparison to the SNES version for me. I think it is because of the strong emotions it made me feel while playing it for the first time.For example, never before in a game did I feel so depressed than I was when the twin child wizards Palom and Porom sacrificed themselves to save Cecil and the gang when they got trapped in Baron Castle. Also, I don't remember ever witnessing a video game character's death before then either. It was something new to me and that made Final Fantasy IV very rememberable and special for me.
Fave VGM #1241: The Well-Lit Room ~ Petri Alanko StakeJade 2014-01-20 | With all things considered, Alan Wake is by far the scariest game that I played last console generation. It was the only one that really exploited my childhood fears of shadow people. Whenever I encounter one of the enraged shadows in the game, my childhood nightmares & imaginings pop in my head and it makes the tension and fear that much more tangible.This song is like a safety floodlight for me in that it always envelopes me with relaxation in the nightmare of the picturesque mountain town of Bright Falls. It has a very soothing melody with the piano and violin. I could listen to it for hours... and I sometimes do. Since I am introverted and have social anxiety, I find that it really helps me relax in real life too.
Fave VGM #1240: Sign of the Colossus ~ Kō Ōtani StakeJade 2014-01-14 | I remember wanting to get a PS3 when the various HD collections started coming out like Sly Cooper and Ico/Shadow of the Colossus. And since I would have a PS3, I could get the new installments of my favorite PS2 franchises like Ratchet & Clank and God of War. Then I started thinking... why would I want a PS3 just so I could play HD revamps of Sly Cooper, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and FinalFantasy X/X-2 when I already have and love the originals? I'm an old school gamer so HD graphics are not very enticing enough.Anyways, Shadow of Colossus is one of the most artful atmospheric games that I played on the PS2. Whenever I play it, I feel like I really am on sacred ground hunting down these gentle giants for my own selfish desires. The feeling is intensified whenever I hear this song and I see one of the colossi off in the distance. It has this eerie intimidating tone to it which makes me very anxious to engage the attentions of the colossi.
Fave VGM #1239: Anxious Heart ~ Nobuo Uematsu StakeJade 2014-01-12 | While I do see the greatness of Final Fantasy 7, the only aspect of my least favorite PS1 Final Fantasy game, that I truly enjoy a lot is the nostalgic soundtrack. I find it very charming, albeit depressing at times. "Anxious Heart" is the main theme of Midgar where the story starts. It has this forlorn quality which fits the dark drab slum neighborhoods which the poor people live while the well-to-dos inhabit the "pizza in the sky" above the stagnant air and pollution. I must say that whenever I see Midgar, I think of the similar dystopian world of Blade Runner, one of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies.
Fave VGM #1238: Thwomp Volcano ~ Yoko Shimomura StakeJade 2014-01-09 | Thwomp Volcano in "Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time" has one of my favorite area themes from the Mario & Luigi franchise. The area is inhabited by these extreme toads which makes me think of extreme sports fanatics. The music theme has this sort of military march beat to it under the jovial melody. I don't know how else I can explain what I mean. I just find it very catchy and I think that it fits the area perfectly with the extreme toads.
Fave VGM #1237: Rapunzel Gameplay ~ Shoji Meguro StakeJade 2014-01-03 | The arcade game in the Stray Sheep is an interesting diversion to the main game which I have trouble calling a mini-game. It's a full-blown puzzle game which mimics the gameplay of Catherine itself and has 128 total un-timed levels to go through. As one would expect, the story closely follows the 1812 tale of the same name by The Grimm Brothers.The gameplay music reflect the fairytale motif quite nicely. It has this catchy music box melody to it which I find somewhat sinister. Of course, the fairytale itself is sinister which could be said about all fairytales when you think about it.
Fave VGM #1236: Ghost House ~ Kōji Kondō, et al. StakeJade 2014-01-02 | I hope you all had an awesome holiday season! Also, I wish you the best in the coming year!Well, let's get to it. When I started playing Super Mario 3D World, I thought that it was a great appetizer until the next major single player 3D Mario adventure is released. However, near the end of the game, I couldn't believe how challenging the later levels were or how much content there was to the game. I mean, there's four extra worlds to go through after the main game is over and done with.Anyways, the ghost houses of the Mario series never really impressed me... until this game. Part of it is the fact that one such ghost house removes the house trappings and takes place on rain soaked shipwrecks. The other part that I love about the ghost houses is the depressing, yet amazing, violin music. When I first heard it, I fell in love with the song and it became my favorite ghost house theme for the Mario series. It has this solemn tone and melody which makes me imagine forgotten souls waltzing. I really hope that Nintendo uses it again in future Mario games or even spinoffs.
Fave VGM #1235: Mystic Ruins ~ Jun Senoue StakeJade 2013-12-24 | Every time I play Sonic Adventure DX and go to the Mystic Ruins Adventure Field for the first time, I always think that the game glitches because the music doesn't immediately start to play. I kind of like the pause though because when the music does start, I get a sense that there are off-screen aboriginal people welcoming me in song. It's a comforting feeling I get, as weird as that may sound to you. I don't know how else to explain it.
Fave VGM #1234: Galaxy Plant ~ Mahito Yokota, et al. StakeJade 2013-12-23 | On the Wii U, I'm not sure if I want another Super Mario Galaxy game. I felt that they did all they could with the outer space premise with the two Wii games. Personally, I would love to see something new and just as innovative in the next single-player Mario adventure. I doubt that we will see a new one next year or the next.Well, I will just play Super Mario Galaxy until then with its awesome orchestrated soundtrack. Galaxy Plant is Bowser's own galaxy in the center of the universe and is hellish. My palms always sweat when I go through the galaxy. It pulls out all the stops, testing your gravity manipulation and platforming skills to the max. At the end, both Bowser and his son is waiting to destroy you. One thing that I'm disappointed about the final battle is that Bowser Jr. was just there for some extra intimidation. I would've loved to have had to fight him first before fighting Bowser.
Fave VGM #1233: Potential for Anything ~ Magnus Pålsson StakeJade 2013-12-22 | I have a soft spot for any indie game on the PC, mostly because I used to program them myself back in the day. I guess I stopped programming was because video games were becoming so sophisticated with 3D graphics and orchestrated soundtracks that my self taught programming endeavors paled in comparison. However, that is not really true considering the demand or love for retro inspired games like Cave Story, VVVVVV and La-Mulana in today's video game market.VVVVVV is an extremely primitive looking game but, like a lot of indie games nowadays, it has a very cool and addictive gameplay mechanic and an excellent soundtrack. You can not jump in the game. All you can do is reverse the vertical gravity to explore the expansive world. Some of the gravity shifts can get very devilish and require perfect timing and precision platforming.Created by Terry Cavanagh, VVVVVV is an awesome and addictive game which warranted a port to the 3DS through the eShop. If a seemingly simple game like VVVVVV can do that there's no reason why one of my games couldn't do it too. I just have to force myself to start programming again.
Fave VGM #1232: Crazy Call at Cry ~ Taro Bando, Hajime Wakai StakeJade 2013-12-21 | I must admit that I suck at F-Zero games. They're way too fast and the tracks are very disorienting. I always fly off the track to my fiery doom. If it wasn't for the rockin' soundtracks, I think that I wouldn't subject myself to the pain and humiliation of losing all the time. I find the soundtracks to be very exhilarating and makes me want to keep playing so I can finally go up the ranks and win. I mean, who wouldn't feel empowered as they race to songs like "Crazy Call at Cry"?
Fave VGM #1231: vs. Brobot L-Type ~ Naoko Mitome & Chika Sekigawa StakeJade 2013-12-20 | This is one of my favorite boss fights in Super Paper Mario because of the fact that I had to fight the giant mech of the brainwashed Luigi. It was a very cool battle with a rocking theme.Sorry if the description is dull and short... I've had a hell of a day and I'm exhausted. I really should replay Super Paper Mario again when I rested up. I haven't played it in years and this song reminded me of all the fun that I had with it.
Fave VGM #1230: Moving Clouds on the Rivers Surface ~ Kumi Tanioka StakeJade 2013-12-19 | I don't know if I already said this in any of my seven past VGM postings from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles but what I love most about the game is its strong renaissance setting. While the settings in the main Final Fantasy games were becoming more technological and futuristic, FFCC went back to the franchise's fantasy roots. And it's such a gorgeous looking game which I was in awe of when it was released. Even now, the visuals still amaze me.The soundtrack has a strong renaissance sound to it also. I love re-playing the game just so I can explore the gorgeous world and have the music get caught in my head.
Fave VGM #1229: Lucid Rythyms ~ Hiroshi Okubo StakeJade 2013-12-18 | Requested by Medal Melodies (prev. TheHotAndColdDog).I haven't had a lot of experience with the Ridge Racer arcade racing franchise. In fact, almost a year ago I bought my first game from the series. It was Rage Racer for the PlayStation. Ever since I heard of Ridge Racer, I've had a fleeting curiosity about it.My first experience with Ridge Racer, specifically its "mascot girl" Reiko Nagase, was with the Pac-Man Fever party game. I remember thinking that she was cute when she pulled up in her white car in the intro. And I think that she was the first character that I played as in that game.Anyways, after playing Rage Racer, I'm on the lookout for the other games in the franchise. I quite enjoyed the game but, truth be told, I didn't find the soundtrack to be the memorable. Except for the Mario Kart games, racing game soundtracks never stick in my mind. But this track from R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 is very relaxing and cool. If I had to guess, I think that this track would play over the preview of the race track. I never played R4 so I don't know.This is a good song to just listen to in the background when I'm just working on something or doing housework.
Fave VGM #1228c: The Sacred Haven/Kuule tää unelmain ~ Hidenori Iwasaki/Donna Burke StakeJade 2013-12-17 | Here is a melding of sorts for the instrumental "The Sacred Haven" and the vocal "Kuule tää unelmain". I tried matching them as perfect as I could but I think that I'm kind of tone deaf. Anyways, I really like how it turned out. No matter which one I listen to - the instrumental, the vocal, or this melding - I really can't help but feel very calm and relaxed. It's very soothing.
Fave VGM #1228b: Kuule tää unelmain ~ Donna Burke StakeJade 2013-12-16 | Here's the vocal version of "The Safe Haven" performed by the Australian singer Donna Burke who's also a voice actress and entrepreneur. Ever since I heard her angelic voice during the opening of the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, I've been in love with her singing to the point that whenever I hear her work in a video game, the song immediately becomes one of my favorites.By the way, the screenshot is the perfect visual representation of how this song makes me feel. It's a real shame that I can't just physically fly away and feel the wind blow off all my worries and stress. In real life, the closest to flying that I could have is if I skydived. Well, that is on my bucket list along with swimming with sharks.Oh yeah, "Kuule tää unelmain" is Finnish for "Hear This Dream of Mine".LYRICS:Original (Finnish) Valon tahdon joskus tuntee kuun ja auringon Rauhassa taas soittaa mun kanneltain Kuule tää unelmain Translation (literal) I want to feel the light sometime of the Sun and the Moon To play again in peace my Kantele Hear this dream of mine
Fave VGM #1228a: The Sacred Haven ~ Hidenori Iwasaki StakeJade 2013-12-15 | This is one of the most peaceful and relaxing tracks that I heard in a Final Fantasy game. When I close my eyes while listening to it, I like imagining myself just flying in the air above the clouds, away from the stresses of life. For as long as I can remember, I've always had that fantasy. Even now, I sometimes daydream flying away and I still find some comfort in it as I did as a child.This is the instrumental version of the song but there is a vocal version of it as well. That one is sung by the angelic voiced Donna Burke with whom I fell in love with back in the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles game on the Gamecube. It's hard for me to decide which one I like more. They're both very beautiful and soothing.
Fave VGM #1227: Carbo Village ~ Pious Believers ~ Noriyuki Iwadare StakeJade 2013-12-14 | Recently, I started re-playing Grandia II just so I can experience the nostalgia of playing it again. I must say though that it really hasn't aged the well for me graphically. But what I can expect considering when it was released? I still enjoy playing it and the soundtrack is just as catchy as I remembered. This song is one of the very first tracks that you hear when starting a new game. It has a very upbeat melody which really fits Ryudo's, the game's protagonist's, carefree adventure at that point. It always puts me in a good mood and ready to go have fun with the game.Thinking about it, I think that it's the same way with a lot of the old games of our youth. While the graphics get dated, the soundtracks stand the test of time and are still just as enjoyable and great. That is why I love posting classic music more on my VGM list than the music from modern games. Of course, I still make a point to keep with the times and post current game VGMs. Sometimes I just need some help with that though. So feel free to request any VGMs that you will like me to post. :)
Fave VGM #1226: Mumbos Test-O-Track ~ Robin Beanland, et al. StakeJade 2013-12-13 | When the XBOX 360 was released, I wasn't going to get it even though there were amazing games on it that I really wanted to play like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey and the then upcoming Final Fantasy XIII (which was originally going to be a PS3 exclusive). But when a new Banjo-Kazooie game was finally announced to be in development for the XBOX 360, I finally broke down and bought the console.When Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts was released, I truthfully was disappointed that it wasn't like the previous three games in the series. However, as time passed, I grew to love the awesome freedom of building my own vehicular contraptions to complete the different challenges. The area that I spent most of my time in to experiment with different vehicle types and attachments was the Test-O-Track.I've always had a blast in there and I built some of my favorite and best vehicles to just fool around in. A couple of my favorite vehicles was a glider bike modeled off the one in "Rocket: Robot on Wheels", a speeder which could drive on the walls and ceiling, and a mobile catapult of sorts.
Fave VGM #1225: Gibbet Hill, Pilgrimage ~ Brian DOliveira, Kenneth Young StakeJade 2013-12-12 | I was planning on posting a pick from Super Mario Galaxy for #1225; however, something happened today that I just had to post this song instead.When Tearaway was initially announced for the Vita, I thought that it looked cool but then I forgot about it. I didn't have a Vita at the time and I still don't. Anyways, I haven't watched many videos on it even though I wouldn't be able to play it. So I never heard any of its soundtrack before today.Since today was my day off from work, I eventually found myself at Best Buy looking at the video games. Then all of the sudden this song started blaring from the monitors above a nearby service counter and I just froze there with a dumb look on my face. "Oh my god. What is that enchanting song?", I thought. I immediately moved closer to the counter so I could see what the hell was playing on the monitors and it was this game, Tearaway! I knew about the game's papercraft visuals and gameplay gimmicks of using the player to physically manipulate the game world but I was floored by the music. It has this mystifying, almost gaelic, quality to it that I am always a sucker for.Long story short, this innovative game with its lovely soundtrack is THE reason for me to finally get a Vita! I've found and listened to a lot of its soundtrack and I would love to experience the soundtrack in-game as I explore the gorgeous papercraft world.
Fave VGM #1224: Blank TV: Ulala Support Chant ~ Naofumi Hataya, et al. StakeJade 2013-12-11 | This is one of the most catchy tunes that I've heard in a rhythm game... or any game in general. I love how soft and simple it starts out as but as it goes on and more people chime it, it gets so energetic and contagious! I truly can't help but grin and move to the beat! I'm usually very reserved but this final boss theme really makes me get into it and dance.That's what I really like about the games on Sega's consoles like Space Channel 5, Sonic the Hedgehog and Jet Set Radio. They all have these hip energetic soundtracks which I find very contagious and I can spend hours playing the games while dancing to the music.
Fave VGM #1223: Yuga Battle ~ Ryo Nagamatsu StakeJade 2013-12-10 | Enough procrastination!"A Link to the Past" was the game which got me hooked on The Legend of Zelda franchise. I've played the first two games, released on the NES, but they did not leave much of an impression on me that "A Link to the Past" did. So when I bought "A Link Between Worlds" and started playing through it, nostalgia came flooding back and I found myself exploring the Link's world again as if I never left. While a lot has changed in the world, I knew where everything was and I was pleasantly surprised when what I remembered was skewed.However, I must say this: With every new Zelda game, I always look forward to two things. One is how devilishly complex and innovative the dungeons are. The second is how evil and unhinged the antagonists are. I absolutely love Yuga in "A Link Between Worlds". I see him as a cross between Zant and Ghirahim. I find him really dangerous and intimidating, especially when he merges with Ganon. Truth be told, Yuga and Ghirahim are by far my favorite Zelda antagonists, other than Ganondorf himself.
A PS2 Favorite: Echo Night Beyond StakeJade 2013-12-04 | To help myself get back into posting again, I forced myself to finally upload my favorite song from one of my favorite survival horror game franchises: Echo Night Beyond. I'm not even kidding when I say that I've made this video and was planning to upload it more than a thousand posts ago.I absolutely love the Echo Night games. The premise is that your character is all alone surrounded by shadows of people who have passed on but can't rest in peace because there is something that they have to rectify or do. While Echo Night on the PS1 is set on Earth, Echo Night Beyond has you exploring an abandoned moon space station in search of your lost newlywed beloved. It is my favorite of the two because I feel more alone and anxious in the cold futuristic setting. As you can see in the video (which I created from the trailers of the game), it's a very atmospheric game which really pulls me in when I play in the dark. And since there is no use of firearms or anything, it really gets tense when I encounter hostile apparitions and I have to make sure my in-game heart rate stays low while escaping them. If it gets too high before I escape, I will have a heart attack and die.There is another game in the franchise but I never played it since it apparently was never released in North America. With that said, Echo Night Beyond, the third in the franchise, is right up there with Silent Hill 2, Siren and Rule of Rose as my favorite PS2 survival horror games.
Fave VGM #1222: Gotham Cathedral ~ Matthew Cannon StakeJade 2013-09-25 | Requested by VGM EngiStyle.I absolutely adore retro computer music such as those composed for the Amiga and the Commodore 64. Whenever I listen to a song from that era, I can't help but be amazed by how impressive the music sound with such primitive resources.Here's the theme for the final level leading up to the iconic end to the Joker in Batman: The Movie for the Commodore 64. I never played this version of the game but what I've seen from gameplay videos, it seems to be a lot of fun. It has the standard platform segments but with a cool game mechanic that I've only seen in the Genesis/Mega Drive version. Batman can use the Bat Grapple to swing from platform to platform or pull/lower himself from said platforms to ambush the enemies. Also, there's some driving segments thrown in for a nice game change. Anyways, I really love the ominous tone of the Cathedral's theme. Mathew Cannon did an exceptional job in expressing dread and urgency on the C64 to go with the end game climb just so Batman can finally end the Joker, the murderer of his parents.
Fave VGM #1221: Breeze the Conductor ~ Motoi Sakuraba StakeJade 2013-09-24 | Eternal Sonata is one of my favorite JRPGs from this generation. It has a very fun strategic battle system, picturesque locales which I would love to live in, educational intermissions that teach me about Frédéric François Chopin's life with each accompanied by one of his musical compositions, and very endearing characters. Also, I love the fact that the game takes place in Frédéric François Chopin's comatose mind.This track just makes me want to escape from the shackles of adult life and just travel through plains and over rolling grassy hills. It has that soothing, yet enticing, quality which makes my feet itchy.
Fave VGM #1220: Home Sweet Home ~ Christophe Héral StakeJade 2013-09-23 | Beyond Good & Evil is one of my all-time favorite games from the recent past. I love it so much that, along with the original version of it that I played for the PS2, I have the Gamecube version and the HD remastered digital download from the XBLA service. It has gorgeous visuals, a compelling storyline, relatable characters and an amazing soundtrack. Also, I really like games where my player character is female. Take that as you will.This track is quite relaxing and suits the quiet life on a small island full of orphans. Making it her life's work to take in and protect orphans with her pig partner Pey'j is one of the main reasons why I love Jade so much. Anyways, I especially like the piano in this track. It kind of makes me imagine raindrops falling on a tin roof, making a calming melody.
Fave VGM #1219: Blossoming Schoolgirl ~ Hideyuki Fukasawa StakeJade 2013-09-21 | Requested by TheHotAndColdDog.Here's the theme for Sakura from Super Street Fighter IV. I am glad that they brought her back from Street Fighter Alpha 2. When I saw her for the first time in SFA2, I thought that she looked very cute and endearing... then she handed my ass to me. I still think that she's cute and endearing but now I take her very seriously. Hehe.When I listen to her theme I can't help but get excited by it like I do with Zangief's level theme Snowy Rail Yard Stage. I just want to get up and dance to it. It's so upbeat, cheerful and has a nice driving melody. That's how I kind of see Sakura as a character. She may seem inexperienced and carefree but she really has the determination to succeed!
Fave VGM #1218: Island Open Tournament ~ Motoi Sakuraba StakeJade 2013-09-19 | Mario Tennis: Power Tour for the GBA is one of my favorite games on the handheld. Of course, that's not a surprise since it's a Nintendo IP and is story driven with RPG elements. Like the other games in the the Mario Tennis franchise, Power Tour has such cheerful tunes which really make it a joy to play a sports game.You know what? I can't wait for some new Mario Tennis and Mario Golf games to come out for the Wii U. There's already a new installment to the Mario Kart series in the work for the HD console. It's only a matter of time before a game is released for the sports games. And when a new Mario Tennis game is released I hope that it has a story mode with a lot of characters like the handheld installments.
Fave VGM #1217: Mimiga Town ~ Daisuke Pixel Amaya StakeJade 2013-09-18 | The first time that I played Cave Story was on the PC with a translation patch. I instantly fell in love with the retro graphics, awesome chip-tune soundtrack and excellent fast-paced platform shooter gameplay. When I heard the it was being ported to the Wii with enhanced visuals and arranged music, I was ecstatic and downloaded it when it was released on Wiiware. I tried it with the enhancements but I quickly switched the options back to the original pixel art and soundtrack. I prefer it that way... and I still do. As for the 3D remake for the Nintendo 3DS: I have it for my game collection but I haven't really played it since I bought it. I might give it a try again in the future but nothing beats the original version for me. In my opinion, the 3D version had lost some of the charm that the original had.
Fave VGM #1216: Delightful Spekkio ~ Yasunori Mitsuda StakeJade 2013-09-17 | In Chrono Trigger, Spekkio is a reoccurring boss which you fight in a small room at The End of Time. With every encounter with it, you will find that it will have a new form. While most of the forms seem quite harmless, I always thought that the muscular blue demon form was the most intimidating.With that being said (or typed), I find the music very upbeat and charming. Every time I hear it, I think of a sun soaked beach on an island paradise. Whenever I want to relax and wind down from a particularly hard day at work, I sometimes listen to this tune in a loop. Then I imagine myself being far away on the beach with a rum and coke, just soaking up the rays on a beach chair and watching the ladies splash around in the clear blue ocean. Yes, that's my happy place.
Fave VGM #1215: Jiggywiggy Puzzle Challenge ~ Grant Kirkhope StakeJade 2013-09-07 | In Banjo-Kazooie, there was a hidden mini-game in Banjo's house where you could do jigsaw puzzles which had dynamic views of random areas in the game. One such area that I remember is in the giant bee hive in Click Clock Wood, my favorite world of the whole game. There wasn't any real rewards to successfully completing the jigsaw puzzles and I saw no reason or motivation to do them. In fact, whenever I start playing the game, do all that I can do in the tutorial Spiral Mountain area (save for jigsaw puzzles) and enter Gruntilda's lair, I never return to Spiral Mountain let alone Banjo's house.In Banjo-Tooie, Rare brought back the dynamic jigsaw puzzles but they actually gave them purpose by making them keys to get into the different worlds of the massive game. When you had enough jiggies to enter Jiggywiggy's temple, you could go to take his challenges - complete the puzzles showing an area from the next world to unlock - with each having an increasing amount of collected jiggies as a price. With the motivation of unlocking another world to explore, I found the puzzles very enjoyable. And this music just enhances the experience for me. I really like that, while it has a very calming melody for me, it still has a sense of urgency with the "tick-tock" sound which makes me want to do the puzzles fast.
Fave VGM #1213: Wind Over Time ~ Akira Tsuchiya, et al StakeJade 2013-09-03 | If I was to say which I enjoy more in terms of gameplay and presentation - Western or Japanese RPGs - it would be JRPGs like Final Fantasy, Rogue Galaxy and Valkyrie Profile to name a few. I just find them more engaging and the characters easier to get emotionally attached to. Also, I find the soundtracks to JRPGs to be more memorable than western RPGs.This tune from Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana is quite notable for me since the dominant instrumentation is that of the violin. I also like the accompanying drum beat and the mystical sounding male vocals near the middle of the song. I don't know why but I always think of throat singing when I hear the vocals. Anyways, this is a very exhilarating tune which motivates me to stand up for myself... as strange as it sounds.
Fave VGM #1212: Tradition ~ Falcom Sound Team jdk, Yukihiro Jindo StakeJade 2013-09-01 | Brandish: The Dark Revenant is a Japanese exclusive remake of the dungeon crawler/action RPG Brandish. Back in the day when Brandish was released for the SNES, I remembered that I thought that it looked very interesting but I wasn't sure if I would like the style of gameplay. Well, I ended up never having played it; however, I never stopped being curious about it. After recently discovering the awesome soundtrack to the PSP remake, I will surely track a copy of the SNES original and finally play the game.This particular tune has everything that I love about a modern RPG soundtrack. It has mystical sounding vocals, an orchestrated sound, and an emotionally charged melody! And the best part of it is that it has my favorite instrument in it. Such an amazing tune!
Fave VGM #1211: Tidal Tempest ~ Naofumi Hataya & Masafumi Ogata StakeJade 2013-08-30 | Along with the Lunar RPGs, Sonic CD is one of my favorite games for the Sega CD peripheral. At the time, it was impressive with the time traveling aspect and how Sonic can change the timeline depending on whether he destroyed the Metal Sonic hologram or the robot generator in the past. Also, every time period of any given zone had different graphics and its own music.Everybody knows this by now but the North American release had a different soundtrack than the Japanese/European soundtrack. While the NA soundtrack is very nostalgic for me, when I play Sonic CD now I tend to play it with the JP/EU soundtrack. I feel that the JP/EU music fit better with the various zones than the NA music. For instance, the Tidal Tempest's Present music starts with flowing water which gives way to a nice relaxing melody which makes me think of a cruise ship band playing at a lounge or something.
Fave VGM #1210: Koopas Tycoon Town ~ Yoshihiro Tsukahara StakeJade 2013-08-29 | I really love the real estate boards of the Mario Party games. They really add some strategy to the game other than just having to race to the end like on Goomba's Booty Boardwalk or Pagoda Peak in Mario Party 7. Of course, if you know how to cheat the system, it is quite easy to stay ahead in the real estate ventures so the other players can't top your investment in one of the hotels and they will have to pass it up.
Fave VGM #1209: The Moon ~ Jake Kaufman StakeJade 2013-08-28 | This tune is so nostalgic for me. NOT because of IWBTG or posts on Favorite VGM Lists such as mine but because this is my childhood! When I heard this game was under development, I purposely did not seek out screenshots, listen to the new arranged music by the amazing Jake Kaufman, or even watch gameplay videos. I wanted to experience it fully for myself without any prior... contamination (at a loss of better term). Oh my god! Not since Mutant Mudds did a modern game actually make me feel that I was actually a child again while playing it. And now DuckTales: Remastered had done it too. It's absolutely charming, as fun as I remember it and it is so awesome hearing the original TV show voice actors reprise their roles for the game! It's so cool seeing and listening to all the characters again that I grew up watching on TV. I can't help but feel flooded by nostalgia for my beloved TV show and for one of my favorite NES games ever when I play DuckTales: Remastered. This is why WayForward is one of my all-time favorite game developers!I must admit that Jake Kaufman did an exceptional job with his arrangements of Yoshihiro Sakaguchi's iconic tunes! While I still prefer the original versions, I was just blown away with DuckTales: Remastered soundtrack. So many people wanted the hear this game's version of the Moon's theme because a lot of them see the original as one of the best songs on the NES. Although I see where they're coming from... this exhilarating version of the Moon's theme is my second favorite song from the Remastered soundtrack! With that being said, I hope that WayForward would do the same with DuckTales 2 as they did with DuckTales!
Fave VGM #1208: Bizarre Room (Undead Parasite Theme) ~ Michiru Yamane StakeJade 2013-08-16 | I've always had a hard time with the Undead Parasite boss of the House of Sacred Remains. There's so much stuff going on in the fight that I had trouble keeping track of and I always ended up getting hit. First, there are holes in the ground which the weak point randomly rises out of and I had to whip it - and whip it good - before it went back down to go to another hole. Then these souless enemies would materialize and inch towards me, all the while the gigantic worm would blast out of holes in the walls and fly around the room. Sometimes, the worm would just pop it's head out and breath fire. All in all, it's a hectic fight. But I must admit that it is a fun fight which always leaves me tense but satisfied at the end.
Fave VGM #1207: Spinning Blades ~ Akira Yamaoka StakeJade 2013-08-15 | I've been a fan of Suda51's ever since I bought No More Heroes on a whim. Before then I never really played over-the-top games which don't really take themselves seriously like No More Heroes, Godhand and GunGrave. But I quickly found myself enjoying slicing nameless foes in half with my beam katana and watching their abundant blood fly like a geyser. And the different assassins I had to kill were all diverse and surprisingly fun to fight. After I finished No More Heroes, I've been looking forward to every release of his to see how far he pushes the envelope and experience the fun outrageous gameplay. In my opinion, Suda51 is the video game world's Quentin Tarantino.Shadows of the Damned is a lot more dark in tone and story than No More Heroes but there's still Suda51's brand of tongue-in-cheek humor and addicting fun gameplay. Even the soundtrack is relatively dark as heard in this tune. It has a fast tempo with a primal percussion beat, screams, sinister animal growls which I find very unsettling yet exciting.
Fave VGM #1206: English Teacher (Boss Battle) ~ Ben (Lintphishx) Allen StakeJade 2013-08-14 | Shadow People: the scariest thing in video games for me. Before Alan Wake, there was the WiiWare game LIT. It's a survival horror puzzle game where you play as the Emo teenager Jake who found himself alone in his darkened school at night. Soon, you learn that your girlfriend is somewhere in the school and you have to save her. You just need to light your way through classrooms which isn't as easy as it sounds. If you just step out of the light into the darkness, the shadows will grab you and pull you down into it.That alone scares me because I had nightmares where the darkness enveloped me as a child. But the most nerve-wracking and scary part of the game was the boss rooms where you had to contend with corrupt disfigured shadow versions of your teachers. Even listening to this song and thinking of the bosses is giving me the shivers.I wish WayForward would re-release LIT on the Wii U. They could do a lot with the game pad and greatly enhance the already unsettling atmosphere of the game.Please visit the talented composer's page: http://www.youtube.com/user/lintphishx
