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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Favorite Tunes #106: Playing it by Ear

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. These Favorite Tunes posts? Usually, I have them all planned out in advanced. What music will be represented, what game series, what theme, etc. But today? Well, this one was just thrown together. Sometimes it can be nice not to have a plan.

Flame Mammoth Stage - Mega Man X



My personal favorite X game, Mega Man X hits so many of the right notes. I've played it so many times that it really isn't difficult for me anymore but that doesn't take anything away from the game. I also think it has the best sound font out of all the SNES X games. The choice of drums and guitar just mesh together so well here. The X titles just may have the classic series beat on flame based robot master themes. Flame Mammoth really knows how to rock out.

Town - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES, GBA, Wii, Wii U, 3DS)



The Game Grumps are currently playing through this game on their channel and I am loving it as this is actually one of my favorite Zelda games. Magic played a much larger role in this game and visiting towns of vital importance. No disrespect at all to Koji Kondo, but I much prefer Zelda II's score to the first game. Kakariko Village has been arranged to death. Where is the love for this cozy piece of town music.

Theme of Poison - Ultra Street Fighter IV (PS3, PS4, 360)



I've grown a little weary of Capcom's updated fighting game routine. They did it constantly in the 1990s and when Street Fighter IV rolled around in 2008, they started doing it all over again. Still, when the Street Fighter IV soundtracks have been this solid, it's hard for me to stay salty. The fact that the fourth update to SFIV included Rolento and Posion and gave them both pretty sweet themes is pretty radical. Poison brought the funk!

An Underlying Problem (The Lost City) - Shovel Knight (Wii U, 3DS)



Do not dismiss Shovel Knight as a mere throwback title to the retro days of 8-bit NES gaming. Sure, it pays lots of tribute to the yesteryear, but this game is bursting with so much personality, charm and style and it stand up just fine on it's own. That sick chiptune soundtrack certainly doesn't hurt either. Lost City can be one of the more infuriating levels. Not as bad as the air ship stage, but I still lost  hefty amount of gold here.

Cemetery (Stage 3 Other Side BGM) - Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PCE, Wii, PSP)



If you mussed out on Rondo of Blood, either track down a copy of the PSP remake, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (which also has the original as an unlockable bonus) or jump on the Wii's Shop Channel and snatch it for a mere 900 points. All the good things you heard about this game are true. The soundtrack is also top quality stuff with familiar themes and new ones. I find myself gravitating to the new tracks more, like this outstanding theme that plays for the alternate stage 3.

Great Cave Escape - Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)



A sequel to 2005's DS game, Kirby Canvas Curse, this game feels right at home on the Wii U's GamePad. With slick stylus controls and gorgeous claymation artwork, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is sure to be a Kirby game fans won't forget. It's also one of the more challenging games to star the pink puff ball. The soundtrack serves up new takes on old tunes and original themes. This one has got some serious groove going on.

Favorite Tunes Database

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