Favorite Tunes #166: Vroom Vroom

This week's Favorite Tunes is kinda racing themed, but not 100%. You'll find a few tracks that don't have you getting into cars and listening tot he purring of engines. Anyhoo, enjoy the tunage.

Time Attack - SEGA GT 2002 (XB)

I wonder if SEGA will ever realize that they do have other racing IPs they can use that don't star a speedy blue hedgehog. Hey, I love Sonic as much as the next fun, but I wouldn't mind seeing Virtua Racing come back on SEGA GT. Jazzy racing music? Why yes, I'll have some, thank you.

Title - Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Oh, Color Splash. You were hated so much before release because you resembled Sticker Star, a game the bulk of the Paper Mario fanbase despises with a fiery passion. But it turns it you're a pretty good game with tons of laugh out loud dialog and some truly splendid music. Not only do a I stop to look at the cute title screen intro, but the accompanying music is both catchy and charming.

Shake the Street - Turbo OutRun (ARC)

Other SEGA racers? Well, how about OutRun, probably the most famous one of the bunch. Of course you've also got OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, my favorite of the series as well as Turbo OutRun, which has sadly, not seen a re-release. Well, that is what I would say, but Turbo OutRun will be appearing on SEGA's 3D Fukkoku Archives 3, which is the Japanese eqivilent to SEGA 3D Classisc Collecrtion. Here's hoping for a stateside release.

K. Rool's Acid Punk - Donkey Kong Land (GB)

Think the Donkey Kong Country gameplay can't be captured on the GB? Think again. Not only that, but David Wise managed to pump out some killer beats. Some tracks are chiptune versions of the SNES themes, while others are original compositions.

FFVIII Circuit - Chocobo Racing (PS)

You say you didn't know there was a Chocobo racer? There certainly was. It was even released outside of Japan. You get plenty of cheerful, high energy music with this game and it's pretty good stuff. I think I may actually like this arrangement of Final Fantasy VIII's Don't Be Afraid (the normal battle theme) more than the original.

Rainbow Road - Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)

It certainly isn't my favorite Mario Kart title (this is the game that gave the Spiny Shell it's OP status) but I wouldn't object if Nintendo did decide to revisit the two character kart gameplay. It actually took me some time to warm up to this theme. Upon some repeated listening, it grew on me. It combines the main theme of Double Dash with part of the theme of Mario Kart 64's Rainbow Road.

Favorite Tunes Database