Favorite Tunes #195: Flashback

Let's do the time warp. Flashback has returned to Favorite Tunes. If you aren't familiar with Flashback, this is where I post six tracks that were already mentioned in a past Favorite Tunes. Think of it as the obligatory recap episode of an anime series only in Favorite Tunes form.

Can't Come Back - Under Defeat (DC, PS3, 360)

This helicopter shoot 'em up with an awkward control scheme was first released on the Dreamcast in 2006. Under Defeat would later receive a HD re-release in 2012 on the PS3 in physical form and on the 360 in 2014 as a digital only title. The game's soundtrack, composed by Shinji Hosoe, is godlike. If you're interested in a physical copy, they tend to be pricey.

Spagonia Rooftop Run Night - Sonic Unleashed (PS2, PS3, Wii, 360)

With Sonic Mania being so well received, bashing any Sonic game that isn't classic 2D has once again become all too common place. It has it's faults, but Sonic Unleashed is a 3D Sonic that I don't find myself hating. The Werehog sections, the most highly criticized aspect of the game does have highly repetitive combat to be sure, but not enough for me to write it off as bad. The music of Sonic Unleashed is among some of the finest in the entire series. If only that dang Werehog fight music didn't interrupt the level themes so often.

Lethal Strike -Final Fantasy Legend II (GB)

If you've played a Final Fantasy Legend title and thought to yourself "This feels mighty different from the other Final Fantasy titles," you're not wrong. Originally games in the SaGa line in Japan, all three GB SaGa games were released under the Final Fantasy Legend label outside of the Land of the Rising Sun. Kenji Ito and Nobuo Uematsu really gave the GB soundchip a workout when writing the music for this game. If you're looking for some standout GB chiptunes, you're in the right place with this one.

Take It! - Auto Modellista (PS2, GCN, XB)

It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when Capcom was once much better company than they are today. They were known for more than fighters and Resident Evil titles and Monster Rancher. The company was willing to experiment to a much greater degree than they do now with titles like Viewtiful Joe and Auto Modellista. Auto Modellista didn't set the world on fire but the game had stunning cel shaded visuals and some kickin' tunes.

Cold Pipe - Street Fighter EX+ Alpha (PS)

The EX series is the oddball of the Street Fighter titles, often viewed as an inferior set of side games when compared to the classic II line and III games. They aren't perfect but 3D Street Fighter could certainly be a lot worse. EX games were co-developed by Arika and they own the non Capcom characters. I'd about given up on seeing Skullomania and the gang but Arika surprised us all this year with the reveal of Fighting EX Layer. The EX games have some outstanding music the the PS version of EX's soundtrack easily surpassing it's arcade counterpart.

Betilla the Fairy - Rayman (Multi)

At a time where so many games were going from sprites to polygons, Rayman was released with some of the best sprite based visuals on any platform, resulting in a game that, over 20 years later, still looks dang good. Rayman is also really freaking hard, like so much harder than Origins, Legends and a lot of other platformers out today hard.

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