With the COVID-19 pandemic running rampant across America and cases spiking in other countries, the CDC has strongly advised against having the little ones go out trick or treating. For Halloween 2020, I suggest taking a spooky game for a spin or listening to some horror inspired tunes. Lucky for you, I got six of those blow.
Stage 7: Den - Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES)
Also known as the inferior version of Rondo of Blood. Yes, yes, the PCE version of this game is miles better. But dang it, Dracula X still has an outstanding soundtrack. I was gonna go with the excellent version of Blood Tears but Den sounds really good on the SNES hardware.
Iron Horse, Iron Terror (Queen Bee Stage) - Darkstalkers 3 (ARC)
Halloween themed Street Fighter, some say. Regardless, I really like the art style and character designs of this series and with Capcom releasing so many different compilations of late, Darkstalkers is long overdue. I nearly forgotten how awesome the beats are to this series, the third game in particular.
Big Boo's Haunt - Super Mario 64 (N64)
I've never liked Ghosts Houses. Boos were irksome foes to deal with in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World went and gave the little buggers their own course in almost every world. Super Mario 64 not only has a whole course with Boos of different sizes floating around, it also has a piano that I'm sure freaked more than a few people out back in the day. I recently saw it spook my nephew. Yeah, I could have told him in advance but that would have deprived me of a good chuckle.
Mine Cart Madness - Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
The mine cart levels could test the patience of even the most sane individual. Jump too soon, ya die. Jump to late, ya die. Memorization was key to getting through these levels. As touch as the mine cart stages could be in the SNES DKC trilogy, they don't have anything on DKC Returns or Tropical Freeze. The feats of wizardry you have to pull off to survive in those levels can be insane.
Sandopolis Zone Act 2 - Sonic 3 & Knuckles (GEN)
Act 1 of Sandopolis has you trekking across the sands of Angel Island. For act 2, you go inside a pyramid, unleash some ghosts that became nightmare fuel if you don't find a light switch fast. The more eerie version of Sandopolis really sells that feeling of discomfort as you play through this level.
Key Cavern (Level 3) - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (NSW)
A remake of one of my favorite Zelda games, the Switch version improved upon the original while keeping the spirit of 1993 game well in tact. Even on the old GB hardware Level 3 sounded super creepy to me. That same unsettling feeling is echoed through this arrangement.
I'm still playing some games from 2018 while glancing at others that I missed. That whole backlog struggle is real. Case in point, I haven't even played my copy of Spider-Man yet. A certain crossover title has taken up a lot of my time lately. That game hasn't stopped me from picking songs for Favorite Tunes. Too much.
If you're having trouble finding Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom in stores, hop online and grab a copy off Amazon. For some reason, most retail chains are carrying extremely limited copies of this game. That is a real shame because this is one of my favorite titles of 2018. This is old school action plaftorming with RPG elements mixed with a modern flair and some really talented game music writers.
These days, our games auto save after every little thing. You kids today. You just don't know the struggle of... the old days. In a game like Donkey Kong Country that started off simple enough, but ramped up in difficulty as you continued onward, seeing Candy was like stumbling across an oasis after trudging for hours in a desert. Candy, DK's girlfriend would save your progress. Unfortunately, you always had to do a few levels in each world before Candy's save point could be accessible. This kinda old school design really stung in late game.
Known as Two Crude Dudes on the Genesis only and only home port, this game was released digitally under the Johnny Turbo's Arcade line for the Switch. Two Crude isn't setting the world on fire, but I don't know many beat 'em ups that let you pick up so much heavy stuff like, say, a car, and chuck onto some sap.
Is that a track from Smash Ultimate? Why, yes, yes it is. Whoever would have guessed. Those of you that may be tiring of the Smash music, my apologies, but I love, love, love, this game's soundtrack. I became acquainted with this track in World of Light when I unlocked Wii Balance Board's dojo. It got me to look up the original track this is based off of, which it turns out is quite relaxing. I think it so awesome that games like Wii Fit U, a game most probably wouldn't think too highly of, got such a lively remix, which is another reason I love the Smash games so much.
If you've been going through World of Light in Ultimate, you've probably come across a few fights where "hostile assist trophies will appear." Depending on the battle, one of those hostile assists can be Sukapon, a pink, limbless robot, who actually hits pretty hard. The game he hails from, Joy Mech fight will be added to the NES games, oh, I'm sorry, the Famicom games via Nintendo Switch Online in Japan this month. One of the many Japanese FC games, Nintendo just won't give those of us outside of Japan.
Batman on the NES was one of those rare licensed games that, like DuckTales, was actually good. It was hard, sure, but it was still a quality title with some nice action, platforming and visuals befitting of the dark knight. The soundtrack was also freaking awesome. Everyone remembers Stage 1, but the whole dang score is amazing, some of the best audio on the NES.
Happy new year! We're kicking off 2019 with a brand new feature!
There are times when the central character has aid from friends or allies. The former may be used in a looser sense when it comes to certain entries, but regardless, With a Little Help From My Friends shines the spotlight on those that help the main star on their journey.
Cappy - Super Mario Odyssey
When Mario's cap gets destroyed after his latest scuffle with Bowser during a failed attempt to rescue Peach, Cappy decides to join Mario in rescuing her. The Koopa King also kidnapped Cappy's younger sister, Tiara, so the two have a common goal. Cappy replaces Mario's old cap as the two travel the globe on a grand adventure.
While Cappy may be a temporary replacement for Mario's cap, he is no mere substitute. This sentient cap can be tossed about to pull levers, collect coins and even function as an additional platformer for Mario. Whenever he's thrown, he'll return to Mario like a boomerang. That's all pretty dang handy and crafty players can skip certain sections of a level entirely when combining Mario's crazy jumping abilities with Cappy. If that were all Cappy could do, I'd still be pretty impressed but he has one other amazing skill: capture. Toss Cappy onto the head of an enemy and Mario will be able to take control of them. How does taking control of a giant fist to punch a stone creature in the face sound? Or taking over a Goomba so you won't slide around on ice? How about taking control of a freaking T-rex? I don't think I ever understood how much fun Hammer Bros. had until I was the one wearing their face, throwing the hammers at them. Cappy might just be the most valuable and powerful ally Mario has in his entire series. Sorry, Yoshi, but you're gonna have to step that game up.
Rush - Mega Man Classic Series
Your dog greets you when you come home from a rough day at work. They sit with your on the sofa while you watch Netflix or Hulu. Man's best friend. Yeah, no, your dog isn't that great. The best dog ever isn't made of flesh, but metal. Created by Dr. Light to assist Mega Man on his third adventure, its Rush.
Rush has "real" dogs beat because when Mega Man takes him out for a walk, he doesn't squat in the grass to make a mess, so Rock doesn't have to go through that whole awkwardness that is cleaning up after him in front of others. But wait, there's more! Rush comes with a spring board to launch Mega Man to out of reach places. He can transform into a jet for air travel. Rush is so good that Masahiro Sakurai decided to make him Mega Man's recovery in Super Smash Bros. and you can also use the red dog to help send suckers into the blast zone with Air Tornado. Can your dog do any of that? Of course he/she can't because your dog sucks!
Pepelogoo - Monster World IV
Asha, the first female lead in the Monster World/Monster Boy series is aided by a member of the Pepelogoo species. They come in two colors, and while the yellow ones turn out to be bad news, controlling the people of Rapadagna City, the blue one that accompanies Asha, Pepe, is as loyal a friend as they come.
Pepe can be used to help Asha glide, perform a double jump and because of his initial size, it can reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible to her. Pepe also has an insane resistance to lava, making the help it provides in the Handera Volcano invaluable. Pepe cares deeply for Asha and would go to great lengths to protect her, even at the cost of it's own life.
Enguarde - Donkey Kong Country Series
Say it with me everyone one: water levels suck! You are at the mercy of countless H2O, which means sluggish movement and usually bad swimming controls. Things are a bit worse for the Kong clan. They can't jump on the heads of the sea life like they would the land dwelling Kremlings nor can they chuck barrels at them, meaning conflict has to be avoided entirely. This is where Enguarde comes in.
This aquatic companion makes water levels far more tolerable for DK and company with better movement and a dash attack that dismantles most underwater foes on contact. Whenever you're in a water level, finding Enguarde should be your number one priority. Along with being incredibly useful, Enguarde is as cute as a button.
2018 is just a few short days of being outta here. I feel like I say this about every year but this one went by really fast. It's been a pretty wild ride with some awesome games and I'm looking forward to even more in 2019.
As a child, I played a lot of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. on my NES, so music the jingles of both of those titles are firmly implanted into my brain. I was not expecting a killer medley of both game's soundtracks in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As cool as it is to be able to select the song you want on a stage before the match begins, sometimes you ought to let the game decided what is played via your song settings. That's how I came across this baby.
Originally released in 2015 for iOS and Android as Horizon Chase, the game has since come to PC PS4 and more recently, Xbox One and the Switch with an added "Turbo" to the title. If you've got to scratch that arcade racer itch, this game comes highly recommended from yours truly. The game has a very cool visual style and a far out soundtrack by Barry Leitch, known for his work on racing titles such as Top Gear.
Between the Spider-Mans and Smash Ultimates, make sure you don't let Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom slip under your radar. This retro inspired game has plenty of modern trimmings like frequent save points, lush HD graphics and an outstanding musical score. As I oinked through the sewers, I couldn't get over how mesmerizing this jam was. And then I found out the composer of this piece was none other than Michiru Yamane. You PC games will get this game in early 2019.
One of the best things about this futuristic racing series is the soundtrack. Hitting the ground running are some hard beats by Tim Wright, also known as CoLD SToRAGE. It can be a bit difficult keeping the first few WipeOut game's soundtracks straight as some versions had completely different scores. When it comes to the first game, however, Mr. Wright's music instantly springs to the front of my mind.
This super calming song happens to have a stellar remix you can listen to while you send poor saps to the blast zone in Smash Ultimate. Kinda of a shame that the original wasn't included.
I'm not asking for a new Smash game anytime soon but if we get more DK reps, I'm all for Lord Fredrick. That final boss fight demonstrated a plethora of moves for Sakurai to play around with. Back to the game he came from, if you missed Tropical Freeze on the Wii U it is one of the many ports you can now buy on the Switch.
1994. The strong winds of change were blowing in the video game industry. Nintendo was holding second place to SEGA during the 16-bit SNES/Genesis console war but the fifth generation of consoles was on the rise and a new player had entered the ring. Sony would release the PlaySation in Japan but the system was already making waves outside of the Land of the Rising Sun despite the fact that it wouldn't hit North America and European shores almost a year later. SEGA also had their own fifth gen console release in '94, the Saturn and like the PS, it also released outside of Japan in 1995. Of course Nintendo had their own supped up, polygonal baby in the works, but the N64 wouldn't hit store shelves anywhere in the world until 1996. Polygons and higher bits were heavy talking points during these times and while the Genesis and SNES had seen a few games boasting polygons, they weren't on the same level as what the PS and Saturn were capable of, the former, which would later become a serious head turner. Even though all of this was going on, one of Nintendo's biggest icons made a huge resurgence this year on hardware that was already available on all sides of the world.
Though he made his debut in same game that Mario did and was very well known, Donkey Kong as a character was pushed aside in favor of the Italian that would become Nintendo's mascot. Other than the home ports of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. on the NES in the mid to late 1980s, the Big N wouldn't refocus their sights on Donkey Kong until 1994, which saw the release of not one, but two Donkey Kong titles.
The first Donkey Kong game to release used the same title as the 1981 arcade version, Donkey Kong, though it is often referred to as Donkey Kong GB due to the platform it was released, the Game Boy. Releasing during the summer of 1994, it combined elements with the original Donkey Kong game as well as those from Donkey Kong Jr.and even Super Mario Bros. 2. Much longer than the four levels of the first two Donkey Kong games, this puzzle/platformer stared Mario as he playable character while DK and DK Jr. were the antagonists. Donkey Kong GB would go on to be a million seller for Nintendo but it would be overshadowed by the the second Donkey Kong game to release that same year, one that saw the big ape finally step into a staring role.
Even before Donkey Kong Country released during the fall of 1994, the hype for this game was huge. I remember multi-page previews of the game appearing in issues of GamePro and Nintendo Power and being in awe of the game's jaw dropping visuals. Donkey Kong Country was a 32-meg game running on 16-bit hardware. This was the type of game you'd think you'd would only be possible on the next gen systems but here DKC was, running on a the four year old SNES technology and not the new fangled fifth gen babies gamers were drooling to get their hands on. The fact that DKC could be played on a system that most players owned at the time was even a selling point and Nintendo was none too shy to rub this fact in SEGA's face. SEGA had been known for their aggressive advertising against Nintendo in the western market and after years of just sitting there and taking it, Nintendo struck back both in magazine and TV ads.
A western ad for DKC.
Anyone that owned a SNES wanted DKC. The hype Nintendo drummed up for the game along with the stunning visual presentation attracted buyers in droves and I was one of the many that coveted the game. For Christmas 1994, my dad bought me the game and it is one of the few gifts I remember getting that year. Needless to say, I was one very happy 13 year old on Christmas morning.
I had seen the game on demo displays during trips to Wal-Mart and Meijer but having the game in my own hands made it feel so more more real. I looked over the front and back of the box, marveling, jumping with excitement to play the game. As much as I wanted to dive right in, though, I took some time to read the instruction manual (those things that used to come with physical versions of the game all the time). Inside was more cool 3D renders of DK and company and it was through the manual that I got familiar with my favorite member of the Kong clan, Cranky Kong, whom the manual stated to be the original DK that kidnapped Pauline in the first DK game (which, I believe is no longer cannon). Cranky lived up to his name, always grumpy and always berating the player. He really did a lot to liven up that instruction manual. As if that weren't enough, each world had a location known as Canky's Cabin, where he would go on and on about how games were so much better back in his day. In between going on nostalgia trips and tell me how much I sucked, he would sprinkle in advice before telling me to get off his lawn. Cranky never failed to make me laugh so I would frequently visit him.
The manual also went into detail about the whole reason for DK's latest adventure: retrieving his banana horde from King K. Rool and his army of Kremlings. It was a different reason to go on a platforming quest to be sure. In the past, I was always rescuing princesses or foiling the plans of mad doctors. This time, we had to save the potassium. There was also the matter of Diddy Kong, DK's sidekick, getting stuffed away in a barrel, but saving the bananas was the main thing, so while the reasons for the adventure was different from what I was used to, I was perfectly fine with it.
DKC's striking graphics may have been a major selling point, but there was a really fun platformer beneath it all. Sure, it would be refined and polished in later entries, but for the first in the series, this was really freaking strong start. Enemies could not only be stomped on but rolled into to dispose of them and it always felt gratifying to take out several in one fell swoop. The differences between DK and Diddy were instantly noticeable with DK being stronger, but slower and Diddy being faster but weaker. I loved the switching mechanic between the two of them where they would slap hands to single who would take the lead. I remember doing this over and over at one point because the animation was such a joy to watch. (I was easily amused back then and still am to a degree.)
I recall the huge smile on my face as I went through the game's first few levels, hoping off the top of palm trees, swinging from vine to vine, riding Rambi, hitting a wall with him to unearth a hidden bonus level and being amazed at how stunning the game looked at the time. I had seen these types of levels like this before but never had they looked this good. When I got to the game's first water level, I was slack jawed both by the visuals and what would become one of my all-time favorite water themes in a video game, Aquatic Ambiance. That level felt like such a pleasure cruise. Taking in the water effects as I used Engarde to slam into sharks and listen to that beautiful, beautiful music.
I couldn't do a Memories post on DKC without gushing about this game's marvelous soundtrack. Composed by David Wise, Eveline Novakovic and Robin Beanland, DKC's music was praised just as highly as the visuals were back when it was released. While DKC may look dated today, the soundtrack has aged beautifully. DKC was one of the few games to get a soundtrack release outside of Japan in the form of DK Jamz album. I couldn't get my hands on that so I help a TV recorder up to my TV and recorded many of the songs that were my favorite like the aforementioned Aquatic Ambiance, Forest Frenzy, Treetop Rock, Bad Boss Boogie, Funky's Fugue and Fear Factory. I'm pretty sure I ended up wearing that tape out.
My trip through DK Isle was tons of fun but not without some serious snags. I had gotten several game overs due to some pretty tough levels. It took me numerous attempts to pass the third world and those mine cart levels were murder (they would get even more insane when the DKC came back on the Wii and Wii U/Switch) but the biggest hurdle to overcome was the first level of the fourth world, Snow Barrel Blast. Holy crap, this level was one nasty difficulty spike. Usually the worst part of snow and ice level is the slippery terrain but that wasn't even a big deal here. Snow Barrel Blast was a level that got worse the further you progressed into it. Things start out simple enough but before you know, it beings to snow, the snow turns into a blizzard, which hampers your visibility, which sucks because this level has some of the trickiest barrel shooting segments in the game.I'm guessing Rare was fuly aware of how insane this level was because they hid a shortcut that lets you bypass the final stretch of the level. I wish I had known that as a teen because I took the normal rout and died so many times on this level. What made it so agonizing is that Candy's Save Point was a few levels after Snow Barrel Blast, so if I got a game over before reaching her, which I think I did, I had to do Snow Barrel Blast all over again.
In spite of those setbacks, I pressed onward and before I knew it, I was at the final area of the game, Gang-Plank Galleon. Not having a strategy guide, this was my first time seeing King K. Rool so I had to learn his patterns on my own. All of the bosses had been easy peasy and the same was true for the Kremling's leader. To my surprise, he dropped fairly quickly. When the credits began to roll, something seemed strange. Why where the developer's names so odd? When "The End?" appeared, I knew for certain something wasn't right. Sure enough, K. Rool go back up and resumed his attack, catching me off guard, making me have to start the fight all over again. It took me a few attempts but King K. Rool ended toppling for real on December 31, 1994. Yes, I spent my Christmas breaking playing and finishing DKC.
DKC did a lot to turn the 16-bit war in Nintendo's favor. Just as Sonic the Hedgehog had helped SEGA steal the number one spot from Nintendo, DKC helped SNES sales catch up to the Genesis. The game would end up selling more than 9 million copies worldwide and helped the SNES stay relevant during the 32-bit console generation. Of course there were tons of great SNES titles in 1994, but few had the impact that DKC did. Yes, it looks archaic today, but back then, it was mind blowing stuff. Fortunately the DKC holds up pretty well, not was well as the 1995 sequel, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and other games in the series, but the first DKC is still good, nonetheless. For everything that the game did for the SNES and Nintendo all those years ago, it also made a 13 year old boy very happy and for that, I couldn't be more thankful.
This is a Flash Back Favorite Tunes without the Flash Back in the subtitle because, well, the title above is long enough as it is. But, it isn't just any old Flash Back, no. With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate being three months from release, my excitement for the game is building by the day. So while these are all tracks that have been featured in Favorite Tunes before, I'd love for all of them to be in Ultimate for our Smashing pleasure.
Remember the Excite series? It saw a revival on the Wii with three releases, the first of which was Excite Truck. It didn't set the world on fire but at least Nintendo still recognized that the Excite games existed before letting the series lay dormant after the retail bomb that was Excktebots: Trick Racing, a game that released to zero advertisement. There was a single track from Excite Truck in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and it was carried over to Smash 4. My pick for another Excite Truck is Nebula, hands down.
The Tanker is a pretty short section in Metal Gear Solid 2. After you finish it, you spend the rest of the game playing as Raiden on the Big Shell. I kinda wish this was the standard Encounter theme for MGS2 because out of the entire MG series, this Encounter theme is my favorite and it is a shame that you don't get to hear it much in game.
The last Smash Direct had a killer Opening Stage remix from the first Mega Man X, so I'm hoping it is not the only X track to be used in the Mega Man stage. As awful of a game as X6 is, the soundtrack is dripping with quality. If any one track from X6 could be in Ultimate, I would love for it to be this theme.
Breaking news, the Wii U did not sell well and neither did Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. The game has fared much better on the Switch despite the higher price tag attached. I'm happy to see it doing better on the Switch because it is a pretty ace 2.5D platformer. The lack of this song being in Smash 4 made me a very sad panda. I mean, just listen to this track. It needs to be a tune we can Smash to.
Bomberman is an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Yes, there are those that wanted him as a playable character but even getting a slot on the Assist Trophy roster in Smash is nothing to scoff at. Since Konami owns the rights to Hudson's IPs, it would be great to see some Bomberman jams used on the Shadow Moses stage.
One of the Wii U games that has not turned up on the Switch (yet, anyway.) Nintendo has been going ham on jazz in their video games and I'm a all for it. Super Mario 3D World. With Ultimate having more music than any other Smash game, I'm hoping to see more tracks from 3D World. As much as I enjoyed Super Bell Hill, give me Athletic/Chainlink Charge all day, every day.
Simon Belmont is gonna be in Smash. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Terry Bogart showed up. If you read the subtitle for this week, you already know what's up. That big boy king is back but besides music for the biggest crossover series, there's also some tunes from Metal Gear Solid 3, Zed Blade and Prehistoric Isle 2.
Quite possibly the best game in the Metal Gear saga, chronologically, this is where the whole series kicks off. We get introduced to key members such as future Big Boss and Revolver Ocelot. While this entry isn't my personal favorite (that goes to Metal Gear Solid 2, despite the game's faults), I still think Metal Gear Solid 3 is worth all of the praise it has received. Snake Eater song but I wouldn't mind Smashing to this track in Ultimate.
If you're looking for some jazzy, dance worthy music, you should definitely check out the soundtrack for Zed Blade, also known as Operation Ragnarok in Japan. Granted, I can't speak for the game itself (haven't ever played it) but the soundtrack is something I can see myself playing regularly while I write or do some reading. If you need further insensitive to listen to this soundtrack, it was written by Manabu Namiki.
Since King K. Rool has finally come out of retirement, it seems only fitting to post his boss theme. I searched my blog and was surprised to find that not only did I not post the remix from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but I never mentioned the original either. That mistake has been remedied. And yes, he did get me with those fake kredits all those years ago.
Dinosaurs are roaming around in modern times and it's your job to make like the ice age and kill them off. With all the dino murdering you'll be doing, it may be hard to focus on the music. While not the most difficult shooter, it still throws a ton of enemies and bullets at you so there's never a dull moment. That being said, I like the old, retro movie-like score this game goes with. Stage 2 sounds especially heroic.
Man, I still cannot believe that I can play arcade classics like KoF'98 anytime, anywhere on the Switch. The series itself is going on twenty five years old, but this year marks the 20th anniversary of KoF'98, what is widely considered to be the best game in the entire franchise. Technology has allowed for prettier, faster games, but this one still plays and sounds excellent.
I know Casttlevania Judgement wasn't well recieved but that soundtrack was soooo awesome. It pleases me that a few remixes from Judgement are making their way to Smash Ultimate. Heck, the list for the Castlevania stage alone is very extensive. Maybe Square Enix will give Cloud more than two songs this time around.
This sister series of Much Needed Re-Releases is finally back after a break that lasted far too long. With all the great new releases coming in 2018, make sure you don't forget to revisit these old favorites. Or in some people's cases, they just might be playing these games for the first time.
Dangun Feveron (PS4, XBO)
A shooter with disco music? No way something like that can be real. And yet it is. Released way back in 1998, Cave's Dangun Feveron has finally be released outside of Japan via digital distribution. Just as the case was with Battle Garegga Rev. 2016, Dangun Feveron comes loaded with M2 Gadgets and four soundtracks, allowing you to customize your experience. It isn't a long game by any means (most games in this genre are quite short after all) but Dangun Feveron is so engaging that you're more than likely to do several play throughs in a single setting. You can choose from three fighter types and three power shots. For ships, I prefer type-B for the wide shot since there is rarely a moment where something in this game isn't trying to kill you and there is no shortage of bullets on the screen. Lock on is also a good choice for obvious reasons and while bomb and roll are interesting, they take some skill and patience to use. Regardless, I do like the weapon variety and that they can be paired up anyway you see fit. At $34.99 this might be a bit too pricey for some. Personally, I've been having a blast with this game so it was worth every penny.
Also available on: ARC
Danmaku Unlimited 3 (NS)
This was my first entry into the Danmaku Unlimited games and I came away very pleasantly surprised. As much as I love SHMUPs, bullet hell shooters tend to make me a bit uneasy. This one caters to both newbies and vets, with a modes for beginners as well as more experienced players. Even on the easy setting, Danmaku Unlimited 3 throws a lot of bullets at you but evading them isn't nearly as difficult as you might think. With the graze mechanic that gives you extra points for placing yourself in harms way, there's some incentive to go in the direction the bullets are flying. This is the only SHMUP were I constantly try to get as close to enemy fire as I can. There are no power ups to collect so you never have to worry about your ship being in a weakened state. You can mix and match between different two different weapon setups and while you beam is way powerful and great against bosses, it slows down your ship considerably. The Switch is already full of SHMUPs and Danmaku Unlimited 3 stands among the cream of the crop.
Also available on: PC
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (NS)
This outstanding 2D platformer sold like mud cakes on the Wii U. Given the runaway success of the Switch, it is no surprise that the sales for the later version have already surpassed that of the former version. If you've never played Tropical Freeze, prepare yourself for vibrant, imaginative, challenging levels and bosses. Some folks are miffed at the $60 price tag considering you can get this on the Wii U for $20. By all means, snag Tropical Freeze if you didn't have a Wii U or if you want to play this amazing platformer anywhere.
Also available on: Wii U
#Breakforcist Battle (NS)
You can pay a little less to play this on your iOS or Android device, but the Switch version comes with four player multiplayer. #Breakforcist is another Arkanoid Clone but with the blocks you have to break descending upon you faster with each passing wave, there's more pressure to destroy them before the end your run. Certain blocks yield different power ups. Hit a bomb and it will send the blocks back upwards a bit, buying you more time. Get a bacon laser to blast blocks with ease. This a simple, fun game that is tough to master and will make you yearn for the return of a trackball controller. Still, even without one, #Breakcorcist Battle is well worth having in the morning or whatever time you prefer to have breakfast.
Let us have moment of silence for the dearly departed. We morn the loss of a friend which made our lives ever so much easier. Yes, we will truly, truly miss our wallet.
If you haven't peeked at the number of releases for games coming out this month, boy let me tell you, it is one serious dozy. Even without taking into account every single game coming out for May, the number of releases that have grabbed my interest is almost too much for my poor wallet to handle. Made worse by the fact that some of these games all drop on the same day.
Dark Souls Remastered (PS4, XBO, PC) - May 25th
While I am still salty at the Switch version of this game getting delayed as it is the version I still plan on getting, Dark Souls Remastered is still slated for release on all other platforms in late May and plenty of folks are still looking forward to it. Even those that have not touched Dark Souls are aware of it thanks to meems and the "Prepare to Die" tagline. Vets will probably be fine but noobs, well, you've heard of the phrase "Live and learn," right? Substitute "Die" for "Live" and that will probably be you first few days with Dark Souls Remastered as you explore, fight bosses and try in vain to flee for your life from your latest nightmare fuel. Just use some common sense and some of those deaths can be avoided.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (NS) - May 4th
Wii U owners have probably played this one back in 2014, but the Switch install base has already managed to surpass Nintendo's previous home console's life time. Basically, a lot of Switch owners will be getting down with the DK crew's tropical adventure for the first time. Some bemoan all the ports the Switch is getting (which is odd since the PS4 and XBO were loaded with ports when they first arrived years ago) but the portable factor of the Switch makes the ports all the more appealing. And getting one of the finest 2D platformers and quite possibly the greatest DKC game (yes, even eclipsing Diddy's Kong Quest) to play at home or anywhere is a huge deal. Tropical Freeze's levels will awe you, wow you and frustrate you. There is zero shame in going to the game's shop to stock up on lives and items to make your life a little easier because Tropical Freeze will kick you in the junk. Repeatedly. If you're the short tempered type, I'd advise against playing this game in handheld mode. Funky Mode will make things easier for new players, being able to take more damage than the other Kongs.
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (NS) - May 18th
Released on the Wii U with a TON of content from the get-go then given a host of DLC. Then the game was released on the 3DS with extra content. As the name suggests, this is the Definitive Edition of Hyrule Warriors as it contains all of the content from the Wii U and 3DS versions of Hyrule Warriors. This was my first time playing a Dynasty Warriors game and I really enjoyed it. They may not be overly complex, but there's some so gratifying about running around a field and laying waste to swarms of enemies. Doing so with the cast from The Legend of Zelda series was a huge draw for me and I'm looking forward to slicing fools up as Toon Link. Also Midna is a beast in this game.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (PS4, XBO, NS, PC) - May 29th
It's easy to bag on Capcom these days but every so often they do right by gamers. The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is one such right. If you're gonna celebrate the 30th anniversary of the most influential fighting series of all time, then this is how you do it. 12 Street Fighter games all in one. Games include the craptastic original Street Fighter, the infinitely superior Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, my favorite of the Alpha titles, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. Some of the most popular entries such as 3rd Strike, Hyper Fighting, Super Turbo and Alpha 3 feature online play. Whether you're a hardcore or casual fan, this is one Street Fighter anniversary you will not want to miss.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2 (NS) - May 22nd
*Sigh* Capcom. You had one job. Just put the both Mega Man Legacy Collection titles on a single 32 GB Switch game card. Yet, because Capcom has to be Capcom, they had to make Legacy Collection one a physical game and Legacy Collection 2 a digital download. There are not enough face palm gifs in the world to expression my irritation at Capcom's idiocy. Regardless, I'm still looking forward to the Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2 on the Switch. Having classic Mega Man games on a Nintendo system just feels right. I mean, get to play Mega Man with the Pro Controller? Oh that is just the best.
Owlboy (PS4, NS) - May 29th
Owlboy has been out digitally for some time now. However, us folks that crave physical media are stroked for the hard copy. A game nearly 10 years in the making, Owlboy casts you as the mute hero Otus, flying about and meeting new characters that aid you in combat and puzzle solving. The game won't take you too long to run through but Owlboy gives you plenty of air space to soar and pixel art style is gorgeous, sporting a more SNES-like visual look as opposed to the overused NES-era retro inspired titles. Xbox One owners wanting a physical Owlboy have sadly gotten the short end of the stick.
Steamworld Dig 2 (PS4, NS) - May 22nd
Lovers of physical media and Steamworld Dig 2, your prayers have been answered. Never played either of the Steamworld titles? Think Dig Dug meets Metroid. Mine the vast underground, uncovering new locals, buy gear and power up your digger. A simple, old-school game at it's core but still plenty of fun. Since I never got around to downloading this when it intentionally released, I'll be grabbing a physical copy.
SEGA Genesis Classics (PS4, XBO) - May 29th
Do we really need yet another Genesis/Mega Drive compilation? Seeing as how AT Games efforts are so poor, yes, yes, an resounding YES! More than 50 games are going to be on the SEGA Genesis Classics anthology including the entire Genesis Shinobi Trilogy, Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3 as well as some titles that were not on the previous Genesis collection such as ToeJam & Earl, ToeJam & Earl: Panic on Funcotron, Gunstar Heroes and Alien Storm. Numerous setting let you tinker with screen resolution or recreate those old CRT scan lines that all the cool compilation releases are using these days. You also get a really cool user interface that'd designed as a gamer's room complete with a SEGA posters on the walls and shelf storing all of the games in this collection. For $30, this game is an absolute steal.
Two words that signify that you're a failure at video games and should pick up a hobby where you won't suck so much. Welcome to Game Over, an on-going feature where we take a look at the numerous screens that show you've reached the end of the line. You might find some of these to be humorous while others can be quite unsettling.
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (ARC)
Nothing motivates a player to drop more quarters in the arcade machine then presenting them the very imminent death of their character. Capcom lived and breathed off of it with the games in the '90s as you'll see with the next game on this list. If you don't cough up some dough before the countdown reaches zero, you get a POV of the protagonists getting straight up murdered in cold blood, complete with blood splattered across the screen. Dang!
The Punisher (ARC)
Another Capcom beat 'em up from the 1990s, which means another traumatizing game over screen! When the Punisher goes down, Microchip gives him CPR, desperately trying to get his partner back in action. OK, so it isn't the proper way to do CPR, but regardless, the scene is still pretty tense. When the countdown reaches zero, you get to see and hear Frank's heart flat line. Microchip failed him! No wait, you did because you couldn't cough up more quarters, you cheap git. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie' s Double Trouble (SNES)
Being tossed in a crib seems like more of an annoyance to Dixie Kong than anything else, at least that's what her facial express tells us. Kiddy Kong, on the other hand has a look that sells despair. The fact that the two kongs are in a crib might not seem bad, but then you hear a door slam and the screen goes black, which suggest that the Kremlings put the heroes in a much bigger prison that cannot easily be crawled out of. Daytona USA (ARC)
Alright, we've had enough gloom for this feature. Time to end on a high note. The developers were not only so jazzed about your failure that the sing about it, they do you the curtousey of spelling the words out for you, you know, just in case you forgot how to spell "Game over."
I have always loved the relaxed feeling of Donkey Kong Country 2's Forest Interlude. It is just such a soothing track. This piano and violin arrangement is jaw droppingly mesmerizing and you get to see the duo of Chris and Zorsy perform it in the video below.
As much as the recommendations side bar on YouTube can be irritating, it has shown me some worthwhile content from time to time. This evening, I listened to an amazing jazz arrangement of Forest Interlude, one of my favorite tracks from Donkey Kong Country 2 and an all around great piece of relaxing music. This particular arranger was handled by a group of guys called The Consouls. These guys knocked it out of the freaking park. Not only is their covering of the original track solid, but the breaks away from the original tune are outstanding. David Wise would love the work they've done. What's even better is that you get to see them actually perform the song in the video below.
Man. 2016 is already over? Its been some ride, filled with some really great as well as truly disappointing games. I'm looking forward to what 2017 has to offer. Not just in terms of gameplay but soundtracks as well. Enjoy this last 2016 edition of Favorite Tunes.
The Gold version of Alpha 2 features Cammy based off her X-Men vs. Street Fighter version as well as arranged music and a few theme themes. Between Gold's three different staff roll jams, it can be tough to pick out a favorite. Staff Roll 2 is super smooth.
Fun fact: I actually finished Donkey Kong Country for the first time around New Year's Eve in 1994. It was strangely calming to get an ending where the game lists all of the enemies and bosses as the go across the screen in DK's home. Probably because the last few worlds was the stuff of nightmares in terms of difficulty. Reprise (Credits) - Shovel Knight (Multi)
Look, the good things to say about Shovel Knight have already been said and all of that stuff is 100% true. Go buy Shovel Knight. This game was more than deserving of a physical release and I was glad to see that happen. Jake Kaufman and Manami Matsume's work on the music of Shovel Knight soundtrack is nothing short of freaking brilliant.
I've often said that Final Fantasy VII's music isn't Nobuo Uematsu's best work. But I still think it is a solid score. The game's beautiful Main Theme is easily one of best of any Final Fantasy game. I didn't mind the many times it was arranged throughout the game, and it was wonderful to hear it one final time arranged with the classic Final Fantasy series theme.
Wildly different from the first two Ridge Racer titles, Rage Racer let you upgrade your car with cash won from races. The shift in tone was not just one from a gameplay perspective, but the visuals took on a more realistic (for the time, anyway) look. Of course Rage Racer was still an arcade style racer. even tough it was approaching things a bit differently this time around. The soundtrack still consists of electronica with some jazz and rock. Credits (Super Smash Bros.) - Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
I thought we'd end things on a lively note. I ended up missing a lot of tracks from Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to not playing on certain stages often and not finding all of the music CDs. A good portion of the Brawl remixes came back in Smash for Wii U, so I've been playing catch up on what I missed, like this arranged credits theme to the original Super Smash Bros., which I gotta say, is better than the original. Favorite Tunes Database
