The Green (Greens) Album

I really should have had this write up done back in February because I've listened to this album several times since it was released (February 19th). However, the more I blog, the more I realize that being late isn't always a bad thing. Besides, we're not that far off into March to where this is super late.

The Pixel Mixers are at it again. They already blew me away with their F-ZERO: Boost Power! album back in January, and now they are taking a shot at Kirby and company with The Green (Greens) Album. 

Look at that album at work. You've got Sword Kirby (a big favorite of mine), Meta Knight looking like a boss, Waddle Doo and of course, a spear wielding Waddle Dee. He's not the best that is Bandanna Waddle Dee, but you can't have everything you want in life.

This album covers a hefty bit of games from the tough cream puff's history. No doubt one would expect titles like Kibry's Adventure, Kirby Super Star, and the game that kick off the entire series, Kirby's Dream Land to be accounted for and they are. However, titles such as Kirby: Canvas Curse, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Kirby Air Ride and Kirby Mass Attack are also represented here. Across the span of 19 tracks, eight Kirby games are covered over an hours worth of music.

City Trial was a much loved mode in Kirby Air Ride, so it is no surprise that that mode's track was arranged. I personally would have killed for a Machine Passage arrange, but the City Trial remix does suffice. The metal arranges of Gourmet Race and Marx's Theme from Kirby Super Star are baller and hearing another Marshmallow Castle remix is starting to make me think that more people love that song than I originally thought. One may not think of Forest Trail when they think of music from Kirby's Adventure, but I've always loved that tune and it has been give a vocal rock arrangement. Enjoy the Zero Two arrangement from Kirby 64, now with more A Capella. Kirby Collecting (Kirby Mass Attack) is a sweet jazz session piece, Grassland sounds like it could have been a bonus arranged track in Kirby's Epic Yarn and I never would have imagined that an acoustic guitar version of Grape Garden could sound so dang good.

The Pixel Mixers are truly something else. Whether I'm listening to a new album or one of their older projects, they continue to impress. Go and download this album right now. It is free and if you want some great gaming arrangements or that Kirby itch is getting hard to hold off scratching with the upcoming release of Kirby: Star Allies, grab The Green (Greens) Album.

The (Green Greens) Album

Favorite Tunes #9: Tutorial Themes

It's important to know how to play a game so we have tutorials. Though not featured in every game, they are far more common in today's mainstream gaming industry. Sometimes these training sessions are quick and to the point. Other times they are drawn out, making us wish we could just start the game already. Tutorial music tends to be overlooked in the world of video game music and that's a real shame because some of my favorite gaming tunes have come from learning how to play a game.

                                   Time to Learn - Kirby Super Star (SNES, DS)

One of the best Kirby games, Kirby Super Star's Time to Learn reminds me of children sitting in a classroom, eager to be taught. Oh, the harsh reality of school. If this tune played in classrooms, I'm positive most kids wouldn't mind being stuck in a desk for hours. For some odd reason, you would be sent to the tutorial in Kirby Super Star whenever you started a new game, regardless of whether you selected yes or no. So there was no way you could miss hearing this delightful tune.

                                            Training - Luigi's Mansion (GCN)

Launching right alongside the GameCube, Luigi's Mansion was an incredibly fun ghost catching game that was unfairly slammed by critics for not being a Mario game. This was the first time a Nintendo system launched and Mario was absent. Luigi's Mansion may not have featured the same platforming exploits that Mario showed off with new Nintendo hardware in the past, but it was not a bad game in the slightest. Most of the music in Luigi's Mansion are creepy horror themes, but there are a few funky tunes thrown in there like the excellent Training theme. You learn everything you need to know about catching ghosts and moving around as this sweet club-like tune plays.

                          chatterbox - Radirgy (Arcade, Dreamcast, GCN, Wii)

When the North American GameCube release of this title was canceled in 2005, it seemed like gamers in the west would never get to experience this shooter. But 2009, saw the release of Ultimate Shooting Collection for the Wii, collecting three of Milestone's shooters, Karous, Chaos Field, and Radirgy (a compilation I need to pick up.) Radigry features some of the most cartoony visuals ever seen in a shoot 'em up and a standout soundtrack by Daisuke Nagata and Kou Hayashi. If I were ever got to introduce myself in front of an audience on camera or in person, this is the music that I would have playing. Not because I'm overly happy and optimistic (because I'm certainly not) but because I think it makes a great intro tune as well as a one for teaching.

                                   Tutorial - Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX, PSP)

What can be said about Final Fantasy Tactics that has not already been said? It has an incredibly deep combat system, memorable characters and a wonderful soundtrack. Composed by Masaharu Iwata and Hitoshi Sakimoto, Final Fantasy Tactics has one of my favorite scores from a video game. The excellent tutorial theme tends to get overlooked in favor of the exceptional battle tracks and more moving themes. It's a very upbeat theme in a game that has a story that can be quite melancholy at times.