Favorite Tunes #263: Joker Steals the Show

For the five of you that were not aware, Joker dropped in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Wednesday. He's a pretty fun character and I very much love the selection of music that he brought with him. Along with music from Persona 5, there's music from Cuphead, Yoshi's Crafted World as well as the super hard SHMUP, Devil Engine.

Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There - Persona 5 (PS3, PS4)

You know what I love about the Super Smash Bros. games (among many other things, that is)? They often serve as a gateway to other games or other game soundtracks. With Joker having finally dropped in Ultimate, that means more music joining the game's already superb soundtrack. As happy as I am to have Last Surprise be one of the songs on Joker's stage, this is shaping up to be one of my favorite tunes from Persona 5. Which reminds me, I should probably get around to listening to that game's soundtrack. Along with playing the game.

Elder Kettle - Cuphead (PC, XBO, NS)

The duo of Cuphead and Mugman have arrived on the Switch and I am loving it. I've died plenty of times already but I haven't had the urge to break my Switch yet. I'm still in the early stages of the game so I imagine the difficulty will pick up soon enough. And that throwback jazz soundtrack is just soooooo gooooood!

Waku Waku - Yoshi's Crafted World (NS)

Yoshi's Woolly World just may be a my favorite Yoshi game. After trying out the demo for Yoshi's Crafted World back in February, I was excited to get my hands on the finished product and it is just the kind of fun and adorableness one would expect from a Yoshi game.

First Attack - Thunder Cross (ARC)

Thunder Cross is one of the games on the Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection that I never played prior to purchasing the compilation. It definitely takes several cues from the Gradius games but still feels like its own game. Like the Gradius titles, Thunder Cross is plentiful with catchy music.

Katana ZERO - Katana ZERO (PC, NS)

I'm not sure what it was about April 18th, but every just decided to let all of their games release on that day. Cuphead, Hell is Other Demons, Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection and Katana ZERO, a game where you play as an assassin who makes kills in style. You can slow down time to deflect bullets or pick up objects to hurl at your targets. One very nice touch about this game is that each time a level begins, your characters turns on some music to listen to. Even assassins got kill to some sick beats.

Jazzy NNYC (STAGE 2) - Devil Engine (PC, PS4, NS)

There are so many wonderful games that have dropped this past week alone that I feel bad for neglecting the games I haven't finished. Devil Engine feels like a love letter to Technosoft's Thunder Force game from the ship design and the power up system. The game looks and sounds magnificent. I haven't even progressed far enough to hear the game's entire soundtrack and I already love it.

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Favorite Tunes #249: Glorious Mega Man 5 Medley

Smash Ultimate is so dang good. Last week the game took up the entirety of Favorite Tunes, but this week, only a single track gets a slot. You can expect me to be talking about the music from Ultimate for a very long time. However, other music this week comes from OutRun, Double Dragon II and Persona 5.

Nina Williams - Tekken 3 (ARC)

Some fans feel that Tekken music has gotten worse over the years. While on the one hand, I see it as the music changing with the times, I can sort of see where they are coming from. There's a lot of music in Tekken 7 that seems to have an emphasis on being loud above all else. Regardless of that, Tekken 7 still has some really good tracks. If you prefer the music from earlier Tekken entries, Tekken 2 and Tekken 3 are arguably the best of the first four Tekken titles.

Dark Man Stage (Mega Man 5)  - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NS)

Wallpaper by Cat with Monocle

The new remixes of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are freaking amazing. I was only expecting a few new tracks for the Wily Castle stage, but to my surprise, there are a dozen of them. The title of this one may be Dark Man Stage, but it contains the Fake Proto Man Whistle, the Get a Weapon jingle, the Opening theme and the Title music, pretty much making it a badawesome Mega Man 5 Medley. Go to the Wily Castle stage in My Music and crank this sucker to Often on max.

You Get (Stage 4) - Zero Wing (ARC)

Largely know for the "All Your Base" memes it spawned in 2001, Zero Wing's origins are that of an arcade game, where the botched translation that spawned the meme is nowhere to be found (that would be the Mega Drive version). Being a game developed by the defunct Toaplan, the music is exceptionally awesome.

Mission 1: Heliport - Double Dragon II: The Revenge (ARC)

The Double Dragon II has been out on the PS4 under the Arcade Archives line for a few years now but if you prefer to take your arcade experiences on the go, it recently came to the Switch. If you wonder why the subtitle is called "The Revenge," look no further than the intro, which sees Marian getting gunned down. Spoilers, be tee dubs.

Life Will Change - Persona 5 (PS3, PS4)

Considering the fact that Joker has been announced as the first DLC character for Smash Ultimate, I think that posting some music from his game is appropriate. I've never played Persona 5 but it was one of those games of 2017 that it was impossible to not hear about. Even the game's most famous battle theme, Last Surprise, reached my ears and I'm really hoping it is one of the music choices for Joker's stage in Ultimate, along with this one.

Step-On Beat - SEGA AGES OutRun (NS)

Developed by M2, one of the best in the business when it comes to emulation, SEGA AGES OutRun is already out on the Japanese Switch eShop. Gamers outside of Japan will receive the game in early January of 2019. Along with all of the music from the 3D Out Run on the 3DS, The SEGA AGES Switch version includes four brand new songs, using instruments to match the original 1986 OutRun soundtrack. It's pretty rad to hear the Genesis exclusive track, Step-On Beat with arcade sound.

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Favorite Tunes #227: In the Wind

Arcade music, PC, SNES music and some modern console offerings are the order of the week for Favorite Tunes.

Labyrinth (Alternate) - Space Megaforce (SNES)

Known as Super Aleste in Japan. Also known as a super expensive game on the second hand market, which is why I'd love to see this one get a re-re-release via digital. If you've played Space Megaforce and were wondering why you never heard this beat that's because it wasn't in the western release, but was a Japan exclusive.

Dancing Horming (Bonus A) - Metal Black (ARC)

What's this? A song from Metal Black that isn't Dual Moon? Yes, that is my absolute favorite track from Metal Black, but the entire soundtrack to this game is awesome. I recently made a Zuntata playlist and added quite a few songs from this game. And in case you're wondering, no, I did not misspell the title. According to the back of the official 1992 soundtrack, that is exactly what it is called.

Pomp and Circumstance - Sonic After the Sequel (PC)

Before Sonic Mania was "the best Sonic game Sonic Team didn't make" it was Freedom Planet and sometime before that it was Sonic After the Sequel. In all seriousness, you haven't played either of those two aforementioned games, you really should. After the Sequel has music on par with that of Sonic Mania. You'd think this was a level theme but no, its a menu jam.

Start Demo & Main Theme - Bubble Bobble (ARC)

Another game featuring music by the very talented ZUNTATA? I actually posted the Main Theme to Bubble Bobble 2 on the NES some time ago. I'm a bit surprised it has taken me this long to cover such a well known, iconic piece of ZUNTATA music in its original form. Once you hear it, you can't unhear it.

In the Wind - Gradius III (ARC)

The SNES port was my introduction into the Gradius series. Gradius III on the arcade certainly plays better than the home version but the sheer difficulty of the co-op version is enough to turn away even the most hardcore of fans. The SNES version is merciful in that it gives you a few continues once you use up all your lives. Still, the arcade version's music is top notch stuff.

Last Surprise - Persona 5 (PS3, PS4)

I wanted to get around to playing Persona 5 when it came out but I just never did. Even without having played the game, the massively popular Last Surprise was too big to escape my notice. This disco inspired vocal number has quickly become one of the most well known Persona tracks even to those that haven't played Persona 5.

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