Game Over Part 5

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.


The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U, NS)

Your first few hours/days of playing Breath of the Wild will have this screen staring back at you quite frequently. Being an open world game that does not hold your hand, it is quite easy to wander into an area with enemies far out of the range of your current abilities and get curb stomped. Even early enemies in the game are packing weapons strong enough to one-shot you. When you die in Breath of the Wild, you get some obligatory sad game over jingle, but depending on how you died, the game over screen will differ. If you freeze to death or drown, the words "Game Over" are blue. Death via a lightning strike? Those two famous words will be yellow. These changes might be few but they do add some spice to your death.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (NS, PS4, XBO, PC)

A remake of the Sega Master System's Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, outside of the spruced up hand drawn HD visuals, this game over screen is more or less just like the 8-bit version. Being an a remake of a very old, difficult game, it was nice of the developers to throw you a bone. Every time you die you have a chance to win a blue potion at the game over screen. If it lands on a red heart, the potion is your. What is a blue potion? Think of it as a fairy from the Legend of Zelda games: auto resurrect when you kick the bucket.

The Adventures of Bayou Bill (NES)

I actually used to own this game. It was freaking brutal. When Billy inevitably gets the crap beaten out of him and you don't continue, you get a pretty powerful image of the titular hero reaching out in desperation. Sorry, Billy but your game is just too much butt cheeks for me to keep pressing on. But I gotta admit, that game over jingle is pretty sick. Also, Billy's death cry amuses me. Hear it for yourself.

Sega Rally 2 Championship (ARC)

I would love to be a fly on the wall at the SEGA offices to see how they came up with this one. I mean, "GAME OVER, YEAAAAAHHHH!!!" It is impossible to put into words just how amazingly awesome that is! It was first used in the original Sega Rally but the one from Sega Rally 2 sounds better.

Favorite Tunes #151: Tomorrow is Mine

Welcome back to Favorite Tunes. This week, we have music from Super Mario Maker, Contra Rebirth, Rad Mobile, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Super Smash Bros. and we finish with a standout song from Sega Rally 2.

GTR Attack! - Contra ReBirth (Wii)

Once upon a time, Konami actually cared about console gaming. Now a days? Eh, not so much. But back when they did, we had sweet 2D run & gun games like Contra ReBirth. ReBirth used a lot of arcade-style arrangements of previous Contra music. GTR Attack! is one of the boss themes from Contra Hard Corps and as rocking as that tune sounded in that game, its even better in ReBirth.

Ghost House (Super Mario Bros. 3) - Super Mario Maker (Wii U)

I don't make a habit of posting too many creepy songs in Favorite Tunes. That isn't to say I dislike spooky themes, but I certainly don't have a playlist of them. But I find the Super Mario Bros. 3 version of Ghost House music to be an intriguing kind of frightful,

Tomorrows is Mine: Bayonetta 2 Theme (Instrumental) - Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Wii U) 

The glorious Tomorrow is Mine piece from Bayonetta 2 that I was so hoping would make it into Super Smash Bros. made it. As an instrumental arrangement. While I was initially disappointed by this, that quickly changed after hearing the full song. I can sing along to the song (even though my singing sucks) and that saxophone is beastly.

Soup Up - Rad Mobile (ARC)

Released in arcades in 1991, Rad Mobile was one of SEGA's many racing titles. Once you get behind the wheel and the race begins, you'll notice a familiar character swooshing about in the car as an air freshener. Rad Mobile was not only Sonic's first cameo appearance, it was his first appearance in a game, predating his own instant breakout title.

Final Boss Intro ~ Final Boss -Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (ARC)

The beat 'em up series Capcom is primarily known for is their homegrown Final Fight franchise. When you think of good licensed products from them, you generally think of the Disney titles but Capcom also had their creative hands in some other properties such as Aliens vs. Predtor and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, both excellent beat 'em up titles that most gamers will probably never get to experience outside of MAME.

Searchin' For My Dreams - Sega Rally 2 (ARC)

Let's end this Favorite Tunes with a vocal number. Released in the arcades, Sega Rally 2 was ported to the Dreamcast and is widely regarded as one of the best titles for the system. While rally racing isn't my preferred style I do adore this game's soundtrack, which is home to one of my favorite vocal gaming tracks. I can't even tell you how many times I've listened to this song on repeat.

Favorite Tunes Database

Favorite Tunes #19: Racing Themes

There's something oh-so satisfying about driving at high speeds, throwing your car around a sharp turn and leaving your opponents in the dust. Be it cart racing, arcade style racing or simulation, the racing genre offers plenty of fun for gamers seeking high speed thrills. Some excellent tunage to go along with the race certainly doesn't hurt.

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

New IPs from Capcom seem to be rare these days but in the PS2 era they were all over the place. One such new franchise was Auto Modellista, a cell-shaded PS2 racing game that was later ported to the GameCube and then Xbox. Despite the game's stylish visuals, it received mixed reviews due to poor handling controls and bombed at retail. The game's soundtrack had some noteworthy songs thanks to Isao Abe and Tetsuya Shibata.

Industria - Rage Racer (PSone)

Rage Racer was much different from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer Revolution that came before it. The Grand Prix mode was far more in depth, letting you earn money to upgrade your cars and even customize them. It was a pretty ambitiousness game and a major step up for the series. I remember investing a lot of time into Rage Racer in the summer of 2001. Like the first two Ridge Racers, it had some memorable tunes. I think I listened to Industria on more races than anything else.

Splash Wave Euro Remix - OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (PS2, XB, PSP)

One of my favorite racing games and my favorite OutRun title, this updated version of OutRun 2 has a lot to offer. There's a ton of cars to purchase, lots of different routes to take as you drive through the country, and plethora of different OutRun songs from nearly every game in the series, including original songs and remixes.  This remix of Splash Wave is probably my favorite version of the song, yes, even over the original.

ESCAPE ~Cavern Course~ - Mega Man Battle & Chase (PSone) 

Mega Man Battle & Chase was all set to release in the USA. There were even ads for it in magazines. Yet for reasons, unknown, Sony brought down the axe and the game wouldn't see American shores until the release of the Mega Man X Collection on the PS2 and GCN. The game could be unlocked upon completion of the first three Mega Man X titles. Battle & Chase is a Mario Kart knock off but managed to stand out from the pack by letting you steal car parts from defeated racers to add them to your own ride. The music was also fantastic, featuring completely original themes. This game is also the source of Roll's Theme song Wind, Cary My Words.

King of Island - Sega Rally 2 (ARC, DC)

One of the first games I bought for my Dreacmast. I wasn't very good at it, but I enjoyed playing it, nonetheless. There's a lot of sensational music in Sega Rally 2 like Euro Fight, Night Groovin', Searchin' For My Dreams, and of course, King of Island.

Monkey Race 2 Expert Track - Super Monkey Ball 2 (GCN)

The Super Monkey Ball games may have dipped in quality, but I'll always have fond memories of the first two. OK, so the trials those games put me through made me wanna throw my GameCube out the window at times, but they were still some sweet games. Known for their quick paced arcade style gameplay, the Super Monkey Ball titles are also famous for featuring some of the most entertaining mini games in gaming history. Seriously, many of these games are so good that they can entertain you long after you complete the single player modes, if you ever do, that is. The first two Super Monkey Ball gamers were later released for PS2 and Xbox under Super Monkey Ball Deluxe.

Sky Garden - Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)

When I first purchased my Game Boy Advance in the winter of 2002, Mario Kart Super Circuit was the first game I purchased for the system. Sadly, I no longer have it in my collection but I have a ton of fond memories of this game like shaving seconds off my time in Sky Garden. Not only did I love the design of this track, but the background music it carried quickly became my favorite track from the game. This course was one of the reused tracks for Mario Kart DS.

Strike Breaker - Gran Turismo 3: A-spec (PS2)

The Gran Turismo franchise is often praised for it's simulation racing physics and abundance of real life licensed automobiles. GT3 was a true showcase for what the PS2 could do on a visual level. Even today, the game still looks just as good as it did when it originally released. GT games usually have a lot of licensed music from some well known and underground bands, but there's also some original music crafted specifically for the games, such as the headbanging Strike Breaker.

Eight Guitars - F-Zero GX (GCN)

One of the most stunning-looking games for the GameCube, F-Zero GX is also the hardest game in the series. Few people (very few) have completed Story mode. Grand prix mode isn't as difficult, but unlocking everything without cheats approaches Battletoads levels of frustration. And for all that, I still love this game. There were some remixes and they were great but I really enjoyed the new music that was provided. Eight Guitars plays when you race on Sand Ocean.

Milky Lake - Wave Race 64 (N64)

The realistic water physics in Wave Race 64 still manage to impress. It says something when one of the earliest games for a system is still considered one of the best. Even at a mere four machines to select from, Wave Race 64 still manages to be a superb racing, probably the best water-based racing title in existence. Milky Lake was a more calming race course and so was the music. I absolutely love the flute in this song.