VGM Saturdays #282: New Name, Same Game

Favorite Tunes is no more. Say hello to VGM Saturdays! Basically Favorite Tunes under a different name. I considered starting over with a new #1 but too many comic books do that and I like those high numbers I've built up over the years, so the legacy numbers stay. 

The new title also marks the return of me regularly posting my favorite video game music on a weekly basis. The last time I did this was back in February. In the place of it was VGM Soundtrack of the Day, which I did less of when I went back to work and then halted all together. I may revive that feature someday. For now, enjoy VGM Saturdays. Music is now embedded right here on this very page. So just lick the YouTube play button and let the good tunes roll.

Replay - SEGA AGES Virtua Racing (NSW)

Virtua Racing Deluxe, released on the SEGA 32X came with a system exclusive song, Replay. This song was an absolute banger. Well now you can listen to that banger in the sound font of the arcade version of Virtua Racing via the Switch SEGA AGES release. All racing replay music in racing games should use this theme.

1991 - Hotshot Racing (NSW, PS4, XBO, PC)

A racing game clearly inspired by the early '90s polygonal racers. 2020 has sucked so I welcome anything that takes me back in time for a bit. And thankfully, Hotshot Racing plays as great as it looks. The game's soundtrack is very SEGA-esque so you can expect me to pick more tracks from this game in the future. 

USA - Panzer Paladin (NSW, PC)

Mechs, waifus, rad 8-bit style visuals and tons of different weapons to arm yourself with! What more could you ask for? The action is a bit more slow paced but more often than not, you're required to be quick on the controls or be dead. Panzer Paladin's music had me from the intro. USA is a theme that is stuck in my head in part to how many times I played the level (it was tough for me, OK?) and because it is such a good tune.

Garden of Hope - Pikmin 3 (Wii U)

If you missed out on Pikmin 3 (most did due to the system it was on), you're in luck. The game is coming to the Switch at the end of this month under the title Pikmin 3 Deluxe. This song is in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate but I don't think I've ever really paid much attention to it until I played the demo of Pikmin 3 Deluxe. It really is a smooth jam.

Enemy's Arsenal (Mission 2) - Sol-Feace (X68000)

Sol-Feace (Sol-Deace depending on which version and region you played) was released on multiple systems. I first came to know of it from the SEGA Genesis version. I like the soundtrack across all versions but when I'm in the mood for some chiptune Sol-Feace, the X68000 hits the spot. Mission 2 is my favorite track across all versions of the game. 

The Commissioner - Streets of Rage 4 (NSW, PS4, XBO, PC)

Streets of Rage came back with a vengeance. This just might be the SoR to top SoR2. There are new and old characters to play as and since this is a SoR game, of course the music is fire. This is one one of my three favorite boss tracks, the others will pop up in VGM Saturdays all in good time.

VGM Saturdays Database

Favorite Tunes #265: Time Bonus!

If you've played a certain polygonal racer from SEGA, congrats on getting the reference.

Zangief Stage CPSII - Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (ARC)

After Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, Capcom would cease using the CPSI arcade board for the remainder of SFII updates. The New Challengers, which introduced Cammy, Fei Long, T. Hawk and Dee Jay, ran on the CPSII hardware and there was a hugely noticeable difference with the audio. When it comes to the arcade soundtrack of SFII, I prefer some tracks in CPSI and others in CPSII. I can go either way for Zangief's theme.

Competition & Time Attack Menu - Sonic Mania (PS4, NS, XBO, PC)

"SONIC!" "TAILS!" "KNUCKLES!" "MIGHTY!" "RAY!" All said in the glorious voice of Takenobu Mitsuyoshi. This man's accent is just the best. In Time Attack I'll select the characters multiple times because he sounds that awesome. Oh, and the music gets you hyped to break some records.

Car Select - F-ZERO X (N64)

When F-ZERO made the jump to 3D with F-ZERO X, it brought with it some incredibly sick rock/metal tunes to go along with the intense racing. When the music that plays to select your car is this good, you know the rest of the soundtrack is gonna be fire.

Cloud Country - Stardew Valley (PC, PS4, XBO, NS)

My backlog is not decreasing anytime soon, so I have no idea when I'll get around to playing Stardew Valley. By the time I do start playing this game, I'll probably already be well familiar with the soundtrack, which is some of my favorite relaxing music to write to.

Save the World, Heroes - Find Me II (3DS)

The Find Mii stage was one of my favorites for Super Smash Bros. 3DS and I was happy to see it return in Ultimate. The stage is fare more chaotic playing on a game that runs at a higher frame rate. I never did start Find Mii II so the arrangements of Dark Lord and Save the World, Heroes! was my first time ever hearing these songs. Turns out the originals are just as good as the remixes.

Replay - SEGA AGES Virtua Racing (NS)

When I found out one of the games slated for the SEGA AGES line on the Switch was Virtua Racing, I had hoped the Replay theme from the 32X's Virtua Racing Deluxe would be included. Alas, it is not. However, a remix of the theme using the instruments from the Model 1 arcade hardware is the next best thing. It is almost every bit as much of a banger as the 32X version. Man, I cannot wait for this game to hit the eShop in America.

Favorite Tunes Database

Favorite Tunes #146: Short and Sweet

Don't have a lot of time to listen to same video game music today? No problem! This edition of Favorite Tunes is on the short side with themes that don't take long to loop around.

Battle Mode - Super Bomberman (SNES)

Some of my fondest childhood and teenage memories involve blowing up my friends in Super Bomberman's ridiculously fun battle mode. The classic Battle Mode theme is used in most Bomberman games and while it has been remixed to death, the short looping SNES version is the best, at least for me.

Character Select (CPS I) - Street Fighter II (ARC)

Back in my day, Street Fighter games came with an arcade mode! OK, all jabs at Street Fighter V aside, this is an awesome character select theme, but I don't need to tell you that. Anyone that was there for the Street Fighter II craze is more than familiar with this tune. My entry into Street Fighter II was with the SNES version. The music from the arcade version wouldn't get stuck in my head until well after a decade of the game's release.

Boss - Mega Man 2 (NES)

Mega Man 2 soundtrack is so darn good that it is often labeled as some of the best video game music of all time. While the original Mega Man had two boss themes, Mega Man 2 has only one but its so good, that you won't mind hearing it over and over again. It's an intense piece of music that also makes you wanna head bop.

Stage Select - Mega Man 8 (PS, SAT)

Moving on from one Mega Man game to another, people like to bemoan Mega Man 8 for not being an 8-bit game. Mega Man 8 certainly isn't flawless, but there's a good game under the so-bad-its-good voice acting and really like a lot of Mega Man 8's music and I love the chill vibe of this stage select theme so much.

Title Screen - Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Oh Super Mario 3D World, I love you so. The game's levels are many, the Cat Suit is crazy awesome and the music is on the level of greatness of the Super Mario Galaxy titles. Super Mario 3D World's Main Theme is the kinda music that you can't help but smile to. If I ever do a top 10 for Super Mario Title themes, expect this one to be pretty high on the list.

Select - Virtua Racing Deluxe (32X)

We have a rare treat, an entry from a 32X game. A port of SEGA's popular Virtua Racing, the music survived the trip to the add-on device pretty well. Virtua Racing had jingles a plenty but the one I remember the most was the Select theme. I would always hold off on making my picks just to hear the music. The 32X version ain't too shabby.

Favorite Tunes Database