Favorite Tunes #153: Hot Summer Days

We're well into summer and here in Virginia, it's getting hotter. The only relief from the heat is the rain or the coolness that night brings. Or if you're like me, you're probably staying in doors to avoid the blistering heat. Take my advice, listening to hot beats is infinitely better than dripping sweat.

Clawdaddy Beach - Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U)

One of my favorite (as well as cutest) games of the current generation is Yoshi's Woolly World. This game is so dang good that it may very well be better than the SNES classic Yoshi's Island. The soundtrack may not be on the same level of Koji Kond's music from said game, but what we do have is some catchy, well composed tunes. I'll be listening to this one the next time I'm on the beach playing Pokemon Go.

Hot Reception - Super Adventure Island (SNES)

Yuzo Koshiro really knows how to write some superb beats. My favorite things about his Streets of Rage music is that so much of it sounds very late 80s early 90s. Super Adventure Island is dripping with 1990s music flair. The music is the highlight of what is a very cruel game.

Inferno ~ Descending - Mega Man X8 (PS2)

After two abysmal X games, Mega Man X8 put the series back on track. We even got to play as the title character from the get go! Huzzah! With a few exceptions, X8 sticks to the series tried and true 2D roots with plenty of bot busting action. The music is on point too, with a hefty supply of rock.

3DS DK Jungle - Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

With its item balancing, compelling single player and online modes, Mario Kart 8 might just be my favorite Mario Kart game. The track designs outshine some of the best from previous entries and the soundtracks is some of the best music I've heard in a video game. Originally a track in Mario Kart 7, DK Jungle got the HD treatment. I thought the song sounded just find on the 3DS but it sounds even better in Mario Kart 8.

Scene 2 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project (NES)

Disappointed with the HD Mutants in Manhattan? Fire up one of the older Turtles games for an infinitely more satisfying experience. You're probably thinking of TMNTII or TMNTIV, but why not give the often overlooked TMNTIII a try? It serves up a good challenge, impressive NES visuals and some sweet chiptunes.

Rock Star Select - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64)

2.5D gameplay, and cool weapon combos we sadly haven't seen since this game, Kirby 64 is one of the few Kirby games I've completed 100%. When I picked up Kirby's Dream Collection a few years back, I really sank my teeth into the game and music made a big impression on me especially Rock Star as well as the Select theme for Rock Star.

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Favorite Tunes #141: Spring Has Sprung

As of a week ago, spring has officially come. Though I can't tell because the weather here is being really fickle. Sometimes we get summer days, sometimes we get spring days and then when you least expect it, it decides to go all winter on us again. At least, that's the case for us here in Virginia. But since it is spring, I figured a spring inspired Favorite Tunes would be appropriate.

Shy But Deadly - Yoshi's Wooly World (Wii U)

If you're looking for a Yoshi game that's as good as or arguably surpasses the SNES clasic Yoshi's Island, you need to play Yoshi's Wooly World. Developed by Good Feel and a spiritual successor to Kirby's Epic Yarn, Wooly World has that classic Yoshi's Island gameplay but with a modern touch, full of creative level design. To get the most enjoyment out of the game. hunting down all the Flowers and Wonder Wool is a must.

Meadow Breeze - Kirby Mass Attack (DS)

Like Kirby's Canvas Curse, Kirby Mass Attack makes excellent use of the DS touch screen, controlling completely with the stylus. There is something undeniably cute about sending a little pink army to mercilessly slaughter enemies. The game's soundtrack was composed by Shogo Sakai, who worked on Kirby Air Ride and MOTHER 3 among other Nintendo games. The title theme to Mass Attack is so good you get to hear a remix of it on the first stage.

Windy Hill Zone Act 1 - Sonic Lost World (Wii U, 3DS)

"It isn't as fast as other Sonic games! Sonic sucks again!" OK, so Sonic Lost World was no Sonic Colors or Sonic Generations but it hardly sent the series back to Suckville as some would have you believe. If running around Act 1 of Windy Hill Zone while this music plays wasn't enough, you can send players flying off the stage to it in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Charge - Phalanx (SNES)

What is there to be said about Phalanx? I mean, besides the fact that its a slightly above average shooter and the North American box art is criminally offensive. It has a decent power up system, some serviceable graphics and a soundtrack that, while isn't the best of the SNES pack, is one I'm quite fond of. What can I say, I'm a sucker, for generic, cheese rock.

Attack - Legends of Legaia (PS)

Legend of Legaia was the RPG I played while I waited for Final Fantasy VIII to drop later in 1999. The game's random encounter rate was like that of old-school RPGs but the martial arts combat system did help spice up battles.

Windy City - Breath of Fire III (PS)

It wouldn't be a Breath of Fire game without a Windia, which is of course, home to a version of our favorite series winged princess, Nina. In most games, Windia is given a gentle-sounding theme. In Breath of Fire III, we've got a theme that names you wanna kick back and relax.

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Favorite Tunes #136: Marionation Gear

I've discovered some new favorite jams in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, I've been enjoying Freedom Planet immensely, and the music to one of my favorite Mickey Mouse games has been on my mind as of late. Hope you enjoy the variety of this week's edition of Favorite Tunes.

Fortune Night 1 - Freedom Planet (PC, Wii U)

This indie platformer that was clearly inspired by gameplay elements from the Sonic the Hedgehog games was originally only available on Steam in 2014 but as of 2015, the game can now be purchased off the Wii U eShop. Its a pretty solid platformer with remarkable sprite work and a killer soundtrack.

Marionation Gear (Chosoju Mecha MG) - Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

I cannot say how grateful I am that Super Smash Bros. for Wii U brings back a lot of songs from Brawl. As it turns out, despite all the time I spent playing that game, I missed a lot of stuff, espcially some sweet tracks. Marionation Gear comes from the game, Chosoju Mecha MG, a Japan only 3DS game. Dueling mechs set to electric guitars and pianos? Yes, please! But since the game was only released in Japan, I'll just have to battle to this track without mechs. Oh well. One out of two ain't bad.

Floodlight - Ridge Racer 6 (360)

The Ridge Racer series has sadly become a showpiece for new hardware. Usually when a new system is about to launch, you can count on a Ridge Racer title to accompany it. I've missed out on the PSP Ridge Racer titles as well as Ridge Racer 6 and 7 but, a few songs from that game did make it into Ridge Racer 3D, which was the last Ridge Racer game I played. Thankfully the game's still let you select the music you wish to race to and I cannot get enough of Floodlight.

Character Select - Dragon Ball Xenoverse (Multi)

Select themes are some of the truly underappreciated gems in the world of game music. While most character select themes for fighting games like to get you jazzed up for the coming battle (which is all well and good) Xenoverse's is warmly soothing.

Pete's Peak - The Magical Quest Staring Mickey Mouse (SNES)

The Genesis titles seem to get all the love when it comes to retro games staring the Mouse. No doubt Castle and World of Illusion are great games, but The Magical Quest is a Mickey Mouse that will always hold a special place in my heart. If the sound font sounds like that of Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, that's because not only was Magical Quest a Capcom game, but the game also shares the same composer as Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, Mari Yamaguchi.

Lava Scarves and Red-Hot Blarggs - Yoshi's Wooly World (Wii U)

Wooly World may very just be the best Yoshi platforming game. That may be heresy to fans of Yoshi's Island but the level design and sheer fun to be had in Yoshi's yarn-inspired adventures is just that grand. The soundtrack hits lots of different genres. One of the lava based levels brings the rock hard.

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Game Art #75: Open Gallery

Game Art makes its long awaited return! There are so many talented people and this great, big world of ours and weather they come up with their own artistic takes on video game characters or stick to the already established style, its all good as it makes for some interesting art pieces to look at. This one is an open gallery, meaning you can expect to see fan art from numerous game series. Enjoy.

By aoki

By popoco

Pixiv ID

By Maesato

Pixiv ID

By kakuri

By Neriusagi

By comet 

By Genzoman

By Oro

By Mocha

By so-bin

Unknown Artist

By Frog

By Frog

By Yo no

By lulu

By SBS

By Poo