Favorite Tunes #98: It's Dangerous to Go Alone

Well, the wait is over and Hyrule Warriors is out. I'd love to sing the praises of Zelda meets Dynasty Warriors but after bills, I'm outta moola so, I've gotta wait until I can get some more green to afford it. In the mean time, here's a selection of Zelda tracks to celebrate the latest game where the main character never gets top billing.

Opening Demo - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

After Zelda II's side scrolling antics and brutal difficulty (ironically now fans whine that Zelda games are too easy), the third Zelda title returned the series to the overhead style of play but with a 16-bit paint job via the SNES! Princesses being held prisoner, an evil wizard about to leash unspeakable evils upon the world? That sounds like a good way to sum up the game's opening, but for an added touch of enthrallment, throw in Koji Kondo's masterful composition skills.

Sword Search - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB)

The first game in the series where Zelda never makes an appearance. And Link gets his name in the subtitle a second time! Link's first portable adventure tends to be the oddball of the series, much like Super Mario Bros. 2 gets it's black sheep status for being so different. But just like the aforementioned game, the differences in Link's Awakening are a large part of why those that have played it love it so much. Wart makes a cameo, a Chain Chomp dog helps assists you. Heck, there's even a Yoshi doll! It also has one of the most bitter sweet endings in the entire series history. Don't expect me to spoil it for you.

Spirit Temple - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS)

This is often hailed as the greatest game of all-time. Whether you think such a claim is deserved or overrated is entirely up to you. I firmly believe Ocarina of time is a fine game but by no means the very best the medium has to offer. The soundtrack of this game still gives me chills. There are jovial themes for when you enter lively towns, forbodding music for those puzzle filled dungeons and atmospheric tracks such as this one. If only I had picked up the game and registered it back when the 3DS version released, I'd have my own soundtrack to this game.

Lorule Castle - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)

Fans have been clamoring for a Zelda game in the vein of Link to the Past for decades. From my understanding, A Link Between Worlds is the game they've waited (im)patiently for. It has an overhead view just like Link to the Past but has a deep wall merging mechanic that greatly enhances the gameplay. It can also be played in a non linear fashion just like the original Legend of Zelda. All of this is a rich soundtrack as the cherry on top.


Kakariko Village - Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

I've heard several soundtracks from the Dynsasty Warriors series, which, despite the setting, uses lots of rock music. So I'm not too surprised to find that a great deal of the music in Hyrule Warriors also fits that same genre, though I do think this is certainly going to miff more than a few fans. But since this is a spin-off game, why not opt for a different style of music? And when it sounds this good, who cares if it strays from the norm?


Main Theme (Classic) - Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

What would the Zelda series be without this iconic tune? Had it not been for a copyright issue, Koji Kondo would never have composed this baby and a vital piece of the Zelda mythos might not even have existed. And he wrote the song in a day! This version in Hyrule Warriors sounds orchestral, but you can clearly hear some 8-bit tunes in there, a nice nod to the series NES roots along with Zelda's theme.

Favorite Tunes Database

Favorite Tunes #97: Getting Hyped for Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros. released on the 3DS in Japan on September 13. The game will release in America on October 3. Gamers fortunate enough to have gold/platinum status as Club Nintendo members were e-mailed demo codes with unlimited use with Nintendo occasional handing out demo codes before the public demo release on October 19. I'm as stoked for this game as the next guy and to get even more jazzed, Favorite Tunes is Smash Bros. centric.

Note: Not every song featured here is in Super Smash Bros.

Yoshi Star Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Leading us off is Mr. Video Game himself. The debate rages on whether Super Mario Galaxy 2 is superior than the original. I tend to prefer the first game more, but there's no denying that both titles are superb. Outside of a cameo appearance with his face making up a small planet, Yoshi was MIA in the first Super Mario Galaxy. This travesty was rectified in Super Mario Galaxy 2, with everyone's favorite everything-eating green dino making regular appearances. Koji Kondo stepped back and let Mahito Yokota handle most of the compositions for Galaxy 2 as he did in the original game, only writing a handful of songs. One such track was Yoshi Star Galaxy, a jazzy, tropical, upbeat piece of tunage.

Aquatic Ruin Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GEN)

Lots of gamers toute this as the greatest Sonic game. It's not a statement I can personally really behind, but Sonic 2 is still a fantastic hedgehog game, regardless. As the title implies, Aquatic Ruin is home to Sonic's kryptonite, H2O. The nice thing about the way this zone is structure, however, is that the water can be bypassed. You can stay on the top path, which keeps our heroes high and dry or take the lower route, leading to wet depths.

Dr. Cossack Stage 2 - Mega Man 4 (NES)

So many gamers say the Mega Buster was a crutch that made Mega Man too powerful. And yet no one complains about the brokeness of the Metal Blades. Meh, whatever. Mega Man 4 has always been one of my favorites. It was the first time Wily tried to blame others for his crimes and it was the introduction to one of my favorite supporting cast members, Dr. Cossack, who got a super awesome theme for his third and fourth levels.

Tilte Screen - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (PS3, 360, Wii U, 3DS)

Mario, Mega Man, Sonic and now Pac-Man in the same game? Talk about history being made. Of the four video game legends that make up red, blue and yellow, Pac-Man is the oldest of the bunch, and is Mario creator, Shigeru Miyamoto's favorite video game character. This theme is actually a remix from the arcade game Pacmania, which, intrestingly enough has been arranged and will be one of Pac-Man's musical themes for Super Smash Bros.

Mute City - Super Smash Bros. (3DS, Wii U)

The announcement that Captain Falcon was returning for the fourth entry of Smash was indeed a welcome one. He was one of the original Smashers but given Nintendo's current stance on the F-Zero series, so fans were a little worried that the days of throwing Falcon Punches were long gone. Nope. The Captain is back and with a kickin' new Mute City remix. It's already become one of my favorite arrangements for Smash 4, done by Kenji Ito, known for his glorious work on the Square Enix's SaGa series. YES!

Spark Man Stage - Super Smash Bros. (3DS, Wii U)

With all the nut hugging Mega Man 2 got in Smash, what with that freaking Wily Castle stage and the music, I was pleased to see that someone remembered that there were other games outside of the second NES game. Spark Man has always had what I believe to be the pinnacle of the electric based stage level music in the entire Classic series. I was really hoping this theme would get some love for Smash 4.

Favorite Tunes Database

Currently Playing #21: Kirby Triple Deluxe

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (All-Stars ver.)

Also known as the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2. Also know as sheer torture. Having typed that last one out, you may be wondering, "Why are you playing this game?" I'm working on a special Mario feature for this blog that I've had spinning around in my dome for some time now. Much to my deep regret, completing this feature requires me to play what is without question the only game in the Super Mario series that I utterly despise. I'm playing the Wii's Super Mario All-Stars enhanced port because being able to save on every single level is a gift from God in the cruel an unjust world that is Lost Levels.

I can appreciate Luigi's superior jumping skills in this game but I don't feel like dealing with his sub-par traction, which would only make the game even more difficult than it already is. Thus, I've decided to make this painful journey as the older brother, Mario. I've also decided to use a guide for this play through as I've had more than enough of this game screwing me over in the past. In World 3-1, I went down a pipe that I thought was taking to a bonus room. It did, but it was home to a Bill Blaster. which didn't bode well for me. Sure enough it took me to one of those dreaded backwards Warp Zones. Since I had no desire to play through two worlds I had already conquered, I used the conveniently placed pit to kill myself. Cripes, I hate this game. I hate this game, I hate this game, I HATE. THIS. GAME!!! Never have I uttered that phrase so many times in all the years I've been gaming. Just the thought of sitting down to play this one makes me let out frustrated sighs.

Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS)

I've decided to start this game and finish it up before the 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. releases in about two weeks. Kirby had some of his best outings on the DS and his two Wii adventures are among my favorite Kirby titles. Triple Deluxe  is enjoyable but not on the same level as previous Kirby outings. I dig a lot of the new power ups like Beetle and Bell Kirby and the Hypernova inhale power is nice but even with the 3D effects and everything else it has going for it, Triple Deluxe just doesn't feel on par with Return to Dream Land. No, I didn't come in looking for this baby to surpass my all-time favorite Kirby game, but I'm still more than a little disappointed with this game after three worlds in.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

I've gotten 100% completion of every world except World Crown. My aim is to get 100% completion of this game and I'm well aware of what doing that means. The biggest hurdle to jump over is more than likely going to be Champion's Road, by none, the hardest level in the game. I've played a good chunk of it with my nieces and newphews and some of it solo. I'd have to be crazy to try and tackle this stage without power-ups. The farthest I've gotten is to the long climb with the piranha plants, which just screams of needing a Cat Suit.

The last Mystery House isn't a cake walk either. So far, I've managed to get 12 Green Stars with Luigi. The 13th one, where you have to use a giant shoot to skate past enemies that like to block your way has been giving me trouble. Champion's Road with every character is tough enough but grabbing 30 Green Stars with everyone? Super Mario 3D World may very well be one of the most difficult games in the series to finish 100%.

Also Playing: Mario Kart 8, Shovel Knight

Game Art #70: Super Smash Bros. Gallery

With Super Smash Bros. hitting the 3DS on October 3 and the game having already spread like wildfire with it's Japanese release on September 13, I'd say its high time we once again represent some fan art of one of gaming's most beloved cross over series, Super Smash Bros.

By mivion

By Koineko

Pixiv ID

By Korokoro

By Cosmos

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By xeternalflamebryx

By xeternalflamebryx

By Juliana Chen

By Juliana Chen

By Juliana Chen

By Juliana Chen

By Juliana Chen

By ss2sonic

By ss2sonic

By Nagi

By youmask

By Tom Brown

Pixiv ID

Pixiv ID

By Yukichiko

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Pixiv ID

By bone

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By Mirin.

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Pixiv ID

By Nagisa

By Aura

By SmashToons

Favorite Tunes #96: Wario Time

I've been listening to the music from Wario Land: Shake It! a lot lately so this is going to be one of those times where a single game occupies each and every track selected here on Favorite Tunes. If you haven't played Wario Land: Shake It! you really should. It's a pretty sweet 2D Wario game made by Good Feel, the same company responsible for Kirby's Epic Yarn.

Whoopsy Desert - Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

Just about every platformer has to have a token desert level. Shake It! is no exception and you encounter this one pretty early on in your adventure. The music has a very Egyptian feel to it, but just when you think it's going to sound like all sand and mummies, that guitar starts up at 54 seconds in. There's also plenty of flute thrown in for good measure. Raiding tombs has never sounded so good.

Just Plains - Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

This track. This track right here, may very well be my favorite track in the game and since the whole soundtrack is some of the best stuff Tomoya Tomita hs ever composed, that's saying quite a bit. It reminds of of a sunny summer day out on the town. I guess I'm missing summer already.

Stonetooth Cave - Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

It probably isn't the ideal music one thinks of when entering a cave, but when you hear those guitar riffs and those drums, you'll forget all about the supposed "natural order" of music and settings.

Its all-Mine - Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

You'll have to forgive me for being so unoriginal here but screw it. That guitar. That guitar, that guitar, THAT GUITAR! The thing has been awesome across the board on this whole soundtrack but this track may feature the best use of the instrument yet! I cannot being to tell you how many times I've listened to this song on repeat. Such a good slow jam.

Neon City - Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

Rock, funk and now jazz? This soundtrack has it all! Jazz music is generally associated with casino-like places and areas with lots of bright lights so it's not too surprise that that was the choice of music for this level.

Creep Blue Sea - Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

There's nothing quite like peaceful, soothing ocean music as you obliterate your enemies with torpedoes from your submarine. This may be the one area in the game where the motion controls can take some getting used to . You'll frequently have to tilt the direction of your sub to shoot down the baddies. This is also an auto scrolling level.

Favorite Tunes Database