Favorite Tunes #221: Body Rock

For the final installment of March's Favorite Tunes, we've got music from the 8th or 9th installment of Dynasty Warriors, depending on what side of the world you live on, a catchy jam from one of the WariorWare entries, Gradius music and one of it's acid trip spin off titles.

Red Storm Infection - Dynasty Warriors 9 (PS4, XBO, PC)

The Dynasty Warriors games aren't known for being deep by any means. Their hack and slash nature makes them pretty shallow, but sometimes, you just wanna turn your brain off when playing a game and with the right choice of characters (such as those from The Legend of Zelda or Fire Emblem), they can make for some good old fashion, mindless fun. Even if you have no interest in checking out the core Dynasty Warriors games, you should at least hear the soundtracks, especially if you're a fan of any kind of rock, cheese, butt or otherwise. You won't be disappointed.

Cycle Patition - Pulseman (GEN)

If you had the short lived SEGA Channel, you could play Pusleman, a standout platformer for that was only released in Japan. The game was later given wider exposure by being available for purchase on the now dead Wii Shop Channel as a Virtual Console title. Thankfully, I grabbed that sucker years ago but I do hope Pulseman gets another form of release. The outstanding soundtrack was done by none other than Jun

Body Rock - WariorWare D.I.Y. (DS)

One of the more ambitious titles in the series, D.I.Y. let players make their own micro games, four page mini comics as well as create original music. The game was like the return of the much loved SNES Mario Paint but with even more options. I cannot believe this song didn't get a remix in Super Smash Bros. on Wii U/3DS. Well, they can fix this for the upcoming Switch game.

The World to Win - Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS)

I watched rabbidluigi's Top 5 Kirby Games feature and I've got to agree with him on one particular thing: the Kirby games are very consistent in quality. Triple Deluxe is far and away from being one of my favorite Kirby titles, but there is no way I could ever call it bad or even mediocre. It isn't on the level of Return to Dream Land or Planet Robobot but it's still a solid game. This theme, thankfully, made it into the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. Hopefully it comes back in Smash for the Switch.

Burning Heat (Stage 1 BGM) - Gradius II (ARC)

If you're looking for a shooter that will test your skill as well as your sanity, Gradius II is the SHMUP for you. Dying at certain parts of some levels can make progressing almost impossible since you lose all your power ups and the old fashioned Gradius checkpoint system is in full swing. Still, I think I'd be a fool not to recommend this game to fans of the genre. Its out on the PS4's Arcade Archives line and you're sure to fall in love with the game's synth soundtrack.

Run! Run! Run! - Gokujou Parodius (SFC)

A spin-off of the Gradius series, the Parodius games star dozens of characters from the Konami series including Vic-Viper, Lord British and Twin-Bee to name a few. Many of the songs used in the Parodius games are public domain, so you'll hear wacky renditions of classical music. Can you guess the name of this one?

Favorite Tunes Database

Super Mario Dress Up Odyssey

Coins. They've long been a staple in the Super Mario series, often collected and sought out for the purpose of extending the player's life count. As the series went on, obtaining lives became easier and easier. The progression of gaming as a whole has caused some to ponder if lives are even needed. Numerous games have done away with the archaic life system entirely. It took the Super Mario franchise some thirty plus years but with Super Mario Odyssey, lives have at long last been thrown out the window (at least with this particular game). Coins, however, are still very much a part of the game. In fact, coins may now serve the greatest purpose in Odyssey than they have in any other Mario game where getting lives ins't easy peasy: coins are used to deck out Mario in oh so many different outfits.

Mario's red cap and blue overalls getup is iconic. You'll never catch me knocking it. But having said that, I was thrilled to learn that we would be able to get Mario into some different clothes for a change. A good chunk of the enjoyment you'll get out of Odyssey comes from the plethora different of outfits you can collect and parade Mario in. We never knew how much we needed Mario running around in a sombrero and a poncho in a Super Mario game until we were given a game that let us do just that. I will rock that outfit all day everyday and I don't care who is offended.

Never have I ever been more ecstatic to grab coins in a Super Mario game because more coins means way more clothing options for my boy. There have been times when I wasn't sure what look I wanted to go out in. The Explorer costume (a look rocked heavily in the Wooded Kingdom because Mario's Picross was a GB game I loved), the Mecahnic outfit because I liked the all white and backwards cap. Or the Super Mario 64 costume because playing with a low polygonal model in an HD game makes me very nostalgic.

Some of these costumes have already made it
into Super Mario Odyssey so there's hope for
the rest to follow.

Before the February update that added three new costumes and Luigi's Balloon World, there were over 40 different outfits. Since then, I've been hoping that Nintendo would add to Mario's expansive wardrobe because he's worn a lot. I'd love to see Mario's black overalls from Super Mario Bros. 3 or his light blue colors in Super Mario World. What about the Frog Suit? Mario's referee uniform from Mario Tennis? Then there's the fact that not all of Mario's outfits featured in Odyssey are from games. The Scientist costume is actually from an old Super Gameboy TV spot and everyone's favorite, the Boxer Shorts as well as the Samurai costume are from Nintendo calendars. We also haven't seen Mario's outfit from the Mario Strikers games or MC Mario from the Mario Pinball game Japanese ad. What, you thinking I'm making that last one up? I can assure you, it is real.

With the data mining of Odyssey, we know there are more costumes tucked away. We just got the Baseball costume and Satelleview suit, the later of which has become a huge favorite of mine and was also found in the aforementioned data mining. Nintendo, I love that you're giving us so much costumes for play dress up with Mario so keep 'em coming. I was planning on doing a feature for my favorite Super Mario Odyssey costumes but since there's the possibility of more costumes down the line, I think I'll hold off. Here's hoping to even more obscure Mario references via wardrobe.

Really, though, just give me my freaking Frog Suit and MC Mario. Please?

Favorite Tunes #220: By the Power of Friendship

Kirby's Friendship no Jutsu is leagues better than Naruto. All he has to do is throw a heart and bam, instant friend. I am of course, referring to Kirby Star Allies, one of the featured games in this week's Favorite Tunes. If you haven't played it yet, just what are you doing with your life?

Main Theme - Kirby Star Allies (NS)

If Mario is number one when it comes to the embodiment of fun video games, Kirby makes a great contender for the number two slot. Sure, his games tend to be on the easy side but they are so well made and so, so much fun. The latest entry, Star Allies is no exception. There are plenty of familiar tracks (ripped right from older entries) as well as arrangements for old favorites and brand new music, making for another outstanding Kirby score.

Pac is Pac - Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 (PS4, XBO, NS, PC)

In early 2017, Bandai Namco released a physical edition of Pac-Man Championship Edition 2. Here we are in 2018 and the game has made it's way to the Switch and with an exclusive multiplayer mode! Sadly, there is no physical release for this puppy but regardless, the chaotic, arcade style nature of this baby makes it a perfect match for Nintendo's handheld/console hybrid. Not only are you getting one of the best Pac-Man experiences around, but you're getting a nice set of slick beats as well.

Stage 1 (Asteroid Field) - Gleylancer (GEN)

On the Wii, a number of Genesis titles became available to gamers for the firs time via the Wii Shop Channel. Among those titles was Gleylancer, a SHMUP with a killer soundtrack. As of this writing, the Wii Shop Channel is no more so if you didn't snag Gleylancer, you're out of luck, at least for the time being. With the Switch being a monumental success for Nintendo, here's hoping that Genesis games become available for purchase on the Switch through the eShop whenever they set up their Virtual Console service.

Heat Haze Shadow 1 - Tekken 7 (PS4, XBO, PC)

The soundtrack for Tekken 7 may be a tad too noisy and dubsteb-ish for some people's taste, but I wholeheartedly recommend you give it a listen. There are some soft as well as blaring tracks throughout. This track should be on everyone's workout/work/training/exercise playlist.

Travelers - Wild Arms 2 (PS)

Despite owning a good chunk of Wild Arms games (1-4 and the Alter Code F remake of the first Wild Arms), the only one in the series I've played to completion is the original. I really should remedy this. Michiko Naruke, outstanding composer that she is, would go on to make music throughout the series after her involvement in the first entry.

Soltype - Alien Soldier (GEN)

As with the above mentioned Gleylancer, Alien Solider is another Genesis title that has since been made easier to come by via digital distribution. If you want to own a cart of this puppy, it will cost you a hefty chunk of change. However, if you want to own it physically without breaking the bank, you can grab it in the upcoming SEGA Genesis Classics compilation, which releases in late may.

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Memories #24: Toys "R" Us

Usually, Memories is a feature reserved for reflection upon my past experiences with older games. However, in light of the recent, tragic news that Toys "R" Us will be closing the doors for every single store across America, I felt it would be a huge disservice not to talk about a store that helped make my childhood a little awesome.

There are stores that have toy sections and there are dedicated toy stores. However, few of them even compared to Toys "R" Us. For many, Toys "R" Us was not just a toy store. It was the toy store. Video games, action figures, plushies, kid friendly movies, bikes, that store had everything a kid could want. The sheer size of the store and its content meant you could spend hours browsing.

Anyone that is into video games can remember browsing the gaming section at a Toys "R" Us. The selection was huge, which made it one of my favorite places to go for video games. Back in the day, you would grab the ticket for the game you wanted, take it to the register to pay for it, go to the booth and they would give you your game. Sure, it took a just a little bit longer to get the game in your hands, but just remembering the process behind how Toys "R" Us used to handle their games brought a big smile to my face as I typed this. I was fortunate to live close to a Toys "R" Us so I spent many times in that store including adult years.

Being a huge fan of Mega Man, I was so excited when I saw the commercial for Mega Man 3 in 1990. I knew I wanted it to be my next NES game and so one Friday evening, my dad took me to Toys "R" Us, we went to the game section and my face lit up like a Christmas tree when I saw that there were indeed tickets left for Mega Man 3. Nothing sucked more than going into the game section and finding that there were no tickets left for the game you wanted. The latest issue of Nintendo Power (R.I.P.) had extensive coverage of Mega Man 3 and the Blue Bomber was even on the cover! My dad was kind enough to buy the issue for me and the info from that mag has been firmly implanted into my brain. On a related note, one of my many trips to Toys "R" Us ended up being the first time I got a look at the first Mega Man's horrific box art.

I wanted to buy Secret of Mana from Toys "R" Us in 1995, but the game was over $60 and I only had some $20 on me. Staring back at the price tag in disappointment, I settled on F-ZERO for the SNES as it was within my price range. I got quite a bit of enjoyment out of that game and unlike my Mega Man 3 cart, the F-ZERO cart I got from my Toys "R" Us is still in my possession to this day.

The Nintendo 64 was being hyped beyond measure. My dad preordered one at our Toys "R" Us and we eagerly awaited the September 29th release day. Imagine our surprise when we got a call from the store on the 28th and they told us we could come in and pick the system up. I don't know what was with our Toys "R" Us breaking the street date, but we decided not to ask questions. We went in and grabbed the N64 with absolutely no hassle.

During the 2000 seasonal period, I worked at my Toys "R" Us and not to toot my own horn, but I was good at selling people on video games, which earned me a spot in the electronics department. This was a time when it was especially difficult to get a PS2. I was in the back helping unload the truck one afternoon when we had gotten a shipment of PS2s in. Thankfully, the store managers let me call dibs on one. A year later, I would stand outside my Toys R Us before it opened to get my hands on the GCN, Luigi's Mansion, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II and Super Monkey Ball. My copy of Super Smash Bros. Melee was also bought from Toys "R" Us. I think 2003 was the last time I was in my Toys "R" Us in Dayton, Ohio and sadly, it would eventually close down and regrettably, this is now the fate of every single Toys "R" Us across America.

Shopping online certainly is convenient. Having said that, there are still some things that online shopping, no matter how much better it becomes, will ever be able to match when it comes to actually being inside a store. I love going into my Barns & Nobles and flipping through manga and graphic novels, seeing the new stuff and the older books. Last year, I learned that I wasn't very far from a Toys "R" Us in Virginia Beach and thanks to that store, I was able to get a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when so many stores were sold out of the game. I also got some World of Nintendo figures that I wasn't seeing in other stores I had been ton. Now that Toys "R" Us is going out of business, I'd like to go there one last time. Is it possible to be a Toys "R" Us kid without Toys "R" Us? Sure it is. Toys "R" Us may be gone, but you can bet that it will not be forgotten.

Favorite Tunes #219: Fast Lane

I'm still reeling over last Week's Nintendo Direct. A Switch version of Super Smash Bros., the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is getting a Switch port and more Wii U games are heading to Nintendo's fast selling console/handheld. But, I still gotta make posts on this blog and despite my and everyone's excitement for Smash or Switch, this week's Favorite Tunes is not Smash nor is it Nintendo based.

Move Me - R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (PS)

One of the more ambitious titles, Ridge Racer Type 4, had a ton of different car various to unlock and different racing teams to choose from. It made 100% completing the game a long and arduous task. The series has always had some outstanding music but R4 really elevates itself above other entries. It's a wonderful blend of rock, jazz, and numerous other genres, sometimes all in a single song. You'd be hard pressed to find a song to dislike in this game.

Ship Deck - Spot Goes to Hollywood (PS, SAT)

The mascot of the 7-Up cola was something of a rare breed for video games in the early '90s. Most licensed properties that made their way to the gaming medium crashed and burn. Spot was an exception. His 1993 above average platformer Cool Spot was on just about every system you can imagine. 1996 saw the release of Spot Goes to Hollywood. Gone was the 2D gameplay in favor of an isometric view with some clumsy controls. At least Tommy Tallarico was still doing the music and it is some phenominal stuff on CD-based hardware.

Shop - River City Ransom (NES)

I was looking through older entries and it occurred to me that I've posted very little in the way of music from this game in Favorite Tunes. That really is short sighted of me because I love this game's soundtrack. The game's Main Theme is easily the most remembered but since the baddies you KO drop cash, you'll frequently visit the shops to buy stuff to upgrade your stats. Meaning this jovial theme is sure to get stuck in your head.

Bay Area - Final Fight CD (SCD)

For years, the SEGA CD version of Final Fight was the definitive version of the game. Too bad not many people owned the thing. This version had a killer arranged soundtrack that I'd love to see get used as some selectable BGM for a Final Fight collection. You know, once Capcom stops and realizes that they have more game series that can be released in anthology formats besides Mega Man and Street Fighter.

Menu - Mario Tennis (N64)

The Mario Tennis games have been waning in quality over the last few years. They haven't been terrible but certainly not up to the snuff of the earlier entries. 2018's Mario Tennis: Aces looks to bring the series back on track. The RPG elements, features usually reserved for the handheld entries are being implemented and given the Switch's portable nature, that makes perfect sense. I had a lot of fun with the original Mario Tennis and with the release of Aces, I felt like taking a musical trip down memory lane.

Boss - Breath of Fire (SNES)

The SNES translation certainly isn't gonna win any awards and it can be infuriating not to know how much EXP is needed to reach the next level. Nevertheless, the SNES version of Breath of Fire is still a decent RPG. The music is especially awesome with composers ranging from Yasuaki Fujita (Mega Man 3), Mari Yamaguchi (Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts), and Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts).

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SEGA Genesis Classics is Nice and All But...

Ask any fan of SEGA what the best console from the company was. Most will answer that it was the Genesis or the Mega Drive for my fellow gamers in Japan and Europe. I get the strong impression that SEGA themselves firmly believes that with the Genesis, they were at their best and it isn't hard to see why. The system sold the most of any of the company's consoles and with the help of Sonic the Hedgehog, they showed the world that they were a force that should not be taken lightly, capturing the number one spot from Nintendo in 1991. There's no doubt that the Genesis made a huge impact in gaming back in the day and SEGA is going to remind us yet again why the system was so loved with the release of the SEGA Genesis Classics in late May of this year.

Anyone that's into retro gaming and has been on Steam probably already knows of this collection. You can either buy the ROMs for these games in bulk or individually. The PS4 and XBO releases are all of the games in one collection both physically and digitally. If you're thinking that this sounds an awful lot like Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, an anthology that released in 2009 and contained many of the games that are in this upcoming release, you aren't too far off. However, the SEGA Genesis Classics has a much cooler user interface and some games that were not present in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection like Alien Soldier, Gunstar Heroes, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi, The Revenge of Shinobi, Landstalker as well as ToeJam  & Earl and ToeJam & Earl: Panic on Funkotron.

SEGA Genesis Classics is all fine and dandy and I'll be picking this one up come release day. However, I'd really like to see a SEGA compilation that isn't so Genesis focused. 

The SEGA Master System may have recieved thrashing to the NES but in Brazil and Europe, the system was extremely popular. The Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog is a pretty compete platformer and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is heavily lauded as one of the best, if not the best game for the Master System. There are certainly better ports of OutRun but for some, the Master System version was their childhood and it would be great if they could legally play that version of the game on current hardware.

You've also got SEGA's extensive arcade catalog, which is nothing short of amazing. There's the big guns like OutRun, Space Harrier and Super Hang-On, but I'm dying for Turbo OutRun and OutRunners to get more recognition.

Sure, the Saturn  and the Dreamcast were failures but they had some really great games like Guardian Heroes, NiGHTS into dreams..., the Panzer Dragoon titles, Crazy Taxi 1-2, Jet Set Radio, etc. The Saturn is a system that is notoriously difficult to emulate games for, which could be the reason we haven't really seen a Saturn-esque compilation. There was a Dreamcast Collection but the number of games was abysmal, lacking some of the system's best games.

It has been almost 10 years since the release of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. Genesis compilations are easy, safe money. "Safe" being the key word here. That is the game SEGA has been playing for years now. Perhaps it is due to all the hardware failures after the Genesis but SEGA has not been the risk takers they used to be. They have so many IPs yet more often than not, the only ones they let come out to play are Sonic and Yakuza. I'd love for SEGA to give the many other IPs they have boxed up in a closet or non-Genesis compilations a shot, but I'll still be snagging SEGA Genesis Classics on day one.

And where the frick is the Switch version? Dumb move, SEGA. 

Favorite Tunes #218: Inkwell Isle One

One of my favorite robots in gaming is getting some love in Favorite Tunes this week. No, it is not Mega Man. Or Proto Man. Or even X. There's also a rendition from Secret of Mana, the flying opossum, Sparkster and a lesser known Nintendo racer.

Fear of the Heavens - Secret of Mana (PS4, PSV, PC)

I have not read any reviews for this remake but I'm well aware that is has been getting blasted both by fans and critics. Nevertheless, I bought the game on release day and as a big fan of the original, I've really been enjoying it. The music seems to be a miss with most folks, but you have the option to switching over to the original SNES score. Not every arranged track is a winner but I've liked most of what I've heard.

Stage 3 - Sparkster (GEN)

There's an SNES version of Sparkster that released the same year as this Genesis version did. They are two completely different games, however. Both games do use some of the same themes so it is nice to see how certain tracks come out on their respective hardware. Much like the original Rocket Knight Adventures, Sparkster was largely overlooked.

Inkwell Isle One - Cuphead (PC, XBO)

Beautiful, cartoonish visuals, chaotic run and gun gameplay and a a plethora of bosses. Cuphead has done extremely well on numerous fronts. I picked up some Cuphead merch in the form of adorable plushies of the two main characters, Cuphead and Mugman. Just a few days ago, I snagged the Devil. If a physical release of the Cuphead soundtrack became available en mass, I would cop that with the quickness.

Mission 2 (Cilius Moon Weapon Factory) - Sol-Feace (SCD)

In the monumental Favorite Tunes #200, I posted the Genesis rendition of Mission 2 from Sol-Deace (no idea why the two versions go by different names). Well, here's the arranged SEGA CD (MEGA CD for my Japanese and European readers) version of that very same track. It does not lose a single ounce of bounce on CD quality audio.

Monster Dance - Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally (NES)

Released only in Japan, you'd think this baby would get more exposure on Nintendo's eShop but no such luck. At least not yet. That cool backwards hat and mechanic uniform Mario is sporting in Super Mario Odyssey is taken from this very game. The composer of this super catchy, highly upbeat track is Soyo Oka. You may have heard of her. She wrote the music to a little game called Super Mario Kart.

Planet Brainwave - Super Bomberman R (NS)

Hopefully last year's Super Bomberman R isn't the last we've seen of our favorite little blaster. But this is Konamiw we're talking about. The game may not have set the world on fire but at least Konami managed to not screw it up with microtransactions or charging for additional save slots. Heck, one of the updates included some Konami costumes such as characters from the Mystical Ninja Games and the Vic Viper from Gradius.

Favorite Tunes Database

The Green (Greens) Album

I really should have had this write up done back in February because I've listened to this album several times since it was released (February 19th). However, the more I blog, the more I realize that being late isn't always a bad thing. Besides, we're not that far off into March to where this is super late.

The Pixel Mixers are at it again. They already blew me away with their F-ZERO: Boost Power! album back in January, and now they are taking a shot at Kirby and company with The Green (Greens) Album. 

Look at that album at work. You've got Sword Kirby (a big favorite of mine), Meta Knight looking like a boss, Waddle Doo and of course, a spear wielding Waddle Dee. He's not the best that is Bandanna Waddle Dee, but you can't have everything you want in life.

This album covers a hefty bit of games from the tough cream puff's history. No doubt one would expect titles like Kibry's Adventure, Kirby Super Star, and the game that kick off the entire series, Kirby's Dream Land to be accounted for and they are. However, titles such as Kirby: Canvas Curse, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Kirby Air Ride and Kirby Mass Attack are also represented here. Across the span of 19 tracks, eight Kirby games are covered over an hours worth of music.

City Trial was a much loved mode in Kirby Air Ride, so it is no surprise that that mode's track was arranged. I personally would have killed for a Machine Passage arrange, but the City Trial remix does suffice. The metal arranges of Gourmet Race and Marx's Theme from Kirby Super Star are baller and hearing another Marshmallow Castle remix is starting to make me think that more people love that song than I originally thought. One may not think of Forest Trail when they think of music from Kirby's Adventure, but I've always loved that tune and it has been give a vocal rock arrangement. Enjoy the Zero Two arrangement from Kirby 64, now with more A Capella. Kirby Collecting (Kirby Mass Attack) is a sweet jazz session piece, Grassland sounds like it could have been a bonus arranged track in Kirby's Epic Yarn and I never would have imagined that an acoustic guitar version of Grape Garden could sound so dang good.

The Pixel Mixers are truly something else. Whether I'm listening to a new album or one of their older projects, they continue to impress. Go and download this album right now. It is free and if you want some great gaming arrangements or that Kirby itch is getting hard to hold off scratching with the upcoming release of Kirby: Star Allies, grab The Green (Greens) Album.

The (Green Greens) Album

Favorite Tunes #217: Hype Boss Music is Hype

I think it is only fair to warn you that this week's Favorite Tunes contains music from not one, but two, Konami games. If you are offended by any and all things Konami, turn back now. You have been warned.

Boss - Rocket Knight Adventures (GEN)

Sparkster had a brief and underwhelming revival in the form or Rocket Knight in the late 2000s. I'd love to see my favorite jet pack using opossum get a new game but I'd also love for more gamers to get the chance to play his 16-bit adventures. Konami has re-released several Contra and Castlevania titles but poor Sparkster has been on the side of the road. Seeing as how Konami is a shell of its former self, I'm not counting on Sparkster to return anytime soon. I'm amazed the Genesis game soundtrack received a vinyl release back in January. 

Eternity - Blue Dragon (360)

I've never played Blue Dragon, but even I was fully aware that Dragon Ball creator Akira Toiryama was behind the character design and that Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu was writing the music. Even without context, I freaking love this boss theme. Those cheesy lyrics, that blasting rock. It was love at first listen.

Tosterena Night -  Super Mario Odyssey (NS)

With the new update to Super Mario Odyssey, players the world over as finding as well as hiding balloons. Those new outfits ain't cheap and balloon hunting is a great way to earn some serious bank. One piece of music that I absolutely could not get enough of was the night version of Tostarena. It is so dang calming. I was super disappointed when I fixed the Sand Kingdom's problems and could no longer hear it in game. Thankfully, beating Odyssey unlocks the Music List so now I can turn this song on whenever I want!

Hi-Spec Robo Go! (Hard Boiled Heavies Theme) - Sonic Mania (PS4, XBO, NS, PC)

Sonic Mania, not without it's faults, is an outstanding game. I loved it so much, I ranked it 3rd in my Top 10 Games of 2017. Tee Lopes is a music composing god. The Hard Boiled Heavies boss theme is like the results of a Jest Set Radio theme combined with Cowboy Beebop's opening theme.

Thunder Landing - Super C (NES)

Konami is making more stupid decisions like charging 10 bucks for extra save files on Metal Gear Survive, but the rest of us are thinking back to the days when they were actually a worthwhile company. It truly is better to remember Konami for what they were rather than what they've become. I trend to favor the arcade score of Super C's soundtrack but the NES version turned out quite well. This theme plays on the very first level and it is a great way to kick the game off.

Title - Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

With Kirby Star Allies hitting the Switch this month, I thought it would be fitting to give the tough cream puff a showing in this week's Favorite Tunes. For years my all-time favorite Kirby game was Super Star. That title was at long last dethroned when I played Kirby's Return to Dream Land. I've lost track of how many times I've played through this game and I think I'm due for another play.

Favorite Tunes Database