Favorite Tunes #190: Sunday Jams

What's this? Favorite Tunes on a Sunday? Usually, this a feature that is reserved for Saturday but I was a bit behind so I moved it to Sunday. Enjoy!

Side-Crawler's Dance - Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (SMS)

For a cool $20, you can own one of the best remakes of 2017 and just in general, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. The game boasts a jaw dropping art style and an outstanding musical score. If those things aren't to your liking, with a few button presses, you can instantly revert the game back to it's original 1989 look and sound. The arranged audio is of super high quality but if you haven't listened to the original Sega Master System tracks, I highly recommend you check them out.

Messij - WipEout (Multi)

I picked up WipEout Omega Collection as a self bought birthday present and I've really been digging it. Though I was never the best WipEout player, I haven't played a game in the series in over a decade so I've had to reacquire what little skills I did have. Still, I've been having a ton of fun with this game and it made me recall the early 2000s when I picked up all three WipEout titlts on the original PS. Though the first  WipEout was outclassed by the superior WipEout XL, it had a phenomenal soundtrack thanks in part to guys CoLD SToRAGE.

Stage Select - Mega Man 9 (Wii, PS3, 360)

When Mega Man 9 was revealed by Capcom in 2008, fans and critics alike went wild. It was the return of classic Mega Man after a near decade long absence (not counting the GBA port of Mega Man & Bass in 2003 and Mega Man Anniversary Collection in 2004). Despite my issues with the game (it feels like its trying to imitate Mega Man 2 far too much), Mega Man 9 was still an outstanding entry in the series and I'm looking forward to the physical release in Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 in early August.

Turtle Woods - Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

I realize that the previous Favorite Tunes was full of nothing but music from Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Normally, I'd give a game or series that took up all of Favorite Tunes a break, but I really, really like the redone music in N. Sane Trilogy. Currently, I'm going through Crash 2 and I cannot get enough of this Turtle Woods theme.

Cosmic Air way - Darius (ARC)

You've heard the GB version of this theme back in Favorite Tunes #186. Well, how you can hear the arcade version. As someone who was exposed to other games in the series and wouldn't hear the music more than 20 years after it's initial release, I'm surprised at how much I enjoy the music from the first Darius. It may sound a bit primitive compared to the later entries, but I love it. I especially like how much of it is peppy and upbeat.

Ribbon Girl's Theme - ARMS (NS)

Nintendo has been killing it with the Switch. All they've got to do is fix that atrocious Nintendo Switch Online app and make the dang Switch a lot easier for consumers to get their hands on, and we'll be golden. I'm truly amazed by how catchy some of the music in ARMS is. When the music is this freaking good, you can get away with lyrics that are nothing but "Ohhhs" and "Nas."

Favorite Tunes Database

Favorite Tunes #189: Crashback

In the past I've dedicated Favorite Tunes to a single character such as Mario or Sonic the Hedgehog. With Crash Bandicoot making his return and myself along with many others being knee deep in the Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy, this is the perfect time to give the orange spin doctor his due.

Main Theme (N. Sanity Beach) - Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

Everyone and their grandma was grinning like they got hit with Joker Gas when they heard this theme in N. Sane Trilogy. Not only is it play during the main menu and for the first level of Crash Bandicoot, it also serves as the music for the overworld. Such a jaunty music piece that thankfully, is not limited to a single area of the game.

Hog Wild - Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

The original Hog Wild tune will always hold a special place in my heart but I LOVE the arrangement of it in the N. Sane Trilogy. That harmonica at the beginning, the guitar and so many cartoon sound effects come together to a groovy, wacky jam.

Road to Nowhere - Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

Depth perception. It is by far one of the biggest things that will mess with you when playing the Crash games. What better way to make things worse than by designing a level that places over a rickety bridge with slippery planks and, planks that fall away shortly after you step on and broken planks that can't even be stepped on? The level wouldn't be so bad if it were a 2D stage, but Road to Nowhere and the High Road are 3D stages. At least you've got some calming music to listen to while you're screaming.

Toxic Waste - Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

Some of the levels leading up to this one are the kind that make you wanna crack your controller in two, so Toxic Waste is a nice, fun breather. The level them is as metal as it gets and you're assaulted by a big guy throwing barrels at you throughout. Huh. I'm getting a serious Donkey Kong vibe here.

Crash Dash - Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

This is one of the arrangements where I have to say I like the original better. However, I still find this version to be really freaking good. It keeps the bells but it feels like the rock is more emphasized, which I'm perfectly fine with, though I do miss the primal feel that the original had.

Toad Village - Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)

From the game that is a lot of people's favorite of the trilogy, Crash Bandicoot: Warped has Crash and Coco traveling through time. One of the earliest levels in the game is full of knights and frogs and death by the later leads to one of the best death animations. Naturally, the music matches the time period you're in. This theme sounds very triumphant and adventurous.

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The Bandicoot Came Back Tough, Just Like He Always Was

Like many of my fellow Crash heads, I was eager to get down with the Bandicoot in Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy after being away from him for so long. It has been 9 years since the last Crash game and many have followed since he left the care of Naughty Dog, and they've been of varying quality. However, if any games in his history were worth giving a fresh coat of paint, it would have to be the platforming Naughty Dog trilogy. While many of us were becoming children (or in some cases, teens) all over again, a copious amount of players were voicing their frustrations and struggles with N. Sane Trilogy, more specifically towards the remake of the first Crash Bandicoot.

Upon doing some comparisons, fans discovered that the jump/landing mechanics aren't exactly the same as they were in the original PS games. When you are remaking a game from scratch, there are always going to be changes. The front cover of the N. Sane Trilogy says "remastered" but in truth, all three games on this collection were rebuilt from the ground up because the original source code is very old. (Heck, the first Crash Bandicoot is over 20 years old.) Fans are quick to cite the different jump/landing mechanics of N. Sane Trilogy as the source of the difficulty, which to me, comes across as a pretty big stretch. Lots of gamers playing Crash Bandicoot via N. Sane Trilogy haven't played the game in a very long time so they've more than likely forgotten a pretty dang huge aspect of the game and that is, surprise, surprise, the original Crash Bandicoot was always a ball bustingly hard game.

Whether you're jumping over flames in the Native Fortress, sweating bullets as you cross those awful bridges in the Road to Nowhere and the High Road, the first Crash game had a difficulty that was extremely punishing, even with the original jump physics that fans remember. It's actually quite strange that so many are focusing on the different jump physics rather than how freaking difficult the first Crash was. The PS Crash Bandicoot was much, much harder than this remake. Saving in that version sucked because you had to collect Tawna Tokens or use those stupidly long passwords. Getting 100% completion was a nightmare because dying once in a stage rest any boxes you had broken, meaning you had to complete any stage that had a gem without fail. Imagine doing this for some of the game's most fiendish levels. The whole lot of us would be sporting Ripper Roo's look and outfit.

Even when you weren't going for 100%, just trying to finish the game was a brutal because of the insanely precise platforming skills that the game demanded out of the player, especially late in game. By comparison, the remake, while still being pretty darn challenging, trims out a few of the things that made Crash 1 so hard. The game saves after every level. You don't have to complete every single level without dying to get a gem, except when it comes to color gems. Boxes found in Bonus stages count towards a level's total box count, making those gems a bit easier.

I'm not saying PS Crash Bandicoot is a bad game for having a difficulty that would make most players leave controller imprints in their walls, nor would I throw it in with the likes of Ghosts 'N Goblins, but the game is still pretty effing difficult, nonetheless. Whereas Super Mario 64 was more free roaming, non liner, Crash Bandicoot's design was much more liner and straightforward. I think that was a large part of Crash's appeal. At it's core, Crash is a simple game: go from point A to point B while busting open boxes along the way. About midway through the game, though getting to point B is easier said than done.

If I could offer some advice to make your time with Crash 1 in the N. Sane Trilogy a bit less stressful, I'll tell you to stock up on lives. The Lost City is a great place to farm them as you can keep spinning the bats that fly by throughout the level for infinite Wumpa Fruit. Lost City is also plentiful with regular 1-ups. You don't even have to finish a level you've beaten to carry out the extra lives. Just grab what you need, exit the stage and you're good. In an age where games heap extra lives at you so easily when you really don't need them, in Crash 1, you're going to need lives like you need air to breathe. Going into a level like The High Road with a mere handful of lives is just unwise.

As for the different jump/landing/hit box mechanics that some are claiming mess the game up, they really aren't that intrusive. N. Sane Trilogy just came out so in time, it could be patched. Whether they get patched or not, I'm fine either way. However, even if there is a patch, you can bet your booty that gamers will still talk about the difficulty because different physics or not, Crash (Crash 1, anyway) was always tough.

Favorite Tunes #188: Summer Time Calls for Summer Jams

So far, summer has been treating us pretty well here in Virginia Beach. Yeah, there are some pretty hot days, but it has been surprisingly cool as well and we've had some breeze to boot. Let the obligatory summer, beach inspired video game music commence.

Sandy Beach - Wave Race 64 (N64)

Man, forget about your stinking Metroid games, can we get Wave Race back up in here? In all seriousness, the franchise has been dead for more 16 years now and while it isn't as highly coveted as F-ZERO, I'd love to ride the waves again. If you're listening to this theme and thinking "Hey, that's not Sandy Beach!" well, you're not right and you're not wrong. This is the Japanese version of the tune.

Bloo Bay Beach - Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Color Splash was hated before it was even released. Fans saw that it looked similar to Sticker Star and already labeled it as a bad game. Then the game came out and turned out to be pretty good. If you haven't played Color Splash because you still feel the sting of Sticker Star, you're doing yourself a great disservice. I can see the water crashing onto the shore whenever I hear this.

Turtle Woods - Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PS)

The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy just dropped and I've no doubt many of you are playing and loving it. It is currently in my list of currently playing games as well as I have not played these games in years. It has been quite the fun trip down memory lane.

Secret Island/Boom Boatyard - Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)

One frequent complaint of Kirby's Epic Yarn is that you cannot die. The game is quite easy but if you want to give yourself more of a challenge, you should go for collecting everything in every level and getting a gold medal. One of the most difficult levels to do this for is Boom Boatyard. You're constantly under fire from bombs and to make matters worse, the level is on auto scroll. That super happy music is there to keep you from snapping you Wii Remote in half.

Mermaid Falls - Shantae: Half Genie Gero (PS4, Wii U, PC)

Half-Genie Hero was the first Shantae game I invested serious amount of time into. While it may be very easy and not represent the best of the series, I still had a lot of fun with this. Jake Kaufman delivered another fantastic soundtrack with lots of head bopping tunes.

Back 2 Back (Blazy Mix) - Sonic Rush (DS)

In a series filled with tons of characters that often make fans groan, Blaze the Cat was very well received among the Sonic community. Her debut game was Sonic Rush and all of her Zone tracks were remixed versions of the original Zone BGM. Sonic Rush is one of the (many) games critics overlook when they love to claim that Sonic games haven't been good since the Genesis days.

Favorite Tunes Database

Favorite Tunes #32: Platform Edition

It's music from one of gaming's finest genres, platformers in this edition of Favorite Tunes.

Rock Solid - Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)

Originally titled Conker's Twelve Tales, Conker underwent a huge overhaul. No longer a cutesy platformer, Conker's Bad Fur Day featured foul language aplenty, tons of sexual themes, and a plethora of crude humor. It ended up being a fine platformer but due to aforementioned content and Nintendo's firm family friendly policies at the time, advertisement for the game was limited, which was a contributing factor to poor sales. Conker's BFD isn't just one of the best looking games on the N64, it's one of the best sounding games to boot. Rare always knew how to work magic with the N64's sound chip, as evidence with games like Blast Corps, Jet Force Gemini and Banjo-Kazooie. Rock Solid could be blasted at an actual dance club, which is fitting because in the actual game, this song is played at a dance club.

Planet Wisp Act 1 - Sonic Colors (Wii)

Sonic games were improving on the consoles with Sonic Unleashed, a game that wasn't perfect but was leaps and bounds better than the train wreck that was Sonic 2006. Sonic Colors further improved blue streak's reputation with solid 3D platforming and tons of 2D sections reminiscent of the early Genesis titles. Colors also boasts one of the best soundtracks of all the 3D Sonic titles, with different arrangement of the act themes. Lots of fans love Planet Wisp Act 1. One listen to this tune and it isn't hard to figure out why. It's incredibly soothing. There's also a portable version of Sonic Colors on the DS, but it's far outclassed by the Wii version.

Exotic Pyramid - Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

A game 11 years in the making, Kirby's Return to Dream Land is Kirby's triumphant return to the traditional style of Kirby gameplay on Nintendo consoles. It may not be as visually impressive as Kirby's Epic Yarn (a splendid game) but RTDL is easily the better title. The soundtrack is packed with remixes of classic Kirby themes and lots of brand new music. Raisin Ruins is the obligatory desert world in RTDL and of all the sand levels I've played in platformers, this is definitely one of the funner sand filled lands to romp through. There are a number of themes that play in Raisin Ruins but Exotic Pyramid is certainly the most lively of the bunch.

Snow Overworld - Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

If there's a Nintendo handheld, you best believe that soon or later, Mario will be there. In the case of the 3DS, thankfully, it was sooner rather than later. The 80$ price drop on the 3DS helped move units, sure, but Super Mario 3D Land was even more incentive to pick up the portable. It's not only one of the best selling 3DS games, but the fastest selling portable Mario. I'm not terribly fond of ice levels in platformers, but they weren't too shabby in 3D Land. That hummable Snow Overworld theme certainly didn't hurt.

Sky Station Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

I'm in the camp that feels that Super Mario Galaxy 2 isn't quite as good as the first Super Mario Galaxy. Even with all the left over ideas that Galaxy 2 used from the first game, it still seems like a heavy feeling of deja vu. This isn't to say I think the game is no good. Quite the opposite. The second Galaxy title is a fantastic platformer and a wonderful entry in the Super Mario series. There's some reused music in Galaxy 2, but thankfully not nearly as much as New Super Mario Bros. 2 reused themes from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The Mario Galaxy Orchestra was brought back to compose music and the new tunes were every bit as good as what we'd heard in the first game.

Boulder - Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PS)

For a time, Crash was Sony's unofficial mascot. These days, Crash can be found on nearly every console and handheld and Sony seems to be doing just fine without him. The first Crash Bandicoot game is known for it's absurdly high difficulty and that's even if you aren't going for 100%. Developer Naughty probably caught wind of this because Crash Bandicoot 2's challenged was toned down considerably. Without doing a 100% run, I managed to finish the game in about a day and half, much to my surprise. But despite the game being easy, I still enjoyed Crash 2. During the snow levels, if you weren't running from a huge polar bear, there was a boulder hot on your heels.

The Windmill Song - Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (PS, Wii)

Originally released on the PlayStation in 1997, Klonoa was a remarkable 2.5D platformer, staring the titular hero who used his ring known as the Wind Bullet to pick up foes and throw them at other enemies or use them as a boost to perform a double jump. The game also had a shocking ending that many were not expecting from a game of this caliber. The game would be re-released on the Wii in 2009 under the name Klonoa with the visuals receiving a fresh coat of paint. Music in both the Wii and PS version is exactly the same, and for fans of the original, that's probably a good thing. It may be kind of difficult (and pricey) to find a copy or the PS original so you're better off downloading it off the PSN or picking up the Wii remake.

Sea of Serendipity ~ Lums of Water - Rayman Origins (PS3, 360, Wii, Vita, 3DS)

Do you have a snoring problem? You might wanna get that fixed. Otherwise you might end up waking the dead, cause a sorts of problems for everyone around you and have to go off on a crazy adventure with your buddies through gorgeous, well designed but brutal stages. Don't take my word for it. Ask Rayman and his pals. Rayman Origins is one of the best games of 2011 that few have played and it breaks my heart. The game can now be purchased on the cheap so I highly recommend you pick up this challenging platformer.

Treasure Trove Cove - Banjo-Kazooie (N64)

A straight-laced bear teamed up with a smart-mouthed bird? That's gotta be the craziest idea for a team up I've ever heard. And yet, Rare managed to make it work. While heavy on the collecting, Banjo-Kazooie was such a fun game with wondrous worlds to explore that all the Jinjos and jigsaw puzzle pieces really didn't bother me. The game's second world, Treasure Trove Cove takes place on an a beach so it naturally has theme that reminds one of fun in the sun. Just stay clear of the shark.

Primordial Ooze - Ape Escape (PS)

Apes have escape and it's up to you to nab them all. Thankfully, they aren't flinging their fecal matter at you, but due to the helmets they wear that increase their intelligence, you may wish they did. Originally released on the PlayStation, Ape Escape was remade on the PSP with some enhancements like smoother visuals and remixed music. The music in the PSP version is quite good, but I'm one of those old fogies that prefers the original audio.

Favorite Tunes #17: Platform Themes

I have been basking in the wonders of the platform genre ever since I was a kid. Super Mario Bros. contains some of my earliest memories of gaming and it was the first platform that I ever played. I'd go on to experience the genre deeper with Sonic the Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot and a plethora of other games. Platformers still remain one of my favorite genres.

Dark Ruins - Ape Escape (PSone)

Monkey business has never been more fun that it was with Ape Escape. It was the first game that required play with Sony's at the time new Dual Shock controller, which has become the standard for all Sony systems. The goal in Ape Escape is to well, catch those monkeys. These can be some crafty little critters. Some of theme even come at you touting machine guns so needless to say, they have no intention of getting themselves caught. One of my favorite platform games, Soichi Terada's music helped me get sucked into the world of Ape Escape all the more.

Betillia the Fairy - Rayman (PSone, SAT)

If you know a gamer that needs to have his or her ego checked, have them play the original Rayman. This game throws everything at you including the kitchen sink. Having said that, even after all these years, the first Rayman game looks and sounds positively gorgeous. Like Rayman Origins, you earned abilities by meeting up with fairies, but in this case it was a single fairy named Betilla, who was given what I can only say is one of the most relaxing, peaceful, soothing themes I've ever heard. I'd actually linger around her after she gave me my power-ups so I could keep listening to her theme.

Boulder Dash - Crash Bandicoot (PSone)

I remember renting the original Crash Bandicoot in 1996 and then buying it in 2000. Playing through the game all the way revealed just how challenging and sadistic it could be. Looking back, I'm amazed that I finished the game, even if I didn't do it 100%. What would become a trademark of the series was Crashing running away from boulders. Unlike Indian Jones, Crash had it far more rough. In these levels you actually ran towards the TV screen so it looked like you were playing the level backwards. The music piece that plays during these boulder assaults make these levels unforgettable.

Voltage Algorism - Pulseman (Genesis)

Never played Pulseman? Hope on the Wii's Virtual Console and download it. It's one of the best Genesis games that never saw a proper release outside of Japan. Developed by Game Freak, Pulseman takes you on a quest to stop your mad doctor father from surprise, surprise, taking over the world. There aren't a great deal of enemies to dispose of in the levels but this game was more about using Pulseman's unique electric abilities to navigate the stages.

Splash Down!! - Ristar (Genesis)  

I actually forgot to mention this one when I did Water Themes on Favorite Tunes. Developed by Sonic Team, Ristar shows of some of the best visuals the Genesis has ever seen. The audio is also quite exceptional. Splash Down!! is probably my favorite track in the whole game. The bubble sound effects are a very nice touch. This track was used in the excellent rom hack Sonic Megamix.

Cool Edge: Night - Sonic Unleashed (PS2, PS3, Wii, 360) 

Ask anyone what the worst part of Sonic Unleashed is and you'll get the same answer: the Werehog stages. While the Werehog is slow and combat boils down to mashing the buttons, I honestly don't find the Werehog that much of a chore to play with. If you've never played Sonic Unleashed, you may think the Werehog was given some rock themes to more match his appearance. In actuality, the Werehog themes are more laid back and I think these tracks are just as good as the day themes. I've always been fascinated by he spectacle that is the Northern Lights and it was great to see it in Holoska.

Bonus Level - Cool Spot (SNES, GEN)  

Cool Spot was one of those rare licensed games in the 16-bit era that actually did not suck. Tommy Tallarico composed the game's music and gave us the greatest bonus level music of all-time. Being in a 7Up bottle bouncing off bubbles was trippy but that bonus level music? I had to make sure I made it to the bonus level after every stage just so I could hear it. Since I know there are people that prefer one version over the other, the Genesis version is here.

Angry Aztec - Donkey Kong 64 (N64)  

Donkey Kong 64 soured me on platformers for sometime. It's overabundance of collecting was more than I could stand and after four worlds of it, I'd had enough. Be that as it may, I still adored its soundtrack. Angry Aztec is the token desert world of the game, which just so happens to have my favorite theme.

Castle Lololo - Kirby's Dream Land (GB)  

The first Kirby game is easily the shortest. With only five stages, it can be completed in under 30 minutes. But if you're looking for a true test of skill, you can play a much harder version of it upon completion. Despite the game's length, Kirby's Dream Land is home to some of the most memorable tunes of the whole series. One that gets overlooked is Castle Lololo. If you're a HAL buff, you may recognize the stage bosses of this level. That's Lolo and Lala, two characters from another HAL series.

Junk Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)  

There are many sights to behold in the vast galaxies of Super Mario Galaxy. But one that never ceases to amaze me is the endless sea of stars in Space Junk Galaxy. There would be times where I would stop and stare out into space while this lovely tune played. YouTube is often filled with stupid comments but Corybean1 wrote one of the most insightful things I've ever read.

"I think it's called Space Junk Galaxy because of the overall mood of the level. It is quiet and lonely. All this debris used to be something; a part of a ship or something significant. Now it is all in some remote, cold location in the universe. This wasn't a happy-go-lucky Mario level; it was slower, are much more fascinating than that. Calling it all "junk" helps amplify a sense of loneliness and abuse all this forgotten debris has gone through. That's what I think Space Junk Galaxy is." 

Well said, fellow gamer. Well said.