VG Soundtrack of the Day 075: Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Today we have a soundtrack from my favorite Kirby game, Kirby's Return to Dream Land. This game took everything from my previous favorite Kirby, Kirby Super Star and added to it. I've played this game alone, I've played through it with my nieces and nephew and I really, really want an HD Switch port. Oh right, the music to this game is AMAZING. The arrangements are *Chef kiss* magnificent and the new tracks would go on to be big fan favorites. I cannot begin to tell you how happy I was to see C-R-O-W-N-E-D get added among the list of songs for Kirby stages in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land (YouTube)

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Favorite Tunes #264: Black Sabbath Invades

You read right, Black Sabbath, the hit 70s rock band has taken over this week's Favorite Tunes. Don't worry, Favorite Tunes isn't going "real music" on you. There's still plenty of game tunage to be found and even if you aren't a fan of the band, I think you'll still get a kick out of my Black Sabbath song choice.

Marionation Gear - Chosoju Mecha MG (DS)

I love the Super Smash Bros. games for exposing us to music from games that didn't make it outside of Japan, such as the Nintendo DS game Chosoju Mecha MG. Brawl introduced an outstanding remix of the Marionation Gear theme and it has been in every Smash game since. I'd wondered what the original tune sounded like. That piano is killing it and that guitar solo sounds as rad as ever even on the DS.

Over the Hill - Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

Kirby Star Allies just might be my favorite Kirby soundtrack but there's still a lot to love about Return to Dream Land's score. It has several beautiful arrangements of old themes and plenty of quirky, catchy new beats. I do wish more of Return to Dream Land's soundtrack was used in Ultimate, but you can't have everything.

At Doom's Gate [E1M1] - Doom (PC)

Good, well paced stories are all fine and dandy but sometimes you just wanna run around and shoot stuff. The original Doom from 1993 did that extremely well and so did the 2016 version. For any Doom head, this is sure to get your head banging. An arranged, slowed down version is even used for Doom 2016.

Paranoid - Rock 'n' Roll Racing (SNES)

I guess Doom put in a mood for some rock jams. With a name like Rock 'n' Roll Racing, you better go hard on the music or go home. Thankfully, the soundtrack to this game was not a let down, consisting of classic rock sounds like Bad to the Bone and for me, one of the greatest versions of Paranoid. I'm surprised the SNES sound chip didn't melt playing this sucker.

Stamp Collection - NES Remix (Wii U)

With Nintendo's runaway success of the Switch, it is almost hard to believe that a few short years ago, they were struggling with the Wii U. There were numerous reasons why the system failed but the console still had a solid lineup of games. One of the earliest titles to hit the Wii U was NES Remix, a game that offered new takes on Nintendo's classic NES titles in the form of bit sized challenges. It was later given a physical release along with the sequel, NES Remix 2 via NES Remix Pack.

Meta Crystal - Super Smash Bros. (N64)

As of yesterday, it the 20th anniversary of Super Smash Bros. American release. The fact that so many of the original game's tracks are included in Ultimate makes me so giddy and nostalgic. Metal opponents are always annoying to fight but none took a beating like Metal Mario from Smash 64. That dude could last was past kill percent.

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Favorite Tunes #261: Metal Squad

Once again, Favorite Tunes is not in the usual Saturday slot. The reason is due to yesterday's editorial. Favorite Tunes should be back to the usual Saturday schedule this coming week, but I make no promises. Special thanks to Cat with Monocle for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate wallpaper.

Bomb Man Stage (Mega Man) - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NS)

The amount of remix love composers showed Rock in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate truly warms my video game music loving heart. It isn't just new Mega Man 2 remixes. Mega Man 3, 4, 5 and the original Mega Man all received fantastic arrangements. Bomb Man's music has always been a track I've adored and while this remix sticks very close to the original song (making it one of the shortest arranged tracks in Ultimate), it is still a fine jam to launch someone into the blast zone to.

Boss - Mega Man 11 (NS, PS4, XBO, PC)

I sure could have gone for some Mega Man 11 tracks in Ultimate, but that game's soundtrack is packed as is, so you can't have everything. The Blue Bomber's latest entry boasts some of the most enjoyable boss battles with Robot Masters of the entire series. Once they get down to half health,  they change up their attack patterns and become far more aggressive.

Bio Hazard Snatcher - Snatcher (PC-8801)

With adventure games making a strong comeback, you'd think Konami would re-release Snatcher. I'd really love to play it and a large part of my desire to do so is because of the amazing soundtrack. Packing heavy Blade Runner influences, Snatcher is one of those other games Hideo Kojima worked on that was not Metal Gear.

Metal Squad - Thunder Force IV (GEN)

If you've never played Thunder Force IV (known as Lightening Force in America) the game has been re-released for the Switch under the SEGA AGES label. Like all SEGA AGES releases, you get all sorts of options including one that let's your turn off slowdown, but this game is hard enough as it is, so keep the slowdown on.

Lor Starcutter - Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

The DS and Wii era treated Kirby extremely well. There was a remake of what was my favorite Kirby game, Kirby Super Star dubbed Super Star Ultra on the DS, original titles like Kirby Squeak Squad (DS), Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (DS), Kirby's Epic Yarn and what has been my all-time favorite Kirby game over the past seven years, Kirby's Return to Dream Land. From the multiplayer, to the colorful, popping visuals, the plethora of abilities to the soundtrack, I love this game so very, very much. Lor Starcutter is yet another Green Greens remix, but Hirokazu Ando and Jun Ishikawa manage to come up with some many different takes on the classic theme that it is always a joy to hear it get arranged.

Race 5 The Finale - Horizon Chase Turbo (PC, PS4, NS)

Bright, cartoon-like visuals and fantastic arcade racing make Horizon Chase Turbo one of the best racing games I've played that doesn't have a former plumber in it in a long time. The music has a retro flair to it makes burning rubber all the more enjoyable.

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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.

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