Favorite Tunes #154: Sophia

The Olympics are on, which means it is one of the few times I turn from Cartoon Network. Its also absurdly hot outside, so unless I absolutely have to leave the house, I'm saying inside where its nice and cool and rooting for Team USA and grooving to game music.

Warrior - Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator (ARC, PS3, PS4)

The last Guilty Gear game I played was X2 on the PS2. I haven't really kept touch with the series in years but when I think of the games, the type of music that springs to mind is metal and hard rock. There are plenty of rocking vocal tracks in the game's soundtrack but I was surprised to hear songs like Warrior in the mix. Not a bad surprise by any means.

Duel - Metal Gear Solid (PS)

Even after all of the technological advancements the series has made, the original Metal Gear Solid still has a movie-like score that still manages to impress almost 20 years after its release. Duel is an arranged, more intense driven version of the Encounter theme.

Vento Brasileiro  - Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U, 3DS)

The Rio 2016 Olympics are in full swing. I've been a big fan of the Olympics since I was a kid and I've been watching as much of the events as I can when I'm not at work. The Mario & Sonic games have been a thing since 2008, but the 2016 version will be the first one that I pick up. The events look like a lot of fun (especially boxing) and the original music along with the arrangements have my ears burning.

Macho Grubba - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)

Fans want a Paper Mario game more line with the original and The Thousand Year Door. I've heard Sticker Star spoken of as if it were the spawn of Satan, while Super Paper Mario doesn't get nearly as bad of a rap, it still didn't get a warm reception from fans. I didn't finish Thousand Year Door, but I was very impressed by the hours I sunk into it, both with the gameplay and the incredible soundtrack.

Sophia - Gimmick! (NES)

How good is the music in Gimmick? Really darn good. Like, among the best chiptunes you will ever hear. Gimmick's soundtrack is bouncy, upbeat and deadly serious when the mood calls for it. Despite the cutesy looks, Gimmick! is also a very punishing game to any and all who dare to approach it.

Lava Dome - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES)

This spin off Final Fantasy game gets a lot of hate for being an oversimplified RPG to get newbies into the genre. It may be a bit dull and flawed, but hardly a turd. Now id you hear anyone dis the music, please punch them in the face. 16-bit rock and metal has never sounded this good.

Favorite Tunes Database

Favorite Tunes #152: So Long, Splatfest

All good things must come to an end. The final Splatfest is now a memory. It was a really close one with Team Marie being triumphant over Team Callie. I went with Team Callie but I had a lot of fun. Good games Team Marie. I'll still be playing Splatoon but you better believe I'm more than a little sad to see Splatfest go.

Shiokara Bushi - Splatoon (Wii U)

If you get off of Splatoon's highly addictive online multiplayer mode and play the excellent single player campaign you'll cross tentacles with one of Nintendo's most creative final bosses, DJ Octavio. During the climax of the battle, Ocatvio's killer jam is replaced with this sick beat for the duration of the fight. During Splatfest, the tune Ink Me Up is usually played but when about 24 hours of the event was left, Nintendo switched things up and made Shiokara Bushi the final Splatfest theme, much to many player surprise and delight.

Ranking - Contra (ARC)

I tend to prefer the original Contra's score on the NES hardware, but there's a certain charm to the arcade version's music. Most of the music from the arcade version made it to the home consoles. Pity that the excellent Ranking music did not. I'll bet this would have sounded terrific with NES instruments but even on arcade hardware, its a pretty jovial track.

Main Theme - Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U, 3DS)

Mario and Sonic are back once again. This time they've headed to Rio for the Olympic Games. It wouldn't be a Mario & Sonic game without some boss remixes and a main theme and this game certainly delivers. The intro with the drums really gives this one a festival vibe.

Molgera: Wind Waker - Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS)

If you couldn't get enough hack and slash action with Hyrule Warriors on the Wii U, Hyrule Warriors Legends has you covered for on the go Zelda meets Dynasty Warriors fix. Toon Link joins the fight, bringing with him a variety of Wind Waker arrangements. In true Dynasty Warriors fashion, these tracks are rock remixes. Though I was not expecting a Molgera remix, it is most certainly welcome.

Studiopolis Zone - Sonic Mania (PS4, XBO, PC)

The last time I including a song in Favorite Tunes from a game that had yet to be released, it was Mighty No. 9. I like to think Sonic Mania will fare a lot better than that game did. Studiopolis Zone's music reminds me a lot of the Japanese version of Stardust Speedway Zone, one of my favorite tunes in Sonic CD. This track had me dying to find out what the rest of the game's soundtrack will be like.


Name Entry - Super Thunder Blade (GEN)

A port of the arcade game, Thunder Blade, Super Thunder Blade was a game that was too much for the Genesis hardware. The overhead section of each stage has been given the axe and the game lags like crazy after every movement. My first time playing Super Thunder Glade was on the PS2's SEGA Genesis Collection and since I died frequently, I was met with the Name Entry screen.