VGM Saturdays Vol. 2 No. 002

Normally, I would go with all winter themed music for this time of year and I had very much considered going that route, but as I as compiling tracks for this week's music, it had completely slipped my mind to include all cold type music. So enjoy the very mild selection of winter tracks this week.

Walking the Beat - Cosmic Star Heroine (Multi)

I was recommended this game by a good friend of mine, so I scooped it up on PS4 and never got around to playing it. When it came out for the Switch, I bought it for that system. Neeeeeveeeeer got around to playing it. What I did get around to is listening to the soundtrack or some of it, at least and it is very impressive stuff. I probably should get around to playing the game at some point.

Greenpath (From "Hollow Knight") - Hollow Knight Lofi - Collosia

The indie scene is overrun with Metroidvania games. Hollow Knight manages to stand out from the pack with a huge map, tough bosses and highly memorable areas to explore. Oh and the music is all kinds of awesome, with some of the very best in relaxing musical pieces coming from this game. One of my favorite tribute albums is Collosia's Hollow Knight Lofi. The album is up on Spotify as well as YouTube.

Snowy Mammoth - Ape Escape Origineape Soundtracks

I often think of how Nintendo and SEGA are so neglectful of their IPs but Sony isn't much better. How long has the Ape Escape IP been rotting away in an attic? Those of you that have played the original Ape Escape might be familiar with this track. The first Ape Escape hit the PS in 1999 and would get a PSP port in 2011. The music here is from the PSP port and its been enhanced. While I do prefer the original PS music, the PSP port does a commendable job on one of my favorite tracks.

[GBA] Terminal Velocity (Act 1) - Sonic Colors [Sonic Advance 3 Style] - JX

I was fighting the urge to include a track from Sonic Frontiers this week. You have no idea how much I freaking love that soundtrack. So I made a compromise by including a Sonic track from a different Sonic game with a different sound font. This is the first of many JX arrangements. Who is JX? A super cool composer that does bang up work on retro video game covers. Bet you never knew how much you needed Sonic Colors' Terminal Velocity Act 1 with the Sonic Advance 3 instruments in your life until you heard it.

DANCIN' SWORD - Star Ocean (SFC)

In late October a bunch of the Star Ocean soundtracks officially made their way to Spotify and YouTube. Hooray! More SQUARE ENIX music to listen to without worrying about it being removed. When I found out Star Ocean music was on Spotify, I immediately added this to my SQUARE ENIX battle music play list. The enhanced version from First Depature is really nice and all but I looooove the Super Famicom original.

Next Chapter - Tetris Effect (Multi)

Tetris Effect was one of those coveted games I wished would make it to the Switch. It just seemed like one of those games that was a perfect fit for the system. Once again, the waiting game paid off. In 2021, the game came to the Switch under the name Tetris Effect: Connected. A physical version was released in 2022. Like the cool visuals, the music plays a large part of the game's appeal. Changes in the songs are based on the player's progress. You'll have to clear a certain amount of lines before the claps kick in on this track.

VGM Saturdays Vol. 2 Database

Favorite Tunes #207: Rusty Bucket Bay

We're getting closer to Christmas, which means I've got to piece together some Christmas/wintery themed tunes for you next week. Until then, enjoy this week's selection.

Bonus Stage - Lode Runner 3-D (N64)

As much as I love posting old favorites in this feature, there's nothing like discovering a new favorite. I just found out about the music from Lode Runner 3-D. There are only a handful of tracks, but this music is quite good. There's some really nice techno, electronic and house beats in here.

Asteroid Coaster Act 2 - Sonic Colors (Wii)

I recently started a play through of Sonic Colors. The last time I played this game was when I finished it in 2011. The game is so much better than I remember and without a doubt one of my top three favorite Sonic games. Being a Sonic game, I really don't need to gush over how outstanding the soundtrack is, but yeah, it is really freaking amazing.

George Jensent - Fighting Layer (ARC)

It has been several years since I've featured music from Fighting Layer on Favorite Tunes. The series is making a come back with Fighting Layer EX. Both Fighting Layer and the Street Fighter EX games (the later also made by Arika) have splendid soundtracks and I cannot wait to see what they give us for Fighting Layer EX.

Rusty Bucket Bay - Banjo-Kazooie (N64, 360)

With the release of Yooka-Laylee earlier this year and now the recent release on the Switch, I think it's safe to say that Banjo-Kazooie is relatively fresh in gamer's minds. The 1998 release was a wonderful collect-a-thon  platformer what was colorful, funny and in some late game instances, pretty dang cruel. The mere mention of Rusty Bucket Bay, even with it's catchy tune, is certain to bring back dreadful memories for any player that tried to complete this level.

Park Avenue - Sonic Forces (PC, NS, PS4, XBO)

A game some are calling a steaming heap of trash, Sonic Forces  is not the dumpster fire that these people make it out to be. It certainly could have been better but for what it is, I had fun with it. The avatar stages have lyrics and while the move into the cheese territory, most Sonic vocal tracks are cheesy so they fit in just fine.

Intermission - Double Dragon II: The Revenge (ARC)

After years of not liking the original Double Dragon's arcade score, I've warmed up to it a bit recently. I still feel the NES version is superior and Double Dragon II's arcade music is a much better effort than the first arcade game. Repetition is the name of this theme, but it's the good kind. Makes me wanna groove like Dashie.

Favorite Tunes Database