Favorite Tunes #234: Crude for You

As I've been listening to quite a bit of arcade music lately, it has crept its way into Favorite Tunes more and more. This may seem a bit unusual as I'm not someone that spent a great deal of time in the arcades growing up, which is something I regret. Thankfully, digital distribution has allowed me to discover what no doubt many others have experienced in arcades, thus getting me exposed to some really good arcade music.

New Day For Me  (Stage 2) - Zero Wing (AC)

Zero Wing is mostly known for its Engrish that spawned countless memes in the early 2000s, the Genesis version, at least. So popular are said memes that it may come as a surprise to find out that Zero Wing was originally an arcade game. Recently, I gave the arcade score a listen and was blown away. I'm a sucker for old arcade jams.

Leave Alone (Stage London) - Street Fighter III: New Generation (ARC)

In 1997, Capcom surprised everyone by doing the unthinkable: placing a III after "Street Fighter" They also upset a lot of players by 86ing just about every fighter from SFII, save Ryu and Ken. Players have since warmed to the SFIII crew. The game also introduced the parry mechanic as well as some sweet new beats. While 3rd Strike is without question the most popular and best game of the SFIII line, if you're curious about checking out the first one, you can experience it as part of the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.

Garuda Cave - Fighting EX Layer (PS4)

Fighting EX Layer has at long last been released. Annnnnnd yeah, it is missing some modes, mainly an arcade mode. This is sure to give players a Street Fighter V launch vibe but Arika ins't exactly rolling in dough. As of now, the game is a digital only title but with enough support, hopefully more modes will be added. The music is very much in the style of the Street Fighter EX game and the original Fighting Layer (both which we developed by Arika) so if you loved the music in those games, you won't be disappointed.

Stage 1 - Batman (TG-16)

Everyone goes nuts for the Stage 1 Batman theme on NES. And why should't they? It is a banger of a tune. Well, let me introduce you to the TG-16 version of Stage 1 from Batman. Different tune, yes, but still all kinds of radical.

Crude Buster -The Lifeline of New York- - Two Crude (AC)

Known as Depending on side of the pond you reside in the world, this game is known as Crude Buster. For us in the US of A, it is known as Two Crudes or Two Crude Dudes for those that played the Genesis port, which for the longest time was the only way to play this baby until MAME came along. Now you can legally play this baby thanks to digital destribution and I'll talk a bit more about this one this coming week. For now, just dig this baller theme.

Name Entry - Demon's World (AC)

I am just showering Toaplan with all kinds of love this week (Zero Wing is a game by Toaplan, FYI). If we HAMSTER ever gets to some Toaplan games perhaps we can see titles from their catalog on the arcade archives line. In the meantime, all I can say about Demon's World is that it has one of my favorite Name Entry themes. Not quite up there with that of Altered Beast, but still pretty dang good.

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Favorite Tunes #161: Paint the Town

This Favorite Tunes is a bit late. I was supposed to have this up on the 22nd, but I slacked off, time got away from me and I never got around to getting it up at the appointed time. To make amends, a bonus Favorite Tunes will be added later this week. For now, enjoy some beats from the latest entry in the Paper Mario series, Super Mario RPG, Rayman, Street Fighter III, Ape Escape, and Portal.

Sketchy Corner - Paper Mario Color Splash (Wii U)

Before Color Splash was even released, some fans already made up their minds that they hated the game because it took some aspects from Sticker Star. Having invested hours into Color Splash, I can say that it isn't the awful game so many make it appear to be. The writing is funny, the batlles, while on the easy side are fun, the HD visuals a marvel and the soundtrack is audio heaven. I almost regret getting the water wheel going in Port Prisma because once you do, this jazzy beat no longer plays.

Nimbus Land (Let's Do The Fooka-Fooka!) - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)

While fans await for a *ahem* "proper" Paper Mario sequel (whatever that means), fans also wait and wait for a sequel to Super Mario RPG. With 20 years after the game's release, I think it could be safe to assume that a sequel to the SNES classic just ain't gonna happen. As much as I love that game, I'm perfectly fine with Nintendo carrying on RPGs with the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi titles.

Good Fighter (Ryu Stage) - Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact Giant Attack (ARC, DC)

Street Fighter III as a whole was a major shake up for the SF series. The majority of the cast from the SFII series was gone in favor of a lot of new faces. The soundtrack was also quite different with hip hop and jazz being the dominate music genre. I didn't get into the SFIII titles until 3rd Stike but I liked the new fighters and different style of music.

Specter Land ~ Flying Fortress - Ape Escape (PS)

The first PS game that needed to be played with the Dual Shock controller, Ape Escape put both analog sticks to good use as you took control of numerous inventions to capture the rambunctious monkeys. The game's vibrant, cheerful and atmospheric soundtrack is some of Soichi Terada's best work.

Still Alive - Portal (PC)

If you ever had reason to be suspicious of cake, look no further than the innovative PC game, Portal. Any gun that lets you turn the enemy into Swiss cheese in a second is cool and all but a portal gun? Now that's the bee's knee. Also cool is the end credits theme to the game, a song so famous even those that haven't played Portal (like me) have heard it.

Band Land - Rayman (Multi)

The limbless wonder was quite the thing in the mid to late 1990s. When every other platform hero under the sun was going 3D, Rayman was keeping it 2D and pretty, too. Even after all these years, the original Rayman still looks drop dead gorgeous.

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