VGM Saturdays #283: Keeping it Mostly, Definitely Old School

Music from this week's selection is most from gaming of days gone by but I did manage to squeeze a modern track in there. Which is an arrangement from an old game. *Shrug*

Open Your Eyes (Stage 1) - Zero Wing (ARC)

I had to do a search to find out the last time I posted a song from Zero Wing. It has been almost two years since I posted a song from any version of Zero Wing. Man. I know I put this feature on hiatus but that is still far too long to go without music from this game. New Day for Me is probably my favorite theme from Zero Wing but I cannot deny that Open Your Eyes is almost equally as good and is a great track to kick off the game. Those of you that are fans of the Mega Drive and PCE version, I'll get around to posting those. Eventually. 

Cosmic Desert - Tobal No.1 (PS)

Before FINAL FANTASY VII made Square a powerhouse on the PS, there was Tobal No.1 a 3D fighter that had a quest mode where you roamed dungeons. Ironically, the game came with a demo for the game that would make RPGs go mainstream. I remember Tobal for the Akira Toriyama character designs and the soundtrack, which I really should post more of. Hmm. That's getting to be a theme here this week.

Hurry! - FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (PS4)

2020, awful year that it was, did not stop FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE from releasing. The first installment of it, anyway. Yes, irritating as it is, the remake that was announced in 2015 will release in parts. Given Square Enix's track record for releasing much anticipated games and factor in COVID-19 making a mess of everything, there is no telling when the next part of FFVIIR will release. Hurry! was a big favorite of mine from the original FFVII and I love the remake version almost as much.

Choco Mountain - Mario Kart 64 (N64)

I gotta say it: better Mario Kart games have followed since the first two entries. But for a good, long while, Mario Kart 64 was my jam. And that soundtrack? Perfection. At first I confused this theme for that of Moo Moo Farm, which is a very good song, but I would choose Choco Mountain over it any day.

Main Menu - Ridge Racer 64 (N64)

When one thinks of Ridge Racer, the N64 entry probably isn't the first game to spring to mind. Even the music isn't on the same level as other entries. Even so, there are some good songs in Ridge Racer 64. I was going to pick one of the songs you hear on the race track but then I remembered how good the Main Menu theme was so, here we are.

Hello, Happy Kingdom - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)

It has been a hot minute since I posted a track from Super Mario RPG. The game has such grand compositions from Yoko Shimomura. She arranges classic Mario and a few FINAL FANTASY tracks throughout the game. And as much as I love Weapons Factory and Battle with Culex, Hello, Happy Kingdom just popped into my head. Besides, I'm pretty sure I did Weapons Factory way back when.

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Favorite Tunes #249: Glorious Mega Man 5 Medley

Smash Ultimate is so dang good. Last week the game took up the entirety of Favorite Tunes, but this week, only a single track gets a slot. You can expect me to be talking about the music from Ultimate for a very long time. However, other music this week comes from OutRun, Double Dragon II and Persona 5.

Nina Williams - Tekken 3 (ARC)

Some fans feel that Tekken music has gotten worse over the years. While on the one hand, I see it as the music changing with the times, I can sort of see where they are coming from. There's a lot of music in Tekken 7 that seems to have an emphasis on being loud above all else. Regardless of that, Tekken 7 still has some really good tracks. If you prefer the music from earlier Tekken entries, Tekken 2 and Tekken 3 are arguably the best of the first four Tekken titles.

Dark Man Stage (Mega Man 5)  - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NS)

Wallpaper by Cat with Monocle

The new remixes of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are freaking amazing. I was only expecting a few new tracks for the Wily Castle stage, but to my surprise, there are a dozen of them. The title of this one may be Dark Man Stage, but it contains the Fake Proto Man Whistle, the Get a Weapon jingle, the Opening theme and the Title music, pretty much making it a badawesome Mega Man 5 Medley. Go to the Wily Castle stage in My Music and crank this sucker to Often on max.

You Get (Stage 4) - Zero Wing (ARC)

Largely know for the "All Your Base" memes it spawned in 2001, Zero Wing's origins are that of an arcade game, where the botched translation that spawned the meme is nowhere to be found (that would be the Mega Drive version). Being a game developed by the defunct Toaplan, the music is exceptionally awesome.

Mission 1: Heliport - Double Dragon II: The Revenge (ARC)

The Double Dragon II has been out on the PS4 under the Arcade Archives line for a few years now but if you prefer to take your arcade experiences on the go, it recently came to the Switch. If you wonder why the subtitle is called "The Revenge," look no further than the intro, which sees Marian getting gunned down. Spoilers, be tee dubs.

Life Will Change - Persona 5 (PS3, PS4)

Considering the fact that Joker has been announced as the first DLC character for Smash Ultimate, I think that posting some music from his game is appropriate. I've never played Persona 5 but it was one of those games of 2017 that it was impossible to not hear about. Even the game's most famous battle theme, Last Surprise, reached my ears and I'm really hoping it is one of the music choices for Joker's stage in Ultimate, along with this one.

Step-On Beat - SEGA AGES OutRun (NS)

Developed by M2, one of the best in the business when it comes to emulation, SEGA AGES OutRun is already out on the Japanese Switch eShop. Gamers outside of Japan will receive the game in early January of 2019. Along with all of the music from the 3D Out Run on the 3DS, The SEGA AGES Switch version includes four brand new songs, using instruments to match the original 1986 OutRun soundtrack. It's pretty rad to hear the Genesis exclusive track, Step-On Beat with arcade sound.

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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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Videos I Like #22: All Your Base Are Belong to Us

I'm sure that anyone that plays video games either core or casually has heard of this phrase: All Your Base Are Belong to Us. This is actually a mistranslated line from the Genesis game Zero Wing, which can be seen in all it's glory in the game's intro. While horribly translated, it has gone on to become one of gaming's biggest internet memes and ranks right up there with "Thank You Mario, but our princess is in another castle."

In 2001, Bad-CRC at New Grounds made the hilarious All Your Base video that pays homage to the famous quote. I must say, that music is pretty tight. Zero Wing is actually a side scrolling SHMUP, but most people remember the game or have heard of it thanks to the All Your Base line. Most gamers would have a fit if All Your Base Are Belong to Us was actually translated correctly. Kind of like How "You Spoony Bard" has always been kept in whenever Final Fantasy IV is released.