VG Soundtrack of the Day 033: G-Darius

Of the Darius games I've played (which admittedly isn't a whole lot), G-Darius is my favorite. It has a sweet capture mechanic that lets you turn regular mooks and even mini bosses to your side to use as a power-up and those tug-o-war beam battles still get me hyped. And then there's that soundtrack. Being a Taito game means the ZUNTATA name is attached. There's some experimental tracks here and that may leave some scratching their heads but on the whole, this is another outstanding effort from ZUNTATA.

G-Darius (Spotify)

G-Darius (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 032: Mega Man X

The first spin-off in the Mega Man series, Mega Man X has often been viewed as a darker, edgier version of the classic games. Even the music reflects a tone that is different from that of the original Blue Bomber, with a greater emphasis on rock and hard rock. Mega Man X is easily one of my favorite games in the entire franchise and the soundtrack more than the lives up to the exceptionally high standards set by the classic series.

Mega Man X (Spotify)

Mega Man X (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 031: Undertale

You can play Undertale on just about anything these days. Toby Fox's indie mega hit has an absolutely splendid soundtrack that finds so many ways to arrange the game's main theme. Then you've got the various sound fonts used that are sure to make you smile no matter which system you clung to in the days of old.

Undertale (bandcamp)

Undertale (Spotify)

Undertale (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 030: Super Castlevania IV

The SNES brought a lot to the table for Konami's vampire slaying action/platform series. Slight influence over Simon's jump. Multi directional whip attacks, which made dealing with certain enemies so much easier. And of course, dat soundtrack. Fan favorites such as Vampire Killer, Beginning, and Blood Tears have amazing 16-bit remixes. Then you've got the wealth of new music such as Simon's Theme, Demon Forest, Room of Close Associates, the list goes on and on. Super Castlevania IV is a challenging game but the frustration factor is greatly reduced compared to the NES titles, making it a excellent starting point for those looking to get into the Castlevania series. Video game music on vinyl has become more of a thing over the years and in 2017, Super Castlevania IV got this treatment. I don't do vinyl but there are some I would pick up for display purposes and this would certainly be one of them.

Super Castlevania IV (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 029: Tekken 2

My introduction to the Tekken series via the PlayStation port of the arcade game, Tekken 2 is a bit slow and floaty compared to the games that followed it but some would argue that the PS soundtrack is some of, if not the best Tekken beats. Tekken 7, the latest entry has some good music to be sure, but a lot of it is on the club/rave side. By comparison, Tekken 2 is more varied with more calming music. Sure, it knows when to be loud but not too noisy.

Tekken 2 (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 028: FINAL FANTASY IV Original Soundtrack

The first 16-bit entry in Square Enix's mega popular RPG series, FINAL FANTASY IV exploded onto the SNES in 1991. At the time, it was the most ambitious FF game, introducing the Active Time Battle system, a developed cast of characters, a plot that spread across Earth and the Moon and one of the best game soundtracks of the era. Nobuo Uematsu knocked it out of the park with FFIV's score. The Main Theme for this game is my favorite of the entire series and it gets arranged in other themes numerous times. Fight 2 is a big fan favorite (shoulda been in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or a remixed version of it) as is The Dreadful Fight (also known as Battle with the Four Fiends). It isn't just the battle music that makes FFIV's soundtrack so spectacular. Even the more relaxed themes like Welcome to Our Town! and Troian Beauty are stand out tunes, the later of which is absolute audio bliss. In case I haven't made it clear, I LOVE FFIV's soundtrack.

FINAL FANTASY IV Original Soundtrack (YouTube)

FINAL FANTASY IV Original Soundtrack (Spotify)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day #27: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Originally released in 2014, the updated version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hit the Switch in 2017 and continues to be a big seller for the system. The soundtrack was already phenomenal in 2014, getting better and better with two paid DLC packs. Deluxe adds a proper battle mode (something sorely missing from the 2014 version) and a few more cool beats to highly memorable soundtrack.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database