Thursday, March 19, 2015
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
My top 15 favorite (2d) fighting game stages
Hadouken!
There we go. Hopefully that got your attention. I want to bring you back to the first time you witnessed a heroic fighter
named Ryu shoot a blue fireball from his hands while shouting the now-famous
phrase.
That phrase is something that is easily recognizable. When
it comes to fighting games, this is only one example of something that has
become synonymous with the genre. Perhaps you remember a certain fighting game
that you preferred as a kid, maybe a certain character, special move, or... fatality!
But what about the stage? Yes, the stage. The very ground you
stood on and background you stood in front of before you let loose with that
perfect combination of buttons to unleash a devastating attack on your opponent.
I mean, sure the characters themselves are what makes the game but what gives
the game it's character? The stages, that's what! (and the music but that's for
another time)
In this list, I'm going to take a look at 15 of my
favorite stages from an era before 3 or even 2.5 dimensions. There is no
specific criteria for my list other than the stage itself made in impact on me
in one way or another and I opted to stick with 2d fighting game stages or this
list would get out of control.
Without further ado...
Mortal Kombat II- The Pit II
Mortal Kombat deserves to be on this list simply for the fact that it was the first game I played that actually let you interact with the levels themselves. What better example of that than The Pit II? It's one of the most famous levels in the series. Mostly for being able to uppercut your opponent into the spike pit below. Also for the epic feel of you and your opponent fighting to the death in front of a clear night sky with a full moon lurking over the battle and 2 unknown fighters in a literal standoff in the background.
Mortal Kombat II – The Dead Pool
If I had to pick one stage that embodies Mortal Kombat the best, it may just be The Dead Pool. It's this kind of scenery that truly set the MK series apart from other fighters of the time. Two fighters seemingly locked in a room, surrounded by meat hooks, floating skeletons, and of course acid. Acid that you can uppercut your opponent into for a fatality that will surely make your mom take the game back to Blockbuster (RIP).
Street Fighter Alpha 2 – Metro City
Another genre that got popular in the early and mid 90’s was the side scrolling beat-em-up. A pioneer in this genre and one of my favorite games from that time was Final Fight. The Street Fighter Alpha series marked the first time that Final Fight characters would be featured on the roster. Street Fighter Alpha 2 payed homage to the Final Fight characters that didn't make the cut by including them in the Metro City stage. I used to love how Capcom would have cameos of characters from other series in their games but this one has more than just a few. There are nearly 10 characters from Final Fight taking a break from pulverizing each other with lead pipes to cheer on their hometown hero Guy. It’s a fun stage that left a lasting impression on me as a youngster.
Street Figher Alpha 2 – Australia
One of my all time favorite stages is also one of the more under-appreciated entries in this list. A secret stage that wasn't a part of the normal rotation in arcade mode. It takes it's inspration from the critical showdown between Ryu and Sagat in the Street Fighter II animated movie and really has an epic feel to it. It may be simple but the music, knee high grass blowing in the wind, and the thunderstorm in the background make it very memorable.
Darkstalkers 2 – War Agony
A very dark and dreary stage when you first look at it but beneath the desolate alley and abandoned buildings is some beautiful art. Everything from the broken fence to the beat up clunker of a car on the side of the stage has an incredible amount of detail. This series was very unique in it's cast of characters and story. Because of that, they were able to create some stages that weren't your run-of-the-mill locations. This stage is a prime example.
The Last Blade – Kaede's Stage
I want to get this out of the way. I think the Last Blade series has the best background art of any fighting game ever. One of the many incredible things that sets this series apart from other fighting games is that it isn't set in an alternate universe or a dystopian future, but rather it is set in the past. Specifically, the Bakumatsu period in Japan. Kaede's stage is a great example of how the game builds compelling and believable settings. The sun peeking through the orange-tinted Autumn trees, the ground covered in the falling leaves, the open gate overlooking the sea with a distant ship. It all comes together to create one beautiful piece of stage art. It's probably the only stages on this list I wouldn't mind spending time at.
The Last Blade 2 – Large Fire at Wadamoya Stage
As much as I love looking at the beauty of a stage like Kade's from Last Blade 1, I'm a big fan of stages that add some tension and drama to the atmosphere of a 1 on 1 fight. The aptly names Large Fire at Wadamoya stage is the epitome of tension and drama. You're fighting against a tough opponent while the building is seemingly burning to the ground behind you. Obviously it isn't going to fall and crush you and your opponent but the art is so well done that it's hard not to feel like you should beat them as quickly as you can.
The Last Blade 2 – Cloudy Battlefield
This stage may not exactly build tension like the Fire at Wadamoya Stage but it tells an amazing story. The stage shows what appears to be the scene of a large scale war that left behind a desolate wasteland. The mixture of smoke and the overcast sky give everything a grey and depressing tone. Not far behind the fight is a group of stray dogs that appear to be eating the remains of what is likely a fallen soldier. In the far background are 2 large warships that are a recurring theme in Last Blade stages. Perhaps these ships are just as void of life as the rest of the scene.
King of Fighters '99 – Park Stage
One of the many reasons I loved SNK fighting games was that a lot of the stages changed for each round. If you were lucky (or unlucky depending on how you look at it) enough to make it to a round 3 in the Park Stage, you were in for a treat. This stage starts out nicely, with a nice green park scene with children playing and people standing about. Round 2 shows an impending storm and by round 3, you're standing in a torrential downpour. What an amazing downpour it is. The effects of the rain all over this stage are a marvel to look at and far too numerous to name one by one so just look around this stage and take it all in. Start with the reflections of the buildings in the puddles.
King of Fighters XIII – Dojo
This may seem like a bit of an odd choice at first. It's obviously a very nice looking stage (especially the lighting) but doesn't necessarily have anything truly unique about it. I mean, it's just a dojo! This single stage is actually what reinvigorated my love for fighting games a few years back. I hadn't played or seen much of King of Fighters XIII but somehow found myself watching a video of two people playing against each other on this very stage. What I like about it is that in it's simplicity it also harkens back to fighting games from the early boom of the genre. Dojo stages have been done many times but perhaps that's why I like it so much. For as much changes happen to the genre, sometimes it's just nice to get a little dose of nostalgia and take you back to the archetypal dojo.
Art of Fighting 3 - Cactus Gas Station
The first time I played the Art of Fighting series was actually just a few years ago. I remember seeing the arcade cabinets maybe once or twice as a kid but never got the chance to give it a shot. When I first came across this stage in my playthrough, I remember that it immediately struck me as having the feel of a western standoff in a modern setting. A setting sun gives everything an orange glow while you and your opponent battle it out in front of an isolated gas station in the middle of the desert. It's just another example of SNK picking a location that may not sound like a great setting and giving it some character and flare. Just, whatever you do don't use the gas station bathroom.
Street Figher 2 – Japan
Speaking of the early boom of the genre, I have to show some love to the game that started it all. Street Fighter 2 made stages important as you would watch the small airplane fly from country to country between fights. I gave a slight edge to Ryu’s stage over Guile’s as my personally favorite because Ryu was my favorite character from the game and I always liked Japanese architecture. It’s a simple yet iconic stage that is set on a rooftop overlooking other buildings with a clear sky in the background. Over the course of the series there has been many different versions and updates to this stage but I’d be remiss not to add the original to my list.
Street Fighther 3: 2nd Impact - Akuma's stage
I played a lot of Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike on my Dreamcast back in the day. It was definitely the best in the series if not one of the best fighting games of all time. With that said, the stages in 3rd Strike didn't quite have the same impact (pardon the pun) as the first two versions of the game. I really liked Akuma's stage in 2nd Impact because rather than have him in a dark temple or cave of some sort, he fights outside in what appears to be a hidden oasis. Looking at the outside of his cave, you can understand why he would want to live in such a place. One of the interesting things about this stage is how the picture is so different on each side. One side has bright colored flowers and a flowing waterfall while the side is dark and deathly. With hardly any vegetation and only the glowing candles at the base of his cave.
Blazblue Continuum Shift – Moonlight Castle -Halloween-
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Now, I have to admit that I’m not that big of a fan of the Blazblue series. That’s not a knock on them. They just aren’t my cup of tea. With that said, they have some amazing stage art. My personal favorite is the Moonlight Castle stage. I’m a pretty big fan of Halloween and I love how this stage incorporates a lot of common tropes of the holiday with the large mansion and pumpkins, the gothic fence surrounding the fight, and the color scheme. On top of that, the roses at the foreground of the stage add some contrast and bounce around as you and your opponent dash over them during the fight. Overall, it’s one great looking and unique stage.
Samurai Shodown IV – Arie Stage
There you have it folks. It was surprsingly hard to pick only 15 and leave off some of my favorite games in the genre (sorry VS series). By no means am I saying these stages are the best, only ones that I personally like the most.
Hope you enjoyed and I'd like to thank the following sources for all of the screenshots I got:
The SNK, Street Fighter, Blazblue and Mortal Kombat wiki.
Game Art HQ http://www.game-art-hq.com/
The amazing imgur user who created this album: http://imgur.com/a/GPlx4?gallery (can't find the username)
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Early Access and YOU!
There is an epidemic afoot. It's sweeping indiscriminately across the gaming landscape, leaving nothing but sour tastes and broken promises. I am of course speaking of Early Access games, that seem to be running rampant on the steam marketplace. Every day one goes out of development, while two new titles roll up to fill it's spot. These titles have sparked some amount of ire in the gaming community, but is it warranted?
2015, the year of "No Pre-Orders" as it were on Reddit and other gaming communities.
A movement born from the pains of 2014, which was one of the worst years for gaming in recent memory. Broke-ass games shipping left and right, caused the people to put their collective foot down and shout a resounding "Naaaaaaah." Now, has this so called movement worked?
Maybe, maybe not. The PC version of Grand Theft Auto V is, to this day, on the top 5 best sellers list on Steam. That is beside the point however, there was a real problem. Games being labeled as "complete" $60 products that were shipped to stores, were essentially broken. This has to stop, but do the same rules apply to games that are clearly labeled as "Early Access"?
The most accurate review I've seen for Assassin's Creed: Unity
If you are unaware of what early access is; firstly, c'mon bro, and secondly, Early Access is a forum where developers can put their unfinished games up for sale. Keyword in that statement is "unfinished"... let that sink in. There is a fundamental difference between a retail game and one that is purchased on early access, one you can get angry about, one... you really can't.
The myriad of reasons early access titles are picked on is endless. It's Buggy, it's empty, no development updates, developer is seemingly dead...on and on forever until we all eventually succumb to Typhoid fever. The lynch pin however, is that not so subtle word unfinished. Buyers beware, value is not promised. Nothing about the Early Access market is concrete. A game could be here one day and gone the next. We have to stop treating these as sure fire games and more as possibilities.
I bought this game, neat huh?
Everyone works hard for their money, on the flip-side, everyone makes their own choice what to do with said dollaz. No one forced you to spend those last 25 bucks on The Stomping Land. That's not saying that there has never been a shitty outcome to an early access title, but remember; these games are unfinished. The flaw is the idea that since I am paying for something I am guaranteed something, but that's not the case here. This is a volatile area of the industry, and people need to be willing to deal with consequence. In no way am I condoning some of the gross misconduct that has been exhibited in this market, But for Pete sakes people, know the risk.
In the end early access is a good thing for the industry, there I said it, back off. It is a platform for new ideas to flourish, for new devs to be seen, and in the best cases; for an audience to be heard. I've been duped by these kind of games before, but remember, we're all new to this rodeo. There will be fuck-ups, there will be mistakes. So proceed with caution and be ready to get burned now and again. But if you make the call to throw money towards an uncertainty. Don't whine when those $15 fly the coop and you're left with 700 Mb of dead executable; you're better than that.
What do you think about the Early Access scene? Drop me a comment below! I'd love to hear your stance.
2015, the year of "No Pre-Orders" as it were on Reddit and other gaming communities.
A movement born from the pains of 2014, which was one of the worst years for gaming in recent memory. Broke-ass games shipping left and right, caused the people to put their collective foot down and shout a resounding "Naaaaaaah." Now, has this so called movement worked?
Maybe, maybe not. The PC version of Grand Theft Auto V is, to this day, on the top 5 best sellers list on Steam. That is beside the point however, there was a real problem. Games being labeled as "complete" $60 products that were shipped to stores, were essentially broken. This has to stop, but do the same rules apply to games that are clearly labeled as "Early Access"?
The most accurate review I've seen for Assassin's Creed: Unity
If you are unaware of what early access is; firstly, c'mon bro, and secondly, Early Access is a forum where developers can put their unfinished games up for sale. Keyword in that statement is "unfinished"... let that sink in. There is a fundamental difference between a retail game and one that is purchased on early access, one you can get angry about, one... you really can't.
The myriad of reasons early access titles are picked on is endless. It's Buggy, it's empty, no development updates, developer is seemingly dead...on and on forever until we all eventually succumb to Typhoid fever. The lynch pin however, is that not so subtle word unfinished. Buyers beware, value is not promised. Nothing about the Early Access market is concrete. A game could be here one day and gone the next. We have to stop treating these as sure fire games and more as possibilities.
I bought this game, neat huh?
Everyone works hard for their money, on the flip-side, everyone makes their own choice what to do with said dollaz. No one forced you to spend those last 25 bucks on The Stomping Land. That's not saying that there has never been a shitty outcome to an early access title, but remember; these games are unfinished. The flaw is the idea that since I am paying for something I am guaranteed something, but that's not the case here. This is a volatile area of the industry, and people need to be willing to deal with consequence. In no way am I condoning some of the gross misconduct that has been exhibited in this market, But for Pete sakes people, know the risk.
In the end early access is a good thing for the industry, there I said it, back off. It is a platform for new ideas to flourish, for new devs to be seen, and in the best cases; for an audience to be heard. I've been duped by these kind of games before, but remember, we're all new to this rodeo. There will be fuck-ups, there will be mistakes. So proceed with caution and be ready to get burned now and again. But if you make the call to throw money towards an uncertainty. Don't whine when those $15 fly the coop and you're left with 700 Mb of dead executable; you're better than that.
What do you think about the Early Access scene? Drop me a comment below! I'd love to hear your stance.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Everyone Dies...In Video Games
What ever happened to consequence? In games I mean...Not from like avoiding taxes or something. Increasingly the punishment for death is becoming milder and milder, and while convenient. It may not always be a good thing for game design.
Lets take a fantastic voyage (credit: Coolio) back to 1986, a year that brought us the NES title Ghosts 'N Goblins. A side scrolling action-platformer, and arguably one of the most difficult video games ever forged in the fires of Mt. Doom. It bludgeoned players into submission with some gut wrenching level design, trillions (read: lots) of enemies, and a hero that couldn't take as much as a passing glance from Glass Joe before he was out like a light. A complete lack of a save system meant a game over was met with a title screen and no option to continue. Did I mention that upon completing the game once, it threw you back in a second time and required you to do the whole thing over again...y'know; for kicks. Suffice to say that the player was afraid of death, the penalty was steep and the sense of time lost was too much for some to bear. Now what could have been different in Ghost 'N Goblins to make it a more palatable experience?
"At least I'll die surrounded by my money"
Jump forward one year, enter stage left...The Legend of Zelda. Up to this point, home consoles were doing everything they could to emulate the arcade experience. They were meant to be played in a single setting, a sort of test of skill; but a shift was underway. The Legend of Zelda is influential in many ways, but maybe the biggest being the small battery powered RAM chip in the cart, that allowed players to save their progress. Revelatory to say the least this opened up a floodgate of possibilities. Video games no longer had to be a half hour, "Holy Christ, I've spent $40 on this" race to the finish. Devs knew players could come back to this at leisure and complete it. Death was still present in The Legend of Zelda but the paralyzing fear of it had subsided. Saving unlocked a whole knew avenue of game design, and death in games was not the 400 lbs, all muscle, creepy uncle that it once was.
"Tri-force can wait, I saved brah"
Finally they had it right, death was an annoyance, but not a deal breaker. This went on for several years and everyone was super chill...until that fateful year, 2007. Bioshock descended from the heavens, it captivated us, and rightfully so; it's flat out fantastic. One thing however I think it got wrong, the death penalty.
You're strolling through Fort Frollic, admiring Cohen's macabre work and gently caving in the skulls of every splicer you meet. The sound of a Big Daddy lurking around the corner piques your interest and you rush headlong around the corner to face the titan. Unlucky for you, this Big Daddy has a propensity to shove it's drill arm directly through your torso...which it does. You're dead, bud.
But wait, what's this? In a matter of seconds you are reanimated about 30 feet away, the footsteps of your murderer still echoing through the halls. All the Splicers are still dead, you have the same ammo count. You never died, you just got pulled away for a moment. This is the day the death penalty died.
"I don't know doc, I just really got a toothache"
Now before you crucify me for saying Bioshock is flawed, let me speak. I don't mind the way it handles death, what I do mind, is the deluge of games that took it to the next eventual level of not punishing the player at all. See, death in games was a system that forced the player to move forward with skill, to learn the games systems and tactics. When you take away all punishment for making mistakes, you also remove motivation to improve. Mind you nothing is dealt with in absolutes, of course you need to improve to progress. But this method of handling punishment encourages attrition over art.
There has however been a resurgence of brutally hard games, the Souls games, X-Com, and of course QWOP. These games all handle death in different ways. Though they all have a sense of finality in death that has been lost in recent years.
Seconds away from being burned alive and beheaded
In the end there is no real right answer on how to deal with death in games. Design is an art and people view art differently. Developers should however keep in mind that penalty is not a bad thing. Failures help us grow.
What do you think about death penalties in games? Drop a comment below, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading.
Lets take a fantastic voyage (credit: Coolio) back to 1986, a year that brought us the NES title Ghosts 'N Goblins. A side scrolling action-platformer, and arguably one of the most difficult video games ever forged in the fires of Mt. Doom. It bludgeoned players into submission with some gut wrenching level design, trillions (read: lots) of enemies, and a hero that couldn't take as much as a passing glance from Glass Joe before he was out like a light. A complete lack of a save system meant a game over was met with a title screen and no option to continue. Did I mention that upon completing the game once, it threw you back in a second time and required you to do the whole thing over again...y'know; for kicks. Suffice to say that the player was afraid of death, the penalty was steep and the sense of time lost was too much for some to bear. Now what could have been different in Ghost 'N Goblins to make it a more palatable experience?
"At least I'll die surrounded by my money"
Jump forward one year, enter stage left...The Legend of Zelda. Up to this point, home consoles were doing everything they could to emulate the arcade experience. They were meant to be played in a single setting, a sort of test of skill; but a shift was underway. The Legend of Zelda is influential in many ways, but maybe the biggest being the small battery powered RAM chip in the cart, that allowed players to save their progress. Revelatory to say the least this opened up a floodgate of possibilities. Video games no longer had to be a half hour, "Holy Christ, I've spent $40 on this" race to the finish. Devs knew players could come back to this at leisure and complete it. Death was still present in The Legend of Zelda but the paralyzing fear of it had subsided. Saving unlocked a whole knew avenue of game design, and death in games was not the 400 lbs, all muscle, creepy uncle that it once was.
"Tri-force can wait, I saved brah"
Finally they had it right, death was an annoyance, but not a deal breaker. This went on for several years and everyone was super chill...until that fateful year, 2007. Bioshock descended from the heavens, it captivated us, and rightfully so; it's flat out fantastic. One thing however I think it got wrong, the death penalty.
You're strolling through Fort Frollic, admiring Cohen's macabre work and gently caving in the skulls of every splicer you meet. The sound of a Big Daddy lurking around the corner piques your interest and you rush headlong around the corner to face the titan. Unlucky for you, this Big Daddy has a propensity to shove it's drill arm directly through your torso...which it does. You're dead, bud.
But wait, what's this? In a matter of seconds you are reanimated about 30 feet away, the footsteps of your murderer still echoing through the halls. All the Splicers are still dead, you have the same ammo count. You never died, you just got pulled away for a moment. This is the day the death penalty died.
"I don't know doc, I just really got a toothache"
Now before you crucify me for saying Bioshock is flawed, let me speak. I don't mind the way it handles death, what I do mind, is the deluge of games that took it to the next eventual level of not punishing the player at all. See, death in games was a system that forced the player to move forward with skill, to learn the games systems and tactics. When you take away all punishment for making mistakes, you also remove motivation to improve. Mind you nothing is dealt with in absolutes, of course you need to improve to progress. But this method of handling punishment encourages attrition over art.
There has however been a resurgence of brutally hard games, the Souls games, X-Com, and of course QWOP. These games all handle death in different ways. Though they all have a sense of finality in death that has been lost in recent years.
Seconds away from being burned alive and beheaded
In the end there is no real right answer on how to deal with death in games. Design is an art and people view art differently. Developers should however keep in mind that penalty is not a bad thing. Failures help us grow.
What do you think about death penalties in games? Drop a comment below, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
My top 10 video game music
Hey all,
Having finished my first piece on video game music I thought I'd make a brief list, chronicling my top 10 video game songs and pieces. I will keep 1 song per game, so it may be hard to narrow down my favorite, but I'll do my best. So without further adieu...
10.
Icarus - Deus Ex: Human Revolution.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a neat game with some interesting ideas about what the future will be like. With that setting it needs to have some especially kick ass future music, Which this exemplifies.
With a steady build and some tight vocal harmonies this song eventually explodes into pure, horrific, bleek-future filled bliss. 10/10 Would augment ears to hear better.
9. Discovering Banjoland - Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, int' it? Say what you will about the quality of the game (it's fantastic, go to hell) Grant Kirkhope is in top form on the soundtrack. This song forms a medley of the original themes from the well loved N64 classic Banjo Kazooie. On top of the fact that the songs are still ass kicking to this day; they are lovingly recreated with a full orchestra. Adding to the fuck-ton of awesome that already exists.
8. Helghan Forever - Killzone 2
You want some bombast? Fuck yeah you do, you are sick of playful melodies and bassoon filled basslines. Here have this... It's in your face, triumphant, and beautiful. Hint: listen to this while taking a shower in the dark... it's one of the most purely transcendental experiences you'll have this year; for many reasons.
7. Stickerbrush Symphony - Donkey Kong Country 2
Ok, now that we have officialy raised our collective blood pressures up a couple points, lets chill a little. This piece is chill defined, this piece has game 4 dayz, this piece will get you places. But on a more real note, this is one of those compositions that uses the limited sound board on a SNES more efficiently than many others and is timeless because of it. #cruisin'music
6. Standing Stones - Dear Esther
Lets continue our fantastic voyage down chill street with slight right onto Depression Avenue. This piece exemplifies the feeling of helplessness and loss that follow you throughout Dear Esther. Eventual building into a Fugue-like, almost disastrous mess of stings, all the while maintaining it's Spooky beauty. TOO DOPE.
5. In Cirlces - Transistor
I had a really hard time deciding which song from transistor was going to make this list, as I didn't want any repeat offenders. I ultimatly chose In Circles for a couple reasons. First off This song switches between 5/4 in the verse to a more smoothed out 6/4 in the verses. I love every bit of this song, the timbre, the ethereal vocals, the floating piano. And it eventual gets pretty dirty in a bass tinged instrumental; that just makes me say "fuck"
4. Sonic Heroes Theme - Sonic Heroes
Because I am not afraid to say "Fuck it, I like what I like"... Also that vocal harmony on the chorus.
3. Password Theme - Mega Man X
I CAN NEVER BE HAPPIER! But seriously I can think of a song that puts me in a better mood than this.
2. You're Not Alone - Final Fantasy IX
Not very often does the game have the guts to take the main character and change him on a very fundamental level. After Zidane learns the truth behind his birth, he is reduced to a shell of his former self. The once shamelessly optimistic, overly confident thief is reduced to a lifeless, nihilistic husk and all but gives up on his journey. This song plays as his friends and party members rally around him and speak words of encouragement. Reminding him that he is he who thinks he is, not what other tell him he is. Go Get em' tiger.
1. The Oath - Final Fantasy VIII
Here it is folks, my ultimate piece of gaming music. This piece went as far as birthing my piano playing. The scene it creates as Squall steps up to the mic to deliver a speech to his fallen and falling comrades is sublime. Bravo Uematsu
Having finished my first piece on video game music I thought I'd make a brief list, chronicling my top 10 video game songs and pieces. I will keep 1 song per game, so it may be hard to narrow down my favorite, but I'll do my best. So without further adieu...
10.
Icarus - Deus Ex: Human Revolution.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a neat game with some interesting ideas about what the future will be like. With that setting it needs to have some especially kick ass future music, Which this exemplifies.
With a steady build and some tight vocal harmonies this song eventually explodes into pure, horrific, bleek-future filled bliss. 10/10 Would augment ears to hear better.
9. Discovering Banjoland - Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, int' it? Say what you will about the quality of the game (it's fantastic, go to hell) Grant Kirkhope is in top form on the soundtrack. This song forms a medley of the original themes from the well loved N64 classic Banjo Kazooie. On top of the fact that the songs are still ass kicking to this day; they are lovingly recreated with a full orchestra. Adding to the fuck-ton of awesome that already exists.
8. Helghan Forever - Killzone 2
You want some bombast? Fuck yeah you do, you are sick of playful melodies and bassoon filled basslines. Here have this... It's in your face, triumphant, and beautiful. Hint: listen to this while taking a shower in the dark... it's one of the most purely transcendental experiences you'll have this year; for many reasons.
7. Stickerbrush Symphony - Donkey Kong Country 2
Ok, now that we have officialy raised our collective blood pressures up a couple points, lets chill a little. This piece is chill defined, this piece has game 4 dayz, this piece will get you places. But on a more real note, this is one of those compositions that uses the limited sound board on a SNES more efficiently than many others and is timeless because of it. #cruisin'music
6. Standing Stones - Dear Esther
Lets continue our fantastic voyage down chill street with slight right onto Depression Avenue. This piece exemplifies the feeling of helplessness and loss that follow you throughout Dear Esther. Eventual building into a Fugue-like, almost disastrous mess of stings, all the while maintaining it's Spooky beauty. TOO DOPE.
5. In Cirlces - Transistor
I had a really hard time deciding which song from transistor was going to make this list, as I didn't want any repeat offenders. I ultimatly chose In Circles for a couple reasons. First off This song switches between 5/4 in the verse to a more smoothed out 6/4 in the verses. I love every bit of this song, the timbre, the ethereal vocals, the floating piano. And it eventual gets pretty dirty in a bass tinged instrumental; that just makes me say "fuck"
4. Sonic Heroes Theme - Sonic Heroes
Because I am not afraid to say "Fuck it, I like what I like"... Also that vocal harmony on the chorus.
3. Password Theme - Mega Man X
I CAN NEVER BE HAPPIER! But seriously I can think of a song that puts me in a better mood than this.
2. You're Not Alone - Final Fantasy IX
Not very often does the game have the guts to take the main character and change him on a very fundamental level. After Zidane learns the truth behind his birth, he is reduced to a shell of his former self. The once shamelessly optimistic, overly confident thief is reduced to a lifeless, nihilistic husk and all but gives up on his journey. This song plays as his friends and party members rally around him and speak words of encouragement. Reminding him that he is he who thinks he is, not what other tell him he is. Go Get em' tiger.
1. The Oath - Final Fantasy VIII
Here it is folks, my ultimate piece of gaming music. This piece went as far as birthing my piano playing. The scene it creates as Squall steps up to the mic to deliver a speech to his fallen and falling comrades is sublime. Bravo Uematsu
Why music matters in games
♫ Like a good neighbor state farm is there♫
Chances are you know the exact melody that line is sung to, the cadence, and the tempo. Of course it is the well known jingle of State farm insurance company and acts as not only a tagline for the company, but a device to penetrate the brand into the minds of the viewers. Music works in a interesting way; much like a familiar, fragrance it can bring memories and emotions to the forefront of our thought unlike many other experiences. A particularly robust or dramatic score can enhance a scene or setting and convey a mood, sometimes even better than a visual can.
Melodies work in a interesting way, they are essentially a function of space more than anything else. We pull melodies out of the jumps between notes rather than the note itself. A melody that Starts on an "A" and jumps 2 notes to "C" will still be recognizable when played starting on "B" and jumping two spaces to "D".
Video game music has evolved along with games themselves. The scores games will have can stand side by side with hollywood film scores, and are often even written by the same composers. Lets explore some of the most influential game music and dive into why it is so important, and what it's accomplishing.
Super Mario Bros. Theme - Koji Kondo
Possibly the most instantly recognizable piece of game music is of course the theme to Super Mario Bros. Play this tune for anyone and chances are they will be able to tell you exactly where it's from, even if they don't play games at all. The theme is accomplishing a couple different goals; firstly its setting a playful scene. This is a video game we are playing after all. The bouncy baseline and overall playfulness of the melody suggest that you should probably just sit back and have fun with the game. The theme has been reworked and remixed countless times, but no matter what instruments we hear playing that catchy melody we are always reminded of good ole' 1-1 and that there is a power mushroom in that third block on the right.
One Winged Angel - Nobuo Uematsu
Jumping forward 13 years brings us to another familiar piece; the bombastic and frightening "One Winged Anger" from the final battle with Sephiroth. Arguably one of the meanest sounding works composer Nobuo Uematsu has put out. This play as somewhat of a death-march and plays a very different role in the game than the Mario Bros Theme. It's apocalyptic, it's threatening, it's clashing, and all of this adds to the mood that money is on the table with this one. Play time is over, your 40-50 hours is culminating here, be afraid.
Although this one may be a little less recognizable to people out of the know, it still resounds with the people play games. Even those who may never have touch a Final Fantasy game can usually place this as an FF joint. It's that kind of impact that a song can have on a game, a far reaching influence that iconifies certain moments and games.
The Legend of Zelda: Overworld Theme - Koji Kondo
Are you ready for adventure? Well you'd better be dammit, because this piece is going to force it upon you. Zelda was the first of its kind in many regards. It gave you a huge world, teeming with dungeons to explore, monsters to face, and the player agency to pretty much discover it all for yourself. But there was an issue initially with the first Zelda game, play testers didn't know what to do. They were thrust into this open world with no real direction. This piece serves as a make shift objective to players to "go and explore". This music does more than just lend a recognizable melody. It inspires exploration, its orchestration and melody boast a world yet to be discovered.
There are so many notable pieces of game music that I can't cover, But I thought these 3 were a good place to start to explore why game music is so important to the overall experience. they create moods, cast shadows, and create memories far more than mere button presses. They can connect us with people inside and out the game world. But most of all, they are just good music. So keep listening and drop me a line if you there is a piece of music you want me to cover.
Thanks for reading and Keep Gaming Folks.
Chances are you know the exact melody that line is sung to, the cadence, and the tempo. Of course it is the well known jingle of State farm insurance company and acts as not only a tagline for the company, but a device to penetrate the brand into the minds of the viewers. Music works in a interesting way; much like a familiar, fragrance it can bring memories and emotions to the forefront of our thought unlike many other experiences. A particularly robust or dramatic score can enhance a scene or setting and convey a mood, sometimes even better than a visual can.
Melodies work in a interesting way, they are essentially a function of space more than anything else. We pull melodies out of the jumps between notes rather than the note itself. A melody that Starts on an "A" and jumps 2 notes to "C" will still be recognizable when played starting on "B" and jumping two spaces to "D".
Video game music has evolved along with games themselves. The scores games will have can stand side by side with hollywood film scores, and are often even written by the same composers. Lets explore some of the most influential game music and dive into why it is so important, and what it's accomplishing.
Super Mario Bros. Theme - Koji Kondo
Possibly the most instantly recognizable piece of game music is of course the theme to Super Mario Bros. Play this tune for anyone and chances are they will be able to tell you exactly where it's from, even if they don't play games at all. The theme is accomplishing a couple different goals; firstly its setting a playful scene. This is a video game we are playing after all. The bouncy baseline and overall playfulness of the melody suggest that you should probably just sit back and have fun with the game. The theme has been reworked and remixed countless times, but no matter what instruments we hear playing that catchy melody we are always reminded of good ole' 1-1 and that there is a power mushroom in that third block on the right.
One Winged Angel - Nobuo Uematsu
Jumping forward 13 years brings us to another familiar piece; the bombastic and frightening "One Winged Anger" from the final battle with Sephiroth. Arguably one of the meanest sounding works composer Nobuo Uematsu has put out. This play as somewhat of a death-march and plays a very different role in the game than the Mario Bros Theme. It's apocalyptic, it's threatening, it's clashing, and all of this adds to the mood that money is on the table with this one. Play time is over, your 40-50 hours is culminating here, be afraid.
Although this one may be a little less recognizable to people out of the know, it still resounds with the people play games. Even those who may never have touch a Final Fantasy game can usually place this as an FF joint. It's that kind of impact that a song can have on a game, a far reaching influence that iconifies certain moments and games.
The Legend of Zelda: Overworld Theme - Koji Kondo
Are you ready for adventure? Well you'd better be dammit, because this piece is going to force it upon you. Zelda was the first of its kind in many regards. It gave you a huge world, teeming with dungeons to explore, monsters to face, and the player agency to pretty much discover it all for yourself. But there was an issue initially with the first Zelda game, play testers didn't know what to do. They were thrust into this open world with no real direction. This piece serves as a make shift objective to players to "go and explore". This music does more than just lend a recognizable melody. It inspires exploration, its orchestration and melody boast a world yet to be discovered.
There are so many notable pieces of game music that I can't cover, But I thought these 3 were a good place to start to explore why game music is so important to the overall experience. they create moods, cast shadows, and create memories far more than mere button presses. They can connect us with people inside and out the game world. But most of all, they are just good music. So keep listening and drop me a line if you there is a piece of music you want me to cover.
Thanks for reading and Keep Gaming Folks.
Monday, February 9, 2015
The Genesis
Where do I start? I love Video games. Always have, Always will...
There is video of me as a one year old, jamming a NES Light gun to the TV screen trying desperately trying to shoot every duck out of the air, and failing at it. But my first actual memory of gaming is being completely ass-backwards fucking confused, trying to navigate Descent on my older brothers PS1. I don't know if it was the way it controlled, or the early 3D environments, but my 5 year old brain could not get around it.
Try as you may, You'll never escape
But from then I was hooked... I wanted to get my hands on whatever I could. Every new Jampack and OPM demo disc I could get my hands on was a veritable gold mine for young me. But there was no other disc that could compare to the Jampack winter '98 disc. Fuck, what a banger. MGS, Medevil, Tomb Raider III, and Spyro just to name a few. I'm fairly certain Metal Gear Solid changed me on a very fundamental, sub-atomic, not-realize-til-I'm-45 kind of way. listen guys, I don't mean to be immature but they swore, had blood, and there was Goddamned robots; the 3 necessary ingredients in any game to instantly make a 8 year old, top-ramen fueled kid absolutely flip his shit.
There is video of me as a one year old, jamming a NES Light gun to the TV screen trying desperately trying to shoot every duck out of the air, and failing at it. But my first actual memory of gaming is being completely ass-backwards fucking confused, trying to navigate Descent on my older brothers PS1. I don't know if it was the way it controlled, or the early 3D environments, but my 5 year old brain could not get around it.
But from then I was hooked... I wanted to get my hands on whatever I could. Every new Jampack and OPM demo disc I could get my hands on was a veritable gold mine for young me. But there was no other disc that could compare to the Jampack winter '98 disc. Fuck, what a banger. MGS, Medevil, Tomb Raider III, and Spyro just to name a few. I'm fairly certain Metal Gear Solid changed me on a very fundamental, sub-atomic, not-realize-til-I'm-45 kind of way. listen guys, I don't mean to be immature but they swore, had blood, and there was Goddamned robots; the 3 necessary ingredients in any game to instantly make a 8 year old, top-ramen fueled kid absolutely flip his shit.
Plus, Meryl was a fox...
But of all the classic PS1 games I have had the honor of faking sick to stay home and play, Final Fantasy IX stands tall. Everything about this game is magical for me. It wasn't my first or last FF, but it's most definitely the one I hold most dear. The game is magical, and I still cry during the final cut-scene... sh...shut up...
Bruh... *sobs*
Anyways, that's all I really have for this time. I am excited to start this and get some of my ideas and thoughts down. I don't really have any set goal with this, I'll write about what I feel like...so like, fuck you and stuff. I'll try to keep it frequent as possible. Thank you for anyone who reads this. comments and suggestions are always welcome. Keep gaming folks.
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