Tenology: Weak Remixes from Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has taken up a lot of my time this month so I thought I'd better write a blog post about the music throughout the series. However, since I've already written about some of my favourite Smash Bros. remixes in the past, this blog post is dedicated to some of the less impressive tunes made specifically for games in the Super Smash Bros. series.
Yes, even though the majority of songs are great, there are a couple of tracks that either contain Axls or just completely get it wrong. I've also added a few tunes that might be good but could've been even better if they just changed a few things around, since there aren't a huge amount of terrible Smash Bros. tracks.


1. Tal Tal Heights - Legend Of Zelda (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)

This track probably should've been on Bridge Of Eldin but meh, Pirate Ship's fine I guess

I like the Tal Tal Heights theme but boy, was I disappointed with this remix. First of all, the synth and electronic sound effects make it sound like it belongs in Star Fox, not Legend Of Zelda. Second, the actual tune from Tal Tal Heights features in a very small portion of the actual track. Most of the melody is the standard Legend Of Zelda theme reworked and some jazzed up key changed bollocks. Overall, it's not a great tune for those who were looking forward to hearing a proper remix of Tal Tal Heights compared to the naff 8-bit original.


2. Main Theme (Metroid) - Metroid (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)

Easily the best Metroid stage in Smash...although Frigate Orpheon's good too

I've started this blog post off with some of the better bad remixes, if that makes sense. The Rock version of the Metroid theme contains a pretty sweet guitar solo, an appropriately used synth melody and a great arrangement throughout. However, there is one glaring Axl that prevents it from being a song I frequently listen to in-game; that cringe-worthy vocal intro. "SAMUS IS UNDER FIRE! SHE'S SENT AN EMERGENCY DIRECTIVE! JOIN THE FIGHT!". Oh man, it just sounds so out of place and unintentionally dorky. It ruins an otherwise awesome rerecording.


3. Magicant / Eight Melodies - Earthbound (Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U)

Still beats New Pork City!

I've never really cared for the Smash Bros. remixes of Earthbound music, although I've never given much time to the original music from Earthbound either. However, despite being a cute little stage, Magicant contains one of the more boring tracks to fight to in Smash Bros history. Smiles And Tears isn't that much better but this definitely feels like the less interesting track, especially when you consider that better remixes of Earthbound music to fight to DO exist! This stage needed a more upbeat track, similar to how Temple contained the spicy Fire Emblem tune as well as the slower Zelda one.


4. Flat Zone 2 - Mr. Game And Watch

Feed 'em to the lions!

The original Flat Zone melody from Super Smash Bros. Melee was kooky and neat for the odd stage but this shrill, awful attempt at using Game & Watch sounds to create a catchy melody is fucking terrible. You know how Mr. Game & Watch has that loud, annoying phone ringing noise as two taunts? Imagine that as a whole song but with some bland musical accompaniments thrown in too. Yeah, you're better off with the various Dr. Mario remixes here.


5. Rosalina In The Observatory / Luma's Theme - Mario

So many great tracks missing from this stage...

Ready to stop caring about what I have to say? Here goes: I don't like Mario music. The Ground Theme, the Underwater Theme, Super Mario World music, I don't like any of it. Consequently, I was really excited to hear great tunes from Super Mario Galaxy on this stage...until they ruined this one. I like the original versions of Rosalina In The Observatory from Super Mario Galaxy, even when they become grander and grander after obtaining more stars throughout the game. However, this remix sounds TOO grand and over the top. The use of brass for the main melody makes it sound like circus music rather than a cosmic waltz, although I can't fault them for trying to make the original music more appropriate for Smash Bros.


6. Pac-Man (Club Mix) - Pac-Man

Rest in Peace, Pac Maze

Just...why? Why does this tune exist? We already have a great Pac-Man remix, why does it need a Club Mix? OK, they needed two tunes for the Pac Maze stage in the 3DS Smash Bros but you had the Pac-Man's Park / Block Town tune that would've worked a hell of a lot better! Maybe they just wanted another melody that contained iconic tunes from the original Pac-Man but they could've done better than a shitty Club Mix, although perhaps I'm biased due to my musical taste.


7. Saria's Song / Middle Boss Battle - Legend Of Zelda

Another Zelda entry? Pfft, and I call myself a fan!

I've talked about how Smash Bros keeps awkwardly blending great tunes from The Legend Of Zelda with boss battle themes and it Never. Sounds. Good. Song Of Storms was great until Ganondorf's Theme was shoehorned in, Ballad Of The Goddess was awesome until Ghirahim's Theme was pointlessly crammed in and now Saria's Song, a lovely tune that sounds pretty naff in this remix alone, has been tainted by the synthy mess of the Middle Boss Battle theme from Ocarina Of Time. Just a truly shit piece of music.


8. Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! Medley - Freakyforms

Rest in Piss, Miiverse

There are some great little Nintendo titles to pick music from (still waiting for some Professor Layton tunes, even if Nintendo don't necessarily own the rights to a game that has only ever appeared on Nintendo consoles) but this definitely isn't one of them. It sounds like a worse version of the music from Tearaway but at least it improves a little once the guitars come in. It's just a shame that to get there, you have to listen to plinky plonky noise totally out of place on a Smash Bros fighting stage.


9. Main Theme (New Super Mario Bros.) - Mario

Yup, new Mario Bros music fucking sucks

Remember earlier on when I talked about how much I hate music from Mario Bros platformers? Yeah, this is a good example of why. Ignoring the silly sound effects and boring instrumentation, the thing I hate most about the music in New Super Mario Bros. (and other variants) is the "BA-BAAA" vocals throughout. A bunch of original Mario tracks in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U contain these annoying little vocal "BA"s and I fucking hate them. I don't know why, I just can't stand them and hate the songs that contain them. Fortunately, it's easier for me to convince people that this tune sucks because the rest of the music isn't great either.


10. The Roost - Animal Crossing

Oh hey again, Sonic and Lucario!

Whilst it's not godawful like some of the remixes on this post, The Roost doesn't belong in a Smash Bros game. In fact, even the game's director (Masahiro Sakurai), when commenting on how music for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was chosen based on how good they are to fight to, cited The Roost as a piece of music that didn't fit the gameplay...and yet it was brought back for Super Smash. Bros Ultimate! It's a nice tune to listen to but if it had to have some use in-game, it should've been used as part of a medley or during a rest section in the game's Adventure Mode or something other than a stage track.


COMING SOON: Probably a blog post about my favourite pieces of music from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, although not until the new year.

Shout Out: A Hat In Time (Original Game Soundtrack) - Pascal Michael Stiefel

Apologies for another video game post so soon after the Guitar Hero 2 one but I miscalculated the timing of future album reviews, meaning I have to wait a couple of weeks to review the new Judas Priest album...so time for some filler!

A Hat In Time is easily my favourite game of 2017 and definitely one of my all-time favourite platformers too...but you probably could've guessed that I love the game, what with it being here in a Shout Out post. I could've picked many top tier game soundtracks to write about ranging from classics like Ocarina Of Time to underrated gems like Tearaway Unfolded but for this short little post, I chose A Hat In Time mostly because it's a soundtrack that continued to consistently amaze me all the way through my playthrough of the game. In my experience, many game soundtracks have at least one period of downtime where the music isn't to my liking; one hub world or significant portion of the game where the music is a weaker than the rest of the soundtrack. Not A Hat In Time!
I can't think of a single beat in the game's natural progression that suffers from that misstep; every chapter, every environment has at least one brilliant tune from the classic overworld music of Mafia Town to the incredible boss battle tune in the Dead Bird Studios world. There might be weaker tunes or variations that pop up now and then but you don't have to wait long to hear another belter. Also, if you don't like one of the songs during certain key levels, there are unlockable remixes that you can swap main tunes out for. Granted most of the remixes aren't as good as the originals but it's still quite fun to hear a Disney-fied version of the Snatcher boss theme or the electro-swing remix of "Train Rush".
The game's composer, Pascal Michael Stiefel, is mostly known for creating remixes of game music so there are a few familiar melodies tweaked just enough to make them into new songs. There are elements of the Song Of Storms in "The Windmill Peak" level and I literally had to check to make sure the music from "Picture Perfect" wasn't lifted from Super Mario Galaxy or one of the many Mario Kart games. However, the main takeaway here is that the soundtrack does a perfect job of capturing the tone of each level, whether it's chilling edge-of-your-soiled-seat horror levels set in Queen Vanessa's Manor or joyful platforming and exploration of each village in the Alpine Skyline world. It's a delightful soundtrack that I strongly advise checking out or just full-on purchasing, as it's only $9.99 for 78 tracks.

1. Main Theme

2. Title Screen

3. File Select

4. New Adventure

5. The Mystery Track

6. Welcome To Mafia Town

7. Welcome To Mafia Town (Remix) [Feat. Qumu]

8. Time Piece Released

9. Barrel Battle

10. A New Friend In Mafia Town

11. Mafia Town Is Asleep

12. She Came From Outer Space

13. So, What's The Plan

14. Mafia HQ

15. The Badge Seller

16. Mafia Boss' Big Showdown

17. Mafia Boss' Big Showdown (Remix) [Fear. AdulescensF]

18. Heating Up Mafia Town

19. No More Mafia Boss

20. Scootin' Through Mafia Town

21. Deadbird Studio Reception

22. Dead Bird Studio

23. You Are Now Legally A Bird

24. The Ratings Are In

25. Picture Perfect

26. Picture Perfect (Remix) [Feat. Carlos Eiene]

27. Murder On The Owl Express

28. Who Dun It

29. Tick Tock

30. The Phone's Ringing

31. Metal Bork

32. The Conductor's Train

33. Train Rush

34. Trainwreck Of Electro Swing (Remix)

35. The Big Parade

36. Turn On The Pyrotechnics

37. The Annual Bird Movie Award

38. Dead Bird Studio Basement

39. Dead Bird Studio Is Closed

40. The Battle Of Award 42

41. Heart To Heart

42. Subcon Forest

43. Scootin' Through Subcon Forest

44. Snatcher's  Contractual Obligations

45. Oh It's You

46. Subcon Village

47. Subcon Village (Remix) [Feat. Echorobot]

48. The Fire Spirits

49. The Subcon Caves

50. Toilet Of Doom

51. A Forsaken Place

52. Entering Vanessa Manor

53. Vanessa Wants To Play

54. You're Safe Now

55. Your Contract Has Expired

56. Your Contract Has Expired (Remix) [Feat. Cameron Munoz]

57. The Tower Of The Goats

58. Alpine Skyline

59. The Birdhouse Peak

60. The Lava Cake Peak

61. The Windmill Peak

62. The Twilight Bell Peak

63. Alpine Skyline At Night

64. The Weather Has Cleared

65. Clocktowers Beneath The Sea

66. Scootin' Through Clocktowers Beneath The Sea

67. Clocktowers Beneath The Sea (Remix) [Feat. AdolescensF]

68. Mafia Of Cooks Time Rift

69. Battle Of The Birds Time Rift

70. Subcon Forest Time Rift

71. Alpine Skyline Time Rift

72. Roll The Slots

73. Judge, Jury And Executioner

74. You Are All Bad Guys

75. Get Lost

76. Little Help From My Friends

77. Goodbye Everyone

78. The End

ALBUM RATING - 9/10

I haven't checked out the album of B-sides and additional remixes from this game yet but since it contains music from the upcoming DLC pack (including New Game +, local Co-Op mode and a brand new chapter, ALL FOR FREE!), I'll have to seek it out soon.

Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mixes And Moments

Yesterday, I saw Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 and was inspired to write a blog post about the fabled Awesome Mixes from both films (although mostly this one). If you want my thoughts on the film in general, feel free to read my lengthy tweet rant/review. However, this blog post is dedicated entirely to the collection of Classic Rock/Pop songs that are just as important in the Guardians Of The Galaxy films as the space battles or the words "I am Groot"; even the title of the film sounds like the name of a musical compilation. That being said, there are going to be some minor spoilers dotted throughout this post so if you haven't seen Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 yet and want to, come back later.

No, this isn't the cover for the soundtrack. It's the film poster and it's pretty fucking cool. It's action packed, it's got the main characters in dynamic poses and the typical blue and orange combination you tend to find on almost every film poster has a vibrant feel to it rather than the usual grainy tints. The reason I'm writing about this instead of David Bowie or Norman Greenbaum is because you could look at this poster with no context aside from the knowledge that the soundtrack is built from songs from the 70s/80s and assume the soundtrack would be full of Hard Rock.
It looks like the sort of film that'd be loaded with AC/DC and the like, not Chicago and Fleetwood Mac. In fact, the trailers for this film used their most action packed songs and even then, they changed the mix to add more emphasis to the percussion in order to punctuate the action beats. So is this misleading and disappointing? Should I demand the third film be loaded with Hard Prog and roaring riffs to make up for the Soft Rock soundtrack? Of course I fucking shouldn't, but then you all knew that anyway. Whilst it's no secret that I prefer my Rock music to actually Rock, I can appreciate a more subdued soundtrack provided it serves a purpose...and this one definitely does.
When Guardians Of The Galaxy (the first one) came out, the soundtrack took people by surprise. I wasn't a big fan of it personally, as any soundtrack that contains "Cherry Bomb" - The Runaways is never going to be perfect, but it had its moments and it's always good to see a film with an old soundtrack. Not only that but the soundtrack had relevance to the plot and gave us some insight into the character of Peter Quill. By the end of the film, Peter finds out that his deceased mum created a second mix tape, teasing the sequel and all the musical possibilities it could contain. As soon as the second film was confirmed, everyone was excited but not just for more adventures from these bunch of intergalactic a-holes. It's pretty neat that a soundtrack can generate this much hype, especially one that isn't full of contemporary chart toppers or acoustic Indie shite.

Director and writer James Gunn knew how important the soundtrack was for the sequel and this time the song choices, rather than the overall music, contained significance. Whilst there are throwaway tracks that were included for fun reasons to contrast the events taking place in the film, such as "Mr Blue Sky" - ELO being used in the exceptional opening sequence or "Southern Nights" - Glen Campbell during a scene where Rocket fucks with a bunch of predatory ravagers, it felt like the lyrics and themes of tracks were the guiding influence this time around.
The first song in the film is "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" - Looking Glass and whilst its initial use has no real importance other than to drive a point home about a character's love of music, it's later used by Ego (a living planet) as a metaphor for his relationship with Peter's mother and their role in the universe. I'm still not sure if I agree with its use in that sense, as it felt a little off-putting watching Kurt Russell recite the lyrics as spoken word whilst the song was playing (think Shatner's cover of "Rocket Man"). Plus, Ego claims the song was one of Peter's mum's favourites...so she included it on the second mix tape she made?
There's also the use of "My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison when some of the gang arrive on Ego's planet, a superb choice due to the way your perception of the song's meaning and tone change with repeated viewings of the film, and "Father And Son" - Cat Stevens during the final emotional scene, a song that perfectly fit both musically and lyrically. Whilst some songs work in this sense, others fall a bit flat. "Surrender" - Cheap Trick in the credits felt forced due to the line about mummy and daddy in the chorus, especially when you consider the fact that surrendering wasn't an option for any of the characters by the end. It was likely chosen for the aforementioned lyrics and it having more of an upbeat tone to go with the silly post-credits sequences, although I would've argued there were better songs to pick from.

The main strength of the soundtracks comes from contrasting tones, such as the use of "Hooked On A Feeling" - Blue Swede as one of the characters is tortured in the first film or "Come A Little Bit Closer" - Jay & The Americans as several characters murder an entire ship of criminals after escaping captivity. It works on different levels but it also strikes a chord with you due to being memorable in its atypical usage. The song can influence the subtext of the scene or the scene can give new meaning to the song, rather than compatible music and moments working alongside each other for a singular purpose.
One of the few weaknesses comes in the use of well known songs. Thankfully, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 only had one misstep and that was the use of "The Chain" - Fleetwood Mac. It's a great tune with two distinct sections, the latter being the one most people probably remember. However, even though it was used brilliantly in the trailer, it has no presence in the film. It reminds me of when the TV show Ashes To Ashes used the song "In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins but without the iconic drum intro. The show's creator claimed it was because he didn't want people watching the episode and waiting for that moment without paying attention to what was happening in the scene but he got it completely wrong; that's all people are going to do.
It might feel cliche to use well known sections alongside visual cressendos in your film or show but to me, it's better than not using them and tricking your audience into waiting for something that never comes and subsequently forcing them to realise that they haven't been paying proper attention to what was going on. Not only that but the first use of "The Chain" plays during a scene with dialogue. Again, if you use a well known song in the background of a scene with people talking, people are probably going to focus on the well known song. Granted that most of the music playing during scenes with dialogue is relatively obscure in comparison but "The Chain" needed to be less obvious in the mix.

Overall, the Awesome Mixes in Guardians Of The Galaxy are great. The second one was a lot stronger than the first but still fell a bit short of being what I would call an amazing soundtrack. However, both soundtracks should be commended for not taking the easy or uninspired choices (see Watchmen) and since a third film has been confirmed, I'm looking forward to listening to all Classic Rock/Pop tracks out of the 300 potential songs that will definitely be featured if the tease at the end of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is to be trusted.
On a separate note, I composed a playlist of songs a while back that I would probably blast out on repeat if I were travelling through space (don't ask). It's definitely not the same material you'd get in the Guardians Of The Galaxy films but if you're interested, have a listen on the Spotify app below.

Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild - Manaka Kataoka & Yasuaki Iwata

Yes, I'm reviewing a game's soundtrack. This is happening.

NOTE: Whilst I'm using the Sound Selection cover, I'll be talking about more pieces of music than the ones included on the CD. This is mostly because after 30+ years making games, Nintendo still don't know how to release a good soundtrack CD.
Also, whilst I'll be sharing my opinions on this game throughout the review, this isn't a review of the game itself. If you want to know whether I liked the game, I did; a lot. It's great and you should buy it if you're a fan of RPGs, Zelda, open world exploration and well crafted puzzle solving and combat gameplay.


So it's finally here, the new console Zelda game! I remember writing about listening to the trailer music and feeling incredibly hyped for not just the game itself but the soundtrack too. The trailer boasted an epic score combining classic motifs with exciting new melodies on a grand orchestral scale and I for one was looking forward to hearing a Zelda soundtrack with more fantasy elements that you might expect from a game like Skyrim. In the end, we basically got half of that; a mix of old and new but sounding more like an expansion to the Skyward Sword soundtrack. Sure, that soundtrack was cute but certainly not what was advertised in the trailer.
I'm not going to sit here like some hack writer hastily shitting out a blog post about how majestic and beautiful the entire soundtrack is because truth be told, it's my second least favourite of all the console Zelda games. I didn't hate it but I was very disappointed for a variety of reasons. For starters, the main theme isn't great. It's the first piece of music you hear when you leave the Shrine Of Restoration, ready to explore the ravaged but still gorgeous land of Hyrule, and it's just In The Bleak Midwinter. Better parts of the main theme are used throughout the game for when you activate towers and such but it doesn't stand out as a memorable piece of music in the same way that, say, the Wind Waker theme does (and this is coming from someone who places the WW soundtrack as his least favourite).
Secondly, one of the big observations, the silence. When you're out and about in the wild, there is no music apart from a few notes here and there (that play Zelda's Lullaby when you speed them up). I get it, the soundtrack is meant to be the land around you; the crickets, the wind, the wild itself. It's a neat idea but having watched gameplay footage of someone exploring to silence and someone exploring to the Hyrule Field theme from Ocarina Of Time, I feel I would honestly prefer music in place. However, that's only when you're exploring the wild on foot. There's music everywhere else.

You get tame galloping music when riding a horse, mediocre battle music when encountering an enemy and various familiar themes when entering a town or settlement. Whilst opinions will differ on which of these tunes work and which don't, most fans will probably agree that the music in different territories is one of the game's highlights, particularly for fans of Ocarina Of Time (clearly a big inspiration for the game). The game succeeds in blending classic with contemporary but unfortunately, with a series as rich as The Legend Of Zelda, the new music will always be overshadowed by the old.
Take the stables; now and then, you'll encounter a friendly hostel with a remixed theme of Epona's Song and occasionally, you'll find an anthropomorphic parrot playing that exact tune on the accordion. Whilst the stable music is nice, my ear is always drawn to the tune on the accordion when Kass is playing it. You could argue that it's due to the nature of the instrument but it doesn't even sound that overpowering when you listen to it; in fact, the new music always starts first when you approach the stable and yet it's Epona's Song I want to listen to. Other examples include Zora's Domain (containing echoes of the same theme from Ocarina Of Time) and Rito Village, the latter containing my favourite new piece of music but also borrowing the melody from Dragon Roost Island on mandolin.
This is fine if you just want to please fans with nostalgia but not if you plan on creating fresh memorable music, as this game seriously lacks that in the same way newer titles such as Skyward Sword have the Skyloft theme and Ballad Of The Goddess or risk taking games that break the standard Zelda formula like Majora's Mask has Clock Town and the Song Of Healing. Maybe time will prove me wrong here but to me, the most iconic piece of music from Breath Of The Wild (the trailer music) isn't even featured in the final game.

However, despite not containing standout pieces of music, this game does contain some great tracks. Korok Forest is delightfully whimsical and perfectly matched to the environment (if you can excuse the frequent drop in frames) and the aforementioned Rito Village is a fine example of how to properly mix your score, combining string and woodwind without fault. Plus, the game doesn't just excel at peaceful music. Some of the music that plays when you attack Divine Beasts (Vah Ruta and Vah Naboris in particular) is perfect boss battle music. It's just a shame it doesn't last longer, unless you suck at the game.
Another neat feature, which is pretty much a staple of Nintendo games, is a soundtrack that changes based on your progression through the game. A town's theme will add layers containing different instruments depending on what's happening, what time it is and what you've accomplished which, more often than not, improves the original music. The best example of this is in an optional sidequest where you build a town/cult on top of a giant rock; when you recruit a new villager from one of the four main races in this game, music based around that race will be added to the town. It works as a great audio-metaphor and listening experience.
Then there are the little musical cues that pop up now and then when you cook a new dish or get a heart container. As before, some are obvious references to Zelda games (the music playing when the Sheikah Slate downloads new parts of the map being the classic treasure chest theme) and some are new (a musical sting involving a boxing bell when you clear out a nest of Bokoblins). Not much to comment on here other than some work a lot better than others, although luckily the ones that work tend to show up more so that's good.

Overall, Breath Of The Wild's soundtrack is decent. Ignoring technical limitations of the time, I'd say other Zelda soundtracks were better but this is still a fine soundtrack. Much like a tightrope walker, it treads the line between taking risks on the left and playing it safe on the right, momentarily swaying a bit too far to one of the two sides but still making it across to the other side without plummeting towards catastrophic failure at the bottom. Despite my complaints at the start of this post, I give it a 7/10. Remember, we're talking about Zelda soundtracks here and to me, a bad Zelda soundtrack can still reach 5 or 6 out of 10. Compared to other game soundtracks, this one's bloody good so a 7/10 seems fair on the universal scale.
It could've reached an 8 or 9 if the main theme was more original, the trailer music was used in the game and the horse riding/exploration music had a bit more of an adventurous feel to it, but I'll concede that last point is down to personal taste. If you liked my review of video game music, let me know in the comments/via Twitter as Yooka Laylee's coming out soon and I. am. fucking. hyped.
I. am. also. incapable. of. learning. my. lesson. about. not. getting. too. excited. about. video. game. music.

Shout Out: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Soundtrack

I hope you liked my write-up of the Uncharted 4 soundtrack as I've only gone and written a less in-depth version of that about a different game!

First of all, I should apologise for the lack of detail in this post surrounding each track. I admit that I haven't finished this game yet but I have listened to the free soundtrack that came with it and I feel like I've heard most of these songs in-game anyway. Sadly, some tunes I've enjoyed hearing in the game aren't available on this soundtrack but I'm sure there's a deluxe edition I can look for somewhere. Anyway, if you haven't played it yet, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an RPG set in Medieval times in a world of monsters and monster slayers, known as Witchers. The game is mostly travelling, completing quests, fighting groups of bandits/monsters and playing an addictive card game known as Gwent.
Unlike Uncharted 4, which had just the one composer, this soundtrack has three: Marcin Przybylowicz, Mikolai Stroinski and Percival Schuttenbach. Also unlike Uncharted 4, a game hat blended two disctinct sounds of pirate themed music with a typical action/adventure score, the soundtrack for this game is well and truly Medieval. No electric instruments, no contemporary orchestras, just an epic and occasionally whimsical score that fits the gameplay perfectly. There's a healthy mix of dramatic and dynamic battle anthems ("Silver For Monsters...", "The Eyes Of The Wolf") and upbeat jovial tunes or soft atmospheric ones ("Cloak And Dagger", "King Bran's Final Voyage"), both standing out as highlights of The Witcher 3 as you enjoy the gaming experience.
Even some of the lighter tracks that aren't meant to be heard as you decapitate waves of Drowners and Ghouls have a sinister undertone to them ("The Nightingale", "The Vagabond"), perfectly matching the dark tone of the game. There isn't a single dull or repetitive note in this collection of music and all in all, it's an excellent soundtrack that belongs in this excellent game. Even if you haven't played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, I'd recommend giving some of the highlighted tracks below a listen as it's a cracking selection of music if you're into your "olde" soundtrack. Maybe tracks 1, 16, 26 and 30 for a short and healthy variety?

1. The Trail

2. Geralt Of Rivia

3. Eredin, King Of The Hunt

4. Wake Up, Ciri

5. Aen Seidhe

6. Commanding The Fury

7. Emhyr Var Emreis

8. Spikeroog

9. King Bran's Final Voyage

10. Silver For Monsters...

11. Whispers Of Novigrad

12. The Nightingale

13. City Of Intrigues

14. Hunter's Path

15. Widow-Maker

16. Kaer Morhen

17. The Eyes Of The Wolf

18. Witch Hunters

19. ...Steel For Humans

20. Fate Calls

21. The Vagabond

22. Cloak And Dagger

23. Forged In Fire

24. Yes, I Do...

25. Welcome, Imlerith

26. Drink Up, There's More!

27. After The Storm

28. Blood On The Cobblestones

29. Farewell, Old Friend

30. The Song Of The Sword-Dancer

31. The Hunt Is Coming

ALBUM RATING - 9/10

Next week, I'll be in Whitby for six of the seven days so I apologise if I don't get a chance to post the next review. However, I have it planned so it's just a matter of finding time to write and publish it.

Shout Out: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Soundtrack

Just a quick shout out post today but there'll be some proper album reviews coming in the next few weeks.

I know it's another video game related post but the soundtrack isn't your typical game music. Anyone who's played at least one of the Uncharted titles will back me up when I say they're an incredibly cinematic series of games and the most recent release is no different. It's essentially a playable Action/Adventure film and the soundtrack reflects this beautifully. Taking the reigns from Greg Edmonson (previous Uncharted composer) is Henry Jackman, who's recent works include Captain America: Civil War and X-Men: First Class.
I usually find it quite difficult to take in the soundtracks from these kind of linear games as I'm usually so focused on the hectic gameplay that I miss the score and don't get a chance to soak it in unless I play the game again. However, this is the first time I've gone out of my way to seek out and listen to this kind of majestic orchestral soundtrack completely after playing a game purely due to the level of great tracks I recall hearing throughout my play-through.
First up, we have "A Thief's End". I'm guessing Henry went with that name instead of "Nate's Theme 4.0" because unlike previous versions of "Nate's Theme", the changes are more significant to the point that it's practically another tune. Sure, there's the classic melody in there but it's a lot darker, less upbeat and more fitting to be named after the last game in the series. Following this is a progression of tunes named after chapters from the game they appear in, such as sneaking around an auction house ("Once A Thief...") and battling mercenaries in the game's exciting opening boat chase ("Cut To The Chase").

Since the game's plot is based around lost pirate treasure, you can expect to hear a swashbuckling touch throughout certain tracks ("The Twelve Towers", "New Devon") but seeing as how the game also involves mystery and action, the majority of tracks rely on a mix of ominous sounding strings designed to accompany dialogue without overshadowing it ("At Sea", "The Thieves Of Libertalia", "Hidden In Plain Sight") and dynamic scores perfect for gunfights and escaping deathtraps ("Meet Me In Paradise", "Race To Libertalia") Naturally there's also a mix of contemporary instruments subtly blended in with the traditional orchestra  ("The Grave Of Henry Avery", "For Better Or Worse", "No Escape") but it all comes together perfectly.
I suppose the only downside is that when compared to soundtracks from film franchises such as Pirates Of The Carribean or Indiana Jones, those scores will easily triumph over this one due to being more focused on their respective genres. For example, the nautical score to Pirates is more memorable due to the catchy motifs and character based soundtrack as opposed to Uncharted 4, which is mostly based around specific moments and scenes in each chapter aside from a few familiar sounding tracks ("The Brothers Drake", "Brother's Keeper"). Henry Jackman has created an excellent score but one that belongs to two different genres, meaning the music as a whole isn't strong enough to be regarded highly in either category.
However, this is only an issue if you like one type of soundtrack but not the other, which must only be a select few. If you like boisterous seafaring soundtracks and suspenseful action scores, you'd be foolish to miss this one because as far as game soundtracks go, it's superb. Grand enough to fit the story and definitely not a step down from previous entries in the franchise. In fact if anything, it's made me want to revisit more of Henry Jackman's AND previous Uncharted soundtracks!

1. A Thief's End

2. A Normal Life

3. Lure Of Adventure

4. Cut To The Chase

5. Reunited

6. Once A Thief...

7. The Grave Of Henry Avery

8. Those Who Prove Worthy

9. The Twelve Towers

10. Hidden In Plain Sight

11. At Sea

12. Marooned

13. Meet Me In Paradise

14. The Thieves Of Libertalia

15. Sic Parvis Magna

16. The Brothers Drake

17. Race To Libertalia

18. For Better Or Worse

19. New Devon

20. Avery's Descent

21. No Escape

22. Brother's Keeper

23. One Last Time

24. Epilogue

ALBUM RATING - 8/10

Are there any orchestral film or game soundtracks that you'd like me to discuss on this blog? Feel free to recommend them on Twitter or here in the comment section!

Tenology: My Favourite Tracks From SSB Wii U

Don't worry, this won't be the only blog post I do this month.
In November, Super Smash Bros for Wii U was released and was met with mostly positive reviews. Whilst I think the game would've been better as a single title rather than split across 3DS & Wii U resulting in two full priced titles that on their own are only OK, this blog post isn't about me reviewing it. It's about my 10 favourite songs from the game, similar to a post I did a while ago about Super Smash Bros Brawl.
In terms of the game's soundtrack, I personally believe Brawl had a greater collection of original songs and that if this game didn't include most of Brawl's better tunes then the soundtrack would've been a bit of a letdown. However, it's now time to look at the 10 original songs from Super Smash Bros for Wii U that I have set to max on My Music:


10. Gear Getaway - Donkey Kong

Fun idea, meh execution

I'm not entirely sure why this song needed rerecording for Smash Bros as it sounds pretty damn similar to the original anyway. The Donkey Kong track I included in the SSBB post was indisputably improved by rerecording it whereas this track sounds like an unused version, rather than a sparkly new one. Either way, it's a cool little jungle tune that's equally fun to Smash to.

9. Pac-Man's Park/Block Town - Pac-Man

Somewhere, in Activision's dungeon, Crash is curled up in a ball crying

The main reason this remix is only at number 9 is because of the Block Town part. Kinda ruins the Pac-Man's Park intro that was used in Pac-Man's character trailer, if you ask me. However, it's still a great tune full of nostalgic sound effects and rocking guitars. Just a shame it doesn't fit the stage it's assigned to as well as other tracks.

8. Trophy Rush - Super Smash Bros for Wii U

It took the Internet about half a minute to work this technique out

A zany, wacky piece of music that goes on just a little bit too long to prevent it from being higher on this list. However, it takes the theme for Smash Bros Wii U (which is my personal favourite out of all four games) and toys with it gloriously, resulting in a frenzied yet composed piece of music fit for a match, a minigame, teaser trailer or hype-generating background music at E3.

7. Pedal Glider - PilotWings

Wonder what's going through the mind of the pilots during all of this

At number 7, we have quite a calm remix that takes the original Reggae-inspired tune and turns it into awesome lift music. Some of you might think this isn't great fighting music and perhaps you'd be right BUT give it a minute or so and this soothing melody introduces some synth to the mix, giving it little bit more of a dynamic feel. It's not action packed and it's clearly not what I would call the best track but as far as unlockable songs go, it was a neat surprise.

6. Air Man Theme - Mega Man

I could probably do a Tenology post of the best Air Man remixes too

I remember hearing this in the My Music section of the 3DS version & getting a little bit more excited for the Wii U game, if only for the greater music collection. Mega Man 2 is well known for having a lot of awesome tunes, even if they are 8-bit. However, hearing the revamped version of the Air Man level with guitars, keyboards and drums a-plenty makes it all the better. Bonus points for making this sound like even more of an aerial-battle anthem!

5. Ballad Of The Goddess/Ghirahim's Theme - Legend Of Zelda

Continuing the theme of uninspired LoZ stages

Another brilliant tune from the Legend Of Zelda series remixed into a perfect fighting song yet ruined slightly by the needless attachment of an antagonist theme, see also Song Of Storms and the truly terrible Saria's Song/Middle Boss Battle. Fans of Skyward Sword will remember the moment in the game when you first start shredding the Ballad Of The Goddess after acquiring the Goddess Harp in what has to be the single worst use of the Motion Plus controls in the entire game, if not history. The harp melody Link plays can be heard in the string arrangement during this track & if I had to pick a favourite moment/reason why this song is number 5, that would be it. I like it a lot.

4. Minor Circuit Theme - Punch Out!

Just a man and his will to survive...

Suppose I should mention that I do slightly prefer the original from Punch Out Wii although this remix does have a few cool additions. For example, the "Oh yeah!"'s that crop up every now and then. However, this polished Rock remix of the Minor Circuit theme is obviously gonna be great brawling music, considering it came from a fighting game and has been beefed up for another fighting game! I definitely feel like working out to this song...well, I would if I ever felt like working out. Ever.

3. Battle! Trainer (Pokemon X/Y) - Pokemon

Why the hell weren't you Mewtwo?

Ignoring the fact that this song is mapped to my favourite stage in the Wii U version & was used in Greninja's announcement trailer after a Smash Bros Nintendo Direct which kicked all kinds of ass, everything about it rocks! The fluttering scales, the stabbing strings, the general excitement of it all really. Unlike most of the other songs in the game, I haven't tired of this one yet. I can still bang it on repeat and listen to it for a lengthy period of time which is one of the key qualities of top notch game music.

2. The Valedictory Elegy - Baiten Kaitos

Or should it be "valedictory elegy" without caps? Don't care either way.

I'm still not sure if I prefer this remix or the original from Baiten Kaitos Origins overall. What I do know is this is easily my favourite song to listen to whilst fighting on Gaur Plains, even if it is the only one that doesn't come from the game linked to the stage. The high pitched violin might sound annoying at first but once you get used to it and appreciate what is easily the game's most "epic" piece of music, you'll find you can't fight without it.

1. Mega Man 2 Medley - Mega Man

This guy, am I right?

At first, I was disappointed they mixed the Mega Man 2 opening music with Dr Wily Stage 1-2 but I guess it's better to have a piece of music with a sensible length rather than shorter tracks that lose appeal quicker. So what can I say about this tune, other than I've bugged the crap out of my girlfriend by playing it so often? Well, the synchronised mix of heavy guitars and classic synth gives it a fresh yet simultaneously nostalgic quality whilst the heavy chugging and punchy beat in the background adds the mechanic element of Mega Man. I mean, that's what I would say if I was trying to sound well informed. Truth is it's just fucking great. It has everything a good fighting song should have and is entirely responsible for me checking out more music from the Mega Man series.


Sorry for another video game post but it was either this or me ranting about the new Guitar Hero game, which I'll probably do at some point this year or the next. Stay tuned for another post before May that won't be about video games...although it may be ranting still.

Tenology: Ten Remixes I Want Added To Hyrule Warriors

Sorry everyone. It's another video game post.
For the second half of September, I've been spending my days playing 'Hyrule Warriors', the latest game in the Zelda franchise that departs from traditional gameplay in favour of 'Dynasty Warriors' battles, borrowing the characters, weapons and locations from the Zelda universe.
It's a fantastic game but the best thing about it is the music (which is also true to most other Zelda games). This game not only has a soundtrack combining Rock instruments with orchestral tunes but it also remixes existing Zelda tracks from past games into more exciting battle anthems.
Before you start to realise that I'm pretty much just repeating what I said about Super Smash Bros Brawl in a previous blog post, the point of this post isn't to tell you about my favourite tracks from this game. The reason you're still reading (and I'm still typing) is because I've picked 10 tunes that weren't used in 'Hyrule Warriors' that I'm hoping will be added along with the DLC after being remixed.

To give you an idea about the soundtrack of both Zelda games AND 'Hyrule Warriors', I've selected a couple of choice picks to compare the original and the remix.
First, there's the Boss Battle theme from 'Ocarina Of Time' followed by the 'Hyrule Warriors' version.
Then there's the Skyloft theme from 'Skyward Sword' and the 'Hyrule Warriors' mix, adding the Ballad Of The Goddess in there too to make it even more awesome.
As you can hear, they add some bitchin' guitars and successfully manage to improve tracks that were already damn good. Of course, these aren't the only pieces of music in the game but one of the few flaws about 'Hyrule Warriors' is that for a game that was essentially a love letter to console Zelda fans, the number of remixes from console Zelda games was not quite as high as it could've been.
So which tracks should've been added and given the 'Hyrule Warriors' treatment? In my opinion, the following ten (in no particular order):


1. Boss Theme - Majora's Mask

And now you've got Odalwa's chant stuck in your head!

An obvious pick but still an awesome one. Personally, I prefer this Boss theme to the one from 'Ocarina Of Time', if only for the galloping rhythm. It works well in 'Majora's Mask' due to the time-based gameplay and often by the time you've finished a temple to reach the boss, you're racing against the clock to beat them before it's game over. It's a shame the game only had about 4 bosses (not including the final one) but for the upcoming 'Majora's Mask' DLC, a remix of this battle track with a chugging guitar rhythm would be amazing.


2. Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker

Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of Wind Waker thanks to the boring fucking sailing parts

Probably the best piece of music in the entire game despite not being featured as often as other tunes. Since 'Wind Waker' has a completely different art style to the other Zelda games and isn't really featured in 'Hyrule Warriors' (aside from a couple of pretty rubbish weapons you can get), it's unlikely we'll be seeing DLC featuring enemies and music from this game, even though fans would buy it in a heartbeat. However, a heavier remix of this calm island melody would be all kinds of awesome to fight to.


3. Mini Game Medley - Ocarina Of Time (1), Twilight Princess (2), Skyward Sword (3)

Dunno about you but that's definitely how I would hold a panicked chicken. Right over my head

OK, I'm not sure how well this would translate as a song to fight to but if 'Hyrule Warriors' can have music from the 'Skyward Sword' Bazaar and 'Ocarina Of Time' House interiors then there must be a way of making a mix of mini game songs from the three main titles that went into making this game. The hardest one to translate would probably be the 'Skyward Sword' one, as it's the slowest. But hey, with a bit of creative reworking, it's surely possible!


4. Zant Boss Theme - Twilight Princess

Shame his awesome attacks couldn't quite properly transfer over to 'Hyrule Warriors'

One thing that stuck in my mind with 'Twilight Princess' was the fun boss fights. Not only did each one have their own music but they also felt more fun than previous installments, particularly Stallord who easily has one of the best boss fights in the whole Zelda series! However, the Zant fight was something special. It involved multiple battlefields taking place across a variety of stages from OTHER boss fights in the game, each with a variation of the same tune. If you listen to the whole piece, you can hear it becoming more frantic and crazed, much like the character of Zant as the game progresses. Anyway, considering he's playable in 'Hyrule Warriors', it would've been neat to have this tune properly remixed instead of the Twilight-y song they had which merely borrowed elements of this one.


5. Song Of Storms - Ocarina Of Time

I always thought the secret tunnel from his hut to the graveyard was a bit suspicious, kinda like Sweeney Todd

Another iconic Zelda tune right here, and not just because it involves a paradox where you learn a song by travelling forward in time, learning it off a disgruntled windmill owner, travelling back and playing it to him, causing him to be disgruntled/learn the song in the first place (even though the song you learn is the exact one he's playing in his windmill all the time...). It's surprisingly catchy and even though various re-recordings of it are all awesome, the original played on the music box will always be the best. That being said, a heavier remix with guitars would certainly be appreciated, maybe if it's mixed with other songs you learn on the ocarina (although not the song from Ganondorf's Castle, like in Super Smash Bros Brawl).


6. Spooky Music - Majora's Mask

The whole sequence with the dying Zora is made even more chilling thanks to the music

I couldn't think of a better name for this one, since the same tune is used repeatedly in different levels but with different instruments. The sample I've chosen is from Great Bay Coast, since it's the creepiest to me, but the Mountain Village at Snowhead is also good. Slow and haunting, this theme for each of the four corners of Termina carries the weight of death that lingers throughout this game. Looking back on it, 'Majora's Mask' might have the most depth of any Zelda game. Shame I didn't find it as fun as other titles, although I'd buy a 3DS re-release without hesitation.


7. Koloktos/Moldarach Battle - Skyward Sword

The boss that made water temples tolerable

Easily my favourite action song from 'Skyward Sword' and quite possibly one of my top ten favourite Zelda boss battles (Koloktos, not Moldarach). To me, this is one of two songs from the game that prove it doesn't take Koji Kondo to make fantastic Zelda music. This song wouldn't require much of a change, just a few extra instruments and it's perfect for 'Hyrule Warriors'. It would've been cool to have Koloktos as one of the bosses to appear instead of The Imprisoned, which is a horrible boss fight in both games. Absolutely horrible and annoying. But sadly, it's also necessary.


8. Saria's Song - Ocarina Of Time

This took me way too long to complete as a kid

During Darunia's victory cut-scene, you can hear an orchestrated version of this tune being played. This is a nice nod to a scene from 'Ocarina Of Time' but honestly, it would've been much cooler to have a proper version of this classic Zelda song. Maybe if they decide to do Lost Woods DLC as an add-on to the Faron Woods level, they could spruce up this cheerful tune into a mystical remix (kinda like they did with the Sacred Grove in 'Twilight Princess').


9. Hidden Village - Twilight Princess

"Right, time to find those feckin' cats!"

A Wild West type tune that, again, only plays a couple of times in the game but is able to strike a chord with the average player. With a bit of extra power and a slightly faster tempo, those acoustic guitars would transform into a great battle track, perfect for the Gerudo Desert stage (same could be said for the Gerudo Desert song, although I haven't included it on this list).


10. Hyrule Field - Ocarina Of Time

"Oh look, a pretty floweSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT"

Despite the fact that the first level takes place outside Hyrule Castle on the fields of Hyrule, the theme from 'Ocarina Of Time' is surprisingly absent. Instead, we get a rip-off of 'Mars, Bringer Of War' by Gustav Holst followed by a remix of the original Zelda theme (which is great, admittedly). However, I'll never forget the excitement at hearing this upbeat tune for the first time. Having left Kokiri Forest after getting my first ocarina, it marked a momentous occasion in-game for me...then I got stopped by that fucking owl, but that's another story. Either way, it'd be great to hear a thundering remix of Hyrule Field from 'Ocarina Of Time' as opposed to the inferior 'Twilight Princess' one we got instead.


So that's my list. It's not perfect and I'll be honest, I was struggling to think of ten songs that I'd want as remixes but alas, it was possible. Are there any tunes you think would make great 'Hyrule Warriors' remixes? Perhaps more songs from 'Wind Waker' or any of the handheld/pre 'Ocarina Of Time' games? Let me know in the comment section and I'll check them out/add them if I agree. It's unlikely the DLC will add new tunes but I really hope they do, since it'd be a shame to have levels, enemies and objectives based on 'Majora's Mask' without the music to complete the atmosphere.
Also, apologies for the video game related post after my last one. I plan on reviewing Slash's latest album for my November post but I'm not sure when that'll be posted. Possibly towards the end of the month as I'm seeing him live with my awesome girlfriend then. I might combine the album and gig into one mega-review...or I'll review the album before the gig and add an update to it after seeing him live.
Who knows? I certainly don't.

Tenology: My Favourite Tracks From SSBB

Another Tenology post? Oh goody, more of my opinions!
It's OK though because this post isn't designed to be so...well, hostile. These aren't 10 things that annoy me or are gonna come with a rant. They're 10 musical tracks that I have arranged into a descending order of my favourites. Yep, this time it IS an appropriate use of "Top 10"...but I'm still calling it a Tenology because music and stuff.
So what's the topic?
VIDEO GAMES!

Yes, since it's the month of E3 (or rather WAS the month, since E3 finished about a week or so ago), I decided to look into video game music again. And no, I'm not gonna be as heavy with criticism as I was for my GTA post.
Since the highlight of E3 for many gamers was the new Smash Bros for WiiU and 3DS, I've decided to look at the last game in the series, Super Smash Bros Brawl for the Wii. It had hundreds of different songs covering Nintendo's sizable selection of games from the 80's to the 00's, all designed to be used as battle anthems for Nintendo's mascots and memorable characters to duke it out to.
Some tracks were taken straight from the games (such as the songs from Sonic The Hedgehog games) but a lot of them were fresh new re-imaginings of songs from old Nintendo titles. To make the choice easier for myself (since there are so many awesome tunes in that game!), I chose to only include newly recorded songs for this list. So no Sonic Boom or Douche-Man, although those would rank near the top if I could include them.
Right then, on with the list!

10. Go K.K. Rider! - Animal Crossing

"FREE BIIIIIIIRRD!!!"

Coming in at 10 is a heroic little number that features a singing dog in the middle and yes, I can sing along to his lyrics perfectly and there is no shame in that if you can too! Granted I've never played an Animal Crossing game so I know nothing about where this comes from but hey, doesn't stop me from liking it!
I shouldn't have to justify why I like any of these tunes but fuck it, I'll do it anyway. I love the general melody and for bonus points, it sounds like something epic that would play as someone flies into battle on a dragon..you know, until the dog starts singing.

9. Tetris Type A - Tetris

Come on, we all made a custom Tetris stage once we knew this song was in the game, right?

So how could they possibly make the iconic Tetris Type A theme any better? By injecting it with a touch of Russia, of course! Now it sounds like something that would play in a magnificent ballroom...you know, until the dog starts singing.
BUT WAIT! There is no dog! Only this delightfully kooky remix that has been set to play on a stage based around a haunted mansion. Very nice indeed!

8. World Map (Pikmin 2) - Pikmin

Yeah, sure, just fight on my head why don't you.

Based on what I'd heard, I didn't think it'd be possible to make fighting music from the Pikmin series...and for the most part, I was right. However, this tune works surprisingly well on the battlefield. The reason I like it? Probably the combination of string instruments and percussion throughout the track.

7. Boss Battle - Super Smash Bros. Melee

Fuck you, Porky!

A remix of the Main Menu theme from the last Super Smash Bros game that also doubles up as an awesome tune for Boss battles. From the first few notes, I fell in love with this tune and despite hearing this tune several hundred times due to my continued efforts in Boss Battle mode on Intense difficulty (Again, fuck you, Porky!), I still haven't tired of hearing it.

6. White Land - F-Zero

"Shit, jumpjumpjumpjumpjumpjumpFUCK, too late!"

To be honest, as a fan of Rock/Metal, most of the F-Zero tunes are awesome to me. I also like Shotgun Kiss and Fire Field but my Re-Records Only rule means White Land takes number 6 in my list. I don't know about you but I always like hearing electric guitars shredding away on a Nintendo game (one of the reasons I'm excited for Hyrule Warriors, coming out this year!) so combined with a fast tempo, this track is definitely one I love to hear...you know, until the dog starts singing....OK, I'll stop doing that now.

5. Flower Field - Yoshi

Seasons changing was pretty and all but it's not like it actually did anything significant...other than be pretty, of course

It's not a fighting tune, you're right there. However, it oozes cuteness, especially when you know it's a Yoshi tune. The Yoshi stage itself is pretty shit and the rest of the music isn't great BUT when I unlocked this song, I was playing on it all the time! Along with most of the other tracks on this list, it's also a decent improvement on the original track from the game it came from. In this case, Yoshi Touch & Go, I believe.

4. King K.Rool / Ship Deck 2 - Donkey Kong

What is it with Donkey Kong stages and them always being more deadly than they appear?

Starts off as a jolly pirate shanty. Nice, nice. But wait, what's this? Keep listening, keep listening...
BOOM! HEADBANGER RIFF! MORE GUITAR!
Definitely one that kicks ass whilst you're kicking ass. Just a shame it feels quite short...and the stage it's isn't great either.

3. Song Of Storms - Legend Of Zelda

There's a special place in Hell for whoever added that fucking cannon to this stage

I'm a huge fan of Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and quite frankly, I bet I could find 10 songs that would beat all of the ones mentioned so far in this list. However, this version of the classic "Windmill Hut" song with backing band and GUITARRRRRR definitely got me excited to play the game when I first heard it. The only reason it's not higher is because of the way it goes into Ganondorf's Castle...although the use of Serenade of Water at the end was very nice.

2. Corneria - StarFox

See, if this stage had gravity effects to match the space travel, THEN it might have been better!

Another track on a mediocre stage that got me excited to play it once I unlocked it. Far more fun to fight to than the Space Armada or Star Wolf tunes and whilst it's not a straightforward improvement on the original Corneria tune (which I think has a better drum beat), it definitely earns its place in this list.
So what's at number one? Well, if you're reading this you've probably already read it due to scrolling too far. Hasn't helped that I made the letters for the song names big...but if you haven't read it, then iiiiiit's...

1. Ocarina Of Time Medley - Legend Of Zelda

Been a while since I played LoZ:TP but surely there was a better stage idea than just flat and, every now & then, a big hole?

Yeah, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's played SSBB because this medley is fucking perfect.
No, shut up, it's perfect. Not hearing anything else about it.
It can't be improved, it is 10/10.
Epic feel from the guitars and strings, excellent to fight to, fantastic combination of a variety of tunes from Ocarina of Time and the stage it's used on, whilst not a stage from Ocarina Of Time, is definitely one that has replay value for more purposes than just the song.
Oh, and those final dramatic notes! Have you ever landed a Falcon Punch on the last note? I have.
It's. Awesome.


So that's my Tenology for anyone who's into the Smash Bros series. Special thanks to GilvaSunner for providing most of these tunes without my permission, although I guess he uploaded them to Youtube without permission too so it evens out. He also has a load of other Nintendo soundtracks on his channel if you like video game music so definitely worth checking out!
What music has the new Smash Bros game got to offer? Well, based on the fansite that's collected songs used in various trailers for the game, it's already shaping up to be an exceptional musical offering. I'm already hyped for the Zelda, Mega-Man, Pokemon, Kid Icarus and Donkey Kong related music and that's only a fraction of the songs that'll make the final cut! WOOOO! Bring on the Smash!

Grand Theft Auto V: Where Rock Went Wrong

I like the Grand Theft Auto series for many reasons.
Not just because the missions are usually very fun and the controls are incredibly easy to get the hang of, or anything related to the plots within the game (which, let's face it, are the weakest parts of not just GTA but RockStar games in general, although that's another story altogether...no pun intended).
The main reason I enjoy playing Grand Theft Auto games (post GTA III) is because of the soundtrack.

For those unfamiliar with Grand Theft Auto, I'll summarise the core concept with a few sentences.
There's a lot of driving, shooting, killing, swearing, weapon collecting and unlike Mario games, the more stars you collect is directly related to how badly you're fucking up.
But one of the hidden gems of the GTA series of recent years has been the ability to listen to a variety of tunes across several radio stations whilst driving around. Whether you're on a main story mission or are simply looking for chaos, it's always fun to listen to some cracking songs whilst doing so. Combine this with some of the entertaining radio banter in between tracks and the game feels just that little bit better.
Whilst the games seem mostly to aim their musical tastes at the Hip Hop fans, there are a few games with fantastic Rock and/or Metal stations, clearly arranged by someone who knows their shit. My favourite has to be V-Rock from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a station dedicated to 80's Hard Rock and Metal with tracks from bands including Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, The Cult, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister and Quiet Riot. One of my fondest memories from the game is chasing down a car and gunning it down to the tune of 'Madhouse' - Anthrax, followed immediately by 'Raining Blood' - Slayer.

A close second would be Liberty Rock Radio from Grand Theft Auto IV, a general Classic/Hard Rock station with bands like ELO, The Who, Thin Lizzy and Elton John, along with a load more added as DLC. What I loved about this soundtrack was the mix of well known and lesser known songs, giving listeners something awesome to drive to whilst also providing them with new music. So after a soundtrack this brilliant, it would stand to reason that the GTA V Classic Rock setlist would be even better, right?
No. Wrong.
Dead wrong.
Horribly wrong.
It's rubbish.
Full of mediocre songs that are about as fun to drive around to as a cassette of disco B-sides.
Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of decent tracks. 'Baker Street' - Gerry Rafferty fits the game well and 'Lonely Is The Night' - Billy Squier would've been awesome, had they not edited the best fucking bit out, but for the most part, the soundtrack seriously lacks the magic that previous Rock radio stations have had.

I feel like in trying to make the game more "mature", they've tried to do the same to the soundtrack. As a result, it comes across as incredibly bland and rather lifeless at times (I mean, 'What A Fool Believes' - The Doobie Brothers? Really? You're gonna pick a post '75 Doobs song? The fuck is wrong with you?!). By the looks of it, they've made the same mistake that Guitar Hero 5 made. They picked the right bands but the wrong songs...and also the wrong bands, in some cases.
But hey, the game was a massive success so maybe this is just my misguided opinion talking. As far as games go, this one tried to push all the boundaries. Sadly, despite boasting an impressive soundtrack quantity, quality wasn't around when they picked the tracks to make the Rock radio station. Hopefully if they do DLC, like the last installment, they'll include some more rocking material.
Hold on though! What's that I hear you saying?

"Screw you, idiot! That soundtrack was awesome! What do you know about good music?"

Well, I like to think I know a fair bit about Classic Rock. But why don't I let you decide. Here's a Youtube playlist to a 22 song setlist I believe would've been better than the one picked for GTA V's Los Santos Rock Radio. I've tried to pick similar bands but better songs. However, if you'd rather check out songs individually, here's a list below:
(if any of the links don't work for whatever reason Youtube craps out, let me know and I'll fix them when I can)

'Long, Long Way From Home' - Foreigner
'The Bitch Is Back' - Elton John
'Rock & Roll Fantasy' - Bad Company
'Jesus He Knows Me' - Genesis
'Fire Woman' - The Cult
'Sleeping My Day Away' - D-A-D
'The Wall Street Shuffle' - 10cc
'Get Out Of Denver' - Bob Seger
(Don't Fear) The Reaper' - Blue Oyster Cult
'Keep On Runnin' - Journey
'Roll On Down The Highway' - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
'Ma-Ma-Ma Belle' - Electric Light Orchestra
'Song Of A Baker' - Small Faces
'My Sharona' - The Knack
'Going To The Country' - Steve Miller Band
'The Chain' - Fleetwood Mac
'Fight From The Inside' - Queen
'Friday On My Mind' - The Easybeats
'Hell Is For Children' - Pat Benatar
'Midnite Cruiser' - Steely Dan
'The Boys Of Summer' - Don Henley
'Hip To Be Square' - Huey Lewis & The News

So that's my list. Granted I'm biased but if that was the GTA V Rock radio soundtrack, maybe I would've considered buying the game instead of Saints Row IV which not only has a decent collection of Rock/Pop but also lets you create a mixtape of all the songs to listen to whenever you want in-game. I still have no idea why RockStar have yet to implement this feature into GTA games.
Anyway, enough about Saints Row. If you like my setlist, let me know in the comments. If you have opinions on the GTA music, let me know too. Also, if you have a GTA style setlist of about 20 songs belonging to a particular genre then post that and I'll give it a listen...you know, provided it's Rock and/or Metal. If it wasn't obvious, that's kinda my deal...yeah.