Games Revue

I’m one of those weird folks who plays old games as often as they play new ones. You’ve probably heard of us. Maybe even crossed the street to avoid us. Castlevania 4 (A.K.A. Super Castlevania) is one I get regular mileage out of, arguably the best of the classic Castlevanias (and in my opinion, one of the best in the series, even if you include the Metroidvania games). Today’s track is the game’s update of Simon’s Theme, a mainstay of the early games. It’s hard to see it now, but its 16-bit upgrade was a major deal back then, offering the programmers an opportunity to push their soundtracks to heights they hadn’t been able to reach til then. Coincidentally enough, that was also the point game soundtracks started to be regularly released on CD. Funny that.

I’m one of those weird folks who plays old games as often as they play new ones. You’ve probably heard of us. Maybe even crossed the street to avoid us. Castlevania 4 (A.K.A. Super Castlevania) is one I get regular mileage out of, arguably the best of the classic Castlevanias (and in my opinion, one of the best in the series, even if you include the Metroidvania games). Today’s track is the game’s update of Simon’s Theme, a mainstay of the early games. It’s hard to see it now, but its 16-bit upgrade was a major deal back then, offering the programmers an opportunity to push their soundtracks to heights they hadn’t been able to reach til then. Coincidentally enough, that was also the point game soundtracks started to be regularly released on CD. Funny that.

Okay, not strictly in keeping with the theme of these videos, but it’s my list so shut up.

Everyone has at least one song on Guitar Hero or Rock Band that they like to play simply to show off: that one song that you can 100% with ease. This one would be mine.

(I do vocals in case you’re wondering)

This video doesn’t involve me, before anyone asks, but it’s surprisingly hard to find decent quality vids of this song which are also worth watching, so much kudos to the folks involved.

Okay, not strictly in keeping with the theme of these videos, but it’s my list so shut up.

Everyone has at least one song on Guitar Hero or Rock Band that they like to play simply to show off: that one song that you can 100% with ease. This one would be mine.

(I do vocals in case you’re wondering)

This video doesn’t involve me, before anyone asks, but it’s surprisingly hard to find decent quality vids of this song which are also worth watching, so much kudos to the folks involved.

Okay, not strictly in keeping with the theme of these videos, but it’s my list so shut up.

Everyone has at least one song on Guitar Hero or Rock Band that they like to play simply to show off: that one song that you can 100% with ease. This one would be mine.

(I do vocals in case you’re wondering)

This video doesn’t involve me, before anyone asks, but it’s surprisingly hard to find decent quality vids of this song which are also worth watching, so much kudos to the folks involved.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed was really more of an extended advert for the reboot game that came a few months after its release. However, irony of ironies, it not only proved to be more popular than its big brother, it was also a hell of a lot more fun. A remake of the 2D classic, it was a real labour of love, from the references to the original, to the music, which was largely updates of music from the earlier version. There’s very little on the soundtrack that isn’t worth listening to, but this, the theme to the last couple of stages, sits head and shoulders above the rest.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed was really more of an extended advert for the reboot game that came a few months after its release. However, irony of ironies, it not only proved to be more popular than its big brother, it was also a hell of a lot more fun. A remake of the 2D classic, it was a real labour of love, from the references to the original, to the music, which was largely updates of music from the earlier version. There’s very little on the soundtrack that isn’t worth listening to, but this, the theme to the last couple of stages, sits head and shoulders above the rest.

Earthbound has a reputation that precedes it by several light years or more. It’s funny, it’s subversive, it’s creepy and twisted in a way that you can’t quite pin down. If you know anything about the game at all, it’ll no doubt be about how the final boss, Giygas, is the very personification of mind rape. Literally, since it was based on a traumatic experience the writer/director had as a young boy when he walked into the wrong cinema.

Today’s track, as you’ve probably guessed, is the final boss theme from the game, and it’s… well, it’s probably a little different from what you’d expect from such a game. Then again, Earthbound’s a little different from what you’d expect for an RPG, let alone a SNES game.

What’s that you say? Still not traumatized enough? Made of sterner stuff than that, huh? Well then. Look upon the true face of madness, and know suffering, mortal! You cannot comprehend the true form of… Ronald McDonald?!

Earthbound has a reputation that precedes it by several light years or more. It’s funny, it’s subversive, it’s creepy and twisted in a way that you can’t quite pin down. If you know anything about the game at all, it’ll no doubt be about how the final boss, Giygas, is the very personification of mind rape. Literally, since it was based on a traumatic experience the writer/director had as a young boy when he walked into the wrong cinema.

Today’s track, as you’ve probably guessed, is the final boss theme from the game, and it’s… well, it’s probably a little different from what you’d expect from such a game. Then again, Earthbound’s a little different from what you’d expect for an RPG, let alone a SNES game.

What’s that you say? Still not traumatized enough? Made of sterner stuff than that, huh? Well then. Look upon the true face of madness, and know suffering, mortal! You cannot comprehend the true form of… Ronald McDonald?!

Something a little different today. Bands covering game music are nothing new anymore, let’s be honest. It’s getting to be a played out formula: grab some random game from the NES (because it’s always the NES, no one ever had a Master System back then), throw in some guitars and let nostalgia take care of the rest. Simple.

Okay, that’s perhaps a little too cynical, but there’s very few bands who actually bother to do anything more than a straight cover. In Japan, they cheerfully fold, spindle and mutilate the originals til they bear only a passing resemblance to their parents. Over here in the West… not so much. The Adventures of Duane and BrandO, however, were something of an exception. If you know anything about them, it’ll probably be their version of the various Mega Man 2 tracks. Rather than the typical cover shenanigans we’re used to, they would rap over the music, telling the story of the game they were covering in a roundabout sort of way. I use the past tense, because they split messily earlier this year. They’re both continuing to do their own thing but it’s pretty much agreed that it just won’t be the same.

This here’s their version of Duck Hunt. And yes, the dog gets it. You’re welcome.