I apologize in advance, as I am a retail employee in these United States of America, and today, I will find no such shelter or respite to finish this before about 9pm. However, here is a small sampling of what tunes you can expect, and I will have a header image and (mostly) full-effect story for each song ready to rock later on tonight. This much I promise you!

- EL
(trying like hell to stay above water)


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As this is a videogame-related site, most people here would agree with my sentiment that a great score in a game is like a great score in a film: music really does make a world of difference. Some things can only be communicated through music, and the wrong piece of music (or even the right music) in the wrong place (or even the right place!) can make or break a scene, sequence or an entire project singlehandedly. This piece, as my final act as your week-long host, is a downright massive entry highlighting my opinion of phenomenal videogame music you may or may not have heard of. These songs are all readily hummable at will from my memory banks, and now I get to share these tracks with you, and this fills me with a considerable sense of pride. Read on, and listen well, as these are tracks of Legend.




SOUL BLAZER - Dr. Leo's Basement

This video is taken from an actual playthrough, so wait until the player descends into the basement, and enjoy. This track is something I've always wanted to slow down and make a rap beat to. It would be f'n sicksauce. What's rad is the entire soundtrack is absolutely amazing, some of the best 16-bit action RPG tunes you can come across.


Sonic The Hedgehog 2 - Chemical Plant Zone

This song has one of the greatest 16-bit basslines ever. As in, EVER ever. I would love a band like the Minibosses to cover this track more than any other VG tune. It would rule.


Chrono Trigger - Theme Of Magus

The greatest character leitmotif I've ever heard. Hands down. Right up there with The Imperial March. This entire song bleeds darkness, like an oncoming storm destined to wipe out an entire world. Magus is one of my favorite characters in all of videogames, and this song suits his brand of unstoppable rage. Black Rock, Omega Flare, this game's so wrapped up you can call him Senor Juego Burrito. Badass-squared. Proper.


Tetris (NES) - Music #3

The most relaxing tune ever. I used to fall asleep to this tune as a child, watching my uncle wipe the floor with Pajitnov's classic godfather of the genre. Level 20, here we come.


Marble Madness - Stage 2

Out of all of the classic tracks in this classic game (a Rare original!), this one sticks out the most. This stage always got me amped.


The Guardian Legend - Forest Labyrinth

Jump to 4:29, sorry about the quality.
Another playthrough video, this time a tune from a game I previously wrote about for a Monthly Musing assignment back in September. This game has some of the best 8-bit music EVER, all-time, no-contest, don't-fuck-with-me-about-this EVER. If you never played it, with all due respect, slap the hell out of yourself and all of your friends. You're exempt if you're not from the 80's, but are no less guilty.



Gitaroo Man - The Legendary Theme

Acoustic version.


Electric version. And fucking amazing. From a fucking amazing game.


Zelda: ALTTP - Dark World Overworld Theme

This song is burned forever into the deepest recesses of my cerebral crevasses. Say that motherfucker 5 times fast.


Street Fighter II - Ken Masters, Bitch!

Dude owns a boat. Dude gets off of the boat, leaving the party on the boat to kick someone's ass. Dude, victorious, gets back onto the boat for drinks and hot chicks, leaving behind someone who just got their ass kicked staring at him leaving in all of his ass-kicking pimp glory. Who wouldn't want to be Ken?


[size=25]Radirgy - Ukiha Shopping Mall[/stage]

This track is what got me interested in playing the game, actually. I saw a friend playing it (and I'm already a sucker for a good shmup) and heard this tune. Had to play just because of the happy tunes.


Rez - Creation/State Of Art

This is my favorite stage in the game (stage 3). Play this game on a great TV with a great sound system, and you will actually feel the possible timelines of your life diverge, with the one where you never played this game becoming the life you never wanted to live.


ActRaiser - Fillmore, Act 1

This shit gets me hyped every goddamn time I play this game. Without. Fail.


Project Justice - Seijyun Girls' High School Courtyard

This song fucking rocks, if just for the break...wak a wak, awaaa wak a wak, awaaa...
Shit is serious, son. Project Justice fucking rules.


Street Fighter 4 - Sakura's Theme

This is how all of the music of SF4 should have been. The stage music itself is just slightly above forgettable, but the work they did on the preexisting themes trump most of the work they've ever done.


Street Fighter 4 - Cammy's Theme

ESPECIALLY this one. GODDAMN, this is soooo well done. Capcom needs to stick with this line of thought for SSF4. If they don't, I'm going to be quite cross indeed. Really, the only thing that is better than these efforts in Capcom's entire history is...


Mega Man 2 - Bubble Man Stage

Don't fuck around and say that MM2 isn't the best in the series.
You'd be a liar, and only kidding yourself. For real. Stop hating.


Thanks for listening, thanks for commenting (if you've done so), and thanks for dtuning in.
It's been a great privilege hosting this week. I'll catch you all on the flip.

- EL