Pictures of my Gaming Collection – Summer 2012 Edition

Hey folks, I’ve decided to redo my collection shots! Why? Well, I’ve gotten new things, I’m in the process of getting rid of several games, and for some reason I really liked doing this last time. I think it allows me to see what exactly I have and …gloat or something? Anyway, you can compare these shots to last December’s if you’d like. And as before, the pics are after the jump. There’s a little more reconstruction to do, and some of these may change in a week or two.

Trailer Tuesdays – Jet Set Radio and Project X (1987)

Jet Set Radio (Smilebit, Sega)

With Jet Set Radio HD scheduled to hit Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network and Windows this summer, here’s a look back at the trailer for the original Sega Dreamcast version.

Remember, kids: graffiti is art, but vandalism is a crime.

Project X (20th Century Fox)

Every time I see a commercial for the new film Project X, I immediately think of Matthew Broderick with a chimpanzee. I guess that just goes to show how old I am. So, here’s the trailer for that 1987 film of the same name.

Jet Set Radioooooooooooo (Coming to XBLA & PSN)

Looks like 2012 is proving to be a red letter year for “games getting released after widespread bitching from the fans”.  First Xenoblade, then The Last Story.  Now Sega has jumped on the bandwagon with the following teaser, which basically just says that JSR will be the next Dreamcast game to hit XBLA and PSN:

But wait!  This is all well and good in theory, but there are important questions to ask first.  Will this be another bait and switch, a la Crazy Taxi?  Will we get to doo wop, doo wop listen to the music?  Jet Set Radio is defined as much by its eclectic soundtrack as by its cel shaded graphics.  It just wouldn’t be the same game without the likes of B.B Rights, Guitar Vader and The Reps.

Please, Sega, I implore you!  If you’re going to give us an excuse to finally beat this damn game (don’t judge me), the very least you can do is make sure we can listen to Magical Girl at the same time.  Here’s hoping.

Song Highlights – Rayman Origins, King of Fighters ’99, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II

Rayman Origins – Sea of Serendipity ~ Panic at the Port (Multi-Platform, UBI Soft, Christophe Heral and Billy Martin)

This is a gem.  A shining jewel of happy-go-lucky music that made my day hearing it.  Heral continues to impress me with his work.  I don’t know Billy Martin’s extent of contribution to the overall sound, but it doesn’t matter when music this good is composed.

King of Fighters ’99/Evolution – WWIII (Ikari Warriors Theme, NeoGeo/Dreamcast, SNK, Shinsekai Gakkyoku Zatsugidan)

ROCK OUT with this thrashing tune from a long line of incredible SNK soundtracks.  I definitely consider Evolution to be among the finest fighting game soundtracks out there, with this a good reason why.

Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest – Bloody Tears (NES, Konami, Kenichi Matsubara)

I had to do Bloody Tears at some point – it’s a masterpiece of the NES sound hardware, and is one of the series’ most beloved and reused tunes.  Wonderful stuff.

Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II – Transylvania Dungeon (NES, Nintendo, Y. Hirai, T. Kumegawa)

Among the most menacing and pulse-racing tunes on the console.  This soundtrack on the whole deserves way more credit for its incredible music, and I’m planning on giving it a proper spotlight soon.  ‘Til then, enjoy this Gothic infused chiptune.

Pictures of my Gaming Collection

The HG101 forums recently had a thread about people’s gaming collections, so I decided to take some shots of mine to share.  These were originally done in December 2011. My collection has shifted around a little since then, but for now it’ll work. I’ll update them sometime this summer. Note that all of these images are much larger than they appear here.  I hope you enjoy the Christmas tree to the right in some of the shots, too. :p  They’ll be after the jump, as the images are quite large.

Wildcat’s 100 Favorite Game Tunes

Kurt Katala over at Hardcore Gaming 101 is running a poll to determine what video gaming tunage is most liked among the forum and blog there, and I decided to participate and compile my favorites.  I’ve done quite a few Song Highlights on these tunes, and will be doing plenty more in the near future spotlighting them and providing some explanation, but here’s my list (with Youtube links to sample the song – hopefully they all work!):

TOP 5

Mega Man 3, Protoman’s Whistle Concert, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uikEuigprFE

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Midna’s Lament, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7GWf3e_I3w

Chrono Trigger, Memories of Green, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr9-OcPLO3M

Beyond Good & Evil, Home Sweet Home, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTdcJWDNsao

Castlevania, Wicked Child, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7PFm7mrdVY

The Rest:
A Boy and his Blob (Wii), Forest, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC_u7bmVsSc
A Boy and his Blob (Wii), Plains, http://youtu.be/pfmiI9AttYc
Age of Mythology, Suture Self, http://youtu.be/KhvklZT0LMg
Age of Mythology, Chocolate Outline, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBpz9S6I07g
Banjo-Kazooie, Click Clock Wood (spring), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXoaTcf_3vo
Batman (NES), Stage 1/5, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlGDKfgz4fA
Batman (NES), Stage 3, http://youtu.be/zERK-4IgQAg
Beyond Good & Evil, Hillyan Suite, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p48dpXQixgk
Bionic Commando (NES), Area 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hl5UCCBCXI
Bionic Commando (NES), Area 2, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIvcYCbWMfY
Blaster Master, Level 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUnwRFMo6D0
Blaster Master, Level 2, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIjIUyXrBJg
Body Harvest, Outdoors (Violin), http://youtu.be/pC41_–XeqQ
Body Harvest, Indoors (piano), http://youtu.be/wURLANzjDLk
Breath of Fire, Deep Forest, http://youtu.be/1iCbSLFrqrU
California Games (NES), Flying Disc, http://youtu.be/5iYMN2FKkoY
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, Bloody Tears, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Aquarius, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MORo75YOHWs
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Hail from the Past, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg1PDaOnU2Q
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Jail of Jewel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtRdjcXfXsc
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Dracula’s Castle, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgF0uBjCds0
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Crystal Teardrops, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWwJEQt90qk
Chrono Trigger, Wind Scene (Yearning of Wind), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqZaFDA7PXY
Contra (NES), Level 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqXbEwqwF8
Contra (NES), Level 3, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U58a-svZok8
Deus Ex, Hong Kong Streets 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzvw8uSWucM
Diablo, Tristram Village, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8jJJXgNLo4
Donkey Kong Country, Theme (Simian Segue), http://youtu.be/nLT1-5laF0A
Dragon Quest IX, Heaven’s Prayer, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjd1MnZx5Y
Dragon Quest IX, I Won’t Lose, http://youtu.be/aycArJW4klo
Dragon Quest VIII, Strange World, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN9Up_0zuUs
Dragon Quest VIII, Heavenly Flight, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taVdFgxvhRg
Ducktales, Transylvania, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UuHesrJROw
Fire Emblem (7 in series order), Wind Across the Plains, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFWOvIrBCgc
F-Zero GX, Captain Falcon’s Theme, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L0pW3Eol6k
Grandia II, Carbo, http://youtu.be/1XqprRUVSJo
Grandia II, Mirumu, http://youtu.be/ZG_oW5XH71Y
Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Big Dreams, http://youtu.be/cgy5_a9fx4g
Hotel Dusk: Room 215, The Last Sleep, http://youtu.be/BwdCg8Gqqfk
Jet Grind Radio, Magical Girl, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h9f939bW3c
Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Outer Rings, http://youtu.be/y3DAHtoitXY
Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Butter Building, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfdJbaCfXjQ
Kirby’s Adventure, Ending, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OVKyjZs-nU
The Last Ninja, Stage 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiLvoMpLQFA
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Forest Temple, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4o3EMdYaKw
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Spirit Temple, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0PVz2pIEcw
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Kakariko Village, http://youtu.be/LdERRFGaUjY
Legend of Zelda, Death Mountain (Final Dungeon), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_NPA7caCsc
Mario Kart 64, Credits, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYwZT3CvpMw
Mega Man 2, Air Man, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FINefcN9pPc
Mega Man 2, Wood Man, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbK2uCp4-sQ
Mega Man 3, Snake Man, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM-Fub7Oc_A
Mega Man 5, Wave Man, http://youtu.be/Nd2O6mbhCLU
Mega Man 5, Charge Man, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PEukLWNKsg
Mega Man 6, Flame Man, http://youtu.be/qdWeTin2mho
Mega Man 6, Mr. X stages, http://youtu.be/uhJ7Ss-puVY
Metroid, Ending, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQeUkUp4uRc
Metroid Prime, Phendrana Drifts (second version), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbbUv1hz6mE
Metroid Prime, Tallon Overworld, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mziw3FQkZYg
Monster Tale, Ancient Ruins, http://youtu.be/iQ1D6UJW5Jg
MULE, Main Theme, http://youtu.be/VI2e-jwjhN4
Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Seifu Meigetsu A, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUF1lkbvoUs
Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Bosyoku Souzen A, http://youtu.be/c9qBwD4bxO8
Ogre Battle 64, Premonition, http://youtu.be/Rel-IOyQTX0
Ogre Battle 64, The Sensational World, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSnlp1YAUJ0
Okami, Shinshu Plains (1 and 2), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yKG-Qu4WvM
Okami, Hanasaki Valley, http://youtu.be/EtKh1Uac2Og
Perfect Dark, Chicago – Stealth, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJbwLjKhVGw
Persona 4, Your Affection, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ChrBp1pEGM
Persona 4, The Almighty, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVMKpk__HQ
Persona 4, Reach out to the Truth, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFl6sWHmXI
Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, The Dark Fragrance of Coffee, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxzTrWUajZg
Portal, Still Alive, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ljFaKRTrI
Red Dead Redemption, Far Away, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IkvAb6THQY
Resident Evil 4, Sorrow (end credits), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0k4kGkH6Bk
Secret of Mana, A Wish, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLK8IrYrZxA
Secret of Mana, Into the Thick of It, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3N9lrq-rks
Shadow Hearts: From the New World, Dead Fingers Talk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5clzlxOZQeU
Shadow Hearts: From the New World, Adios, http://youtu.be/-lkRjV7Zp-k
Skies of Arcadia, Kingdom of Ixa’taka, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F-hJjD3XAs
Skies of Arcadia, Lower Valua, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlJxG1FmMOU
Silent Hill 3, You’re Not Here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz3ufaZCoVw
Sonic CD, Sonic Boom, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJXKoubh9sQ
Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Ice Forest, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4URokdL-dfM
Super Mario 64, Koopa’s (Bowser’s) Road, http://youtu.be/0rygsWPCjNQ
Super Mario 64, Water Course Theme (Dire Dire Docks), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ
Super Mario Galaxy, Gusty Garden Galaxy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z2kxFCQ_mQ
Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Tico and the Hat, http://youtu.be/Xev0rnBJIzA
Super Mario RPG, And My Name’s Booster, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJoGF1oLd0o
Super Metroid, Maradia, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxobPQMNY_w
Super Metroid, Brinstar (Plant Overgrown), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ULlqfeNLWY
Tales of Symphonia, Like a Glint of Light, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFWadiZkA_8
Tales of Symphonia, Dry Trail, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvnAkAQK82E
Zoda’s Revenge: Startropics II, Dungeon Theme #2, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF-30Dg9Xs4
Zoda’s Revenge: Startropics II, Dungeon Theme #6, http://youtu.be/22ATqffTkIk

Misc. Imagery Update – Dreamcast Edition!

I meant to do this earlier during the weekend, but it ended up that I did it now.  *shrugs*

Anyway, the Misc. Imagery now has some art for five DC games – Cool Cool Toon (as seen to the left), Tech Romancer, Cannon Spike, Phantasy Star Online and Maken X.  I tried to find some for Illbleed, but alas, no luck there (and man, that game is disturbing, so perhaps you’re lucky!).  Enjoy!

Stripping Away Silence – A Thought on The Dreamcast vs. The Industry Today

When I remembered the Dreamcast anniversary and looked back on some of the pieces I’ve done in the past, I came to a startling revelation.  As I watched the unlockable anime opening for Tech Romancer, I realized that the Dreamcast could have been the last major console with a distinctly Japanese flair to it.  By that, I mean that the cultural shift we are experiencing now with Japanese games attempting to feel more Western and many gamers and developers expressing concern for the potential loss of the Japanese “look and feel” it’s had for decades may have shifted following the demise of the Dreamcast.

Some of the quirkiest, most truly Japanese games I know of were on the Dreamcast.  I mentioned Tech Romancer, which is a homage to a cavalcade of anime robots over the years, and it’s a prime example of what I mean.  Would Capcom dream of resurrecting this franchise in their current form?  I highly doubt it.  With a lot of money going into outside development of their established franchises to make them more Western (DmC, anyone?), there isn’t much room in the budget for an internally focused game so in tune with their culture.  Rival Schools, another heavily anime influenced game that plays around with school tropes set in a manga-like environment, hasn’t seen the light for years (in fact, the last one was Project Justice, Capcom’s last game for the …you guessed it – Dreamcast!) beyond the occasional cameo (Batsu in Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom was the most recent, and appropriate, considering Tatsunoko’s anime roots).  Power Stone, too, was very influenced by the look of anime, altering some familiar styles for the game’s rich cast.  And, again, Power Stone has disappeared from Capcom’s radar as of late.  Some of Capcom’s purest games made for Japanese gamers came out on this lovely system, and I just don’t know if we’re going to see that side of them anymore.

Sega themselves had a bevy of Japanese oriented games come out.  Jet Set Radio was a hugely stylized game that really let its culture influence it, with a cel-shaded look to mimic anime, a large selection of Japanese rock and techno to jam to, and relished its stereotypes to the extreme.  Skies of Arcadia tinkered with Japanese RPG concepts, turning a lot of them on the head but maintaining much of what made them truly Japanese.  The character designs were also heavily manga inspired.  Shenmue meticulously recreating a small piece of Yokosuka, Japan, and allowing players of all cultures to enter that world.  I could go on and on with how Sega emphasized their home country in their games for their last console.

My point is, could the pounding of “Western = Money” philosophy begun with the premature end of the Dreamcast?  I would say that it’s conceivable.  Smash hits from Japanese devs are shrinking in recent years – Demon’s Souls is one of the big surprises this current gen, for example.  I look at the rest of my PS3 library thus far and it’s full of Western-developed games – Portal 2, Red Dead Redemption, Dead Space, inFamous, and LittleBigPlanet.  I do have RE5: Gold Edition, which Capcom made internally, but that one too aimed for Western markets with its action flick story and dialogue.  Pac Man: Champion Edition is the only Japanese-made game not necessarily intended to target western tastes, and I find that a little sad.  Of course, I have much work to do in building up my PS3 library, and if I were to compare my Wii lineup to the PS3, I’d find many more Japanese-developed titles in a greater ratio to Western ones (A Boy & His Blob, Deadly Creatures, Dead Space Extraction, and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories are the western ones I have out of the 18 games I own).  But it’s something to ponder.

It’s 9/9/2011, folks – 12 years of the Dreamcast!

We love Sega’s swan song here at LVLs., and it would be most remiss of me to omit mentioning the system’s 12th birthday!  I do try to add a little more to the celebration each year, so I’ll see what I can do this weekend to build on our foundation.  In the meantime, you can look back at the Dreamcast with some of our past spotlights on the console:

7 Ways The DC Was Ahead of Its Time; Reflections Pt. 1; Shenmue; Capcom Fighters Pt. 1: Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Marvel Vs. Capcom; Capcom Fighters Pt. 2 – Marvel Vs. Capcom 2; Official Dreamcast Magazine; Skies of Arcadia; Reflections Pt. 2; Capcom Fighters Pt. 3 – Power Stone, Tech Romancer, Street Fighter 3, Project Justice; Soul Calibur; Jet Grind Radio (TEi); Jet Grind Radio (Wildcat); Wildcat’s Favorite Intros; Artistic Discussion piece

Gaming TV From Yesteryear – Gamespot TV, Dreamcast Launch

This is a somewhat bittersweet episode of Gamespot TV that probably aired in September 1999 as it highlighted the launch of Sega’s final home game console, the Dreamcast. They dissect and analyze it from just about every angle, from its technical specs, to its game library, to its physical design. By all accounts, they come away from it with a lot of optimism.

Unfortunately, we all know the console’s ultimate fate, but this is a great look back at the Dreamcast and its amazing potential. Personally, it makes me a little sad we’re not up to Dreamcast 3 by this point. Ah, what could have been!

This episode also marks the last time we’ll see Lauren Fielder, since she left the show shortly after this. Adam will be flying solo for the next several episodes.

Part 1:

Hit the link for the rest!