SNES - Top 5 Soundtracks & SFX

With the release of the SNES Classic today, hopefully you all are having better luck finding them and enjoying a healthy does of nostalgia.  Rather than do a Top 5 SNES games list, because if we're honest most every game here is a winner and there wouldn't be much debate as to which games deserve to be on top, let's instead take a look at the Top 5 SNES soundtracks and sound effects.  The SNES provided an era of superb sound design.  So for those still waiting on obtaining the system, or who are just looking for some good tunes, enjoy below.

-1- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest

The only omission to the SNES classic on this Top 5 list, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest has probably one of the best soundtracks in games ever.  There is such a rich variety of levels and music to be found in this game, each tune just as memorable as the next.  From the tranquil ambience of Stickerbrush Symphony to the thrilling beats of Lockjaw's Locker, David Wise has composed a masterpiece of a soundtrack here.  (Don't worry, the original Donkey Kong Country has quite a superb soundtrack to boot as well)

Fun Fact: Stickerbrush Symphony was originally composed as an unused underwater stage until it found its way in Bramble Blast by pure chance.

Throwback Thursday - Wipeout HD

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Coming in full throttle this week: The game of tasty tunes and spaceships to zoom that is Wipeout HD.

Released in the US on September 25th, 2008, Wipeout HD is eighth installment of the WipeOut series, taking tracks from the Wipeout Pure and Wipeout Pulse entries, but bringing the content to gorgeous 1080p visuals running at silky smooth 60 frames per second.  Next to F-Zero, this is one of the most stylish and beautifully realized sci-fi racers out there.  Players can choose among several brands of spaceships, each with unique stats and appearance.  And as with any sponsorship would have, the more races you win with a particular ship brand, the more models you'll unlock from that sponsor.  There are five various modes to be enjoyed, from single races to tournaments (or grand prix), speed laps to time trials, and the never ending Zone mode.  Zone mode is quite a unique mode among racing games in that players have no means of controlling the acceleration of their ship.  They will slowly accelerate making lap after lap on a given race track, entering new zones and speed classes as they zoom along, altering the colors in trippy fashion.  The goal is to see how far you can go before you eventually can no longer handle the speed and crash out of control.

Tabletop Tuesday - Pit

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck, and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of trading wares and passing bears that is Pit.

Players: 3-8
Time: 30-90 minutes*
Genre: Casual Card / Party Game

Metroid: Samus Returns Review

Genre: Action-Platforming Adventure

Players: 1
Playtime: 12 hours (Includes beating the game and finding 100% of collectibles.  Also tried a bit of Fusion mode difficulty)

It's been a long time since a new Metroid game, especially one in the 2D side-scrolling action realm that once created and defined the genre of Metroidvania games.  So the title of this re-imagined remake, Metroid: Samus Returns, is doubly apt marking the triumphant return of the beloved bounty hunter.  Based off the 1991 GameBoy sequel that is Metroid II: Return of Samus, this 3DS revival makes many notable changes to modernize the game and improve upon the limitations it once faced.  With that in mind, was this an entry worth revisiting or does it hold back our esteemed hunter from sticking the landing?  Let's charge our blasters and lock our sights onto the positive and negative readings that lay in waiting for this galactic review.

Jumping to Conclusions

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Throwback Thursday - Rogue Legacy

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Stepping up to the plate this week - the game of color-blind heroes and floating portrait foes that is Rogue Legacy.

Released in the US on June 27th, 2013, Rogue Legacy is a tough as nails platformer with roguelike elements as the name notably implies.  Players take control of a brave hero who sets out to explore and defeat four menacing bosses of this labyrinthine castle, in order to access the final boss and avenge their lineage.  But the castle is unforgiving to those unprepared to face its many traps and snares, and will change its layout with each subsequent play.  Because of this clever use of randomly generated dungeons, every play-through is kept fresh and requires players to consistently adapt to any given situation.  And though you may see familiar faces of foes throughout the game's four environments, each area brings unique tactics and variations to keep players on their toes.  There are also many distinct challenge rooms and surprises to be found in these randomly generated halls, making sure their is never a dull moment to be found.

Tabletop Tuesday - Spy Alley

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck, and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of code books and suspicious looks that is Spy Alley.

Players: 2-6
Time: 40-60 minutes
Genre: Strategy / Casual Family Game

Sick Upgrades

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Throwback Thursday - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Crashing into the scene this week - the game of high stakes and no brakes that is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Released in the US on October 13th, 2009, Uncharted 2 is still widely considered as the best adventure in its spelunking, adrenaline-filled series.  The game starts with thrills and chills right off the bat as the hero, Nathan Drake, awakens wounded on a dangling train cart threatening to fall off a snowy mountain.  With this exciting and eye-popping intro, the intrigue and tone is set, and we then dive back several months before this event has occurred.  But the game never loses pace in this intrigue.  Through museum heists to war torn cities to fights with helicopters and wild train escapades, the momentum continually builds with higher stakes and excitement to be found.  The experience can be so engrossing at times, you'll forget you're playing a game.  Aside from the stellar action sequences, this immersion is furthered by superb motion-captured animation and very talented voice acting / writing.  The wit and charm of each character in the game is so engaging and natural feeling, you can't help but to get invested into their absurd adventure.

Tabletop Tuesday - Incan Gold

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck, and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of pushing your luck for that glittering stuff that is Incan Gold.

Players: 3-8
Time: 15-20 minutes
Genre: Casual Card Game

Finding the Purr-fect Outfit

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Throwback Thursday - Hohokum

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Coming in for a landing this week: The game of fresh beats and hide n' seek that is Hohokum.

Released in the US on August 12th, 2014, Hohokum is a most unusual game of visual wonder and musical delight.  Players control a long, kite-like being known as "Long Mover" who flies across many colorful and varied dimensions in search of its similarly kite-like friends.  What makes this a fascinating experience is that the game provides very much little objective outside of this.  There is no hand-holding in this game, as players must explore and come to understand how each dimension functions.  Every world features a unique narrative, artistic styling, and creative means to interact and make beautiful beats.  There is as much joy in figuring out the inner-workings of a world as it is just meditatively meddling in them.

Tabletop Tuesday - Smash Up Expansions

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck, and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...a return look at absurd combinations and its various expansions that is Smash Up.

Players: 2-4*
Time: 45-60 minutes
Genre: Strategy Card Game

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

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