Music is by far the aspect that sticks with me the longest after the console has been powered down. Before even thinking about the awesome battle that occurred at the end of the Fire Temple, I can hear the Bolero of Fire being played in tandem by Link and Sheik. Without question the most influential pieces of music, to me, have come from video games…not Lady Gaga. With that, I welcome you to another edition of Nintentunes where the best music of Nintendo past will be on display for your listening pleasure. As always, let us know how you like the selected tunes in the comments below!
NES-Darkwing Duck
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0KOooLdn9Q&feature=related[/youtube]
During the NES and SNES eras, Capcom developed a plethora of titles using Disney characters that turned out to be pretty decent games. Darkwing Duck is one of those titles, and it is one of the finer examples of platforming in the NES library. Created from a modified version of the Mega Man 5 engine, the controls for the title are rock solid. Don’t pass up on this game if you happen to see it at your local pawn shop as it is truly a gem of an NES title.
SNES-U.N. Squadron
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiqKEq5n6vU[/youtube]
U.N. Squadron, another Capcom title, is a pretty fantastic example of a SHMUP (shoot ’em up) on Nintendo’s second generation of consoles. The game isn’t for the faint of heart as it is quite difficult. Offering multiple aircraft and non-linear gameplay, U.N Squadron is a title that should not be missed.
N64-Castlevania 64
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cbj6P2b_uU&feature=related[/youtube]
Castlevania is bar none one of the best third person action titles on the N64. As the first title in the Castlevania franchise to transition to the world of 3D, the Konami Kobe branch did a wonderful job with keeping the essence of the franchise in tact. Often panned by critics for not being on par with previous entries in the franchise, Castlevania 64 holds a special place in my N64 library as being one of the most enjoyable titles in my collection.
Gamecube-Soulcalibur II
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCrI0gtFV8w&feature=related[/youtube]
The ”˜best’ version of Soulcalibur II  is undoubtedly the Gamecube version because of the inclusion of Link as a playable character. Not only did Link have an entirely unique move-set and weapon selection, he even had his own fighting arena and level music to boot!
Wii-A Boy and his Blob
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLnf1bbDnCw&feature=related[/youtube]
Not many people picked up the Wii version of A Boy and his Blob despite it’s unmatched visual style and solid gameplay. The soundtrack isn’t too shabby either as it really pulls the player in with it’s atmospheric overtones that perfectly match the heartwarming graphic design. Find a copy of A Boy and his Blob if it isn’t in your library already, I assure you you will have an enjoyable experience.
As an added bonus, while at E3 I ran into Matt Bozon, creative director for Wayforward Technologies, and he drew me this!
