So the other day my cousin comes over to work on our AC. Now, I've grown up with this cousin to the point where he's basically my little brother. So he's taking a break and we're talking in my room and he notices my Alienware laptop. He questions if I bought for gaming, to which I reply in the positive. His response was something to the effect of "You're such a geek, Ell."
At that point, I paused and looked around my room. I asked him what tipped him off. Was it the Ravenclaw banner and World of Warcraft poster hanging over my desk? Or the 40+ action figures arranged on my shelf? The Firefly DVD set on my nightstand? Or the newly purchased Avenger Lego on my dresser? Clearly it wasn't the Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head my awesome girlfriend got me for my birthday.
The point is, yes, I'm a geek. And I'm actually quite proud of it. So proud that I'm currently wearing a Gotham Rogues football shirt and watching Jeopardy. But here's the big secret.
Everyone (and I mean everyone) is a geek about something.
We just usually call it being passionate so it doesn't make us feel like losers. But in reality, it's the same thing. Now, I'm an easy target because I'm a geek about stereotypically geeky things. Superheroes, Star Wars, video games, fantasy novels, about the only thing I haven't done is tabletop gaming like Warhammer (and that's because a. that stuff's expensive and b. I don't have the patience to paint those things). But let's look at my parents. Both were sports nuts as they were growing up, and probably as far removed from the bookworm I turned out to be as one could get. But my dad is an absolute fanatic about VCU basketball. Mom is a big fan of songbirds and gardening (she'd garden more if the deer would stop eating our flowers).
None of those is a geeky thing. But I'd contend that my beloved parents are indeed geeky about them.
I think we need a reality check here. I know geeky is in right now with "The Big Bang Theory" and whatnot, but there's still a bit of a stigma attached to those who society deems as geeks. I'm not asking for sympathy or anything, I'm just asking us to be real with ourselves. You can totally be a geek about skateboarding or knitting or bike riding or rock climbing or fantasy football or NASCAR. The fact that it's not something a normal geek is usually into does not negate the fact that you enjoy it as much as the stereotypical geek enjoys his D&D.
Let's not judge each other based on our interests. Let's instead check out the things our friends are geeky about. Obviously there's something worthwhile there, even if we don't see it ourselves.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Avengers (2), Assemble!
So, if you've been within shouting distance of me over the past week or so, you've probably heard me gushing about The Avengers, which is now my odds on favorite of personal Best Picture of 2012 (bring it, Christopher Nolan!). I've tried to avoid spoilers for the movie as best I can, but I make no promises and suggest you see the movie before you read this.
Now, I'm a lifelong X-Men fan. What I knew of the Avengers came from the old arcade game at Plaza Bowl that my dad and I played when I went with him to the bowling alley. I've since filled in the gaps when it comes to Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Now, the Avengers sequel is years out, since Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and Captain America 2 will all be made before it. So why speculate on the sequel now?
Because I can, dang it.
This post will mostly deal with who'll be joining the ranks in the sequel, since we already know the villain (nope, not saying who, go see the movie).
Ant-Man
Real Name: Hank Pym
Powers: Size Reduction and Addition
History: Ant-Man was a founding member of the original Avengers (which did not include Captain America, by the way). He's also one of the foremost minds of the Marvel universe, a genius who discovered "Pym Particles" (original name there, Hank) which is how he obtained his powers. He's gone through about a million different codenames over the years, Ant-Man, Yellowjacket, Goliath, and Wasp being the most famous. However, Hank's probably best known these days for his instability. Suffering from severe confidence issues (hey, he's on a team that's included Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner, so it's somewhat understandable) and massive amounts of guilt over the creation of the villain Ultron, Ant-Man is not an easy person to deal with and is at times his own worst enemy.
Will We See Him: Hank Pym is a huge part of the Avenger mythos. He'll make an appearance for sure, but the question is whether or not he'll be suiting up. His powers are pretty niche, I think we may see him as Goliath rather than Ant-Man. But then is he redundant with the bruisers like Hulk and Thor?
Possible Casting: Nathan Fillion has been suggested, but nothing concrete seems to have come of it.
Wasp
Real Name: Janet van Dyne
Powers: Size Reduction and Addition, Flight, Bio-Electric Blasts
History: Hank Pym's ex-wife, Janet van Dyne was a fashion designer and socialite who caught the eye of the scientist while he helped her solve her father's murder. She actually coined the name the Avengers and was a founding member. Her history is closely tied with Ant-Man's, and as a result, she has borne a lot of the burden of his crazy. Infamously, he struck her during one of his many nervous breakdowns, and they eventually divorced.
Will We See Her: Wasp suffers from the same drawbacks as her ex-husband. While I think she could appear, I seriously doubt she would be a team member. It's highly unlikely she would appear without Hank in there somewhere, and they both have essentially the same powers. They'd be redundant as heroes, though they could easily appear as civilian allies.
Vision
Real Name: Vision
Powers: Flight, Intangibility, Solar Energy Beams, Superhuman Strength, Durability, Stamina, and Reflexes, Solar Energy Absorption, Superhuman Intelligence, Technopathy, Density Control.....
History: This robot won the superpowers lottery when it was at its highest jackpot in history. He was created by the Avengers villain Ultron but eventually turned on his creator and joined the Avengers. Despite the fact that he is a robot, he is said to be fully sentient and sapient, feeling emotions and even getting married to Scarlet Witch, and later divorcing her as well. Currently he is mentoring the Young Avengers.
Will We See Him: This one I doubt pretty strongly. His origin is dependent on Hank Pym creating Ultron and Ultron creating him, and then just look at that power list. That's not even all of them. He's too powerful and too dependent on certain storylines that the writers might not pursue, since we already know Ultron is not the villain for Avengers 2. He might get the Jarvis treatment, and appear as Hank's AI or something.
Wiki Link: http://marvel.wikia.com/Vision_(Earth-616)
Ms. Marvel
Real Name: Carol Danvers
Powers: Flight, Superhuman Strength, Durability, Speed, and Stamina, Photonic Blasts
History: Carol Danvers has come a long, long way from being the heroine Rogue of the X-Men stole powers from. She has recently moved up to the A List of Marvel, essentially acting as Marvel's answer to Wonder Woman and leading one of the Avengers teams. She's served as an Air Force intelligence agent, a SHIELD agent, and a security chief for NASA outside of her costumed heroics. Her powers come from mutations caused by exposure to alien technology. She, like Tony Stark, has struggled with alcoholism, though she has since recovered.
Will We See Her: I'm going to say yes on this one. Ms. Marvel's popularity and exposure have exploded in recent years and her history with SHIELD makes her easy to write in. The main hurdle would be explaining her powers, but it could somehow be tied into the alien invasion from Avengers. Also, her inclusion would give Black Widow a foil, since Ms. Marvel comes from a military background as opposed to espionage.
Possible Casting: Charlize Theron would be my first choice.
Black Panther
Real Name: T'Challa
Powers: Peak Human Strength, Speed, Senses, Agility, and Stamina
History: The mantle of the Black Panther is passed down by the kings of the African nation of Wakanda. An adept politician as well as Avenger, he has helped Wakanda become one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world, and one of the richest, thanks to deposits of vibranium (aka the stuff Captain America's shield is made of). He is also a genius, one of the eight smartest minds on the planet (all of whom appear to be superheros, oddly enough). In short, Black Panther is Batman, only African and a king. As an interesting bit of trivia, he was the first black superhero in mainstream comics. He's also married to Storm.
Will We See Him: Black Panther's status as a foreigner could help with the team's diversity. However, the fact that he's basically Batman could hurt him, but seeing as Dark Knight Rises comes out this year and Avengers 2 is years away, the Caped Crusader may have faded from the public eye enough for people to accept him. His status as a ruler could also bring some interesting dynamics to the team. I would hope the name wouldn't be a stumbling block. He actually predates the Black Panther party by two years, and has nothing to do with them whatsoever.
Possible Casting: Wesley Snipes has expressed interest, but given that he's still in jail I would think he's out. Djimon Hounsou voiced him in a short lived cartoon in 2010, and director Tim Story said he wanted him to play the character in Fantastic Four 3 (which isn't being made). I'd do backflips if he played Black Panther.
Wiki Link: http://marvel.wikia.com/Black_Panther!
Luke Cage
Real Name: Luke Cage (Born Carl Lucas)
Powers: Superhuman Strength, Durability, and Stamina, Accelerated Healing Factor
History: Originally going by the incredibly uninspired name of Power Man, Luke Cage was a gang member in his youth, but he left it behind only to be betrayed by a former friend and sent to prison. While in prison, he volunteered for experimentation with a super soldier formula, which gave him his powers. After using his powers to escape, he met Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist, and worked as a Hero for Hire. Since then, he has made his way to the A List of Marvel, helping to lead an Avengers team. He is married to Jessica Jones, aka the semi-retired heroine Jewel.
Will We See Him: His powers are both a pro and a con. Pro: we've already seen a super soldier serum. Con: much has been made about it only having worked once. His background could be tweaked some to avoid conflicting with Captain America's background. Another con with his powers is that, much like Goliath, the Avengers already have bruisers. There have been rumors about a possible Heroes For Hire movie as well.
Possible Casting: Isaiah Mustafa (aka the Man Your Man Could Smell Like) wants the part. And after watching this, I say give it to him.
Wiki Link: http://marvel.wikia.com/Luke_Cage!
Falcon
Real Name: Sam Wilson
Powers: Telepathic Link with Birds, Flight via Wing Harness
History: Falcon was Captain America's partner and the first black superhero who's codename did not include "black." Originally a mobster and pimp, he ran afoul of the Red Skull and was rescued by Cap. He turned his life around, and was eventually drafted into the Avengers, where Black Panther provided him with his wing harness. However, he was drafted in to fill racial quotas, which he naturally resented and led him to resign as soon as possible. Since then, he's been an on and off member.
Will We See Him: Falcon seems to have disappeared a bit in recent years. Putting him in the movie could provide a catalyst for the character's revival, but I would expect more prominent Avengers to get in before him. Also, his relationship with Captain America is vital to the character's arc, and it seems they are going to focus on Steve's friendship with Tony. That said, if the Avengers find themselves facing off with Red Skull (and I think they will), couldn't hurt to throw in Falcon.
Wiki Link: http://marvel.wikia.com/Falcon!
If I had to pick two, I'd go with Black Panther and Ms. Marvel. But these are just my ideas and musings. I'm far from an Avengers expert (well, compared to a non-comic fan I guess I'm an expert), and Avengers 2 has only just been officially announced. So, who do you think would be good picks? Who am I leaving out of the running? Who should play these characters (I honestly have no ideas for Wasp, Vision, or Falcon)?
And no, Spider-Man and Wolverine won't be in Avengers 2. Sorry!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Own Today. And Tomorrow.
March 13, 2011.
I was sitting in this hole-in-the-wall bar in Buxton, NC, texting my dad on my friend Josh's phone as we watched the NCAA Selection Show. Down at the other end of the bar sat four Ohio State fans, eagerly awaiting their inevitable announcement as the overall #1 seed. Don't get me wrong, they were friendly and supportive, but it felt like it was just me, Josh, an orange soda, and this hope-beyond-hope that all the prognosticators would be wrong and VCU would get in the NCAA tournament.
Well, we know how that ended up.
That was 370 days ago today. 13 days later, VCU would shock the sports world and defeat mighty Kansas, the sole remaining 1 seed. Today, they fell to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Round of 32 of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. I take a great amount of pride in the fact that our loss came after we dealt a major blow to just about everyone's brackets by taking out Wichita St (and I've just now discovered that I've spent the last few days spelling Wichita incorrectly. Ah, the power of spell check).
And today stings just as bad as the loss to Butler last year.
But look at how far we've come.
Joey Rodriguez, Brandon Rozzell, Jamie Skeen, and Ed Nixon combined for 60% of the 2010-2012 squad's shooting. They led the Rams to a 4th place finish in the CAA, defeated Wichita St on the road, lost to James Madison on Senior Day, and lost a heartbreaker to ODU (as if there were any other way to lose to ODU) in the CAA Championship. They were the last team in, according to some sources, and then stormed their way to the Final Four, demolishing some of college basketball's most impressive programs before falling to Butler. The Rams could shoot you into next week, and their young coach was catapulted into superstardom (and in the same week, fatherhood, as he and his wife announced they were expecting the day they left for Houston). The Rams ended with a mark of 28-12, ranked 6th overall.
People labeled it a fluke. People said Shaka would be drawn away by the big dogs. People said next year would be a rebuilding year, and VCU would be competitive but not dominant in the CAA.
Turns out, people say a lot of things.
The 2012-2013 Rams were the 9th (or 10th, depending on where you look) youngest squad in the nation this year. And yet they managed to perfect an even crazier, more chaotic style of Havoc than their already warp speed game. Bradford Burgess and Darius Theus transformed a team of rookies into one of the teams to beat in their conference. They ended the year with a mark of 29-7, 2nd in the CAA, and CAA Tournament Champions. Though they exited the Tournament earlier than they did last year, they still went back; that alone is a testament to the way they played.
The bottom line: VCU is here to stay. There was no rebuilding year. We knocked out one of the pundits' darlings and were one shot away from beating Indi-freaking-ana, easily one of the greatest programs in the game's history. Shaka challenged his guys to "own today," and they definitely did so.
I'm more excited about VCU basketball after this season than I was last season. Yes, the Final Four was incredible. I'm not trying to take anything from that. But the mere fact that we were a force again speaks volumes about how far the program has come.
Get hype Ram Nation. The Black and Gold is here to stay. I can't wait for next year.
I was sitting in this hole-in-the-wall bar in Buxton, NC, texting my dad on my friend Josh's phone as we watched the NCAA Selection Show. Down at the other end of the bar sat four Ohio State fans, eagerly awaiting their inevitable announcement as the overall #1 seed. Don't get me wrong, they were friendly and supportive, but it felt like it was just me, Josh, an orange soda, and this hope-beyond-hope that all the prognosticators would be wrong and VCU would get in the NCAA tournament.
Well, we know how that ended up.
That was 370 days ago today. 13 days later, VCU would shock the sports world and defeat mighty Kansas, the sole remaining 1 seed. Today, they fell to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Round of 32 of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. I take a great amount of pride in the fact that our loss came after we dealt a major blow to just about everyone's brackets by taking out Wichita St (and I've just now discovered that I've spent the last few days spelling Wichita incorrectly. Ah, the power of spell check).
And today stings just as bad as the loss to Butler last year.
But look at how far we've come.
Joey Rodriguez, Brandon Rozzell, Jamie Skeen, and Ed Nixon combined for 60% of the 2010-2012 squad's shooting. They led the Rams to a 4th place finish in the CAA, defeated Wichita St on the road, lost to James Madison on Senior Day, and lost a heartbreaker to ODU (as if there were any other way to lose to ODU) in the CAA Championship. They were the last team in, according to some sources, and then stormed their way to the Final Four, demolishing some of college basketball's most impressive programs before falling to Butler. The Rams could shoot you into next week, and their young coach was catapulted into superstardom (and in the same week, fatherhood, as he and his wife announced they were expecting the day they left for Houston). The Rams ended with a mark of 28-12, ranked 6th overall.
People labeled it a fluke. People said Shaka would be drawn away by the big dogs. People said next year would be a rebuilding year, and VCU would be competitive but not dominant in the CAA.
Turns out, people say a lot of things.
The 2012-2013 Rams were the 9th (or 10th, depending on where you look) youngest squad in the nation this year. And yet they managed to perfect an even crazier, more chaotic style of Havoc than their already warp speed game. Bradford Burgess and Darius Theus transformed a team of rookies into one of the teams to beat in their conference. They ended the year with a mark of 29-7, 2nd in the CAA, and CAA Tournament Champions. Though they exited the Tournament earlier than they did last year, they still went back; that alone is a testament to the way they played.
The bottom line: VCU is here to stay. There was no rebuilding year. We knocked out one of the pundits' darlings and were one shot away from beating Indi-freaking-ana, easily one of the greatest programs in the game's history. Shaka challenged his guys to "own today," and they definitely did so.
I'm more excited about VCU basketball after this season than I was last season. Yes, the Final Four was incredible. I'm not trying to take anything from that. But the mere fact that we were a force again speaks volumes about how far the program has come.
Get hype Ram Nation. The Black and Gold is here to stay. I can't wait for next year.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Valentine Paradox
Why do we spend a particular day celebrating romantic love? By having a day set aside for that, I think the implication is during the other 364 (or 365, in this year's case) we don't have to try as hard.
Before you say "Elliott, you're just pissed because you haven't had a Valentine in seven years," I can confirm, yes, that sucks on several levels. But it's also my fault and I'm not writing this to whine about my lovelife. My issue is more with the fact that people see Valentine's Day as the one day a year to really go overboard when showering your special someone with affection. And since I work in retail, every year I see people spending obscene amounts of money for flowers, chocolates, and balloons - all impermanent, cliche expressions of love.
I don't doubt people's motivations for doing this for their significant other; I'd be right there doing the same thing. A single day just isn't enough though. I'm not saying these people don't do nice things for their husbands and wives throughout the year, but we put so much emphasis on this holiday and how important it is that we spend tons of money on chocolate-covered strawberries and outrageously priced roses. If we think Christmas is a consumerist holiday, Valentine's has it beaten by a country mile.
And yet, on some level, I love Valentine's Day. How can you not? People love each other. They want to do things to make those they care about happy. In a world as messed up as our's is, that's something special in and of itself. Valentine's brings out the best in most people. And for all of us who are too busy being jealous to appreciate other people being in love, I think we should take a long look at ourselves. I think that might be a reason why we're on the outside looking in. I'm definitely guilty of this, but I'm trying to do better about it.
So I guess what I'm saying is that instead of Valentine's Day, we should strive for Valentine's Life when it comes to our significant others. This isn't particularly profound stuff. But I do think it bears repeating. Get out there and love on each other. It makes the world a better place and it makes us better people.
The world's gotten so cynical and a lot of people say true love doesn't exist anymore. Prove them wrong.
The world's gotten so cynical and a lot of people say true love doesn't exist anymore. Prove them wrong.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Top 10: Video Game Music
In case you were wondering, this should really cement your opinion of me as a geek. But I want to give credit to the people who write this stuff. We talk about John Williams and Danny Elfman and a thousand other modern composers, and don't get me wrong, they're incredible and definitely deserving of the praise they receive. But there are a ton of others out there who do what they do, but instead of a 2 hour movie they're scoring a game that has 30+ hours of playtime. A lot of this is probably explained by nostalgia factor and I honestly don't expect a lot of people to care a whole lot, but I think a lot of gamers will agree with me on this. There is some serious talent out there, and most of it's overlooked because of the medium.
Just as a warning, this is pretty ridiculously geeky. You have been warned. If you're comment's going to be "You're such a geek Ell," trust me, I already know.
10. Gerudo Valley
Game: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Composer: Koji Kondo
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VZPNvs5NeQ
I never had an N64. I heard this at a friend's house one day, and it might have been the first time I really realized how good game music could be. It's a fan favorite to this day, 13 years after Ocarina of Time's release. It's so well liked that it was included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl completely unaltered. You really don't hear flamenco style music in games very often, this being one of only two examples I can think of.
9: Clash on the Big Bridge
Game: Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy XII
Composer: Nobou Uematsu, FFXII version arr. by Hitoshi Sakimoto
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMTXyExkeI (FFV), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxllTHj5zRI (FFXII)
Boss music always sticks with gamers. And this is one of the best boss themes ever. While Final Fantasy games are almost always unconnected, Gilgamesh is a recurring boss across the series, and this is his theme. I've never played FFV, so I was introduced to this by FFXII, but I felt like I needed to include the original. I personally prefer the FFXII version, but they're both great.
8. Gym Leader Battle
Game: Pokemon Red and Blue
Composer: Junichi Masuda
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PQ9hQLWNCM
Click the link. You just smiled. Moving on.
7: Stickerbrush Symphony
Game: Donkey Kong Country 2
Composer: David Wise
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J67nkzoJ_2M
Honestly, I could just put up 10 DKC songs and be done here. I didn't catch this piece when I played through DKC 2 the first time, but when I found out what level it's from, I instantly remembered getting stuck on that level with my cousins as a kid (now, I can't even make it to that level. I have DKC 2 on my Wii). The reason it's so peaceful is because the level is incredibly frustrating.
6. Fire Emblem Theme
Game: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Composer: Yuka Tsuijiyoko, Hirokazu Tanaka
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y48H5FuCy1k
This song is pretty much auditory heroism. The Fire Emblem Theme has been constant over the entire series, but this is my favorite version. There's a version with lyrics that was featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but the instrumental is so much better.
5. Sanctuary
Game: Kingdom Hearts 2
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj9UDnbxquo
This music manages to capture the entire mood of the game. It's really incredible. There's also a J-Pop version which was featured in the commercials for the game, which makes the dark, epic feeling of this piece all the more impressive. KH3 can't get here soon enough.
4. Aerith's Theme
Game: Final Fantasy VII
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqKWLkm2-g
If you've played FFVII, this song is forever in your memory. For a generation of gamers, this song played at one of the saddest moments in their careers; the death of Aerith (or Aeris, if you prefer). For a lot of us, this was the first time a game made us cry.
3. The Unsung War
Game: Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Composer: Keiki Kobayashi
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Qkzj5bStU
That Latin chanting? It's describing the player's legend in-game. It's one of the most over-the-top themes I've ever heard, especially for an arcade flight sim. The incredible thing is that it works perfectly. It also presents an amusing contrast with the game's other theme: Blurry by Puddle of Mudd.
2. Arnhem Knights
Game: Medal of Honor: Frontline
Composer: Michael Giaachino
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLiRgNFvfGw
WWII games are pretty much dead nowadays, but MoH: Frontline was one of the best ever. This played during the level representing the Battle of Arnhem in September of 1944. The city has been bombed into oblivion and you have to fight your way across it, with the help of a squad of British paratroopers. As it goes on, more and more of your allies are killed in action, leaving you alone in a destroyed city. The Allies lost this battle, by the way.
1. Baba Yetu
Game: Civilization IV
Composer: Christopher Tin
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G30MhXmlZGE
This the first piece of video game music ever to be nominated for and win a Grammy (admittedly, that came six years after Civ IV came out when Christopher Tin rereleased it on a separate CD). The lyrics are the Lord's Prayer translated into Swahili. For a history guy like me, hearing this really drives home the effect the various nations and leaders in the game had on history. The menu screen itself makes it even better; Earth is in the background, and as the music plays, the lights of civilization begin to appear as the planet rotates. If video game menus can be art, Civilization IV's most definitely qualifies. I've been known to start the game just to listen to the theme and read the in-game encyclopedia.
So that's the list. If you're a symphonic music person, they're definitely worth listening to. I realize they're not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but hey, different strokes for different folks. I would do an honorable mention list, but there's just too many to mention.
Just as a warning, this is pretty ridiculously geeky. You have been warned. If you're comment's going to be "You're such a geek Ell," trust me, I already know.
10. Gerudo Valley
Game: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Composer: Koji Kondo
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VZPNvs5NeQ
I never had an N64. I heard this at a friend's house one day, and it might have been the first time I really realized how good game music could be. It's a fan favorite to this day, 13 years after Ocarina of Time's release. It's so well liked that it was included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl completely unaltered. You really don't hear flamenco style music in games very often, this being one of only two examples I can think of.
9: Clash on the Big Bridge
Game: Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy XII
Composer: Nobou Uematsu, FFXII version arr. by Hitoshi Sakimoto
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMTXyExkeI (FFV), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxllTHj5zRI (FFXII)
Boss music always sticks with gamers. And this is one of the best boss themes ever. While Final Fantasy games are almost always unconnected, Gilgamesh is a recurring boss across the series, and this is his theme. I've never played FFV, so I was introduced to this by FFXII, but I felt like I needed to include the original. I personally prefer the FFXII version, but they're both great.
8. Gym Leader Battle
Game: Pokemon Red and Blue
Composer: Junichi Masuda
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PQ9hQLWNCM
Click the link. You just smiled. Moving on.
7: Stickerbrush Symphony
Game: Donkey Kong Country 2
Composer: David Wise
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J67nkzoJ_2M
Honestly, I could just put up 10 DKC songs and be done here. I didn't catch this piece when I played through DKC 2 the first time, but when I found out what level it's from, I instantly remembered getting stuck on that level with my cousins as a kid (now, I can't even make it to that level. I have DKC 2 on my Wii). The reason it's so peaceful is because the level is incredibly frustrating.
6. Fire Emblem Theme
Game: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Composer: Yuka Tsuijiyoko, Hirokazu Tanaka
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y48H5FuCy1k
This song is pretty much auditory heroism. The Fire Emblem Theme has been constant over the entire series, but this is my favorite version. There's a version with lyrics that was featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but the instrumental is so much better.
5. Sanctuary
Game: Kingdom Hearts 2
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj9UDnbxquo
This music manages to capture the entire mood of the game. It's really incredible. There's also a J-Pop version which was featured in the commercials for the game, which makes the dark, epic feeling of this piece all the more impressive. KH3 can't get here soon enough.
4. Aerith's Theme
Game: Final Fantasy VII
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqKWLkm2-g
If you've played FFVII, this song is forever in your memory. For a generation of gamers, this song played at one of the saddest moments in their careers; the death of Aerith (or Aeris, if you prefer). For a lot of us, this was the first time a game made us cry.
3. The Unsung War
Game: Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Composer: Keiki Kobayashi
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Qkzj5bStU
That Latin chanting? It's describing the player's legend in-game. It's one of the most over-the-top themes I've ever heard, especially for an arcade flight sim. The incredible thing is that it works perfectly. It also presents an amusing contrast with the game's other theme: Blurry by Puddle of Mudd.
2. Arnhem Knights
Game: Medal of Honor: Frontline
Composer: Michael Giaachino
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLiRgNFvfGw
WWII games are pretty much dead nowadays, but MoH: Frontline was one of the best ever. This played during the level representing the Battle of Arnhem in September of 1944. The city has been bombed into oblivion and you have to fight your way across it, with the help of a squad of British paratroopers. As it goes on, more and more of your allies are killed in action, leaving you alone in a destroyed city. The Allies lost this battle, by the way.
1. Baba Yetu
Game: Civilization IV
Composer: Christopher Tin
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G30MhXmlZGE
This the first piece of video game music ever to be nominated for and win a Grammy (admittedly, that came six years after Civ IV came out when Christopher Tin rereleased it on a separate CD). The lyrics are the Lord's Prayer translated into Swahili. For a history guy like me, hearing this really drives home the effect the various nations and leaders in the game had on history. The menu screen itself makes it even better; Earth is in the background, and as the music plays, the lights of civilization begin to appear as the planet rotates. If video game menus can be art, Civilization IV's most definitely qualifies. I've been known to start the game just to listen to the theme and read the in-game encyclopedia.
So that's the list. If you're a symphonic music person, they're definitely worth listening to. I realize they're not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but hey, different strokes for different folks. I would do an honorable mention list, but there's just too many to mention.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Well, This Is Mildly Embarassing
Over the course of my twenty-two years, there have been several things that I swore I would never do:
I would never play World of Warcraft.
I would never like Star Trek.
I would never play Star Wars: The Old Republic.
I would never drink. (Technically, this one wasn't my fault. Rum punch looks an awful lot like Kool Aid when you're dehydrated and exhausted from snorkeling.)
I would never start a blog.
The joke's on me, I suppose.
Given my track record, I really need to start telling myself that I'm not going to do more productive things.
Where is this going? I have literally no expectations for the content and/or quality of the posts to follow. There will most likely be lots of geek humor, book and movie reviews, sarcastic tirades, life updates, and maybe something profound once in a while. I hope my musings on God, life, the Force, and Fury Warrior balance will be both amusing and thought provoking at the same time.
I would never play World of Warcraft.
I would never like Star Trek.
I would never play Star Wars: The Old Republic.
I would never drink. (Technically, this one wasn't my fault. Rum punch looks an awful lot like Kool Aid when you're dehydrated and exhausted from snorkeling.)
I would never start a blog.
The joke's on me, I suppose.
Given my track record, I really need to start telling myself that I'm not going to do more productive things.
Where is this going? I have literally no expectations for the content and/or quality of the posts to follow. There will most likely be lots of geek humor, book and movie reviews, sarcastic tirades, life updates, and maybe something profound once in a while. I hope my musings on God, life, the Force, and Fury Warrior balance will be both amusing and thought provoking at the same time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)