SuperPhillip's Favortie VGMs - April Showers Edition

This is a special installment of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs for two reasons: 1) It is the celebration of the end of April 2012, and 2) It is the celebration of reaching our 100th VGM! We've been doing this since the beginning of the year, and we have no signs of stopping. Let's dive head first into a pool of video game music goodness with songs from Xenoblade Chronicles, Rayman Origins, and Final Fantasy VI.

v96. Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) - You Will Know Our Names

I am currently knee-deep in Xenoblade Chronicles, one of the most appealing RPGs I have played in a long time. You Will Know Our Names is one of many battle themes. However, this one is heard when you do battle or get caught with your proverbial pants down by encountering a special monster. These are always much stronger than the other foes you'll face around the various areas of the game. My favorite part starts at 1:05 and concludes at 1:30. Who can resist the call of an electric guitar rocking out? It's 25 seconds of pure musical bliss.

v97. Rayman Origins (PS3, 360, Wii, PSV, 3DS) - Gourmand Land - Land a Chef

How about some chips to go with your salsa? Rayman Origins' soundtrack is an eclectic mix of music from various genres. Gourmand Land - Land a Chef is but one of these themes that plays in one of the icy levels of the extraordinarily excellent Rayman Origins game, a lovely 2D hand-drawn platformer for the ages. It won many awards at last year's SuperPhillip Central Best of 2011 Awards, best graphics and whatnot. The music is just one part of this enticing package. The game actually did well enough for Ubisoft to call in for Michel Ancel and his crew to create a Wii U bound (plus other unannounced platforms) sequel. How about that!

v98. Donkey Kong 64 (N64) - Crystal Caves

This gentle and mellow piece plays during the Crystal Caves world of Donkey Kong 64. Throughout the piece the ambient sounds of water droplets following into puddles can be heard. This tune is mightily relaxing. The world itself is full of stalactites and stalagmites, high and low platforms, and deep pools of water just begging to be explored. Donkey Kong 64 was the epitome of the collect-a-thon platformer. There were so many doodads to gather that it could come across as overwhelming. And sometimes it was!

v99. Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP) - Sealed Time

Starting out with a techno flare before having the violin melody kick in and the agile beat accentuating it. Sealed Time is the theme of the clock tower dungeon, one of the only vertical dungeons of the game. The clock tower is also one of the final dungeons in the game. The top of the tower reveals one of the game's biggest plot twists. I don't dare spoil it for you. The game is quite good, and my review tomorrow based on the PSP version will shed some light on that.

v100. Final Fantasy VI (SNES) - Dancing Mad

The 100th VGM isn't the original SNES version of the final boss theme from Final Fantasy VI, Dancing Mad. Instead, it is the orchestrated Distant Worlds II version in all of its symphonic glory. The theme builds from its four movements. Most of which sport a haunting choir, church organ, and heavy percussion. Dancing Mad was a groundbreaking theme when it originally premiered in 1994's Final Fantasy VI. It masterfully switched between movements as players defeated each portion of villain Kefka's esper tower. Then things get real when the fast-paced final movement plays and the anti-angel Kefka enters the fray. A glorious theme represented by a glorious range of instruments and vocals.

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100 VGMs down, but we're not about to stop there. Come back next week (but stay for the other stories being posted throughout this week) for more VGMs from more video games you may or may not have had the chance to play! We'll see you around!