SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Phil's Birthday Blowout 2016 Edition

No, this edition title has nothing to do with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs or even SuperPhillip Central. Instead, it selfishly has to do with yours truly, who turns the big 3-0 this Saturday. This edition is my own pre-birthday celebration of hitting this age milestone of three decades on this earth.

This birthday blowout edition is full of bright, bouncy, and cheery themes. We begin with the Toytown level theme from Ape Escape 3. Then we enter the Dream Forest of the original Rayman. Konami Krazy Racers then drives us to our next theme. Following those three games, we wrap up this celebratory edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with music from Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.

As always, check out the VGM Database for past VGMs featured on this weekly segment.

v1081. Ape Escape 3 (PS2) - Toytown (Part 1)

Ape Escape 3 was a PlayStation 2 game I had overlooked. In fact, I overlooked the entire series until its PlayStation Portable port of the first game in the form of Ape Escape: On the Loose. While that makes me ashamed (though slightly, as how much shame can a person have for not playing Ape Escape?), I'm glad I finally warmed up to the franchise.

v1082. Rayman (PS1, SAT) - Dream Forest

Rayman released on iOS devices last week, and I sort of have trouble thinking how a game that was already difficult even with analog controls could be played with competence and no frustration with touch controls. Regardless, most players might only get acquainted with this theme of the first world, Dream Forest, as the original Rayman is indeed one challenging game.

v1083. Konami Krazy Racers (GBA) - Main Theme

This theme might become grating after hearing its short twenty second loop repeat on and on, but for the most part, Konami Krazy Racers' main theme is catchy as all get out with its infectious rhythm and voice samples. Konami Krazy Racers was a great launch title for the Game Boy Advance that was the perfect time waster until Mario Kart made its handheld debut.

v1084. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (DS) - Main Theme

We go old-school Final Fantasy with this soundtrack. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light may have released in the past decade, but it hearkened back to more classic Final Fantasy games. Its soundtrack was a mix of retro and modern, a really well done mix, now that I mention it.

v1085. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (360) - Jinjo Challenge

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was not the Banjo-Kazooie game fans were expecting from Rare and Microsoft, but the game itself is quite the joy to play and build fantastic vehicles to clear the game's multiple challenges. Jinjo Challenge is but one of these challenge types, and it is an orchestrated version of Banjo-Tooie's Jinjo Village theme.