SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Racing Towards the New Year" Edition

Welcome to a very special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs! It's a threefold celebration this week. It's the last edition of 2016, we've reached the 1300th VGM volume, and finally, we have a themed week this edition-- all racing games as we race towards 2017!

Racers both realistic and arcade are featured this edition, starting off with the PlayStation racer that started a successful and enduring series, Gran Turismo. Then, we go from asphalt to water with a song from Wave Race 64. Following that comes a pair of kart racers, Mickey's Speedway USA and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Last up is Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, a highly competent arcade racer featuring an embarrassment of Sega riches.

Remember to click on the VGM volume name to hear the song represented. Then, if you like, check out the VGM Database for every VGM volume ever featured. Now, for the last time in 2016... let's get on to the music!

v1296. Gran Turismo (PS1) - Freedom to Win

We're kicking off this final edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs of 2016 in style with a theme that originates from Gran Turismo. We're talking about the original here from the first PlayStation. It's one of the few PlayStation franchises that has been continued since the PS1. Freedom to Win feels very '90s with a pleasant keyboard sound and sultry sax stirring things up. This song would appear in Gran Turismo 4 with different instrumentation resulting in a hard rock focus.

v1297. Wave Race 64 (N64) - Dolphin Park

Last week, SuperPhillip Central reviewed a game that gave off the same wonderful feeling of riding the waves like Wave Race 64. That game was Aqua Moto Racing Utopia. All it was really lacking was the memorable music that Wave Race 64 has, such as this theme from one of the early venues in the game, Dolphin Park.

v1298. Mickey's Speedway USA (N64) - San Francisco

Although not reaching the same highs as Diddy Kong Racing, Rare's Mickey's Speedway USA on the Nintendo 64 was an enjoyable kart racer featuring Mickey and friends. The game contained a monstrous amount of well designed courses, all taking place at specific locations and cities. Mickey's Speedway USA's San Francisco is an early track which has a jazzy theme with a funky bass line.

v1299. Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA) - Sunset Wilds

Due to the poor sound chip of the Game Boy Advance, many soundtracks on the system sounding extremely tinny and in lackluster quality. Hearing the songs in stereo do them a greater justice, as heard here with Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Sunset Wilds theme. This track is set under a sunset sky (if you hadn't guessed that already) and in the wild west, a lovely combination only more enhanced with this catchy theme. Just watch out for tepee-hiding Shy Guys!

v1300. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Multi) - Carrier Zone (After Burner)

The fourth and final race of the first Grand Prix, Carrier Zone is modeled after jet fighter action classic After Burner. The race has two battleships on each end of the course that you ride on. Along the way to each you fly and ride the waves in the various vehicle transformations. Composer Richard Jacques did all of the remixes for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, giving most an electronic feel to them.