A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 12: Freezeezy Peak

To wrap things up we have Banjo-Kazooie's Freezeezy Peak, by Grant Kirkhope. This is a game I must've played through at least 5 times in my childhood. I was engrossed in the wide variety of locales, songs, and characters, and wanted to see them again and again. The plot wasn't much to look at but as a kid you didn't need that, as your imagination filled in the blanks. You could run, swim and fly around the vast expanses of each stage, your sense of curiosity piqued by what might be behind every nook and cranny, with the difficulty constantly raising but managing to stay unfrustrating.

And the music sure doesn't disappoint. Be it a tropical beach, a murky swamp, or in this case a gigantic snowy peak, Kirkhope's works fit the theme and add a whole new layer of flavor. Freezeezy Peak's bells, lead trumpet and background touches make the piece sound celebratory; hell yeah, it's Christmas! Food! Presents! Family! It's a really happy song, and it not only matches the stage and its theme perfectly, but it's a fantastic way to get into the holiday spirit.

This wraps up my Psychotic Little Christmas list. I hope you all enjoyed the tunes as much as I enjoyed writing about them. Take care, and happy holidays! =)

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 11: Frappe Snowland

Much like Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Kart 64 is a classic and addictive time sink, spending hours at a time just having a blast with friends and family. Unlike DKR, however, I actually owned this game, and played it quite a lot when my brothers and I got into the mood for it. The variety of tracks was fun and exciting, with a cast of characters gamers have known and loved for years. The music is masterfully done and memorable, and has been remixed time and time again.

Frappe Snowland is one such track, a setting that beckons memories of both good times and frustration. The entire song is carried on a simple three-note chord, but the bells and peaceful melody support it very well. I find it impressive that it maintains repetition without being annoying, but then again, I've built up very high expectations of Koji Kondo. He never fails to deliver, and neither do the games his work encompasses.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 10: Frosty Village

Diddy Kong Racing. Not gonna lie, I've only played this game a few times in my life; I never caught on to the party game scene back then, I was more of a single-player adventure kinda guy. As such, my experience with this game is restricted to the times my friends came over and brought it with them. Still, it's a great game in hindsight, with rich visuals and even better music. Exhibit A is Frosty Village, which draws heavy inspiration from the popular song Winter Wonderland.

Frosty Village is very bouncy and cheerful, fitting in both that it's that magical time of year and songs like this are generally very upbeat, and that the game itself is conducive to gathering a bunch of friends and having fun. It works on both fronts, the hours of the day just flying by in the warm embrace of your living room. Before you know it, it's time for bed, and Christmas is another day closer.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 9: Snow Mountain

Nearing the home stretch in our winter VGM collection, we have the iconic Snow Mountain, from Super Mario 64. I don't think I need to sing Koji Kondo's praises when it comes to music as it speaks for itself really, but this is a Christmas list and it belongs here in any event. Sure enough, in a game with as many hits as it does, Snow Mountain manages to stand out among the pack, which speaks volumes in its own right, but when combined with a game of this caliber it makes for an unforgettable experience.

The song itself is a holiday take on the game's main theme. Lots of atmospheric touches like jingle bells keep it in character, and the melody is a catchy and memorable one. Great stuff, but it's not like it had to try very hard to do its job; the game itself had that covered. Unlike many entries on the list, this one is celebratory, cheerful, and doesn't need to tell a story. It's just about having a good time, and isn't that what Mario games are all about?

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 8: Ice Caverns

Next up we have Final Fantasy IX's Ice Caverns, more of a silly song than anything but nonetheless fitting of the season. Nobuo Uematsu is renowned the world over for many of his works and compositions, but Final Fantasy IX is not exactly chief among them. Still, when Zidane and company escape the Petrified Woods and--out of the frying pan and into the freezer--venture into the Ice Caverns, it's a suitable piece of music.

Mostly relying on its minimalistic approach, the song is slow-paced and full of character. Through its use of bells, triangles and even dead silence, it's almost as if you can feel the chill of the caverns Zidane and the gang are exploring. There are several complete pauses throughout the song as well, taking the time to fully convey each idea before moving on to the next.

Not my favorite Final Fantasy, not my favorite soundtrack, but hey! It's got Vivi in it!

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 7: Another Winter

Moving into our latter half of the list, we have Anamanaguchi's Another Winter, from Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: The Game. The snowy streets of Toronto, Canada come alive with the band's signature mix of rock and chiptunes, and for a source like Scott Pilgrim I don't think there could have been a better group for the job.

Characteristic of most side-scrolling beat 'em ups, Another Winter cuts to the chase with its consistent bassline and retro melody. The guitar, drums and chiptunes really capture that blend of old and new that the game itself is embodying, and it matches the Scott Pilgrim vibe just as well. It's something you can easily pound the shit out of your enemies to, which is really all you're going for in a stage 1 theme to a beat 'em up.

A Psychotic Little Christmas - Alec's Seasonal Shopping Guide - #9: Pokémon Black and White

So, did anyone guess my hint? I didn’t think so. Because it was a pretty dumb hint at that. Skinny was supposed to be referring to skin colors, and skin colors are usually black or white. Now do you know where I’m going with this? I knew it. It’s pretty obvious when you think about it. I obviously meant Pokemon Black and White. It was obvious all along, wasn’t it?

So now it’s 10 days until Christmas. We’re reaching the final stretch! It’s so close...there’s so much you can do in 10 days. ...I can’t think of any examples off the top of my head, but just keep in mind there’s a ton you can do in 10 days.

 

 
So now we have Pokemon. Pokemon is fun. Pokemon is glorious. I love Pokemon. Pokemon is what makes the world go round. Without Pokemon, we have nothing. Anybody who doesn’t like Pokemon is bad and should feel bad (looking at you, Crybos).

After five generations of Pokemon, what makes Black and White so spectacular? It’s the fact that the same gameplay from the very first games is still around. Why mess with something that’s brilliant? So, Gamefreak decided to redo the first generation’s gameplay, just adding a bit more and more each time (and then they literally decided to redo the first generation, 3 times, but that’s a different story). And you know what? It’s still amazing.

This game takes place in the Unova region. There’s a hundred and some new Pokemon, and it’s going to be great! This game does something different that the others don’t, though. It forces you to only use the new Pokemon, until the end of the game. I think this is a good addition because you just can’t recycle your old teams again, but instead have to put thought into using only Unova Pokemon, and for a person who’s used to all the older Pokemon (like me), it’s kind of a difficult switch, making for a fun game experience.

 

The Unova Region

 
So, for Pokemon n00bs, you might be wondering why there are two different versions of the same game. There’s a kind of good reason for that (not really, the real reason is that Gamefreak just wants to steal all of your money), and that is that there’s different Pokemon in the different versions. There’s also some different towns, for example White has White Forest and Black has Black City.

So why should you get this game? Because Pokemon is fun! Well, if you like a relaxed RPG with a bit of strategy, I think this is your type of game. I know I love this game. I love Pokemon. So buy this. Or don’t. See if I care.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 6: Chrysanthemum in Winter

A DAY LATE BUT LETS PRETEND IT ISNT

Reaching the halfway point in the holiday VGM list, we have Chrysanthemum in Winter from Star Ocean: Till the End of Time; a game not as popular as your Marios and Zeldas, but deserving on this list nonetheless.

Fayt Leingod, just a normal guy on vacation with his friend and parents on the resort planet Hyda, faces a scary situation as the planet comes under attack. The citizens are evacuated onto a military ship in relatively quick fashion and everything seemed well, but the tragedy wasn't over, as even the ship comes under attack! His parents now missing, Fayt and his friend file into seperate escape pods and eject into the unknown.

Landing on the first planet he can, Fayt is perceived by the locals as a kind of higher being, possessing technology of a time far more advanced than theirs. After getting caught up in a string of circumstances with the residents of the town, he is located by a mysterious man named Cliff Fittir, who apparently had business with Fayt and had been following him since the Hyda incident. The two hop into Cliff's ship and leave the underdeveloped planet.

All is not well in space, as Cliff's ship comes under attack by the same people who attacked Hyda and the military ship! They crash-land on the planet Elicoor, and give themselves up to the local authorities, who presume they are enemy spies. After being busted out of prison by a mysterious woman from the opposing country, they leave the city through the sewers.

That is when this song starts playing; on some backwater planet a million miles from home, unsure of whether he'll ever see his parents again, and in the freezing cold of enemy territory, the song is both grim and atmospheric. It's a sad piece, but at the same time it manages to capture the essence of its setting and paint an audible picture, something I can commend in music.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 5: Ice Cap Zone (Act 1)

Aaaaand coming up next in the holiday VGM list, there's Ice Cap Zone from good ol' Sonic 3, Sega Genesis. One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite stages in one of my favorite games. While many can question the quality of the blue blur's escapades in and out of 3D, you simply cannot hold a candle to Sonic music, then and now; a feat that is doubly impressive considering the Genesis' sound library was kind of muddy and unattractive.

In any event, Ice Cap Zone. As Sonic iconically snowboards down the frosty mountain, it's as if the entire song starts at once; no beating around the bush here, Sonic games ain't about that shit. It's a fast-paced piece of music clearly meant to compliment the speed onscreen. And it clearly worked, too, because Sega's used the same musical formula for years without fail. Can't say the same about the actual GAMES, however.

With the mostly positive reception of Sonic Colors and more recently Sonic Generations, it's good to see that the little guy's back on track, though, and the music is better than ever. Does it capture the majesty of the classics like Ice Cap Zone music-wise, or the actual gameplay of the older games? No. But they're a hell of a lot better than '06.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 4: People of the North Pole

Coming up next in the holiday tracklist is perhaps my favorite of the bunch, albeit from a game I didn't care for all that much. It's People of the North Pole, the theme of Mt. Gagazet in Final Fantasy X, and much like the other tracks in the game, it tells its own story and accompanies the gameplay perfectly. It's one of those things that Nobuo Uematsu got better at with time, and this game's soundtrack is very telling of that fact.

(0:01 - 0:30) Tidus, Yuna and the gang are nearing the end of their pilgrimage. The only thing lying between them and the (alleged) final destination is Mt. Gagazet, a behemoth of a mountain teeming with fiends and blistering cold. The violin sounds sad almost, as if to signal the finality of their situation; this is it, just one final stretch and it can all be over...

(0:31 - 1:01) ...but the journey to the summit is a rough one. Fiends tougher than the likes of which they'd previously encountered are around every turn, and the freezing temperatures are nearly unbearable. The backup violin kicks in here, a really slight touch that intensifies the song.

(1:02 - 1:32) The gang can't give up now, they're in too deep at this point! After so many people have given their lives, and all the hardships they've faced, it's far too late to turn back! The backup drums and violin stop, and the violin changes its melody to one almost urging the party not to give up, to keep going.

(1:33 - 2:02) They get back up, their second wind afoot, and continue their race to the proverbial finish line. Yeah...yeah, they can do this! The drums come back, once again serving to drive the point home that the song is aiming to make.

and then the songs loops but whatever

A Psychotic Little Christmas - Alec's Seasonal Shopping Guide - #10: Minecraft

Time for #10! It’s 10 days until Christmas Eve, 11 days until Christmas Day...it’s so close, yet there’s almost two weeks left! So if you need a cheap present to ask for, or if you need a cheap thing to get someone, this indie game is perfect for them. If you didn’t find my clue yesterday INSANELY obvious, I’m ashamed of you. Because today, you should buy one of the most creative indie games ever: Minecraft.

 

 

Now, now, for the people who actually know about Minecraft, you’re asking: why would I pick this game? Because there’s so many things you can do! For people who don’t know about this game (what’s wrong with you?), the basic premise of Minecraft is to dig a hole, mine ore, and build stuff.
Sounds really simple, right? Wrong. While you’re trying to build things and keep a society going, you have many enemies (called mobs) trying to murder you in your sleep. This is called survival mode. I’m personally not a fan of this mode, because I don’t like my hard work being destroyed at night by Creepers, but if you’re into that sort of thing, go ahead.

But wait, Alec, didn’t this game come out last year? Not in my opinion. Version 1.0 came out in November, so that’s what I call the official release. (If you remember, this list only contains games from 2011.) But that raises a good point. Before release, Minecraft was in beta for a good year or so. As it slowly developed up from a simple game with no dying or any challenge, it grew to have a huge fanbase. People love this game. They had a convention for it in November. That’s how much people love it.

So you say you don’t like mining and dying? Well, there’s an alternative for you! While still in beta (only about two or three months ago), they added a Creative mode, where you have access to every block and can build whatever you want without the fear of dying. And you can fly. And as all people know, flying is what makes this incredible game turn into a must-buy game.

 

The PG Crew themselves made this display!

 

Better yet is the price. Literally days of gameplay await you in multiplayer mode, building cities and having fun exploring your Minecraft world with your buddies. All for only $20. Yes, you heard me. Days of gameplay for $20. Isn’t that amazing? That’s what this game is. Amazing.

So if you ever have a spare $20 lying around, and you don’t feel like spending it on something productive, why not invest it in this fun timewaster? I’m absolutely sure you won’t regret it. Unless you’re having so much fun you forget to eat. That might be a problem, and you might regret it. Maybe not, though.

Coming tomorrow, we have some very skinny games. See? This is a harder hint. Try and guess, I dare you.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 3: In A Snow-Bound Land

Keeping the ball rolling here, number 3 on the winter VGM list is In a Snow-Bound Land from Donkey Kong Country 2, a game that would have dodged this list entirely were it not for me playing it for the first time a few weeks back. David Wise is quickly climbing up the ranks of my list of favorite composers because of games like this one, and he doesn't disappoint on this track. In Diddy and Dixie Kong's quest to rescue Donkey Kong from the evil klutches (hah) of King K. Rool, they find themselves in various locales around the world; be it underground in a mine, lush green forests, or In a Snow-Bound Land (HAH), the music accompanies the gameplay well, and that's one of the most important things you want in a soundtrack.

This track, like many others in the game, is laid-back, slow and ambient. It makes you want to stop and enjoy the amazing scenery the game is pumping out of the SNES. Sure, the dynamic monkey duo has a job to do, but they should soak in the journey while they're at it, and how beautiful the sights are around them. It's one of those songs that go as far as to make you look back at what you've done in your life, and look ahead at what your goals are in the future.

In ways such as this music has proven to be emotional and thought-provoking, which is something other forms of media can have trouble successfully manifesting. It's a beautiful thing.

A Psychotic Little Christmas - Alec's Seasonal Shopping Guide - #11: Batman: Arkham City

It’s now December 13th. Today, we have a treat for you. A couple of jokes, you might say. Some riddling riddles for you, too. Some penguining penguins, too. Wait, what? Penguining isn’t even a word! Well, it should be. Any word I invent shall be added to the dictionary. PENGUINING - Verb. The act of acting like a penguin. ‘My best friend Mark went penguining today. He loves penguins!’

 

Anyway, from the title, you can probably see where I’m going with this. So let’s jump straight in now. Today I’m going to be talking about Batman: Arkham City! This game follows Batman...in a city...and the Joker...doing stuff...with Batarangs? Yeah...I honestly know hardly anything about this game offhand. I know that it’s a sequel to Arkham Asylum, which is excellent. I liked Arkham Asylum, it’s a really fun game. Now imagine this fun game, but instead of traversing a prison and the surrounding island, now you’re exploring the vast and expansive Arkham City, which is five times bigger than Arkham Asylum. Judging by how large the map was in Arkham City, this area is just gigantic.

So why am I recommending a game I’ve never played before? Simply because it’s friggin’ Batman! Ask Pssych if you doubt me, he owns the game. This game was the Game of the Year for a whole lot of people. If it’s not good, then darn it, why do you people buy bad games? Why else should you buy this game? Because if for some reason you don’t like Batman, there’s still a wonderful story, and a wonderful combat system packed into this game. Oh, and did I mention  that if you get the PS3 version you get to play as the Joker with added DLC? I would pay $60 just to play as the Joker!

 

Even though I don't know exactly what's going on here, I know it's amazing. Because it's Batman.

So I apologize for not knowing a whole lot about this game. I’m a big boy, I admit my mistakes. Never playing this game was a mistake. I would still like to pick it up in the future, so that’s how good it is, in my opinion. I can tell you now, this is the only game on my list I have never even watched somebody play. I know I did not do this game justice. I hardly scratched the surface about why this game is awesome, and I’m sorry. I know this game is amazing. Batman is amazing.

Even though I don’t know a ton about this game, I know that it is brilliant. I’ve sadly only played the first game, Arkham Asylum, so I’m missing out. But just because I’ve never played something, doesn’t mean I can’t recommend it, because I KNOW for a FACT it is amazing. If you want a good time, with beating up baddies, and solving Bat-puzzles, you need to pick up this game. Hell, I need to pick up this game.

tl;dr Batman. Buy this.

PS. Get your pickaxes ready for tomorrow’s blocky game!

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 2: Buried in the Snow

The second track in our holiday playlist comes from Final Fantasy VII, certainly a game that needs no introduction. What MAY need introducing are some of Mr. Uematsu's works in the game, many of which are overlooked and just not as recognized as One Winged Angel; in this case, Buried in the Snow.

Much as the title indicates, Cloud Strife and the gang, in an attempt to flee from Shinra troops, hop onto a snowboard and hurl themselves into the cold unknown. Where you actually end up is dependent on how well you did, but one thing is for certain; you're lost. Given only a map and no clue as to your location on it, it's your job to figure out where you are and where you're going.

For the most part, it's a very minimalistic piece of music, but such is where Uematsu shows the mastery of his craft. The slow and constant melody, one note at a time, is like a metaphor for the situation Cloud and the party are in; gotta get out of the cold, gotta get away from Shinra. Beaten and battered by the elements, the melody shows that the gang is hanging on by a thread, but refuses to give up. Winter bells and little bass touches here and there round out the track, but the focus is definitely centered around the melody.

Tracks like this really showcase how music can set and even take the form of the tone expressed through gameplay, even through a simple minimalistic melody. It's open to interpretation and can tell a story all on its own. It's what music is all about, and I find that impressive.

A Psychotic Little Christmas - Alec's Seasonal Shopping Guide - #12: L.A. Noire

HOLY CRAP IT’S CHRISTMASTIME. YESSSSSSSSSS Christmas is your friendly neighborhood news reporter’s favorite holiday. There’s just so much joy and love in the air and it’s wonderful. How could this wonderful festivity get any better? Seriously, there’s just so much fun here I can’t imagine anymore fun. Free food, free shelter, free visits with the family...wait, no one likes visiting their families. What am I talking about? Oh yeah, free visits with the family whom bring PRESENTS for you. Yes, how did I forget about how awesome presents are? What’s that? It’s December 12th and you still need ideas for Christmas? WELL YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. For the next 12 days (YES, 12!) I’m going to be doing a series I’m going to be calling...GAMES ALEC WANTS YOU TO GET FOR CHRISTMAS OR SOMETHING. Wait, what? Why not. no not really. I'm not that dumb.

 

So what are we going to start with today? Well, up in #12 place we have L.A. Noire! This 1940s detective game follows Detective Phelps, who starts out as a simple police officer and slowly works his way up to a 5-Star Ace Detective. This crime game is notable for the first ever use of MotionScan technology, to accurately capture a person’s facial expressions. This technology uses 32 different cameras to capture all angles of the person’s face and it is then converted into footage that can be used for the game. And it looks amazing. It’s so amazing in fact, it took up so much space, they needed to make it on three discs for the Xbox 360 version. Now that’s a LOT of storage. Of course, the PC and PS3 versions didn’t have this problem because PC doesn’t use discs and PS3 runs Blu-ray, but oh well, what can you do.

 

The MotionScan technology in action.

So why should you get this game for Christmas? Because this game is fun. Like seriously. A ton of fun. It brings the open world of Grand Theft Auto to a detective story, where instead of being the guy killing everybody, you’re literally playing the opposite man who arrests the man doing the bad deeds. But that’s not the end of it. After the arrest, you get an interrogation sequence, where the MotionScan really starts having a role. Basically you just ask a question, and based on their facial expression and voice fluctuations you try to tell if he’s lying or telling the truth. I was never good at this part, I usually got all the questions wrong. But it’s still fun listening to convict swear his head off at you.

So in conclusion, this game is awesome. It stands out mostly for it’s amazing MotionScan, giving lifelike facial expressions. Of course the story is great too, trying to stop serial killers from killing. There are a whole bunch of side missions to go on, and it’s a real fun time. Pick this game up, because it’s amazing!

Well that’s all for today. Tomorrow we have a real joke of a game. Stay tuned. Your friendly neighborhood news reporter - out.

A Psychotic Little Christmas, Day 1: Over Shiver Mountain

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
nobody could sleep, not even a mouse
for into the hall, and out the window
I blasted this song from Paper Mario.
So to kick off this holiday countdown of sorts
I bring you the first in a dozen of shorts,
twelve musical pieces rejoicing the season
hand-selected by me, for whatever reason.

Anyways, this track takes place in the latter half of the game, more precisely Chapter 7. Amongst the snowy sights and frozen heights this track is a perfect fit, capturing the mystique of winter with its subtle background synth. The main melody is impatient, rising and falling constantly, yet made catchy via the hard bass and winter bells that accompany it. It's a great piece of music to fit an even better time of year, as Mario and the gang traverse the frosty plains ridden with tough enemies and tougher puzzles.

The piece in general is very cheerful and laid back, as most actual holiday songs characteristically are, yet this one has a more playful nature to it; it's a winter wonderland out there, so go out and enjoy it while it lasts, ya know? It's the impermanence of things that make them beautiful, and this is especially true of winter, coming and going in the blink of an eye. I think this track and the game itself do a great job expressing that, particularly in the sharp contrast of the Freeze Palace encountered later in the chapter.

And that's that! The countdown will continue up until Christmas Eve, with me bringing you one new holiday track every day, so check back now and then if you need a wintery fix of VGM!