Celebrating Zelda's Anniversary /// Music Monday #96

It's time for yet another Music Monday post, and we've got a real special one today! You're about to find out why . . . unless you read the title, in which case you already know.

Our song happens to be none other than the lovely . . .

"Zelda's Lullaby" from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Composed by Koji Kondo

In case you somehow missed it, yesterday (February 21st) was the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. I knew I just had to pick a song to celebrate the occasion, as the franchise is one that I hold very dear to my heart. Seeing as how I've already shared a song from Spirit Tracks, A Link Between Worlds, The Wind Waker HD, and the fan album Zelda Cinematica, I figured it was high time to pick something from Skyward Sword.

Choosing a specific song, however, wasn't nearly as easy. Do I pick "Ballad of the Goddess?" Or maybe the one from the opening story, of which most--if not all--Zelda games have. Perhaps I should just pick one of my favorite world, dungeon, or boss themes as a way to represent what the series is. In the end, I went with the old classic and instantly recognizable "Zelda's Lullaby." Not only is it one of the most iconic video game themes in the world, but it also happens to show up in many titles in the series-- or again, perhaps all of them. It felt like a good track to celebrate the anniversary, and Skyward Sword's rendition is probably the best one.

Usually this is where I talk about the music, but I wanna rather focus a bit more on the games rather than the specific song. (Which is absolutely gorgeous, by the way. Never fails to stir some deep emotion within me.) Nintendo had a direct a few days ago, and in it they announced that Skyward Sword HD is coming to the Switch. My reaction to when they showed the first frame of the trailer, a simple shot of the sky, was basically, "Let's go! Let's FREAKING GO!" I couldn't be happier with the announcement, because that game was made to be brought to the Switch.

As it just so happens, this particular Zelda title is one of my top five favorites (in no particular order, it falls in with Breath of the Wild, A Link Between Worlds, Spirit Tracks, and The Wind Waker HD). I have never and will never understand why people hate it or just can't get behind it. I never had issues with the motion controls, and now that the HD version is coming with an option to use "regular" controls, that really can't be anyone's complaint anymore. The story is solid, and the character development is some of the best in the series. The art style is a unique one and very pleasing to me. And the score! My goodness, the orchestral music alone makes this game a masterpiece. Meanwhile, people praise games like Twilight Princess to high degrees, and I'm just like:

I understand that not every game is made for everyone, because if that were the case, no game would ever receive bad reviews or ratings. Just like Twilight Princess HD was in no way my cup of tea, I understand that that might be the case for some with Skyward Sword. I think the important thing is that you actually give said game a fair shot. I played Twilight Princess all the way through, and because of that, I think my opinion and criticism of the game has merit and are justified. You can critique a game fairly and not just hate on it without giving reasons why--but this is a whole other topic, so let me get back on track.

At the end of the day, if you're a Zelda fan, that's awesome. Whether you prefer Skyward Sword or Twilight Princess, or if you still think that Ocarina of Time or A Link to the Past are still the best games ever, or if you only enjoy the 3D or the 2D titles, or if you think Breath of the Wild is overrated, or if you like getting deep into the Zelda lore or the Linked Universe, or if you just enjoy casually playing the games from time to time or simply enjoy the soundtracks--it doesn't matter. We're all part of the Zelda community, and we have a connection because the franchise means something special to each and every one of us. We should start celebrating our differences and appreciating the fact that we don't all have the same tastes, that there's something for everyone. (Preaching to myself here too, because I can get pretty opinionated.)

As of my writing this, Nintendo has yet to announce any specific way they're celebrating the anniversary. Considering how big the series is, I doubt that they'll just let it pass by. But even if SSHD is the only thing they're doing in honor of the past 35 years, I hope that you'll find some way to celebrate in your own way and show your love for the boy in green who never fails to rouse from his slumber in time of need, companions at his side, to face overwhelming darkness and restore peace to the world.

That's that! Do you enjoy the Zelda franchise in some way? What're some of your favorite games or soundtracks? How did you, or will you, celebrate the 35th anniversary? And also, what'd you think of the song?

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 2

Ah, the time has finally come! Round 1 is now officially over, which means the decisions are about to get a lot more difficult. That's right, it's time for round 2!

But before we can properly move on, we need to examine the results of the last four matchups! We had a total of 11 voters, though one person chose not to vote for September while another person didn't submit a vote for November. That's why the numbers will be slightly different. But enough chitchat, let's hear how things went down!

September: A rare occurrence in the Awards, both "The Simulation" and "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" received 5 votes each. You know what that means: time to bring out the random decision maker and see which one gets best 2 out of 3. All right, don't hold your breath . . . because you're gonna need it when the "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" coming blowing through!

October: 2 brave souls decided to traverse the depths of the underworld as a "Hellwalker." But 9 people chose to stay back and talk about them "In Hushed Whispers." Quite the victory for the song, but who can blame them? Quiet, eerie strings are just *chef's kiss.*

November: 1 person moved into the "Shifty Boo Mansion" as their new home--I wonder how that's working out for them? 3 people preferred to watch "Aveline's Escape" from said mansion, which must've been quite intense. In the end, 6 people said "Goodbye," because they liked haunting lyrics more than they did haunted homes or the hunted fleeing.

December: "Snowy" would be more aptly titled if it were called "Melty in the Face of Overwhelming victory." While 1 person cast their vote for it, the other 10 were unanimous in their love for "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"--which makes sense because the song is certainly a thing of beauty in a cruel world.

Now comes the hard part. Round 2 has you voting for the best song of three months. Are you ready? Will you be able to make a choice in the end? Time will tell, so let's not waste any of it!

January, February, and March

"Echoes" from Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

versus "Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "You Say Run" from My Hero Academia

April, May, and June

"Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

versus "Main Theme" from Ori and the Will of the Wisps

versus "Trials" by Starset

July, August, and September

"Magic" by Gabriel Brown

versus "Starshine Beach Galaxy" from Super Mario Galaxy 2

versus "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

October, November, and December

"In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

versus "Goodbye" by Taemin

versus "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" by Yoko Hikasa

Now it's time for you to act. The matchups are tough, but I know your will and determination are tougher! Don't forget, you have two weeks to vote, which means Sunday the 28th will be the last day that any submissions are accepted.

Try not to have an existential crisis!

A Favorite Battle Theme /// Music Monday #95

Today we have your regularly scheduled Music Monday post!

Our song for today just so happens to be . . .

"Boss Battle" from SteamWorld Heist

Composed by Image & Form

I've talked some about the SteamWorld series, mostly in my post I did about my top ten 3DS games of 2020. It's a steampunk series about robots in various settings, from the Western deserts to outer space, even to medieval lands! I haven't played all of the games yet (I've finished Dig and Heist, and am now working on Tower Defense), but my favorite so far has to be Heist. Come on, what's there not to love about hand-picking a team of space pirates to invade enemy ships and engage in turn-based shootouts? Might sound crazy written out, but it works really well.

One of the best things about the game is, of course, its soundtrack--which is probably obvious knowing me and the fact that I'm talking about a video game in a music-related post series. If you see anyone talking about the score, it always is about the part that the band Steam Powered Giraffe played in it. Considering that their vibe is a steampunk one, it makes sense that they'd eventually collab with the developers at Image & Form Games. And while their songs are good, no one says anything about the actual score. I couldn't even find the name of this game's actual composer.

What makes the soundtrack great is that it does exactly what it needs to: provide the perfect backdrop to a heist mission, which means you're getting some intense pieces of music when battles start happening, which they do frequently. Each of the three worlds has a unique song for its combat, fitting the tone of the enemy you're facing. It never gets bombastic or crazy, but it fits the heist tone so well.

Then there's the boss battle theme, which plays on three separate occasions in the game. While it worked for each one, it was especially good for the final foe. It's become what I would probably consider one of my favorite video game boss battle tracks. I can't put my finger on exactly what makes it land so perfectly for me. Maybe it's because of the constant drumbeat that never lets up. Maybe it's because of that tune (can't tell if it's guitar or something electronic or what) that keeps cropping up and reminds me of the Divergent OST. Whatever the case, I absolutely love this song and the tone it created during the final moments of the game, which was so much fun. If you own a 3DS, a PC, a Switch, a Wii U, a Mac, a Linux, a PS4, a PS Vita, an Xbox One, an iOS phone, or even a hecking Stadia, you have no excuse to not pick up this game. It's a real gem that's offered at a really solid price and supports a fantastic indie development team to keep making wonderful projects.

Well, there's my rave for the day! What're your thoughts on the music? Have you ever played any of the SteamWorld titles?

Monthly HapPENings: January

Well, it's been a couple of months since we had one of these, but now it's back! It's time for . . .

So, life stuff that happened in January . . . honestly, it's just been my usual stuff: the regular Sunday routines, working five days a week while hanging out with my sisters and Preston and Megan in the evenings, and chilling on Saturdays. My sisters and I did go sledding once, though! The side of the hill was pretty much just sheer ice, which was great for going down, but not so much for heading back up. My saucer decided to catapult me forward at one point, so that was fun. (Note: sarcasm. It was actually kinda painful.)

Also, I slipped on some ice recently and sprained the muscles in my left knee. 0/10 would not recommend nor try again. I've had a bit of time off work for recovery, so any prayers would be appreciated.

Bookish HapPENings

What? I actually finished a book?? Will wonders never cease??? Once I got into the book, I was really hooked and blazed through the rest of it. There were definitely some unexpected twists--though I don't know if you should take my word for it, because I didn't expect the ones in The False Prince, but others found them super obvious. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but I'm a little more forgiving knowing that there's a fourth book coming. All in all, a solid quick read that wraps up the trilogy pretty well, which has me wondering where book #4 is going.

HapPENings on the Screen

Watching EXO's Ladder is very different for me in two ways. One, I've never really watched a reality or variety show before, because the vast majority of them just don't interest me. Two, I have never watched the second season of any show before watching the first one. But this is a lot of fun and is super hilarious too! All eight members are so cool and amusing in their own ways, and they seem so much like brothers. I'm just over halfway through, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest!

Yo, I'm nearly finished S3 of My Hero Academia, and man, has this season gone in places I wasn't expecting! Can't believe there's just one episode left . . . I'm already having predictions about what's going to happen in the next one. But if it ramps up the intensity and the emotional side of things even more, it's going to hurt my heart. I didn't think the show was going to make cry over the things it has. S4 is going to be fire, I just know it!

I have caught up with Bungo Stray Dogs (and am eagerly anticipating S4), so now I'm rewatching it, but with Tracey. I'm definitely reminded why it's one of my top favorite anime. The characters and their dynamics with one another is just the best, and then the plot starts getting very, very interesting when S2 rolls around. Also, the music is something else, I tell you. Very unique, and quite enjoyable. (I honestly wish more anime had their soundtracks released for purchase.) Don't sleep on this show if you're into anime!

What if I told you that Erased was one of the best shows involving murder mysteries and time travel? Would you believe me? Because you should! I'm watching this with Preston (he's seen it already and is showing it to me), and it's so difficult to watch only one episode a week. I have four left, and I must know what happens! I have theories that are really crazy, but I think I might be on to something . . . Plus it touches on some very dark, but very important themes and subjects. I really want to say more, but I don't want to spoil a single thing. Anyway, you need to add this to your list of shows to watch. You won't regret it, I guarantee that.

The first season of Psycho-Pass is nothing short of brutal and chilling. The whole setup is really interesting--latent criminals working under police inspectors to fight crime and stop people with unchecked psycho-passes--but man, the show is pretty grim. What makes it all the more frightening is that at one point, China was wanting to implement a similar system. Which probably explains why they banned the anime, as it exposes the deep-rooted flaws in the system. Add a villain whose motivations make a lot of sense and some dark violence and deaths on top of that, and you've got quite the show. I'm super intrigued by it, and while I wouldn't recommend to anyone who gets queasy easily, I do recommend it if you enjoy gritty cop stories with some interesting commentary on society.

AGH. SEASON FOUR IS FINALLY HERE AND AHHH. AND I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL STUFF BUT AAAHHH! . . . That is all. (I can say that the visuals have somehow improved even more since S3, and I'm just constantly impressed??? So yeah.) . . . AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Gaming HapPENings

I picked up the Assassin's Creed Chronicles trilogy for my computer a couple of years ago, but with my poor excuse for a laptop that I had back then, playing them just wasn't possible. Now that I have a proper gaming laptop, I now am able to experience these for the first time. China is the first in the sub-series and has the most appealing setting to me. (Assassin's Creed game in feudal Japan with ninja and samurai when?) I've played the first two chapters so far as of when I'm writing this, and I'm quite liking it! It's neat to have a 2.5D platformer AC title instead of the standard 3D with more free-roaming. The art style is also quite different from the main series, but it's super appealing. I look forward to seeing where the game and the plot goes.

When Team17 announced a battle royale entry in the Worms franchise, my curiosity was piqued. All of the main series Worms games had been turn-based, so what would a real-time title be like? In two words: very entertaining. I wouldn't necessarily call it a battle royale--or at least, it's very different from the standard BR games I've played. But that doesn't make it any less fun. I like to think that I'm decent at it. I tend to get an average of five kills per match, though I also tend to die a lot. I've played only a couple of hours so far, and sometimes the matchmaking takes a little while, but I'd say Worms Rumble is probably my favorite Worms game thus far.

Writerly HapPENing

Well, I did end up doing a little, itty-bitty bit of writing in January. I'm trying to get back into writing by doing a shorter project that's written like an anime. I'm calling it Death Under Maddison Bridge, and I think I've got some really cool ideas for it. I don't know how much I can really share at this point, but I will keep you all updated if you're interested!

So that was my January! Hard to believe we're already one month into the year. How was your January? Also, do you still like these posts, or do you have any suggestions for what I could do to make them more interesting?

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 1.3

Well, well, look at the clock! It's Music Monday Awards time again!

The last round had . . . well, the number of voters went a bit interesting this time. What happened was 6 people voted for every month on my blog, and 4 people voted for every month on Instagram. But this is where things got funky, because on Instagram, we had 1 extra person vote for May and 2 extra people vote for August. So that's why the result numbers are going to differ a bit. But the people have spoken! I give to you what they felt were the top-tier songs of the second third of 2020 . . . behold!

May: This was such a close one. 5 people would've rather wanted to live in a "Tranquility Base," but 6 people preferred "Main Theme"-- main themes are popular these days, are they not? And it's Ori music, which everyone seems to love.

June: Becoming the most divided of the four months, the numbers were split unevenly over the three songs. 2 people wanted to cruise the streets while blasting "Driving Force: Neon Fog," 3 people decided summer was "Too Hot for Pants," and 5 people wanted to face the "Trials" ahead. Can't say these results are surprising, as we have seen the pattern of voters going for a lyrical song when given the option in previous awards shows.

July: "Always Running?" More like "always never stood a chance." While 2 people gave their votes to that opening song, "Magic" gathered a whopping 8 votes in total! That's a 300% increase, for those of you who like stats. Now that truly is magical! Or maybe it's just Gabriel Brown.

August: A rare event happened in this matchup, where each song got an equal number of votes. (This happened 3 times in the 2018 Awards and 1 time in the 2019 Awards.) That means that "Summer (Tropicala)" and "Starshine Beach Galaxy" are being thrown into a random decision maker for best 2 out of 3. And the victor is . . . "Starshine Beach Galaxy!"

Now we proceed to the final four months and their songs. Will this round prove to be even more difficult than its predecessor? Only one way to find out!

September

"The Simulation" from OneShot

versus "Sand 'n Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

October

"Hellwalker" from Doom

versus "In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

November

"Shifty Boo Mansion" from Super Mario 3D World

versus "Goodbye" by Taemin

versus "Aveline's Escape" from Assassin's Creed III: Liberation

December

"Snowy" from Undertale

versus "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" by Yoko Hikasa

You know what you need to do now: vote for your favorites in the comments below! If your favorite songs haven't won in previous rounds, maybe they will this time. As always, you have two weeks, which means that the 14th is the last day that you can vote in this particular round.

Enjoy making tough choices yet again!