One of My Favorite Game OSTs /// Music Monday #97

All right, seems like it's time for another regular Music Monday post!

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

"The Ronin of Forbidden Valley" from LEGO Universe

Composed by Brian Tyler

I don't know if you ever experienced the awesomeness that was LU, but man, that game was something else. Probably one of the best MMOGs--nay, one of the best video games--I've ever played. It was pretty short-lived due to a lack of enough financial gain, but it was very well-loved while it was around. Actually, there are fans who are recreating the game, and LEGO has basically told them it's okay. The company may have even "unofficially" helped out in some way? I don't recall all the details, but I'm very excited for its release!

This particular track has always been one of my favorites from the OST, and I'm sure you can see why. The instrumentation, the epicness, the intensity, and the use of the main theme about a minute in is nothing short of perfection. I think Brian put a lot of love into this soundtrack, and it really shows. (It might be his best work???) I don't exactly remember hearing the music in game, though I do recall fighting off the ronin on Cavalry Hill and that it was a fairly challenging the fight, so I'm sure the song did a lot to add to that atmosphere.

I think this song is also special to me because I used in my playlist for one of my LEGO Message Boards stories, An Old Face, a New Game. In this particular scene, one of the characters--a somewhat clumsy ninja--has to protect two of the others from an enchanted statue that's attacking them. It winds up being a chase to the top of a watchtower, where the guy tricks the statue into running off the edge. This particular fight, as well as the whole segment of the story with these character (the plot is very episodic), were some of my favorite things to write. I think that whole story holds a special place in my heart, and the music brings back some very fond memories of it too.

Before I close this post, just wanted to mention that, because it was LU's tenth anniversary the other day, the game's OST was officially released to celebrate. I'm not sure where you can all stream or buy it at the moment, but I know for sure you can listen to the whole thing on YouTube and buy it on Bandcamp. If nothing else, I highly recommend that you at least listen to the whole thing.

So that's that! What're your thoughts on the song? Did you play LEGO Universe back in the day? Do you have any fond memories of story scenes you've written?

Monthly HapPENings: February

Oh . . . it seems to be March already. Guess it's time for one of these.

I'm honestly blanking out on life stuff right now, but maybe that's because I didn't really do anything? Like, aside from my regularly scheduled stuff--working full-time, watching my shows on Monday evenings, watching shows with Chloe and Kaitlyn on Tuesday evenings, watching anime and gaming with Preston on Thursday evenings, gaming with Preston and/or Megan on Friday evenings, gaming with Chloe and Kaitlyn on Saturdays, and doing my usual Sunday stuff with my family--I didn't do much of anything. I suppose that's just life these days.

Bookish HapPENings

Wonder of wonders, I managed to finish a book last month. Although these novels are pretty short, so I'm not sure how much it actually counts for. I definitely enjoyed this one. It's hard to talk much about the plot, because a lot of it hinges on that of the first book, which has some interesting twists. I look forward to seeing how the last two books wrap up the story.

HapPENings on the Screen

I'd already seen this movie a couple of times, but it was just as good the third time around. I really dig this type of secret agent/spy/espionage/action-adventure/whatever-you-wanna-call-it film. It's got a good mix of thrilling fight scenes, chases, and general escapades. The characters are all interesting, and the villain was a unique one--which I think is largely due to his voice, believe it or not. It's kind of this high-pitched rasp, which gives him a very different vibe. And the music is killer too. Basically everything about the movie was great!

So Preston recommend an anime called Joker Game to me, which is about a special group of Japanese spies in World War II. That alone makes for a very interesting story, but what adds to that is the fact that each episode has its own contained plot with a separate spy. Things seem to be starting to connect together, though, so I'm anticipating where that will lead and how everything will go down. (I also love two of my more recent episodes and their spies because of how kindly they treated children. So wholesome!)

While we're on the subject of recommend anime, Preston also suggested this one to me. 91 Days is about a fellow named Angelo, who joins a family of gangsters during the Prohibition Era in order to exact his revenge for the murder of his own family. I'm super into it so far, but I'm worried about how it's all going to end. Part of me wonders if it's going to wind up being a tragedy . . . and the opening, I tell ya. It's so emotional and hits me in the feels every single time. So good!

I'm rewatching Tower of God with my sisters for our Sunday anime stuff, and I'm a bit conflicted about it. I still love it, don't get me wrong--but I'm also a little more critical of certain things this time. Like, if it would've had some shading as part of the art style, and if they rushed some things less, I think it would definitely solidify the show even more. As it stands, I still quite enjoy it, but it's not the highest title on my list of favorite anime.

I finished S2 of Arrow, and it was just as fantastic as the first season was! The final fight was pretty cool in how it was shot, as it seamlessly transitioned from the present battle to one that occurred between the two characters in the past. But it definitely didn't end off perfectly, and I'm highly anticipating where and how S3 will pick up the plot. Until then, I'll be watching S6 of The Flash!

Gaming HapPENings

So I'd played a bit of Wargroove beforehand, doing the occasional match against Preston. But now I've started the solo campaign, and I think I've fallen in love with the game. It's a strategy, turn-based combat where you move in grids to defeat the enemy. It's a bit like the fighting in Fire Emblem games, actually. The music is a total bop, which makes the title 100% accurate. Definitely a solid indie game if you're looking for more of those!

Ah, Terraria, how I've missed you. Preston and I ended up playing it again the other day for the first time in almost a year, and man, that was a nostalgia trip. We used to, back in the day, just play this together. At first we used only the text chat for talking, which is an impressive feat considering how often you need your hands free for other things. But eventually we started to voice chat, and our friendship grew as we gamed together. I think that's one reason why this game holds a special place in my heart. And now that I've dipped my toes back into it after so long, I really want to fully dive in one of these days and play it on a more regular basis.

Writerly HapPENings

Does writing blog posts count? I have been doing a lot more lately thanks to the Music Monday Awards, so that's gotta mean something. Other than that . . . nothing really. I need to get back into one of my stories sometime soon . . .

Anyway, that was February! How was it for you? Anything interesting or noteworthy happen? What have you been watching or playing lately?

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 3

Would you look at that? The last matchup of the 2020 Awards has arrived at last, and boy, will it be a doozy!

But before we can begin the last phase of voting, we must first take a look at the results from the previous round. We had 11 people participating this time around, so let's see what they cast their votes for!

January, February, and March: "You Say Run" was said only 2 times. 3 people heard the "Echoes" of what was said. In the end, though, 6 people decided to "Cherish" the moment.

April, May, and June: There were 0 "Trials" in this particular matchup. 4 people were still loving that "Main Theme," but 7 others elected to watch the epic "Attack on Titan."

July, August, and September: 3 people felt the "Magic" in the air, but it was short-lived. 3 more people vacationed in the "Starshine Beach Galaxy," but it cost a lot due to a lack of popularity. However, 5 people enjoyed the thrills of being by blown away by the "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" while bopping their heads like crazy.

October, November, and December: There were a mere 3 people who relaxed while listening to "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai." In yet another twist of fate, 4 people said "Goodbye" while 4 more heard it "In Hushed Whispers." So out comes the random decision maker with the best two out of three, and we get . . . "In Hushed Whispers" as the winner.

It's time for you to make the most difficult decision yet! Gather your courage, for it is now time for . . .

The Final Round

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

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

versus "In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

I leave this up to you, one last time. You have two weeks to deliberate over your final answer, which means that you have until Sunday, March 14th. As has always been with this part of the Awards, I ask that when you vote for your favorite song, you also give your reason as to why you chose it. If that song becomes the ultimate champion, your comments will be featured on the victory post.

The end waits for no one.