Thursday, February 20, 2020

TOP TEN DARKSTALKERS CHARACTERS

TOP TEN DARKSTALKERS CHARACTERS

Back in the late 90's, while staying at an Embassy Suites hotel, I came across a recreation room filled with arcade cabinets. Naturally I had to check it out. And there I discovered DARKSTALKERS. The sprites and basic mechanics reminded me of my beloved STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3. But what really caught my eye were the characters, all of them MONSTERS! Quarters went in and I immediately started playing. Capcom sold me on yet another of their fighters.

Darkstalkers is a marriage of two of my favorite things: fighting games and monsters. Included in this roster of characters were a bigfoot, werewolf, vampire, mummy, a Frankenstein monster, gill-man, zombie, ghost, possessed-person, and more. Capcom took the same archetypal character approach as Street Fighter and applied it to classic monsters. It's a no-brainer of an idea for a cast of characters and a natural fit for a fighting game. Monster characters had appeared before in fighting games but Darkstalkers would go on to be the definitive monster fighting game.

Debuting in July of 1994, Darkstalkers was the first time Capcom adopted an anime art style for their game design, an approach Capcom would later use for numerous fighting games thereafter (including Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, the Versus series, and more). Darkstalkers was also the first time Capcom utilized their new gaming engine which would later run the bulk of their fighting games for many years to come. It was a beta test essentially for the future of Capcom. So you could say that we have Darkstalkers and its success to thank for the amazing fighting games that followed.

Not only is Darkstalkers an important piece of video game history... it's a really great game too! Darkstalkers spawned two sequels, an anime series, an American cartoon series (don't watch it), comic books, manga, action figures, statues, and more! Despite this, Capcom has let this great series wither. There hasn't been a new game in the series since 1997. Sure there's been some collections of the series released in the interim, but that's it. It's a real shame and a head-scratcher as to why Capcom had ignored this series for over twenty years.

At the very least a handful of these characters have popped up in several different video games since like Capcom's VS series, Puzzle Fighter, and Gunbird to name a few. One character from this series I'd dare say is as iconic to fighting games as Ryu or Scorpion, not to mention one of the most recognizable video game characters in general (I think you know the one).

Anyway, without further adieu,

Here are my favorite characters from the Darkstalkers series!





THE BONUSES





#12
HUITZIL

Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

He doesn't look like much at first, but Huitzil is a deceptively cool and crazy character. At first glance he has that classic "minimalist" robot design, which I kinda dig. It reminds me of classic cinematic robots like Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still and other blocky looking characters. It's sleek design hides a ton of variations that appear while performing his moves. The moveset itself is fun and well balanced making for a solid character overall. Huitzil doesn't get enough love in my opinion. So here's to the deadly robot of classic science fiction/horror.








#11
SASQUATCH
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

Top contender for goofiest character in a fighting game, certainly the goofiest in Darkstalkers, Sasquatch if a furry ball of fury. He's silly looking and his moveset is just as ridiculous. He's definitely not the first character people talk about... or even think about when Darkstalkers comes up. Despite this, he is a well-balanced and fun character in the franchise. In the right hands Sasquatch can be one formidable opponent. He's a great character to throw your opponent off their game.








THE TOP TEN







#10
VICTOR
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

Victor Von Gerdenheim is the place holder for Frankenstein's Monster (obviously). I've always loved Frankenstein since I was a kid and getting a chance to play as him in a video game was irresistible. Victor was one of the first Darkstalkers characters I remember seeing and was the initial draw towards the game. He's a simple character with a fairly straight-forward design, the standard "Big Guy" of the fighting game, like Zangief sorta. His moveset is fun and leans hard into the more cartoony esthetics of the franchise, like the previous character on the list. He's nowhere near my best character in the game but I still enjoy playing as him when I get the chance.









#9
PYRON
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

The original boss of the Darkstalkers series, Pyron is a fiery energy based alien who's evolved to a new level. Pyron seeks to conquer the universe and only the Darkstalkers stand in his way. The artwork really doesn't do Pyron justice. A simple orange humanoid design, but seeing him in action takes him far beyond such a simple idea. His sprite animation is wicked and impressive and he makes for a great boss that you love to hate. Seriously, this dude is one mean villain (and frustrating as hell to play against... like an SNK boss). The anime NIGHT WARRIORS: DARKSTALKER'S REVENGE does a great job of portraying how awesome this character is.








#8
HSIEN-KO
Debut Game: The Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (1995)

A Chinese vampire/zombie, known as a Jiang Shi, preys upon its victims at night, hopping after them with arms outstretched to devour their lifeforce. I had never heard of a Jiang Shi before meeting Hsien-Ko. She instantly stood out as a unique character to me as a result, possessing a very cool and fresh design. In addition to the design, she has a surprising and exciting moveset. Her sleeves are huge and as one might imagine you never know what she has hiding up her sleeve. Hsien-Ko is fun, surprising, and totally original in the world of fighting games. All this and she's great to play as too.








#7
LORD RAPTOR
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

This zombie rocker is anything but a zombie. He's wild and crazy and practically trembling at the thought of ripping you apart. I guess in that respect he's more of a speedy zombie than a shambling one. Lord Raptor is like the fighting game personification of metal album covers like Eddie from Iron Maiden and the like. He's an extremely wicked design and easily the goriest character in the game. His moveset is one of the more creative in the game too, literally stretching his bones and flesh into various edged weapons. He's an incredibly striking and memorable character, not just in Darkstalkers, but in fighting games overall.










#6
RIKUO
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

The Darkstalkers' very own Gill Man archetype, Rikuo is one of the franchise's wildest characters (in a cast of wild characters!). His design is incredibly eye-catching accompanied by beautiful sprite animation. Then seeing his moveset in action is eye-opening. In this respect he kinda reminds me of Blanka from Street Fighter (now there's a character who'd be perfect for Darkstalkers). Don't let the "cool walking away" pose fool you though. Rikuo is a joyous fellow with a fun personality adding another layer to his disarming character.









#5
FELICIA
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

Japanese certainly love their "Cat Lady" archetypes (and it's easy to see why with this one). Felicia is the cute "ball of energy" fun-loving catwoman. Despite her happy disposition she'll claw your face off in seconds. To go along with her personality she's fun to play as too. Designwise Felicia is fairly unique among fighting game characters, balancing between being cute and provocative. She's not my first character I go to but I am always happy to play as her (although she can be a nightmare in the hands of the computer). Only a handful of Darkstalkers characters have ventured beyond the franchise, making guest appearances in various other games. And really only two Darkstalkers characters have gone on to become recognizable outside the franchise. Felicia is one of them.









#4
TALBAIN
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

What horror cast of characters is complete without their very own lycanthrope? But did you ever wonder what Bruce Lee would be like if he were a werewolf? Well wonder no more. Talbain is the world's first ever Kung Fu Wolf-Man (I think). The design of this werewolf is simply amazing. The design itself is fairly simple, mind you, but it is rendered to perfection. And seeing Talbain in action is simply amazing. One of the finest aspects of Darkstalkers are the beautifully animated and striking sprites. And Talbain is one of the shining examples of the game. He has an incredibly fast and powerful moveset that is overwhelming to one's opponent in the right hands. As you can imagine I love Talbain and his martial artist personality definitely puts a unique and memorable spin on what, at first glance, appears like a fairly typical werewolf.









#3
BISHAMON
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

I have a soft spot for Japanese culture, especially Japan's warrior culture. Equally interesting to me is Japanese spiritualism. The various yokai and spirits that populate Japanese mythology are endlessly fascinating. The Darkstalkers character Bishamon is a perfect marriage of samurai warrior culture and mysticism. According to the actual mythology the Japanese deity Bishamon was an armored god of war. In the Darkstalkers mythology the armor of Bishamon possessed a samurai warrior transforming him into a bloodthirsty phantasm. Bishamon hungers for blood and a worthy opponent. Needless to say, the idea behind the character is just awesome, ripped right from a horrific Japanese ghost story. And he plays almost as good. He nearly makes my second place spot... if the next guy wasn't so cool, that is.








#2
DEMITRI 
 Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

A powerful and imposing vampire, Demitri is essentially the "Dracula" of the series and one of the most badass characters Capcom has produced. Demitri carries himself with all of the power and menace you'd expect from the lord of the vampires, including having a host of vampiric brides with him. He also has a solid moveset to go along with his terrifying personality. Demitri is easily my second best character in the game and his super combo is one of the coolest among all of the Darkstalkers characters. The anime NIGHT WARRIORS: DARKSTALKERS REVENGE is a killer representation of Demitri as well.

This sprite is from SNK Vs Capcom: Chaos






#1
MORRIGAN
Debut Game: Darkstalkers (1994)

Maybe it's the green and purple color scheme (they work so well together). Maybe it's the wicked bat wings. Maybe it's the balance of allure and threat the character strikes (she's a soul devouring succubus afterall). Whatever it is, there is something about Morrigan that has captivated fans the world over. Since she's basically the protagonist of the Darkstalkers series, Capcom has invested the most time into her character and story, fleshing her character out more than most. She has a sort of repressed "Disney Princess" personality. Like Ariel or Jasmine, she has an air of naivete, wanting to see the world, carefree and in pursuit of excitement. But when threatened, Morrigan can turn on a deadly, confident, and badass persona, far beyond a damsel in distress.

Sure, her design and character are great, but unless you can play as her that design doesn't count for much. Morrigan has an amazingly balanced moveset. Her base moves are great and really all you need. But then her special moves are just as effective. There is a grace and elegance to her moves that suit her design and personality. She's perfectly set up to be your entry character to the series (just as Ryu is for Street Fighter). But where Ryu's moveset is all the character has going for him, Morrigan has an infinitely more interesting design and story. If a character is equal parts design and mechanics then Morrigan represents one of the best characters in video games. For me it is all of these things plus her balanced gameplay.

While Capcom has sadly let the Darkstalkers franchise fade away, they know what they have in Morrigan and have kept her ever present in the gaming world. She's appeared in many other fighting games and non-fighting games like Monster Hunter Frontier, Gunbird 2, Project X Zone, Puzzle Fighter, and many more.

Anyway, Morrigan is my main when it comes to Darkstalkers and one of my favorite video game characters overall.



 On a side note: there is (or was) a mindset in the west (USA) that character colors signify who the heroes and villains are. In particularly comic books would use the colors red and blue as heroic colors and purples and greens as villainous colors. There are exceptions obviously (Hulk, Green Lantern) but these color signifiers were used quite extensively. Personally, this color bias is criminal! I mean, just look at Morrigan! Green and Purple should be used more often 😏

And there you have it!

My favorite Darkstalkers characters!

For the final word on all things fighting game related be sure to check out

THE FIGHTERS GENERATION

And for more top ten lists and video game related posts check out these others below!


TOP TEN STREET FIGHTER CHARACTERS
TOP TEN KING OF FIGHTERS CHARACTERS  
 TOP TEN FIGHTING GAME GUYS
TOP TEN FIGHTING GAME GALS
TOP TEN FAVORITE NINJAS (VIDEO GAMES: MALE)
TOP TEN FAVORITE NINJAS (VIDEO GAMES: FEMALE)

 TOP TEN FAVORITE NES GAMES
TOP TEN SNES GAMES



TOP TEN GODZILLA MOVIES


TOP TEN GHOST RIDERS
TOP TEN GHOST RIDER VILLAINS 
 TOP TEN DOCTOR STRANGE VILLAINS 
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF 
TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES
 TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS 
TOP TEN MARVEL COSMIC WOMEN
  TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS
TOP TEN THOR VILLAINS  
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HEROES
TOP TEN FAVORITE X-MEN
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HERO TEAMS  
TOP TEN MARVEL ROMANCES 
TOP TEN CAPTAIN MARVEL STORIES    







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Thursday, January 16, 2020

SILVER TONGUED SILVER SCREEN: UNDERWATER (2020)


The mysteries of the ocean depths are something that has fascinated and terrified humanity since the dawn of time. What things lurk beneath the surface? What unknown terrors await in the black depths below? In the ocean remains perhaps the last unexplored areas of our planet and is still largely a "no man's land," where humanity isn't meant to live. But other things live there, things with teeth, barbs, and claws.

The CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON was my first encounter with aquatic horror cinema and remains a favorite to this day. The same can be said for JAWS, a film which legitimized water horror films as potential box office juggernauts. Even with such classic horror films as these, the number of underwater horror films is relatively small, fewer still are the number of truly great underwater horror films. Needless to say, when I saw the trailer for UNDERWATER I was instantly sold and determined to see it in a movie theater.

On a personal note, I haven't been to a movie at the theaters since JOKER in October. It's about time I saw a new movie! I've always been interested and fearful of the ocean. The joy of swimming, an obsession with sharks, and an intrigue with prehistoric aquatic beasts and monsters, the ocean is such a rich environment for both mind and body. The prospect of a new underwater horror film that's potentially good was too juicy to resist.

I LOVED IT! I thought it was great! The couple seated beside me thought it was pure garbage. The one other movie goer I talked to while there thought as I did and enjoyed it. If that tells you anything this might be a polarizing experience.

THE PLOT

A massive underwater drilling facility in the Marianas Trench suddenly experiences power outages followed by total section shutdowns. The pressure of being so deep begins crushing each section as they lose power. The few workers able to get to the deep sea diving suits must cross the pitch black ocean floor to an as of yet still functioning underwater facility to reach functioning escape pods. But while crossing the open ocean depths the water churns around them. Something swimming in the black waters brushes against them. One by one something in the deep begins taking them.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

I had my first real opportunity to go to the theater the other day. My choices were Star Wars or Underwater. Star Wars would be there another week or more. I wasn't so sure about Underwater's longevity at the theater and my horror love won out... as it usually does.

Underwater reminded me specifically of two films, THE DESCENT and SUNSHINE, neither of which are aquatic horror. First off, the film is absolutely terrifying just with the idea of being so far down beneath the ocean. There's a great sense of claustrophobia and the environment around you being your enemy. Just like being in a tiny spaceship surrounded by the cold uninhabitable vacuum of space, being on the bottom of the ocean surrounded with nothing but murky pitch black water and such high pressure as to kill you instantly. The setting itself is wonderfully frightening without the benefit of scary creatures.

Then the introduction of the monster was like pure icing on the cake. I'm a huge sucker for monster movies and these monsters were scary and effective. And when these monsters get their big moment it is epic.

That aside, I enjoyed the acting and the characters. The way the film was shot kept the camera really close to the actors. As a result I felt the heightened tension and frenetic chaos of the situation. Their dire and hopeless situation felt palpable with the camera being so close to them. The tension created in this film is one of its strongest elements. 

However, there is a distinct lack of wider shots showcasing the environment. That's not to say that there aren't wide shots, they're just fewer and far between. And then there's the high levels of darkness that make it difficult to see much in the film. I'm sure the darkness is representative of how dark that environment really is, but cinematically it made the visual experience rather limited. I would've like to have seen a few more clearer shots.

Even with the murky darkness I thought it added a frightening element to the film. That said, I enjoyed this film very much and would love to add it to the home video collection. First off though I need to track down the out of print blu ray for the 1989 underwater horror epic LEVIATHAN from Scream! Factory.

THE VERDICT

I loved Underwater. I thought it was put together well and provided a more novel film experience than what we're usually getting nowadays. It feels like a low budget high concept horror film from the 80's, assembled very well given the limited resources available. It's not like most spectacle films lately and that there may evoke polarizing reactions from viewers. Personally I'm growing a little tired of the trendy Hollywood films dominating theaters today. Underwater felt like a breath of fresh air as opposed to drowning in big budget spectacle.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

Go see it if you can because it looks like it won't be in theaters for long!


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Wednesday, January 1, 2020

TOP TEN STREET FIGHTER CHARACTERS

TOP TEN STREET FIGHTER CHARACTERS


Like with many video gamers who came up in the 80's and 90's, STREET FIGHTER II: THE WORLD WARRIORS was my introduction to fighting games. This particular genre of video games became an obsession and remains one of my favorite, if not the favorite, kind of games to play. I'm no good at them, mind you, at least nowhere in a competitive capacity. I'm a bit more than a normie when it comes to fighting games, but not much.

I've found that there is much more to love about fighting games than just competitive play (although that is perhaps the greatest aspect of them all. Without good gameplay there isn't much reason to play, is there?). Some fighting games have epic storylines (such as Persona 4 Arena, King of Fighters, and Guilty Gear to name a few). Some have rocking music that gets your blood pumping (Guilty Gear being the most standout in that respect). For me it is all of the above, but maybe more important than any other being the characters.

I fell in love with fighting games because of the characters. The concept of individuals devoting everything to training their bodies and honing their skills to nigh perfection, then pitted against each other in combat to test those skills, I find fascinating. A master of Muay Thai against a master of Tae Kwon Do. The greatest boxer in the world versus the greatest Sumo wrestler in the world. Of course these ideas are taken to super hero extremes, and me being a fan of super heroes and comic books, fighting games feel like a natural fit for my sensibilities.

And through the medium of video games you the player get to be these amazing characters for a little bit. Yeah, Ryu is sorta the main characters, but really any of these characters could be the protagonist. It all depends on who you, the player, take to. In fighting games there are your "mains," the characters who you are the best with and enjoy playing as. You control the outcome of these characters' stories in a way, and in a way, you shape these characters. Some may look at a character like Zangief as complete trash while another player sees Zangief as the hero of the franchise (and they can destroy anybody they play against as Zangief too!).

Street Fighter is the fighting game franchise I've played the longest and it is, perhaps, the best fighting game franchise in existence (debatable). And while I think Street Fighter has the best balance across all of their characters (meaning nearly every character is well made and capable of being played well), I don't necessarily feel Street Fighter has the best characters. Just like any game, I feel some characters are better than others, some designs are better than others, and some play better than others. What I'm trying to say is that while Street Fighter may be my favorite fighting game series, I don't have as strong of an attachment to the characters as I do other games.

Anyway, after my many years of playing Street Fighter, here are my favorite characters, either in design or gameplay.

Enjoy!






THE BONUSES






#12
ADON
Debut Game: Street Fighter (1987)

I never thought much of Adon until a friend of mine got real good with him. I mean competitively good (something I've never been with anybody in the game on my best day). Watching my buddy kicking ass and taking names with Adon inspired me to give him another try. And I found some really fun moves and a new appreciation for the character. He is the Muay Thai prince who constantly boasts with a reach sometimes beyond his grasp. He first appeared in the original Street Fighter and later returned in the Street Fighter Alpha series where Capcom reinvented him in a big way, giving him an impressive moveset. And Super Street Fighter IV made him even more deadly.






#11
JULI
Debut Game: Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998)

A Cammy clone, sure, but right out of the gate Juli was differentiated from Cammy with an array of new special moves. Her base moves and design were clones of Cammy's but within her special moves and super combos lay a unique fighter. Having a solid base moveset is key to a good character, the special moves come in later. I liked her because I could play well with her and her design and story, albeit extensions of Cammy, were cool too. It would be cool if Capcom brought her back with a new design and made her completely her own.






THE TOP TEN





#10
BLANKA
Debut Game: Street Fighter II (1991)

The only reason why I even wanted to play Street Fighter in the first place was because of this guy. When I first saw Street Fighter II in arcades as a child I was intrigued because I had never seen a game like it before. When I saw Blanka, a green feral monster thing, was when I decided I wanted to play. Now, I admit, Blanka is nowhere near my best character (maybe not even in my back up mains), but I still have fun playing as him. Now, Street Fighter has such a weird and archetypal cast of characters, but Blanka was and still is a little far out compared to most of his classmates. And if his story is any indication of what Capcom thinks of him (a joke), I think he continually reappears only because of nostalgia.
















#9
JURI HAN
Debut Game: Super Street Fighter IV (2010)

Easily my favorite of the new characters added from the Street Fighter IV series, Juri is Street Fighter's first Tae Kwon Do fighter. She has a completely unique fighting style and moveset and is the only character of the new SF4 cast that I could play well with. Her design is interesting and her character personality is twisted and over the top (which I guess is common for Street Fighter characters). All this combines for a fun character and welcome addition to the roster. Her story is intriguing too, a villain to be sure, but a complicated villain with designs of her own.







#8
ROSE
Debut Game: Street Fighter Alpha (1995)

Rose is one cool character and totally unique among the Street Fighter cast. From a design aspect I think she is one of the most interesting and inspired designs among all of Street Fighter, maybe their best. Now, I'll admit that she wasn't the easiest to play with at first, but neither was she maddeningly difficult to grasp. Dedicating enough time playing as her I unlocked her moves and found out she plays as cool as she looks. She became one of my secondary mains in SF Alpha 3. I was stoked to see her return in Super SF4. Added to all of this is her intriguing story and mysterious personality. There isn't an aspect of Rose that I don't like.







#7
SAKURA
Debut Game: Street Fighter Alpha 2 (1996)

"Ever wonder what Ryu would look like as a cute school girl?" asked Capcom.
"Please no," we all said.
"You're welcome!"

Sakura has a cute design, a fun personality, and is easy to play as. What's not to love? The ironic thing about Sakura is that she is far more fun and interesting than the character she's riffing (in my opinion). The brilliance of Sakura is what she represents: Us. At least us players back when we were in high school. She's the kid who played and worshiped fighting games only to become one of the fighters herself. That kind of meta connection she has with us players makes her infinitely more relatable than Ryu. Although she's a character we never asked for (c'mon, who wants more clones of Ryu?), Sakura is more than welcome.







#6
SAGAT
Debut Game: Street Fighter (1987)

The original final boss of the Street Fighter franchise, Sagat is a relatively simple design with some brutal scars. I have to admit that I didn't really think much of Sagat until his reinvention in the Alpha series. He went from being a taller, skinnier, stiffer version of Ryu to an imposing powerhouse. I love his Alpha sprite. His Tiger Uppercut became a 7 hit combo with devastating effects. His moveset felt more refined, quicker, and tighter. And his voice grew deeper and scarier than his previous iterations. And then there's his story, a hero's journey complete with his fall from grace at the fists of Ryu, becoming an agent of evil, and his eventual redemption. It's a classic story for sure, but a compelling story nonetheless.








#5
GUY
Debut Game: Final Fight (1989)

Final Fight was an arcade Beat Um' Up game from 1989, but it was originally going to be the sequel to 1987's Street Fighter. It seems only natural that Final Fight and Street Fighter both take place in the same world with characters from both series crossing back and forth between franchises. Guy (and a Final Fight boss named Sodom) was the first to cross over and made his fighting game debut in Street Fighter Alpha in 1996. It was cool seeing a crossover character in Street Fighter and I liked seeing how they integrated his moves from Final Fight into a fighting game moveset. I like Guy's unique moveset and his sleek personality. I have a soft spot for ninjas and I like Guy's retro-modernist ninja design.







#4
AKUMA
Debut Game: Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994)

To be totally honest I'm not much of a "karate guy" fan. Ryu and Ken are staples of the genre and great characters in their own right. Without them the fighting game genre wouldn't be what it is today and Street Fighter wouldn't be the popular franchise that it is. While I respect Ryu, he is not one of my favorites.

If there is a "shoto clone" that I like it is without a doubt Akuma. When Akuma first appeared he came out of nowhere, defeated M.Bison with one move, and proceeded to kick my ass. His entrance onto the Street Fighter scene was epic and striking. The irony of it all is, while I'm not a fan of Ryu, Akuma is made all the more interesting by his juxtaposition to Ryu. And Ryu's most interesting facet as a character is what Akuma brings to the table. I love Akuma's demonic persona and his brutal personality. My favorite Akuma was in Street Fighter Alpha 3. The tweaks they made to Akuma's moveset in Street Fighter IV made him a far worse character to play with, at least for me.








#3
FEI LONG
Debut Game: Super Street Fighter II ~ The New Challengers (1993)

One of the staple archetypes in fighting games is the "Bruce Lee" riff character. Fei Long was the first and Capcom made no attempt to hide it. He's basically Bruce Lee by another name. And really, in a story about the greatest martial artists in the world, where else would Bruce Lee be? If you couldn't tell I think the world of Bruce Lee and when Fei Long showed up in Street Fighter I couldn't wait to play as him. Fei Long is quick, agile, and full of that patented Bruce Lee personality and style. His iteration in SF Alpha 3 may be my favorite of his, especially his "secret" super combo (which looks so badass). His arrival in Super SF IV was welcomed and well done too. No matter your ability with the character, Fei Long is a wonderful homage to the legendary Bruce Lee.







#2
IBUKI
Debut Game: Street Fighter III ~ New Generation (1997)

Like I said earlier, I have a soft spot for ninjas. And for anyone whose been to this blog this shouldn't come as a surprise. I like the Street Fighter III series a lot. They're fantastic and underrated SF games. I remember first seeing SFIII and wondering "who the hell are these people?" when it came to the characters. Street Fighter as a whole, for me personally, doesn't have a whole lot of visually striking character designs. Most of the designs are solid but simple and take some time to grow on you.

But when I saw Ibuki for the first time I knew exactly who I'd be playing as first when I got to play SFIII. Ibuki has one of the coolest character designs in the whole franchise and one of the best looking "traditional" ninja designs in any medium, video game or otherwise. Her personality is the typical bubbly anime girl who gets all serious when it's time to fight. Her fighting style and play is unlike any other character in the series. She's quick but as a result hits lighter than most. And sadly she can't take a punch either. All of this makes her a challenging, but rewarding, character to play as. She's like Chipp Zanuff from Guilty Gear in that respect. Anyway, I love Ibuki and she is one of the characters I look for in every SF game now.








#1
CAMMY
Debut Game: Super Street Fighter II ~ The New Challengers (1993)

Best Street Fighter character ever. No contest... in... my... opinion. Cammy was the first character that I really took to. As a kid just starting to play fighting games in the 90's, without a mentor or sensei, you got beat up. A lot. In the game, I mean. Not in real life, I got beat up in real life for other things. Anyway, with SUPER STREET FIGHTER II: THE NEW CHALLENGERS I found the characters that would cement my love for the series. With Cammy I found myself actually winning matches and, what's more, actually having fun playing Street Fighter.

Cammy is my number 1. She's my main. She's the one I pick if I want to win (and boy does it sting when I lose as her). Cammy and Ibuki bring out my competitive side when playing. Design-wise she's pretty simple (like most SF character designs). The green stood out to me (like it always does). But more than anything it was her playability. She has a decent reach and her moves are quick and strong. Then she has one of the more interesting stories of the SF cast. Once M.Bison's elite enforcer (and possibly a genetic clone of him?!?) and one of several "Dolls" along with Juli, Juni, DeCapre, and others. And then, after Rose freed her mind from Bison's control, she was recruited by MI6 (British Secret Service).



Anyway, Cammy was the character that made me the Street Fighter fan I am today. She is an essential character I look for in every new installment in the franchise.

And there you have it!

My top ten favorite Street Fighter characters!


For the final word on all things fighting game related be sure to check out

THE FIGHTERS GENERATION

And for more top ten lists and video game related posts check out these others below!

TOP TEN KING OF FIGHTERS CHARACTERS  
 TOP TEN FIGHTING GAME GUYS
TOP TEN FIGHTING GAME GALS
TOP TEN FAVORITE NINJAS (VIDEO GAMES: MALE)
TOP TEN FAVORITE NINJAS (VIDEO GAMES: FEMALE)

 TOP TEN FAVORITE NES GAMES
TOP TEN SNES GAMES



 


TOP TEN GODZILLA MOVIES




TOP TEN GHOST RIDERS
TOP TEN GHOST RIDER VILLAINS 
 TOP TEN DOCTOR STRANGE VILLAINS 
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF 
TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES
 TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS  

TOP TEN MARVEL COSMIC WOMEN
  TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS

TOP TEN THOR VILLAINS  
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HEROES
TOP TEN FAVORITE X-MEN
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HERO TEAMS  
TOP TEN MARVEL ROMANCES 
TOP TEN CAPTAIN MARVEL STORIES    


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Wednesday, December 11, 2019

TOP TEN FAVORITE CASTLEVANIA TUNES

TOP TEN FAVORITE CASTLEVANIA TUNES


Music plays such a large role in our lives. Music can excite us and get our blood flowing. Music can soothe us and calm us down. Music can make a long car drive more enjoyable. Music can spark our imagination and creativity. Music can voice our anger and rage. And sometimes music speaks to us in ways nothing else can.

Soundtracks became very important to me at a young age, one of my first music purchases ever being a soundtrack on cassette tape (the Mortal Kombat video game soundtrack). It was 1992 or 93 and not what I was expecting (instead of being the video game soundtrack it was original songs inspired by the game. I recall it being very strange, but that's another post for another time). Anyway, more purchases of soundtracks were to follow including one of my all time favorites: THE ROCK composed by Hans Zimmer, Nick Glennie-Smith, and Harry Gregson-Williams (which was the 2nd CD I ever purchased).

I love the CASTLEVANIA video game series (which should come as no surprise to anyone who's frequented this blog). I first fell in love with the fun gameplay of the NES games back in the 80's and early 90's. As I grew up, and my love of all things horror and monstrous developed, Castlevania came to mean more and more as it bridged my love of horror and video games. Eventually I became obsessed with the characters and the storyline (even the geneology). And long ago I pictured in my head what a Castlevania movie would look like.

The Music of Castlevania became an obsession as well. When I played SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV and heard familiar themes from the previous games was when I said, "Hey, that's Simon's Quest! And that's Dracula's Curse! I love these tracks!" or something to that effect. Then these same themes returned again in CASTLEVANIA BLOODLINES and later in DRACULA X. I came to know the specific names of these themes and looked forward to their melodies in every subsequent Castlevania game.

The music of these games became just as important to the identity of Castlevania as Dracula and the Belmonts. Not only do I look forward to the gameplay of each new game in the series, but also the soundtracks. For a new game in the series or any new media adaptation (such as the Netflix series), to really feel like Castlevania to me, it needs to have some (at least one) of these iconic music tracks present. I freaked out when (at last!) Bloody Tears played during an episode of the Netflix series. And I sincerely hope that the third (and presumably final) season of the Netflix series will feature more iconic tracks as well.

Few other video game franchises have such identifiable and integral music as the Castlevania franchise, in my opinion. Collecting the soundtrack CDs to the Castlevania series has become as important to me as collecting the games themselves.

Here is my list of favorite Castlevania music tracks from throughout the series.

Enjoy!




THE BONUSES




#13
BLOODY TEARS LEGENDS
from Castlevania Legends on original Gameboy



Castlevania Legends is one of my favorite entries in the franchise and one of the unsung greats in my opinion. The game also has a great soundtrack, many tracks being interesting remixes of classic themes. The remix of Bloody Tears in this game is fantastic and differentiates itself quite nicely. This game has so many great features, among them the fantastic soundtrack. It's a shame more fans don't celebrate the legend of Sonia Belmont.






#12
NEW MESSIAH
from Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge on original Gameboy




Considered by most to be the finest of the original Gameboy trilogy, Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge was not only a step up in gameplay from The Castlevania Adventure, but also a vastly improved soundtrack. There are many great tracks in this game but New Messiah is the track that has stuck with me over the years and a piece of music I can instantly identify.






#11
IRON-BLUE INTENTION
from Castlevania Bloodlines on Sega Genesis



The sole entry for Castlevania on the Sega Genesis, Bloodlines marked the first title in the series to feature music composed by Michiru Yamane, the composer who'd go on to score the bulk of the franchise. Bloodline utilizes the Genesis signature soundboard creating a unique and amazing soundtrack unlike any other Castlevania score. And one of my favorite soundtracks for the series.





THE TOP TEN





#10
THE SINKING OLD SANCTUARY
from Castlevania Bloodlines on Sega Genesis



Once again from Castlevania: Bloodlines, Michiru Yamane's first foray into Transylvania proved to be full of great and memorable music. Yamane brought a fresh new sound to the franchise while blending seamlessly into the preexisting Castlevania atmosphere. While offering never before heard tracks and themes, Yamane saw sure to honor and include many of the previous beloved themes from the series, if not within the levels themselves, selectable in the BGM test in the options menu of the game.






#9
DRACULA'S CASTLE
 from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night



Symphony of the Night transformed a secondary character from a previous game into one of the most beloved video game characters of all time. After the prologue, when Alucard finally arrives on the scene, the son of Dracula is announced with an exciting and rousing theme. This track is only the tip of the iceberg for this magnificent soundtrack, arguably one of the best scores for the franchise and video games as a whole.






#8
ILLUSIONARY DANCE
from Castlevania: Dracula X on Super Nintendo



 After seven or more grueling levels, having bested Carmilla, Medusa, and Death himself, the final showdown with Dracula is at hand. And if the awesome and terrifying sight of the lord of darkness isn't powerful enough, the accompanying music will fill you with dread and get your adrenaline pumping. Dracula is always impressive in any game in the series, but the scoring for his final battle in Dracula X elevated the intensity and epic scope of what Richter Belmont (and you the player) was about to face to a whole new level. Not many of the themes used during the final battles with Dracula are heard from again, but Illusionary Dance would be heard again and again after and become a staple track for the series if not Dracula's defining track.






#7
PROLOGUE
from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night


 Symphony of the Night starts with the final stage and showdown with Dracula from the previous game. The music for this "Prologue" blends the classic Castlevania sound with an electric guitar for something striking and powerful. When this game first came out this kind of sound quality and composition hadn't been heard in the franchise before. I played this game when it first came out and was already a huge fan of the series and the music prior. When I first heard the score for this game I was floored. No wonder they named the game "Symphony."






#6
THE BEGINNING
from Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse on the NES



 Each of the three original NES games has a track that has become iconic and instantly identifiable with Castlevania. "The Beginning" or what I feel is Trevor's Theme is the track for the first level of the game and by far the strongest track for the entire composition. It feels like the spiritual successor to the original Castlevania's opening salvo "Vampire Killer" and has resurfaced in nearly every game to come after. It's fast and exciting and a great way to get started playing.







#5
VAMPIRE KILLER
from the original Castlevania on NES




Arguably the most iconic and recognizable music track within the entire franchise, "Vampire Killer" is the number playing as Simon Belmont stormed the gates of Castle Dracula for the very first time ever. Powerful, epic, and catchy (seriously, it gets stuck in your head easily), this is the song that most think of when they think Castlevania. For me, this is one of the defining games for the NES, both in gameplay and music.







#4
TRAGIC PRINCE
from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night




 Michiru Yamane changed video game music as a whole when she composed the score for Symphony of the Night. She took the existing sound of the series and built upon it. With the CD-Rom capabilities for music on the Playstation Yamane was able to deliver a rich classical score with the aristocratic sound of a full orchestra. Yamane felt that classical music was very much at the heart of Castlevania but strikingly added the electric guitar in several themes.

This is the first full soundtrack for a Castlevania game I ever purchased (my first Castlevania CD was a sampler which featured tracks from across the franchise prior to SOTN) and I have listened to this score more than maybe any soundtrack, video game or otherwise. My absolute favorite track off of the entire soundtrack album is "Tragic Prince" or as it was translated when I first uploaded it to iTunes nearly twenty years ago, "Young Nobleman of Sadness" (the name I know it more by).






#3
DIVINE BLOODLINES
from Castlevania: Dracula X




There is no other video game catalog of music that I love or celebrate as much as Castlevania. This song and the following two are easily among my all-time favorite video game themes. I jam out to these songs regularly and have enjoyed them for more years of my life than not. Castlevania: Dracula X is a game I hold dear to my heart. It challenged my skill, rewarded my hard work, and became a seminal game in my video gaming experience. A lot of familiar themes from previous games populate this soundtrack (which is why I feel it is one of the best soundtracks in the series) but there are a few new themes as well. The song I personally feel is Richter's theme is "Divine Bloodlines" (also titled "Opposing Bloodlines" or simply "Bloodlines") is one of my all time favorite tracks and a song I just can't get enough of.







#2
THEME OF SIMON
from Super Castlevania IV on the Super Nintendo




 I liked the music of the Castlevania games already when I first played Super Castlevania IV, but it wasn't until I played Super Castlevania IV that I really fell in love with the franchise's music. All of my favorite themes from the previous games were present and sounded even better on the SNES than they had on the original Nintendo. But what really blew me away was the Theme of Simon. A signature to Castlevania's musical style is one helluva opening level track. If they nail that opening number than they're starting off on a good foot.

My personal favorite rendition of Theme of Simon is the arranged version from the Playstation game Castlevania Chronicles.







#1
BLOODY TEARS
from Castlevania II: Simon's Quest on the NES




The very first Castlevania game I ever played was Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, a game atypical to the classic Castlevania format and forerunner to the "Metroidvania" format made famous by Symphony of the Night. I have a deep appreciation for both the original linear style and the Metroidvania style. One of the aspects of this game that instantly captured my imagination was the track playing over the haunted forest stage, "Bloody Tears." Nostalgia plays a huge role in my love for this track as it reminds me of being five years old and playing NES with friends. And of course it signifies the first time I encountered my favorite video game series of all time.

I can't adequately quantify why I love this track more than the others beyond my nostalgia, and the fact that it is an epic piece of music that has only gotten better with age. As I said earlier, the music of Castlevania has become as much a part of the franchise's identity as the characters within. Sometimes a really good soundtrack can transform something mediocre into something great. Likewise a bad score can injure what would've otherwise been an epic experience. There are certain Castlevania games lower on my list which, coincidentally or not, have terrible soundtracks. The first Castlevania game and subsequently Simon's Quest and Bloody Tears set the standard for the franchise and put in place a requirement of mine for the franchise: epic scores for the epic experience that is Castlevania.

And there you have it!

For more of my love of Castlevania check out these posts and top ten lists linked below!

TOP TEN CASTLEVANIA GAMES
TOP TEN FAVORITE SUPER NINTENDO GAMES 
CASTLEVANIA: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES



TOP TEN GODZILLA MOVIES


 




 

TOP TEN GHOST RIDER VILLAINS 
 TOP TEN DOCTOR STRANGE VILLAINS 
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF 
TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES
 TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS  









 



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