VGM Essentials - SARE Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee "Music across all eras and systems, ranging from 1997’s Final Fantasy 7, all the way up to Genshin Impact" 📀 @FiragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

The mighty Firaga Records return, this time with an album from British producer SARE and a cast of co-producers and featured artists. The VGM Essentials series consists of covers and remixes of game music across all eras and systems, in this case ranging from 1997’s smash Final Fantasy 7, all the way up to current mobile gachathon Genshin Impact. The ten-track record, pressed on black vinyl, comes in a card sleeve with anime-themed artwork from Ginkgosan.

Berserk Boy Nintendo Switch Review 9/10 "It pretty much hits the bullseye." ⚡️ @BerserkBoyGame #indieGame #GameDev

Berserk Boy is the latest in a long line of Metroidvania platformers to try and capture the pure retro feel of Mega Man and its contemporaries. Happily, it pretty much hits the bullseye.

The backstory is your basic mad scientist fare, where the bad guy wants to use Dark Energy powers to take over the world. You play as Kei, young soldier who meets a talking owl called Fiore, who leads you to a strange orb which grants you powers and abilities and the adventure begins.

Gameplay-wise we're very much in Mega Man territory, with the classic Metroidvania tropes of defeating enemies while exploring the map, using new abilities to unlock areas and so on. But this isn't just exploration - as you unlock new abilities you find yourself able to chain multiple attacks together in order to build up your Berserk meter, which lets you really let rip with special attacks. 

The key focus here is melee combat - you're not hanging back and taking pot-shots but rather you're right in the thick of it. And that's one of the things that really makes this game fun; you'll find yourself moving around faster and faster to get the perfect sequence before hitting the big moves. The speed and smoothness give the game almost a Sonic the Hedgehog feel, where you're bouncing from enemy to enemy and seeking out more victims on every screen. 

The graphics are very much in keeping with the retro theme: bright and colourful with big chunky sprites that would fit perfectly on the SNES. And the excellent music comes from Tee Lopes, who wrote much of the music for Sonic Mania and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, so you're onto a winner here as well.

As you beat the various bosses, you can unlock different transformations for Kei. Each defeated boss gives you a new way to smash through levels, whether it's digging tunnels, flying or even locking on to multiple enemies at once. You also build up currency that lets you use new abilities for each transformation, so there's a sense of progression throughout too.

If I had to find a drawback, it's that the game isn't massively challenging, although you can select the Retro difficulty level at the start, which gives you the traditional limited lives, so when it's game over it really is game over, whereas the modern setting is unlimited lives and you just get kicked back to the last checkpoint. This is nowhere near a dealbreaker though, as the game is just so much fun. 

SUMMARY

If you're a retro platformer buff this is pretty much a must-buy, and it's accessible enough for all ages to have a blast. More of this please.

Kingdom Heartbeats Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee "Firaga Records Bring Us Another RoboRob-Helmed Remix Album" 📀 @FiragaRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

Firaga Records bring us another RoboRob-helmed remix album here, this time centred around venerable JRPG series Kingdom Hearts. The record comes beautifully presented, with a glossy gatefold sleeve inside a printed polybag housing a ten-track LP on clear vinyl.

Video Game LoFi: Pokemon Vinyl Review by Lo Fi Lee 💿 #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGM @MateriaStore @CuragaRecords

The next instalment in Curaga Records’ Video Game LoFi series takes on the behemoth that is Pokemon. Producers Besso0 and Save Point bring us ten tracks running the gamut of older entries in the franchise, pressed on classic black vinyl. The cover is the series standard holographic card with a nice shiny finish.

Ridge Racer Infinity Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee 💿🎶 #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

Long-time readers might remember I reviewed and loved the digital version of the Ridge Racer Infinity album a while back (https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2022/10/ridge-racer-infinity-video-game-music.html). 

And I’ve now got my hands on the vinyl version, which for a record nerd like me is beyond excellent. The album comes in a matte card sleeve made up to look like a PS1 cover, which really scratches that retro itch. The record itself comes on classic black vinyl in a black paper inner.

The track list pretty much follows the digital release, with two tracks swapped over, probably for reasons of runtime, while the last but one track is a slight rework of the original Night Stream, now called Ultra Stream. 

The rest of the album is the same as before, but now in all its physical glory. And yes, the thunderous Drivin’ U 2 Dancin’ is still the best song (and not just on this album). 

Buy, listen, dance.

🔗ROBKTA - Ridge Racer Infinity (Soundtrack) Vinyl at Juno Records

Sonic & Chill Music Review (Digital) by LoFi Lee 🎵 @GameChops #VGM

Sonic & Chill is the latest release in Gamechop’s …& Chill series, bringing a downtempo, laid-back feel to classic game soundtracks. This instalment is dedicated to the famous blue hedgehog, and follows the franchise right from the beginning. The composer, Funk Fiction, has a background in game music, having contributed tracks to No Straight Roads, Omega Strikers and the excellent Crypt of the Necrodancer, as well as releasing a variety of remixes and original work under his own name.

Blasphemous 2 Nintendo Switch Review 9/10 "Blasphemous 2, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways" ⚔️ @BlasphemousGame @TheGameKitchen @Team17 #IndieGame #GameDev

I’m going to start off by saying that the original Blasphemous is one of my favourite games of recent years. A difficult hack and slash platformer? Check. Monstrous religious cult storyline with Lovecraftian elements? Check. That’s one for me all day long.

I’m pleased to be able to say that the sequel has all of these elements in spades and may even be better than the first game. 

Oxenfree 2 PC Review 8//10 "...this is a big winner for me and almost surpasses the first game" 🔭 @nightschoolers #GameDev #IndieGame

The original Oxenfree came completely out of nowhere for me. I picked it up on a whim and was glued to it for the whole eight hours or so it took me to complete it. So news of a sequel was more than welcome for me, as I couldn’t wait to get back to deepest, darkest, haunted-est Oregon.

Video Game Lo-Fi Kingdom Hearts Vinyl Review - Review Lo Fi Lee 💿 @CarugaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

It was bound to happen eventually – one of the titanic JRPG series has its own lo-fi remix album. The original Kingdom Hearts came out way, way back in 2002, and the series now comprises as many as 13 games (depending on who you listen to, and whether you include collections, mobile games etc). Unlike other releases in the Video Game LoFi series, we have one producer across the whole album with featured artists, instead of the ensemble efforts we’re used to seeing. In the words of lost:tree themselves:

“This series and the music always had a special place in my heart ever since I was a kid and it still means a lot to me now, so picking only 10 tracks to remix was really difficult for me. This album is like a love letter to the game and I hope I was able to do the music justice with these remixes.”

Video Game LoFi: Kingdom Hearts vol. 2 - The Ocean Between Vinyl Review by Lo Fi Lee 💿 @CuragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Hot on the heels of the original album, here we have the second volume in the Video Game LoFi series, from Curaga Records, featuring reworked songs from the Kingdom Hearts series. 

This one comes from the mind of the producer foreteller with a little help from others. The major difference between volumes 1 and 2 is that this one is generally instrumental, with only the opening and closing tracks featuring guest vocalists. 

The presentation is in line with much of the Video Game LoFi collection, comprising a holographic jacket, paper sleeve and a pretty blue, purple and pink marbled record on 180g vinyl.

Side A kicks off with Simple and Clean, featuring vocalist REVEN, whose lyrics are kept low in the mix, allowing a summery breakbeat and dreamy synth to come to the fore. Track 2, Destiny Islands, all the way from the first game, features erstwhile series producer Save Point, with laid-back acoustic guitar giving the whole thing a Super Mario Sunshine feel. Across the rest of the side, Sacred Moon uses echoey sampling and gentle breaks to give an introspective mood, while Nachtflügel comes with a quiet island vibe before Treasured Memories closes us out with muted vocal samples over early-90s beats and washes.

Xion’s Theme opens side B, sampled bass guitar looping hypnotically around synth waves before fading into Ventus’ Theme, which features marimba-ish percussion supporting uptempo keys. Cavern of Remembrance is up next, with oddly truncated kick drum samples making it one of the more curious tracks in the series. Dark Impetus features more islandy guitar work before we finish with Don’t Think Twice, another track that featured on the first album. Vocalist Nila turns up on this one, albeit vocodered to within an inch of her life. It’s a wide-open number with gentle DnB hi-hats, and probably hits the mark as the standout track.

SUMMARY

This album marks a return to series themes for Video Game LoFi; whereas volume 1 changed it up with lots of vocals, this one goes back to using them sparingly, along with the odd sample from the games. 

This doesn’t mean one is better than the other – both albums are worth your time, but fans of the series will probably prefer this one. 

As always, the album is available on Bandcamp, but can also be found in the usual streaming haunts if you fancy a bit of try before you buy.

PURCHASE LINK: 

https://materia.store/collections/video-game-lofi-kingdom-hearts-vol-2-the-ocean-between/products/video-game-lofi-kingdom-hearts-vol-2-the-ocean-between-foreteller1xlp-vinyl-record

Video Game LoFi: Kingdom Hearts vol. 2 - The Ocean Between Vinyl Review by Lo Fi Lee 💿 @CuragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Hot on the heels of the original album, here we have the second volume in the Video Game LoFi series, from Curaga Records, featuring reworked songs from the Kingdom Hearts series. 

This one comes from the mind of the producer foreteller with a little help from others. The major difference between volumes 1 and 2 is that this one is generally instrumental, with only the opening and closing tracks featuring guest vocalists. 

The presentation is in line with much of the Video Game LoFi collection, comprising a holographic jacket, paper sleeve and a pretty blue, purple and pink marbled record on 180g vinyl.

Soulvars Nintendo Switch Review 7/10 "a mobile port that’s actually worth playing" 💥 @ShueishaGamesJP #IndieGame #GameDev

SOULVARS is that rarest of things – a mobile port that’s actually worth playing. It’s got clear JRPG roots, with turn-based combat, and a pixel art style providing a nostalgia hit for the old-timers.

The game is the work of Ginolabo, a solo developer, which results in the double-edged sword of it being an impressive feat for one person (self-taught, too), but having some areas of the game where collaboration might have polished it up a little. 

Blue Fire OST Vinyl Review "This is the best soundtrack release I’ve heard in a while" 🔥 @TheMangoMage #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM #OST

Blue Fire is a 3D action platformer released in 2021 to pretty much universal acclaim. You play a diminutive warrior battling through the world of Penumbra in what was described at the time as a 3D successor to Hollow Knight. 

The Blue Fire soundtrack, composed by Ariel Contreras-Esquivel, came out shortly after and is available digitally, and on this lovely limited vinyl release via Mango Mage Records, with a couple of exclusive bonus tracks.

Video Game LoFi - Deltarune Chapter 2 Vinyl Review "if you like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing you’ll like" 📀💿 @CuragaRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM

Another day, another Video Game LoFi record to review, and this is a good thing. 

This one features re-imaginings of true Renaissance developer Toby Fox’s music for Deltarune Chapter 2. 

This release comes from Curaga Records as usual, on single black vinyl with a really nice holographic cover and heavyweight black paper sleeves. As with all VGLF releases, it’s got a premium feel.

Blade Assault XSX Review 7/10 "I Was Well On Board Even Before Picking Up The Controller" 🔪 @SuneatTeam #IndieGames #GameDev

Having seen the trailer video for Blade Assault, I was well on board even before picking up the controller. Blade Assault is a 2D hack-and-slash roguelike platformer that lets you tear through enemies at a rate of knots.

Return To The Wild Review (Music from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) 💿 @RoPanuganti

Like Breath of the Wild? Like prog rock? If you do, then metal musician Ro Panuganti has an album for you. 

Hailing from Raleigh, South Carolina, USA, Return to the Wild is the second in his series of rearranged Legend of Zelda music, with this album running the gamut from the blues rock of Tarrey Town to the wailing prog of Awaken.

Video Game LoFi: Yoshi Vinyl Review By 'Lo Fi' Lee 📀 @nokbient @MateriaStore @CuragaRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM #LoFi

There’s quite a fashion for lo-fi covers of video game soundtracks at the moment. This offering from Save Point, Nokbient and Lofi VGM is released on vinyl through Curaga Records/Materia Music and comes on a single disc of black vinyl, in a nice shiny sleeve with artwork reminiscent of the Monument Valley games. 

It’s also available digitally and in an on-trend cassette version.

Lego 2k Drive Xbox Series X Review 7/10 "Is it as good as Mario Kart?" 🏎️ @LEGO_2K_HUB @2K #LEGO2KDrive

Every time a new kart racer comes to market, be it badged as Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, or, somewhat oddly, Garfield, the first question everyone asks is, "Is it as good as Mario Kart?" and the answer, invariably, is no. Lego 2k Drive is the latest to come at the King, and while it does miss, it's a good game in its own right.

FURI OST Vinyl Review "Honestly, You Can't Fault Any Part Of This Album" 💿 @G4F_Records #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Furi is a combination of a twin-stick shooter and hack and slash, released on most platforms back in 2015 with all-around good review scores. 

This OST, released through G4F records, comes in a lovely silver-on-white gatefold version on double-coloured vinyl, one blue and one pink. 

The vinyl version is slightly cut down from the digital release for reasons of space, with some tracks edited to fit the runtime.

Mario Mixtape by Mustin 🎶 @Mustin #SuperMarioBrosMovie #SuperMarioMovie #VideoGameMusic #VGM

You might have noticed that there was a Super Mario Bros. film released recently. Or, I don’t know, perhaps you’ve been in a cave thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. 

In any case, music producer Mustin has released an album in celebration. Mario Mixtape is a genre-hopping collection of remixes of tracks from Nintendo’s number one franchise, written by Mustin himself and produced with his 17-year-old son Logan.

The twelve tracks cover the entire series, from the underground theme in the original game, all the way through Dr Mario and Super Smash Bros. Melee, to a military drum-filled version of Attack of the Airships from Super Mario Galaxy. 

Standouts are the electro-swing Delfino Plaza, from Super Mario Sunshine, and the city pop-esque Piranha Plant’s Lullaby from Super Mario 64. This album is a lot of fun and gives a new lease of life to a lot of tracks you forgot you knew.

 

Mario Mixtape is available on all streaming services, and if you want to support Mustin directly (as I always recommend) it’s available digitally and on CD for $ 9.99 USD on his Bandcamp page.