The Top Ten: Fictional Females

Time for another Top Ten list from yours truly, everyone! *fires confetti gun*

For today's segment, we'll be taking a closer look at various works of fiction and observing which characters are my favorites. More specifically, I'll be analyzing those who lack a "Y" chromosome - in other words: the females.

Now, keep in mind that there will most likely be spoilers - especially if the character in question goes through some scary things in the plot. Don't say I didn't warn you...

Anyway, let's go ahead and find out the fictional ladies who've earned a spot on my Top Ten list!

The Top Ten: Video Game Bosses

Yes, folks: you're reading that right. After a long drought, there's finally another Top Ten list here on The White Knight Chronicles! I told you I'd have something cool for you today! (Just ignore the fact that this was supposed to be up yesterday and everything will be peachy. *winks*)

This time, we'll reminisce over some of those amazing/harrowing/nasty/tense video game (mini-)boss fights that really impressed me. Remember, this is not just focusing on the gameplay of the fight itself (although it is a decent factor I consider). Again, as mentioned with my Top Ten lists, feel free to (dis)agree with my choices or wonder why I chose whoever I chose. It's my list after all, so I'm obviously going to have differing tastes than you.

As some of these fights are driven by the plot, there are bound to be spoilers. I won't black them out. You have been warned, so read at your own risk!

Anyway, who are they, you ask? Well, keep on reading this entry and find out for yourself!

The Top Ten: (Epic) Battle Music

Sometimes in life, there are those moments where tensions are high. It's at the point where if your life was a metaphorical war, guns would be sounding off all over the place, people would be slain left and right, and chaos is your only friend (aside from the guy in your foxhole). Now, fortunately very few of us have actually been exposed to a real-life war, so we naturally have no idea what to feel.

That's where music comes in. Hollywood studios and amateur filmographers alike have long since portrayed combat in film. Most times the scenes of battle have been accompanied with situationally-fitting music to heighten the mood and help immerse the viewing audience in the visuals. Sometimes it's classically orchestrated and denotes a climatic assault. Other times it's fast-paced electronica meant to stress to the listener that it's a highly-tenuous attack against a large amount of enemies. Of course, there are many ways to present a musical theme when in combat not limited to these two examples. Some make use of a tragic sound, while others make it a high-strung rock rhythm meant to get you in a "kick ass and chew bubble gum" mood.

And sometimes, the music itself kicks ass and chews bubble gum.

Regardless of what the type of music is, when used properly it can make any barbaric display of bloodshed into something surprisingly eloquent. As such, I decided that I'd go through some of the music I have and sort out which of these were battle-tested and capable of representing a combat scene. Of the mass list I created, I had to pick ten, and so below are the ones that I believe held the essence of war in their melodies.

Now, notice carefully how I said "(Epic) Battle Music." While some songs out there are fully capable of use in a combat setting (be it a tavern brawl or a full-scale battle), I decided to stick with just musical pieces (that is, music that doesn't technically fit the modern "definition" of a song with lyrics). Also, a welcome surprise to some of you who still have a negative disposition towards video game music: it's not all video game music on this list.

So sit back, grab something to eat, and listen along if you wish to choose (each entrant has a YouTube link to the piece in question). Enjoy reading!

The Top Ten: Relaxing Video Game Music Pieces

"Ah, music! A magic beyond all we do here!"
- Albus Dumbledore
(Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

Music truly is magical. There's not that many art mediums that can transcend the senses and become something more than it is. Anyone who cares to disagree should just leave right now, because this post is going to contain a lot of it.

The Top Ten: Pokémon

Time for me to introduce something new for this blog: a random list of random things that you (may not) care for! I decided to make this list the ever-clichéd "Top Ten" - a list of favorites (for the most part) and an explanation on why they're my favorites. You may choose to (dis)agree at any time with this list because it's a personal one - meaning that your Top Ten can (and probably will) differ.

Blame it on random topic generation or a lack of creativity on my part, but hey - you still get your (entertaining) blog entry for today; I get my word quota matched as well; there's a new tag for you to look at in bewilderment!

Right-o! Let's get a move on this blog!





CURRENT MUSIC:
Soichi Terada - "Crumbling Castle"
Ape Escape Originape Soundtracks

Ape Escape was influential in the PlayStation years - notably because it was one of the first games (if not the first) that required the DualShock analog controller. Plus, it was a great game, to boot - it's one of my favorite games from that console.

Anyway, I love the soundtrack to this game - partially because it differed from level to level (little to no recycling was used for stage music - which impressed me off the bat), and mostly because the tracks are specially designed so that when using a simple audio editor, you can loop them as much as you want without having to cut anything from the data streams.

"Crumbling Castle" is played in one of the later stages of the game, taking place in a crumbling castle (gee, I couldn't tell) that Specter, the primary antagonist, has set up as one of his bases in his attempt to alter history so that monkeys are the dominant primate. Between how precarious the stage was set up (traps and holes everywhere) and the tone the music sets up for you (a sort of "cautious blitz," if you'll pardon the oxymoron), it fits the situation quite well.


Hans Zimmer - "Show Me Your Firetruck"
Backdraft: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Not many people have seen Backdraft (I'm amongst those people), but from what I've heard from the soundtrack, it's gotta be pretty good. I mean, it has to be - everyone who's seen Iron Chef (the original one) knows the music from this movie. The opening title sequence for the Japanese cooking show? "Show Me Your Firetruck."