Top 10 Video Game Tracks

With a love for music and a love for video games, it only seems right to mix the two together. Video games often have an OST(Original Soundtrack) to go along with the game and set the mood, it can be quite an important part in video gaming to players. Perhaps a character just died? The music might change to reflect such a tragic instance and slow down. On the other hand you might find yourself in a race against your opponent and the music will then be of a quicker paced variety more upbeat to match the circumstances.

Possible spoilers ahead 

 

1. Space Trip Steps

Game: Sonic Adventure 2

Released: 2001

Artist: Hunnid-P

This song is easily a top on the list without question, from both a musical and thematic setting it just fits. First off it's a song for Knuckles, all his music in the SA games are hip hop themed, which makes me like his more so than other characters. Also as a character I think he's pretty cool, although I'm not too keen on his levels being all about finding emerald pieces. The stage that the song takes place in is Meteor Herd, the 14th stage of the hero story. It takes place in space, and one of the interesting things about the song itself is that both the instrumental and the lyrics match the stage. They're pretty direct and simple yet fitting and catchy, for example:

"Took a shuttle to space, and left from our home, At least we're with friends, and I'm not all alone, Bad thing was, that the Emerald spilled, Got to search space, man, time to get in" 

He's telling the story of why he's in space in the first place, so the song is seen as more of a narrative told from the perspective of Knuckles himself. 
Overall it's a great song from one of my favorite video games of all time and I find myself listening to the song even out of the context of the game itself.

2. Weltall

 Game: Saga Frontier 2

Released: 1999

This track here plays during the Desert Megalith scenario once you get to the town after the desert. It's not only one of my favorite ones in the whole game but it is one of my favorite of all games entirely. The story of the game at the time of hearing this track is that Wil Knights is searching for the man who can tell him what happened to his parents. That man would be Alexei Sergein, long story short, Alexei and his brothers are responsible for the death of his father, which you learn from talking to various npcs in the town and piecing together the story while this beautiful music plays in the background. It really brings back memories, nostalgia for the times as a child playing this game full of wonder and excitement. It makes me think of what happened that fateful day with Wil's father and his group of fellow adventurers. It's a purely instrumental song with various instruments that I can't even begin to name but the name of the song translates from German to English as Space, Universe, or Comsos. A beautiful song that still gets replay to this day for me.

3. Title Theme

Game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Released: 1998

The title theme of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is a masterpiece, from a classic game. The piano chord is beautiful, and the various other instruments in the background combine for a truly memorable listening experience. I'm sure I'm not the only one who started the game and would just listen to the song for a while before starting to play, if even playing at all. The song is calming yet a bit sad, and seems like a bit of foreshadowing for some events of the game. It really sets the mood for jumping right into one of the best video games of all time, and is one of the first games I've played that really showed me how important music can be to video games. This is a song that can have you shedding tears, or even something you can just relax and fall asleep to. Beautiful

4. Boss Fight Theme
Game: Megaman X5
Released: 2000 Japan, 2001 NA.
Once again another song with a pretty generic title but still great. This one plays during a boss fight, it's very uptempo and the type of song I could hear being played in a club that plays a form of EDM. It definitely puts you in the zone for fighting the eight robot masters without a doubt, it makes you want to dance too which is not the greatest idea while you're fighting perhaps, but surely listen to it out of context and it's still a great song. My favorite boss theme of any Megaman X game, and a proper fighting tune.

5. The Supernatural
Game: Sonic Adventure 2
Released: 2001
Artist: Everett Bradley
Another song from Sonic Adventure 2, this is the song for Shadow the Hedgehog's stage Final Chase, and as the name says it is the final stage for Shadow. Also as the name says, it's basically him trying to catch up to Sonic the Hedgehog, which the song really puts you in the zone for. Clearly a fitting song told from the perspective of Shadow as noticeable from the lyrics like such:
"I am the ultimate life, a flawless existence
Nothing is unpredictable to me, nothing can surprise me
I am the mystery of the world, I can tell it by their cold eyes
I am the warrior, it's my way to go"
 Definitely seems like something Shadow would say, no? The lyrics might be hard to understand, but that great EDM sounding beat more than makes up for it to me.

6. Fly in the Freedom
Game: Sonic Adventure 2
Released: 2001
Artist: Tabitha Fair 
Once again another song from SA 2, this is the last one on the list however from that game. This is the theme song for Rouge the Bat, who happens to be the only female playable character of SA 2 and is the rival to Knuckles pretty much. Her levels, like his involve searching for the pieces of the master emerald and chaos emeralds. Albeit for different reasons, she is more of a jewel hunter and he is looking for them to put the emerald back together, making them surely at odds for most of the game.  With lyrics like "Fly in the freedom" referring to her ability to fly, as she is a bat and "Is it my treasure? Tell me what I've really looked for" hinting at the fact that she's a treasure hunter always on the search for her next jewel. Her song, is a kind of contrast to Knuckles, where his is Hip Hop, hers is more on the Jazz side of things. To me though they both have the best theme songs out of any character in the SA games.


7. Disharmonie
Game: Saga Frontier 2
Released: 1999
A track from SF 2 again, this one plays during some tense situations, the one that sticks out is a scenario called the Southern Fort. Gustave's fort is under attack by a seemingly enormous horde of monsters and this is the song that plays during the time of the fort being set on fire, followed by Johan the Assassin standing guard out front of the fort ready to crumble to pieces at any moment but fighting solo against the monsters regardless. Assuming you've never played the game, just imagine that scenery and listen to the song at the same time, trust me they go quite well together. Anyways, it's a song that gives you a sense of urgency and danger, one that I find myself listening to still now years after I've played the game multiple times. It definitely fits the mood of the game in the times that it is played, and a great song outside of that as well. Also, the name of the song once again is in German, but the English translation is pretty obvious if I even need to mention it, it is Disharmony.

8. Moonlit City Roa
Game: Legend of Mana
Released: 1999 Japan, 2000 NA.
Easily a favorite from the Legend of Mana soundtrack which was no slouch when it comes to the music selection. Some words that come to mind, beautiful, mysterious, melancholy, and thought provoking. This song plays during your stay in the city of Lumina, which involves a bit of a romantic subplot, and this song covers that so nicely. Such a peaceful piece of music, it brings me back to my days of childhood playing this game and enjoying the music.

9. Open Your Heart
Game: Sonic Adventure
Released: 1998 Japan, 1999 NA.
Artist: 40 Crush
This is the main theme of Sonic Adventure as well as playing during the fight against the final boss of the game, Perfect Chaos. PC being the form of Chaos once he's absorbed the negative energy of all seven chaos emeralds. Once again the lyrics are quite fitting for the fight, such as "Thunder, rain and lightning
Danger, water rising
Clamour, sirens wailing" because during the fight with PC and preceding to it, the whole city is flooded. "Ancient cities blazing
Shadows keep attacking
Little children crying" Another callback to an event that happened in the game, or perhaps foreshadowing if you've heard the song before playing that part. The song gives a sense of dramatic times where someone has to step up and defeat their rival, and if that's what the people behind it were striving for then they did it surely. One of my favorite songs of the game and series.

10. Forest Temple
Game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Released: 1999
As the title says, this is the song that plays during your time in the Forest Temple of the game. If you ask some people who've played the game they would say that the song is perhaps creepy and mysterious, and when you listen to it while in the temple itself it adds on a whole other level of mystique. The temple itself is quite odd at times and confusing, the song adds on to it greatly. From constant rattling noise to the wind instrument in the background coming in and out every so often, then the sound of a voice making some kind of grunt that is also quite randomly placed throughout it. The song is somewhat eerie, but also quite peaceful and calming, which is what I really like about it. Probably my favorite song out of the temples, and one of my favorites in the whole game.

Top 10 Hip Hop Love Songs

 Alright so, Love songs in hip hop might not seem like they're too prevalent of a thing, and at times it really can seem like the only thing artists show love for is money, cars, and clothes but that couldn't be further from the truth.  If you look for something hard enough you will often find it, here's 10 songs that I love about love. 

1. Common Sense - I Used to Love H.E.R.

Album: Resurrection

Released: 1994

Sample: George Benson - The changing world 

Favorite lines:

"I met this girl, when I was ten years old
And what I loved most she had so much soul
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me"

A classic, an early example of personification, story telling and plot twists in hip hop story telling, as shown by the ending "cause who I'm talking 'bout, y'all, is hip-hop" letting the listeners know that hip hop is the subject of the song and not a woman as it would appear. A good love song albeit about a culture rather than a person but love is love and you can tell easily that Common (then known as Common Sense) truly loves hip hop and has no problem putting it on record.

2. Lupe Fiasco - Sunshine

Album: Food and Liquor

Released: 2006

Sample: Diana Ross - Friend to Friend

Favorite lines:

"Relationship is just thirty minutes long
It's kinda heavy, maybe a little strong
Gonna take much more than once
Can't trust what each of us say at least for a month
Or two, before I bid you adieu
Do this one thing for me: out of the trillions
Of numbers that's in the world just leave me a few
That lead to you
Won't be longin, I'll see you in the morning
Cool"

Basically the concept of this song is the same as the previous one, it's a song about his love for hip hop. On first listen, or for a few you might think he's talking about a woman as well,  but on further examination it's pretty clear that hip hop is his true love and he expresses that quite well. Now that these two are out of the way though, the next will more traditional in the sense of low so on to the next one.

3. QuEst - Biscayne Blvd

Mixtape: Searching Slyvan

Released: 2014

Sample: The Hics - Lines

Favorite Lines:

"Shit is lookin' shallow on the surface
But feelings get real when you get caught up in the deep end
Sittin' in your car, all we listen to is Nas late nights
We don't even have a reason
Too afraid to ask if you leavin'
I know you got work in the mornin', I don't wanna keep you out late
This love shit feelin' like an outbreak
Plus I keep staring everywhere, swear to god those lips look sweeter than a pound cake"

Easily one of my more recent favorites. In this song unlike the previous two the references are all to an actual woman and not hip hop or anything else. It's clear that he loves her, or might be falling in love with her and that the relationship means something to him. From the hook to the verses to the beat itself, everything just fits and makes you think of past relationships you've had yourself.

4. 2Pac - Do for Love
Album: R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

Released: 1998

Sample: Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do for Love

Favorite lines:

"I shoulda seen you was trouble but I was lost, trapped in your eyes
Preoccupied with gettin' tossed, no need to lie
You had a man and I knew it, you told me
Don't worry bout it we can do it now I'm under pressure
Make a decision cause I'm waitin', when I'm alone
I'm on the phone havin' secret conversations, huh
I wanna take your misery, replace it with happiness
But I need your faith in me, I'm a sucka for love"

Not only is it one of my favorite 2Pac songs, it's also one of my favorite hip hop songs about love, as well as my favorite song on entire album it's placed on but I digress, once again this song is a bit different. It's surely about love and a woman at that, but here you find him questioning the faithfulness of the woman and showing that even when you're a celebrity there's the chance that your relationship can still be lost if your partner is not trustworthy or trusting of you.

5. Immortal Technique - You Never Know

Album: Revolutionary Vol. 2

Released: 2003

Sample: Spyro Gyra - Lost and Found

Favorite lines:

"Hold the person that you love closely if they're next to you
The one you love, not the person that'll simply have sex with you
Appreciate them to the fullest extent, and then beyond
Cause you never really know what you got, until it's gone"

Great storytelling, yet again in another aspect of love, this one focused clearly on the whole relationship from the meeting to the tragic end. Descriptive, easy to understand and laid smoothly over a pretty mellow beat, this song is one that just can't be left off the list. Four verses and over seven minutes long, he shows that this relationship was real and had a deep impact on him without a doubt. Vividly he shows you that this woman was his first true love and vice versa, though the unfortunate twisting at the end that they just couldn't be together long but the time they did spend was irreplaceable.

6. Drake - Brand New

Mixtape: So Far Gone

Released: 2009

Sample: None that I know of

Favorite lines:

"This here is on some truthful shit
It seems like everything I do you're used to it
And I hate hearing stories bout who you've been with
That's when I gotta hide what I'm feeling inside
So you still think I am confident and damn
Is this gonna last?
You're up on a pedestal
Are we moving too fast?
Feels like I'm in crazy competition with the past
That's why I gotta ask..."

Now this one here is more of an R&B song I suppose because he doesn't rap on it at all, but I'll still include it since he does both genres and the mixtape it's on can be considered a mixture of both. It's still within the realm of hip hop for that reason. The song itself is great and probably my favorite song from So Far Gone, it's relatable, emotional, and really makes question your own relationship and insecurities. Who hasn't had that thought at one point in a new relationship about how their partner might be comparing them to their ex? What can you bring new to the relationship that the last man/woman hasn't? That's the question this song asks, and the answer is... Up to you to decide.

7. Kendrick Lamar - She Needs Me

Album: Kendrick Lamar EP

Released: 2009

Sample: Dimlite - Byrdshot and Bye

Favorite lines:

"On the red carpet, dress matching his suit, she holding his arm
She waves at her moms and wave at the world, got the world in her palms
Head in the clouds, star gazing, caught her on the stage, a proposal was waiting
He bent down, got on one knee, she looked him in the eye and said she needs me
She needs me, she needs me, she needs me, she needs me
Even if we seem to separate, eventually it’ll come to pass, and she’ll need me
I need her, we need we"

Kendrick tells the story of a relationship of his over the course of the song starting from the beginning, painting the vivid picture of a typical woman that you'd like to be with. Liked by parents, not competitive, dependable, kind, and beautiful. Over the story it shows that these traits make her successful in business, and it then leads her to being in a relationship with a famous actor but once he proposes her love for Kendrick doesn't let her say yes to him. Clearly he's correct when he says "she needs me"

8. Lost Boyz - Renee

Album: Legal Drug Money

Released: 1996

Sample: Janet Jackson - Funny How Time Flies(When You're Having Fun)

Favorite lines:

"She started feeling on my chest
I started feeling on the breasts
And there's no need for me to stress the rest
A yo, I got myself a winner
We sparked a blunt before we ate
And a blunt after we ate dinner
She had a tattoo she only wanted yo to see
But first dim the lights and turn up the Jodeci
I'm like whatever shorty rock
We can swing it like that
Cause on the real this is where it's at"

  

Once again storytelling with a nice description of the relationship from the meeting to the tragic end of it. The woman in question here, same name as the title of the song dies from a shooting, hence the hook "A ghetto love is the law that we live by Day by day I wonder why my shorty had to die I reminisce over my ghetto princess everyday Give it up for my shorty" love can be found in the ghetto, but it can be taken away just as quickly due to things such as violence as shown clearly in the track.

9. Charles Hamilton - In Case I Actually Get Her

Mixtape: Well Isn't This Awkward

Released: 2009

Sample: Rihanna - P.S (I'm Still Not Over You)

Favorite lines:

"I don't even know what I'm about to do
But I do know that eyes give out the truth
Lies are mouth pollution
So I gotta figure out a solution
Without abusin'
Everything I am about, so how can I do this
Feels like I'm about to lose it
Girl you got a mouth just use it
Your eyes f*ckin' talk to much
For me to hear you
I think it's time I be near you, in clear view"

From the title to the sample to the hook and everything just screams love song. The mixtape this song is from is properly titled also, "Well Isn't This Awkward" the whole mixtape samples Rihanna songs, and it's pretty much a dedication to his love for Rihanna, although they were never in a relationship, hence titles like "In Case I Actually Get Her" and the title of the mixtape itself. The lyrics paint the picture of a man viewing a woman from afar and hoping to be with her one day and it's something I can relate to myself as well as many others would be able to, so it's definitely one of my favorites.

10.  LL Cool J - Hey Lover

Album: Mr. Smith

Released: 1996

Sample: Michael Jackson - The Lady in my Life

Favorite lines:

"I kissed you softly and you yearned for more
We experienced pleasure unparalleled
Into an ocean of love we both fell
Swimming in the timeless, currents of pure bliss
Fantasies interchanging with each kiss
Undying passion unities our souls
  Together we swim until the point of no control
But it's a fantasy it you won't come true
We never even spoke and your man swear he love you
So I'm gonna keep all these feelins inside
Keep my dreams alive until the right time"

Like the previous song this is once again about a woman he's not in a relationship with, just someone he's simply seen before and is fantasizing about. Starting the story off from when he first sees her to seeing her more often, he sees her from a distance more and more slowly becoming more enamored with her. Seeing her current boyfriend he feels that he's the better option, but he decides not to act on his feelings and to just wait until the right time. Classic LL Cool J.

Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B samples

One of the foundations of hip hop is sampling other songs and makin them into something new, a great feat done by producers just starting out and done by the veterans in the music industry as well. Here's 5 of my favorite hip hop samples and some songs they were used in.

1. The Blackbyrds - Mysterious Vibes

Album: Action

Released: 1977

Used in:

Paris - Days of Old

Almighty RSO - One in the Chamba

Shello - Good Thang

Kurious - I'm Kurious

Wiz Khalifa - Ink my Whole Body

Dom Kennedy - Still Lookin'

Classic, easily one of my favorites and one of the most used samples that I know of. The ones listed above are just my favorites.

2. Tom Scott - Today

Album: The Honeysuckle Breeze

Released: 1967

Used in:
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth- They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)

This one is another great that many people know, but here's an example of a song being sampled, and then that song being sampled, sample inside of sample, it might seem odd but here's a break down.
Tom Scott's Today is a cover of a song by Jefferson Airplanes. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth then sampled Tom Scott's version for They Reminisice Over You (T.R.O.Y). That was then sampled by Lupe Fiasco for Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) as well as being sampled in other songs as well by other artists.

3. The Stylistics - Betcha by Golly, Wow
Album: The Stylistics
Released: 1971

Used in

Charles Hamilton - Writing in the Sky

Lil Herb - Write Your Name

Used by a few different artists but Charles Hamilton and Lil Herb are my favorites. Not to mention the songs by them it's used in are easily one of their bests. So much so that it's gained a top spot in my favorite samples just off the strength of those 2 songs.

4. Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Album: Thriller
Released: 1982
Used in:
Nas - Nas Will Prevail
Nas - It Ain't Hard to Tell
SWV - Right Here(remix)
2Pac - Thug Nature/Nigga Nature
Blackstreet - Why, Why
Chris Brown - She Ain't You
Ludacris - This Has Been my World

A classic song sampled and covered by many artists. Nas sampled it twice, once for Nas Will Prevail, which is really more like the original version of the well known It Ain't Hard to Tell from Illmatic. Not only is this song heavily sampled, it's also considered one of Michael Jackson's greatest songs by many, as well as my personal favorite.

 5. Souls of Mischief - 93 'til Infinity
Album: 93 'til Infinity
Released: 1993
Used in:
Big K.R.I.T - Somedayz

Freddie Gibbs - How we do

Tyga - 09 Until

From the album of the same title as the song, a great hip hop song as well as something to be sampled. A song for the year of 93, the year the album was released, being their debut album. Sampled in plenty of songs with good reason, production is top notch. It has a somewhat relaxing vibe to it, great for mellowing and flowing smoothly over.

Top 10 2Pac songs

It's time for another list and since my previous post being about Charles Hamilton, one of my favorite rappers of all time it seems only fair to make one about my favorite rapper who is no longer with us. 2Pac, a.k.a Tupac Amaru Shakur, birth name Lesane Parish Crooks. Widely considered by some as one of, if not the best rapper, and on many people's top rappers lists of all time. I've done a video of my top 10 before, but it's pretty outdated now as I've since heard more music of his since that time and my favorites have changed. The link is below however if you'd like to see how it compares.

1. Song title: Pain
Album: Above the Rim Soundtrack
Sample: Earl Klugh - Livin Inside Your Love
Favorite lines:
The whole thing, I mean really the passion in these verses and the sample and everything is just top notch to me. The featured rapper on the song, Stretch delivers a great verse as well and makes it that much better. A stunning song that truly shows you the pain of coming up in poverty and violence and the struggle to get out.

2. Song title: Temptations
Album: Me Against the World
Sample: Sly and the Family Stones: Sing a Simple Song
Favorite lines:
"A lotta people think it's easy, to settle down
Got a woman that'll please me, in every town
I don't wanna but I gotta do it, the temptation
Got me ready to release the fluid, sensation
Sit down and conversate like you know me, take my hand
Cause even Thugs get lonely, understand
Even the hardest of my homies need attention
Catch you blowin up the telephone, reminiscin"

Simply relatable, perhaps more so to other entertainers and celebrities that actually travel a lot, but still down to earth and showing that everyone does get lonely at times and could use some attention.

3. Song title: Starin Through my Rearview
Album: Tupac Resurrection Soundtrack
Sample: Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
Favorite lines:
"Multiple gunshots fill the block, the fun stops
Niggas is callin cops, people shot, nobody stops
I wonder when the world stopped caring last night
Two kids shot while the whole block staring
I will never understand this society, first they try
To murder me, then they lie to me, product of a dying breed"

This song also has a version with Dwele on it instead of E.D.I. Mean and Yaki Kadafi of the Outlawz, which is found on the album  Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2.

4. Song title: Niggaz Nature(also called Thug Nature)

Album: Killuminati: The 3 Day Theory (The original version of  The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory)

Sample: Michael Jackson - Human Nature

Favorite lines:

"No need to cry now, go wipe your tears
Be a woman, why you actin' surprised?
You saw the bullshit comin' fake hair
Fake nails, fake eyes too
So why you bound to fuck wit fake guys too

Ain't nothin' hard about it
Why you lookin' sad, shoulda thought about it
Say you learn, I truly doubt it"

Women with all the make up and other things to make them selves appear better, will fall for someone who also exudes fakeness is basically the idea that he's expressing here.

5. Song title: Hail Mary

Album: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

Sample: None that I know of.

Favorite lines:

"Penitentiaries is packed with promise-makers
Never realize the precious time that bitch niggas is wasting
Institutionalized, I live my life a product made to crumble
But too hardened for a smile, we're too crazy to be humble: we ballin'"

Simple, not much explanation necessary.  Prisons are packed with people who make promises that they'll keep once they get out and that the people in jail are wasting their time in there and becoming used to it. His life being a product made to crumble, meaning he knows he won't live long, so he lives for the now rather than the later, too tough to crack a smile and too crazy to be a humble person.

6. Song title: Against All Odds

Album: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

Sample: Cameo - Skin I'm In

Favorite lines:

Once again, all of them. He dissed a lot of people in one go. So instead I'll just give a list of people he mentioned, by name. Very direct of him.

Nas

Puffy

Mobb Deep

Hatian Jack a.k.a Jimmy Henchman

De La Soul

Dr. Dre 

Walter ‘King Tut’ Johnson(apparently one of the shooters of 2Pac)

7. Song title: I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto

Album: R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

Sample: Cameo - Two of Us

Favorite lines:

"I see no changes, all I see is racist faces
Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it take to make this
One better place, let's erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right
Cause both black and white are smoking crack tonight
And only time we deal is when we kill each other
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And though it seems heaven-sent
We ain't ready, to have a black President, huh
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact
The penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks"

Lyric breakdown: 

Racism running rampant and black males being arrested and imprisoned at rates higher than any other ethnicity, although like he clearly says "both black and white are smoking crack tonight" or in other words, people of every color and creed do bad things. There's no need to look down on one specifically and overlook the wrong doings of another.

8. Song title: Holla at me

Album: All Eyez on Me

Sample: None that I know of

Favorite lines:

Once again, the whole song, can't even begin to single out certain lines. Three verses, one dedicated each to a different person, in a dissing fashion fueled with the passion that he brings as usual. It's unknown for sure who is dissed in what verse but it's pretty much common perception that the first verse is dedicated towards Stretch, the second verse to Biggie, and the third verse to the woman who accused him of rape and got him sent to prison. All in all a great song with a nice beat and truthful lyrics, emotional and relatable. He was just human here, no big bragging, no gangsta persona nothing of the sort really.

9. Song title: Do For Love

Album: R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

Sample: Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love

Favorite lines:

"I shoulda seen you was trouble but I was lost, trapped in your eyes
Preoccupied with gettin' tossed, no need to lie
You had a man and I knew it, you told me
Don't worry bout it we can do it now I'm under pressure
Make a decision cause I'm waitin', when I'm alone
I'm on the phone havin' secret conversations, huh
I wanna take your misery, replace it with happiness
But I need your faith in me, I'm a sucka for love"

Thoughts: 

These lines right here are some of my favorite 2Pac lines of all time, easily. I suppose because I'm a sucka for love(one of the alternate versions of the song).

10. Song title: Never Had a Friend Like me

Album: Gridlock'd Soundtrack

Sample: None that I know of

Favorite lines:

"You got my nigga 25
So now I sacrifice your life
Help to separate me and my dog
Broken ties
Why the fuck should I let you live
When I'm dead inside
Rapid fire my delivery
I'm bustin' at they whole crew
Nigga, remember me"

Thoughts:

Maybe I'm just a sentimental fool, but when someone separates you from your homie, you feel hurt. Once again the passion in this passage is way above average, bars so savage. Lol, couldn't help myself but such a simple statement is stated with a calm rage, it's great.

  

That's my top 10, he has so many songs that it really isn't easy to do. His lyrics might not be full of crazy metaphors and double and triple entendres but the passion, delivery, flow, and pure honest behind them always and hopefully always will set him above the rest and make his name go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it. The art of rap misses one of the greats, as do I.

 My former top ten, check it out and compare.

Top 10 Charles Hamilton Songs

Charles Hamilton a.k.a C.H. a.k.a my favorite still living rapper and musician in general. Born in Ohio and raised in New York, he truly brings lyrical ability to the forefront of his music along with his brutal honesty and emotions. If you can't find a few songs of his you can relate to, then you're probably not searching hard enough. Here's 10 of my favorites and a little information about them and what I think about some of the lyrics.

1. Song Title: Starchasers

Mixtape: It's Charles Hamilton

Sample: Lykke Li - Little bit

Favorite lines:

"My mind will not stop ticking
It's not a clock, stop trippin'
This is a hot written
I'm the one that the stars shine for
I'm more than a leader, I'm gravity times four
so hold me down"

Lyric breakdown:
Mind ticking, as in thinking constantly like a clock always going, just a metaphor for always working. Hot written meaning obviously his verses.
The stars shine for him because he's a person to look up to due to his skills
Much more than being a leader, he's 4 times gravity, gravity being the force that keeps things from leaving the atmosphere so "hold me down" just like gravity does. Double entendre there, as in hold him down literally down to earth, and hold him down as in be there for him when he needs you.

 2. Song Title: Verbal Vicodin

Mixtape: Intervention

Sample: The Police - Message In A Bottle

Favorite lines:

"Cause I wanna feel the beat
Like nobody else
Maybe being a nobody helps
Cause nobody felt the beat the way my body felt
I got no rhythm but I'm gifted in music
So I ain't going nowhere i ain't gifted with movin"

Lyric breakdown:

Pretty simple yet deep at the same time, he wants to feel the beat like nobody else can, and he feels like a nobody so the music is what helps him. He got no rhythm, in other words he can't dance well, but he's gifted in makin his songs, with the rapping and producing. He's not "going anywhere" because as said earlier he's not moving his body because he can't dance, he's just rapping and makin music, which is his real gift.

3. Song Title: Charlie's Angels

Mixtape: Intervention

Sample: Jon B. - They Don't Know

Favorite lines:

"This ain't a love song
This is my way of saying what's wrong
To people who believe that all the love's gone
People would rather greenback so much that their heart is black  

Romance is something for them to scream at"

Lyric breakdown:

The song isn't about love, but it's his way of saying what he sees wrong with it. People think that love is no longer around but he's explaining why he feels that is. "People would rather greenback so much that their heart is black" basically saying that the love of money has replaced the love of other human beings and the heart has gone black because of that. Check the color wordplay with green(the color of money and envy) and black(a color associated with something that has rotted). "Romance is something for them to scream at, in other words they get a partner and just verbally abuse them because of things such as financial issues, as mentioned previously.

4. Song Title: Falling & Balance (or just Balance, I've seen it under both names)
Mixtape: The Bonus & Unreleased 7 (Excellence of Execution:The Pink and Black Attack is where I've first seen it though myself)

Sample: Toni Braxton - Let It Flow

Favorite lines:

"I don't think it's meant to be, e
Cause she loves her work more than she does me
And honestly at 23 I would probably love my work more than I did she
And I ain't even mad that I felt what I felt, if anything I'm mad at myself
What was love at first sight for me.. Was just another night for she
I could be wrapped so quick in a trance that I could fall in love and never ever get in her pants
Damn
But that's me.. And she's her"

Lyric breakdown:

One of the more relatable lines for me. No complex metaphors or anything here really. The woman in question is more in love with her career than Charles and he feels that at that age(23) he would be the same as well. So he's not angry at anything but his self for falling in love at first sight although for her it was "just another night" (ouch) He got entranced just by being around her that he fell in love without ever having sex with her, so he fell for her pretty hard, but that's just who he is, and that's just who she is so he accepts it.

5. Song Title:Writing in the Sky

Mixtape: The Pink Lavalamp

Sample: The Stylystics - Betcha By Golly,Wow

Favorite lines:

"They say a diamond is a girl's best friend
I guess my best friend is a diamond cause she's my girls best friend
They say a dog is a man's best friend
I guess my bitch has a diamond flea collar necklace
Life is Tetris, you gotta find the best fit
Mistakes build up so much there's no exit
Too many mistakes, the game over

I make mad mistakes every time I ain't sober"

Lyric breakdown:

The first few lines give an extended metaphor on the classic line of a dog being a man's best friend and a diamond being a girl's best friend. A diamond is his best friend because it's his girl's best friend, meaning he gives her diamonds because she likes them and he wants to give her something that she would like. Bitch in the upcoming line refers to both his girlfriend and the literal meaning of a female dog so he's saying that his girlfriend has a diamond flea collared necklace. It gets a little deeper but to break it down further, a flea collar is to keep fleas away obviously, so here he means getting his girlfriend a diamond necklace in order to keep the metaphorical fleas away (other men) by keeping her happy.

6. Song Title: Sci-Fi Channel

Mixtape: At Most I'm Just...

Sample: Incubus - Here in my Room

Favorite lines:

"She can shape shift. Go from beauty to an ape quick, 

that's on her early morning wake shit
But I ain't really that normal to begin with. 

With normal comes a form of boring and I dismiss it
This isn't shit is it? Well, let's take a quick trip into my misses
But listen, the moment one of us start tripping, something hard hitting, wanna jump in Charles business"

Lyric breakdown:
She metaphorically changes from beautiful to an ape when she wakes up in the morning, without her make up assumingly which isn't normal to him but then again he's not that normal either but he doesn't like normal because it's boring to him. "The moment one of us starts trippin somethin hard hittin wanna jump in Charles business" Tripping meaning blowing something out of proportion or being upset over something irrationally. So when one of them starts tripping something big comes up and interferes with his personal business."

7. Song Title: Wonder
Mixtape:  It's Charles Hamilton
Sample: Incubus - Dig
Favorite lines:
"Making you go, take some cocaine to ya nose, pain doesn’t show
Only way is if I don’t play with you hoes. I was created alone, raised in a home were hate wasn’t known, breaking the mold was what kept me safe from the cold
Babies, will grow and maybe they’ll know, I would have gone crazy to show you how a day couldn’t hold me
It took an eternity for me to murder me, the me that doubts me, there is no me without me"

Lyrical breakdown:
The cocaine to the nose will make it so the "pain doesn't show" or in other words, being high enough where you you'll forget about your problems and not show you pain. "raised in a home where hate wasn't known breaking the mold was what kept me safe from the cold" meaning where he was raised there wasn't any hate, apparently their was love and that breaking the mold meaning doing things different than the usual or expected kept him warm from the cold(either literal or metaphorical). "I would have gone crazy to show you how a day couldn't hold me, it took an eternity for me to murder me, the me without me" Meaning he would go crazy in order to prove that he can not be stopped in a mere day, it would take an eternity to stop him, and for him to kill his other self that has doubts about his self.

8. Song Title: Happy Ending
Mixtape: Sonic the Hamilton
Sample: Imogen Heap - Have You Got it in You
Favorite lines:
"Most choose to move what bothers them
I let it stick around to bruise my flesh
But I step in shoes the color red
The color your heart pumps
If I stop walking I guess I'm fucking dead
So I run, no need to take my time
And wait for time to make a mistake
And say that I ain't great
I'm awake all times of the day
My mind state is irate
So I rhyme what I say
Instead of rhyming what's fake
Even with the nine in my face
I will say what I wanna say
And die today, why should I break? Break or stop?"

Lyric breakdown:
Most people would rather move something that hurts them but he lets it stay and leave a bruise. The next few lines are him speaking as Sonic beginning at "But I step in the shoes the color red"  Sonic wears red shoes, which is the color a heart pumps(blood) if he stops walking then he'll be dead because in Sonic games if you don't reach the goal by the time limit then you die and have to start from the beginning, hence the following line as well "So I run, no need to take my time and wait for time to make a mistake and say that I ain't great". "I'm awake all times of the day my mind state is irate so I rhyme what I say instead of rhyming what's fake" He's awake all day and his mind is angry, possibly from lack of sleep so he just rhymes to vent his frustration, instead of rapping about nonsense he'll be honest and say what's really bothering him. "Even with the nine in my face I will say what I wanna say and die today, should I break? break or stop?" Meaning even if his life is threatened he will keep doing what he does and say what he wants to say and die for it. Two breaks in that line with two definitions, one meaning to shatter to pieces, and the other to slow down and/or stop.

9. Song Title: In Case I Only Get One
Mixtape: Well Isn't This Awkward.
Sample: Neyo - Miss Independent
Favorite lines:
"Let me be real, blessed to be real
felt you begging for a second to be next to the real
so I Tick Tock you, That means watch, bad to me but not to the cops
Got it, I should stop right there, you got my care
and Mesne me which means Keep me grounded but feeling So high
Feelings I don't hide so chill with the crying
I feel both eyes when they water up,
I brought up the thought of her daughter and you stated to fuss like
Can you afford to be daddy daycare, I wanted to hear the sound of daddy stay here."

Lyrical breakdown:
"Let me be real, blessed to be real, felt you begging for a second to be next with the real, so I tick tock you. that means watch, bad to be but not to the cops, got it?" He wants to be real(honest) with her and tell her that he felt that she really desires to be next to the real(him) So he "tick tocks"(the onomatopoeia for a clock) watches her which is bad to him, but the cops apparently don't have a problem with it. "I should stop right there, you got my care, and mesne me which means keep me grounded but feeling so high" Mesne is another word for intermediate or middle, so she keeps him balanced and feeling high but still down to earth. "Feelings I don't hide so chill with the crying, I feel both eyes when they water up, I brought up the thought of a daughter and you started to fuss like "can you afford to be daddy daycare", I wanted to hear the sound of daddy stay here" He doesn't hide how he feels so she doesn't need to cry, he'll tell her the truth. He feels her eyes filling up with tears when he brought up the idea of having a daughter with her, and her reaction was arguing with him about him being able to afford taking care of a child. 

10. Song Title: Hell Yes
Mixtape: Substance Abuse
Sample: Usher - How do I say
Favorite lines
"She realized the danger of the passion
But what the hell, she came here for the passion
And I'm no stranger for the passion
Handcuffed to the bed, the chain was the reaction
I can't move, she's got me bound
Our chemistry is science and she got me down
But I love it, baby don't rub it, be gentle
Uncuff it, now you can continue
The wind blows, I'm in you, window
Open in you, window"

Lyrical breakdown:
"She realized the danger of the passion, but what the hell she came here for the passion and I'm no stranger to the passion" She realizes how dangerous passion can be but that's not the problem because she came to him for that reason anyways, and he's not a stranger to the passion his self. "handcuffed to the bed, the chain was the reaction, I can't move, she's got me bound, our chemistry is science and she got me down" She handcuffed him to the bed and they're using chains apparently(sounds a bit kinky) he's stuck to the bed, and their chemistry is science(chemistry being how well they connect and also a form of science) and she's understanding him completely so she's got him down(double entendre, down as in understood, and down as in she's on top of him) "But I love it, baby don't rub it, be gentle, uncuff it, now you can continue" He loves the situation but doesn't want her to rub the wrong way(probably get chaffed or scratched by the handcuffs)) so he wants to be uncuffed before they continues the act. "The wind blows, I'm in you, window, open in you (innuendo) window." The wind is blowing because she's "opened" so the wind as well as he is inside of her.


If you haven't heard of Charles Hamilton yet and you're into hip hop I definetely recommend him. He has so much music that I've not even gotten through half of it yet, so this top 10 is liable to change but from everything I've heard these are my favorites. The lyrics breakdown is based purely on my interpretation of the meaning of the song and understanding of the ideas he was trying to express. Enjoy!

Top 5 Male Anime Characters

Considering that an earlier post was my top 5 female anime characters it makes sense to include the my top 5 male anime characters as well so here we go.

Spoilers Below (obviously)

1. Lelouch Vi Brittannia

Also known as Lelouch Lamperouge, the protagonist of Code Geass. Also goes by his code name Zero by the members of the resistance that he leads against his former home of Brittannia of which he is the 11th prince by birth and for a short time the emperor of. This is the kind of the character that you just never know what's coming next, he has the qualities that many people would like to possess. Intelligent, charismatic, persuasive, clever, quick thinking, and more he proves his self to be a talented individual and only a teenager at that. He gives compelling speeches and is able to rally numerous people under his command, even without using the power of the Geass that he comes to possess. Traits fitting of someone of a position of leadership, whether it be the rebellion or the empire. Not one to act outside of logical thinking, unless it's involving the one person he truly cares about as much if not more than his self, his sister Nunnally. The things Lelouch may do at times can be seen as, cruel and cold hearted but when you think about how he's really doing it all (or at least claims to be) for his younger sister, it really shows a side of him that has some compassion, making him a pretty well rounded character of depth and filled with ambition. Easily an all time favorite.

2. Roy Mustang

Colonel Roy Mustang of Full Metal Alchemist and Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, as far as I know there's not much difference in his character from either series but I've only watched brotherhood fully so this is based purely off that. A colonel in the Amestris military, his sense of duty is to his country and it's people like many who choose a military career path. His ambition and intelligence coupled with his skill with alchemy, in particular his flame alchemy make him a force to be reckoned with, as a fighter and as a military commander. He comes off as arrogant and selfish often times, but it's shown multiple times throughout the series that he's actually a caring individual who values his subordinates and will protect them quite fiercely. As shown when his close friend Maes Hughes (who is also one of his biggest supporters in his ambitions to rise in the ranks) is killed mysteriously while investigating something Edward had mentioned to him about the philosopher's stone. The rest of the series Roy spends with an added goal in mind, finding the ones behind the death of Maes and making them pay. His loyalty is something not to be questioned, and when he finds who is behind the murder he commences the suffering, with rage and hatred luckily he is a man with people around him who do not let it consume him. A personally relatable character and my favorite in the series itself.

3. Kurama

  Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho, this one is another case of the intelligent fighter. A fox demon with power to control plants which he uses to turn a rose into a powerful thorn covered whip as his main weapon. When in his full demon form he's even more of a formidable opponent able to fully tap into his powers letting him do things such as create demonic plants. His fighting style is to draw the battle out long enough to fully analyze his opponents own fighting style (even if it causes him to take a few hits in the process) in order to accurately develop a strategy to defeat them. It might seem like a bit of a risk, but it's one thing that makes me like his character even more. Also he's former thief, who got second chance basically and has reformed his self and turns to helping Yusuke and the team fight against the antagonists for the rest of the series after Yusuke saves his life very early on in the show becoming quick friends and comrades. Out of the group he is definitely my favorite all around, from personality to fighting style he proves to be a valuable member and one that rarely shows any distress when in a fight or anything else. Cool and calm, Kurama is a top choice for certain.

4.  Simon

A tough choice between 2 of the main characters of Gurren Lagann but considering Kamina is nearly half way through the series Simon is my choice. Simon, at least before the time-skip is more relatable of a character, he's quieter and just tends to follow Kamina's words of wisdom and leadership. Not fully coming into his own path until after his tragic death, shortly afterwards taking over leadership of the resistance he shows quite the character development and matures over the course of the series. His most redeeming quality probably would be his hopefulness, which is pretty much what the whole series is brimming with. Hope of better times and the determination needed to achieve it, which is the definition of Simon. Each new challenge that arises he faces with faith in victory and without the looming despair that would haunt most others keeping him from accomplishing his goals. For showing anyone who's watched the show an example of hope against seemingly insurmountable odds, he gets a placement on my list.

5. Sesshōmaru

Sesshomaru, the older half brother of Inuyasha, a full dog demon with immense powers and an arrogance to match. He's a prime example of confidence and having the strength to back it up. Very few occasions has he ever really been seriously injured, and even then his only real flaw is having too much faith in his self and not wanting to rely on anyone else. He might start off as a villain and be a heartless person, even to his own half brother but as the series goes on a softer side of him develops, and out of all the characters in the series his character development is the most vast besides Inuyasha. Even after losing his arm to the very sword that he wanted so dearly, he shrugs it off and continues fighting any opponent who would dare challenge him and winning smoothly and without much effort. As far as characters goes he's a complex individual, and most likely the strongest in the series, the rare occasions that him and Inuyasha wind up working together against a common enemy are some of the best scenes in the series as it really shows truth to that old saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". I can't help but think that the series could have been even greater if they worked together more often, but still he remains one of my favorite characters I've seen so far. 

Top 10 Rpgs

Role Playing Games, also known as RPGs are a very important genre to me, easily one of the most vast and diverse. Definitely one of my favorite genres personally and loved by many. They mix well with almost any other genre due to their seemingly lax requirements to be labeled rpg. Some elements that make up an rpg are things such as:

• Menus for changing gear/items/tactics and more.
• A leveling up system to strengthen your character.
• Having a main character and a party (usually 3-4) they fight alongside.
• A world that is traversed on foot/vehicle/other mode of faster transportation such as teleportation or flight.
• Towns/cities to buy/sell/trade aforementioned equipment and items from shopkeepers and other npcs(non playable characters) of other professions that can also assist in your journey, like inn keepers to rest your party and blacksmiths to forge weapons and armor.

Of course those are just a few similarities between RPG games that I've taken notice of, and isn't to be taken as a guarantee. Some games incorporate other ideas of course and some people would prefer not to label with just one name.

That being said let's jump right into the list. Here's some of my favorites in the genre.

Possible spoilers ahead

1. Saga Frontier 2

 

Developed by: Squaresoft

Released: 1999 Japan, 2000 in NA.

Platform: PlayStation

A childhood favorite of mine, probably my all time favorite RPG or at least for the PlayStation system. The negatives I can find in the game are quite few so I'll start with them. First being the actual gameplay could be longer, a lot of time is spent reading dialogue between the characters and not enough time spent playing them (Not a huge negative since the game is very story driven, but people not used to rpgs might not feel the same). Second, the seemingly random time jumps that make you have some characters available for short periods of time while others are there for quite longer. Also the character's age at a given time has an effect on their stats(not inherently bad, it's pretty innovative.) Thirdly, one of the methods of learning techniques is pretty interesting but it can be quite bothersome unless you've previously played and remember how or you're checking up online how to do them. Based on that you might think I'm being hard on it, but no other problems for it are really there. The fighting style is a nice spin on the regular turn based system found in other RPGs. The soundtrack is one of the best for any video game I've ever played hands down. Every song just seems to fit so well within the confines of the event taking place. The characters are diverse and you'll find yourself spending hours just thinking about them and how they're connected to one another, I know I sure did. The main characters in particular feel extremely relatable even though their stories are so dramatic and surrounded in mystery. Recommended to any RPG fan, and for anyone who played the first Saga Frontier but didn't like it much(like myself)this is a big improvement all around.

2. Legend of Mana

 

Developed by: Squaresoft

Released: 1999 in Japan, 2000 in NA.

Platform: PlayStation

 When I think of RPG this is easily one of the first ones that comes to mind. A classic that is a childhood favorite. It's the fourth in the Mana series and the first one for the PlayStation console. Although I've never gotten around to finishing the whole game, (being one of the only very few games on this list that I haven't) it still made quite the impression for the time I did spend playing it. From the vibrant colors and very fitting soundtrack to the gameplay itself almost everything was top notch for me. The only drawback being the plot is pretty much non-linear, a lot of the quests can be done in various orders which is nice to some, but clearly not all. If you don't mind that then this game is a definite recommendation for anyone looking to play a throwback. With it's ability to choose from a male or female protagonist at the beginning, to it's option to choose where on the world map you place each unlocked game area this game has lots of choice for the player. Not to mention the various different partners you can pick from to bring to battle albeit one at a time, also a choice of a pet to join the party as well. A one of a kind game with a well deserved claim to fame.

3. Mass Effect 2

 Developed by: Bioware

Released: 2010 for Xbox 360 and Windows, 2011 for Ps3.

Platform(s): Xbox 360, Ps3 and Windows

The second in the Mass Effect franchise and my favorite as well as many fans of the series. ME2 improved on the problems that many had with the first in order to build a true great sequel that is better than the former. The combat system and inventory system being the main two problems that kept it from being great. This is another one that I just couldn't find many negatives about. It was such an enjoyable experience for me that I wound up beating the game back to back within 3-4 days. The storyline is compelling, you find yourself wondering what's going to happen next, the choices you make being a big part of that. Also the choices you make in the first game carry over so you really feel like you've made a difference in the development of the characters and their relationships. The variety of characters and their strengths gives you good choice of which one to take into combat with you and how to use their skills to make it through the fight. It might be a third person shooter at first glance, but it truly is a good mixture, with things such as the different classes, skill trees, decisions making, intricate plot and more this game surely deserves it's spot among the more typical rpgs.

4. Kingdom Hearts

Developed by: Square

Released: 2002

Platform: PlayStation 2

Up next a game you would find on a lot of people's favorite RPGs list. This game started the Kingdom Hearts series, which went on to be quite successful commercially and has garnered quite the fanbase. Probably the first action RPG for the Ps2 that I've played, and easily worth a spot on the list. It's groundbreaking crossover of Disney and Square characters made it a mash up of epic proportions to many. A title with at least one character that anyone would remember, kids and parents have the Disney side and gamers have the Square side, a great blend. It was the first time ever seeing a character from one video game world join forces with another, and playing it as a kid was one great experience. Having the main character be an original character but having the rest of your party be well known characters was a good decision in order to better immerse yourself into his shoes. You get the feeling that you're the strange new teen saving the world with characters from your childhood like Donald and Goofy. Not to mention the combat system is not exactly the first of it's kind but it's a good one none the less. You get your standard attacks, magic, item usage, and ability to summon some well known Disney characters to fight alongside you. The boss fights are a big draw, from the human sized ones to the ones the size of a house you'll have your hands full finding a good strategy for each and feeling fulfilled once you've done it. There's a reason this game spawned a great sequel in the main series and a few handheld titles as well. One word, innovation.

5. Persona 4 Golden

 Developed by: Atlus

Released: 2012

Platform: PlayStation Vita

The first and only ported game on this list, Persona 4 Golden. Being an enhanced remake of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 for the ps2 it has the same plot and everything else is pretty similar or the same it just includes additional content for the most part. I haven't played any Persona or Shin Megami games before this one so this was my introduction to the series and it impressed me enough to make me want to play the next one in the series as well as earn it a spot on my top RPG list and one of my favorite ps vita games in general. It might appear to be just another typical turn based RPG but it's pretty lengthy playtime, unique characters, mysterious plot twists, and combination of RPG, and social simulation(think final fantasy meets the sims) make it a pretty great game overall. The combat is nothing too different, but why change something that isn't broken? The focus is on the plot and getting to know more about all the characters, which doing so for the characters in your party brings helpful effects during battle. Also has a few different endings based on how you play through and decisions you make, and who doesn't like to make decisions in their games and have them actually count for something am I right? Whether you've played the original Persona 4 for ps2 or not, if you're into RPGs you'll find yourself liking this one and for people who have played it there's more of the same with the added content and changes.

6. Kingdom Hearts 2

Developed by: Square Enix

Released: 2005

Platform: PlayStation 2

The sequel to an earlier game on the list, Kingdom Hearts, KH 2 manages to be an even greater game than it's predecessor. As far as gameplay goes, it's really the same but the developers seem to have took the problems from the first one and made them better. Aspects such as the combat and gummi ship parts were improved upon slightly which is really all that was needed for me. Changes such as the drive forms really make the combat stand out now, but it's not much different and considering how much the first one was liked that's a good thing as there was not much needed change. As the saying goes, don't fix what's broken. Storywise it takes place a bit of time after the first and continues the mission Sora has to be reunited with his friends. New villains stand in his way though, and he gains some new allies(more from Disney games and square games) to combat them. Needless to say between this game, the previous one in the series and all the handheld titles it's lead to KH 3 being one of the most highly anticipated games I've seen yet and not without good reason. Everything you liked about KH is back in KH2, not much more really needs to be said. Definitely recommended, probably my favorite RPG for the Ps2.

7. Pokemon Red/Blue

Developed by: Game Freak
Released: 1996 Japan, 1998 NA.
Platform: Game Boy
The day that Pokemon hit the video game scene is the day that changed the video game industry for years to come. What is there to really say about a game who's success has lead to numerous sequels, copycats, and remakes. Playing the series as a kid is one of my fondest memories of video gaming,  in particular this game as it was the start of it all. It was a bonding agent for children everywhere, trading pokemon, conversations about which ones to catch and train and everyone's personal favorite pokemon.  It took the rock paper scissor element to the next level by having multiple elements, 15 in these games(increasing as the series continued.) Exploring the different weaknesses and strengths of each element type was just part of the fun of the game, roaming the region of Kanto(named after the real world Kanto in Japan) was the other. Every different town had various npcs to talk to and areas to catch different pokemon a which made you want to talk to everyone and explore every inch of the gameworld trying to learn as much as the game had to offer. Truly a game that started a childhood of video gaming for many and inspired people everywhere with the slogan "Gotta catch 'em all."

8. Brave Fencer Musashi

Developed by: Square

Released: 1998

Platform: PlayStation

Out of all the games on this list, this one will most likely be the one that is the least known, at least from what I've seen. I have yet to meet anyone who has also had the joy of playing this game unfortunately. Brave Fencher Musashi is yet another Square game on the PlayStation, made in a time when RPGs were the pretty much the main selling point for PS. This one is no exception, follow the story of Musashi a warrior summoned to the Allucaneet(All U Can Eat) Kingdom(there's a few more naming pun like that throughout the game) in order to save them from the Thirstquencer Empire(see?). Part of it's appeal is it's humorous approach, as well as it's graphics style which at that time was great and still looks good to me now. Musashi is a dual wielding sword fighter with a short stature and an impatient but kind nature and extraordinary strength. Another nice feature is the unique nature of the two swords, they aren't your ordinary blades. One of them lets you temporarily assume the form of an enemy and use it's abilities, which is an interesting function used at times for puzzle solving. The other one, you'll see for yourself if you give the game a chance. It wasn't a huge selling game that lead to numerous sequels and spin offs like some games on the list but it did lead to one sequel for the Ps2 and that one also is worth a playthrough.

Bonus: I just happen to have a video I uploaded years ago with a bit of gameplay. The audio quality is not good but you'll get better idea of the game itself.

9. YS: Memories of Celceta

Developed by: Nihon Falcom

Released: 2012 Japan, 2013 NA, 2014 China

 Platform(s): PlayStation Vita, Windows

Apparently the YS series is pretty popular, at least in Japan it seems, I've never played one until I first got my Vita and was looking for games to get for it. This one was rated pretty highly and I decided to check it out, easily it made it's way to one of my favorite games for the handheld. An Action-RPG(alos known as ARPG) like a few others on the list YS: Memories of Celceta takes place somewhere on the big timeline of YS games dating back to 1987.  Everything you could want in an rpg, multiple playable characters with different fighting styles, a wide map to explorer, quests to complete, and a twisting story line. Not to mention that the main character starts off with amnesia, which is a bit of an overused plot device but it wasn't done poorly in this game so I won't fault it for that. The graphics are good, although you find yourself roaming places that don't look vastly different, it tends to be a variety of this cave or that cave, and this part of the forest or that part of the forest but the other features more than make up for it to me. The soundtrack is fitting and the monsters and characters are diverse and trying to discover 100% of the map is a nice way to spend some time on it, especially for anyone who likes roaming pretty large maps. Overall it's a game that is an enjoyable experience worth playing and leaves me hoping that a sequel comes out soon.

10. Final Fantasy X

Developed by: Square

Released: 2001

Platform: PlayStation 2

An RPG list without a Final Fantasy game just doesn't seem right now does it? Well one of my favorites is FFX, the first of the series for the Ps2. This one took things up a notch with various changes, first and most noticeable is the graphical improvement thanks to the upgrade of consoles. Also it's the first of the series with voice acting, and the facial expressions of the characters can add an extra sense of relatability to them. Then of course there's just the beauty of the game scenery, it really is stunning for a game of that time. There's also an enhanced port for the Ps3/Ps Vita also with the graphics improved even more which is nice for those that don't missed out on the game for Ps2. The combat system is among the list of changes in the series, you get three characters to bring into a battle at once but are able to switch them out during each individual's turn for someone else. That adds on a whole level of strategy for fighting enemies and bosses alike. The Active Time Battle sytem(ATB) was replaced by the Conditional Turn-Based Battle system which pauses the battle and gives you time to make your selections. The game did so well that it was the first of the series to have a direct sequel, Final Fantasy X-2 which takes place some time after X and brings some of the characters back for a second appearance.  These facts along with the deep storyline and developing of the love between two of the main characters really puts it ahead of the rest of the FF franchise for me.

That wraps up my top 10 rpgs, besides Saga Frontier 2 being first, the rest of them are not in order of enjoyment or anything else really besides how they just happened to be typed out.

The game box art pictures came from google images.