Launch Station: Pikmin 3

It has been nine years since the last entry in Shigeru Miyamoto's Pikmin series landed on the Gamecube.  While there were Wii re-releases and the inclusion of Captain Olimar in Super Smash Bros. Brawl to keep fans satisfied, it has still been one long wait for the third Pikmin game.  When Pikmin 3 was officially announced for the Wii U last year, fans were itching to get their hands on it along with the launch of Nintendo's newest console.  Sadly, Pikmin 3 has suffered from a number of delays that have removed it from the initial launch window of the Wii U.  Well come this Sunday, August 4th, the wait will be over as Pikmin 3 lands on store shelves across North America.

The first two Pikmin games followed the adventures of Captain Olimar and the Pikmin of PNF-404.  This time around the beloved captain is absent instead Pikmin 3 follows the adventures of three new protagonists from the planet of Koppai- Alph, Charlie and Brittany.  Koppai is suffering from a massive food shortage and it is up to these three adventurers to find a solution to this problem in the far reaches of space.  During their travels, Alph, Charlie and Brittany's spaceship crashes on PNF-404.  While stranded on PNF-404, Alph, Charlie and Brittany discover an overabundance of fruit, the solution to Koppai's food shortage.  It is up to Alph, Charlie and Brittany to collect as much fruit and fix their spaceship before they run out of resources.  Aside from the story, Pikmin 3 is a real-time strategy game where the player is in controls Alph, Charlie and Brittany as they command a huge assortment of different Pikmin.  There are different types of Pikmin that all have special abilities and uses such as Red Pikmin can withstand fire or Blue Pikmin can walk under water without drowning.  Pikmin 3 introduces two new types of Pikmin, Rock and Winged Pikmin.  Rock Pikmin can smash through tougher barriers like glass while Winged Pikmin can carry items through the air and fight airborne creatures.  Pikmin 3 offers multiple control schemes (Wii U Gamepad, Wii U Pro Controller and Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk combination).  No matter the control scheme used, the Wii U Gamepad will display a map of the level that allows the player to keep on top of all the tasks their Pikmin and commanders are in progress of completing.  Apart from the single-player, Pikmin 3 offers other options for gamers to pass the time such as the Gamepad's in-game camera feature, cooperative and competitive challenge modes and the multi-player centric Bingo Battle.

Pikmin 3 has been a game that yours truly has eagerly anticipated.  Originally, I hoped Pikmin 3 would have been out for the launch of the Wii U along with Rayman Legends as they were the two games that sold me on Nintendo's newest system.  Sadly delays plagued both of these titles, but delays are not going to temper this writer's excitement.  There is some great software on the Wii U, but the wait for this software is far too long.  With Pikmin 3, things look to be turning around for the Wii U with a major release each month until the end of 2013.

Hump Day Music: Song of Storms

Back at the very end of March, I bought a ticket to The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddess concert when it comes to Toronto this September.  Just today, I got my ticket in the mail from Ticketmaster and I was surprised.  The concert was always in the back of my mind, but I kept on forgetting how close it was getting.  Now the tickets will now serve as an almost constant reminder that I got to figure out my transportation, food and other things very soon.  To celebrating getting my ticket to what should be a phenomenal night at the symphony, I would like to share one of my favourite tracks from The Legend of Zelda.

This song comes from Ocarina of Time.  You learn it in the Windmill in Kakariko Village.  It is the Song of Storms.  This simple little tune that Link learns for his Ocarina is not just a great way to summon a storm in the land of Hyrule, it is a pretty catchy piece of music.  It is very playful and has a fun melody to it.  Every time I hear the Song of Storms, I start swaying back and forth to the music because it is so infectious.  While I cannot wait to hear how the live orchestra will play the song at the Symphony of the Goddess concert, the original flute and accordion used for this track is how I will always remember this great piece of video game music.  Today, I will be sharing the remix of the Song of Storms from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.  I hope everybody enjoys.

Hump Day Music: Star Fox Main Theme

Back in September and October when I was playing a lot of Star Fox 64 3D for my 3DS, I got a little craving.  That craving was to play Star Fox Adventures for the Gamecube.  Since I never bought Star Fox Adventures during the Gamecube's heyday, I missed out on a solid gaming experience.  Now in 2011, I was looking for more Star Fox that satisfy my craving.  I did not want Star Fox Assault or Command as then did not look they would appeal to me, so I set out looking for Star Fox Adventures.  I checked all the local game stores to no avail.  When it looked like I had given up all hope of finding this rare Gamecube exclusive, today while looking around one of my local game stores I found it.  I found Star Fox Adventures pre-played for only 7 dollars.  What a great deal for a game this rare, so I made sure Star Fox Adventures did not slip through my hands like Four Swords Adventures did a few months prior and I bought it.  After playing the first 20 minutes or so, I am pleased with my purchase and looking forward to playing more very soon.

To celebrate my purchase of Star Fox Adventures, I would like to share with all of you the Star Fox Main Theme as this week's Hump Day music.  This remix of the main theme of Star Fox is from Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii.  You will hear this track whenever you play the Lylat Cruise stage in Brawl.  The original theme from both the SNES and N64 games are drilled into the minds of many gamers so this remix might be seen as a big departure.  The music really fits the pace of the Lylat Cruise stage as you battle on stationary platforms that fly through space at crazy speeds.  It also retains the same melody of the original theme that has been ingrained in the heads of millions of gamers.  Making it easy to hum along with too.  Star Fox like many other Nintendo games has great music that it is hard to highlight just one track.  I encourage everybody reading to search Youtube and listen to other tracks from the Star Fox franchise.  Now I am going to play more Star Fox Adventures so I leave you with the Star Fox Main Theme and I hope you enjoy.

Thank you to GilvaSunner for uploading this music for us to enjoy.