July 28 is recognized as the release date anniversary of the original World Heroes fighting game on MVS at the arcades.

This series is a fun one all around, but I have a lot of nostalgia for the original game. A lot of this stems from the vibrant colors, the deathmatches, and the cool-looking characters that would be peppered throughout the gaming magazines at the time. It showed up in a cabinet at our local bowling alley around the time it released, but no one ever seemed to play it.

My involvement with this game peaked when SNK released its collections on the PlayStation 2 - it was for some reason a hidden unlockable in the Neo-Geo Collection Vol. 1, and then the series got its own collection with World Heroes Anthology. After a decade-plus of so many different fighting games, the three-button approach to the game had me experimenting with ways to best the CPU. It might even have been the first time that tick throwing really clicked with me.

And then, one year, for a 12 Hour Challenge speedrun event, I opted to play World Heroes for 12 hours - MVS default and max difficulties, AES (Neo-Geo home release) and Super Nintendo versions alternating between standard and deathmatch modes. That cemented the game's legacy on GemuBaka and it still holds to this day. I have since added the SEGA Genesis version to that rotation, but that version of the game is a discussion for another day!

I normally play as Brocken against the CPU, as the computer doesn't seem interested in blocking low kicks, and his crouching light kicks do insane damage. His crouching light punches do the same, but, for some reason, this is where the CPU draws the line and decides to block. shrugs

To switch it up for this year, I started playing as Janne, and, while the hitbox on her crouching light kick seems worse, it has the same general effect. As a bonus, holding down allows her to charge Flash Sword special to do a ton of stun and go for a dizzy. Add in the oil slick stages in the deathmatch mode, and you get a really fun time!

And that laugh that Janne does when she wins with more than 50% health, is top tier victory laughing.

Inner Station (Metal Slug: Super Vehicle-001 [1996])

Here’s a YM2610 composition I have to thank Kitsune DJ (YouTube and Soundcloud) for identifying the instruments within this wonderful soundchip, I pretty much wouldn’t have been able to go into any detail about why I like this track without his helpful videos on Metal Slug music. He’s also got various Metal Slug-style compositions across the channel, and is kind enough to shout out some other Metal Slug enthusiasts from time to time! Also of note is his soundfont contributions to the 6th Division website, which also houses the upcoming Aqua Ippan that recently had its demo released!; ‘tis a wonderful place made by Metal Slug fans, for Metal Slug fans!

The loads of Electric Piano is one thing in Metal Slug 1 and 2 that later Metal Slug games usually lack, for better or worse depending on how much you think the Electric Piano contributes to the melodies. The distorted Electric Guitars, more specifically an Overdriven Guitar on the ADPCM B (Lead instrument) section, which is also shared with the catchy Trumpet, is a mix of intense and cool, especially as far as ways to bridge into the last part of the melody go!

As if the 2 ADPCM B Guitars weren’t enough, the FM Heavy Guitar is yet another part of what makes the addicting rhythm near the beginning and end of the track shine, on top of serving as another bridge into later sections of the track, The Synth atmosphere coupled with the chunky Drum rhythms in said later parts really immerses me into the action too. Metal Slug music rocks for all years to come!

(Length before loop: 2+ minutes)

Finally identified the one who helped identify many parts of the Metal Slug 1 soundfont, which helped greatly with this description, so I updated the description accordingly! It's worth a good read!

Inner Station (Metal Slug: Super Vehicle-001 [1996])

Here’s a YM2610 composition I have to thank Kitsune DJ (YouTube and Soundcloud) for identifying the instruments within this wonderful soundchip, I pretty much wouldn’t have been able to go into any detail about why I like this track without his helpful videos on Metal Slug music. He’s also got various Metal Slug-style compositions across the channel, and is kind enough to shout out some other Metal Slug enthusiasts from time to time! Also of note is his soundfont contributions to the 6th Division website, which also houses the upcoming Aqua Ippan that recently had its demo released!; ‘tis a wonderful place made by Metal Slug fans, for Metal Slug fans!

The loads of Electric Piano is one thing in Metal Slug 1 and 2 that later Metal Slug games usually lack, for better or worse depending on how much you think the Electric Piano contributes to the melodies. The distorted Electric Guitars, more specifically an Overdriven Guitar on the ADPCM B (Lead instrument) section, which is also shared with the catchy Trumpet, is a mix of intense and cool, especially as far as ways to bridge into the last part of the melody go!

As if the 2 ADPCM B Guitars weren’t enough, the FM Heavy Guitar is yet another part of what makes the addicting rhythm near the beginning and end of the track shine, on top of serving as another bridge into later sections of the track, The Synth atmosphere coupled with the chunky Drum rhythms in said later parts really immerses me into the action too. Metal Slug music rocks for all years to come!

(Length before loop: 2+ minutes)

Dear Falling Angel [Boss Stage] (The King of Fighters ’99: Millennium Battle [1999])

This final boss track is one I feel never got a better rendition ever since, even “Cutting Edge”, which I love in its own right, but ultimately misses what made this one special. It’s essentially a total redo of Omega Rugal’s King of Fighters ‘98 theme, taking that track’s best traits and carrying them over for extra mechanical spin this one’s got. How much you value intimidation factor versus sheer energy in VG music will probably determine which one you like more, with “Dear Fallen Angel” focusing on the latter aspect more closely, but they’re both catchy in their own ways regardless.

Those “whirr” and “steam” sound effects are cool and all, but they take a backseat compared to the even cooler yet underrated, old-school Bass. In fact, one of its solo(s) single-handedly starts one of the better Electric Guitar melodies and compliments it wonderfully whenever it comes into play. The Drums sound like the typical Techno drum but not quite 100%, giving the track an energetic feel during the less intense sections. I believe that all of this together with the other electronic/”mechanical” sounds, creates an engaging melody of triumph over a major yet artificial obstacle, such as Krizalid himself!

And before someone mentions it, I don’t know enough about the “NESTS Saga” to talk about it. It’s a fighting game story anyhow; a genre I’ve still yet to find an impressive story in, because no one’s been able to properly separate canon from the playable roster whenever necessary. I’m just here for the cool music, the last thing I need is age old discourse. You can look forward to more NEO GEO action in the list later down the line!

(Length before loop: 2+ minutes)