The album was released already in 2011, so a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then giving me ample time to get to know this record well. And the more I listen to it the more I am convinced that No NES for the Wicked is the best console video game tribute in whole, surpassing even such releases as Legvacuum and Metal Kombat for the Mortal Man by Armcannon and Powerglove respectively, which I'd considered top releases of the genre for long.
The tracks on the album are more or less based on classic NES games, but curiously enough, such popular titles as Mega Man and Super Mario have been completely excluded. Perhaps this is suitable to its purpose since both themes have been remixed and covered to no end by both well and lesser known artists. Instead of that, Vomitron focuses on Ninja Gaiden (European title Shadow Warrior) for two tracks worth spanning all six acts, and doing it with quite a masterly touch, totally toppling Minibosses' Ninja Gaiden song which I previously regarded as The Ninja Gaiden remix. That isn't to undermine the Minibosses' version but to further highlight the skillful touch and genius of Vomitron.
Other high points of the album are Blaster Master – a title somewhat unfamiliar to me – and of course everyone's favorite pieces, both Zeldas. Especially the relative nutcase of the game series, Zelda II, gets such a treatment in Vomitron's hands that it reaches the top of the album along with Ninja Gaiden.
Three pieces of Tetris have also been included as certain types of intermezzos, but unfortunately they never quite manage to hold my attention, and frankly I'd rather have seen them dropped altogether. Not a big hit or miss in any event due to their short lengths and spacing around the album.
When the legendary Castlevania themes are finally finished, Vomitron's style hasn't trembled at all. No NES for the Wicked is premium quality and deserves a permanent place on my cell phone's playlist. One must hope that Mr. Rutcho will invest in the game music genre in the future as well, maybe in the form of No SNES for the Wicked? I dare to think that the mister's treatments to certain Final Fantasy songs would bring tears to one's eyes and make shivers run down the spine. And in case the Final Fantasy series feels too worn-out already, there are lots of other potential SNES titles for such material. Failing that, there are a bunch of NES tunes still to plow through, or what say thee Shadowgate, or a little less known masterpiece called Tecmo Cup Soccer (JP: Captain Tsubasa). Here's hoping!
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You can buy the album (along with a nice t-shirt and a poster you wouldn't want to miss for life) on the Vomitron website.
No NES for the Wicked is also on Spotify along with some of Vomitron's earlier works.
