I'm very glad to see this thread. In fact, I have to thank you, dma. Thanks to this old thread you made in 2004 on Slightly Dark I've been reading around 2005 I became a fan of J-fusion.
http://www.slightlydark.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=2677
I think my favorite of all this fantastic bands is TRIX, because of powerful melodies and energetic tracks. The timbre of the Hiroshi Kubota's guitar is the best I've ever heard.
About the game music albums in this same style, I recommend
F-ZERO, one of my favorites of all time, and
Heart Session and specially
Heart Session 2, which I listen recently.