1UP.com - The Sound Test: 1UP's Game Music Podcast

This week on the Sound Test, a dramatic opening courtesy Civilization V; acknowledging Final Fantasy XIV by way of FFXI; a lengthy nostalgia trip with NiGHTS; an increase in decibels thanks to Dodonpachi, and revisiting Katamari Forever.

This week on The Sound Test, we recognize more recent game releases with selections from Etrian Odyssey III and the third Professor Layton game; new music from Monster Hunter Tri; an interesting experiment with Nintendo's Popeye, and a fitting end for Super Mario's birthday.

With the fall game season ramping up, it's time for the Sound Test to recognize some recent releases in its own way. Kingdom Hearts is featured via a piano piece; music from Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World debuts with a rocking track from Anamanaguchi, and Mafia II rounds out the show. In between are selections from a Suikoden celtic collection and NeoGeo shooter Pulstar.

After a brief hiatus, The Sound Test returns with some soft selections from the Darius Burst remix album, new music from the Final Fantasy XIII Piano Collections album, some indie flavor applied to Illusion of Gaia, somewhat retro electronica from Zanac, a live Persona piece, and the not-so-soft Marvel Vs. Capcom Mix Tape.

It's the Sound Test's first Jazz Show. Join host Ray Barnholt on a trip through the smoother side of game music, from arrangementss of classic games like Rolling Thunder and Phoenix Wright, to original selections from SimCity, Napple Tale, and much more. More than in a usual episode, in fact.

Recent releases and old favorites on this episode of the Sound Test. Dragon Quest IX headlines, some of the nicer bits from Assassin's Creed II, stepping back in time slightly with Killer7, Sonic CD, and more.

Summer hits hard on this episode of the Sound Test, with a big summer game (Super Mario Galaxy 2), breezy RPG music (Xenoblade), slightly country-fried leanings (Crystal Bearers), days spent inside with the Nintendo (Zoda's Revenge), and an all-too-fitting end from a Japanese classic.

A little bit of post-E3 festivities seep into this week's show, opening with the rollicking theme song to Ollie King, the chiptune-based fun of Art Style light trax, the human sound effects machines of The Neverhood, and everybody's favorite track from a certain Sega cult classic.

New music from the echochrome Piano Remixes album, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, recent appreciation with EDGE, celebrating Gradius' birthday with a YouTube performance, and more on this week's show.

On this week's Sound Test, selections from Square Enix's action-focused title Nier, PSP shooter Darius Burst, Nullsleep's contribution to Bit.Trip Void, a Japan-only oldie of the week, and a spirit-lifting end from Sonic Rush.