BGMania B-Sides #43 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth explores Embers of Mana, a newly released ROM hack of Final Fantasy Adventure created by friend of the show and longtime listener OK Impala. Built on the bones of the classic Game Boy action RPG that helped launch the Mana series, Embers of Mana reimagines the experience with fresh ideas, clever design twists, and a renewed appreciation for the world that started it all.

This B-Side also features an interview with OK Impala about his experience with Final Fantasy Adventures and creating Embers of Mana. Go show him and this ROM hack some love at the following locations:

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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Episode #413 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth celebrate one of the most quietly essential careers in the history of video game music with a Composer Appreciation spotlight on Inon Zur. Born in Israel and classically trained from an early age, Zur initially built his career in film and television before being persuaded to score his first game... and never looked back. Over the decades that followed, he became the defining voice behind some of the most beloved franchises in gaming, crafting music that consistently prioritizes emotional honesty over spectacle.

We explore the remarkable range Zur brings to every project, from intimate character themes and sweeping fantasy epics to militaristic tension and sci-fi wonder. A three-time award winner, a Recording Academy inductee, and a composer whose main theme for a major 2023 release reportedly went through twenty-nine versions before it was right, Zur is an artist who has never stopped pushing. This episode is a proper tribute to a man whose fingerprints are all over the medium we love.

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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Bonus Episode #64 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan reviews God of War: Sons of Sparta, the surprise same-day release from Sony's February 2026 State of Play, a 2D Metroidvania prequel developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio. Set during Kratos' youth at the Spartan Agoge, the game follows a teenage Kratos and his brother Deimos as they venture beyond Sparta's walls on a mission rooted in duty, brotherhood, and survival.

This Musical Review covers all dimensions of the experience, from the Metroidvania exploration loop, spear-and-shield combat system, and level design, to the story's emotional highs and lows, the pixel art presentation, and the technical rough edges that accumulate over the course of the campaign. We also dedicate time to Bear McCreary's remarkable original score, which blends chiptune sensibility with sweeping orchestral and choral arrangements to create one of the most distinctive soundscapes in the franchise's twenty-year history.

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff, & Mike.

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Episode #412 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan closes out the month of February 2026 with another eclectic mix in Radio Hour, Volume 84!

Just because it's the shortest month of the year doesn't mean Radio Hour is any less packed with what you'd expect. We're going all over the place with this episode, from early PC-98 and Amiga releases, to a modern reimagining of a JRPG classic, a fan-made ROM hack being worked on by a listener of the show, and a beautiful mini-spotlight on the stellar soundtrack to the recently released Cairn!

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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BGMania B-Sides #42 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth drops into Risk of Rain 2, the relentless roguelike shooter that turns isolation and chaos into an ever-escalating fight for survival. What starts as a quiet landing on an alien world quickly spirals into overwhelming waves of enemies, towering bosses, and that constant ticking pressure to move faster before the difficulty swallows you whole.

The soundtrack matches that intensity beat for beat, fusing atmospheric ambience with driving percussion, soaring guitar lines, and synth textures that feel both futuristic and strangely human. Tracks build gradually, layering rhythm and melody until they erupt into cathartic climaxes that mirror the game’s frantic momentum. It’s music that thrives on tension and release, perfectly capturing the lonely vastness of an alien planet while pushing you forward into the storm.

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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Episode #411 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to relive the magic that was brick-and-mortar rental stores.

The guys brought tracks from games that they have specific rental stories to tell, spread across the years of walking down those aisles, scanning shelves and box arts, and trying to figure out what the hell they wanted to play that weekend. Join us for some heartfelt stories, laughs, and the beauty of just being a kid during the late 80's and all throughout the 90's!

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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Bonus Episode #63 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth vibe with the incredible soundtrack to the recently released Lumines Arise. Huge thank you to Enhance Games and Hydelic for sponsoring this episode and making it possible.

Lumines Arise is a visually stunning puzzle game in the vein of Tetris Effect with top-notch presentation, visuals, and, of course, music. The guys discuss their time spent with the game over the last few weeks and break down the soundtrack with an in-depth discussion.

Do you want a digital copy of the soundtrack to Lumines Arise and Tetris Effect? The first two listeners to leave a new rating and review on Apple Podcasts and then reach out to us letting us know you did, will receive a copy of both courtesy of Enhance Games and Hydelic!

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff, & Mike.

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Episode #410 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth are back with BGMania After Dark 2 just in time for Valentine's Day. Only this year, the guys are diving into the world of dirty and suggestive track titles.

Whether intentional or accidental, these track titles are unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Fair warning, listener discretion is advised for this episode. Grab your headphones, maybe close the door or roll up your windows, and prepare for some eyebrow-raising tracks and commentary like only we can provide in an After Dark episode!

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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BGMania B-Sides #41 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth steps into Escape from Ever After, a recently released indie title that twists classic fairy tale imagery into something far more eerie, introspective, and emotionally charged. What begins as a familiar storybook setup slowly unravels into a dreamlike escape, where whimsy and unease exist side by side and nothing quite feels as safe or predictable as it should.

The soundtrack mirrors that tonal shift beautifully, blending delicate melodies, melancholic textures, and subtly unsettling atmospheres that feel hand-stitched to the game’s world. Soft instrumentation gives way to darker harmonic turns, creating music that feels reflective, fragile, and quietly tense without ever becoming overwhelming. It’s a score that invites you to linger, to feel the weight behind the fantasy, and to sit with the uneasy question of what “happily ever after” really means once the curtain is pulled back.

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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Episode #409 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth hit the slopes for a Winter Olympics themed episode.

From the SEGA Genesis to modern extreme sports titles, we're covering everything from speed skating and figure skating to biathlon, cross-country skiing, and mountain descents. Grab your skis, strap on your snowboard, and get ready to chase that gold medal.

Email the show at [email protected] with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

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