Episode #419 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth take a deep dive into their High School years to celebrate the year that was in 2001.

For our annual retrospective into a prior year before this show existed, the guys explore what was honestly a very pivotal year for our industry. Not only did we see the Nintendo Gamecube, Game Boy Advance, and original Xbox release, but we had the beginning of a game and franchise that really defined an entire generation of gamers... Halo: Combat Evolved. Not to mention the plethora of other heavy hitters that released in 2001.

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 #418 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Kyle have a deep dive discussion on Pokémon Pokopia, the recently released Nintendo Switch 2 life-sim that's been turning heads across the gaming world since its March launch.

Just two people who love games pulling the curtain back on one of the most talked-about Pokémon releases in years. We'll cover everything from the game's post-apocalyptic premise and its surprisingly emotional core, the Animal Crossing-inspired soundtrack, to how a collaboration between Game Freak and the team behind Dragon Quest Builders 2 produced something the franchise has never quite attempted before. Expect honest impressions, plenty of weird tangents, and more than a few thoughts on what this game means for Pokémon going forward.

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 #45 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth dives into Lagoon, the early action RPG that made its way from the X68000 to the SNES, bringing with it a distinctly moody, almost off-kilter take on fantasy adventure. It’s a game remembered as much for its quirks as its ambition, with a slower, more deliberate pace that gives the world a slightly distant, dreamlike feel.

Lagoon’s music leans into that atmosphere, built on gentle synth layers and melodies that feel patient rather than urgent. Themes unfold gradually, giving each track room to breathe while still carrying a quiet sense of forward motion.

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 #417 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth are celebrating absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Just a completely standard episode featuring music from a handful of well-known games, exactly as you remember them.

From sweeping orchestral moments to high-energy electronic tracks and everything in between, this episode moves across a wide range of styles while staying firmly grounded in the worlds they came from. No surprises here... just familiar music, familiar games, and the kind of connections that longtime fans will recognize immediately. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a perfectly normal journey through video game music. Nothing unusual, nothing questionable, and definitely nothing that would make you stop and go, “Wait… is that right?”

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 #66 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Sean step into the void to discuss the latest expansion to hit World of Warcraft, Midnight! Announced back at BlizzCon 2023 when the entire Worldsoul Saga was introduced and then reintroduced officially at Gamescom 2025, Midnight takes us back into the lands of Quel'Thalas to work alongside the Blood Elves and try to put a stop to Xal'atath and her destructive plans.

We're diving deep with this episode, starting with a lore dump and narrative recap of the events leading up to the expansion, as well as discussing the new Allied Race, the Haranir. We'll also touch on the four zones you'll quest through and talk a bit about the new dungeons and raids being introduced. Before wrapping up, Bryan has a theory about where all of this could be leading, and finally, we'll talk about a feature that the community has been asking for since almost the beginning: player housing. World of Warcraft: Midnight is a very promising expansion, and as usual, the soundtrack is absolutely incredible. Stick around and listen to perhaps the best soundtrack Blizzard has done since the Mists of Pandaria expansion. You won't be disappointed!

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 #416 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan closes out the month of March 2026 with another eclectic mix in Radio Hour, Volume 85!

Is this year flying by? I feel like it is. Once again, we're hitting every corner of the VGM spectrum this month. Plenty of new releases like usual, but we've also got some TurboGrafx-16, SEGA Saturn, and a mini-spotlight on Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection! One listener also randomly found my number and called in during the show. Hopefully this doesn't start happening more frequently...

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 #44 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth takes us into the pixel-crafted world of Tiny Thor, a retro-inspired platformer that blends classic 16-bit charm with surprisingly modern design sensibilities. What starts as a colorful, almost playful journey quickly reveals itself to be a tightly tuned experience, where precision, momentum, and mastery of Thor’s iconic hammer become the key to pushing forward. It’s a game that feels nostalgic on the surface, but underneath, it’s constantly asking more of you.

That same duality carries straight into the soundtrack. Bright, energetic melodies immediately pull you in, evoking that golden-era platforming feel, but there’s a sharpness to the composition that keeps everything from feeling too safe or predictable. Driving rhythms, punchy synth leads, and clever use of space give each track a sense of motion, like the music itself is ricocheting alongside Thor’s hammer. It’s playful without being lightweight, and technical without losing its sense of fun, creating a score that feels right at home in both the past and the present.

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 #415 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth return to one of gaming’s most iconic starting points with Green Hill Zone Forever, celebrating the music of the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog area. Bright skies, checkerboard hills, and that unmistakable sense of speed... Green Hill Zone isn’t just a level, it’s a feeling, and its music has carried that energy across decades of Sonic history.

From the original Masato Nakamura composition to its countless arrangements, reinterpretations, and spiritual successors, this episode dives into how one theme became a cornerstone of video game music. Expect a journey through a familiar melody, some fresh takes, and at least one deep cut that captures the momentum, optimism, and timeless cool that define Sonic at his best.

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 #65 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan reviews Scott Pilgrim EX, the brand-new beat 'em up from Tribute Games that dropped on March 3, 2026 across PC and consoles. An unofficial sequel positioned after the events of the Netflix animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the game features an original story co-written by franchise creator Bryan Lee O'Malley and sends Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, and a roster of reformed former rivals through a fractured, gang-overrun Toronto to rescue the kidnapped members of Sex Bob-Omb.

This Musical Review covers the full experience, from the open-world Toronto structure and quest-based progression, to the seven-character roster, badge and accessory system, and boss encounters that range from creative to punishing. We also weigh in on the pixel art presentation, the game's story ambitions, and where the open-world design helps and where it gets in its own way. And of course, we dedicate a full segment to Anamanaguchi's sprawling 71-track original soundtrack, a chiptune-infused, garage rock-tinged return to one of gaming's most beloved musical universes.

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 #414 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and returning special guest Kyle step into the Care Center to have an in-depth discussion and review analysis on the recently released Resident Evil Requiem. The latest game in this crazy successful series from Capcom, Requiem explores the story of newcomer Grace Ashcroft and the returning Leon Kennedy as they become entangled in a new investigation connected to mysterious deaths among survivors of the Raccoon City incident years prior.

During the episode, the guys break down the game in full and offer up their thoughts and opinions on the setting, narrative, characters, soundtrack, and so much more. At the end, they attempt to rank the game up against the previous entries as best as possible, while also providing an official review score. Join us for a spooky and tense fun time, and in the words of longtime non-listener and Discord veteran Sev.. you too can play this game!

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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