Music Arcade

This week, we're definitely not competing but are definitely talking about competitions.

We race in Super Mario 64, exercise in Final Fantasy VII Remake, play some good old soccer in Rematch, and... cook in Suikoden II? Well, anything can become a competition!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #110

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Super Mario 64 - "Slider" by Koji Kondo

Final Fantasy VII Remake - "The Most Muscular" by Nobuo Uematsu and Yoshinori Nakamura

Final Fantasy XVI - "Titan Lost" by Masayoshi Soken

Suikoden II - "Cook-Off Opening (Cook-Off Theme)" (aka "Bright Curtains, the Cooking Duel") by Miki Higashino

Rematch - "Reach My Best" by Lotus Juice, milkyPRiSM, and Rémi Gallego

F-Zero GX - "Wings For My Way" by Hidenori Shoji

Racing Lagoon - "Bay Lagoon Racing" by Takahito Eguchi and Noriko Matsueda

EVO 2013 - "Rumble" by Omega Sparx

Devil May Cry V - "Bury The Light (Credits Duel)" by Casey Edwards (presumed credits, unconfirmed)

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links - KC Cup Duel Theme 3, 2nd Stage (unconfirmed song title, by an unconfirmed composer)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, Ranakel takes the crew in a surprise trip to the Atelier series - if only we had known he played those games in advance!

Our trip goes straight to Arland, covering the original trilogy from Atelier Rorona to Atelier Meruru, so come along!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist in our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 109

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland

"Alchemy is Opportunity" by Ken Nakagawa

"Father and Mother" by Ken Nakagawa

"Ultimate Rondo" by Ken Nakagawa

"Sneak Peek! Adventure in the Cave" by Ken Nakagawa

"Devil's Tango" by Ken Nakagawa

Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland

"Drawn to the Waves" by Ken Nakagawa

"Yellow Zone" by Kazuki Yanagawa

"Atelier Totori" by Ken Nakagawa

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland

"Wind Blooming Mountain" by Kazuki Yanagawa

"Tell Me Teacher!" by Kazuki Yanagawa

"What I See With My Eyes" (numbered "1", "2", and "3") by Kazuki Yanagawa

"Unsociable Knight: for Meruru" by Ken Nakagawa

"Estrella" by Daisuke Achiwa

"Gigantic Crimson" by Daisuke Achiwa

Special feature: early access review of the music to Flamecraft, by Pawel Gorniak

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, the crew looks at songs, soundtracks and more that have completely changed the game either for their games, franchises or beyond!

We chat about how a song in Skullgirls completely changes the vibe, how Persona 3 completely changed the franchise's identity, and even how Wipeout might have changed the entire electronic music industry and rave culture - and we have the sources to prove it!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWie-AzPTQuw

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies - "Megalith -Agnus Dei-" by Keiki Kobayashi

Devil May Cry - "Legendary Battle (Demon Emperor Mundus Battle 1 - Aerial)" by Masami Ueda

God of War (2018) - "Ashes" by Bear McCreary, feat. Eivør

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos - "Blackrock & Roll" by Glenn Stafford

Guilty Gear - "Holy Orders ~Be Just Or Be Dead~ -Ky's Theme-" by Daisure Ishiwatari

Soul Calibur II - "Link's Theme" (unconfirmed title) by an unconfirmed composer (remix of "Overworld" by Koji Kondo, from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past)

Persona 2: Innocent Sin - "Battle" by Kenichi Tsuchiya (presumed arr. by Toshiki Konishi, unconfirmed)

Persona 3 - "Mass Destruction" by Shoji Meguro and Lotus Juice

Skullgirls - "The Fish Man's Dance" by Michiru Yamane

Bloodborne - "Rom, The Vacuous Spider" by Yuka Kitamura

Wipeout - "Chemical Beats" by The Chemical Brothers (and the story of how video games may have changed the electronic music industry)

Additional credits about Wipeout and PlayStation's nightclub campaign:

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/03/how-playstation-infiltrated-youth-culture

Baby Audio: https://babyaud.io/blog/wipeout-soundtrack-90s-electronic

GamesHub: https://www.gameshub.com/news/features/how-playstation-and-uk-club-culture-forever-changed-gamings-image-22424/

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, the crew takes a moment to heal up and get ready for the next 100 episodes.

We seek healing in hospitals (like Trauma Center: New Blood), in fantastical lands (like Elden Ring), and even on the dance floor (with Dance Dance Revolution 5th Mix).

Will we find healing or will our collective insomnia stick around? Better listen to find out!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 107

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Final Fantasy IX - "Kingdom of Burmecia" cover by TPR (original version by Nobuo Uematsu)

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne - "Shinjuku Hygenic Hospital" by Shoji Meguro

Trauma Center: New Blood - "Surgery" by Atsushi Kitajoh

Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles - "Daybreak" by Michiru Yamane

Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania - "Sarabande of Healing" cover by Keygen Church (original version by Michiru Yamane, from Castlevania: Curse of Darkness)

Dance Dance Revolution 5th Mix - "Healing Vision" by DE-SIRE, and "Healing Vision ~Angelic Mix~" by 2MB (both songs officially credited to NM SEQENCE UNLIMITED, real name: Naoki Maeda)

Hades - "In The Blood" by Darren Korb, ft. Austin Wintory and Ashley Barrett

Elden Ring - "Regal Ancestor Spirit" by Yuka Kitamura

Terra Nil - "Blossom" by Romain Vayr (aka Meydän)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, we travel to France (and also a bit of Italy, somehow) as we conclude our celebrations with Ranakel's own picks.

(Re)Discover the nostalgia for SimCity 3000, learn about Frank Klepacki's non-gaming work and see just how fast the drums can get in Zenless Zone Zero.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist in our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 106

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song Credits (in order of discussion):

A song you like that deserves more recognition:

Knights in Tight Spaces - "Advancing Shot" by nervous_testpilot

The most Edie song you like too (or can think of):

Breath of Fire IV - "The First Emperor" by Yoshino Aoki

The most Galen song you like too (or can think of):

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - "Agnus Battle" by ACE (TOMOri Kudo, CHiCO)

A sleeper hit from one of your favorite composers:

"Meltdown" by Frank Klepacki

A song you want to bring up whenever you see it but you never get the chance:

Sim City 3000 - "Broadway" (aka "Sim Broadway") by Jerry Martin

A song that's not from a video game but feels like it could be and you wanna talk about it:

"Nine Dragons" by Faith and the Muse

A song Edie made you discover that you're still actively into:

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide - "Disposal Unit (Imperium Mix)" by Jesper Kyd

A song Galen made you discover that you're still actively into:

Silent Hill 4: The Room - "Melancholy Requiem" by Akira Yamaoka

The kind of recent obsession that you've been playing often on your audio app of choice:

Zenless Zone Zero - Girtablullu boss theme (title currently unknown) by an as-of-yet unconfirmed composer

Free Space:

beatmania IIDX 12 HAPPY SKY - "Xepher" by Tatsh

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

Additional credits:

Cassette tape machine various interaction by charonfaustinus -- https://freesound.org/s/751057/

This week, a lack of co-hosts available brings chaos and panic to the table.

So join Galen and Ranakel in panicking about when things go south in games like Command & Conquer and Yakuza 0 - with a side of panicking about how the music won't go away in Mega Man Battle Network 3.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist in our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 105

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Yakuza 0 - "Get Them" by Hidenori Shoji (plus cover by LittleVMills)

Warriors Orochi 3 - "ROAR OF SIGHT MARRED –Hundun's Theme–" by Ayako Toyoda

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - "Those Who Stand Against Our Path" by ACE

Mega Man Battle Network 3 - "Incident Occurrence!" by Yoshino Aoki

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 - "Madness" by Shoji Meguro

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - "Endless High-Speed Running" by Motoi Sakuraba

Limbus Company - Canto IV's battle theme (unknown title) by an unconfirmed composer (Canto IV credited composers include: Oh Jung Ho, Lee Dong Hoon, Park Dong Sub, and Kim Ki Beom, with Lee Young Gwang as music director)

Lobotomy Corporation - "Second Warning" (unconfirmed title) by an unknown composer

Final Fantasy XIV - "Don't Be Afraid" by Nobuo Uematsu, arr. by Masayoshi Soken (based on the original from Final Fantasy VIII)

Command & Conquer - "In Trouble" by Frank Klepacki

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, a lack of co-hosts available brings chaos and panic to the table.

So join Galen and Ranakel in panicking about when things go south in games like Command & Conquer and Yakuza 0 - with a side of panicking about how the music won't go away in Mega Man Battle Network 3.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist in our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 105 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF_YfrrEiolo&si=aYLw_4pA1fF74Zaj

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Yakuza 0 - "Get Them" by Hidenori Shoji (plus cover by LittleVMills)

Warriors Orochi 3 - "ROAR OF SIGHT MARRED –Hundun's Theme–" by Ayako Toyoda

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - "Those Who Stand Against Our Path" by ACE

Mega Man Battle Network 3 - "Incident Occurrence!" by Yoshino Aoki

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 - "Madness" by Shoji Meguro

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - "Endless High-Speed Running" by Motoi Sakuraba

Limbus Company - Canto IV's battle theme (unknown title) by an unconfirmed composer (Canto IV credited composers include: Oh Jung Ho, Lee Dong Hoon, Park Dong Sub, and Kim Ki Beom, with Lee Young Gwang as music director)

Lobotomy Corporation - "Second Warning" (unconfirmed title) by an unknown composer

Final Fantasy XIV - "Don't Be Afraid" by Nobuo Uematsu, arr. by Masayoshi Soken (based on the original from Final Fantasy VIII)

Command & Conquer - "In Trouble" by Frank Klepacki

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, celebrations continue, as we dive into the thoughts and interests of the podcast's resident sound guy.

Discover what Yakuza song gets brought up today, see where "team effort" meets Killer Instinct, and learn why Elden Ring is suddenly in ROZEN-tinted glasses.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #104

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

A song you like that deserves more recognition:

Yakuza 5 - "Hailstorm" by Hidenori Shoji

The most Rana song you like too (or can think of):

Kid Icarus: Uprising - "The Seafloor Palace" by Motoi Sakuraba

The most Edie song you like too (or can think of):

Final Fantasy X - "Via Purifico" by Nobuo Uematsu

A sleeper hit from one of your favorite composers:

"Thousand Lights" by Fury Weekend feat. Megan McDuffee

A song you want to bring up whenever you see it but you never get the chance:

Arknights: Endfield - "We Are Empire" by STARSET

A song that's not from a video game but feels like it could be and you wanna talk about it:

"Suit Up (Instrumental)" by Blue Stahli

A song Rana made you discover that you're still actively into:

Killer Instinct (Season 2) - "Polemos" by Mick Gordon

A song Edie made you discover that you're still actively into:

Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania - "Abandoned Castle" by Keygen Church (cover of "Abandoned Castle" by Michiru Yamane, from Castlevania: Curse of Darkness)

The kind of recent obsession that you've been playing often on your audio app of choice:

"The Twin Moon Knight" by ROZEN (cover of "The Twin Moon Knight" by Tai Tomisawa, from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree)

Free Space:

Xenoblade Chronicles - "Gaur Plains" by ACE (live version)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, tech issues are gone as the crew resumes the celebrations for 100 episodes, beginning by focusing on the life and thoughts of our very own Brazilian co-host.

See what the band Aria has to do with gaming, remember how cool Mega Man Zero 4's music can actually get and discover with us that apparently the Freddi Fish to Gothicism pipeline is real.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: ⁠Music Arcade #103

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Episode prompts and song credits (in order of discussion):

A song you like that deserves more recognition

Diablo III - "Urzael" by Derek Duke

The most Rana song you like too (or can think of)

Esoteric Ebb - "Days of Jor" by Anders Bach, Kristian Paulsen, and Brian Batz (feat. MØ, GNOM)

The most Galen song you like too (or can think of)

Twisted Metal - "Gentlemen, Start Your Weapons" by Chuck Carr

A sleeper hit from one of your favorite composers

"Mania Velichia" by Aria (composer: Kirill Pokrovsky)

A song you want to bring up whenever you see it but you never get the chance

Mega Man Zero 4 - "Falling Down" by Shinichi Itakura

A song that's not from a video game but feels like it could be and you wanna talk about it

"Cursum Perficio" by Enya

A song Rana made you discover that you're still actively into

Age of Wonders 4 - "Effortless Expansion" by Michiel van den Bos

A song Galen made you discover that you're still actively into

Final Fantasy X - "Otherworld" by Bill Xtillidiex Muir and Nobuo Uematsu

The kind of recent obsession that you've been playing often on your audio app of choice

Forza Horizon 6 - "Sniper Rouge" by Mitch Murder (feat. emi)

FREE SPACE 2

Freddi Fish and the Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds - "Mr. Two Notes" by The Fat Man (George Sanger)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, the crew takes flight, with wings, gliders, flying machines and anything else they can get their hands on.

We behold the might of the Highwind from Final Fantasy VII, hear the jet engines of fighter planes from Project Wingman: Frontline 59 and even manage to make the land itself fly with Driftland: The Magic Revival.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist in our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #102

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social

And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):Final Fantasy VII - "The Highwind Takes to the Skies" by Nobuo Uematsu

Xenogears - "Soaring" (aka "Flight") by Yasunori Mitsuda

Assassin's Creed II - "Flight Over Venice 1" by Jesper Kyd

Skies of Arcadia - "Delphinus" by Yutaka Minobe

Secret of Mana - "Meridian Dance" by Hiroki Kikuta (arr. by Evelyn Lark aka The Noble Demon)

Mega Man 7 - "Cloudman" by an unconfirmed composer (no composers officially credited, fan credits include Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama, Makoto Tomozawa, and Ayako Mori)

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War - "Blue Skies (remix)" by Hiroshi Okubo ("Blue Skies Infinity" cover by The Tiberian Sons, Videri String Quartet, Game Brass, et al.)

Project Wingman: Frontline 59 - "Wild Dogs" by Jose Pavli

Driftland: The Magic Revival - "Flowing Sky" by Grzegorz Wlodarski and Pawel Golinski

Pilotwings - "Hangglider" (unconfirmed title) by Soyo OkaProduction credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman