Music Arcade

Valentine's Day is... in the past, but we didn't miss it, we're just fashionably late!

This time, the crew explores the many interpretations of love: from Story of Seasons playing it straight, to Signalis going melancholic, to God of War III doing... whatever the hell it wants, really.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠Music Arcade #62

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠⁠⁠

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Signalis - "The Promise" by 1000 Eyes

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns - "Heart Event 3" (unofficial title) by unconfirmed composer(s)

Dragon Age: Origins - "Lelianna's Song" by Inon Zur

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - "The Parting Glass" performed by Sarah Greene (traditional song, unknown composer)

Persona 4 - "Signs of Love" by Shoji Meguro, Shihoko Hirata, and Reiko Tanaka

God of War III - "Lure of a Goddess" by Jeff Rona (alternate version not present in the soundtrack album)

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - "Helheim" by Andy LaPlegua

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:

"MOTHER 3 Love Theme" by Shogo Sakai (unconfirmed arranger, originally from MOTHER 3 - alternate title "We Miss You ~Love Theme~")

"Love Theme" by Nobuko Toda (unconfirmed arranger, originally from Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Today, the crew touches some grass - or, rather, one of us does, while the others are left to just talk about it.

From the classic fields of games such as Legend of Zelda and Pokémon to more niche pieces of grass as the woods of Terranigma and Shovel Knight, the only question we don't answer is whether the grass really is always greener on the other side.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠Music Arcade #61

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠⁠

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal - "Azalea Town" by Go Ichinose (cover by ClassicMeal)

Shovel Knight - "Strike the Earth! (Plains of Passage)" by Jake Kaufman

Divinity: Original Sin - "Forest of Fairytales" by Kirill Pokrovsky

Heroes of Might & Magic IV - "Wandering" by Paul Romero, Paul James, and Robert King

Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire - "The Vampire Strikes, Morning" by Kyle Misko

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - "Virtuous Mission" by Harry Gregson-Williams

Terranigma - "Evergreen" (unofficial title) by Masanori Hikichi and Miyoko Kobayashi (cover by Yuckpulver)

Street Fighter V - "Field of Fate -Australia Stage-" by Keiki Kobayashi

Production credits:

Hosts:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Today, the crew puts its oracular powers to the test, trying to guess the best upcoming games and game music of 2024.

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠⁠⁠

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Ho-ho-holy crap, it's already our third anniversary! The crew (plus friend of the podcast Sam "Zeral") get together to take a look back at 2023.

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠⁠

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Special guest:

Sam "Zeral"

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

The crew goes fast, as that's the name of the game on today's episode.

Whether it's Roboquest's speedy combat, Top Gear's (not the show) speedy races, or Valkyrie Profile 2 simply distilling speed itself and turning it into music, we got all bases covered in this speedy episode of Music Arcade.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: ⁠Music Arcade #58

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Roboquest - "XFlash" by Noisecream

Super Street Fighter IV - "Theme of C. Viper" by Hideyuki Fukasawa

Danganropa 2 - "Objection -CROSS SWORD-" by Masafumi Takeda

Mega Man X - "Storm Eagle" by Makoto Tomozawa (cover by Anton Norling aka LennartAlsing)

Little Big Planet 2 - "Whoever Brings the Night (Instrumental Version)" by Nightwish

Anarchy Reigns - "Fast Lane" by Rushden & Diamonds

Top Gear - "Vegas" by Barry Leitch

Final Fantasy Tactics - "Apoplexy" by Hitoshi Sakimoto

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

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

From a joke starter to a cursebreaker, today the crew learns the many possible roles of the xylophone family.

Marimbas, glockenspiels, xylophones and everything in-between, we dive deep into their presence in games like Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy XIV, and, uh... Killer Instinct?!

Is Spinal the true identity of the mysterious Xylophone-Chan? You decide!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: ⁠Music Arcade #57

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland - "Forest Dance"

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - "The Meditation of Many Years" by Motoi Sakuraba

Trials of Mana - "Powell" by Hiroki Kikuta (cover by Rahul Vanamali & Sean R. Hanson)

Donkey Kong Country - "Treetop Rock" by David Wise, Eveline Novakovic, and Robin Beanland)

Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg (+ Atelier Marie Remake) - "Star Wind" by Daisuke Achiwa (Arr. by Kumi Tanioka and Ryotaro Yagi)

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn - "A New Hope" by Masayoshi Soken

Actraiser: Renaissance - "BloodPool ~ Kassandora" by Yuzo Koshiro

Chrono Trigger - "Schala's Theme" by Yasunori Mitsuda (Arr. by Tsuyoshi Sekito)

Killer Instinct - "Warlord" by Mick Gordon

Dragon Force - "Desert Battle" by Tasuyuki Maeda

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Today, the crew gets together to wish a happy 60th birthday to Michiru Yamane - and she's the one bringing gifts!

With a full live concert featuring some of her best work from both Castlevania and Bloodstained franchises right on time for the spookiest month of the year, we keep kicking that xylophone-shaped can down the road in the name of timeliness.

Full setlist (all songs originally composed by Michiru Yamane unless otherwise noted):

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - "Tower of Mist"

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - "Hail from the Past"

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - "Lost Garden"

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - "Requiem for the Gods"

Castlevania: Bloodlines - "Iron Blue Intention" (original credited to Konami Kukeiha Club) + Castlevania - "Beginning" (original credited to Konami Kukeiha Club)

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - "Theme of Dominique"

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - "Bibliotheca ex Machina"

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness - "True To Your Dreams"

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Medley (featuring "Dracula's Castle", "Wood Carving Partita", "Lost Paintings", "Dance of the Pales", and "Death Ballad")

Castlevania: Bloodlines - "Requiem for the Nameless Victims"

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - "Wandering the Crystal Blue"

The crew reunites, sharing in their untapped evil traits, and discuss all matters of cool evil themes in video games.

From the mysterious and ominous Bass.exe in Rockman.exe 4.5 to the bombastic and in-your-face Lu Bu from Dynasty Warriors 8 and the utter madness of Luca Blight from Suikoden II, never let it be said that we aren't all-inclusive of villain archetypes!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #55

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

We're also on Discord: https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure - "Evil Queen" by Tenpei Sato (feat. Carrie G. Lowrey, Sara Thomas, Jody Fleischer, and Rachel Quaintanes)

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC - "Enforcers" by Takahide Murayama

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin - "Main Title" by Jesper Kyd

Suikoden II - "Mad Luca" by Miki Higashino

Dynasty Warriors 8 - "Theme of Lu Bu - DW 7th Mix-" by MASA (Arr. by Yosuke Kinoshita)

The Witcher III: Hearts of Stone - "Go Back Whence You Came" and "A Gifted Man Brings Gifts Galore" by Marcin Przybyłowicz

Chrono Trigger - "Magus's Lair" and "Showdown with Magus" by Yasunori Mitsuda

Final Fantasy XIII-2 - "Caius's Theme" by Naoshi Mizuta

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Special thanks to:

Razbuten

Chaos ensues, as Ranakel makes Galen learn about rhythm games under knife point while Edie goes, quite literally, under the knife.

From the early beginnings with Bust a Groove to the modern minigames of Friday Night Funkin' and the Yakuza franchise, it's time to take a trip through the history of rhythm games - yes, including Guitar Hero 3 and "Through the Fire and Flames".

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist: ⁠Music Arcade #54 (also available on our YouTube channel, if the link doesn't work in your podcasting platform of choice)

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

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song Credits:

DDRMAX - "Max 300" by Ω (real name Naoki Maeda)

Guitar Hero 3 - "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce

Rock Band 4 - "The Perfect Drug" by Nine Inch Nails

Elite Beat Agents - "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte (cover by Kevin Ridel)

Rhythm Heaven - "Fan Club 2" (also known as "Thrilling! Is This Love?") by Tsunku, feat. Lorea Ferris Dandoy

Drakengard 3 - "The Final Song" by Keiichi Okabe, Kakeri Ishihama and Akitaka Tohyama, feat. Emi Evans

"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen, as seen in a user-made level to Osu! (created by the user m980)

Crypt of the NecroDancer - "Mausoleum Mash (Shopkeeper ver.)" by Danny Baranowsky

Metal: Hellsinger - "This Devastation" by Two Feathers, feat. Matt Heafy

No Straight Roads - "vs. SAYU" by James Landino, feat. Nikki Simmons

Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party!!!! - "Night of Knights" (also known as "Knight of Nights") by beatMARIO

A Dance of Fire and Ice - "The Midnight Train" by Jade Kim and Hafiz Azman

Friday Night Funkin' - "Ugh" by Kawai Sprite, feat. Johnny "Jeff" Utah

Yakuza 0 - "Friday Night" by Kensuke Inage, feat. Yoshihiro Arai

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

On this episode, Sam "Zeral" joins the crew once more, because it's concert time, baby!

Come and join us as the team - still short one Brazilian host - shares the scoop on the recent Eorzean Symphony concert in Las Vegas, NV.

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Note: All songs arranged by FILM SCORE and/or the composers themselves unless otherwise noted

"Torn from the Heavens" by Masayoshi Soken (Start of the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn block)

"A New Hope" by Masayoshi Soken

"Serenity" by Masayoshi Soken

"Ultima" by Masayoshi Soken

"Dragonsong" by Nobuo Uematsu, Arr. by Tsutomu Narita (Start of the Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward block)

"Heavensward" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Yoshitaka Suzuki

"Heroes" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Kenichi Kuroda

"Triumph" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Kenichi Kuroda (Start of the Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood block)

"Songs of Salt and Suffering" by Masayoshi Soken

"From the Heavens" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Yoshitaka Suzuki and Masayoshi Soken

"Shadowbringers" by Masayoshi Soken and Nobuo Uematsu, Arr. by Masayoshi Soken (Start of the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers block)

"To The Edge" by Masayoshi Soken

"Invincible" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Yoshitaka Suzuki

"Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Masayoshi Soken

"Your Answer" by Nobuo Uematsu, Arr. by Takafumi Imamura and Daiki Ishikawa (Start of the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker block)

"Close in the Distance" by Masayoshi Soken

"Flow" by Masayoshi Soken

"Endcaller" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Yoshitaka Suzuki

"A World Apart" by Masayoshi Soken (Encore)

"The Final Day" by Masayoshi Soken, Arr. by Yoshitaka Suzuki (Encore)

For full, detailed credits on the setlist, we recommend the album credits for the 2022-2023 Eorzean Symphony tour album, titled "Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol. 3", available at the following link: https://vgmdb.net/album/125307

Guest Host:

Sam "Zeral"

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander