Download Episode 71: “Iku Mizutani: The Man Behind the Music” here!

Iku Mizutani is well known for his fast-paced NES and Game Boy music on games like Shatterhand, Shadow of the Ninja, and Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. He’s Mike’s favorite composer, and so he was thrilled when he agreed to do an interview with the PTR guys! Join us as we listen to some of Mizutani’s best 8 and 16 bit tracks, and ask him questions about his career, influences, and future plans. This is a show you don’t want to miss!

HUGE thank you to Bryan of Pixelated Audio for helping with translating for Mr. Mizutani.

Thanks to Nathan, Cameron Chiles, Chris Myers, Jeff Leppard, and Nikola Emerson Gutierrez for sending in today’s PixelChat questions. Want to ask Mike and Ed a question of your own? Send an email to [email protected]!

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The Tracklist:

Format: Game Title (System, Year) – Track Title – Composer(s)

1 – Rush N’ Attack (NES, 1987) – “Stage 2”  – Iku Mizutani, Shinya Sakamoto, Satoe Terashima

2 – Shadow of the Ninja (NES, 1990) – “Stage 5”  – Iku Mizutani, Kouichi Yamanishi

3 – Tail ‘Gator (GB, 1991) – “Boss” – Iku Mizutani

4 – Don Doko Don 2 -(FC, 1992) – “Ice Cave” – Iku Mizutani

5 – Shatterhand (NES, 1991) – “Area C” – Iku Mizutani, Kouichi Yamanishi

6 – Chaos World (FC, 1991) – “Battle 1” – Iku Mizutani, Hiroyuki Iwatsuki

7 – Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (SNES, 1994) – “Building” – Iku Mizutani, Kinuyo Yamashita

8 – Tetris Plus (GB, 1997) – “Knossos” – NIS, Kazuo Sawa, Arranged by Iku Mizutani

9 – Dragon Dance (GBC, 2000) – “Final Boss Part 2” – Iku Mizutani, Kinuyo Yamashita

10 – Power Rangers Time Force (GBC, 2001) – “Fable City (Future)” – Iku Mizutani

11 – Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (GBC, 2000) – “Boss” – Iku Mizutani

12 – Action Man: Search for Base X (GBC, 2001) – “Moon Base 1 Boss” – Iku Mizutani

Download Episode 70: “Return of the Free Picks” here!

It’s episode 70, so that means it’s time for a free pick show! Mike and Ed play some tunes that don’t really fit into any particular theme, but are still completely awesome. Will the guys finally agree on the music? Is there any hope for humanity once dirt bike racing goes mainstream? Is it safe to play with a gun that’s also a sword that’s also a monster? Listen in and find out!

Huge thanks to PTR friend and fan Jason Fox for drawing this episode’s cover image… we think it’s adorable.  

Thanks to RetroPowerUp for sending in today’s PixelChat question. Want to ask Mike and Ed a question of your own? Send an email to [email protected]!

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The Tracklist:

Format: Game Title (System, Year) – Track Title – Composer(s)

1 – Spawn (GBC, 1999) – “Motorcycle Chase 2” – Jun Funahashi, Kazuhiro Senoo

2 – Alien Hominid (Multiple Systems, 2004) – “Urban 3” – Matthew E Harwood

3 – Fast Racing NEO (Wii U, 2015) – “Willard Mine” – Manfred Linzner, Martin Schioeler, bjulin (Yoel Kumbolu)

4 – P.O.W. (NES, 1989) – “Stage 2 – Installation” – Toshikazu Tanaka, Kikuko Hataya

5 – Apocalypse II (SNES, 1994 Unreleased) – “Apocalypse II Theme” – Mike Clarke

6 – No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (Wii/PS3, 2010) – “Bit Side: Lay The Pipe B” – Masatomo “VARI” Komakine,Jun Fukuda, FIBER JELLY,Kazuhiro Goto, Taku Yoshioka,Ryo Watanabe, Masafumi Takada, MACHINE HEAD, MARU,Yusuke Komori, Masahiko Hagio, Tomohiro Shirai, KIYO-SICK, Akira Yamaoka

7 – 8-Bit Music Power (FC, 2015) – “Pico My Heart” – Takeaki Kunimoto

8 – Gods Eater Burst (PSP, 2011) – “No Way Back” – Masaru “Go” Shiina, vocals by Ben Franklin

9 – Cosmic Psycho (X68000, 1991) – “Cosmic” – PANDA (Yuki Nakayama)

10 – Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein (DC/Arcade, 1998) – “Against the Absolute” –  Tetsuya Shibata, Takayuki Iwai

11 – Trials Fusion – (PS4/PC, 2014) – “21st Century Scoundrels” – Petri Alanko

12 – Rayxanber III (PC Engine CD, 1992) – “Title” – Yasuhito Saito

Download Episode 69: “Follin Back in Time” here!

Tim Follin may be remembered for writing amazing soundtracks to titles like Silver Surfer (NES) and Rock ‘n Roll Racing (SNES), but his career as one of the most celebrated western VGM composers started long before that. Join us as we explore the early careers of Tim and his brothers, Mike and Geoff!  You’ll hear music from the very first game Tim composed for in 1985, and we’ll pick out more musical highlights as we discuss his music in what we’re calling Volume 1 of the Follin story.  Have your local emergency number on speed dial, because we’re sure your face is going to melt right off!

Thanks to KeyGlyph, Jeff Leppard, and Daniel Laughton for submitting  PixelChat questions. Send YOUR questions for us to answer at [email protected]!

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The Tracklist:

Format: Game Title (System, Year) – Track Title – Composer(s)

1 – Subterranean Stryker (ZX Spectrum 48k, 1985, Insight) – “Title” – Tim Follin

2 – Chronos: A Tapestry of Time (ZX Spectrum 48k, 1987, The Radical Tubes, Mastertronic) – “Title” – Tim Follin

3 – Agent X II (ZX Spectrum 128k, 1987, Software Creations, Mastertronic) – “Title [AY + Beeper]’ – Tim Follin

4 – Agent X II (C64, 1987, Software Creations, Mastertronic) – “Flying Section” – Tim Follin

5 – Bionic Commando (Atari ST, 1988, Capcom, Go! Media Holdings) – “The Castle” – Tim Follin

6 – LED Storm (Amiga, 1988, Software Creations, Capcom) – “Title” – Tim & Mike Follin

7 – Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (C64, 1989, Software Creations, US Gold) – “Title” – Tim Follin

8 – Qix (Amiga, 1989, Alien Technology Group, Taito) “High Score” – Tim Follin

9 – Sly Spy: Secret Agent (Amiga, 1989, Software Creations) – “Stage Theme 1” – Tim Follin, Geoff Follin

10 – Magic Johnson’s Basketball (C64, 1989, Virgin Mastertronic) – “Title” – Tim Follin

11 – Puzznic (Amiga, 1990, Software Creations, Ocean) – “Title” – Tim Follin

12 – Gauntlet III (Amiga, 1991, Software Creations, US Gold) – “Tune 1” – Tim Follin

Download Episode 68: “Taito Arcade with Bryan” here!

This week, Ed tags his Impulse Project co-host Bryan into the ring to chat about video game music! The theme of the day is Taito; specifically the history of the company and it’s influential arcade games and soundtracks. Learn about Zuntata, Taito’s in-house band, and find out how a video game company wound up introducing vodka to Japan!  Be sure to check out Bryan’s own VGM podcast at pixelatedaudio.com for lots more game music and fun.

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The Tracklist:

Format: Game Title (System, Year) – Track Title – Composer(s)

INTRO – Bust-A-Move (Neo Geo, 1994) “Let’s Go to  Pao Pao Island”  – Kazuko Umino

1 – The Ninjawarriors (Arcade system, 1988) – “Japanese Smile” – Hisayoshi Ogura

2 – Kuri Kinton (L System, 1988) – “Face-off Hairs II” – Masahiko Takaki, Yasuhisa Watanabe

3 – Gun & Frontier (F2 System, 1990)  – “Desert Mountain Storm (BGM1)” – Hidetoshi Fukumori

4 – Aqua Jack “BGM 3” (Z System, 1990)  – Shizuo Aizawa

5 – The Ninja Kids (F2 System, 1991) – “An Aimed Town” – Norihiro Furukawa, Fumiaki Imaoka, Hiroshige Tonomura, Pinch Punch

6 – PuLiRuLa (F2 System, 1991) – “BGM4, Desert” – Kazuko Umino

7 – Ground Effects/ Super Ground Effects (Taito Z/ F3 Hybrid, 1992) – “Thailand Course” – Unknown

8 – Elevator action returns (Taito F3 System, 1994) – “Blow Up (Final Mission 1)” – Yasuhisa Watanabe

9 – Psychic Force (FX-1A System, 1996) – “Burning Storm” – Hideki Takahagi

10 – Magical Date EX – Sotsugyou Kokuhaku Daisakusen (FX-1A System, 1997) – “Over Drive” – Norihiro Furukawa, Hiroyuki Misawa

11 – Darius (Arcade System, 1986) – “Cosmic Air Way” – Hisayoshi Ogura

Download Episode 67: “Industrial Strength VGM” here!

Sure, everyone knows that Nine Inch Nails wrote the soundtrack for Quake, right? You may not know, however, that it wasn’t the first time an industrial artist has written music for a video game.., and it certainly wasn’t the last! Ed and special guest host Todd, both long-time fans of industrial music, share their tastes and expertise in the genre.  Check out tracks that listeners of orchestral, rock, and dance will enjoy (with an industrial twist, of course!) You’ll also learn a lot about the artists that created these tunes, and find out where you can find more of their music.

PixelChat is on hiatus until Mike comes back, but keep sending those questions to [email protected]!

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The Tracklist:

Format: Game Title (System, Year) – Track Title – Composer(s)

Intro – Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (PSX, 1999) – “Ozar Midrashim” – Greg Shaw, Kurt Harland, Jim Hedges

Information Society Website

1 – Firepower 2000 (SNES, 1992) – “Opening” – David Whittaker

2 – Spider-Man 2 (PS2/ GCN/ Xbox, 2004) – “Hung Like a Spider” – KMFDM, Michael McCuistion

KMFDM Website

3 – Robocop – (GB, 1990) – “Title Theme” – Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz

4 – X-Men: The Ravages of Apocalypse (PC, 1997) – “Tragic Rabbit” – Method of the W.O.R.M (Garry Schafer)

Method of the W.O.R.M Soundcloud

5 – Quake – (PC, 1996) – “Opening Theme” – Trent Reznor

Nine Inch Nails Website

6 – Shadowrun – (SNES, 1993) – “Intro” & “Maria Mercurial Theme” – Marshall Parker

7 – Killer Instinct (XB1/ PC, 2015) – “Rash’s Theme” – Celldweller

Klayton’s Webpage

8 – Dead Rising 3 (PS3/ X360, 2013) – “Hemlock Melee Battle” – Sascha Dikiciyan

Sonic Mayhem Website

9 – Adventures of Batman & Robin – (Genesis, 1995) – “Gotham by Night” – Jesper Kyd

10 – Airmech (PS4, PC, XB1, XB360, 2012) – “Burning Skyline” – Front Line Assembly

Front Line Assembly Homepage

11 – Devil May Cry 3 (PS2, 2005) – “Now You’ve Really Crossed the Line” – Tetsuya Shibata, Shawn McPherson 

12 – Descent Maximum/ Descent II (PSX/ PC, 1997) – “Glut” – Kevin Ogilvie, Mark Walk, Brian Luzietti, Mark Morgan, Larry Peacock, Tim Wiles, Johann Langlie, Ronald Valdez, Leslie Spitzer

Ohgr Official Facebook Page

13 – Silent Hill 3 (PS2/ Xbox, 2003) – “Letter – From the Lost Days” – Akira Yamaoka, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn