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Long ago, the two podcasts of RPGFan lived in harmony. But then, everything changed when the Rhythm Nation attacked. Actually, that's not true. Rhythm Encounter was actually around before Retro Encounter, but Janet Jackson didn't record a song called Retro Nation, did she? (Did she?)
Today we are getting elemental. Any RPG fan knows how important the elements often are in our games, whether they're core to the plot like in the Mana series, or important in battle like in the MegaTen games. We have chosen four songs for some of the classical elements — with mild influence from Avatar: The Last Airbender — then things get interesting in the second half. What elements resonate with you? Let us know.
Featuring: Mike Salbato, Alana Hagues, Hilary Andreff, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Jono Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:03:29 - WATER - The Floating Imperial City (Motoi Sakuraba) - Tales of the Abyss OST
0:06:53 - EARTH - Few Paths Forbidden (Hiroki Kikuta) - Trials of Mana / Seiken Densetsu 3 OST
0:28:57 - FIRE - 96-:rip, or Cauldros' Day Theme (Hiroyuki Sawano) - Xenoblade Chronicles X OST
0:31:53 - AIR - Eternal Wind (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Rei Yamashita, YUTAKA) - FINAL FANTASY III -Four Souls-
0:56:04 - MOON - V. Moon (Norihiko Yamanuki arr. Sebastian Freij) - Seven Songs for Seventh Saga
0:58:35 - LIGHT - Flowers Blooming in the Church (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VII Remake OST
1:31:17 - DRAGON - (Reo Uratani) - Monster Hunter Generations: Ultimate OST
1:35:31 - TIME - The Tragic Prince (Michiru Yamane) - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night OST
2:10:46 - Alana's Bonus Track!
Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.
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Marty, we've got to go back! Back to the... past. That didn't work. But on this episode of Rhythm Encounter, we're doing a console-specific episode, for the first time since Episode 1 (which debuted way back in February 2013). The Nintendo Entertainment System wasn't the first game platform, but its impact on the gaming landscape can't be understated. Plus, for many of us of a certain age, it was likely the console that really got us into gaming — if not RPGs specifically — thanks to the debut of both Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, among others. And that's why the NES was the perfect place to visit next for a console episode.
We hope you enjoy listening, and if you have thoughts on a console you'd like us to cover in the future, please drop us a line!
Featuring: Mike Salbato, Michael Sollosi, Jono Logan; Edited by Jono Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:11:29 - Overworld (Akito Nakatsuka) - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
0:13:09 - Snowy Fields (Masatomo Miyamoto) - The Guardian Legend
0:33:08 - Warriors of Sorrow (Akio Dobashi) - Lagrange Point
0:35:11 - The Boys are Still Back (Dave's Theme) (David Hayes) - Maniac Mansion (NES Version)
0:56:40 - Theme of Xemn (Yuzo Koshiro) - Legacy of the Wizard, NES Version [Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family (JP)]
0:58:38 - Priestess Aria (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy III (Pixel Remaster)
1:33:48 - Sollosi's Bonus Track!
Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.
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Once upon a time, the idea of going to a theater or other venue to see video game music performed live was unheard of. But as gaming grew in popularity, live performances have become more frequent, and fans have had the opportunities to hear the likes of The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy performed in various forms over the years. Add in music cons like MAGFest, and the proliferation of online concerts in the last couple years (such as last fall's Undertale Live), and there's no shortage of options to hear some of our favorite music in a new way. Today on Rhythm Encounter, our three panelists celebrate just some of these live renditions, to show the breadth of performances that are out there, waiting to be heard.
Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Mike Salbato, Jono Logan; Edited by Jono Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:11:12 - Guldove (Yasunori Mitsuda) - CHRONO CROSS 20th Anniversary Live Tour 2019
0:14:48 - Matoya's Cave (Nobuo Uematsu) - THE BLACK MAGES LIVE "Above the Sky"
0:39:20 - Myst Medley (Robyn Miller, Jack Wall, performed by Video Games Live) - Video Games Live Level 1
0:45:24 - Poem For Everyone's Souls (Shoji Meguro) - Persona 20th Anniversary Concert
1:11:30 - Jun'ai Juuji Houka (Love in the Crossfire) (Revo) - Bravely Default - Linked Horizon - Luxendarc Rukusendaruku Kiko -
1:16:50 - Pokémon - "Gotta Catch 'Em All" (John Siegler and John Loeffler) - Video Games Live Level 6 (Audio credit: Game Buffet on YouTube)
1:43:35 - Hilary's Bonus Track!
Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.
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Title screens are among the first things we see when we turn on our favourite RPGs, and they're incredibly unique to the medium of video games. So it seems criminal that we haven't had an episode devoted exclusively to them! From setting the tone to weaving a story, a title screen (and its accompanying music) can say a thousand things about the video game it precedes. On today's show, we leave the start button alone to soak in our favourite title screen songs, marrying images, nostalgia, and themes from the games to each piece. From modern classics to childhood favourites and fan favourites, there's an eclectic mix of music on offer!
Featuring: Alana Hagues, Zach Wilkerson, Greg Delmage, Wes Iliff; Edited by Jono Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:05:00 - Title (Koji Kondo, arr. Bit Brigade) - The Legend of Zelda
0:06:32 - Octopath Traveler -Main Theme- (Yasunori Nishiki) - Octopath Traveler
0:27:22 - Brat Overflow (Hitoshi Sakimoto [Basiscape]) - 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
0:29:17 - Into Free ~Dangan~ (Takahiro Matsumoto, performed by B'z) - Dragon's Dogma
0:54:37 - Beginnings (Hidenori Iwasaki) - Front Mission 4
0:56:33 - Title Screen [Unreleased] (Noriyuki Iwadare) - Grandia II
1:16:10 - Main Theme (Yutaka Minobe) - Skies of Arcadia
1:17:47 - Main Theme (Yoko Shimomura) - Xenoblade Chronicles
1:45:54 - Wes' bonus track!
Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.
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When it comes to instrumentation, it doesn’t get more fundamental than the piano. Not only is it often the first instrument that musicians learn, but its 88-note range and ability to play both melody and accompaniment give it unmatched versatility. Piano albums of RPG soundtracks have been popular for decades, and in today’s episode, our panel is going to take a deep dive into some of our favorite songs! From the soundtracks of indie darlings to the best arrangements that Square Enix has to offer, join us in a piano lesson you’ll never forget!
Featuring Jono Logan, Kaleb Curry, Patrick Gann, Pete Leavitt: Names; Edited by Jono Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:06:30 - To Zanarkand (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy X
0:09:35 - Mechanical Kingdom (Yoko Shimomura, arr. Mark Andrews) - Radiant Historia
0:32:22 - Ripples of Daydream (Yu-Peng Cheng) - Genshin Impact
0:33:43 - Field (Night) (Manaka Kataoka) - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
0:57:46 - H'aanit, the Hunter (Yasunori Nishiki) - Octopath Traveler
1:00:40 - Snowy (Toby Fox, arr. David Peacock) - Undertale
1:23:40 - Crystal Cave (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Hiroyuki Nakayama) - Final Fantasy III
1:27:00 - Chrono Trigger (Piano Duo Ver) (Yasunori Mitsuda, arr. Takuro Iga) - Chrono Trigger
2:01:34 - Patrick’s Bonus Track!
Album Links
Chrono Orchestra Arrangement Box
Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack
Genshin Impact – The Shimmering Voyage
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Original Soundtrack
Octopath Traveler Original Soundtrack
Piano Collection Final Fantasy X-2
Piano Opera Final Fantasy I/II/III
Undertale Piano Collections
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How many Shakespeare references can Yoshi-P's team pack into a Final Fantasy XIV expansion? How many of said references will we reference today? And what angel wakes Mike Salbato? The answer to some of these questions lie within our new dedicated Final Fantasy XIV episode of Rhythm Encounter. Because the show was on hiatus during the releases of Stormblood and Shadowbringers, we have not been able to feature as much from those expansions as we'd like. Today we played catch up. Glorious, literal-music-to-the-ears catch up. For a game featuring hundreds of songs, it's hard to narrow it down to eight, but we think you'll like what our musicbringers have in store for you.
Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Alana Hagues, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:04:47 - Beyond the Wall (Masayoshi Soken) - Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV
0:08:18 - Full Fathom Five (Ken Ito) - Shadowbringers: Final Fantasy XIV OST
0:37:25 - Crimson Sunset (Masayoshi Soken, arr. Keiko) - Piano Collections Final Fantasy XIV
0:43:06 - What Angel Wakes Me (Masayoshi Soken, arr. Takafumi Imamura) - Pulse: FINAL FANTASY XIV Remix Album
1:03:15 - Dragonsong (Nobuo Uematsu) - Heavensward: Final Fantasy XIV OST
1:08:52 - Nightbloom (Kenichi Kuroda, Masayoshi Soken) - Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV OST
1:35:31 - To the Edge (Masayoshi Soken) - Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV OST
1:42:57 - Tomorrow and Tomorrow (Masayoshi Soken, vocals Amanda Achen-Keenan, lyrics by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Natsuko Ishikawa) - Shadowbringers: Final Fantasy XIV
2:15:46 - Mike's Bonus Track!
Album Links
Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV OST
Heavensward: Final Fantasy XIV OST
Piano Collections Final Fantasy XIV
Pulse: FINAL FANTASY XIV Remix Album
Shadowbringers: Final Fantasy XIV OST
Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV OST
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In this special surprise episode of Rhythm Encounter, we are joined by musician and actor Joe Zieja! RPG fans may know Joe from a multitude of roles, especially for his work in Fire Emblem: Three Houses as Claude, leader of the Golden Deer house. Recently, we posted an article about Joe's musical Kickstarter project, in which he plans to reimagine a portion of the Three Houses soundtrack in saxophone quartet fashion. Oh, and he is playing all four saxophones.
We invited Joe on the show to dish on the campaign, and we talked about his life as a musician, actor, and writer, to sandwiches, Transformers, the military... well, let's just say we had a lot to talk about!
Featuring: Mike Salbato, Stephanie Sybydlo, Niki Fakhoori as Niki Fakhoori, Niki Fakhoori as Quinton O'Connor, with special guest Joe Zieja; Edited by Mike Salbato
Links for this episode
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It's hard to deny the power of NieR's music. Keiichi Okabe (and his company MONACA) created something remarkable in 2010 with the music of NieR Gestalt & Replicant. In 2017, lightning struck again with the soundtrack for NieR: Automata, a masterwork of instrumentation and emotion. There's a reason you can search for "NieR" on VGMdb and get over fifty results worth of albums. Original soundtracks, arrangements, multiple concert performances, and rare albums begin to cover the official releases. Then with people like Sean Schafianski, ROZEN + REVEN, and Ferdk, there's a wide variety of unofficial arrangements as well.
The point is, there's a reason NieR and its music is so widely celebrated, and it's high time Rhythm Encounter had a show about it. So join Mike and the RPGFan NieR megafans Alana, Zach, and Patrick for a peek into the wide and varied world of music found in the NieR series.
Featuring: Mike Salbato, Alana Hagues, Zach Wilkerson, Patrick Gann; Edited by Jonathan Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:03:53 - Kainé (Salvation) (Keiichi Okabe) - NieR OST
0:06:53 - Mourning (Keiichi Okabe) - NieR:Automata OST
0:37:07 - Repose (arranged by SEXY-SYNTHESIZER) - NieR Tribute Album -echo-
0:43:34 - Ikō (Authority) (Keiichi Okabe) - NieR Re[in]carnation
1:09:04 - Vague Hope - Cold Rain (arranged by Sean Schafianski) - CHAMBER WORKS - NieR Automata
1:12:31 - Gods Bound by Rules (arranged by Kumi Tanioka) - Piano Collections NieR Gestalt & Replicant
1:39:27 - The Sound of the End (MONACA) - NieR Music Concert Blu-ray <>
1:42:50 - Orchestra: Weight of the World (Keiichi Okabe) - NieR:Automata Orchestral Arrangement Album
2:20:25 - Zach's Bonus Track!
Album Links
CHAMBER WORKS – NieR Automata
NieR: Automata Orchestral Arrangement Album
NieR: Automata Original Soundtrack
NieR Gestalt & Replicant Original Soundtrack
NieR Music Concert Blu-ray <>
NieR Re[in]carnation Original Soundtrack
NieR Tribute Album -echo-
Piano Collections NieR Gestalt & Replicant
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Hold it! For Ace Attorney fans, it was a long wait since the last mainline game in the series was released in 2016. But now, with the recent release of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles in July 2021, Ace Attorney looks to be getting the attention in the West that it deserves! Though the series is known for its chaotic courtroom battles, bizarre witnesses, and unique “Japanifornia” setting, many would argue that it’s the incredible music that ties everything together.
With its brilliant character themes and dramatic courtroom suites, the music of Ace Attorney brings the larger-than-life battles between defense attorneys and prosecutors to life. Join Jono, Niki, and Patrick as they delve into the tunes that make the Ace Attorney series and its characters so unforgettable! Take that!
Featuring: Jonathan Logan, Niki Fakhoori, Patrick Gann; Edited by Jonathan Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:10:31 - Dick Gumshoe - That's "Detective Gumshoe," Pal! (Masakazu Sugimori) - Gyakuten Saiban 1+2 OST
0:12:29 - Sherlock Holmes: The Great Detective of the Foggy Town (Yasumasa Kitagawa) - Dai Gyakuten Saiban (The Great Ace Attorney) Soundtrack
0:32:25 - Cross-Examination ~ Allegro 2007 (Toshihiko Horiyama) - Gyakuten Saiban 4 Original Soundtrack
0:34:04 - A Defense Attorney's Knowledge (Noriyuki Iwadare, arr. Noriyuki Iwadare & Natsumi Kameoka) - Gyakuten Kenji 2 Orchestra Arrangement Collection
1:03:30 - Uendo Toneido - Whirlwind of Laughter (Masami Onodera) - Gyakuten Saiban 6 Original Soundtrack
1:05:28 - Phoenix Wright 6 Courtroom Suite -- Ema Skye ~ Forensic Scientist 2016 (Noriyuki Iwadare & Toshihiko Horiyama, arr. Noriyuki Iwadare) - Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
1:39:53 - Jono's Bonus Track!
Bonus background tracks
0:00:52 - Phoenix Wright ~ Objection! (Masakazu Sugimori, Akemi Kimura & Noriyuki Iwadare, arr Noriyuki Iwadare) - Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
0:04:46 - Maya Fey ~ Turnabout Sisters' Theme (Masakazu Sugimori, arr. Noriyuki Iwadare) - Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
0:08:12 - 24-Hour Cinderella (ZENTA, Ryosuke Horii) - Ryu ga Gotoku Zero 80's Hits! Collection
0:24:11 - Investigation - Mystery Suite (Masakazu Sugimori, arr. Naoto Tanaka) - Gyakuten Saiban Orchestra Album ~Gyakuten Meets Orchestra~
0:45:18 - Seeing Through ~ Surge, Eyes (Toshihiko Horiyama) - Gyakuten Saiban 4 Original Soundtrack
0:50:21 - Great Revival ~ Miles Edgeworth (Akemi Kimura, arr. Noriyuki Iwadare) - Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
1:21:22 - Ema Skye - Turnabout Sisters 2005 (Akemi Kimura) Gyakuten Saiban Sound BOX
Album Links
Gyakuten Saiban + Gyakuten Saiban 2 Original Soundtrack
Dai Gyakuten Saiban (The Great Ace Attorney) Soundtrack
Gyakuten Saiban 4 Original Soundtrack
Gyakuten Kenji 2 Orchestra Arrangement Collection
Gyakuten Saiban 6 Original Soundtrack
Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
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Once one of the most popular genres of video games, adventure games have become much more niche in recent years. But thankfully, it’s a niche with some absolutely fantastic music!
From the mid-80s to the early 2000s, adventure games were at the forefront of narratives in interactive entertainment. In a time before RPGs embraced cinematic CGI cutscenes and voice acting, LucasArts, Sierra, and other adventure game developers were pioneering multimedia in video games, presenting audiences with expansive stories, fully-voiced casts of characters, full-motion video, and some truly memorable “moon logic puzzles.” They also created some incredible music! Join Adam, Hilary, and Jono as they move through adventure game history, highlighting some of their favorite music tracks from classics of the genre (and there might be some talk of musical theater thrown in there for good measure)!
Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Jonathan Logan, Adam Luhrs; Edited by Jonathan Logan
Links for this episode
Tracklist
0:15:48 - The Magic Meadow (Mark Seibert) - Sierra Soundtrack Collection
0:19:43 - Deep in the Caribbean… (Michael Land) - The Secret of Monkey Island
0:34:16 - Atrus' Study (Jack Wall) - Myst III: Exile Soundtrack
0:37:03 - Grim Fandango (Peter McConnell) - Grim Fandango Remastered Original Soundtrack
0:59:36 - Gyakuten Saiban 1~3 Courtroom Suite (Masakazu Sugimori, Noriyuki Iwadare) - Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
1:08:26 - Crusin’ (Jared Emerson-Johnson) - Sam & Max Save the World Soundtrack
1:48:34 - Adam’s Bonus Track!
Bonus Background Tracks
0:00:39 - Courtroom Lounge ~ Opening Prelude (English Turnabout Mix)(Masakazu Sugimori) - Professor Layton VS Gyakuten Saiban Magical Mystery Music
0:02:13 - You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Clark Gesner, Andrew Lippa) - You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Cast)
0:02:31 - Game of Life (Michael Kooman, Christopher Dimond) - Dani Girl (Demo)
0:03:14 - Overture (Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice) - Jesus Christ Superstar (1970 Concept Cast)
0:03:37 - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Finn) - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005 Original Cast)
0:03:57 - Three Coins in the Fountain (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) - Forever Plaid (1990 Off-Off-Broadway Cast)
0:04:26 - Hot Stuff (Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey) - Disaster (2016 Original Broadway Cast)
0:05:13 - Overture (Work Song) (Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel) - Les Misérables (1987 Original Broadway Cast)
0:05:33 - Prologue (We Might Play All Night) (Heidi Rodewald, Stew) - Passing Strange (2008 Original Broadway Cast)
0:06:31 - Karnak’s Dream of Life (Brooke Maxwell, Jacob Richmond) - Ride the Cyclone (2021 Studio Cast)1:39:35 - Title Theme - Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
Album Links
Sierra Soundtrack Collection
Myst III: Exile The Soundtrack
Grim Fandango Remastered Original Soundtrack
Gyakuten Saiban 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
Sam & Max Save the World Soundtrack
Professor Layton VS Gyakuten Saiban Magical Mystery Music
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