Tales of Symphonica

Alex and Lindsey get a chance to gush about their favorite VGM composer, Nobuo Uematsu. In this two part series, they'll explore the evolution of his career and find out what makes him a master of motifs. Part 1: Uematsu's early years up through Final Fantasy 6.

Tweet us @OfSymphonica or email us at [email protected] with questions, additions, and corrections - we might just feature you in the new Free DLC segment!

Songs played in order of Appearance:
- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- Free DLC by Alex Pagano
-  Citadel Agartha on Rogue Legacy 2 by A Shell in the Pit & Tettix
- Subterranean Sunrise on Rogue Legacy 2 by by A Shell in the Pit & Tettix
- Secret Weapon on Triangle Strategy by Akira Senju
- Situation 2 on Triangle Strategy by Akira Senju
- Hirata Estate Fighting on Sekiro by Yuka Kitamura
- Farm Boy on Final Fantasy (“FF”) 7 by Nobuo Uematsu
All songs below by Nobuo Uematsu
- Radio Station 1 on Rad Racer
- Prelude / Chris Theme on Alpha 
- Town Theme on FF 1
- Ship Theme on FF 1
- Cornelia Castle on FF 1
- Prelude on FF 1
- Main Theme on FF 2
- Battle Theme on FF 2
- Victory Theme on FF 2
- Chocobo Theme on FF 2
- Tower of the Magi on FF 2
- Boundless Ocean on FF 3
- Eternal Wind on FF 3
- Town of Dwarves on FF 4
- Boss Theme on FF 4
- Golbez, Clad in Darkness on FF 4
- Theme of Love on FF 4
- Cursed Lands on FF 5
- Ahead on Our Way on FF 5
- Lenna’s Theme on FF 5
- The Day Will Come on FF 5
- Deception on FF 5
- Battle on the Big Bridge on FF 5
- Shadow’s Theme on FF 6
- Terra’s Theme on FF 6
- Phantom Forest on FF 6
- Gau’s Theme on FF 6
- Dancing Mad on FF 6

Sources: Too many to list. Contact us directly for details.

Lindsey and Alex discuss the world of underwater levels in video games. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And, of course, the incredible music that accompanies these levels. Join us as we walk through video game history’s best and worst water levels and listen to the soundtracks that bring them to life.

Tweet us @OfSymphonica or email us at [email protected] with questions, additions, and corrections - we might just feature you in the new Free DLC segment. 

Songs played in order of Appearance:
- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- Free DLC by Alex Pagano
- Gears for Fears on BitTrip Runner 3 by Anamanaguchi
- Scrybe of Magicks on Inscryption by Jonah Senzel
- Leshy’s Theme on Inscryption by Jonah Senzel
- Wooded Path on Eastward by Joel Corelitz
- Cooking on Eastward by Joel Corelitz
- Strange Quest on Eastward by Joel Corelitz
- Diving on Waterworld by Dean Edwards
- Overworld on SMB1 by Koji Kondo
- Underwater on SMB1 by Koji Kondo
- The Dam on TMNT (NES) by Jun Funahashi
- Hydrocity on Sonic 3 by Doug Grigsby
- Drowning on Sonic 1 by Masato Nakamura
- Labyrinth Zone on Sonic 1 by Masato Nakamura
- Zora’s Domain on LoZ: Ocarina of Time by Koji Kondo
- Water Temple on LoZ: Ocarina of Time by Koji Kondo
- Yell Dead Cell on MGS2 by Norihiko Hibino
- Underwater Emma on MGS2 by Norihiko Hibino
- Title Screen on Kingdom Hearts by Yoko Shimomura
- Opening Sanctuary on Kingdom Hearts 2 by Yoko Shimomura
- Wrecked Ship Frigate on Metroid Prime by Kenji Yamamoto
- A Thousand Leagues Below on Shovel Knight by Jake Kaufman
- Dire Dire Docks on Mario 64 by Koji Kondo
- Bubble Man on Mega Man 2 by Takashi Tateishi
- Hydrus on Shadow of the Colossus by Kow Otani
- Aquatic Ambiance on Donkey Kong Country 2 by Davis Wise
- Song of Storms on LoZ: Ocarina of Time by Koji Kondo

Sources: Too many to list. Contact us directly for details.

Why does a NES game sound like a NES game? How is music even synthesized at all? Alex and Lindsey try to find an answer in the first part of this system-focused series.

Tweet us @OfSymphonica or email us at [email protected] with questions, additions, and corrections - we might just feature you in Free DLC.

Big thanks to the people behind The Pudding for putting together this amazing waveworms website and visualizer: https://pudding.cool/2018/02/waveforms/

Also huge shout to Karen Collins, who literally wrote the book on game music and implementation history. Check out her essential textbook, Game Sound, right here: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/game-sound

Songs played in order of Appearance:
- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- Rusted Sands on Horizon: Forbidden West by Oleska Lozowchuk
- Edge of the Sundom on Horizon: Forbidden West by Niels van der Leest
- Loop Blues on Loop Hero by  Blinch
- Cosmic Temperance on Loop Hero by  Blinch
- Muda Kingdom on Super Mario Land by Hip Tanaka
- Chill on Dr. Mario (NES) by Hip Tanaka
- Kraid's Lair on Metroid by Hip Tanaka
- Game Sounds on Pong by Allan Alcorn
- On the Right Path on Murder by Numbers by Masakuza Sugimori
- Title Theme on BMX Air Master by  uncredited
- Stage 3 on Journey to Silius by Naoki Kodaka
- Matoya's Cave on Final Fantasy by Nobuo Uematsu
- Bloody Tears on Castlevania 2 by Kenichi Matsubara
- Fortress on Super Mario Bros. 3 by Koji Kondo
- New Donk City - Daytime on Super Mario Odyssey by Naoto Kubo
- Energy Zone Theme on Contra by Kazuki Muraoka
- Town Theme on Ultima: Exodus (NES) by Tsugotoshi Goto
- Flash Man on Mega Man 2 by Takashi Tateishi
- Bright Man on Mega Man 4 by Minae Fujiii
- Stage Theme on Clu Clu Land by Akita Nakatsuka
- Title Theme on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle by Paul Wilkinson
- BGM 2 on Silver Surfer (NES) by Tim Follin

Credits:
Podcast by Alex Pagano and Lindsey North
Art by Kevin Flanagan

Sources: Too many to list. Contact us directly for details.

Dance along to the beat with Lindsey and Alex on this rhythm-game-focused episode.

Tweet us @OfSymphonica or email us at [email protected] with questions, additions, and corrections - we might just feature you in the new Free DLC segment.

Songs played in order of Appearance:

- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- Free DLC Theme by Alex Pagano
- More than a Feeling by Lena Raine on Chicory
- Supper Woods by Lena Raine on Chicory
- Petals in the Wind by aivi & surasshu on Ikenfell
- Rhythm of the Wild by aivi & surasshu on Ikenfell
- Need to Become a Hero by Masaya Matsuura on Parappa the Rapper
- You Guys Sit in the Back by Mayara Matsuura on Parappa the Rapper
- Scripted Connection by DJ Muramasa on Beatmania IIDX
- Taiko Ranbu by Yusi Masubuchi on Taiko no Tatsujin
- Slipping by Takayuki Nakamura on Lumines
- Shinin’ by Mondo Grosso (Shinichi Osawa) on Lumines
- Buggie Running Beeps 1 by Keichi Sugiyama on Rez
- Rhythmortis by Danny Baranowsky on Crypt of the Necrodancer
- Stone Cold by Danny Baranowsky on Crypt of the Necrodancer
- Triangle by Brian Gibson on Thumper
- Spring Field by Hydelic on Tetris Effect
- Snows by Hydelic on Tetris Effect
- Doki Doki Rush by Daniel Olsen & Jonathan Eng on Sayonara Wild Hearts

Sources: Too many to list. Contact us directly for details.

Get full metal silly with Alex and Lindsey as they journey through their favorite gaming moments and music from 2021.

Songs played in order of Appearance:
- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- Results Theme on New Pokemon Snap by Hiroki Hashimoto
- It's Bugsnax! on Bugsnax by  Kero Kero Bonito
- Pillow Leaf on Garden Story by Grahm Nesbitt
- Title Screen on Forza Horizon 5 by Ian Livingstone
- Old Town on Gravity Rush 1 by Kohei Tanaka
- Map Theme on Mass Effect (trilogy) by Sam Hulick
- Gaur Plain on Xenoblade Chronicles by Yasunori Mitsuda
- Memories of Dust (Desert Theme) on Nier Automata by Keiichi Okabe
- Main Theme on Final Fantasy 7 Remake by Nobueo Uematsu
- I'm Your GPU on Astro's Playroom by Kenneth Young
- Thermodynamic Equilibrium on Risk of Rain 2 by Chris Christodoulou
- Antarctic Isolation on Risk of Rain 2 by Chris Christodoulou
- Into the Doldrums on Risk of Rain 2 by Chris Christodoulou
- House of Hades on Hades by Darren Korb
- Out of Tartarus on Hades by Darren Korb
- Last Words on Hades by Darren Korb
- Fighting Chance on Dicey Dungeons by  Chipzel
- Swing Me Another 6 on Dicey Dungeons by  Chipzel
- Lifeline on Dicey Dungeons by  Chipzel
- Sunshine Coastline on Ys 8 by Takahiro Unisuga
- Woods of Elevated Coral reef on Ys 8 by Takahiro Unisuga
- Lost in Green on Ys 8 by Takahiro Unisuga
- Begin Again on Sayonara Wild Hearts by Daniel Olsen and Jonathan Eng
- The World We Knew on Sayonara Wild Hearts by Daniel Olsen and Jonathan Eng
- Dead of Night on Sayonara Wild Hearts by Daniel Olsen and Jonathan Eng
- MS Solar on Crosscode by Deniz Akbulut
- Autumn's Rise on Crosscode by Deniz Akbulut
- Raid on Crosscode by Deniz Akbulut

Alex and Lindsey dive into the history of game advertising, media, and awards ceremonies to find an answer to the question, "Does original VGM help sell games?"
Tweet us @OfSymphonica or email us at [email protected] with questions, additions, and corrections - we might just feature you in the new Free DLC segment.
Here's the Nintendo Power episode detailing how to make the Mario Bros. theme in Mario Paint.
Songs played in order of Appearance:
- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- End Credits on Mass Effect 3 by Sam Hulick
- Research Lab on Cyber Shadow by Enrique Martin
- Somewhere in the Woods on A Short Hike by Mark Sparling
- Pac Man Intro by [unknown]
- Falling After Skyship on Mario Bros. 3 by Koji Kondo
- Wily Fortress 1 on Mega Man 2 by Takashi Tateishi
- Dungeon on Startropics by Yoshio Hirai
- GEN on Fighting Street by Yuukichans arr. by Shofuku
- Fight Against Smithy on Super Mario RPG: LotSS by Yoko Shimamura
- Relm on Final Fantasy 6 by Nobuo Uematsu
- Time's Scar on Chrono Cross by Yasunori Mitsuda
- Building Mode 5 on The Sims by Jerry Martin and Marc Russo
- Katamari on the Rocks on Katamari Damacy by Yuu Miyake
- High Above the Land on Shovel Knight by Jake Kaufmann
- Dew Point on Risk of Rain by Chris Christodoulou
Sources:
too many to list. contact us for details.

For our second podcast, Lindsey and Alex discuss Mario Paint and the Mario Paint Composer and its impact on video games.

Tweet us at @OfSymphonica with questions, concerns, or corrections. Be the first to guess our clue for next episode and get a shout out!

Big thanks to Christoph Jacob for being our first interviewee, and check out his soundtrack to Revita at Revita (Early Access OST) | Christoph Jakob (bandcamp.com)

Songs Played in order of Appearance:

-Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano

- Shade Forest – Cathedral (by Aron Cramer)

-Seth’s Theme – Bravely Default 2 (by Rivo)

-Mario Paint Main Theme

-Mario Paint Music Maker Song 1

-FFVII in Mario Paint – Famouskoifish

-Banjo Kazooie Spiral Mountain in Mario Paint Composer – XavierSNGB

-Donkey Kong Country Theme – Davis Wise

-Donkey Kong Country Theme in Mario Paint Composer – CyanSMP64

-Revita Main Theme – Cristoph Jacob

-Crisis City – Sonic Generations – Jun Senoue

-Crisis City in Mario Paint Composer – Cristoph Jacob

-Dire, Dire Docks – Super Mario 64 – Koji Kondo

-Dire, Dire Docks in Mario Paint Composer – EsojestMort

Sources:

Mario Maker's Makers On The Added Super Prefix, Mario Paint, And LittleBigPlanet - Game Informer

https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/07/mario-maker-39-s-makers-on-the-added-super-prefix-mario-paint-and-littlebigplanet.aspx

The Story of Mario Paint | Gaming Historian - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54bXwb5DfRI&t=1s

Revita (Early Access OST) | Christoph Jakob (bandcamp.com)

https://disomikron.bandcamp.com/album/revita-early-access-ost

Lindsey and Alex kick off the podcast with a deep dive into David Wise's monumental career.

Tweet us @OfSymphonica with questions, corrections, and requests. The first listener to guess our next episode's theme wins!

Check out David Wise's 

• "Beached" single on his Bandcamp page
• Twitter
• Salamandos project with other ex-Rare composers

Songs played (in order of appearance):

• Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
• Astro's Playroom - SSD by Kenneth Young
• Dark Souls 1 - Gwyn, Lord of Cinder by Motoi Sakuraba
• Dark Souls 3 - Soul of Cinder by Yuka Kitamura
• Donkey Kong Country 2 - Stickerbush Symphony by David Wise
• Slalom - Downhill Theme by David Wise
• Donkey Kong Country 1 - DK Island Swing by David Wise
• Donkey Kong Country 1 - Aquatic Ambiance by David Wise
• Star Fox Adventures - Swapstone Hollow by David Wise
• Tengami - Five Stories to Heaven by David Wise
• Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze - Windmill Hills by David Wise
• Snake Pass - Bol Dur's Realm by David Wise

Sources:

• https://ocremix.org/info/Composer_Interview:_David_Wise
• https://web.archive.org/web/20061206184941/http://www.rareware.com/extras/tepidseat/music/index.html
• https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-04-05-from-slalom-to-snake-pass-the-musical-life-of-david-wise
• https://gamehistory.org/ep-23-working-on-donkey-kong-country-and-dinosaur-planet-with-kev-bayliss-david-wise/
• https://www.nintendojo.com/features/interviews/interview-david-wise/2
• http://www.vgmonline.net/davidwiseinterview/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rWsoEzkmqc
• https://www.factmag.com/2014/03/18/double-trouble-ryan-hemsworth-interviews-donkey-kong-country-composer-david-wise/
• http://www.scarletmoonproductions.com/blog/interview-donkey-kong-country-tropical-freeze-with-david-wise/
• https://twitter.com/david_wise/status/981039932650283008?lang=en
• https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/5/5456852/donkey-kong-country-tropical-freeze-music
• https://twitter.com/David_Wise/status/1394798798489243657