RPG Fan's Rhythm Encounter

It's been nearly nine years since we published our first episode about RPG forest music, so it is high time we revisited the topic! Forest music comes in several varieties, from contemplative to mysterious, upbeat to foreboding, and many more. Today's long-awaited episode covers RPG music with a real range, both in terms of styles but also in that the games span many years, between 1995 and 2022! Give it a listen and let us know what some of your favorite forest music is.Also, an important note to our listeners: We apologize for the delay in publishing this episode! We have recently been short staffed in the audio editing department. So while we have continued to record Rhythm Encounter episodes during this unplanned hiatus, it has taken longer than planned to edit them. We are hoping to be back on our regular bi-weekly schedule starting here, though! We appreciate your patience, and hey, if you or anyone you know would want to help us with editing our podcasts, let us know! And thank you to Jono Logan for stepping in to edit!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Audra Bowling; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 37 – Foliage Ocean in St. LouisHylics 2 OST on BandcampTracklistArboreal Aspirations0:09:04 - ‌In the Deep Woods (ConcernedApe) - Stardew Valley0:11:08 - ‌As I Feel, You Feel (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy V: Dear FriendsBacon & Eggs0:33:03 - ‌Starting Over (Naoshi Mizuta, perf. by Joelle) - Final Fantasy XIII-20:38:20 - ‌Secret of Forest (Yasunori Mitsuda, arr. by Guido - Hiroshi Hata and Kalta Ohtsuki) - Chrono Trigger: The Brink of TimeGreat Silence1:04:50 - ‌Silence of the Forest (Revo) - Bravely Default1:09:15 - Dungeon1 The Great Forest (Takashi Tsuzuki and Seitaro Tsuzuki) - Eiyuden Chronicle: RisingDevilish Visitors1:22:26 - ‌A Visitor in the Forest (Marika Suzuki) - Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin1:24:18 - ‌Devil Forest (Hiroyuki Yanada) - Last Bible III1:45:11 - Audra's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

RPG title screens bear a heavy burden. They're one of the first things we see in a game, making them one of the best places to leave a strong first impression. And often, a key component of that is the music. Several years ago, we highlighted eight standout title screen tracks in episode 71, and today, with a new panel, we're highlighting eight more! Come in and enjoy the music of several games you may know and some you likely don't. Welcome Matt to his first episode, and learn why there's an Elvis song in our links below, in this jam-packed episode of, well, jams!As a side note, this episode's publish date was moved back, so some of the info near the end about Random Encounter and Retro Encounter's schedule is accurate, if behind where the shows currently are.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel, Matt Wardell; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 61 - A Very Yoko Shimomura JanuaryRhythm Encounter 71 - Press Start: Title Screen MusicSquare Enix: KINGDOM HEARTS: Memories of Dearly Beloved with Yoko ShimomuraYouTube: Elvis Presley - Unchained Melody (live)YouTube: Community Pom: Ending ThemeTracklistPeaceful Beginnings0:11:20 - ‌Somnus (Instrumental Version) (Yoko Shimomura) - Final Fantasy XV0:13:46 - Dearly Beloved -KINGDOM HEARTS III Version- (Yoko Shimomura) - Kingdom Hearts IIICheerful Beginnings0:32:30 - ‌Solramimi (Kazuki Yanagawa) - Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout0:34:27 - Title (Hideki Tobeta) - Community PomEmotional Beginnings0:56:01 - Dragon Age: Origins (Inon Zur) - Dragon Age: Origins0:58:46 - ‌Off-Seer (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Xenoblade Chronicles 3There's-no-time-for-backup Beginnings1:20:49 - Metropolitan Edge (Akira Yamaoka) - The 25th Ward: The Silver Case1:23:47 - Invitation to the Overworld‌ (Yukihide Takekawa) - Soul Blazer1:53:10 - Matt's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Continuing our new run of quarterly new music updates is our first episode for 2025, and it's a truly notable start. We have a range of new music today, from well composed soundtracks that play homage to earlier console generations to new projects from popular Minecraft composer C418. We also continue to take our definition of music from a certain timeframe liberally and even have music for a game that doesn't exist (anymore). May these episodes help you learn more about new game music releases, and we'll be ready for more next quarter!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeExtremely OK Games: Final Earthblade UpdateTracklist0:04:58 - ‌Batten Down the Hatches (Winifred Phillips) - Flint: Treasure of Oblivion0:12:08 - Child of the Earth (Lena Raine) - Earthblade ~ Across the Bounds of Fate0:23:28 - ‌Acoustic: Main Theme of FFVII - Battle Edit (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Takaaki Nakagawa) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Acoustic Arrangements0:34:00 - A Different Sun (Amos Roddy) - Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector0:43:22 - Truth (Ada-P) - Urban Myth Dissolution Center0:52:08 - Main theme (Mili feat. Cassie Wei) - ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist1:09:02 - Hilary's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's visual novel day at Rhythm Encounter! Following one of the quickest sign-up processes ever for our show, four visual novel fans have come together to share thoughts on the music of eight visual novels, but they discuss so many more in the process. We all quickly learned that this topic will have to make an appearance again because the well of inspiration is so very deep. But for today, listen as our panel digs in to Suikogaiden, Ever 17, YU-NO, and much more!Featuring: Patrick Gann, Neal Chandran, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeAudra's Genso Manège Review"You Can't Hurry Love" - The Biscats Music Video (YouTube)Crystal Cola on BandcampPRIZM on BandcampTracklistDon't Go Away, We're Just Getting Started!0:24:17 - went away (Kazuya Takase, perf. KOTOKO) - Hourglass of Summer0:30:58 - You Can't Hurry Love (Kazuya Nishioka, perf. The Biscats) - Cupid ParasiteFeelin' Indie0:47:32 - Summer Night (Crystal Cola) - A Summer's End - Hong Kong 19860:50:45 - Bonds (Low) - Fatal TwelveNames To Remember1:04:40 - Impatience 1 (Ryu Umemoto, arr. Keishi Yonao) - YU-NO: A girl who chants love at the bound of this world. Soundtrack [Remake Version]1:08:19 - Karma (Takeshi Abo) - Ever 17PSOne VNs1:28:35 - The Boundless Dream (Ending Theme) (Miki Higashino, perf. Yumiko Takahashi) - Genso Suikogaiden Vol.2: Last Duel at Crystal Valley1:33:13 - Dreaming Robot (Multi) (Shinya Ishikawa, arr. Yaco) - To Heart (from the arrangement album Melty Kiss)2:00:48 - Neal's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is almost here, so what better time to dive into this musically fascinating "side" tale from 2015? Many fans were surprised that the first Xenoblade Chronicles was not followed by a "2" (though that happened later), but by Xenoblade Chronicles X. The name and looks alone made it clear this was a different beast: XCX features some now-familiar Xenoblade components and scale, but the more "worldly" nature of its story outside of the "main" plot thread was almost as divisive as its soundtrack to some players.When your first game features music by Yoko Shimomura, ACE+, Manami Kiyota, and Yasunori Mitsuda, pivoting soundtrack duties to "Attack on Titan guy," Hiroyuki Sawano, makes people take notice. The whole Xenoblade series is packed with unforgettable music, but there's no denying that none of them sound quite like the sometimes weird, often catchy, and above all, wholly unexpected, Xenoblade Chronicles X.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Wes Iliff, Stephanie Sybydlo, Sean Cabot; Edited by Mike SalbatoTracklistUncontrollable Wes0:08:25 - ‌Uncontrollable0:11:05 - Don't worryZ5 Sean0:25:55 - ‌Black tar0:29:55 - ‌Z5 MiraWir Stephegen0:43:03 - ‌Wir fliegen0:46:25 - ManonMike X1:00:44 - Shiro no Tairiku1:05:44 - ‌Theme X1:32:44 - Everyone's Bonus TrackAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's time for more of 2024's best RPG music! In the last episode, we featured nine excellent songs from last year, and today we return with Part II, bringing nine more tracks! Look for some Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Flowstone Saga, a double dose of Stellar Blade, and more! Scarlet Moon's Jayson Napolitano joins us to share some of his picks as well, so don't miss out.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Patrick Gann, Jayson Napolitano; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeScarlet Moon Interview: Visions of Mana Music TeamScarlet Moon Merch on BandcampScarlet Moon DiscordTracklistGio's Picks‌0:02:16 - Raven (Oliver Good) - Stellar Blade0:04:56 - ‌Battle -no hypocrisy- (Ryota Kozuka) - Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance0:08:13 - Detective Theme (Takeshi Abo) - Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective ClubMike Salbato's Picks‌0:35:29 - The Climb (Andrew Luers) - Flowstone Saga0:38:40‌ - A Turn of the Page (Failpositive) - Paper Perjury0:40:58 - Sword Search (Minako Hamano, arr. The Deku Trio) - Zelda & Jazz IIJayson's Picks1:04:23 - Charred Passage (Tsuyoshi Sekito) - Visions of Mana 1:06:23 - Silent Street (Battle) (Hyunmin Cho, seibin, Youngkyoung Choi) - Stellar Blade1:09:53 - Penny's in a Pinch (Sean Bialo) - Penny's Big BreakawayAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's time for Music of the Year! 2024 was absolutely stacked with game releases. Some even felt it was one of the all-time best years in gaming. And the side effect of a year filled with excellent games means a year of excellent soundtracks. For this annual special, we let each panelist bring on three songs. Even so, how did we pick just nine today? It wasn't easy.2024 being such a great year for RPG music meant that one episode could not contain our Music of the Year celebrations, so we have split it into two back-to-back episodes. Enjoy the likes of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Arco, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and much more today. Then come back next week for three more panelists' highlights of the year!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Patrick Gann; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeThe End of Service: A NieR Re[in]carnation Postmortem RetrospectivePat's Picks0:02:58 - The World's Heartbeat (comp. Kenji Ito, arr. Tsutomu Narita) - SaGa Emerald Beyond0:04:49 - Battle! (Terapagos - The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero) (comp. Toby Fox, Go Ichinose, Rei Murayama, arr. Go Ichinose) - Pokémon Scarlet & Violet0:08:16 - Lantern&End (Keiichi Okabe) - SINoALICEHilary's Picks‌0:39:58 - Renoir (Lorien Testard) - Clair Obscur: Expedition 330:42:55 - Moiety Theme (Robyn Miller) - Riven (2024)0:45:01 - Nadie Los Podrá Salvar (José Ramón "Bibiki" García) - ArcoMichael Sollosi's Picks‌1:17:52 - Impregnable Triangle (Chihiro Aoki) - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth1:20:59 - Coral Crown (Darren Korb, feat. Erin Yvette, Ashley Barret, Judy Alice Lee) - Hades II1:25:04 - Queen's Blood - Prodigious Pedigree (Mitsuto Suzuki) - Final Fantasy VII RebirthAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Almost exactly a year ago, four panelists came together to build a soundtrack to an imaginary RPG out of 8 fragments of other RPGs. Today, we're doing it again, except our "Hard Mode" rules dictate that we must choose songs from our source games with different use cases. So our Town Theme could be anything except another game's town theme, and so on. What kind of RPG will we assemble this time? Find out with us!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Lucas Greene; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 126 - Build Your Own RPG Soundtrack | RPGFanRetro Encounter 442 – The Legend of Zelda: Draft of FantasyTracklist0:16:41 - Title Theme: Hollow Charge (Chris Geehan, Dan-Byrne McCullough) - Cosmic Star Heroine0:26:30 - Map/Overworld Theme: Vana'diel March #2 (Naoshi Mizuta) - Final Fantasy XI0:39:33 - Town Theme: Title Screen (Tsuyoshi Tanaka) - Harvest Moon 640:47:29 - Battle Theme: communication breakdown (Yuki Kajiura) - Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse0:58:03 - Dungeon Theme: One Small Step (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker1:10:20 - Sad/Emotional Theme: Bloom Outro (Mili)  - ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights1:21:16 - Final Boss Theme: Touch It - FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS Remix (Ariana Grande) - Final Fantasy Brave Exvius1:36:02 - Ending Theme: Welcome to our Town (Motoaki Takenouchi) - Symphonic Suite Shining Force II ~ Ancient Sealing ~Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Between our recent milestone of 150 episodes and the start of a new year, we will have some fun changes coming to Rhythm Encounter, starting with this episode. New games and music release all the time that don't always fit with our episode themes. Starting today, we will release a "new music" episode every few months to spotlight the latest in RPG music. These episodes will typically be a shorter listen with a smaller panel, featuring 6–8 songs each. Today, Mike and Hilary highlight Metaphor: ReFantazio, Ys X: Nordics, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, and more!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff; Edited by Jonathan LoganLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 53 - Feel the Burn!Rhythm Encounter 150 - Name That (RPG) TuneTracklist0:00:47 - Warriors in Arms (Shoji Meguro) - Metaphor: ReFantazio0:09:35 - Ceruleum Smoke at High Noon (Takafumi Imamura) - Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail0:21:31 - Heroes in Training (Winifred Phillips) - Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Remaster)0:30:27 - Alefgard (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake0:35:44 - Facing the Distant Horizon (Falcom Sound Team jdk) - Ys X: Nordics0:41:34 - VS. The Rutile All-Stars (Lena Raine) - Beastieball0:57:09 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan. This post also contains a bonus listing of more recent music that were considered for this episode, so don't miss it!Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

WARNING: This episode contains major spoilers for Slay the Princess, so listen at your own risk if you have not yet played the game!Every now and again at Rhythm Encounter, we have the chance to bring on a special musical guest. For today's episode, RPGFan Music editor Patrick Gann sits down with Brandon Boone, composer for the indie visual novel hit Slay the Princess. The interview includes Brandon's insights and reflections on the process of building the game's score from the ground up, then expanding the soundtrack for its newer form, The Pristine Cut. Brandon also provides some interesting background information on how he got his start in music, his ties to studio Black Tabby Games (Abby Howard & Tony Howard-Arias), and his recent win at the World Soundtrack Awards!Featuring: Patrick Gann, Brandon Boone, Mike Salbato; Edited by Jonathan LoganTracklist0:24:13 - The Princess (Brandon Boone) - Slay the Princess Original Soundtrack0:40:44 - The Shifting Mound Movement V (Live) (Brandon Boone) - Slay the Princess Live1:23:26 - Brandon's Bonus Track! House of Woodcock (Johnny Greenwood) - Phantom Thread Original Motion Picture SoundtrackAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Retro Encounter can't be the only one making quiz show episodes. Rhythm Encounter had to get in on the action to celebrate our 150th episode milestone! Which of course means making our contestants identify songs, composers, and more across five themed rounds. Who will triumph? Feel free to play along too and see how you do! We had enough fun with this one that we don't want to wait another 150 episodes to bring it back. But for now, put your quiz show hats on (those are a thing, right?), make some guesses, and ring in 150 episodes with us!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Patrick Gann, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo; Edited by Jonathan LoganRounds0:05:31 - Round 1: Better Together0:16:45 - Round 2: This One's for the Girls0:35:35 - Round 3: This, That, or the Other: Sakuraba Edition0:51:50 - Round 4: Final Fantasy Arrangements1:13:10 - Round 5: Know Your Eras1:31:06 - Round 6: Final QuestionAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We all have origin stories about how we got into RPGs (several of us shared them almost six years ago in this feature!), so today our panel discusses music origins — what RPGs attuned us to the RPG music scene or otherwise elevated our senses and made us take notice. For some of us, this dates back to the days of the NES, and sometimes our awakening happened during the days of the GameCube. Whenever these songs hail from, they each hold a special place in our hearts.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Wes Iliff, Gio Castillo, Rob White; Edited by Paul DennisWarm Beginnings0:05:01 - Diddle's Organ (Yoko Shimomura) - Legend of Mana0:05:53 - Godot - The Fragrance of Darkness; That is Coffee (Noriyuki Iwadare) - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials & Tribulations16-Bit Vibes0:25:35 - Kids Run Through the City (FFPR ver.) (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster0:28:11 - Frog's Theme (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Chrono TriggerRound 3: Fight!0:44:50 - Colosseum Round 3 (Tsukasa Tawada) - Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness0:49:05 - Battlefield Without Light -War Theme 2- (Miki Higashino) - Suikoden II Iconic Themes1:11:11 - Tantagel Castle (Koichi Sugiyama) - Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest I1:14:31 - Fear of the Heavens (Hiroki Kikuta) - Secret of Mana1:46:22 - Gio's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We're no strangers to game series-themed episodes on Rhythm Encounter, such as our Mario RPGs or Dragon Quest shows. Now, it's time for the Tales series! Bandai Namco's long-running series turns 30 next year, and the mainline series alone contains 17 games (or 18 depending on which ones you count). That's more than enough material to showcase on an episode, wouldn't you say? Join our panel as we talk about the oldest, newest, and several Tales games in between, and listen to music by the venerable Motoi Sakuraba and company.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Michael Sollosi, Wes Iliff, Stephanie Sybydlo; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistTales of Strings0:09:30 - Risk It All (Takao Ogi) - Tales of Crestoria0:12:35 - Flame of Hope (Motoi Sakuraba) - Tales of AriseTales of Battle0:30:09 - Fighting of the Spirit Remix (Motoi Sakuraba, arr. S.S.H) - Tales of Phantasia0:34:17 - The Arrow was Shot (Motoi Sakuraba) - Tales of the AbyssTales of Resolve0:55:12 - White Light (comp. Koichi Tsutaya, Shiho Ochi, perf. Superfly) - Tales of Zestiria0:57:21 - Theme of Velvet (Motoi Sakuraba) - Tales of BerseriaTales of Forest1:14:09 - Mystic Forest (Motoi Sakuraba and Shinji Tamura) - Tales of Phantasia1:16:59 - Sunlight Filtering through the Trees (Go Shiina) - Tales of Legendia1:53:16 - Wes' Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's been awhile since our last instrument spotlight, so in this episode, we're sharing some favorite RPG songs featuring woodwinds, like flutes, ocarinas, and more! Whether it's the incredibly moving sounds of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the adventurous Dark Cloud 2, or Final Fantasy III's Maiden of Water, we have a lot to cover, so join us on this lovely journey, won't ya?Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episodeWhat is a zurna?TracklistCalming Melodies0:09:48 - Village of the Elw (Michiko Naruke) - Wild ARMs0:11:18 - A Life Sent On (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Xenoblade Chronicles 3Open Plains and Seas0:27:27 - Shinshu Plains (Masami Ueda arr. Tomomichi Takeoka) - Okami Goju no Onchou0:31:28 - Elia, the Maiden of Water (comp. Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Takashi Hoshide, perf. Siena Wind Orchestra) - BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY BRASS de BRAVO 3 (FFIII)Slippery & Drippy0:53:40 - Price (Shoji Meguro) - Persona 50:55:25 - Ding Dong Dell -The Cat King's Castle- (Joe Hisaishi) - Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White WitchYour Big Chance1:15:30 - The Adventure that Never Ends (Rush Theme) (Tomohito Nishiura) - Dark Cloud 21:17:09 - Field (With Marin version) (Normal) - (Ryo Nagamatsu) - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening1:47:23 - Hilary's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Somehow it's been four years since Rhythm Encounter's last Halloween episode, back in 2020's episode 56. Well, it's time we rectified that. A sequel to that episode and a spiritual successor to our previous episode about the works of Michiru Yamane, our panel dug into our gaming experiences to find music for the most spooky time of year. You'll find one of Pokémon's most iconic themes, and everything from old PC adventures to SNES, PS4, and more. If you need some tunes while carving pumpkins, or you're baking some Halloween treats... well, first of all, send us some. But either way, join us for a spooky good time!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Mario Garcia, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistWhat Lurks Beneath0:04:34 - Forest Temple (Koji Kondo) - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time0:08:14 - The Surface of the Water (Yoko Shimomura) - Parasite EveLet's Have Some Fun0:25:01 - Heart of the Idol (Robert Holmes arr. Space Quest Historian/Troels Pleimert) - Gabriel Knight: Synths of the Fathers0:29:47 - Amusement Park (Keigo Hoashi) - NieR: AutomataWitchy Vibes0:52:49 - Lavender Town (Junichi Masuda) - Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen0:54:40 - Freshly Glazed Porxie (Masayoshi Soken, Nobuo Uematsu, and Daiki Ishikawa) - Final Fantasy XIV: ShadowbringersUnsettling Ambiance1:14:45 - Magus' Castle & Confusing Melody (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Chrono Trigger1:16:43 - Firelink Shrine (Motoi Sakuraba) - Dark Souls1:42:35 - Mario's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We are at the beginning of "spooky season," and while this isn't (yet) our Halloween episode, October is a fine time to shine a spotlight on composer Michiru Yamane, known in our parts for her excellent work on the Castlevania and Suikoden series. That means some games you may expect, but definitely some you wouldn't, from this talented composer. So dim the lights, summon your favorite fairy companion, and get ready.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Patrick Gann; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistCome See the Softer Side of... Oh0:06:45 - Searching for a Past Hero (Flame Champion Waiting Ground BGM) (Michiru Yamane) - Suikoden III0:09:36 - Nocturne (comp. Michiru Yamane, vo. Hekiru Shiina) - Castlevania: Symphony of the NightPerplexing 3D Attacks0:29:04 - Unknowable Geometry (Symphony Mix) (comp. Jim Guthrie, arr. Michiru Yamane) - The Scythian Steppes: Seven #Sworcery Songs Localized for Japan0:33:06 - Reincarnation of Light and Darkness ~ Shagaru Magara (comp. Marika Suzuki, arr. Michiru Yamane) - Monster Hunter 10th Anniversary Compilation Album [Tribute]House of Fortune0:57:04 - House of Sacred Remains (Michiru Yamane) - Castlevania: Lament of Innocence1:00:55 - Gears of Fortune (Michiru Yamane) - Bloodstained: Ritual of the NightEcclesia the Elder1:16:03 - Screen Credit (Staff Roll) (Michiru Yamane) - Elder Gate1:19:54 - Wandering the Crystal Blue - Arranged (Michiru Yamane) - Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia1:39:34 - Pat's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

There are countless reasons we play and love RPGs, and often those that become our favorites have powerful stories and characters. But pitting your party against often overwhelming odds requires inspirational music for the optimal effect. In this episode we share both music and RPGs that have inspired US in turn, whether it's through bombastic battle music or lively energy. What RPG soundtracks inspire you? Let us know!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Lucas Greene, Tin Manuel, Rob White; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistFamiliar Territory0:05:52 - Weight of the World - Prelude Version (Keiichi Okabe, Nobuo Uematsu) - Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV (Shadowbringers)0:08:23 - Color Your Night (comp. Atsushi Kitajo, lyrics by Lotus Juice) - Persona 3 ReloadSoldiers (but not SOLDIERS) and SEEDs0:27:45 - The Landing (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VIII0:32:18 - Revolt / Thunder (Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata) - Tactics Ogre: RebornStellar Days0:53:46 - The Song of the Sirens (Mothervibes) - Stellar Blade0:57:47 - Halcyon Days -Branched- (Yoshimi Kudo) - 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Remix and Arrange Album -The Branched-Like a Boss1:20:22 - Tumult - Raise Thy Sword in Pride (Yuzo Koshiro) - Etrian Odyssey III HD1:22:00 - Hopes and Dreams (Toby Fox) - Undertale1:49:32 - Rob's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

With fall (or autumn, if you prefer) around the corner for many of us, it feels like a good time for relaxing music. While we did a pair of episodes focused on relaxing RPG music about four years ago (see Episode 54 and Episode 55), this time, RPGFan's biggest lo-fi fans got together to listen and chat about lo-fi RPG music. Sometimes these are straight from games, but often they come from the incredible community of independent musicians and arrangers. We have both of these and more covered today, to put on your favorite comfy Lofi Girl merch and chill out with us.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul DennisSpecial Credit: Our title this episode is inspired by and in honor of Homework Radio's excellent fantasy-themed lo-fi playlists. Check 'em out!TracklistSquare Enix & Chill0:09:04 - Fisherman's Horizon (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. by Kilikabeats) - Final Fantasy VIII Lo-fi Cover0:12:58 - Roman (Minstrel Mix Version) (Masashi Hamauzu, arr. Takegorou Kobayashi) - SQUARE ENIX - Mellow Minstrel Mix Vol.3 (SaGa Frontier 2)Defying Expectations0:31:28 - Sweetheart Latte (Andrew Jeremy) - Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly0:36:57 - Starless Skyline (Maybe Masayoshi Soken?) - Final Fantasy XIV: DawntrailGame Changers1:03:23 - Dark World (Koji Kondo, arr. Mikel) - Zelda & Chill1:05:58 - Beneath the Mask -Rain- (Shoji Meguro, vocals Lyn) - Persona 5Toss a Coin1:31:48 - Day at the Academy (Yuki Ichiki, Tsukasa Saitou, Ayako Minami, Shouhei Tsuchiya, Daisuke Matsumoto) - Enchanted Arms1:33:18 - Blood and Wine (Marcin Przybyłowicz, arr. bits & hits) - The Witcher but it's lofi beats1:58:27 - Wes' Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

So many of our beloved RPG soundtracks are filled with great music, and often have songs named in the same dramatic flair as the games and their narratives. And then sometimes, we find great tracks in our RPGs with names like "No No I don't die Noooo!" or "Rouen 'But-dad-dead-bed'," and those are the songs we are showcasing in this episode. It's always entertaining coming across these songs when listening to music, so for this episode, our panelists all chose music we love with offbeat, weird, or otherwise amusing titles.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Patrick Gann, Audra Bowling; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistThe Fantasy of Being Tall0:06:32 - A Sunbaked Throb (Masanori Osaki of Falcom Sound Team jdk) - Ys SEVEN0:09:23 - Seize the Artifact For Tallness (Motoi Sakuraba) - Eternal SonataShopping and Slaughter0:24:18 - Holy Death Strike of Slaughter (ACE) - Code of Princess0:27:49 - When We Laugh About Forgetting to Buy Something (Kazuki Yanagawa) - Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret KeyModern Villains0:46:45 - It's On Like Necronomicon (Ryan Ike) - Shadows Over Loathing 0:50:00 - Fish Force (HyperDuck SoundWorks) - Penny Arcade's On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4Science Fantasy1:09:36 - So nah, so fern (comp. Hiroyuki Sawano, vocals Mika Kobayashi) - Xenoblade Chronicles X1:14:13 - EXEC_CUTYPUMP/. (comp/arr Maiko Iuchi, vocals au) - Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel1:41:12 - Pat's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Part two of our handheld RPG music celebration continues — and concludes — today! Last time, we brought you some of our favorite tracks from Nintendo DS RPGs, and this time we talk about the DS' competition, the Sony PSP. The PSP was a haven for RPGs, especially considering its support of playing PSOne/PSN titles. From a surprise track by Nobuo Uematsu, beautiful vocal tracks, to the second and last Mega Man Legends title, we have a great lineup today. Let us know what some of your favorite PSP music is!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Patrick Gann, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistToneless Feelings0:03:51 - Tears of Feelings (evbtl08) (comp.&arr. Chikayo Fukuda / vocal Tomoyo Mitani) - .hack//Link0:07:53 - Toneless (comp. Nobuo Uematsu / arr. Kimio Itoyama / vocal YVONNE) - Anata wo YurusanaiSnowy Jungle0:29:01 - ‌Calinca Tundra & Calinca Ruins (vs Reaverbots) (Makoto Tomozawa) - Mega Man Legends 20:31:13 - ‌Shibuya - Jungle Navigation (Yuzo Koshiro) - 7th Dragon 2020Written in the Stars0:51:02 - Crimson Star {PSP “Growlanser” OP2 (Male Version)} (Noriyasu Agematsu {Elements Garden}) - Growlanser PSP0:54:59 - Rendezvous of the Stars - Ready to Fly - (English Version) (Chiaki Fujita {Sing Like Talking}, Additional Music by Bill King) - Summon Night 5Extra Gurumin1:06:26 - Sight of Silence (Falcom Sound Team jdk) - Gurumin1:10:05 - Battle (Shinji Hosoe) - Fate/EXTRA1:35:36 - Gio's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's a handheld celebration! We had so much fun with our Game Boy Advance music episode last fall, we're back for two more handheld episodes, starting with the Nintendo DS! Nintendo's little experimental handheld made waves upon its announcement, and once the dust settled on many gimmicky titles, some great games made their way into our hearts. And as you'll hear today, some great music as well, featuring the likes of Hitoshi Sakimoto, Michiru Yamane, Yasunori Mistuda, and more. Give it a listen and come back for the next one too, where we'll be discussing PSP music!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Michael Sollosi, Patrick Gann, Gio Castillo; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episodeMichiru Yamane on YouTubeYuzo Koshiro on YouTubeTracklistLegends in Obscurity0:06:09 - ‌Amaty, the Ancient City (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Soma Bringer0:09:39 - Yellow Brick Road (Hitoshi Sakimoto) - The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick RoadA Good Mana Is Hard to Find0:28:48 - ‌The Guitar's Serenade (Shu Takumi, arr. Noriyuki Iwadare) - Gyakuten Saiban Tokubetsu Hōtei 2008 (Apollo Justice)0:33:22 - Beyond the Pale Blue Sky (Kenji Ito) - Children of ManaDarkness and Soul DS0:51:10 - The Unknown Floor (Arrange Version) (Kenichi Arakawa) - The Dark Spire0:54:33 - ‌Demon Castle Pinnacle (Michiru Yamane) - Castlevania: Dawn of SorrowI'm not gonna spend my life being a color.1:18:07 - Scene - Blue and White [Event: Truth] (Yuzo Koshiro) - Etrian Odyssey1:20:33 - ‌Anville Town (Go Ichinose) - Pokémon Black & White1:50:50 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

The indie RPG scene is ever expanding, and while indie RPG music makes its way into many a Rhythm Encounter episode, we wanted to make an episode just about celebrating the music from indie devs. We enjoyed it so much, we may even make this a regularly recurring topic! But, for now, come journey through a wide variety of music from some of our favorite indie games, showcasing many types of instruments, vocals, and musical stylings!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Audra Bowling, Lucas Greene, Neal Chandran; Edited by Paul DennisTracklistDrama School0:09:14 - It's Showtime! - Gilda's Theme (Aivi & Surasshu, Renko) - Ikenfell0:10:55 - Too Dramatic (Elektrobear) - Virgo Versus the ZodiacFrench Quarter0:27:21 - Clair-Obscur (Lorien Testard feat. Alice Duport-Percier) - Clair Obscur: Expedition 330:30:56 - Forest of Torment (Jean Yves Bassangna) - Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-OdanConnection and Memories0:51:43 - Echoes ~ Numina Part II Theme ~ (Manuel Schmuki) - Numina ECHOES Soundtrack0:57:04 - To the Moon - Main Theme (Kan Gao) - To the MoonAirborne Adventure1:13:36 - Field of Wind (Aaron Walz) - From Another Shore Aveyond & Beyond1:17:08 - Claret's Theme (Phil Hamilton) - Skyborn1:36:24 - Lucas' Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Almost exactly a year ago, we published a fun episode on jazz and funk RPG music. Today we are back with a spiritual sequel, talking about jazz, funk, but especially city pop. All our tracks in this episode represent one or more of these genres, but all are excellent listens. So sit back and listen to some great tunes from the likes of Shin Megami Tensei NINE, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, space casinos, jazz-loving parents, and much more!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 112 - With Jazz in Our Hearts and Funk in Our Souls | RPGFanMarcoMeatball on YouTubeTracklistWind In My Hair Block0:10:30 - Prince of the Wind (From Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes - Town) (Falcom Sound Team J.D.K., arr. Etsuko Yamakawa) - Falcom SPECIAL BOX '910:14:51 - Honolulu City Lights Full Spec Edition (Chihiro Aoki) - Like a Dragon: Infinite WealthNeon City Block0:34:15 - ‌Karmotrine Dream (Garoad) - VA-11 HALL-A0:36:33 - Harajuku (Tsukasa Masuko, arr. Masaki Kurokawa and Takahiro Ogata) - Shin Megami Tensei NINECasino Block0:52:45 - Serendipity (Naoshi Mizuta) - Final Fantasy XIII-20:57:19 - Casino Calavera (Peter McConnell) - Grim Fandango RemasteredContemporary Block1:20:54 - Diamonds (Marskye; vocals and lyrics by Madeleine Mcqueen) - Boyfriend Dungeon1:24:06 - 07:41 The Beginning of Something (Danger) - Haven1:47:00 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Avast, ye scurvy dogs! This here episode of Rhythm Encounter be now the property of RPG Pirates. (Note: episode actually contains only a minimal amount of pirate speak.) Join the crew with Captain Hilary, Audra "Quick Draw" Bowling, "Gemstone" Jim Turner, and Kyle "Feat of Strength" Cantelon as they plunder the very best of RPG pirate themes from across the vast sea of game music within our coverage. There are pirate tunes for every mood, so listen now or prepare to say hello to the briny depths.Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Kyle Cantelon, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episodeBanjo Guy Ollie - Monkey Island main theme cover (YouTube)Tracklist0:04:19 - Prismelody: Pirates Ahoy (comp. Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Shingo Kataoka) - World of Final Fantasy0:05:57 - The Sea and Her Love (Justin E. Bell) - Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire0:17:46 - Sailing (Masahiko Kimura) - Suikoden IV0:19:03 - Blue Sky Pirates' Ship (~Nasrad, ~Ixa'taka, ~Valua) (Yutaka Minobe) - Skies of Arcadia0:30:53 - The Queen's High Seas- Beast's Theme (Borislov Slavov) - Divinity: Original Sin II0:33:24 - Tavern Music (Inon Zur) - Dragon Age II0:45:52 - ‌Monkey Island Main Theme (Michael Land, arr. Banjo Guy Ollie) - The Secret of Monkey Island0:48:00 - Cap'n Orla's Swashbucklers - Oh, We Be Pirates (Noriyuki Iwadare) - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies1:12:19 - Everyone's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We're trying something new here on Rhythm Encounter. While there is no end to the variety of RPG music out there, sometimes we spot similar song titles on different soundtracks, which gave us an idea. For this episode, each panelist chose a pairing of two (near) identical track names from different games, so we could compare and contrast each version. As we learned, this is a topic that could repeat, as there's no shortage of potential songs that fit this theme. Give it a listen and let us know what pairings you have discovered!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel; Edited by Paul DennisTracklist0:13:26 - A New World (Go Shiina) - God Eater0:16:25 - Final Fantasy V: A New World (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Arnie Roth & Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra) - Distant Worlds VI: More Music from Final Fantasy0:27:37 - Big Shot's Theme (Shogo Sakai) - Mother 30:29:22 - BIG SHOT (Toby Fox) - DELTARUNE Chapter 20:41:17 - ‌End of the World (Yoko Shimomura) - Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX0:44:28 - End of the World (Barry "Epoch" Topper) - Paradise Killer0:56:09 - A Safe Haven (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past0:58:20 - Safe Haven (Yoko Shimomura) - Final Fantasy XV1:17:15 - Mike's Bonus Tracks!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's-a-us, the Rhythm Encounter crew! With the impending launch of the remaster for the beloved sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, we decided it was high time to talk about Mario's illustrious RPG career. Starting with 1996's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and extending through the Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario games, the idea of a Mario-based RPG went from an unheard of collaboration between Nintendo and then-Squaresoft to multiple styles of games across several generations of consoles. And, as it turns out, incredibly talented composers are attached to every game's soundtrack. So strap on your overalls and join us for some of our favorite Mario RPG music!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Mario Garcia, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 61 - A Very Yoko Shimomura January | RPGFanMario Tennis (N64) - Game Point (YouTube)TracklistWorld 1 - Dream City0:08:53 - Dreamy Castle Rendezvous (Yoko Shimomura) - Mario & Luigi: Dream Team0:11:25 - Rogueport (Yoshito Hirano and Yuka Tsujiyoko) - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorWorld 2 - Mushroom Stomp0:26:25 - Beware of Forest Mushrooms (Yoko Shimomura) - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars0:28:31 - Battle (Yoko Shimomura) - Mario & Luigi: Partners in TimeWorld 3 - And My Name's Birdo0:46:42 - ‌Enter Birdo (Yoshito Sekigawa, Shoh Murakami, Yoshiaki Kimura, Hiroki Morishita, and Fumihiro Isobe) - Paper Mario: The Origami King0:48:39 - This is Booster Tower (Yoko Shimomura) - Super Mario RPG (Remake)World 4 - Bowser's Castle 41:06:25 - ‌Game Point (Motoi Sakuraba) - Mario Tennis (GBC)1:08:16 - The Grand Finale (Yoko Shimomura) - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story1:30:34 - Mario's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Whether or not you need an introduction to Masashi Hamauzu's music, we've got something for you. From some well-known to lesser-known Final Fantasy pieces to some classic Square Enix games, our panel dug in to ensure we covered a lot of ground in Hamauzu's history as a composer and arranger. So join us as we discuss fantasies, legacies, remakes, a guy named Todd, and way too much about how we're meant to pronounce "Archylte."Featuring: Mike Salbato, Patrick Gann, Zach Wilkerson, Greg Delmage; Edited by Paul DennisTracklist0:06:51 - The Star Graal - The Legend of Legacy0:11:38 - Frenzy Under Pressure (comp. Masashi Hamauzu, perf. Benyamin Nuss, Lisa Schumann & Kana Shirao) - Masashi Hamauzu Opus 4 Piano and Chamber Music Works0:39:23 - End of the World (comp. Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, arr. Masashi Hamauzu) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth0:42:16 - Jessie's Theme - Final Fantasy VII Remake1:03:33 - The Archylte Steppe - Final Fantasy XIII1:07:41 - A Fleeting Dream (comp. Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Masashi Hamauzu) - Final Fantasy X1:39:43 - Todfeind - SaGa Frontier 21:41:51 - A Dream in Flight - Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon2:16:55 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Everything's better with the right soundtrack backing it up, whether that's studying, working, or household tasks — most notably for today's discussion, cooking! Whether our panel on this episode was channeling energy for a flavorful Spanish chicken dish or some chill tunes to prepare cozy desserts, we got to showcase the diverse range of music that each of us likes to accompany our time in the kitchen.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Audra Bowling, Tin Manuel, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Jonathan LoganTracklist0:05:20 - Balamb Garden (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VIII0:08:48 - vital signs (universa's theme) (Milk & Bone) - Invincible Presents: Atom Eve0:23:09 - Challenging a Queen (Tripod & Austin Wintory) - Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical0:28:39 - 10:27 Appledew Stew (Danger) - Haven0:48:58 - Dance of 1,000 Suns (Eric W. Brown) - Sea of Stars 0:51:16 - Crimson Valley -Night- (Daisuke Achiwa) - Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book1:05:39 - Life at Garreg Mach Monastery - Piano Arrangement (Takeru Kanazaki, arr. PurpleSchala) - Fire Emblem Three Houses for Solo Piano1:09:50 - Farm Boy (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Shotaro Shima) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth1:31:34 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's hard to go a few months without a remaster of a beloved RPG gracing our physical or virtual shelves, but when some of those are the quality of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series or the recent Persona 3 Reload, we aren't complaining. This age of remasters also means updated or rearranged music is part of the package, so today we're showcasing some stellar new takes on music for eight RPG remasters released in recent years.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo, Lucas Greene; Edited by Mike SalbatoTracklistBlock 1 - Final Fantasy Anthology0:06:02 - Battle on the Big Bridge (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster0:08:32 - Aria di Mezzo Carattere {English Language Version} (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VI Pixel RemasterBlock 2 - Yoko! Oh no!0:25:09 - Agniratha, Mechonis Capital/Night (Definitive Edition ver.) (arr. Kenji Hiramatsu) - Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition0:27:56 - Danger Aplenty on the Journey (Yoko Shimomura) - Super Mario RPG RemakeBlock 3 - Samurai Secrets and Space Spectres0:43:11 - Collisions of our Swords (arr. unknown) - Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023)0:47:48 - Resynthesis (Sam Hulick) - Mass Effect: Legendary EditionBlock 4 - Masked Faces in Dark Places01:02:15 - When the Moon's Reaching Out Stars -Reload- (arr. Atsushi Kitajoh) - Persona 3 Reload1:05:36 - Face Shrine (arr. Ryo Nakamatsu) - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)1:28:58 - Gio's bonus track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Huh?Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Wes Iliff, Kyle Cantelon; Edited by Mike SalbatoLinks for this episode:YouTube: Might and Magic VI, All Voice Acting Part 1YouTube: Might and Magic VI and VII: Creature SoundsPlayStation 2 Crystal ClockTracklist0:03:32 - Level Up - Dragon Quest0:03:36 - Judgment Ring Hit - Shadow Hearts Covenant0:12:32 - Wizard Eye/other spell sounds - Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven 0:12:36 - Dark Space "blip" - Illusion of Gaia0:26:18 - Pokéball Wobble - Pokémon series0:26:23 - Disc Sounds - PlayStation 20:41:30 - Start of the Search (Fumiyoshi Shimohara) - Yakuza 00:41:38 - Cursor Movement - Final Fantasy VIISound Sources: Final Fantasy VII, PlayStation 2, Dragon Quest, Shadow Hearts Covenant, Might and Magic VIAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

While RPGs have no shortage of high-energy moments requiring intense strategizing, quick reflexes, or simply a box of tissues for the more emotional moments, it's important to have downtime between those to balance everything out. This episode is about "safe spaces" in RPGs, and our panelists did not always choose the kinds of song we expected of one another. We enjoyed hearing the various ways each of us wanted to represent safe spaces through a variety of musical means, and we'd love to hear your favorite music in this vein as well!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episodeYouTube: Final Fantasy XV "Uncovered" TrailerRhythm Encounter 104 - Like a Dragon: Rhythm! | RPGFanTracklist0:06:31 - Maiden in Black (Shunsuke Kida) - Demon's Souls0:10:51 - Yohan Romantic (Spencer Bambrick) - Eternights0:26:48 - By the Campfire (Norikazu Miura) - Suikoden Tactics0:28:23 - Our Terms (Takafumi Imamura) - Final Fantasy XVI0:49:20 - Brink of Time (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Chrono Trigger0:51:44 - New Serena (Yuichi Kanatani) - Yakuza 41:23:30 - Song of the Ancients / Hollow Dreams (Keiichi Okabe, arr. Keigo Hoashi) - NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...1:26:57 - Stand By Me (Ben E. King, perf. by Florence and the Machine) - Final Fantasy XV2:00:30 - Audra's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Previously on Rhythm Encounter, we have talked about some important first impressions, namely some of our favorite intro themes, and even title screen music. But what happens next is just as important: the opening hours of an RPG can really set the stage for what's to come. When thinking about our favorite games, it's fun to think back to how they began, and how well the mood and world is established through the narrative, characters, and of course, the music. Today we're sharing some of our favorite early game tunes that were instrumental (sorry not sorry) in getting us into some great games.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Michael Sollosi, Patrick Gann, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul DennisTracklist0:06:23 - Reminiscence (Miki Higashino) - Suikoden II0:08:11 - Dream of the Shore Bordering Another World (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Chrono Cross0:31:30 - City of Bells (Ken Nakagawa) - Atelier Iris ~Eternal Mana~0:33:32 - Caravan Crossroad (Kumi Tanioka) - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles0:57:24 - Autumn's Rise (Deniz Akbulut) - CrossCode1:00:14 - Garland Office (Yoshitaka Hirota) - Shadow Hearts: From the New World1:16:50 - Unary Game (Shinji Hosoe) - 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors1:19:04 - Pledge of Demon (Hidenori Shoji) - Yakuza 01:51:57 - Sollosi's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Do we at RPGFan like Final Fantasy VII? Off course! That's why we're ready for…a reunion of tracks from across the expansive (and still growing) FFVII universe. The timing here is intentional to celebrate the fantastic music associated with FFVII as we all get ready to enjoy Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Join our panel of savvy veterans and one newcomer SOLDIER: First Class news editor as we celebrate our favorite music from this (sub-)series in all its iterations and, of course, fight against Shinra. We hope these tracks will get you ready to battle on!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Kyle Cantelon; Edited by Jono LoganTracklist0:07:40 - Those Who Fight (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Shiro Hamaguchi) - Piano Collections Final Fantasy VII0:11:33 - Judgement Funkadelic (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Sean Schafianski) - MATERIA: Final Fantasy VII Remixed0:31:49 - Crazy Motorcycle (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VII0:35:23 - Dear to the Heart (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VII0:54:29 - Why (Yoshihiko Nishio & Ayaka) - Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII0:58:52 - AVALANCHE (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Mega Ran) -  Black Materia 1:24:56 - Bombing Mission - Infiltration (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VII Remake OST Plus1:31:43 - Advent: One-Winged Angel (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children2:04:01 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's finally time to celebrate the music of the (last) year! As you know by now, a great deal of incredible games released in 2023, and with them, many notable soundtracks. Our panel today brought some of their favorite songs of 2023, featuring music from some Square Enix heavy hitters to some lovely indie titles and others in between.As usual for Music of the Year, this episode is longer than usual, as each of us picked one more song than usual, giving us a total of 12, plus two special bonus tracks from Rhythm Encounter's co-founders. It still isn't enough to cover it all, but we packed in as much musical greatness as possible! What are some of your favorite songs and soundtracks from 2023?Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Michael Sollosi, Patrick Gann; Edited by Jono LoganPat's Picks0:05:05 - Toto'haha (Yasunori Nishiki) - Octopath Traveler II0:08:38 - The Apotheosis (Brandon Boone) - Slay the Princess0:11:21 - Celestial (Toby Fox Remix) (comp Ed Sheeran, arr Toby Fox) - Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLCMike Salbato's Picks0:38:00 - Dedicated to Moonlight (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker0:43:44 - World Map (Reo Uratani) - Meg's Monster0:45:53 - Colgera Battle (Manaka Kataoka, Maasa Miyoshi, Masato Ohashi, Tsukasa Usui) - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomBonus Track 1: Stephen Meyerink1:11:33 - Normal Battle I (Yasunori Nishiki) - Octopath Traveler IIMichael Sollosi's Picks1:17:30 - Preserved Realm (D'Anthoni Wooten) - Dave the Diver1:20:56 - Ascension (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XVI1:25:04 - Mr. Top Player (Shigeyuki Kameda) - Street Fighter 6Hilary's Picks1:48:14 - The Way I See (Andrew Jeremy) - Coffee Talk Episode 2 - Hibiscus and Butterfly1:54:46 - Down by the River (Borislav Slavov) - Baldur's Gate III1:57:05 - Lux Tizer (Norihiko Yamanuki) - The 7th Saga Soundtrack Composer's EditionBonus Track 2: Derek Heemsbergen2:33:17 - Main Theme (Tsutomu Narita?) - Granblue Fantasy Versus: RisingAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We're kicking off the new year on Rhythm Encounter with a brand-new kind of episode: Building a soundtrack from pieces of other games. We distilled our imaginary RPG down to eight core musical moments — title, overworld, town, dungeon, battle, emotional, final boss, and ending, to be specific — and pulled a song for each from eight different RPGs. While we were all prepared to justify how eight disparate tracks made sense together, the resulting "soundtrack" was more cohesive than we expected!We hope you like this musical experiment, because we already have plans for a future sequel. Stay tuned!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Lucas Greene; Edited by Paul DennisTracklist0:07:45 - Breath of Fire IV ~Opening Animation~ (Taro Iwashiro) - Breath of Fire IV0:09:13 - Quatera Woods (Yukihiro Jindo) - Falcom Field Zanmai (originally Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim)0:31:51 - Hateno Village (Yasuaki Iwata) - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild0:37:35 - Pyramid (Yuzo Koshiro) - Actraiser Symphonic Suite0:58:34 - Battle 1 (Yasunori Shiono) - Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals1:01:32 - The Sandy Beach of Gumbo (Noriyuki Iwadare) - Grandia1:25:52 - On Blade's Edge (Masayoshi Soken) - Endwalker: Final Fantasy XIV1:30:11 - Journey's End (Rich Douglas ft. Jillian Aversa) - Shadowgate (2014)Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

To celebrate the new year, we put together a special episode before we return to our regularly scheduled topics, with a short episode full of music dedications. We were inspired by the idea of radio DJs who take listener calls and offer up dedications on air, so we polled the RPGFan staff, asking them for songs and written dedications to read on the episode. We both offered some of our own as well, so we hope you enjoy everyone's heartfelt messages and musical choices.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episode Prelude / Crystal Theme (Final Fantasy) - Harp and Strings cover by Patti Rudisill & Paula Bressman My Mind | Final Fantasy VIII Piano cover by Sebastien Skaf OverClocked ReMix: The Legend of Zelda "Zelda Heineken" Tracklist0:05:31 - Wind Crest ~The Three Trails~ (Takahito Eguchi & Noriko Matsueda) - Piano Collection Final Fantasy X-20:10:11 - Boss Battle Theme (Shigeki Sako) - Vay0:14:56 - Prelude (Nobuo Uematsu, cover by Patti Rudisill & Paula Bressman) - Final Fantasy series0:23:32 - A Sailor Never Sleeps (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn0:31:20 - My Mind (Nobuo Uematsu, cover by Sebastien Skaf) - Final Fantasy VIII0:36:17 - New Days (Shoji Meguro) - Persona 40:39:59 - Land of Radiant Flowers (Revo) - Bravely Default0:47:17 - Zelda Heineken (Main Theme) (Koji Kondo, arr. & perf. by Mattias Holmgren) - The Legend of Zelda0:52:33 - Overworld Theme (Koji Kondo) - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the PastAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

In farming games, typically the slowest part of the year is winter. So why did we record our farming music episode when it's winter for many of our listeners? Hey, I don't have all the answers... unless it's about work/life balance and the best Stardew Valley partner. But I digress. Today's panel is only three people, but we still have a full slate of music to share from some of our favorite farming and sim games. Some are more RPG than others, but what they have in common are great lineups of music to set a mood for every season. Grab your watering can and your straw hat and let's go visit the farm!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Tin Manuel; Edited by Jono LoganTracklistWinter0:07:38 - Quiet Winter (Dai Nakajima) - Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life0:10:55 - Winter (Nocturne of Ice) (ConcernedApe, arr. Matthew Bridgham, perf. Augustine Mayuga Gonzales) - Stardew Valley Piano CollectionsSpring0:30:56 - Spring (Town) (Manual of Errors) - Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland0:33:46 - Bird's Eye Brae (Day) (Go Shiina) - HarvestellaSummer1:00:35 - Summer Day 4 (Yugo Pratomo) - Coral Island1:03:57 - New Life in the Desert (Claude Ruelle) - My Time at SandrockChill1:23:56 - Starry and Calm (Night) (Bashi Boizu) - Littlewood1:26:00 - Whale Island Outside (Tomoko Morita) - Rune Factory Frontier2:00:28 - Tin's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's time for another composer spotlight on Rhythm Encounter, and this time we're celebrating the works of Hiroki Kikuta. Many RPG fans know his work on the Mana series — particularly Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana — but there's much more to Kikuta than many people know.From a PSone game that never left Japan to his contributions to many indie games today, today's episode digs into the many hats Hiroki Kikuta has worn over the years. We hope you discover new facets to his work as some of us did on this episode!If you want more composer episodes when you are done, check out episodes 108 and 61, where we spotlighted Hitoshi Sakimoto and Yoko Shimomura, respectively.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Patrick Gann, Greg Delmage; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episode Valiant Mirror Website Soukaigi - Fire Wire TracklistFiji Block0:08:13 - Where Angel Fear to Tread (Hiroki Kikuta, arr. Sachiko Miyano) - Trials of Mana (2020)0:10:54 - Into the Thick of It (GENTLE LOVE) - Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of ManaIndie Darling Block0:36:59 - Ajna (comp/arr Hiroki Kikuta) - Indivisible0:39:44 - Land of Blooming Mushrooms (Hiroki Kikuta) - TangledeepCinematic Block1:04:31 - The Essentia 2000 Arrives (aka Exploring the Wilderness) (Hiroki Kikuta) - YIIK: A Postmodern RPG1:07:05 - Halls of Karba (Hiroki Kikuta) - Earthlock: Festival of Magic"I'll do it myself" Block1:26:07 - Requiem (Hiroki Kikuta) - Koudelka1:27:29 - Quake (comp/arr Hiroki Kikuta) - Soukaigi2:02:20 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We're knee-deep in fall leaves in some parts of the world, though much like our spring themes episode earlier this year, what autumn (or fall) means to each of our panelists varies. Some of us chose songs based on cozy evenings with a hot drink, and some of us used our imaginations since not everyone lives in parts of the world with the typical four seasons. So enjoy eight different musical approaches to autumn, and let us know which of these sound like autumn in your part of the world!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Paul DennisLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter 11 - Pumpkin SpiceTracklist0:08:35 - 日常 (Everyday) (Ayako Minami, Makoto Asai) - DAEDALUS: The Awakening of Golden Jazz0:14:10 - Fall (The Smell of Mushroom) (ConcernedApe, arr. by GENTLE LOVE) - Prescription for Sleep: Stardew Valley0:31:32 - Old Familiar Scent of Iselia (Motoi Sakuraba) - Tales of Symphonia0:34:18 - Thank You (Jason Chen) - Autumn's Journey0:45:30 - Mages In Their Chantry (Inon Zur) - Dragon Age: Origins0:47:13 - Works and Ways Unseen (Ryan Ike) - Shadows Over Loathing1:00:11 - Branch-Colored Past (Time) ~First Chapter - One Hundred Years Ago~ (SOLIDTUNE [Seiichi Takamoto]) - Suikoden: The Woven Web of a Century1:02:55 - National Park (Go Ichinose) - Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver1:18:02 - Audra's (and Jimmy's) Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We all know those big moments in RPGs. A place, a scene, or a pivotal battle that really makes the game and solidifies it in your memory. The scoring in those moments isn't always what makes it work, but it often plays a crucial role. In many cases, the music really does make the moment, if not the game. Today we are talking about songs that carry that burden of really defining the RPG they're in, making the whole experience better by just being there.We've been wanting to do this topic for over four years, and there's certainly more music that fits the bill than we had time for, but we are thrilled to talk about these eight songs. Be sure to get in touch with us and let us know some of your game-defining music!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Zach Wilkerson, Wes Iliff, Stephanie Sybydlo; Edited by Paul DennisTracklist0:05:54 - Transcending Love (HIMEKAMI) - Suikoden III0:08:59 - Dynamis (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker0:26:56 - Theme of Grandia (Noriyuki Iwadare) - Grandia0:31:32 - Arc the Lad Theme (Masahiro Andoh) - Arc the Lad0:48:09 - Star Ocean Forever - Jazz Ver. (Motoi Sakuraba) - Star Ocean: Till The End of Time 0:55:15 - Battle 3 (Yasunori Shiono) - Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals1:14:33 - Weight of the World / The End of YoRHa (Keichii Okabe) - NieR: Automata1:20:02 - Carrying the Weight of Life (Kenji Hiramatsu & Yasunori Mitsuda) - Xenoblade Chronicles 31:49:26 - Wes' bonus track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

From 2001 to 2005, the Game Boy Advance was Nintendo's golden son. The Game Boy Advance brought gameplay depth and audio quality yet-unseen in a handheld gaming device, and gave us dozens of superb RPGs to enjoy over its run of success. Today, we celebrate the indigo blue machine with nine fabulous songs from a few of the GBA's finest RPGs.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Greg Delmage, Patrick Gann, Peter Triezenberg; Edited by Jono LoganTracklistPart 1 - When something's going wrong, you must shrink it. 0:15:43 - Awake (Sotaro Tojima) - Castlevania: Circle of the Moon 0:18:04 - Minish Woods (Mitsuhiko Takano) - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish CapPart 2 - I'm starting with the Mana in the mirror0:37:37 - Mana Shrine / Mana Sanctuary (Kenji Ito) - Sword of Mana0:39:45 - Within the Stars (The Elemental Stars) (Motoi Sakuraba, arr. Sam Dillard) - Golden SunPart 3 - Get in the tank, loser. We're getting coffee. 1:01:59 - Boss Battle (Yoko Shimomura) - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga1:03:51 - Jess's Theme (Yoshito Hirano) - Advance Wars 2: Black Hole RisingPart 4 - And I've seen the promised Landorus-Therian. 1:27:11 - Heaven's Gate of Darkness / Dark Gate (Minako Adachi) - Riviera: The Promised Land1:29:07 - Elite Four (Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose and Morikazu Aoki) - Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire1:53:50 - Patrick's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

"All this energy's got us inspired now/We couldn't stop it, just set it free and DANCE!"That's right! Today we're taking some advice from Persona 4: Dancing All Night and getting our dance on. Spin-off dancing games aside, danceable and electronic beats have permeated RPG soundtracks for a long time, whether that's special arrangement albums or soundtracks incorporating a more modern sound to high praise. We have a good representation of that trend in our setlist today, so join our panel of makeshift DJs as we attempt to bring the house down and spread some of that infectious energy. Maybe we'll even discuss headphone protagonists and their musical powers.Note: In the episode, we initially mentioned "Obsession" as appearing in .hack//INFECTION, but the song was composed for the .hack//SIGN anime before also appearing in the .hack//Link game.Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Mario Garcia, Steph Sybydlo; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episodeRhythm Encounter Episode 52 - Undertale Turns FiveTracklist0:09:14 - ASGORE (Toby Fox arr. Rob Gasser) - Undertale: Straight from the Underground0:13:04 - A Way of Life (ATLUS Kitajoh Remix) (Atsushi Kitajoh, Shoji Meguro, Ryota Kozuka) - Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight0:32:40 - Satisfy (Takeharu Ishimoto) - The World Ends With You0:36:35 - Pulse: Thunder Rolls (Masayoshi Soken, remixed by Daiki Ishikawa) - Pulse: Final Fantasy XIV Remix Album0:59:17 - TIGAR - Otto (Hayato Asano) - Blue Reflection1:03:26 - Staggered Injection (Ekstrak) - Mass Effect 31:25:07 - A New Hope (Masashi Hamauzu) - Musashi Samurai Legend1:27:43 - Obsession (Yuki Kajiura) - .hack//SIGN1:56:32 - Hilary's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

In summer of 2014, Rhythm Encounter episode 18 was all about town themes. Today, a coincidentally exact 100 episodes later, we finally revisit the topic with more favorite RPG town theme music. This time around, we have games that span quite a range, from the early 90s to just last month, with four new-to-Rhythm Encounter games making their debut, like opoona and Sea of Stars. These town themes range from chill listens, exciting bops, and many things in between. All of us agreed that we all discovered something new from each other, and we hope the same is true for you! Tell us some of your favorite town themes!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel, Audra Bowling; Edited by Jono LoganTracklist0:07:40 - Forgotten Days (Miki Higashino) - Suikoden0:10:56 - Sultana Dreaming (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn0:33:56 - The Village Without Memories (Noriyuki Kamikura) - opoona0:37:42 - Village Theme (Khrumble Dun) (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest Builders 20:56:38 - Black Mage Village (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy IX0:58:31 - Mabe Village (Kozue Ishikawa, arr by Dj CUTMAN, Spamtron) - MeowMeow & BowWow: A Tribute to Link's Awakening1:11:30 - Seiran - The Blue Reflection (Hayata Takeda, Masato Nakamura) - Scarlet Nexus1:16:05 - Port Town (Day) (Eric W. Brown, Vincent Jones) - Sea of Stars1:38:32 - Gio's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

When it comes to Final Fantasy music, for every "One-Winged Angel," there are a dozen lesser-known songs in a given game that don't always get their deserved time in the spotlight. Today's panel came loaded with eight songs they feel are overlooked, underrepresented, and, yes, underrated from across the Final Fantasy series. So take a seat, Sephiroth, today we're going to hear from Relm, Jecht, and some good avian friends.Note: One of us made a mistake when discussing a song in the third block, but please continue listening before writing in, as we figured out the issue during the song break! Apologies for any confusion there, but enjoy the music nonetheless.Featuring: Mike Salbato, Tin Manuel, Lucas Greene, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Jono LoganTracklist0:09:38 - The Selkie Guild (Hidenori Iwasaki & Ryo Yamazaki) - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles The Crystal Bearers0:12:03 - Galdin Quay (Yoko Shimomura) - Final Fantasy XV0:27:42 - Damcyan Castle (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Yuko Komiyama) - Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster0:30:17 - Horror of the Abyss (Takeharu Ishimoto) - Final Fantasy Type-00:48:26 - Coin Song (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Shiro Sagisu) - Final Fantasy VI Piano Collections0:53:08 - God's Cradle (JP: Kami no Yurikago), Relm's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Risa Ohki) - Final Fantasy Vocal Collections II “Love Will Grow”1:16:54 - On Our Fates Alight (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers1:20:50 - Otherworld (Bill Xtillidiex Muir, Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy X 1:51:51 - Jimmy's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

On Rhythm Encounter, we have celebrated several consoles' RPG music, including the SNES (Episode 89), NES (Episode 73), and Genesis (Episode 92). Isn't it about time the original PlayStation got some love? It's hard to understate the tectonic shift in RPG releases in the West that began during the PSone's lifetime, and there is a treasure trove of wonderful music from RPGs released for Sony's first console. Of course, these eight tracks only scratch the surface, but they're a good start, and we will doubtlessly revisit this topic later. Be sure to let us know some of your favorite PSone songs!Oh, and if you don't remember the uh... memorable PSone ad campaign that inspired this episode's title, you're probably lucky. But here is a link anyway. (Flashing light and poor video... and poor taste warning.)Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Wes Iliff; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episode Rhythm Encounter 51: The Yasunori Mitsuda Episode Rhythm Encounter 63: Endings and Beginnings Tracklist0:06:37 - Opening BGM (Miki Higashino) - Suikoden II OST0:09:14 - Primal Eyes (Yoko Shimomura) - Parasite Eve OST0:27:05 - Casually (Akari Kaida) - Breath of Fire III OST0:29:41 - DISC 1 Opening "Wild Arms 2nd Ignition ~You'll Never Be Alone~” (Michiko Naruke) - Wild ARMs 2 OST0:45:27 - Anxious Heart (Nobuo Uematsu) - Final Fantasy VII OST0:49:27 - October Mermaid (Yasunori Mitsuda) - Xenogears OST1:03:51 - The Wind Sings, For the Journey (Yoko Shimomura) - Legend of Mana OST1:05:50 - All Becomes Twilight (Motoi Sakuraba) - Valkyrie Profile OST1:31:25 - Mike's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

To the dungeon with you! But don't worry, we'll be there with you. Dungeons are a staple of most RPGs, and good music can elevate the experience of any dungeon, even the dreaded sewers. Why we have never had a dungeon-specific episode before now, we couldn't tell you, so today we make up for it, featuring games dating back as far as 1988 all the way to just last month (and six other songs in between)! So come join us down here, the water's... well, murky and gross, and there's some weird thing floating over there... but the music's fine!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Peter Treizenberg; Edited by Jono LoganTracklist0:09:48 - Ruined Sparkling City (Yoko Shimomura) - Legend of Mana OST0:13:10 - Rosenthorne OC Remix (Masatomo Miyamoto, Takeshi Santo, arr. The Wingless) - The Guardian Legend0:31:34 - Steel Fortress (Mitsuo Singa) - The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie OST0:33:53 - Geo-Front (Saki Momiyama/Falcom Sound Team jdk) - The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero OST0:47:38 - Secrets: Leave Time for Love (Hiroki Kikuta) - Secret of Mana Genesis Arrange Album0:50:25 - Stella Nursery (Go Shiina) - HARVESTELLA Original Soundtrack1:12:14 - Grecliff (Masanori Hikichi, Miyoko Kobayashi, arr. by Martin Denk) - Terranigma Unofficial Soundtrack1:15:17 - Mortal Instants (Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST1:48:48 - Audra's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Have you ever wanted an inside look at what it's like to write covers from classics like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, perform, and run a stream/YouTube channel? Then this episode is for you. It's another special interview episode here on Rhythm Encounter, and we're fortunate to be joined by talented pianist, streamer, and arranger Kara Comparetto! She joined us to discuss her work and performance-driven RPG music in general, from costume-making to learning the subtle differences in playing piano, pipe organ, and harpsichord (including recording yourself doing different parts of the same song to fit them together beautifully). And, of course, we have some of her tracks to listen to and discuss!Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Patrick Gann, with special guest Kara Comparetto; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episodeThis episode's links are all about Kara. Find her on: KaraComparettomusic.com YouTube Twitch Apple Music Spotify Instagram Tracklist0:08:51 - Dancing Mad (Nobuo Uematsu, arr/perf. Kara Comparetto) - Final Fantasy VI0:37:52 - Chrono Trigger (Yasunori Mitsuda, arr/perf. Kara Comparetto) - Chrono Trigger1:06:37 - Kara's Bonus Track: Peaceful Days (Yasunori Mitsuda, arr/per. Kara Comparetto) - Chrono TriggerAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

A podcast appears! Fight? Spell? Parry? Item? JAM.The music of Dragon Quest, largely composed by the late Koichi Sugiyama, combines a classical sensibility with a flair for the dramatic, with tracks ranging from serene world map tunes to pop-inspired tracks for naming your hero. And let's not forget the timeless fanfare, one of the most recognizable themes in RPGs. Today, four intrepid would-be heroes gathered at Ruida's tavern to discuss the music of Dragon Quest, eager to celebrate the music of the first Japanese RPG series.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo, Mario Garcia; Edited by Jono LoganTracklistPart 1 - “Angels, Demons, and Dragons, oh my!”0:10:02 - Light through the Leaves of Love [Symphonic] (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition0:12:11 - Audra - Protectors of the Starry Sky (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest IX OSTPart 2 - “Do Dragons Dream of Electric Slimes?”0:31:01 - Happy Humming (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation0:33:47 - Battle for the Glory (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen DS OSTPart 3 - “Dragon Quest III's Company”0:49:13 - Adventure (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest III Symphonic Suite (2005 Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra version)0:52:28 - Town (Night) (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest IIIPart 4 - “Dragon Quest: Origins”1:10:13 - Only Lonely Boy (Koichi Sugiyama) - Suite Dragon Quest II (1987 Tokyo Strings Ensemble version)1:13:29 - Town of Alefgard (Koichi Sugiyama) - Dragon Quest (Game Boy Color)1:34:26 - Gio's bonus track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

It's time to get down! In this panel, the Rhythm crew has selected some favorite jazz and funk tracks in RPGs. Not styles of music that first come to mind when thinking of RPGs, and indeed, that's part of their charm and effect! How have game composers and arrangers adopted these styles while arranging or used them to build on the game itself? We consider those questions while listening to some excellent and catchy music. Join us as we add some creativity, improvisation, and fun to our RPG music intake. Even Motoi Sakuraba is getting on this, so we hope you will too and enjoy the range of songs we have for you today!Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Gio Castillo, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episode The 8-bit Big Band Official Website YouTube: The 8-Bit Big Band's Pollyanna Video Retro Encounter 336: Tales of Xillia Part I Retro Encounter 337: Tales of Xillia Part II Tracklist0:08:39 - Tifa's Theme Jazz Arrangement (Eijiro Nakagawa) - Square Enix Jazz Final Fantasy VII (also Final Fantasy VII Remake)0:15:14 - Glass in One Hand (Satoshi Okubo) - Last Window: The Secret of Cape West0:31:27 - HAIA (D.T.Construction) - moon0:36:27 - Pollyanna (I Believe In You) (Keiichi Suzuki, arr. 8-Bit Big Band) - Mother series0:57:17 - Rydia (Nobuo Uematsu arr. Sean Schafianski) - Final Fantasy IV Jazz Arrange Version0:59:35 - A City of Another Civilization (Motoi Sakuraba) - Tales of Xillia OST1:17:33 - Sophisticated Fight (Wataru Ishibashi, arr. Noriyuki Kamikura) - The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC (from Sora no Kiseki Zanmai)1:21:55 - Last Surprise (Shoji Meguro) - Persona 5 OST1:25:48 - Be the Star!! (Chihiro Aoki) - Yakuza 5 OST1:55:34 - Sollosi's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

What defines a musical game? Videogames, and RPGs especially, are known for using a musical score to enhance the experience, so what parameters really define "musical games" and make their use of music especially notable? Today, our Rhythm panel is going on a journey to look at a wide variety of music that we feel fits into this category to tease out some of those important factors that mark a truly musical game. A game probably doesn't have to take place in the mind of an ailing composer from our reality and include many facts about his life to be considered a musical game, but it also doesn't hurt. We also consider musical gameplay elements, games with musician characters, and interactive music in games.Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Patrick Gann, Wes Iliff, Jono Logan; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episode YouTube: EXEC_PAJA/.#Orica extracting (Ar tonelico) - English lyrics YouTube: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore - Dream☆Catcher music video Tracklist0:11:37 - A Pirate I Was Meant to Be (Michael Land) - The Curse of Monkey Island0:16:08 - The Overture 2 (Pytor Illyich Tchaikovsky) - LOOM: Game Soundtrack0:39:57 - Difficult Love Puzzle (Tenpei Sato, vocal Kaoru Fujino) - Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure0:44:40 - Dream☆Catcher (KOH) - Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE1:00:32 - Train Train (Lynda Carter, John Jarvis & Kerry Marx) - Fallout 41:02:42 - Setting Sail, Coming Home (Darren Korb) - Bastion1:24:06 - Your truth is my false (Motoi Sakuraba) - Eternal Sonata1:27:16 - EXEC_PAJA/.#Orica (comp/arr/vocal Akiko Shikata) - Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia2:00:16 - Pat's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

We interrupt the expected "Musical RPGs" episode with a quick listen to some recent music, just as we did earlier in the year with episode 101. With new Zelda and Final Fantasy XIV music that came our way in May, Mike had to share those. But there's several other notable indie projects to share too, so enjoy what we're listening to, and let us know what's been in your ears lately!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episode Retro Encounter 183 - Ys: The Oath in Felghana Part I | RPGFan Retro Encounter 184 - Ys: The Oath in Felghana Part II | RPGFan Zack Parrish on Bandcamp Tracklist0:03:10 - Set the Stage on Fire (The Stage Is Set)(Nobuo Uematsu, arr. by Zack Parrish) - Final Fantasy VIII: SeeDs of Pandora0:07:29 - Stargazing (Andrew Jeremy) - Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly OST0:26:24 - Water Dungeon (Maybe Toru Minegishi) - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom0:41:08 - Trading Town of Redmont (Ys III: Wanderers from Ys) (Falcom Sound Team jdk, arr. GENTLE LOVE) - Prescription for Sleep: Game Music Lullabies Volume III1:03:55 - Mysterious Place (Deniz Akbulut, arr. by Takahiro Eguchi) - CrossCode ~ The Ultimate Arrange1:06:55 - Golbez Theme (Nobuo Uematsu, arr. by Masayoshi Soken?) - Final Fantasy XIV Patch 6.4: The Dark ThroneAlbum links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom