Showing posts with label best vgm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best vgm. Show all posts

10 September 2025

LMH Mixtape #266: The Three Tenners

Fresh off the Best Of Year In Review, the boizz hit the new year running with so many new potential top ten tracks and thus, as the title implies, this episode was packed with tenners.

"Commission (BGM 1)" from Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman has tenner potential written all over it.  Be sure to listen for the cool, bluesy breakdown towards the end of the track.  "Ending" from Panorama Cotton feels right out of an 80's movie soundtrack, and will definitely get you straight bumpin' (goose bumpin' that is).  There are even a couple great back-to-back sports tracks, and you know those are always hits.  Basically, if you're looking for tenners, look no further, because this mixtape is full of them (and has more than just three)!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

First Tenner: Panorama Cotton - Ending
Second Tenner: Shijou Saikyou League Serie A: Ace Striker - Let’s Play Italian Soccer!
Third Tenner: Battle Mania: Daiginjou - Sun Rise Purple
Sneaky Fourth Tenner: Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman - Commission (BGM 1)


Track listing and original episode:

03 September 2025

Episode 288: Castle Areas 2

Not since 2013, has the Legacy Music Hour done a focus on castle music in video games, but here's one now, twelve years later.  So this all music from either castle-themed stages or castle areas (in role-playing games, for example).  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Golden Axe - You Takada (Dolphin), Tohru Nakabayashi - Death Adder - Sega - Genesis - 1989

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals - Yasunori Shiono - Castle - Neverland/Natsume - SNES - 1996

Rampart - Satoshi Murata, Tomoko Sumiyama - Place Cannons (Practice/Normal/Hard) - Konami/Atari Games - Famicom - 1991

Tenshi no Uta: Shiroki Tsubasa no Inori - Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya, Hiroya Hatsushiba - Dark Castle - Telenet Japan - Super Famicom - 1994

Milon's Secret Castle - Takeaki Kunimoto - Inside Castle - Hudson Soft - NES - 1988

The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle - Hiroyuki Masuno - Building - Kemco - NES - 1989

Rock'n Rage - Shigeru Fukutake (Fancy Furutake), Iku Mizutani (Can Mizutani), Satoe Terashima (Drum Terashima), Noriko Gushiken (River Gushiken), Kazuki Muraoka (Sand Muraoka) - Castle (Stage 2-2A) - Konami - arcade - 1986

SmartBall - Yasuhiko Fukuda (Hirohiko Fukuda), Manabu Saito, Akira Yamaoka - Castle - Game Freak/Sony Imagesoft - SNES - 1992

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle - Chikako Kamatani - Castle - Sega - Genesis - 1989

Madoola no Tsubasa: The Wing of Madoola - Naoki Kodaka - Castle - Sunsoft - Famicom - 1986

Neugier: Umi to Kaze no Koudou - Yukihiro Takahashi - Retake the Castle! - Wolf Team/Nippon Telenet - Super Famicom - 1993

Stone Protectors - Steve Duckworth - Stage 8 (In the Castle/Tension/Sucker Puncher/Completed) - Eurocom/Kemco - SNES - 1994

Final Fantasy - Nobuo Uematsu - Castle Coneria (Cornelia Castle) - Square - NES - 1990

27 August 2025

LMH Mixtape #265: Best Of Year In Review 12

Time for another Best Of Year In Review episode.
The boizz reached their twelfth annual review.
Brent and Rob count down their top ten tracks, and Gabe counts down his top five.
Will they have any overlapping tracks this time causing back-to-back repeats?
Listen and find out.

20 August 2025

LMH Mixtape #264: Hackers

You don't need to hack the system to access these great tracks.  They've been compiled into this convenient mixtape, just for you!  There's a lot to explore here, starting with a pumped up piece from the run-and-gun game Ranger X.  Ending 2 (The End) from Don Doko Don 2 is a triumphant and whimsical Famicom tune and Emerald Forest from Socket for the Genesis is fantastic -listen for the cool bell sounds that ping back and forth in stereo.  These are just a few examples of the hacking good tracks in store for you.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Don Doko Don 2 - Ending 2 (The End)
Another Favorite: Socket - Emerald Forest
Great hacking music: Ranger X - Stage 1-1 (Desert) 


Track listing and original episode:

13 August 2025

LMH Mixtape #263: Ballads

You would be forgiven for thinking the focus of this episode was ending music, which makes sense considering ballads are often used for ending tracks.  Ballads traditionally tell a story or narrative, and while these tracks are purely instrumental, they still convey a lot through emotion.  Whether it's an ending track to reflect upon your completed adventure, a specific character's theme, or simply the music that plays in a peaceful cozy village, a ballad can set just the right mood.  So raise your arms and sway them side to side, because it's time for a ballad-concentrated mixtape!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Kat's Run: Zen Nihon K Car Senshuken - Unused 5
Another Favorite: Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - Ending
Most peaceful: Bounty Sword - Theme of Furis


Track listing and original episode:

06 August 2025

Episode 287: Buttz

In Episode 287, Brent, Rob, and Gabe talk about Rite Aid and John Williams.  Brent also tells Rob and Gabe about a dream he had.  And obviously, there's video game music!  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Mamono Hunter Yohko: Dai 7 no Keishou - Keiichi Yamamoto - Scene 5: Snow and the Stars - NCS/KLON - Mega Drive - 1991

Mr. Nutz - Raphael Gesqua, Matt Furniss (arr.) - Volcano Underpass - Ocean - Mega Drive (Europe) - 1994

Hany on the Road - Atsuko Iwanaga (Ako Matsudaira), Yasushi Kawasaki (Manipii Kawasaki), Junya Kozakai - State of Mind - Arc System Works/Face - PC Engine - 1990

Mega Anser - Tadahiko Inoue - Title - Sega - Mega Drive Meganet - 1989

Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibouken - Mitsuhito Tanaka - High in the Sky ~ Act 6 - Sting/Sofel - Super Famicom - 1992

Isolated Warrior - Nobuyuki Shioda (Eden), Ryota Musha (Mush), Norio Nakagata (Mr. N) - Scene 04 - KID/NTVIC - NES - 1991

Dead Connection - Yoshiro Horie (Sousukun) - Staff Roll - Taito - arcade - 1992

Metal Fangs - Hiroshi Kawaguchi (H. M) - Racer Select - Victor Entertainment Software - Mega Drive - 1993

Legend of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse - Yayoi Fujimori, Kayoko Maeda, Shigenori Kamiya (Kamiya Studio) - Falls of Fortune - Aspect - Game Gear - 1995

Contra III: The Alien Wars - Miki Higashino, Masanori Adachi, Tachihi Iwase, Aki Hata - Point of Entry “Select The Landing Point” - Konami - SNES - 1992

Dynamite Headdy - Norio Hanzawa (NON), Katsuhiko Suzuki (Nazo² Suzuki), Aki Hata, Yasuko, Koji Yamada - Hustle Maruyama - Treasure - Genesis - 1994

Metal Marines - Hiromi Shibano (Shibanon) - Storyline - Namco - SNES - 1993

Lock On - Akihiko Mori (Don) - Special Mission 2 - Vic Tokai/Copya Systems - SNES - 1993

30 July 2025

LMH Mixtape #262: Briefs

There's a lot to say about the music in this mixtape, but I'll try to keep it brief.  "The Final Space Fight (Stage 6)" from Falsion comes in strong with that iconic Konami sound we all know.  Following that, "Options Theme ~ City Area" from Kid Chameleon is a total funk-fest with some great slappin' crunchy bass similar to something you might hear in Toejam & Earl.  "Exodus (Round 1-2)" from Zombie Nation has a very rich sound, as often heard in games that came out late into the NES' lifecycle.  Rob even managed to find yet another unplayed Lightening Force track and while not a very long track, it still has that rockin' Lightening Force energy.  There's a lot of great tunes here to explore, so don't be surprised if it knocks your briefs off!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Zombie Nation - Exodus (Round 1-2)
Another Favorite: Falsion - The Final Space Fight (Stage 6)
Still finding more Lightening Force tracks: Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar - Omake 1


Track listing and original episode:

23 July 2025

LMH Mixtape #261: The Old West 2

After over two hundred episodes later, our cowboizz have rode back into town to share a second round of Old West tracks.  That means games or stages within games that have an Old West theme, and as you'll see, this waterin' hole hasn't run dry yet.

The journey begins with "Scenario 4" from Gunple: Gunman’s Proof.  This track features a great whistled melody which is a classic trait of Old West soundtracks.  "Face With Courage (Town Stage 2, Forest Stage 1)" from Sunset Riders has that iconic galloping beat, perfect for chasing down a train full of no good scoundrels.  "Wanderer" from Live A Live also has a great whistled melody, but in addition to that, listen for the fantastic use of church bells and a mouth harp to really give it that authentic old west sound.  So round up your posse, because we're hittin' the ol' dusty trail and hunting down some of the most wanted tracks in all the land!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Sunset Riders - Face With Courage (Town Stage 2, Forest Stage 1)
Another Favorite: The Lone Ranger - Outlaw Encounter
Wanted Dead or A Live: Live A Live - Wanderer 


Track listing and original episode:

16 July 2025

LMH Mixtape #260: Skins

Episode 260 is packed with so many great tunes.  From the start, we get a really fun track, "Balanced BGM" from the Sega arcade game Ace Attacker, which sounds bright and optimistic with a little attitude thrown in.  "One's Side" from Langrisser II is a great motivational piece with a driving beat that makes excellent use of the Mega Drive's musical capabilities.  That's followed by the absolute banger of a track, "Jungle Infiltration" from Snake's Revenge on the NES.  This is one of those tracks that exemplifies just how, pound for pound, Konami was putting out some of the very best VGM of all time.  All these tracks and more are waiting for your listening pleasure, so go ahead and hit play already!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Favorite: Snake's Revenge - Jungle Infiltration
Favorite: Ace Attacker - Balanced BGM 
Favorite: Youkai Buster: Ruka no Daibouken - Stage 2
Oops all favorites: Langrisser II - One's Side


Track listing and original episode:

09 July 2025

LMH Mixtape #259: Pubescent Fangs

It's another classic free play with all the variety you expect.  Starting off with Falsion, a Famicom Disk System game, you get a quality third gen style piece.  "Main Theme" from Metal Fangs for the Mega Drive is short but builds tension in a fantastic way.  "Credits" from the PC Engine game 1943 Kai is a total jam that will stick with you.  And that's just a taste of what to expect, so sharpen your pubescent fangs and get ready to sink them into this juicy mixtape.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Falsion - Careful With the Walls!! (Stage 4)
Another Favorite: AIII S.V.: A Ressha de Ikou 3 Super Version - Horse Racing ~ Place Your Bets!
And one to grow on: 1943 Kai - Credits


Track listing and original episode:

02 July 2025

Episode 286: Interesting Music

The topic of this episode is “interesting” music, whatever that means.  It’s kind of open to interpretation, but if you really get down to it, it basically means good tracks in an unusual way.  Along with the music, you get a couple nice morse code solos, Rob tries out some Seinfeld-esque stand-up comedy, and there's a listening appreciation session to at least one emergency test sequence.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Putty Squad - Jason Page, Richard Joseph (arr.) - The Gateway to the North - System 3/Ocean - SNES (Europe) - 1994

The Wizard of Oz - Robert Ridihalgh - Poppy Fields - Manley and Associates/Seta - SNES - 1993

Kamen Rider SD: Hashire! Mighty Riders - Kenichi Kamio - Video Announcement - Yutaka - Game Boy (Japan) - 1993

Paperboy 2 - Rich Shemaria - Paper Route - Tengen/Mindscape - SNES - 1991

Devilman - unknown - Dialogue Theme 2 - ISCO/Namco - Famicom - 1989

Street Fighter - Yoshihiro Sakaguchi (Yuukichyans Papa) - Staff Roll - Capcom - arcade - 1987

Acrobat Mission - Yoshio Nagashima, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Akihiko Mori (Don) (arr.) - Mission 3 - Micronics/Techiku - Super Famicom - 1992

Faceball 2000 - George Alistair Sanger (The Fatman) - City Zone - Xanth Software/Bullet Proof Software - SNES - 1992

New Horizons - Yoko Kanno - Fiddler’s Green - Koei - SNES - 1994

Sonic Eraser - Masaru Setsumaru (Bossanova Oyz) - Versus Mode - Sega - Mega Drive Meganet - 1991

Street Fighter - Yoshihiro Sakaguchi (Yuukichyans Papa) - Sagat (Thailand) - Capcom - arcade - 1987

Psycho Soldier - Eikichi Kawasaki, unknown (voc.) - Theme of Psycho Soldier (1st Area) - SNK - arcade - 1987

Captain Novolin - H. Kingsley Thurber, Mark Ganus - Pineville Streets - Sculptured Software/Raya Systems - SNES - 1992

25 June 2025

LMH Mixtape #258: The Price Is Right

OK, LMH user, your showcase is a fully loaded mixtape featuring all your favorites hits.  First, we'll be sending you on an all expenses paid vacation to the insect world of Insector X with "Grooving Diver (Round 3: City Area)".  After that, you can relax to the calming tones of "Let’s Play!" from Gamble Hourouki.  Of course, no showcase would be complete without some treasure and some adventure, so you'll be taking a "Stage 2: Train Ride" through McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure.  All this and more can be yours, if... the price is right!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Gamble Hourouki - Let’s Play!
Another Favorite: Panel Action Bingo - Round BGM 2
Yet Another Favorite: Golvellius: Valley of Doom - Overworld 5


Track listing and original episode:

18 June 2025

LMH Mixtape #257: Ending Music 4

The puzzles are solved, the villain is slain, and the credits are about to roll.  You know what that means...it's time for some ending music!  Sometimes triumphant, sometimes melancholic, but always a treat.  A good ending track can take you on a journey remembering everything you experienced throughout the game.  And though the game may be over, the totally bonk jams are just about to begin.  So without further ado, it's time to put the controller down and turn the volume up for Ending Music 4!


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Nazo no Kabe: Block Kuzushi - Ending
Another Favorite: Syvalion - Ending
Soldam good!: Soldam - Ending


Track listing and original episode:

11 June 2025

LMH Mixtape #256: Beyond 16-Bit 9

On the rare occasion the Legacy Music Hour goes beyond the fourth generation for an episode.  But on this rarest of occasions, they did back-to-back Beyond 16-Bit episodes.  Somehow, even in an episode with relaxed rules for what tracks are legal to play, an illegal track slipped though, as "Jewelry (Prize Cue 1989)" from Wheel of Fortune on Sega CD was a previously existing track, not actually written for the game.  That said, it's still a fantastic piece.  Unfortunately though, it has an abrupt ending, as the track was never intended to play for the full length.  This mixtape on the other hand is best enjoyed in full.  Check out the amazing music here that spans from the mid 90's to current day.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Bass Masters Classic - Lake Quack
New Favorite: Silpheed - Hyperspace (Stage 5)
Neo Favorite: Neo Drift Out: New Technology - Southern Hemisphere (Stage 4)


Track listing and original episode:

04 June 2025

Episode 285: Sega Versus Nintendo

For Episode 285, Rob purposely picked all Sega console tracks, but by coincidence and by accident, Brent picked all Nintendo console tracks, so it ended up being an accidental Sega versus Nintendo showcase.  Other than, Brent and Rob look at some suggestive artwork and then try to recreate it for the episode photo.  Full track listing below.



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Totally Rad - Kazuo Sawa, Toshiko Tasaki - Prologue/Cutscene 3, 5 and 6 - Aicom/Jaleco - NES - 1991

ESWAT: City Under Siege - You Takada (Dolphin), Takayuki Nakamura (Middle Village) - Introduction - Sega - Genesis - 1990

Argos no Senshi: Hachamecha Daishingeki - Michiharu Hasuya - Starting Point (Sunset/Sunrise) - Tecmo - Famicom - 1987

Slap Fight MD - Masahiro Yuge - Section 5 (Original) - M.N.M Software/Tengen - Mega Drive - 1993

Actraiser 2 - Yuzo Koshiro - Industen (Diligence: Acedia) - Enix - SNES - 1993

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Water World - Sega - Sega Master System - 1988

Tenshi no Uta: Shiroki Tsubasa no Inori - Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya, Hiroya Hatsushiba - Forest - Telenet Japan - Super Famicom - 1994

Eliminate Down - Tatsuya Matsumoto - Round 2-1 - Aprinet/Soft Vision International - Mega Drive - 1993

Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool - unknown - Ending - Kaneko - SNES - 1992

Snow Bros.: Nick & Tom - Osamu Ohta - Stage Theme 5 - Toaplan/Tengen - Genesis - 1993

Super Fire Pro Wrestling Special - Masamichi Yamazaki, Chiyomaru Shikura, Yukie Sugawara, Shintaro Jyocha - World Championship Victory - Human Entertainment - Super Famicom - 1994

Saturday Night Slam Masters - Masaki Izutani, Toshio Kajino, Syun Nishigaki, Nobuhiro Ohuchi, Kiyo - Mexico - Capcom - Genesis - 1994

TwinBee 3: Poko Poko Dai Maou - Atsushi Fujio (Sukenomiya), Hidehiro Funauchi (FK-King), Katsuhiko Suzuki (Flamingo)), Jun Funahashi (Dog-Man) - Final Stage Normal (Stage 5) - Konami - Famicom - 1989

28 May 2025

LMH Mixtape #255: Beyond 16-Bit 8

While some of the tracks in this mixtape may *sound* like they're from the third or fourth generation, this is in fact a Beyond 16-Bit episode (the eighth one to be precise).  These episodes are a way for the boizz to share modern VGM finds that wouldn't normally be LMH legal.  As you'll see from tracks like "Saved the Moon (Alt. Ending/Credits)" from Elechead or "Marsh" from Lizard, there are modern soundtracks that still return to the classic chiptune sound.  Of course there's also a lot of really fantastic non-chiptune music to enjoy as well such as "House of Sacred Remains" from Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.  So let's step outside the normal episode style and delve into some music from beyond the fourth generation.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant Favorite: Castlevania: Lament of Innocence - House of Sacred Remains
Another Favorite: CrossCode - Rookie Harbor
Retro Style Favorite: Elechead - Saved the Moon (Alt. Ending/Credits)


Track listing and original episode:

21 May 2025

LMH Mixtape #254: Best Of Year In Review 11

Another LMH year comes to a close, and it's time again for the Best Of Year In Review.  Brent and Rob count down their top six tracks of the year and Gabe counts down his top three.  Will there be any overlaps this time?  Either way, you know these are all going to be "Tenners"... or would it be "Sixers" this time?


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

No spoilers for Best Of episodes. 


Partial track listing and original episode:

14 May 2025

LMH Mixtape #253: Blues Progressions

Blues Progressions was the theme of Episode 253.  A classic chord progression used in blues music as well as many other genres such as pop, rock and jazz.  While the chord progression is used in blues music, that doesn't mean it necessarily sounds "bluesy."  For example, "Wily Tower: Wily Tower 3" from RockMan: Mega World features the progression, but stylistically is more pop-rock than blues.  Also, check out the fancy drum work on "Cue Ball Boogie" from Side Pocket and the cool walking bass on "Briefing" from Code Name: Viper.
 
It's hard to have the blues when there's so much good music to listen to, so without further ado, it's time to dive into this mixtape.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: RockMan: Mega World - Wily Tower: Wily Tower 3
Another favorite: DX Bakenou Z - Income and Expenses
Best spying music: Code Name: Viper - Briefing 


Track listing and original episode:

07 May 2025

Episode 284: Nice Distractions

The music on this installment of the Legacy Music Hour might be too good to listen to while doing other things like entering your initials, but you’ll be alright.  In Episode 284, Brent clears up some mistakes made on last month’s episode, Jim Varney impressions are made, and a new design for the SNES logo is conceived, which you can see below after the track listing and in the episode picture.  Full track listing below (as mentioned).



Game - Composer - Song - Company - Console - Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Jeep Jamboree: Off Road Adventure - Tommy Tallarico - Title/Set-Up - Gremlin Graphics/Virgin Interactive - Game Boy - 1992

Magical Chase - Hitoshi Sakimoto (YmoH.S) - Ending - Quest/NEC - TurboGrafx-16 - 1993

Metal Morph - Martin Galway (comp., arr.), Alistair Hirst, Jeff van Dyck, Marc Schaefgen (arr.) - Intro - Origin/FCI - SNES - 1994

DinoCity - Hiroshi Kimura - Tops’ Theme - Irem - SNES - 1992

Suzuka 8 Hours - Katsuhiro Hayashi - Name Entry - Arc System Works/Namco - SNES - 1994

Exciting Basket - Atsushi Fujio (?) - Game BGM - Konami - Famicom Disk System - 1987

Magnetic Soccer - unknown - We Won! (Winning Results) - Nintendo - Game Boy (Germany) - 1992

Verne World - Ryuichi Nitta - Battle with Dark Verne - Dual/Banpresto - Super Famicom - 1995

Janggun-ui Adeul - Lee Mi Kyeong - Title - Daou - Sega Master System (Korea) - 1992

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Koji Kondo - Sanctuary (“Church”) - Nintendo - SNES - 1992

Destination Earthstar - Mark Van Hecke - Base Attack - Imagineering/Acclaim - NES - 1990

Last Bible III - Hiroyuki Yanada - Red Owl - Atlus - Super Famicom - 1995

Abadox: The Deadly Inner War - Kiyohiro Sada - Stages 1, 4, 6 - ITL/Milton Bradley - NES - 1990



30 April 2025

LMH Mixtape #252: Dear My Brother

Dear......my brother.  I hope this letter finds you well.  Please find enclosed a brand new mixtape!  I hope you enjoy these totally bonk tracks.  They include "Mechanical Castle (Inside the Castle)" from Ganbare Goemon 2, which is a very fun and energetic jam.  Also included is a pumped up motivating track, "Progression (Stage 3)" from Final Soldier for the PC Engine.  "Temple" from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a classic track, beloved by many.  This is just a sample of the mmm-poppin' music in store for you, so please feel free to get full-on into it.  Sincerely,...your sibling.


MANATREE'S AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Instant favorite: Ganbare Goemon 2 - Mechanical Castle (Inside the Castle)
Another favorite: Final Soldier - Progression (Stage 3)
Nostalgic favorite: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Temple 


Track listing and original episode: