Podcast

Battle Bards Episode 182: Last Oasis

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What does the apocalypse sound like? That’s the burning question, so to speak, that the Battle Bards are investigating this week as they dive into the soundtrack to Last Oasis. Michał Korniewicz’s unique score is a haunting experience that must be heard to be believed. But at the end of it all, will it be enough to endure?

Episode 182 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Seven Pieces of the Moon,” “Before the Reckoning,” and “Against All Odds”)
  • “Beast from Beneath” 
  • “Growth”
  • “Woodpunk”
  • “The Old Ways”
  • “The Flotillans”
  • “Big Red”
  • “Chase the Bard”
  • Which one did we like the best?
  • Listener notes from Mika, Minimalistway, and Bullwraith
  • Jukebox picks: “Out of the North” from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, “Main Theme Part 3” from Baldur’s Gate 3, and “Super Sonic” from Sonic Mania
  • Outro (feat. )

Battle Bards Episode 181: Around the world

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Stuck at home? Denied a vacation this year? The Battle Bards are here to help! In seven songs, the cross-continental crew travel all around the world with one pick per continent. Can MMORPGs take us on across the globe with their music alone? Indeed they can!

Episode 181 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “American Sea” from Uncharted Waters Online, “Mission Mayan 1” from Pirates of the Burning Sea, and “Four Corners” from A Tale in the Desert)
  • Australia: “Untamed Outback” from Elsword Online
  • North America: “Main Theme” from Outlaws of the Old West 
  • Europe: “Eulmore 1” from Final Fantasy XIV
  • South America: “Mayan Lobby Theme” from SMITE
  • Asia: “Main Theme” from Silkroad Online
  • Africa: “Akhet” from Age of Conan
  • Antarctica: “Arcterra” from WildStar
  • Which one did we like the best?
  • Listener notes: Grilledcheese28 and Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Maki Ya” from Scott Pilgrim: The Game, “Through the Roof of the World” from World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, and “Chasing the Torrents” from Genshin Impact
  • Outro (feat. “Sunnyside” from Granado Espada)

Battle Bards Episode 180: Moonlight Blade

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While Moonlight Blade is not yet a known quantity over here in the west, its soundtrack has gone before it and landed right into the laps of Steff, Syl, and Syp — otherwise known as the Battle Bards! In this contentious episode, the three dance, flow, and fly through this big and distinct score.

Episode 180 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Time,” “Thunder,” and “Jiuhua Battle Music”)
  • “Main Theme”
  • “Character Creation” 
  • “Game Anniversary Theme – Day” 
  • “Jinghu Day”
  • “Cloud” 
  • “Saddle”
  • “Rain”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Dug
  • Jukebox picks: “A Short Flight” from A Short Hike, “Whaaarrgarrrbl” from Desktop Dungeons, and “Isle of Siptah Main Theme” from Conan Exiles
  • Outro (feat. “Mid-Autumn Festival Day”)

Battle Bards Episode 179: Arrr pirates!

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Shiver me timbers — the Battle Bards are coming aboard and demanding that all capable musicians appear on the poop deck and blast out a few shanties and jigs for their pleasure! In today’s episode, this motley crew examines the pirate themes that sail across many-a-MMO. Will they find rich booty — or only a few pieces o’ eight? Find out!

Episode 179 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Salty Sailor” from World of Warcraft, “The Adventure Begins” from Tales of Pirates, “The Redmoon Marauders” from WildStar, and “Driftwood Island Combat” from Pirates of the Caribbean Online)
  • “Pirate Ship” from MapleStory 2
  • “We Shall Sail Together” from Sea of Thieves
  • “Freeport Theme” from Atlas
  • “Pirates” from Ashen Empires
  • “Port Theme” from Florensia
  • “Randy Dandy Oh” from The Legend of Pirates Online
  • “San Juan” from Pirates of the Burning Sea
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Credits” from Flashback CD, “Hero Approaches” from Port Royale 4, and “The Time Traveller” from Luna: The Shadow Dust.
  • Outro (“Bay Theme” from Cloud Pirates)

Battle Bards Episode 178: The Division 2

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Washington D.C. has fallen to the plague, curiously well-armed agents are everywhere, and intriguing music floats. The Division 2 features a tense and action-packed synth score that distinguishes itself among online games — and is worth an investigation by the Battle Bards. Suit up, because today we’re going to the musical dark zone!

Episode 178 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “The Beginning is the End,” “Rocket Science,” and “Ballroom”)
  • “Prologue 2”
  • “Steps”
  • “Saint”
  • “Dock Wrecks”
  • “Keates”
  • “Hyena Hunt”
  • “Rooftops”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes from Zinn
  • Jukebox picks: “Sanctuary 3” from Borderlands 3, “Ronda’s Diner” from Unforeseen Incidents, and “Bushroot” from Darkwing Duck NES
  • Outro (feat. “Junior”)

Battle Bards Episode 177: Gone with the wind

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As the weather howls and gusts around us, the Battle Bards stand in the middle of it all with their heads lifted up, listening to the music that rides on the breeze. In this episode, Syl, Steff, and Syp examine wind-themed tracks from MMORPGs. Will they find all of the wind’s colors? Probably not, but nobody ever mistook these three for artistic geniuses!

Episode 177 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Calm Breeze” from Elsword Online, “Silken Wind Through a Bamboo Forest” from Age of Conan, and “The Wind and the Reeds” from Fallout 76)
  • “Sign of Wind” from Lineage
  • “Echoes of a Zephyr” from Final Fantasy XI
  • “Dust” from Last Oasis
  • “Whispering Winds” from TERA
  • “On Windy Meadows” from Final Fantasy XIV
  • “Carbines in the Wind” from Star Wars: The Old Republic
  • “Winds of the Frontier” from WildStar
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes: Zinn and Katriana
  • “Swordmaiden’s Prayer,” a special WildStar tribute to Avidguru
  • Jukebox picks: “Traps” from Turrican 2, “Title Theme” from Clockwiser, and “Title Theme” from Ary and the Secret of Seasons
  • Outro (feat. “Highland Winds” from Skyforge)

Battle Bards Episode 176: Orchestral RuneScape

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In 2018, RuneScape put out an official orchestral album to highlight some of the best of its remastered and re-recorded soundtrack. From delicate tunes to epic themes, the album shows just how far the game has come since its early MIDI days. The Battle Bards dive into this triumphant score and pull out some vindication for RuneScape at last!

Episode 176 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Sunrise,” “Newbie Melody,” and “Waterfall II”)
  • “Harmony”
  • “A Hero’s Return”
  • “The Town”
  • “Aurora” 
  • “The Winding Meadow”
  • “Village Dance” 
  • “Gnomeball”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes: Zinn and Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Welcome to Hogwarts” from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, “The Way of the Samurai” from Ghost of Tsushima, and “Garbage Day” from Donut Country.
  • Outro (feat. “RuneScape Theme”)

Battle Bards Episode 175: Prehistoric jams

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Having perfected their musical time machine, the Battle Bards leap back to the past to enjoy the soundscapes of dinosaurs and other prehistoric denizens. What does the MMO soundtrack for savage wildlands and dinotopias sound like? Tune into today’s episode and find out!

Episode 175 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Zandalari Allied Race” from World of Warcraft, “The Valley of the Hidden Dinosaur” from Star Stable, and “Journey to the Prehistoric” from Club Penguin)
  • “Savage” from Durango Wildlands
  • “Traces of Ancient History” from WildStar 
  • “Dinoville” from Dino Storm
  • “Main Theme” from ARK Survival Evolved
  • “Gift of an Axe” from Conan Exiles
  • “Dino Biome” from Trove
  • “Un’goro Crater” from World of Warcraft
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes: Zinn and Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Unbroken” from The Last of Us Part II, “No Escape” from Hades, and “Red Planet” from Bucky O’Hare
  • Outro (feat. “Path of Titans” from Path of Exile)

Battle Bards Episode 174: Dragon Oath

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Running from 2007 to 2016, ChangYou’s Dragon Oath is probably one of those MMORPGs you’ve never heard of, nevermind actually played. Yet when Syl stumbled upon it on YouTube, she knew it was a soundtrack for the Battle Bards to highlight. Take a journey with the team today as they visit this Bhuddist-inspired MMO and hear the sounds of this Chinese soundtrack.

Episode 174 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (“Da Li,” “Horse Farm,” and “Voodoo Sea”)
  • “Main Theme”
  • “Wild Plains”
  • “Fire Palace”
  • “Malefics”
  • “Stone Forest/Jade Valley”
  • “Mt. Emei”
  • “Mt. Infinity”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Jukebox picks: “Character Creation” from Moonlight Blade, “Tensil Theme” from Anachronox, and “Cacti Canyon” from Minecraft Dungeons
  • Outro (feat. “South Rainforest”)

Battle Bards Episode 173: Down on the farm

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Seeking a simpler and more quaint life? Then come on down to the farm with the Battle Bards, as the video game music crew looks at pastoral themes from MMORPGs! From stereotypical-sounding tracks to enchanting discoveries, this episode is all about tilling the fields, living off the land, and loving the music that floats above it all.

Episode 173 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (“Pig Ranch” from Blade & Soul, “Farm” from Free Realms, and “Cool Ranch” from Pirate101)
  • “A Farmer’s Life” from WildStar
  • “Settlement” from ArcheAge 
  • “Farm” from Lime Odyssey
  • “Charmin’ Farmin'” from RuneScape
  • “Human Farm” from Forsaken World
  • “Farm” from Dragon Nest
  • “Shanghai Farm” from MapleStory
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Jukebox picks: “Happy to You” from Age of Empires III, “Before the Reckoning” from Last Oasis, and “Snowy Sky” from SaGa Scarlet Grace
  • Outro (feat. “Quiet Countryside” from Project Gorgon)