Podcast

Battle Bards Episode 144: Colors of the rainbow

SypLeave a comment

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet: Combined, these forces create the awesome power of Roy G. Biv — otherwise known as the rainbow! In today’s experimental episode of the Battle Bards, Steff, Syl, and Syp attempt to find MMORPG music tracks to go with each of the seven colors that shine over a rainstorm or in a particularly oily puddle. It’s a daunting mission, but these three are just crazy enough to finish it!

Episode 144 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Greenwood Camp” from Free Realms, “Red Menace” from Stargate Worlds,” and “Purple Trip” from Glitch)
  • “Drinking from Red Wine” from WildStar
  • “Celestial Crab March” from Wizard101
  • “Hello Yellow!” from Club Penguin
  • “Green Valley” from Ys Online
  • “Flying in a Blue Dream” from MapleStory
  • “Purple Snow” from Grenado Espada
  • “Wild Violet” from Tree of Savior
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener mail from Sylkesh, George Wilson III, and Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “End Credits” from Hello, Neighbor!, “Onward” from Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, and “Dulles Airport” from Die Hard Trilogy
  • Outro (feat. “Blue World” from MapleStory)

Battle Bards Episode 143: Rappelz

SypLeave a comment

It may see itself as an “old school fantasy MMO,” but Rappelz’ soundtrack is a great mixture of old and new, traditional and experimental. In this episode, the daring and ever-courageous Battle Bards plumb the depth of this score and see what can be brought out of obscurity and into the light!

Episode 143 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “A New Epic,” “Breeze of Old Forest,” and “Resonance of the World”)
  • “Main Theme”
  • “The Deva”
  • “Crystal Mountain”
  • “The Temple of the Masters”
  • “A Horizon in the Sunset”
  • “A Lost and Secret Island”
  • “The Morning Breaks of Rondo”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener mail: Bullwraith, Katriana, Caroline, and Michael
  • Jukebox picks: “Cierzo” from Outward, “Green Village Baruchie” from Another Eden, and “La Pintarroja” from Tropico 6
  • Outro (feat. “The Ursa Caverns”)

Battle Bards Episode 142: Sunrise, sunset

SypLeave a comment

In MMORPGs across the world, days are beginning and days are ending — and with them come the catharsis of the sunrise and sunset. The Battle Bards draw together in this special stillness to discuss some of the in-game tracks devoted to these moments. So from sunrise to sunset, here are the melodic moods that accompany our journeys online.

Episode 142 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “The Flag at Dusk” from Blade & Soul, “The Warming Sunrise” from Star Wars Galaxies, and “A Horizon in the Sunset” from Rappelz)
  • “Sunrise” from RuneScape
  • “Weeping Sunrise” from Runes of Magic
  • “Dawn Gleams on Cyrodil” from Elder Scrolls Online
  • “Sunrise” from Worlds Adrift
  • “Crimson Sunset” from Final Fantasy XIV
  • “Eternal Sunset” from TERA
  • “Sunset Ridge” from City of Heroes
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener mail from Scott, Nogamara, Zinn, YD Wes, Phubarrh (listen)
  • Jukebox picks: “Main Theme” from The Secret of Monkey Island, “Day of the Bright Sun” from My Time at Portia, and
  • Outro (feat. “Dusk Song of High Elves” from Elder Scrolls Online)

Retro Reprise Episode 18: Obscure Genesis games

Syp1 Comment

Fans of retro video game music have heard all of the same classics over and over again, which is why in today’s episode of Retro Reprise, Chaos Constant and Syp dip into the more unknown titles of the Sega Genesis library for tunes that you may have overlooked! From the tense atmosphere of Warsong to the futuristic music of Pulseman, this show might have your new favorite track waiting to be discovered.

Retro Reprise Episode 18: Obscure Genesis Games (show page, direct download)

  • Intro
  • “Kingdom Knight” from Warsong
  • “Soltype” from Alien Soldier
  • “Wily Stage 1” from Mega Man: The Wily Wars
  • “An Old Sad Dance” from King Colossus
  • “Neo Tokyo” from Pulseman
  • “Stereo Protect” from Pulseman
  • “Splash Down!!” from Ristar
  • “Midnight Greenhouse” from Knuckles Chaotix
  • Outro

Battle Bards Episode 141: Riders of Icarus

SypLeave a comment

The Battle Bards take to the sky to investigate the somewhat obscure Riders of Icarus and see if the lofty visuals can be matched by the music — or if this soundtrack has been grounded for good! “Surprisingly rich” and “theatrical” are review terms that the Battle Bards are willing to license out to the studio to put on the soundtrack cover.

Episode 141 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Character Creation” and “Attauis”)
  • “Main Theme”
  • “Character Selection”
  • “The Beginning”
  • “First Elite”
  • “Fort Baellus”
  • “Artisan Square”
  • “Floor 34 Boss Theme”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener mail from Caroline, Katriana, Zoward, Paragon Lost, and Maggie May
  • Jukebox picks: “Crimson Caribbean” from Blackwake, “Field Tutorial Zone” from Mabinogi, and “The Castle” from Dead Cells
  • Outro (feat. “Sea of Hakanas”)

Battle Bards Episode 140: Piano piano!

SypLeave a comment

It’s one of the most powerful and versatile of musical instruments, and now the piano is getting its own featured show here on Battle Bards! The crew re-assembles, not to avenge, but to uplift beautiful, striking, and moving piano themes from MMORPGs. So tickle the ivories with Syl, Steff, and Syp as they listen to today’s signature tracks.

Episode 140 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Breezewind Park” from Blade and Soul, “Main Theme” from The Secret World, and “Piano Works #1 Serendia” from Black Desert)
  • “Theobomos Hotel” from Aion
  • “Purple” from Worlds Adrift
  • “Kaelar and Empyrean Freeholds” from Ashes of Creation
  • “Tieve’s Theme” from Vindictus
  • “Lullaby” from Chronicles of Spellborn
  • “The Die is Cast” from Tree of Savior
  • “Ancient City” from FFXIV
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener mail from Katriana and IronSalamander8 [link]
  • Jukebox picks: “Chiasm” from GRIS, “Main Theme” from Neon Chrome, and “The Beginning” from Resident Evil 2 Remake
  • Outro (feat. “Hywel” from Mabinogi)

Retro Reprise Episode 17: The shareware show!

Syp1 Comment

They might not have been the AAA-budget titles of the 1990s, but shareware games were perhaps even more well-known due to the proliferation of these demos. Studios such as id, Epic, and Apogee made their mark with these titles — and the simple but memorable tunes from each got lodged into our brains. Joining Syp today is Chaos Constant from Occasional Hero, who is a self-professed retro game music fan and has plenty to say about the shareware era!

Show notes (episode download, episode page)

  • Intro (feat. “Cruising with Stryker” from Major Stryker and “The City Streets” from Duke Nukem 3D)
  • “Title Theme” from Halloween Harry
  • “Toy Factory Table” from Epic Pinball
  • “Main Theme” from Duke Nukem 3D
  • “Welcome to a Kick in the Pants in Good Old Hillville” from Commander Keen 4
  • “Main Theme” from Mystic Towers
  • “Spiders” from Jill of the Jungle
  • “Shooting Star” from Major Stryker
  • “Episode 1 Levels 4-6” from Stargunner
  • Outro (“Beach Bunnies” from Jazz Jackrabbit)