VGM of the Day

[Random Encounter]

Each day*, I'm going to post a video game song that strikes my fancy — and one that may strike yours too! I'll even be extra and start today with two, both by Taku Iwasaki. He's scored two games that I've played, both very different but illustrative of his range. Here's the African waters theme from UWO and his banger Shanghai Power Slam from Ai Cho Aniki!

* - More or less, please forgive me orz

[Althena]

I think Shanghai Power Slam is my choice for the Valiant Gamers Track of the Year

[Random Encounter]

From Brave Fencer Musashi, enjoy Run, Sword Fighter! by Tsuyoshi Sekito! If you like this, make sure to check out his arrangements on the Final Fantasy Origins soundtrack.

[The Grimace]

Tsuyoshi Sekito rocks. I think he's the one responsible for my favorite Final Fantasy II song too, from the Wonderswan versions of the game and beyond.

[Random Encounter]

His arrangement of Castle Pandemonium is exquisite, The Grimace!

It's another day, which means a new song. This one comes from Cuphead, scored by Kristofer Maddigan. God this game pisses me off in the best way. It's manic fun with the perfect soundtrack to match.

[Random Encounter]

Today, I bring you the theme from Destiny of an Emperor, composed by Hiroshige Tonomura. This is an underrated classic with a great soundtrack, which is not surprisingly since he also gave us the tunes from DuckTales!

[Random Encounter]

Today's VGM of the day comes from a personal favorite of mine, Jet Set Radio Future. Composed by Hideki Naganuma, just about every song on this soundtrack is a bop. Holding out hope that Sega will give us a JSRF remake in the future!

[Random Encounter]

Today's track comes from Barry Leitch and from the game Utopia: Creation of a Nation. This was one of those weird SNES rentals I remember when I was young that grew on me. This track is from the DOS version, sporting that AdLib FM sound that I'm fond of.

[Random Encounter]

COVID has taken most of the week away from me, but I won't let it have my weekend! Let's enjoy another track, this time from Dan Forden's soundtrack for Mortal Kombat. In a crowded arcade with loud voice samples going off every second, this music might get lost in the mix. Which is a shame because it goes hard. The track is "Goro and the Emperor", and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[Random Encounter]

Today's track of the day comes to us by way of Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom! This soundtrack was handled by Sugito Miyashiro, Kaori Nakabai, and Rika Shigeno. There are some classic 8-bit songs that just scream for treatment by a proper metal band, and this is one of them. I can practicaly hear the double bass drum.

[Althena]

[Sarah Valentine]

I came here to find that Shanghai Power Slam yall were talking about during the last stream. I was not disappointed, it's an absolute banger!

[Random Encounter]

I've been in a heavy percussion mood lately, and I think my VGM picks are giving it away. Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun is a decent enough Sega Genesis game, but Frank Klepacki gives it a soundtrack that takes full advantage of the Genesis FM chip.

EDIT: Also, straight from his Wikipedia page, PEAK 90S ENERGY

[Sarah Valentine]

Wow, they put their whole ass into that song! I'd love to hear a metal band cover that one.

[Random Encounter]

Today's choice is none other than Michiru Yamane, the prodigy that gave Castlevania some of its best music. Enjoy Iron Blue Intention from Castlevania: Bloodlines!