Bonus Episode #53 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan trudges forward in Lost Soul Aside, Yang Bing's solo passion project that started development in 2014 before evolving into a full Sony-backed production through the China Hero Project.

Our comprehensive review covers everything from the soundtrack to the frustrating audio mixing issues, the impressive visual art direction hampered by technical problems, and the narrative shortcomings that waste a compelling premise. Plus, we reveal our final score and discuss whether Lost Soul Aside's combat excellence can overcome its significant technical and design limitations. Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff, & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. Lost Soul Aside from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
2. Imperial Capital -Harbor- from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
3. Mount Salvation from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
4. Chronocore Sentinel from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
5. Victor from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
6. Buckhorn from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
7. Torch from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
8. Frosthold Town from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
9. King of Frosthold from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
10. Royal Palace Alternate Dimension from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
11. Confront Rayna, the Phoenix Residing in the Mortal Realm from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
12. Luminous from Lost Soul Aside [Yoko Shimomura feat. Jillian Aversa, 2025]
13. Confront Aramon, the Lord of Voidrax from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan, 2025]
14. Zana from Lost Soul Aside [Zhengtao Pan feat. Amanda Achen, 2025]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
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PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

Episode #388 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth celebrate the golden beauty of Autumn Environments! This episode showcases how game composers capture that distinctive autumn atmosphere - the crisp air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and that bittersweet feeling of seasonal transition that makes fall such a beloved time of year in interactive entertainment.

Whether it's the comfort of community gatherings, the contemplative solitude of forest paths, or even the Gothic beauty found in seasonal decay, this episode explores the full spectrum of autumn's emotional palette in video game music. So grab your favorite fall beverage, settle in for some cozy musical exploration, and let us guide you through the rich, varied soundscapes that make autumn environments so special in gaming.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. Autumn Town -Evening- from Garden Story [Grahm Nesbitt, 2021]
2. Fall Theme from Harvest Moon: Back to Nature [Miyuki Homareda, 1999]
3. Unova Route 19 -Autumn Remastered- from Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 [Hitomi Sato, 2012]
4. Enchanted Forest -Stage 1- from World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck [Haruyo Oguro & Tomoko Sasaki, 1992]
5. Autumn 2 from I and Me [Wish Fang, 2016]
6. The Bathhouse -Fall- from Spirittea [David Linares, 2023]
7. Autumn -Night- from Doraemon Story of Seasons [Yutaka Minobe, 2019]
8. The Smell of Mushroom -Fall- from Stardew Valley [Eric Barone, 2016]
9. Gregg's Woods from Night in the Woods [Alec Holowka, 2017]
10. Somewhere in the Woods -Short Hike- from A Short Hike [Mark Sparling, 2019]
11. Harvest Festival from New Super Lucky's Tale [Aaron Brown, 2019]
12. Autumn's Desolation from Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night [Keisuke Ito, 2019]
13. Welcome Again to Bright Falls from Alan Wake II [Petri Alanko, 2023]
14. Golden Grove from Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch [Joe Hisaishi, 2011]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
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PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

BGMania B-Sides #31 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth explores the enchanting orchestral soundtrack of Adventures of Mana, the beloved action-RPG remake from Square Enix.

The sweeping soundtrack serves as the perfect companion for the Mana Tree's magical world, featuring an incredible collection of tracks with lush string arrangements and mystical melodic themes. Reimagined by composer Kenji Ito alongside new arrangements, the music beautifully captures the wonder and adventure at the heart of both the original Final Fantasy Adventure and this modern retelling. Whether you're a fan of classic Square Enix soundtracks, action-RPG adventures, or just great video game music, this B-Sides episode offers the perfect soundtrack for your own magical quest.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. Rising Sun from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito, 2016]
2. Village Theme from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito/Tsutomu Narita, 2016]
3. Battle Theme I from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito/Tsutomu Narita, 2016]
4. Chosen Path from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito, 2016]
5. Town Theme from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito/Tsutomu Narita, 2016]
6. Chocobo Theme from Adventures of Mana [Nobuo Uematsu/Noriyuki Kamikura, 2016]
7. The Awakening from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito/Noriyuki Kamikura, 2016]
8. In Search of the Sword of Mana from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito, 2016]
9. The Mana Shrine from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito/Noriyuki Kamikura, 2016]
10. Eternal Legends from Adventures of Mana [Kenji Ito, 2016]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
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PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

Episode #387 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth dive deep into the innovative musical world of Lena Raine, one of gaming's most emotionally resonant and versatile composers. From her breakthrough work on the indie platformer Celeste to her contributions to major franchises like Minecraft and Guild Wars 2, Raine has consistently crafted soundscapes that blend electronic innovation with organic warmth.

Whether she's scoring personal moments of self-reflection or crafting atmospheric pieces for massive explorable environments, Raine brings a distinctive voice that has already influenced a generation of game music creators. This Composer Appreciation celebrates an artist who has proven that video game music can be both technically sophisticated and deeply human, making her one of the most important voices in contemporary gaming audio.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. Confronting Myself from Celeste [Lena Raine, 2018]
2. The Shelter from Dead State [Lena Raine, 2014]
3. UPSHIFT from UPSHIFT [Lena Raine, 2016]
4. The Decisive Battle from Panic at Multiverse High! [Lena Raine, 2016]
5. electroheist from hackmud [Lena Raine, 2016]
6. Perception Shift from ESC [Lena Raine, 2018]
7. Supper Woods from Chicory: A Colorful Tale [Lena Raine, 2021]
8. Beyond The Heart (Broken Hearts Mix) from Spin Rhythm XD [Lena Raine, 2019]
9. Traveling from Sackboy: A Big Adventure [Lena Raine, 2020]
10. Ursula's Poetry from Harmony: The Fall of Reverie [Lena Raine, 2023]
11. Everyday Life from Moonglow Bay [Lena Raine, 2021]
12. Creator from Minecraft: Tricky Trials [Lena Raine, 2024]
13. VS. The Raging Blazes from Beastieball [Lena Raine, 2024]
14. Tarir, The Forgotten City from Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns [Lena Raine, 2015]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
• Facebook: BGManiaPodcast
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PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

Bonus Episode #52 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan unleashes his blade on Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, the 2025 hand-drawn masterpiece that brings Joe Musashi roaring back to life. Join us for our exclusive BGMania review, exploring the game's fluid combat system, breathtaking artistic presentation, and a phenomenal soundtrack crafted by the legendary duo of Tee Lopes and Yuzo Koshiro. From vengeance-fueled ninja action to Metroidvania exploration, we break down why this Lizardcube revival is a fantastic start to SEGA's reboot projects. Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff, & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. The Silent Oath from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
2. A Tale of Vengeance from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Yuzo Koshiro, 2025]
3. Whispers in the Bamboo from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
4. Deep Voids from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Yuzo Koshiro, 2025]
5. Festival of a Thousand Lights from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
6. Shadow District from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
7. Rogue Tides from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
8. Fortress Zero from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
9. Trial of the Warborn from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
10. Bloodlust Express from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
11. Broken Hourglass from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Yuzo Koshiro, 2025]
12. Dark Experiments from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
13. Inside the Titan from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]
14. Crimson Plains from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance [Tee Lopes, 2025]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
• Facebook: BGManiaPodcast
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PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

Episode #386 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan closes out the month of August 2025 with another eclectic mix in Radio Hour, Volume 78!

We're going on a sonic journey from Persian parkour to cyberpunk cemeteries and everywhere in between! This episode features fresh releases like The Rogue Prince of Persia and Mafia: The Old Country alongside incredible listener submissions from our Discord and Instagram community, including infectious J-pop from Yakuza 5, classic Yuzo Koshiro electronica from Streets of Rage 3, and beautiful indie melancholy from Villnoire. We spotlight Austin Wintory's masterful work on Sword of the Sea with three stunning oceanic tracks, plus Crypt Custodian, gritty underground sounds from Drug Dealer Simulator, and Daniel Pemberton's heroic Concord theme to round out another diverse Radio Hour adventure.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. Sunset Smackdown from Leximan [Jake Whittaker, 2024]
2. The Rogue Prince of Persia from The Rogue Prince of Persia [Daniel Asadi feat. Xye, 2025]
3. The Don's Daughter from Mafia: The Old Country [BT feat. the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, 2025]
4. Mountain Rush from Herdling [Joel Schoch, 2025]
5. Be the Star!! from Yakuza 5 [Chihiro Aoki feat. HIROMI, 2012]
6. Inga Rasen from Streets Of Rage 3 [Yuzo Koshiro, 1994]
7. Credits Theme from Villnoire [Clayton Stroup, 2019]
8. One Drop Remained from Sword of the Sea [Austin Wintory, 2025]
9. The Veiled Sea from Sword of the Sea [Austin Wintory, 2025]
10. The Perfect Wave from Sword of the Sea [Austin Wintory, 2025]
11. Neon Crest from Crypt Custodian [Eric Thompson, 2024]
12. CoCo from Drug Dealer Simulator [K. Pietras, 2020]
13. Main Theme from Concord [Daniel Pemberton, 2024]
14. Strange Journey from Dear me, I was... [Satoshi Okubo feat. ITSUKA, 2025]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
• Facebook: BGManiaPodcast
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PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

BGMania B-Sides #30 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bedroth explores the vibrant synth-pop soundtrack of Wheel World, the charming cycling adventure from Messhof and Annapurna Interactive.

The neon soundtrack serves as the perfect backdrop for Kat's cycling adventures, featuring an incredible collection of tracks with dew-droppy bell melodies and electrifying synth propulsion. Created by artists from the Italians Do It Better label, including Johnny Jewel, JOON, and Orion, the music perfectly captures the mechanical and soulful combination at the heart of both cycling and electronic music. Whether you're a fan of retro synthwave, cycling games, or just great video game music, this B-Sides episode offers the perfect soundtrack for your own journey.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. Pulsar from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel, 2025]
2. Cruise Control from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel, 2025]
3. Here To Stay from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel feat. JOON, 2025]
4. Never Surrender from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel, 2025]
5. Darklands from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel, 2025]
6. Villan Of Love from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel feat. Orion, 2025]
7. I Want It All from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel feat. JOON, 2025]
8. Cosmic Ghost from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel feat. Orion, 2025]
9. Moon Rider from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel feat. Orion, 2025]
10. Hold On from Wheel World [Johnny Jewel feat. JOON, 2025]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
• Facebook: BGManiaPodcast
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• YouTube: BGManiaPodcast
• Twitch: BGManiaPodcast

PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously

Episode #385 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth set off on a globe-trotting musical adventure with Vacation Destinations. From grand European-inspired capitals to spooky holiday towns, from the sun-drenched vineyards of Toussaint to the vibrant celebrations of Rio, we’re exploring songs that capture the spirit of travel, culture, and escape.

Each track is more than just music, it’s a ticket to another world. You’ll hear songs that evoke scenic road trips, bustling markets, cozy villages, romantic landscapes, and even a few places where things get just a little eerie. Whether you’re the kind of traveler who loves relaxation, adventure, or the strange and unusual, there’s something here for everyone. No passport required—just a good pair of headphones and a love for video game music.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

1. The Citadel from Mass Effect [Richard Jacques, 2007]
2. A New Poem Southern Thailand Wants to Tell -Thai Stage- from Fatal Fury 2 [Masahiko Hataya, Toshio Shimizu & Yoshihiko Kitamura, 1992]
3. Mount Volbono -Luncheon Kingdom- from Super Mario Odyssey [Shiho Fujii, 2017]
4. The Metropolis of Fourside from Earthbound [Keiichi Suzuki, 1994]
5. Galdin Quay from Final Fantasy XV [Yoko Shimomura, 2016]
6. Night City from Cyberpunk 2077 [R E L & Artemis Delta, 2020]
7. Silvermoon City from World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade [Russell Brower, 2007]
8. Alaska from Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems [Takane Ōkubo & Katsunari Kitajima, 1996]
9. Paleozoic Era from Dragon Spirit [Shinji Hosoe, 1987]
10. Village of Beastlings -Day- from Octopath Traveler II [Yasunori Nishiki, 2023]
11. Royal Capital of Grancel from The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky [Wataru Ishibashi, 2004]
12. This is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge [Danny Elfman feat. the Citizens of Halloween Town, 2004]
13. The Banks of the Sansretour from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine [Piotr Musiał, 2016]
14. Carnaval do Rio! from Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games [Kenichi Tokoi, Teruhiko Nakagawa, Mitsuharu Fukuyama, Tomoya Ohtani, Naofumi Hataya, Hidekuni Horita, Tadashi Kinukawa, Jun Senoue, Yutaka Minobe & Hiroyuki Anazawa, 2016]

LINKS

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania
• Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu
• Facebook: BGManiaPodcast
• X: BGManiaPodcast
• Instagram: BGManiaPodcast
• TikTok: BGManiaPodcast
• YouTube: BGManiaPodcast
• Twitch: BGManiaPodcast

PODCAST NETWORK

• Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast
• Listening Religiously