Dec 292018
 

One of our favorite games of the year also happens to sport our favorite soundtrack of 2018! We sample a handful of tunes from this 8-bit homage while discussing the game’s themes, design and excellent use of new-game-plussery.

Download Now

Continue reading »

Nov 122015
 

Yooka

If you’re a fan of Rare’s Bear & Bird duo then odds are you’ve been following the creation of Yooka-Laylee, the  Mighty Number 9 / Bloodstained-style spiritual successor to Banjo Kazooie. Numerous ex-Rare folks are on board, including Banjo’s original voice, level designers from the N64 days and several others who date back to the DKC days. But perhaps most relevant to VGMpire is the fact composer Grant Kirkhope is returning as well, and IGN has a quick sampling of some of the game’s tunes! Continue reading »

Mar 142015
 

PAXPanel

Somewhere around my 100th listen to the Tropical Freeze soundtrack, I started thinking about how game music has conditioned me to enjoy types of music I’d otherwise shrug off. Banjos, harmonized chants and even oboe solos were never on my list of ‘music I’d ever listen to,’ but thanks to VGM I’ve learned that hey, this stuff is great and I shouldn’t write off any instrument or genre. Continue reading »

Nov 082014
 

AKANE_Set

Remember World 1-2, the ensemble-cast album featuring new jams from Keiji Yamagishi (Ninja Gaiden), Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill) and Manami Matsumae (Mega Man)? The folks who put that fine piece o’ work together (Brave Wave y’know) have just released a new solo album featuring even more notable names from the VGM-verse. Continue reading »

Sep 022013
 

Earlier this year an all-star cast of seasoned game musicians teamed up for World 1-2, an amazing tribute album packed with remixes and brand new work from folks like Manami Matsumae (Mega Man),  Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill), Keiji Yamagishi (Ninja Gaiden) and Metroid Metal. Now, Koopa Soundworks and Game Chops are offering even more with World 1-2: Encore. Continue reading »