Rhythm Encounter Archives | Page 3 of 6

Rhythm Encounter 91 – At Least the Music is Great

Posted by Mike Salbato on August 29, 2022

On Rhythm Encounter, we enjoy discussing games and music we love, but sometimes excellent RPG music comes from unlikely places. Our panelists’ challenge this time around was to find games that generally don’t make it to any “best of” lists, whether based on our personal preferences or a wider critic… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 90 – Tropical Tunes

Posted by Mike Salbato on August 15, 2022

As the summer heat goes on for many of us, what’s a better way to chill out than with a cold drink? A cold drink AND an episode of Rhythm Encounter packed full of summer-y tropical music! Today we sail the seas, spend time in port, and visit an oasis, island, and even an archipelago, with music span… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 89 – The Road SNES Traveled

Posted by Hilary Andreff on August 1, 2022

Look out, you podcasters! It’s an extended ROBERT FROST REFERENCE. But at least it describes this episode. Several games in an afternoon,And sorry I could not play them allAnd be one gamer, long I pausedAnd stared one down, to start it soonNoting its lauded soundtrack’s call; Then took the other, mu… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 88 – Square Dance

Posted by Mike Salbato on July 18, 2022

You don’t need to couple up for this square dance, since today we talk about strategy RPG music. Strategy RPGs don’t always set their battles on a square-based grid, but since there’s only so many that use circles, hexagons, and other non-square shapes, we felt the name was apt. Our four panelists b… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 87 – Lunar Encounter

Posted by Mike Salbato on July 4, 2022

If you know your RPGFan history very well, you’ll know that when we started in 1997, we started under the name of LunarNET. While we didn’t exclusively cover Lunar, the love of this series and Grandia (also from Game Arts) was essential to our founding. Since the SegaCD version of Lunar: The Silver… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 86 – RPG Music from the Future

Posted by Hilary Andreff on June 20, 2022

I am here in the present with a podcast recorded in the not-too-distant past because we all had an urgent need to discuss SONGS FROM THE FUTURE. Not really sure what sort of fate we’re trying to promote or avoid by bringing you these tunes, but rest assured this music is an enjoyable listen. We’ve p… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 85 – Analyzing RPG Music with 8-bit Music Theory

Posted by Hilary Andreff on May 28, 2022

Here at Rhythm Encounter, we have the unique opportunity to bring listeners two interview episodes in a row! No, it’s not MAGFest (though we do enjoy going there when we get the opportunity). We had the chance to chat with 8-Bit Music Theory, head of the fascinating and fun YouTube channel about mus… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 84 – VGM for Life Events: Wedding Special!

Posted by Hilary Andreff on May 9, 2022

It’s spring, and I suppose that means wedding season is beginning soon? In any case, it’s the perfect time to debut a new series of episodes here on Rhythm Encounter: VGM for life events. Especially with the increased capacity for intricate instrumental music within soundtracks, RPGs are able to con… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 83 – Café Vibes

Posted by Mike Salbato on April 25, 2022

Café music? You may be thinking this is more relaxing music, but it isn’t — technically. We did do that 29 episodes ago (check out parts 1 and 2 in the links below), but this time, our panelists chose music from some of our favorite video game cafés. Sometimes that’s relaxing, and sometimes it bring… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 82 – Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy

Posted by Mike Salbato on April 11, 2022

Final Fantasy XIII isn’t the only divisive entry in Square Enix’s long-running series, but it sure evokes some passionate discussion amongst RPG fans. Love it, hate it, or in between it, the three games that follow Lightning and company’s saga all have one thing that few people can refute: absolutel… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 81 – April Fool’s Karaoke Day!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on April 1, 2022

Do you miss the days when you and your friends would be sitting around, bored out of your minds on a Friday night, until someone randomly said “Hey! Let’s go to karaoke!” Well, you’re in luck cause the crew at RPGFan is inviting you on an RPG karaoke night you’ll never forget! To celebrate April Foo… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 80 – Final Fantasy: Remastered Pixels

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 28, 2022

Once we heard some of the music in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster titles, we knew they would warrant their own episode. With Final Fantasy VI finally releasing last month, we we able to listen to the updated soundtracks to all six games, and each one is a delight. In today’s episode of Rhythm Enco… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 79 – A Toast to Tanioka

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 14, 2022

Maybe you know Kumi Tanioka as a composer, arranger, or pianist, or maybe you don’t know her at all! But considering her immense contributions to Final Fantasy XI and the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series over the years, you may have heard her work, regardless. Today our small panel convenes t… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 78 – The Power of Feelings, Baby

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 14, 2022

Ah, Valentine’s Day. That day when a little cherub works as hard as Santa Claus, flying around the world and launching volleys of heart-tipped arrows into the buttocks of potential lovers. That’s how it works, right? In this episode, our panel brings eight tracks to represent several forms of love a… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 77 – Music of the Year 2021

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 31, 2022

Over on Random Encounter & Retro Encounter, we’ve talked about our favorite games of 2021, and now it’s time to discuss our favorite music! Four panelists come together with an extra-large playlist today, covering a wide range of music released throughout the year. Yes, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwal… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 76 – Smashing Tunes

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 17, 2022

Whether or not you play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you may know that Nintendo’s latest entry in its fighter series features more than a few characters from RPGs: 31 of its 82 characters are from our beloved genre, and that number grows if you want to bend the rules and include Mario characters beca… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 75 – Cocktail Concerto

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 3, 2022

Once upon a time, an RPGFan editor remarked that Chrono Cross (where’s that remaster?) smelled like a piña colada. This little side comment sparked an idea with our own Michael Sollosi about what other RPG and drink pairings might sound and taste like. Over a year later, four panelists have chosen s… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 74 – It’s Elemental, My Dear Watts

Posted by Mike Salbato on December 20, 2021

Long ago, the two podcasts of RPGFan lived in harmony. But then, everything changed when the Rhythm Nation attacked. Actually, that’s not true. Rhythm Encounter was actually around before Retro Encounter, but Janet Jackson didn’t record a song called Retro Nation, did she? (Did she?) Today we are ge… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 73 – NES Side Story

Posted by Mike Salbato on December 6, 2021

Marty, we’ve got to go back! Back to the… past. That didn’t work. But on this episode of Rhythm Encounter, we’re doing a console-specific episode, for the first time since Episode 1 (which debuted way back in February 2013). The Nintendo Entertainment System wasn’t the first game platform, but its… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 72 – Game Music Concerts

Posted by Hilary Andreff on November 22, 2021

Once upon a time, the idea of going to a theater or other venue to see video game music performed live was unheard of. But as gaming grew in popularity, live performances have become more frequent, and fans have had the opportunities to hear the likes of The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy perform… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 71 – Press Start: Title Screen Music

Posted by Alana Hagues on November 8, 2021

Title screens are among the first things we see when we turn on our favourite RPGs, and they’re incredibly unique to the medium of video games. So it seems criminal that we haven’t had an episode devoted exclusively to them! From setting the tone to weaving a story, a title screen (and its accompany… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 70 – Black and White Magic

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 25, 2021

When it comes to instrumentation, it doesn’t get more fundamental than the piano. Not only is it often the first instrument that musicians learn, but its 88-note range and ability to play both melody and accompaniment give it unmatched versatility. Piano albums of RPG soundtracks have been popular f… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 69 – Final Fantasy XIV: What Moogle Wakes Me?

Posted by Mike Salbato on October 11, 2021

How many Shakespeare references can Yoshi-P’s team pack into a Final Fantasy XIV expansion? How many of said references will we reference today? And what angel wakes Mike Salbato? The answer to some of these questions lie within our new dedicated Final Fantasy XIV episode of Rhythm Encounter. Becaus… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 68 – Joe Zieja On Fire Emblem and Saxophones

Posted by Mike Salbato on September 27, 2021

In this special surprise episode of Rhythm Encounter, we are joined by musician and actor Joe Zieja! RPG fans may know Joe from a multitude of roles, especially for his work in Fire Emblem: Three Houses as Claude, leader of the Golden Deer house. Recently, we posted an article about Joe’s musical Ki… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 67 – NieR: Sounds of the World

Posted by Mike Salbato on September 13, 2021

It’s hard to deny the power of NieR’s music. Keiichi Okabe (and his company MONACA) created something remarkable in 2010 with the music of NieR Gestalt & Replicant. In 2017, lightning struck again with the soundtrack for NieR: Automata, a masterwork of instrumentation and emotion. There’s a reas… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter(s) Archive