Series Spotlight: Sonic the Hedgehog

In this exciting and momentous new episode, Karl & Will dive into the music of the long-running, beloved yet quirky Sonic series! The guys explore some musical highlights of the Sonic games, as well as take a more in-depth look at a few key facets of the series, and some friends even drop by to share their insights as well. Enjoy the first episode of a new era!

Sonic Generations - Masato Nakamura - Green Hill Zone Act 1

Sonic 3 - Tomonori Sawada & Yoshiaki Kashima - Angel Island Zone Act 1

Sonic 2 - Masato Nakamura - Chemical Plant Zone

Sonic CD - Masafumi Ogata & Spencer Nilsen - You Can Do Anything & Sonic Boom

Sonic Adventure - Masaru Setsumaru, Jun Senoue - Welcome to Station Square

Sonic Colors - Kenichi Tokoi - Planet Wisp Act 1

Sonic Mania - Tee Lopes - Lights, Camera, Action! (Studiopolis Zone Act 1)

Sonic Mania - SEGA Sound Team arr. Tee Lopes - Flying Battery Zone Act 1

Episode 408: Takenobu Mitsuyoshi

In this funky episode, Karl & Will focus on the career of legendary Sega composer Takenobu Mitsuyoshi! Known primarily for his scores to beloved Sega racers such as Daytona USA, Sega Rally Championship, Outrunners and more. Enjoy some super groovy and entertaining VGM!

World Club Championship Football - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Temptation of Construction
G-LOC: Air Battle - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Earth Frame G (S.S.T. Band Version)
GP Rider - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Time Attack
Strike Fighter - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Hyper City (S.S.T. Band Version)
Virtua Racing - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Demonstration
Outruners - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Niagara Falls
Outruners - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - France
Daytona USA - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Let's Go Away
Daytona USA - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - The King of Speed
Daytona USA - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Sky High
Sega Rally Championship - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Conditioned Reflex
Sega Rally Championship - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Reckless Running
Sega Rally Championship - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Mountain Replay
Fighters Megamix - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Theme of Lau
Virtua Striker 2 - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Goal Rush! (1st, 2nd Match Complete)
Burning Rangers - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Burning Hearts
Shenmue - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Sedge Tree
Shenmue - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Departure on a New Journey
Sega Rally 2006 - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Temptation of Speed
Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi - Burning Muscles

Episode 272: Hiroshi Kawaguchi

Hiroshi Kawaguchi, also known as "Hiro" was one of Sega's earliest and most prolific video game composers. He has a very unique, raw, energetic style, and his music has truly stood the test of time. Enjoy some amazing VGM!

Turbo OutRun - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1989
-Checker Flag
Hang On - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1985
-Main Theme
Space Harrier - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1985
-Theme, Lake Side Memory
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade/SMS - 1986
-Toy World & Moster World
Out Run - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1986
-Splash Wave, Passing Breeze, Magical Sound Shower, Last Wave
Fantasy Zone - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1986
-Opa-Opa!, Don't Stop, Dreaming Tomorrow
After Burner - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1987
-After Burner
After Burner II - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1987
-Final Take Off (Melody Version)
Power Drift - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1988
-Like the Wind (B Course)
Sword of Vermilion - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Genesis - 1989
-Castle, Erias
GP Rider - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Arcade - 1990
-Time Attack
Rent-A-Hero - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Genesis - 1990
-Everyone, Thank You!
Ninja Burai Densetsu - Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Sega - Mega Drive - 1991
-Loneliness

Episode 171: Sonic 3 & Knuckles

In this very special episode, Karl & Will focus on some of the best music in video game history. It's a spotlight on Sonic 3 & Knuckles! The guys play almost every track from this legendary Genesis soundtrack, which was infamously worked on by Michael Jackson. Enjoy!

Sonic 3 & Knuckles – SEGA Sound Team – Sega – Genesis – 1994
-Miniboss (Sonic 3)
-Data Select
-Angel Island Zone 1
-Angel Island Zone 2
-Hydrocity Zone 1
-Hydrocity Zone 2
-Gumball Machine
-Marble Garden Zone 1&2
-Azure Lake
-Carnival Night Zone 1
-Boss
-Ice Cap Zone 1
-Ice Cap Zone 2
-Endless Mine
-Launch Base Zone 1&2
-Final Boss
-Chrome Gadget
-Mushroom Hill Zone 1&2
-Miniboss (Sonic & Knuckles)
-Flying Battery Zone 1
-Flying Battery Zone 2
-Special Stage
-Sandopolis Zone 1&2
-Lava Reef Zone 1&2
-Desert Palace
-Sky Sanctuary Zone
-Death Egg Zone 1&2
-The Doomsday Zone
-Staff Roll

Episode 160: Katsuhiro Hayashi

Katsuhiro Hayashi, also known as "Funky KH" was one of Sega's earliest and most important composers. He did some of the best arcade work in the mid to late '80s, and then went on to freelance for other companies. He has a very unique, rhythmically centered compositional style, and is one of Karl's favorite game composers. Enjoy!

Quartet – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Arcade – 1986
-Quartet Theme, Sky (Stage 5)
Super Hang On – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Arcade – 1987
-Sprinter
Black Belt – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Sega Master System – 1986
-Boss
Ozumou Damashii – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Takara – Super Famicom – 1992
-Select Player
Galaxy Force II – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Arcade – 1992
-Beyond The Galaxy, Alone Fighter
SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Arcade – 1987
-System Down, Satellite Attack
Yuukyuu Gensoukyoku – Katsuhiro Hayashi – MediaWorks – Playstation – 1996
-Nocturne in C Sharp Major
Final Lap Twin – Katsuhiro Hayashi – NEC – TurboGrafx-16 – 1989
-Race Song 1
Hono no Tokyuji: Dodge Danpei – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sunsoft – Super Famicom – 1992
-Something Epic’s Happening
Terraforming – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Right Stuff – PC Engine – 1992
-Stage 1
Zoom 909 – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – SG-1000 – 1985
-Boss
Super Hang On – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Arcade – 1987
-Outride A Crisis
George Foreman’s KO Boxing – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Acclaim – Game Gear – 1992
-Track 5
Nushi Tsuri 64 – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Victor Interactive – N64 – 1998
-Character Select
Suzuka 8 Hours – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Namco – Super Famicom – 1993
-Race Result
Hihou Densetsu: Chris no Bouken – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Arc Co. Ltd – PC Engine – 1991
-Stage 7
Yuukyuu Gensoukyoku: 2nd Album – Katsuhiro Hayashi – MediaWorks – Saturn – 1998
-A Little Dream
Zero4 Champ RR – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Media Rings – Super Famicom – 1994
-Windy
Gain Ground – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Genesis – 1991
-Genesis ~Causing (Brave Men’s Theme)

Episode 152: Sega Saturn

In this long overdue episode, the guys finally focus on the music of the Sega Saturn! Having not grown up with this system, the guys discuss strictly the music, and how it is different from the generation preceding, as well as the modern age. Enjoy this trip back to the 90's, for a killer playlist of the best music this tragic console produced.

Sega Rally Championship – Naofumi Hataya, Takaenobu Mitsuyoshi – Sega – Saturn – 1994
-Desert Replay
Mystaria: The Realms of Lore – Yoshihara Urita – Sega – Saturn – 1995
-The Battlefield in the Deep Forest
Grandia – Noriyuki Iwadare – ESP – Saturn – 1997
-Theme of Grandia
Magic Knight Rayearth – Yayoi Wachi, Seirou Okamoto – Sega – Saturn – 1998
-Tokyo Tower
Dragon Force – Tatsuyuki Maeda – Sega – Saturn – 1996
-Battle for the Castle
TwinBee Yahho! – Konami Kukeiha Club – Konami – Saturn – 1995
-Stage 1
Albert Odyssey Gaiden – Naoki Kodaka – Sunsoft – Saturn – 1996
-Mysterioso
Astal – Tatsuyuki Maeda – Sega – Saturn – 1995
-The Journey Begins
Guardian Heroes – Hideki Matsutake, Nazo Suzuki & Norio Hanzawa – Sega – Saturn – 1996
-Rough and Lady
Radiant Silvergun – Hitoshi Sakimoto – ESP – Saturn – 1998
-Debris
Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete – Noriyuki Iwadare – ESP – Saturn – 1998
-Holding On (Lemina’s Theme)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park – Michael Giacchino – EA – Playstation/Saturn – 1997
-Aisle of Giants
Power Drift – Hiroshi Kawaguchi – Sega – Saturn – 1998
-Like the Wind (B Course)
Sakura Taisen – Kohei Tanaka – Sega – Saturn – 1996
-Try Your Best!
NIGHTS Into Dreams – Naofumi Hataya, Tomoko Sasaki & Fumie Kumatani – Sega – Saturn – 1996
-NIGHTS
Burning Rangers – Takenobu Mitsuyoshi & Sul – Sega – Saturn – 1998
-We Are Burning Rangers
Shining Force III – Motoi Sakuraba – Sega – Saturn – 1997
-The Flourishing Bud
Sonic 3D Blast – Richard Jacques – Sega – Saturn – 1996
-Special Stage
Salamander II – Naoki Maeda – Konami – Saturn – 1996
-Stage 1 (Silvery Wings Again)
Panzer Dragoon – Yashitaki Azuma – Sega – Sega Saturn – 1995
-Staff Roll
Magic Knight Rayearth – Yayoi Wachi, Seirou Okamoto – Sega – Saturn – 1998
-Main Theme

Episode 149: Sonic Lost World

In this episode, the guys focus on the outstanding and surprisingly Marioesque soundtrack to Sonic Lost World! This 2013 Wii U soundtrack simply blew Karl & Will away. Especially considering their not-so high opinions of recent Sonic music. The guys discuss how the composers approached the series in a never-before-heard way. Enjoy a super dense playlist of killer video game music, from one of the most lively and catchy soundtracks in recent years!

Sonic Lost World – Tomoya Ohtani, Takahito Eguchi & Naofumi Hataya – Sega – Wii U – 2013
-Special Stage
-Wonder World
-Cutscene – Opening
-Windy Hill – Zone 1
-The Deadly Six Theme (mix)
-Desert Ruins – Zone 1
-Honeycomb Highway
-Sugar Lane
-Tropical Coast – Zone 1
-Juice Archipelago
-Sea Bottom Segue
-Cutscene – Even a Rose Has Thorns
-Snowball Waltz
-Double Down
-Silent Forest – Zone 1
-Midnight Owl
-Dragon Dance
-Battle with Zavok (Orchestra ver.)
-Dr. Eggman Showdown
-Hidden World – Cubliclated
-Sky Road – Bonus Stage
-Thundercloud Acropolis

Episode 113: Master System & Game Gear

On this long overdue episode, the guys finally take an in-depth look at classic 8-bit Sega music. It's the Master System & Game Gear! Enjoy a solid playlist of some of the very best SMS & GG tracks ever composed. The guys even share some tracks featuring the expanded FM chip available on Japanese versions of the Master System. Enjoy!

Fantasy Zone – Hiroshi Kawaguchi – Sega – Master System – 1987
-Plaleaf
Space Harrier – Hiroshi Kawaguchi – Sega – Master System/Game Gear – 1987
-Main BGM
Quartet – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Master System – 1986
-Round 1
G.G. Shinobi – Yuzo Koshiro – Sega – Game Gear – 1991
-First Step
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap – Shinichi Sakamoto – Sega – Master Sytem – 1989
-The Danger Zone (FM)
Power Strike II – PSG Factory – Compile – Master System – 1993
-Stage 1
Shinobi – Yasuhiro Kawakami – Sega – Master System – 1987
-Bonus Stage
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars – Hiroshi Kawaguchi – Sega – Master System – 1988
-Machine World (FM), Toy World (FM)
Fantasy Zone Gear – Yoko Wada – Sega – Game Gear – 1991
-Water Stage
G.G. Shinobi II: The Silent Fury – Yuzo Koshiro – Sega – Game Gear – 1992
-Castle 2, Canyon 1
After Burner – Hiroshi Kawaguchi – Sega – Master System – 1987
-Final Take Off (FM), After Burner (FM)
Galaxy Force – Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Master System – 1988
-Alone Fighter (FM)
Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished – Yuzo Koshiro – Falcom – Master System – 1987
-The Morning Grow
Legend of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse – Yayoi Fujimori, Kayako Maeda, Kamiya Studio – Game Gear/Master Sytem – 1995
-Castle Duckingham
Fantasy Zone: The Maze – Hiroshi Kawaguchi & Katsuhiro Hayashi – Sega – Master System – 1988
-La Dune
Sonic the Hedgehog – Yuzo Koshiro – Sega – Master System/Game Gear – 1991
-Bridge Zone
Shining Force Gaiden – Motoaki Takenouchi – Sega – Game Gear – 1992
-Aboard the Ship
Zillion – Takuhiko Uwabo – Sega – Master System – 1987
-Inside Planet
Axe Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe – P.P. Chung – Sega – Game Gear – 1991
-Wilderness
Batman Returns – Motohiro Kawashima, Mikito Ichikawa & Yuzo Koshiro – Sega – Master Sytem/Game Gear – 1992
-Stage 1