Forever Sound Version

This episode is dedicated to three very similar games with very similar names, but all teeming with quality – Pinball Dreams, Pinball Fantasies, and Pinball Illusions! This trio of Amiga classics delivered a ton of banging four-channel tunes courtesy of Olof Gustafsson, bringing some serious early 90s demoscene pedigree to the world of video gaming.

This episode is dedicated to the sexy, flirty, and sometimes naughty side of video games and video game music. Superstar special guest The Diad and I draw from titles on platforms as diverse as Sega Saturn, Commodore Amiga, and PC-FX to make a playlist that I feel is one of the most interesting this podcast … Continue reading "Episode 69 – A Number Between Sixty-eight and Seventy"

2020 is turning out to be a tough year for a lot of us, so I think that some music which inspires hope for the future is in order. For this episode, I am joined by my good friend The Diad as we seek out some video game tunes that will lift our spirits and … Continue reading "Episode 68 – VGM for Hope"

To many, the FM synth-driven sound of the Sega Mega Drive simply is the sound of video games, as its run of success in the early 1990s delivered countless brilliant original titles in addition to some very convincing arcade ports. In this episode, I share some of my favourite tunes from this beautiful little slab … Continue reading "Episode 67 – Mega Drive Mayhem"

In a first for Forever Sound Version, John and I get into what we consider to be the best game soundtracks of the year! 2019 has yielded lots of very interesting titles, which in turn have given us some very interesting tunes. Thanks a lot for supporting the podcast this year; enjoy the holidays and … Continue reading "Episode 66 – Best of 2019"

Coming at you faster than a blue shell on the final lap of Koopa Troopa Beach, Forever Sound Version is back with a focus on music from kart racing titles! This hugely popular subgenre of racing games was introduced – and some would say perfected – by Nintendo’s Mario Kart series, but which other characters … Continue reading "Episode 65 – Kart Racing"

Forever Sound Version returns with a focus on one of Nintendo’s massive success stories – the Game Boy Advance. This system’s sound quality may leave a lot to be desired at times, but there is still a great abundance of interesting and exciting music to be heard throughout its software library, so lock in and enjoy these seven cuts from games like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and Astro Boy: Omega Factor!

The four horsemen are back. Michael, Ross, Joe, and John (who brought the trophy along with him – eventually…) fill a fridge with beers and then empty it gradually on a Saturday afternoon while engaging in musical combat. It’s the fifth Forever Sound Version VGM Battle! Who will be the champ this time? Listen: … Continue reading "Episode 63 – VGM Battle! 5"

Put the kettle on, because Rhythm and Pixels are coming over and they want some tea! I’m joined by Rob and Pernell to talk about all things tea while listening to some great video game music picks from titles like Zero4 Champ, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and Suikoden. If you haven’t heard … Continue reading "Episode 62 – Time for Tea with Rhythm and Pixels"

In the 1990s, the Strike series was like the video games equivalent of a hit action movie franchise, with bad guys seeking world domination, daring missions, and loads of big explosions. I loved these games when I was a kid (and possibly too young to be playing them!) so here is a playlist made up … Continue reading "Episode 61 – Sounds of the Strikes"

It may not have been the most sophisticated of sound chips, but in the right hands, the AY was capable of producing some fantastic 8-bit game music. Join me as I explore some classic tunes – as well as some oddities – from games released on systems as diverse as the ZX Spectrum 128K, MSX2, … Continue reading "Episode 60 – An AY Odyssey"

Conventional racing games are fun, but deep down, we all have that urge, that appetite for destruction… why race cars when you can smash them up?! In 1995, Studio 33, Reflections, and Psygnosis came out with Destruction Derby, one of the most visceral and chaotic gaming experiences of console gaming’s fifth generation, kicking off a … Continue reading "Episode 59 – Banger Racing Bangers: Destruction Derby"

This is the first episode of Forever Sound Version since I returned from my trip to Japan, where I bought my very own Super Famicom. So… here’s an episode dedicated to Japan-only Super Famicom games! There will be RPGs! There will be mechs! Lock in and enjoy some rare tunes from games like Bastard!!: Ankoku … Continue reading "Episode 58 – Only in Japan: Super Famicom Exclusives"

If you’ve been listening to Forever Sound Version for a while, you’ll probably be aware of my love for the Commodore 64. This home computer was one of the most important platforms of the 8-bit era, but its games library isn’t limited to titles released in the 1980s! I’m joined by super special guest Ed Wilson – host of the excellent VGMbassy podcast – to discover some fantastic SID tunes from modern Commodore 64 games such as Planet Golf, Sam’s Journey, and Steel Ranger!

It revolutionised the world of PC gaming, and then launched a prolonged assault on the world of console gaming, thrilling players with its blood splattered action and exciting soundtracks… It’s the DOOM series! I am joined by Rob to enjoy some of DOOM’s most striking musical moments, from the rocking MIDI tunes of the 1993 DOS original to the ferocious cutting-edge tracks of the 2016 reboot.

Fire up your GERALD, because it’s time to get into a spin… with Spindizzy Worlds! Lock in and discover a wide variety of jams from the Amiga, PC-98, X68000, and SNES versions of this challenging game.

The Forever Sound Version VGM Battle Supreme Champion trophy is up for grabs once again, as John, Ross, and Joseph bring beer, vodka, and some great VGM picks to my living room for a big Saturday afternoon showdown! This time, the rounds are themed: round one is dedicated to chip/tracked music, round two is for redbook/streaming music, and round three is totally free. Let’s do this!

Amigaaaaaaa…. CD32?! Yes, as the CD media format began to assert itself on the console market in the early nineties, Commodore was prepared to flex its muscles with a new toy: the powerful Amiga CD32. While this platform’s life was short, it spawned many very interesting redbook audio game soundtracks, so lock in and prepare to party like it’s 1993!

No cake, no balloons, but eight excellent VGM tunes. It’s Forever Sound Version’s second birthday, so put on a pointy hat and come celebrate with me!

Amigaaaaaaaaah! Born in America, but raised in Europe, the Commodore Amiga is a very important platform in the world of game music, with its vast software library yielding a massive number of great sample-based tunes. This episode, while not pretending to be an exhaustive focus on the machine, features nine of my own personal favourite tracks from Amiga games that I hope you will like too!