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 has had to date! Listen: https://archive.…

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 keep us groovin’ into the night! Listen: https://ia601407.us.archive.org/29/items/fsvep68/fsve…

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 of black plastic, including tracks …

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 see you in 2020! Listen: https://ia601404.us.arch…

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 have gotten in on the action over the yea…

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 …

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: https://ia601400.us.archive.org/32/ite…

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 Rhythm and Pixels before, check them out at rhythmandpi…

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 of tunes from their soundtracks playing on many sys…

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, and the Intellivision! Listen: https://ia601500.us.archive.…

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 series that gav…

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 no Hakaishin as well as some mini masterp…

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 podcas…

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 feroc…

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. Listen: https://ia601403.us.archive.org/20/items/fsvep55/fsvep55.mp3 Spindizzy Worlds (1990, Commodore Amiga) ‘Title Screen’ by Martin Walker Spindiz…

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 th…

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! Listen: https://ia601507.us.archive.org/3/items/fsvep52/fsvep52.mp3 Colin McRae Rally 2.0 (2000, Sony PlayStation) ‘In Game 7’ by Jonathan Colling Rambo (1988, NES) ‘In-Game Theme’ by Toru Hasebe The …

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 …

Hideo Kojima may be known best as the brains behind the legendary Konami series Metal Gear, but he had other things going on in the late eighties… In this episode I discover Snatcher, a post-apocalyptic detective adventure game that boasts some highly evocative music across its various versions! Listen: https://ia601402.us.archive.org/21/items/fsve…

LucasArts is a hugely important name in the world of point-and-click adventure games, with an abundance of classic titles under its belt. I didn’t know a ton about these games until recently, so I invited super special guest Robert Hunter back to Forever Sound Version HQ to play some great musical picks from titles like The Secret of Monkey Island,…

Here’s something special, a free picks episode in which I team up with one of my VGM podcasting heroes – the Diad! Join us as we crank the ‘tude up to 11 and jam on some deep cuts from adult visual novels, isometric adventure games, street basketball simulations, and bizarre movie tie-ins! Listen: https://ia601408.us.archive.org/14/items/fsvep48/fs…

I’ve been looking forward to this one! Chris jumps into the Forever Sound Version guest seat for the first time since his appearance on my Sonic the Hedgehog focus episode to jam on some truly top-notch tracks from the Streets of Rage series. If you have somehow managed to stumble upon this podcast without having heard the work of the matchless VGM…

At last! A guest appears on Forever Sound Version once again! Ross visits my house to jam on some diverse and often quite breathtaking compositions from Real-Time Strategy titles. So, plug in your mouse, and please go and see a doctor about those corrugated ankles… Listen: https://ia601508.us.archive.org/5/items/fsvep46/fsvep46.mp3 Mega-Lo-Mania (1…

In this episode I celebrate the work of Manami Matsumae – a fantastically talented Japanese composer whose VGM career spans four decades. So, I’ve managed to pick out tracks from the years 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2001, 2010, and 2016! We’ve got Mega Man action, arcade action, and a bit of horsing about too…! Listen: https://ia601504.us.archive.org/…

It was the early 1990s, and Nintendo and Sega were going head to head in a 16-bit battle of the mascots, but what about the world of home computers? What about the Commodore Amiga? Meet Zool: the Amiga’s platforming ninja gremlin with a penchant for Chupa Chups lollipops and, evidently, British rave music… Listen: https://ia601409.us.archive.org/0/…

Ah, the NES… I never had one! My part of the world mostly revolved around 8-bit home computers until the 16-bit consoles arrived on the scene, so I have had to get into NES music without the nostalgia dimension. Curious? Lock in and check out some of my top NES picks! Listen: https://ia801402.us.archive.org/1/items/fsvep43/fsvep43.mp3 Double Dribbl…

Rallying is a motorsport that has always fascinated me, which I think is largely down to titles such as V-Rally and Colin McRae Rally, a pair of first-rate driving sims from the fifth generation of video games. It turns out that rallying games often have some excellent, inventive music, so lock in and enjoy these rocking and raving gems from the 19…

Back in the Commodore 64’s heyday, the lengthy tape loading times meant that computer games enthusiasts needed something to nod their heads and tap their feet to as their screens flickered with intro screens. Thus, the ‘loader’ track was born! Join me as I check out some SID chip jams from games old and new (three tracks on the playlist are from ga…

Everyone knows about the Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn, but what about those other CD-based video game systems? In this episode I take a deep dive into the world of early Redbook audio VGM, covering platforms such as the FM Towns, PC Engine CD, Sega CD, 3DO, and Neo Geo CD! Listen: https://ia601509.us.archive.org/33/items/fsvep40/fsvep40.mp3 Sha…

It’s the first episode of 2018 – let’s go an adventure! In this episode I get stuck into the rocking tracks of Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun, a Sega Mega Drive exclusive from 1992. Expect crunching drum beats and raging riffs, and watch out for that red dragon… Listen: https://ia601509.us.archive.org/2/items/fsvep39/fsvep39.mp3 Du…

For the final episode of 2017 I dip into something a bit unusual – games released via Sega’s Meganet service, a means of downloading Mega Drive software via a dial-up connection that was available in Japan in the early nineties! Thank you for checking out Forever Sound Version in 2017, and here’s to a rocking 2018! Listen: https://ia601505.us.archi…

You wanted the best; you got… the third instalment of Forever Sound Version’s VGM battle series! For this special extra-long episode I’m joined by John, Michael T, and Joseph for a good old Saturday afternoon listening party in my living room. Who will be the Supreme Champion this time around? SPOILERS: A complete score card can be downloaded here!…

Fire is dangerous and should be treated with respect! In this episode I cover tracks composed for firefighting games – a very interesting niche theme in the world of video games that has inspired a lot of imagination and creativity. Feel the heat… of the fire…! Listen: https://ia601405.us.archive.org/33/items/fsvep36/fsvep36.mp3 Fahrenheit (1995, S…

The early to mid-nineties was what I consider to be the golden age of console gaming, with Nintendo’s sleek grey wonder, the SNES, leading the way creatively and commercially in tandem with the Sega Mega Drive. Lock in and enjoy some great sample-based VGM picks – the system’s sound really is as good as you remember! Many thanks to the Diad from Th…

This week, ‘Scary’ Michael is joined by ‘Spooky’ Rob to bring you a very special Halloween-themed episode! In true Forever Sound Version fashion we’ll be enjoying tracks from classic games including Resident Evil and Super Mario World as well as some sounds from rarer titles like Countdown Vampires. Happy Halloween! Listen: https://ia601508.us.arch…

The RPG genre is an incredibly fertile source of VGM, with sprawling and varied soundtracks to match the lengthy and oftentimes cinematic nature of the games, so it’s about time I made an episode dedicated to it! RPG connoisseur and Forever Sound Version veteran John Baldasera swings by to enjoy some tracks from games such as Shin Megami Tensei: De…

The Roland MT-32 was a powerful pre-General MIDI sound module for PC that offered game composers a ton of different voices to make music with. Lock in and enjoy some of my picks from DOS game soundtracks played on the MT-32, and humour my musings on Black Sabbath’s unsung hero, management simulation games, and BBC Ceefax! Listen: https://ia601403.u…

I need your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle…! The golden age of action movies gave us a ton of licensed games with a wide variety of styles represented in their soundtracks. Join me as I put on a bullet belt and a pair of sunglasses to check out tracks from titles like Rambo on the NES, Die Hard Trilogy on the Playstation, and Predator 2 o…

Metal Slug is one of my all-time favourite arcade franchises for its frenetic and gleefully over the top run and gun action. As a kid, I was always powerless to resist the allure of the ‘Big Red’ Neo Geo cabinets when they housed a title as timeless as Metal Slug – Super Vehicle-001! Aside from the moreish gameplay and excellent graphics, a lot of …

Forever Sound Version is one year old! To reflect on a solid twelve months of VGM discovery, here’s a retrospective episode featuring some of my favourite tracks from the first 28 episodes, as well as some special guest picks from listeners Zinn and Mister Krüsli Pants. Thank you for supporting the show, and rest assured that there are many, many m…

There’s no school like the old school, and for this episode, I’m joined in the classroom of game music by Rob and Pernell from the excellent Rhythm and Pixels VGM podcast! Join us as we jam on some great picks from games as diverse as Pac-Mania, Hammerfist, and Lemmings! Listen: https://ia601408.us.archive.org/8/items/fsvep28/fsvep28.mp3 Twin Turbo…

It’s back!! The Forever Sound Version Battle Series returns, and this time, there’s an actual real trophy to be won! I’m joined by John, Michael T, and super special last-minute guest Ross to slug it out to see who will be the supreme champion. Warning: extra long episode!! Listen: https://ia601408.us.archive.org/3/items/fsvep27/fsvep27.mp3 Rocky (…

Stuart is back in the Forever Sound Version guest seat to help me honour one of our favourite consoles of all time – the original Sony Playstation! Fast tracks, slow tracks, tracks from RPGs, tracks from sports games… we have it all! Listen: https://ia601502.us.archive.org/16/items/fsvep26/fsvep26.mp3 Armored Core (1997, Sony Playstation) ‘Shape Me…

It’s time for Forever Sound Version’s first ever sports games focus – and it’s on the NBA! There are no airballs on this episode as we charge through some great tracks from franchises such as Midway’s frenetic arcade-oriented NBA Jam and the EA basketball sims of the ‘Live’ series. Boomshakalaka! Listen: https://ia601404.us.archive.org/4/items/fsve…

Turn your POKEY up to 11! It’s time to rock out with some top drawer rippers from the Atari 8-bit family of computers. They may not have been able to set the world alight like the Commodore 64 and NES did in the 1980s, but these machines definitely have a curious place in gaming history, and one that is worth exploring! Listen: https://ia801501.us.…

I’m joined by Chris Machell to cover some top drawer jammers from the Sonic the Hedgehog games of the 1990s! With the enduring popularity of the original 2D Sonic titles in the world of retro gaming, it’s easy to take their soundtracks for granted, so we’ve picked out some superlative individual tracks – including classics and deeper cuts – to demo…

This episode marks the first time that Forever Sound Version focuses on a single composer, and who better to start with than the legendary Rob Hubbard? This British musician has worked across a number of platforms, but his best-loved work arguably lies in his output for the Commodore 64 – lock in and enjoy these searingly brilliant SID chip burners…

It helped raise a generation of gamers, and cemented Nintendo’s status as a force to be reckoned with on the world stage – it’s the Game Boy! Join me as I dig out my blocky old white Game Boy (which I’ve had since 1991!) to deliver a bunch of top drawer jammers from some of my favourite games on this iconic handheld system. Listen: https://ia601403…