Battle Bards

What are your favorite memories of those first few days in a brand-new MMORPG? Chances are that those memories are inextricably connected to the music of these beginning areas. On today's episode of Battle Bards, the crew revisits starting zone themes to talk about the experience of those first critical steps in an online game -- and the songs that connect us forever to that. Episode 118 show note...

Two Destinies for the price of one! For this episode, the Battle Bards are gearing up in their favorite space armor to take on highlights from both of the Destiny soundtracks. From buyer's regret to confusing the gender of a key character, there is all sorts of on-air therapy happening with this kooky trio! Episode 116 show notes Intro (feat. "Sepiks Prime," "The Wilds," and "Ikora" ) "Inner Light...

Mighty and majestic, scaly in hide and shrewd of mind, smoking with fury unabated... these are the Battle Bards! Also, dragons. Yes, in today's episode, the Bards tackle the soundtracks to one of the most iconic fantasy creatures of all time. So call over your good luck dragon and get your best Sean Connery voice on as we loot the musical hoard of these beasts. Episode 116 show notes Intro (feat....

Forgettable ambient noise or entrancing space sounds? This is the debate that's at the core of today's episode, as the Battle Bards take on EVE Online's beloved and perhaps misunderstood soundtrack. It's a journey that goes far beyond our galaxy to one full of intrigue, industry, and space discotheques! Episode 115 show notes Intro (feat. "Below the Asteroids," "Odyssey," and  "I Saw Your Ship (sy...

Yes officer, these Battle Bards were well above the speed limit and violated many noise complaints in the local neighborhoods. But it was for a good cause, sir! This music from vehicular MMOs is just way too good to keep quiet! What's that? You'll let them go with just a warning? You only know they're going to peel out and look for another score to settle! Episode 114 show notes Intro (feat. "Snow...

Alien, quiet, and weird -- that's the Anarchy Online soundtrack for you in a nutshell. For the first episode of 2018, the ever-contentious Battle Bards are back to quibble about, gush over, and nitpick the score to one of the older sci-fi MMOs on the market today. Episode 113 show notes Intro (feat. "Seascape," "Spiritual Elysium," and "The Cup" ) "Main Theme" "Majestic Omni" "Omni-Tek Theme" "Anc...

It's time to take a diversion to play -- and listen -- to the minigames tucked inside of our MMOs! The Battle Bards haul out their last show of 2012 with an eclectic and fun assortment of minigame soundtracks. While minigame-specific music might be hard to hunt down, this trio did their best and are reasonably satisfied with the result. Which is good, because no refunds on this podcast! Episode 11...

The Battle Bards are always up for a musical bargain, and on today's episode, they'll deliver two MMORPGs for the price of one (sitting)! It's a look at two rather obscure eastern MMOs, Cabal Online and Cabal 2, both of which have some surprisingly good music tucked away. So expand your video game musical horizons with this show! Episode 111 show notes Intro (feat. "Frozen Tower of the Undead" fro...

The Battle Bards are quite familiar with the power of the strummed guitar and lute, knowing that such simple instruments can bring down walls, devastate armies, and dethrone monarchs. But on their off days, acoustic guitars are simply pleasurable to hear and are sprinkled throughout many a-MMO's soundtrack. It's six-stringed serenity in the 110th episode of this podcast! Episode 110 show notes Int...

When you've got a club full of penguins overseen by the Mouse House itself, you know things are going to get both wacky and weird! Club Penguin may not be everyone's go-to MMO for music, but its wide array of simplified genres certainly give the Battle Bards a lot to discuss on this week's show. Episode 109 show notes Intro (feat. "Hello Yellow,"   "Extra Planetary Force," and "Cabin Trails" ) "St...

Here's a musical episode that you can really sink your teeth into! Your... ear teeth? In any case, the Battle Bards are evaluating our Dark Masters this Halloween season to see which has the best music: vampires or werewolves. It's a sinister, gothic show with several first-time MMO appearances for the podcast, so check it out! Episode 108 show notes (show page, direct download) Intro (feat. "Giln...

After 50 episodes, the Battle Bards have made the brave decision to revisit the hallowed lands of Blade and Soul to look at two of the soundtrack expansions. The team combs through The World and Silverfrost Mountain albums to see what bounty can be harvested. It's another lively episode with plenty of upbeat music, so what are you waiting for? Episode 107 show notes Intro (feat. "Hammer of the Dog...

Instead of looking back at MMORPGs this week, the crew of Battle Bards launches forward into early access! What would a show about music from MMOs that aren't even officially out yet be like? We're going to find out in this wild and woolly episode! Episode 106 show notes Intro (feat. "Pre-Alpha Music" from Shroud of the Avatar, "Main Theme" from H1Z1, and "Rhyldan" from The Repopulation) "Main The...

Set sail for amazing adventure and an assortment of audio discoveries! This week, Cap'n Steff and her lackeys board Uncharted Waters Online to see what bounty this soundtrack holds. It may not be to everyone's liking, but the sea is a fickle mistress that doesn't appeal to everyone! Episode 105 show notes Intro (feat. "Login Screen," "Central South America," and "Seville" ) "First Voyage" "Bar" "F...

And lo, as the Battle Bards walk through the zone of the shadow of death, they will fear no evil, but they will listen to evil's soundtrack because that is what they do! In today's episode, the crew looks at the darker side of MMORPG soundtracks, dwelling in the wicked, the profane, and the deliciously macabre. Also, Syp does his Cookie Monster voice. Episode 104 show notes Intro (feat. "In the Da...

You think you've heard strange MMORPG soundtracks before, but Wurm Online is about to take you to the odd frontier. With two distinctive soundtracks that skew away from typical composition, Wurm baffles, amuses, and bewitches the Battle Bards in today's show! Episode 103 show notes Intro (feat. "Sunrise,"   "Long Summer,"  and "Traveling" ) "Waking Up" "Why You Dive" "Abandon the Hill" "Flatland S...

When it comes to talking about the music from the original NES, everyone seems to always reference the same games. But what about those "other" titles with interesting and memorable soundtracks that get ignored? In today's show, Syp pulls out 10 offbeat NES music tracks that you might have never heard of -- but definitely should! Buckle up, Retro Reprise is about to go off the beaten path and into...

Is it even possible for pure joy to be derived from MMORPG music? Whether or not, the Battle Bards are going to take a serious stab at it in today's episode! Each piece is hand-picked and home-brewed to distill joy for the listener, coated in sparkling hopes and drizzled with fond memories. No matter what, you're in for an uplifting show! Episode 102 show notes (show page, direct download) Intro (...

As the Battle Bards cruise into their second hundred episodes, it's time to cover a very long-lived fantasy MMO from 2002, Ragnarok Online. The game has an... interesting soundtrack and a devoted following in some circles, but as the crew discovered on today's show, the score is not without its criticisms. It's time to kick summer vacation to the curb and trumpet another parade of MMO music! Episo...

Syp returns to the 8-bit era as he counts down his top 10 favorite Gameboy tunes. It's a harder task than you think, considering how long the system was out and how many great games and soundtracks were created for it! Chances are he'll ignore your favorite, but it'll be a fun show nevertheless with lots of cheery and catchy tracks. What's your favorite? Episode 11: Top 10 Gameboy tunes Intro "The...

After four years and over 700 MMORPG music tracks, the Battle Bards have arrived at their 100th show! For this centennial spectacular, Syl, Steff, and Syp reminisce about the most notable shows, their best soundtrack discoveries, and their favorite tracks. This super-sized show gets wrapped up with a bout of listener emails and a promise of another amazing hundred episodes! Episode 100 show notes...

The Battle Bards are on vacation at a tropical beach paradise! In the team's 99th episode, they examine beach, resort, and island music cues from MMORPGs. Can it still be a resort when everything around you is out for murder? As long as the music is this good, who cares? Episode 99 show notes Intro (feat. "Maple Island 1" from MapleStory 2 and  "Castaways " from World of Warcraft) "Starter Beach"...

Perfect World -- it's not just a massive games publisher, it's also an MMORPG! The team at Battle Bards timidly tiptoe into this unknown soundtrack, not sure of what may lurk around the next bend. Is it a pile of suck? An undiscovered gem? Forgettable fluff? We're not going to tell you in the intro here, you'll have to listen along with us to find out! Episode 97 show notes Intro (feat. "Rising Ti...

What was originally the swan song -- the "final" game developed -- of Square turned into the studio's flagship franchise that is now in its 30th year. For the return of Retro Reprise, Syl and Syp take a nostalgic journey back through the first nine Final Fantasy games, looking at the music from the NES, SNES, and PlayStation eras. Missing the combat tracks? Stay tuned for part 2 of this series! Ep...

"Magic can be ANYthing!" The forces of magic run deep within MMORPGs, casting shadows of wonder wherever we look -- and listen. In today's show, Syl sparks a musical revolution as her fellow Bards struggle to rise to the challenge of defining what, exactly, constitutes a "magical" track and evokes that particular feeling. Did we nail it? You'll have to join us for the journey to find out! Episode...