RPGFan's Rhythm Encounter

We may be well into 2015, but on Rhythm Encounter it's never too late to talk about our favorite music from the past year. We've got a full party of hosts and special guests, and so much awesome music to discuss that we couldn't fit it into just one episode. Join us for part one of a trilogy of episodes devoted to RPGFan's Music of the Year 2014! Special Note: Due to an unforeseen technical error,...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 20, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! Rhythm Encounter rings in the new year with an episode of chill tunes to warm up with. Stephen's got Etrian Odyssey (or at least series composer Yuzo Koshiro) on the brain, Caitlin rebels with a few unconventional picks, and Mik...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 19, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! Surprise, podcast listeners! Bet you thought we were done with interviews for the year. Well, Mike still needed to get his fanboy on, so we got a hold of one of his favorite musicians, the talented violinist Taylor Davis. Tune i...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 18, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! It's all about characters on this episode of Rhythm Encounter, and I'm not just talking about our colorful cast of charismatic hosts. Join us as we discuss some of our favorite character themes from RPGs both well-known and not-...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 17, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! We're shaking things up a little in this episode of Rhythm Encounter with a new host, a (slightly) different approach to recent music, and a lot of "new game" tunes. We search RPGs both new and old, Japanese and Western for some...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 16, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! Rhythm Encounter takes a break from the usual schmoozin' to schmooze with a special guest: Sean Schafianski, the man behind the curtain that is Video Game Music Remastered. I was able to pronounce his name right on the first try...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 15, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! In the spirit of travel, Stephen takes the Rhythm Encounter ship on a trek through some of our most beloved town themes. Listen as the team gets wild with Wild ARMs , toughens up with some Brave Fencer Musashi , grins hard with...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 14, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! Don't just sleep there, let's get to it. Grab a pillow, there's nothing to it. The latest and laziest episode of Rhythm Encounter features a bevy of sleepy, gentle, relaxing RPG melodies. We bring you some of our favorite picks...

Note: We had to re-number our episodes several years after publishing. This was originally Episode 13, as reflected in the audio. Don't worry, you're not missing anything! We're back! The dystopian future that is 2014 opens (a little late, as always) with our favorite tunes from our favorite science fiction games. We enlisted the aid of veteran RPGFanner John Tucker to seek out some of our favorit...

Closing off our coverage of the grand year that was 2013, we turn our ears to the music YOU most wanted to hear. Join the Rhythm Encounter crew (plus two) as we listen to absolutely anything you told us to, even if it wasn't from 2013! Blue Dragon , Sen no Kiseki , Baten Kaitos , Might and Magic —the mix here is crazy, so be sure to listen in! Featuring: Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Mike S...

The Rhythm Encounter Strikes Back! Music of the Year 2013 continues as Stephen, Derek, and a gaggle (though this time, a different gaggle) of guests as they explore the best tunes that last year had to offer. Rogues leave legacies, Minotaurs smash faces, Derek goes Welsh, and Stephen doubles down on two of his favorite series in part two of the madness, featuring a decidedly non-Hollow Rob Steinma...

You might think it's a bit late to be talking "best of 2013," but we believe in doing things with style, and took the time to do just that!. Join Stephen, Derek, and a gaggle of guests as they explore the best tunes that last year had to offer. We had so much to listen to and quite a lot to say about it that we're splitting the celebration into three parts, so be sure to join us for part one of th...

It's about time. The Rhythm Encounter crew comes back to the future with editor Mike Salbato and more Back to the Future references than you can shake a flux capacitor at. Gates will open, FATE will be challenged, the Triforce will be protected, and time will kompressed before you make it to the end of our bigggest episode ever, so be sure to tune in and start thinking fourth-dimensionally... unle...

It's in your coffee, it's in your candles, and now it's in your favorite RPG music podcast. We hope you enjoyed the fun, chatty atmosphere of our last episode, because this one's going to take you to some darker places. Pumpkin Spice is the flavor of the season, and we decided to pay tribute to the months of orange and gold by featuring some of the best music to accompany your autumnal adventures...

If you've ever had even a passing interest in Falcom (developers of the Ys and Legend of Heroes: Sora no Kiseki/Trails in the Sky series, among many others), you'll definitely want to tune in to Episode 10 of Rhythm Encounter. What, exactly, is a "Vantage Master?" Is there a connection between Zwei!! , Zwei 2 , and Nayuta no Kiseki ? Why aren't there any dinosaurs in Dinosaur Resurrection ? This e...

When you think "memorable RPG music," your mind might not wander beyond the Japanese classics many of us hold dear. We're here to take off those blinders by exposing you to some of our favorite music from Western-developed RPGs. Our selections run the gamut from indie darlings to big-budget blockbusters, spanning several decades of aural excellence. Except for that one King's Quest song. Come on,...

Today's special episode mostly certainly won't make you cry a-more, because it's an interview with Cryamore/Soul Saga/The Black Box composer Aivi Tran! Stephen and Derek talk music, life, and Corridors of Time with the amiable Aivi, so be sure to check this one out! Aivi spent her Saturday night chatting with us about all kinds of topics, and for that we are exceptionally grateful! To hear some of...

Yeeeeowch! I hope you've relaxed and recovered from Summer Chill, because Episode 7 of Rhythm Encounter is anything but chill. We've got a great spread of tracks, from SNES favorites to PlayStation legends and so much more. The tables have turned as Random Encounter host Robert Steinman joins us as a guest to discuss his picks—and before you ask, yes, he did select a track from Dark Souls . Prepar...

Summer's here (well, almost), and the heat grows more oppressive by the day. What better way to relax than with a bevy of our favorite summery RPG tunes? We visit sun-kissed beaches, bustling port towns, and arid deserts in a musical tour of the hottest season. School's out, kids, so pack a swimsuit, don your shades, and kick back. If you need us, we'll be swinging in that luxurious hammock just a...

So T.G. Cid, Al-Cid, and Dr. Cid walk into Migelo's Shop in Rabanastre... wait, no. The fifth episode of your friendly neighborhood music show delves deep into the world of the Ivalice Alliance, featuring Final Fantasy Tactics (and its sequels), Final Fantasy XII , and Vagrant Story ! The music here was so rich, though, that we brought along a pro to help us break it all down: Piano Collections Fi...

We promised you more Phantasy Star , and now we deliver. Welcome to episode 4 of the RPGFan music podcast. ♪ A whole new world / A brand new place I never knew ♪ Wait, that's Aladdin. Wrong new world. The Phantasy Star lovefest continues with a look at where the series went after leaving the Genesis. Our tracks come from an Online future, the furthest reaches of the Universe , and a Portable galax...

Strap on your cyber-boots and pack a telepipe, because we're taking you on a ride through the early years of the beloved Phantasy Star franchise. Stephen and Derek wax nostalgic with their childhood Phantasy Star memories, while Stephen drops lore-bombs using his near-encyclopedic knowledge of the series. Whether you're a curious newbie or a longtime fan looking to relive your Genesis glory days,...

We're pleased to bring you the second episode of RPGFan's newest podcast, Rhythm Encounter. We were thrilled with the feedback we received from the first episode, and your comments and criticism were both welcome and very helpful. For episode 2, we've tried to work in some of your suggestions, and one thing we missed with the first episode was a more careful explanation of the show's tracklist and...

We are very, very pleased to debut RPGFan's newest feature: Rhythm Encounter! Spun off from our special Music of the Year episode, Rhythm Encounter is a new, music-centric show that focuses squarely on the music we all know and love! Each episode will be broken down into a section discussing albums we've recently reviewed at RPGFan Music and a second section based on a "special topic." For our ina...