Nostalgium Arcanum - Episodes Tagged with “Nes”

Video Game Soundtracks

Doug Lief — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0700

From the moment you pop in a quarter or press start, video games have used music to enthrall, entice, and plumb even more complex emotions, far more than one might expect from the push of a button. On this podcast we celebrate the composers who have wrestled microchips, midi, and mp3s into the rich sonic (and sometimes Sonic) tapestries that elevate simple zeroes and ones into powerful musical experiences. We're joined by a full panel of games podcasters including Dave Jackson (Tales From The Backlog), Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Chris Coplien (Retro Hangover) to roundtable our favorite game soundtracks.

Check out the incredible podcasts from our panel:

Retro Hangover (https://retrohangover.captivate.fm/)
Pixel Project Radio (https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio)
Tales From The Backlog (https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/)

Support us, join the discussion, and get bonus content at www.patreon.com/nostalgium!

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, "Playing By Ear" (https://playingbyear.fireside.fm) and our limited-run Jim Henson Series, "Still Muppeting" (patreon.com/stillloadingpod).

If you have feedback, find us on the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Pac-Man -Shigeichi Ishimura, Toshio Kai
The Legend of Zelda – Koji Kondo
ActRaiser – Yuzo Koshiro
Crash Bandicoot - Josh Mancell
Live & Learn – Crush40
Legend of Mana – Yoko Shimomura
Silent Hill 2 - Akira Yamaoka
The Legend of Zelda – Ocarina of Time – Koji Kondo
Narita Boy - Salvador Fornieles
Grandia - Noriyuki Iwadare
Skullgirls - Michiru Yamane, Vincent Diamante, Brenton Kossak, Blaine McGurty
Shovel Knight – Jake Kaufman
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse - Hidenori Maezawa, Jun Funahashi, Yukie Morimoto, Yoshinori Sasaki
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Brad Buxer, Sega Sound Team, and maybe Michael Jackson?
Kingdom Hearts 2 - Yoko Shimomura
Hotline Miami – Paris (M|O|O|N)
The 7th Guest – The Fat Man
Final Fantasy VIII – Nobuo Uematsu
Final Fantasy IV – Nobuo Uematsu
Final Fantasy VI – Nobuo Uematsu
Sadow of the Colossus – Kow Otoni
Super Mario Galaxy – Koji Kondo
Ni No Kuni: The Wrath of the White Witch – Joe Hisaishi
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean – Motoi Sakuraba
Street Fighter EX Plus α - Takayuki Aihara, Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht - Yasunori Mitsuda
F-Zero X - Taro Bando, Hajime Wakai
Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag – Bryan Tyler
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Hayato Sonoda, Takahiro Unisuga, Yukihiro Jindo, Mitsuo Singa
Drakengard - Nobuyoshi Sano, Takayuki Aihara
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War - Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Hiroshi Okubo, Junichi Nakatsuru
Hollow Knight – Christopher Larkin
Chrono Cross - Yasunori Mitsuda
Nine Sols – FFXX, Im Baek Hun, Troy Lin, Shih-Wei Yang
Dead Kennedys – Police Truck
Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 – Lorien Testard – Lumiere
Streets of Rage 2 - Yuzo Koshiro, Motohiro Kawashima
Lisa: The Painful - Austin Jorgensen
Nier - Keiichi Okabe, Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Takafumi Nishimura
Megaman 2 - Takashi Tateishi – Wily Stage 1
Chrono Trigger - Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda
Pentiment - Alkemie Early Music Ensemble
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Jamie Christopherson
Super Mario World – Koji Kondo
Conker’s Bad Fur Day - Robin Beanland

Ninja Gaiden

Doug Lief — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:15:00 -0700

1988's Ninja Gaiden was a leap forward in video game storytelling, featuring splashy cut scenes, a propulsive soundtrack, and notorious difficulty. Ryu Hayabusa faces off against military goons, relentless wildlife, and otherworldly grotesque demons in his quest to keep Jaquio and the forces of darkness at bay. Guest comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to give this unforgiving landmark game the Nintendo seal of quality.

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, Playing By Ear! - https://playingbyear.fireside.fm

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:
Dark Flute - Jim Guthrie
All music from Ninja Gaiden by Keiji Yamagishi and Ryuichi Nitta

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

Doug Lief — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:15:00 -0700

We get in the ring with Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (later known as just Punch-Out!!). This NES classic cleverly disguises puzzles and pattern recognition within its colorful cast of memorable pugilists. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to put the smackdown on one of the most beloved titles in Nintendo's library. TKO!

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:
Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All Score from Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! by Yukio Kaneoka, Akito Nakatsuka, and Kenji Yamamoto
I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Blockbuster Video

Doug Lief — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:15:00 -0700

It's time to be kind and rewind back to the days when home media rental was a pillar of daily life. Whether it was Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, or your local mom-and-pop shop, renting movies and games was a ritual of living in the 80s an 90s that is now lost to the dominance of streaming. We're joined by Chris Coplien of the Retro Hangover podcast to rack up a few very late fees in service to the lost world of video rental.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles

Super Mario Bros. 3

Doug Lief — Mon, 13 May 2024 01:00:00 -0700

Super Mario Bros. 3 set the standard not only for Nintendo's flagship franchise, but it was a literal game changer. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to save the Mushroom Kingdom - yet again - from the nefarious clutches of Bowser and the Koopalings with a little help from flying racoon tails, frog suits, music boxes, and more.

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits

Intro - Dark Flute - Jim Guthrie
All Music from Super Mario Bros. 3 by Koji Kondo

The Wizard

Doug Lief — Mon, 06 May 2024 01:30:00 -0700

Part cross-country child road trip, part Nintendo commercial, The Wizard is a time capsule of 1980s nostalgia that holds up better than its corporately calculated premise would suggest. Players Jonathan Cardoso and Tania Newton don their power gloves to join us in retaking the road to Video Armageddon.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits

Intro - Dark Flute - Jim Guthrie
Send Me An Angel - Real Life
Double Dragon, Stage 1 - Kazunaka Yamane
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dam Level - Jun Funahashi
Super Mario Brothers 3 - Koji Kondo
Pinball Wizard - The Who

MegaMan 2

Doug Lief — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -0700

MegaMan was released to little fanfare but its sequel put the Blue Bomber into the hall of fame. Boasting one of the greatest chiptune rock soundtracks of all time, tight controls, and the biggest whimsical anime robots the NES could muster, MegaMan 2 is a labor of love that has stood the test of time. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to revisit an all-time classic.

Find us on the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

Be sure to follow us at Instagram specifically for bonus reels and other extra content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All music from MegaMan 2 by Takashi Tateishi

Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest

Doug Lief — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 01:00:00 -0700

What a horrible night to have a curse! Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to whip it good as we revisit Castlevania 2, a game far more foreboding, obtuse, and influential outing than the original.

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All score from Castlevania 2 by Kenichi Matsuraba