Episode #406 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan and Bedroth delve into the emotional power of ballads throughout gaming history.
From satirical power ballads to heartbreaking laments, and interactive folk songs to sweeping orchestral endings, we're covering the full spectrum of vocal storytelling. Whether it's karaoke confessions, ending credit tearjerkers, or sirens serenading you during boss fights, ballads give composers space to explore melody and lyrics in ways that humanize virtual worlds and create those intimate moments we never forget.
Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike.
EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS
- This is a Power Ballad from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City [Lex Horton feat. Darren Ritchie, 2002]
- Lament of Orpheus from Hades [Darren Korb, 2020]
- Without You from Sonic X Shadow Generations [Jun Senoue feat. Casey Lee Williams, 2024]
- We Are As One from Bayonetta 3 [Hiroshi Yamaguchi feat. Rachael Hawnt, 2022]
- Amidst a Dream from Judgment [Kiyo feat. Nao Toyama, 2018]
- Theme Song from Love And Deepspace [Sarah Brightman, 2024]
- Why from Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion [Yoshihiko Nishio feat. ayaka, 2022]
- What We Did in Colorado from Wasteland 3 [Nathan Long feat. William Whitmore, 2020]
- Fear Not This Night from Guild Wars 2 [Jeremy Soule feat. Asja Kadric, 2012]
- Baka Mitai from Yakuza 0 [Mitsuharu Fukuyama feat. Takaya Kuroda, 2015]
- Wherever You Are from Digimon Story: Time Stranger [Yuichi Ohno & Atsushi Masuda feat. reche, 2025]
- Maybe Tomorrow from Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra [Yuki Kajiura feat. Emily Curtis and the Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus, 2006]
- Bewitching Eyes from Hades II [Darren Korb feat. Erin Yvette, Ashley Barrett & Judy Alice Lee, 2025]
- Girl In The Tower from King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow [Mark Seibert feat. Bob Bergthold & Debbie Seibert, 1992]
LINKS
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PODCAST NETWORK
3 days ago
This episode was really fun to listen to. Because of all the songs having words, this melodic episode takes off and never stops. From front to back, this episode just flowed, and it made my day dissolve like the Wicked Witch from the west. Sugar aside, this sweet episode also rocked, and I found myself banging away while mopping. Thanks again, gentlemen, because this was a power ballad of a good time.