Music to Level Up Your Day: Fire Emblem Engage

I don't know much about musical theory, nor am I a musically inclined person. However, I do love to listen to video game soundtracks. They can be a powerful listening experiences in their own right, or be as evocative as the scores composed for film. Each of these posts will feature a sampling of music tracks from a single game title, or series/franchise in some rare cases.

Composer: Yasuhisa Baba, Kazuki Komai, Hiroki Morishita, Takeru Kanazaki, Fumihiro Isobe, Takafumi Wada

Singer: Katharine Eames, Barry Bach,

North American Release Date: January 20, 2023

A human named Alear awakens with amnesia from a thousand year slumber. Through the years they were protected by their mother - a divine white dragon, who is embroiled in a conflict with the dark fell dragon Sombron. Twelve magical "Emblem Rings" can be "Engaged" with to gain power from phantom-like beings from other worlds (past Fire Emblem games), which Sombron plans to use to conquer the world. As Alear regains their memories, they recall being adopted by the white dragon after fleeing from their biological father - Sombron.

Both the opening theme, Emblem Engage!, and the ending theme, Fiery Bonds, make allusions to past Fire Emblem protagonists by incorporating their Emblem ring incantations into the lyrics. Emblem Engage! further references the nations of Elyos (Engages' world) and the respective rings they safeguard.

Bright Sandstorm | (Area Theme)

Emblem Engage! | (Main Theme) | Japanese Version

Falling Petals | (Boss Theme)

Goddess in Shadow | (Battle Theme)

Unshaken Royal Confidence | (Battle Theme)

Fiery Bonds | (Credits Theme) | Japanese Version

"I knew I would have to say goodbye someday, but I thought there was time." -Alear

Related Music:

• Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Music to Level Up Your Day: Hades

I don't know much about musical theory, nor am I a musically inclined person. However, I do love to listen to video game soundtracks. They can be a powerful listening experiences in their own right, or be as evocative as the scores composed for film. Each of these posts will feature a sampling of music tracks from a single game title, or series/franchise in some rare cases.

Composer: Darren Korb

Singer: Ashley Barrett

North American Release Date: September 17, 2020

Zagreus, the son of Hades, attempts to escape from the Underworld to reach Mount Olympus, but Hades hinders him by unleashing monsters. Zagreus' adoptive mother Nyx puts him in contact with his relatives on Olympus in order to aid Zagreus in discovering the truth about his birth mother.

No Escape | (Main Theme)

Out of Tartarus | (Area Theme)

Lament of Orpheus | (Character Song)

God of the Dead | (Boss Theme)

In the Blood | (Credits Theme)

Good Riddance | (Character Song)

"You're nothing like your father. I mean that as a compliment. He cut himself off from the rest of us. Many times have we attempted peace, to no avail." - Athena

Related Music:

Picturesque Places: Evil West

Video game worlds are filled with mysteries and stories that beckon us to explore thier uncharted lands, to venture into the unknown and discover what's out there. These virtual worlds can so beautiful, so "alive", and awe inspiring that I sometimes have to stop to really take it in. Naturally some are more memorable than others, and these tend to be the ones that push boundries - technologically and/or artistically.

All screenshots were taken from the vanilla game; no modifications were installed. Photo mode was used when available.

Optional Music:

Music to Level Up Your Day: Fire Emblem Three Houses

I don't know much about musical theory, nor am I a musically inclined person. However, I do love to listen to video game soundtracks. They can be a powerful listening experiences in their own right, or be as evocative as the scores composed for film. Each of these posts will feature a sampling of music tracks from a single game title, or series/franchise in some rare cases.

Composer: Takeru Kanazaki, Hiroki Morishita, Rei Kondoh,

Singer: Caro, Buttercup, and Hyemi Kim

North American Release Date: July 26, 2019

Three ruling powers: an empire, a kingdom, and an alliance are at peace due to their connections to the Garreg Mach Monastery, which houses a church and a school for students from each nation. Byleth, a former mercenary turned professor aids their students through their studies and into an eventual war initiated by the empire.

The main theme, "Edge of Dawn", was given different names in different regions. The Japanese and Korean titles, "Seasons of Warfare" or "Girl of Hresvelg ~Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon~" make reference to Japanese and Chinese poems about the passage of time, and the inclusion of "Hresvelg" indicates that the song is either about or from the point of view of the empire's leader, Edelgard.

Between Heaven and Earth | (Battle Theme)

The Edge of Dawn | (Main Theme) | "Seasons of Warfare" Version | "Color of Sunrise" Version

God Shattering Star | (Golden Deer Boss Theme)

The Apex of the World | (Blue Lions Boss Theme)

A World for Humanity | (Black Eagles Boss Theme)

Chasing Daybreak | (Credits Theme)

Killing is part of the job, but even so... There are times when I am chilled to the bone by the depravity of my own actions." - Dimitri Alexandre Bladud

Related Music:

• Fire Emblem: Engage

Music to Level Up Your Day: MHW Iceborne

I don't know much about musical theory, nor am I a musically inclined person. However, I do love to listen to video game soundtracks. They can be a powerful listening experiences in their own right, or be as evocative as the scores composed for film. Each of these posts will feature a sampling of music tracks from a single game title, or series/franchise in some rare cases.

Composer: Akihiko Narita, Akiyuki Morimoto, and Zhenlan Kang

Singer: Ikuko

North American Release Date: September 6, 2019

The Research Commission follows wyvern-like Legiana migrating beyond the sea to the frigid Hoarfrost Reach. Evidence of unusual seismic activity in the area eventually leads to the discovery of a lost expedition and a new, powerful elder dragon.

Succession of Light | (Main Theme)

Theme of Seliana | (Base Theme)

Splendiferous Silver Sovereign | (Monster Theme)

A Single Bloom in an Eternity | (Final Boss Theme)

Nay! The Honor is All Ours | (Arena Theme)

Tales Spun through Song | (Credits Theme)

"Friends, you go finish this. I want to stay here a little while longer. See what death has to give, and life has to bring." - The Tracker

Related Music:

• Monster Hunter 1, 2, and Tri
• Monster Hunter 4
• Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
• Monster Hunter Generations
• Monster Hunter: World