Download Episode 86: “Adventure Games w/ Brian” here!
Adventure games have been seeing quite the revival lately, with titles like Broken Age and Thimbleweed Park calling back to the golden age of the genre, where games like The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion ruled PC game shelves. Composers like Peter McConnel and Frank Klepacki made names for themselves on these early titles, creating atmospheric and sophisticated soundscapes in which one could easily get lost. Join Mike, Ed, and special guest host Brian (of the fledgling podcast Pixel Stories,) as they share music from some of their favorite Point ‘n Click Adventure titles both old and new!
Check out Brian’s podcast at https://www.pixelstories.net/
Thanks to Richard Kruse for submitting a PixelChat question. Send YOUR questions for us to answer at pixeltunesradio@gmail.com!
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The Tracklist:
Format: Game Title (System, Year) – Track Title – Composer(s)
1 – The Legend of Kyrandia: Book 3: Malcolm’s Revenge (PC, Mac, 1994) – “Back in Kyrandia (Night)” – Frank Klepacki
2 – Snatcher (Sega CD, 1994) – “The Entrance To Hell” – Kazuki Muraoka, Motoaki Furukawa, Akira Yamaoka, Hiroshi Tamawari, Kida Sun, Kazuhito Imai
3 – Thimbleweed Park (PC, 2017) – “No Quarter” – Steve Kirk
4 – Deja Vu (NES, 1990) – “Investigation Theme 1 (Indoors, Taxi)” – Hiroyuki Masuno
5 – Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright – Justice for All – (DS, 2002) “Announce the Truth” – Naoto Tanaka
6 – Dropsy (PC, 2015) – “Mothersbaugh on the Beach” – Chris Schlarb
7 – Legend of Kyrandia 2: Hand of Fate (PC, 1993) – “Credits” – Frank Klepacki
8 – Policenauts – (PSX, 3DO, Saturn, 1995) – “Criminal Investigation Part 1” – Tappi Iwase, Masahiro Ikariko, Motoaki Furukawa, Kozo Nakamura
9 – Broken Age (PC, 2014) – “Shay’s Secret Mission” – Peter McConnel
10 – Sam & Max – Hit the Road (PC, 1993) – “Pleasantly Understated Credit Sequence” – Michael Z. Land, Peter McConnell, Aric Wilmunder
11 – Hotel Dusk (DS, 2007) – “Play It Again” – Satoshi Okubo
12 – Deponia (PC, 2012) – “A Life of Order and Happiness” – Finn Seliger, Thomas Höhl
PixelTunes Radio VGM Podcast 
Wow guys, that was the most fun I’ve had listening to PTR in a good while! Great tracks, and funny banter.
I loved all the music on the episode, but Dropsy made me want to comment. There’s something to be said about a game that can make one think in an empathetic way about the suffering of others. And Ed’s comments about Dropsy possibly being on the Spectrum really hit home.
I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but my middle boy has ADHD, anxiety, and is also on the high-functioning end of the Spectrum. He’s a very intelligent, loving, sweet kid, but he can be a terror. Honestly, some days I’m doing my best not to throw him out the window. And it just breaks my heart knowing that getting along socially is never going to be easy for him. I haven’t purchased a PC game in about 20 years, but I’m seriously thinking about seeking Dropsy out. It sounds therapeutic.
Ed here! As a dad of two boys who each have their own struggles, I can absolutely relate, and I think that’s why the game resonated with me so well, too. As a side note, I let the game’s creator know we did a little feature on it, and he messaged me later to tell me I was spot-on in my interpretation. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the show! We had a lot of fun putting it together!