Rhythm Encounter 123 – The Secret Trials of Hiroki Kikuta

It’s time for another composer spotlight on Rhythm Encounter, and this time we’re celebrating the works of Hiroki Kikuta. Many RPG fans know his work on the Mana series — particularly Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana — but there’s much more to Kikuta than many people know.

From a PSone game that never left Japan to his contributions to many indie games today, today’s episode digs into the many hats Hiroki Kikuta has worn over the years. We hope you discover new facets to his work as some of us did on this episode!

If you want more composer episodes when you are done, check out episodes 108 and 61, where we spotlighted Hitoshi Sakimoto and Yoko Shimomura, respectively.

Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Patrick Gann, Greg Delmage; Edited by Paul Dennis

Links for this episode

• Valiant Mirror Website
• Soukaigi – Fire Wire

Tracklist

Fiji Block
0:08:13 – Where Angel Fear to Tread (Hiroki Kikuta, arr. Sachiko Miyano) – Trials of Mana (2020)
0:10:54 – Into the Thick of It (GENTLE LOVE) – Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of Mana

Indie Darling Block
0:36:59 – Ajna (comp/arr Hiroki Kikuta) – Indivisible
0:39:44 – Land of Blooming Mushrooms (Hiroki Kikuta) – Tangledeep

Cinematic Block
1:04:31 – The Essentia 2000 Arrives (aka Exploring the Wilderness) (Hiroki Kikuta) – YIIK: A Postmodern RPG
1:07:05 – Halls of Karba (Hiroki Kikuta) – Earthlock: Festival of Magic

“I’ll do it myself” Block
1:26:07 – Requiem (Hiroki Kikuta) – Koudelka
1:27:29 – Quake (comp/arr Hiroki Kikuta) – Soukaigi
2:02:20 – Mike’s Bonus Track!

Album Links

Earthlock: Festival of Magic Original Soundtrack

• VGMdb
• Bandcamp
• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• Spotify

Indivisible Original Game Soundtrack

• Our Review
• VGMdb
• Bandcamp
• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• Spotify

Koudelka

• Our Review
• VGMdb

Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of Mana

• Our Review
• VGMdb
• Bandcamp
• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• Spotify
• YouTube Playlist (Official)

Soukaigi Original Soundtrack

• Our Review
• VGMdb
• YouTube Playlist (Unofficial)

Tangledeep Original Soundtrack

• VGMdb
• Bandcamp
• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• Spotify
• YouTube Playlist (Official)

Trials of Mana (2020) Original Soundtrack

• VGMdb
• iTunes Store / Apple Music
• CDJapan

YIIK: A Postmodern RPG Official Soundtrack

• VGMdb
• Bandcamp

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