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Yuzo Koshiro

Yuzo Koshiro (古代 祐三, Koshiro Yūzō, born December 12, 1967 in Hino, Tokyo) is a Japanese video game music composer, arranger, and music programmer. He is often regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune and video game music, producing music in a number of genres, including various electronic genres (such as breakbeat, electro, hardcore, house, jungle, techno, and trance), experimental, symphonic, hip hop, jazz, and synth-rock.

Nintendo Power once stated that Koshiro was "arguably the greatest game-music composer of the 16-bit age" and that he "created some of the most memorable game music of the late '80s and early '90s." 1UP stated he was the "king" of FM synthesis chiptune music. He has produced some of the most influential role-playing video game scores, for titles such as Nihon Falcom's Dragon Slayer and Ys series, as well as ActRaiser and Beyond Oasis. GameAxis Unwired stated that his "progressive, catchy, techno-style compositions" for games such as The Revenge of Shinobi, Misty Blue, and the Streets of Rage series were "far more advanced than what players were used to" and set a "new high watermark for what music in games could sound like." The Streets of Rage soundtracks are considered ahead of their time, featuring a "blend of swaggering house synths," "dirty" electro-funk, and early trance elements.

His influence also extends to the popular music industry, particularly electronic dance music. His work remains highly regarded within the chiptune community, and has influenced artists outside of it, including electronic music artists such as Ikonika, BT, Labrinth, Martyn, Joker, Darkstar, Danger, and Just Blaze. Koshiro's Streets of Rage soundtracks in particular have been compared to later electronic dance music, and have influenced electronica, grime and dubstep producers.

ActRaiser Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) / Super Famicom
ActRaiser 2 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) / Super Famicom
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Nintendo Dual-Screen (DS)
Legacy of the Wizard Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) / Famicom
Sonic the Hedgehog Sega Megadrive / Genesis Sega Mastersystem (SMS)
Streets of Rage Sega Megadrive / Genesis
Streets of Rage 2 Sega Megadrive / Genesis
Streets of Rage 3 Sega Megadrive / Genesis
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Nintendo Wii
The Revenge of Shinobi Sega Megadrive / Genesis
Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished NEC PC-8800 Series
Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter NEC PC-8800 Series
Ys III: Wanderers from Ys Sega Megadrive / Genesis