Yuzo Koshiro
Techno warrior of the Mega Drive
Yuzo Koshiro brought club music to consoles, crafting the thumping soundtracks of Streets of Rage and pioneering FM synthesis as a musical art form.
Overview
Yuzo Koshiro founded Ancient with his mother at 18 and proceeded to redefine game music. His Streets of Rage soundtracks channelled house, techno, and hardcore into the Mega Drive’s YM2612 chip. While others used FM synthesis to imitate orchestras, Koshiro embraced its electronic potential, creating music that belonged in clubs as much as living rooms.
Fast facts
- Start: began programming at 10; first commercial game music at 16 (Xanadu).
- Company: co-founded Ancient Corporation (1990), still active today.
- Innovation: used custom tools and algorithmic composition for Streets of Rage 3.
- Range: composed for arcade, console, and PC games across four decades.
Key soundtracks
| Game | Year | Platform | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ys I & II | 1987/88 | PC-88/PCE | Progressive rock |
| The Revenge of Shinobi | 1989 | Mega Drive | Cinematic action |
| ActRaiser | 1990 | SNES | Orchestral |
| Streets of Rage | 1991 | Mega Drive | House, techno |
| Streets of Rage 2 | 1992 | Mega Drive | Electronic dance |
| Streets of Rage 3 | 1994 | Mega Drive | Experimental hardcore |
FM synthesis mastery
Koshiro exploited the YM2612’s capabilities:
- Operator manipulation: designed custom instruments from scratch.
- DAC channel: used for sampled drums alongside FM channels.
- Real-time effects: programmed dynamic filter sweeps and modulation.
Influence
Streets of Rage soundtracks influenced electronic music producers and established that game music could stand alongside club releases. The 2020 Streets of Rage 4 soundtrack featured Koshiro alongside contemporary artists, cementing his legacy.