The work of composer Kazuo Hanzawa, aka Norio Hanzawa, is the focus of Episode 87.  Originally a Konami employee, Kazuo moved on to work for the company Treasure.  With an extremely progressive and unique approach, Hanzawa took video game music to a whole other level with games like Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier.  Check out this incredible music from a very overlooked composer.  Full track listing below.

Game – Composer – Song – Company – Console – Year (North American release unless otherwise indicated)

Quarth – Kazuo Hanzawa – BGM 1 – Konami – Famicom – 1990

The Simpsons – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Stage 2: Krustyland (Panic!) – Konami – arcade – 1991

Bucky O’Hare – Kazuo Hanzawa (Star Hanzawa) – Stage 8 – Konami – arcade – 1992

Gunstar Heroes – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Choose a Path – Treasure – Genesis – 1993

Alien Soldier – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Oblivious Past – Treasure – Mega Drive – 1995

Castlevania: The Adventure – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa), Shigeru Fukutake, Hidehiro Funauchi – Evil Devil (Final Boss Part 2) – Konami – Game Boy – 1989

Rollergames – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa), Katsuhiko Suzuki, Atsushi Fujio, Shigemasa Matsuo – Final Showdown (Last Boss) – Ultra Games – NES – 1990

Dynamite Headdy – Kazuo Hanzawa (NON), Katsuhiko Suzuki, Yasuko, Koji Yamada, Aki Hata – Schumacher Fly – Treasure – Genesis – 1994

Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Touitsusen – T.K.O. (Kazuo Hanzawa, Katsuhiko Suzuki, Satoshi Murata) – Devilish Forest BGM – Treasure – Mega Drive – 1994

Alien Soldier – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Runner/AD2025 – Treasure – Mega Drive – 1995

Alien Soldier – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Slap-Up – Treasure – Mega Drive – 1995

Gunstar Heroes – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Last Party on the Moon – Treasure – Genesis – 1993

Alien Soldier – Kazuo Hanzawa (N. Hanzawa) – Flashback – Treasure – Mega Drive – 1995

Bucky O’Hare – Kazuo Hanzawa (Star Hanzawa) – High Score Name Entry – Konami – arcade – 1992