Inevitably, I had to convert them for FM Sound Blasters, etc. All the tracks suffered as a result. Especially the arrangements that relied on the timbre of the GM samples.

Those I reinforced with counter-melodies fared better."More than 30 years later, an enterprising young composer called Ryan Zachariah Martin (YouTube, Bandcamp) has taken it upon himself to compose a remake of the entire OST, and has released it across various platforms including Spotify. I'm a total sucker for cover versions of classic videogame music, purely because it's always great to hear the original compositions break free of their technological limitations:, and this is a wonderful example.In another interview Heberling had highlighted the song Oversnow as one of his favorite tracks, and I can see why: it quickly builds layers into a beautiful crescendo before looping back on itself.

In Martin's version, the counter-melodies of Oversnow have been gorgeously re-done. "Arena has always been a game that I hold close to my heart," Martin tells PCG. "Not only is it the first entry of my favourite series, The Elder Scrolls, but a time capsule in both old-school RPG game design & music.

It was actually released the year I was born, and I discovered it by working my way slowly backwards from Morrowind. When I read that the game featured all of Tamriel, I had to try it. I felt an odd nostalgia for it and it was a wonderful experience."As for the qualities of the Arena soundtrack itself, Martin says it "has many similar motifs and elements that feature in the Daggerfall soundtrack and I think it's important that fans of The Elder Scrolls have the opportunity to hear a modernised version of the music, using software that wasn't available at the time."(Image credit: Bethesda)I ask Martin what he likes most about the Arena OST, and the remake track he's proudest of."My favourite thing about the Arena OST is that it perfectly fits the retro-RPG vibe," says Martin.

It's grandiose and varied, with eerie, atmospheric dungeon tracks & powerful, orchestral pieces for the intro & outro. It really gives you a sense of wonder and adventure, helping the player fully immerse themselves in the experience."I have to concur: it must be decades now since I last turned on Arena, but I've had this remade OST playing in the background for the last hour or so and the '90s stylings are undeniable. That "retro-RPG vibe" Martin references is a perfect description, and at times it almost felt like I was back on my dad's PC playing Arena with a slideshow framerate in a nook of the dining room."I am most proud of the character creation track," says Martin.

"I loved the tribal & orchestral mix and it was a challenge trying to recapture that in a more modern setting, whilst staying true to the original. The intro theme is another piece I was quite proud of. I think I captured the feel of what the intro was originally aiming for, with an emphasis on the beauty & simplicity of the melodies, rather than a bombastic orchestral piece." 2026 games: All the upcoming gamesBest PC games: Our all-time favoritesFree PC games: Freebie festBest FPS games: Finest gunplayBest RPGs: Grand adventuresBest co-op games: Better together