The Video Game music appreciation thread.

Last page, I posted a face off. I not only pit the US Turbografx16 version of the Cratermaze against it's JP Arcade counterpart with the same score (only FM instead of wavetable), but also pit Cratermaze against it's reskinned and rescorred Japanese PC Engine equivalent, Doraemon, and asked whether you preferred the Doraemon soundtrack over the Cratermaze one or vice versa, as well as asking whether you preferred the wavetable or FM arcade version of Cratermaze.

I will tell you I liked the TG16 soundtrack over the arcade one. As far as Doraemon vs Cratermaze, I had said that I liked one better than the other overall, but that my absolute favorite individual track - by a long shot - was from the one that lost overall.

So, here's the track that I liked so much more than the others, and it's from the losing soundtrack....Cratermaze:



p.s. this is one of "The 100".

This track is just so much fun, and so bouncy. I could listen to it for an hour straight, I'm sure. I'm not 100% sure which of the two I prefer, but it reminds me a TON of this track from Simpsons Arcade:



Also, I had mentioned that there was one track that appeared in both the PCE Doraemon .hes file AND the TG16 Cratermaze one, meaning that the two had only one track in common...here it is (also one of the "100"). After the above Cratermaze track this is either my second or maybe third favorite:



And lastly, I've got another Wavetable vs FM face off - PC Engine Bomberman '94 vs Genesis/Megadrive Mega Bomberman. It's a playlist featuring the full soundtrack of both. It's in PCE, Gen, PCE, Gen etc order for easy comparison. The volume is louder on the Genesis videos, but that's just the rip job, and not representative of the originals. Also, while the HuC6280a and the YM2612 have the same number of channels, a voice or two is missing out of just about every Genesis track...and I don't know why. Lastly, the themes to Stage 1 and Stage 2 were replaced with new compositions on the Genesis version, which are very nice tracks, but don't really fit the soundtrack as a whole. All the other tracks are direct comparisons, though.

Here ya go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSbU...2idYfc&index=1

Which one do you like better, and why? DISCUSS!...oh, and while you're at it, do you agree with me that the Cratermaze and Simpsons Arcade track are kindred...and which one do you like better?

Master system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lULP-38rulA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lTpKEwsao

Taking a bit of a break from PC Engine, and Wavetable, here are a couple of my favorites from a game I love very much - Dick Tracy for the Sega Genesis:

Warehouse:



Train Yard:



Alley:



Car Chase:



I love this game on its own merits because it's like a slower moving, 20's gangster/private eye themed variant of Arcade Shinobi 1, without the two-tiered play space, but instead, having essentially the Shinobi 1 bonus level mechanic as the background layer during regular game play. I love the large, incredibly well detailed player and enemy character sprites, the detailed levels, and the jazzy music! This game is an essential for me!

But also, there's a nostalgic connection too. We got the Genesis on a "just because" basis sometime in September of 1993 (I was 13, and my brother was 12). This would've been about 9 months after getting the SNES new for Christmas. We got our Genesis used - with Sonic 1. A day or so later, our Mom took us to a place called Games-to-Go, an early 90's rough equivalent to what Game Stop is today. She got us maybe four or five other games, all used, of course. I'm not 100% sure I recall what all of them were, but I know that three of them were Spider-Man, Altered Beast...and Dick Tracy (X-Men MIGHT have been one of them too). So, this game is synonymous with Sega Genesis for me, and so strongly reminiscent of those days when I first got my hands on this awesome machine!

Now that's sweet adventurous music...

http://youtu.be/0CdBD45uIs4



@JSDY : Agree all the way about Dick Tracy & nice parallel with the 1st Shinobi.

Space Harrier: Solid Gold!

Talking about Space Harrier, lets revel in the glorious and utterly memorable original arcade theme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Tam9lv1KQ

@Maxwar : Man, this theme is pure magic :') (I often listen to it in the 32X version's soundtest, with the superb artwork behind, great rendition of the original!)


@JSDY : Indeed. The whole soundtrack is awesome IMO. & the game is kinda underrated. I'll post some others tracks later...



Edit : Hop, perfect continuity of the previous one...

http://youtu.be/meTCMNfngG8


I also like a lot the Map Screen theme :

http://youtu.be/bBcYa6wPshQ

Here are a few more from "The 100" (I don't want to burn you guys out on PCE, so I promise, I'm very close to done posting from these). :-)



Basic Use of PCE sound hardware:









Middling / Average use of PCE Sound Hardware:













Advanced use of PCE Sound Hardware:

Just discovered this awesome game and it's no less awesome soundtrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyYak1FScUs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3hgMKA14vQ

This reminded me of Twin Bee on the X68k , Listen at 1:05
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Vc4-EeR8c&list=UU_OBW56cqJwoRsqUiPEhdzw

This little piece of awesome was just posted today on VGM Hall of fame. I just love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjR81s2nJvw&list=UUMtmtllZ4GFFpKtFWX18VOw

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MaxWar

This little piece of awesome was just posted today on VGM Hall of fame. I just love it.

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This is great! Is this "VGM" or "ChipTunes"? By that, I mean, was this actually used in a game, or is this a fan made track?

Also, it's funny you mentioned Valkyrie no Densetsu. I just listened to the PCE version of that soundtrack not too long ago. Based on what you've shared, though, I would have little trouble identifying the Arcade version as the better version.

Thanks for sharing! :-)

Speaking of comparing versions, I've got one, and no, this time it doesn't involve PCE. :-)

This will be a good ol' fashioned "SNES vs Genesis" throwdown!

The Genesis version of this track, I've known for a while, and have deeply loved (and even shared on this thread several pages ago). But I had never heard the SNES version, nor actually played either version of the game. Tonight, I had the opportunity to buy BOTH the SNES and the Genesis versions of it for $5 each, so I did. For numerous reasons, I think the Genesis version of the game is significantly better than the SNES version....

...but what about this track in particular? The track is Misty Catacombs II (aka, Stage 4-3). I'll share both the SNES and Genesis versions. I have a video for the Genesis one, so in the name of shameless self-promotion, I'll use it. :-)

Here's the SNES version:



And here's the Genesis version:



Which do you like better...and why? DISCUSS!

I won't say which version I prefer overall, now that I've finally had the chance to hear both. But I will say that my favorite thing about the Genesis version is that almost sine-like smooth organ at the very beginning of the loop (it also returns for the end of the loop). It's equal parts soothing, and haunting, serene, and frightening. The reason I mention it is that in playing the games tonight, I also encountered another track that uses this same organ, only this time as a solo instrument, so you get to hear it in all it's rich, dark ambient, overtone and harmonic laden glory without it having to compete with the other channels. This track is sick black magic as well, and well worthy of a share:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jay See Double You

This is great! Is this "VGM" or "ChipTunes"? By that, I mean, was this actually used in a game, or is this a fan made track?

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I wondered the same thing actually, never heard of a game called CONTINUE or Vast Valley. I decided to not care as it is an awesome piece of music and it was posted on a VGM channel. On the other hand if we start posting non game chip tunes this thread might derail so you raise a good point :p

I think I prefer the Genesis version of that dracula song, and yes that organ sound is very nice. I think the Genesis one is more immersive due to the richness of the sounds.

The SNES by contrast sounds it's midi-ish self but it is not something I dislike. I found it more upbeat then the genesis counterpart. Which might be or not be a good thing depending on how you feel when playing the game level.

Opening stage for strider 2 Arcade/ps1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SGlmk0tMpc&index=48&list=PLyG2kzkFqwMYjzM Wxk-UUJo06C0FtS2Xs

I don't remember if this was posted before or not
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukGSGo01di4

Devious new tune from VGM hall of fame.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnhvRIyXYEc&list=UUMtmtllZ4GFFpKtFWX18VOw