bad (ish?) games with good soundtracks

[BrianC]

Gauntlet IV - Ok-ish Genesis port with some really nice tracks by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDX28nJqhI8

What's wrong port wise?

[Udderdude]

Alright fine, I just wanted an excuse to post that track. Sue me. :p

[BrianC]

Actually, I was curious since I heard the game was done from scratch. I like the port myself, but I especially like the new stuff added (tower mode and incredible music).

[Squire Grooktook]

I just want to say, I really love those tense, dark-ish FM Synth tracks like that Gauntlet example. Need to find more like that.

[EmperorIng]

I've been exploring a lot of the PC-Engine library since my Duo-R purchase, so I have a lot of examples I could potentially share. There are some true awful stinkers in the PCE-CD library.

I think one example I would highlight the most is the case of the excellent music of Valis II, in both its PCE-CD and PC88/X68K varieties.

Both versions of the game I would not call good. The PCE version of Valis II at least handles mechanically well, but is suffused with cheap-hit enemy placement, bosses that sometimes do nothing at all but move back and forth, and levels that consist half of long hallways with the same midboss repeated three times in a row.

The PC88/X68K version (I played the sharp version), in contrast, has far more interesting levels and bosses, encouraging a small degree of exploration and experimentation with weapons/armor. However, its computer roots hamper the experience through the instance of awful choppy scrolling, glitchy hit detection (your health bar or the boss' can deplete in seconds), and some of the most unintuitive and stiff jumping controls known to man that makes platforming a nightmare of barreling into randomly-spawning enemies who can stunlock you out of a third of your health.

But! Telenet's trusty stand-by musical geniuses - Shinobu Ogawa, Tenpei Sato, Masahiro Kajihara, Yasunori Shiono, and Kenichi Kamio - deliver such fresh and dark soundtracks for both games (each version having their own distinctive OST).

The opening stage theme in the PCE Valis II ranks up there for me as one of the best, getting across the mood and feel of the game far better than the actual on-screen happenings - the poor Valis Warrior Yuko Ahso by fate continuously hunted down by all forces of evil in the nighttime shadow of the city. It fits the feel of the anime OVAs that so clearly inspired the Valis games in general. The entire soundtrack is very interesting, shifting from 3/4 synthy jazz, weird dissonances, percussion-heavy tracks, and more. Great stuff.

The Sharp/PC version (the superior game despite being mechanically inferior, if that makes sense) captures a gritty melancholy that compliments the waaaay darker tone the game takes. It is evident in somber title theme, Sacred Sacrifice, that you are about to see your poor player character Yuko go through a lot of bad shit - and indeed she does - and the soundtrack is there to lend the right mood every step of the way, from the thundering apprehension of stage 3's Prediction to the rousing go-get-'em of stage 5's Rock n' Roll Cinderella... The game pushes you along with its very well-presented plot and excellent musical score.

Mind you, you definitely play either of these games more for their secondary attributes...

[llaoyllakcuf]

FZ Senki Axis, the x68000 version preferred but the MD one is not bad either!

http://youtu.be/UxCbdauirq4

Liked it so much that I actually obtained the official soundtrack CD for this game some years back. The remixed arrangements on it are pretty slick

[Kino]

Valis II

You forgot to post the superior FM synth versions.

Pearlmont Wink [PC98]
Sacred Sacrifice [PC88]
Sentimental Soldier [PC88]
Against Black Shadow [PC88]

[Strider77]

https://youtu.be/AMTgXQ6lRRA

Earnest Evans.... craptacular in many ways.

[CIT]

I just want to say, I really love those tense, dark-ish FM Synth tracks like that Gauntlet example. Need to find more like that.

You should like a lot of the Irem arcade stuff then. Check out X Multiply, Dragon Breed and especially Ninja Spirit.

Also Master of Monsters!

[soprano1]

Besides Gauntlet IV, Verytex and Midnight Resistance, what other soundtracks did Hitoshi Sakamoto do on the Mega Drive? Thanks.

[Mischief Maker]

Sublevel Zero

My initial enthusiasm was mostly fueled by its wonderful soundtrack, but once I really started to sink my teeth in as a game it came up short. Still, fantastic soundtrack!

[CIT]

Besides Gauntlet IV, Verytex and Midnight Resistance, what other soundtracks did Hitoshi Sakamoto do on the Mega Drive? Thanks.

Bad Omen/Devilish

You're also gonna want to check out his work for Magical Chase on PC Engine though.

EDIT: Also, he didn't compose Midnight Resistance just gave it the arrangement. Same with Crude Buster and Captain America and The Avengers.

[soprano1]

Besides Gauntlet IV, Verytex and Midnight Resistance, what other soundtracks did Hitoshi Sakamoto do on the Mega Drive? Thanks.

Bad Omen/Devilish

You're also gonna want to check out his work for Magical Chase on PC Engine though.

EDIT: Also, he didn't compose Midnight Resistance just gave it the arrangement. Same with Crude Buster and Captain America and The Avengers.

Thanks, CIT, good info.

[BIL]

Funny thing about Gauntlet MD... M2 actually coded it for fun on X68000, being fans of the arcade game, then offered it to Tengen/Atari for publishing. Thus began legend.

September 1993

Gathered a bunch of friends who used to play Gauntlet together at the arcades and ported it to PC (X68000) for fun. Presented it to TENGEN/ATARI GAMES, who then sold it for the MegaDrive title after some back and forth.

M2.

Not an especially bad game, but obscure and stigmatised by being on 32X, and like Cyber Brawl packing some great tunes: Stellar Assault. I always thought this track would make an absolutely killer ship select theme. Jazzy, snappy, expectant and concise.

Double Dragon III's overseas arcade version gets pilloried for its quarter-munching upgrade system... apparently the JP original isn't like this. Can't comment myself, but regardless, it's got a strong OST just like the first two games. It's also an interesting listen for fans of the FC port, beyond the expected technical boost. Italy's BGM differs with a contemplative air recalling Ennio Morricone's spaghetti Western soundtracks, and the final boss BGM has a warmth lost on FC.

Rock n' Roll Cinderella

Whoa, this is good. Tone's a tad harsh in spots, but I love those vintage 50s rock chords. Great song title too, that always counts for something!

Also Master of Monsters!

Hell yes. So rich I initially thought Sakimoto & Iwata were involved (and the actual composer Hayao Matsuo later worked with them!).

[Obiwanshinobi]

FZ Senki Axis, the x68000 version preferred but the MD one is not bad either!

http://youtu.be/UxCbdauirq4

Liked it so much that I actually obtained the official soundtrack CD for this game some years back. The remixed arrangements on it are pretty slick

What didn't you like about the game?

[moozooh]

Most definitely this game. Feels like the entire budget was spent on music and 3D modeling/animation/rendering, none of it on gameplay design.

[Strider77]

Burn Rise of the Robots for great justice...

[llaoyllakcuf]

FZ Senki Axis, the x68000 version preferred but the MD one is not bad either!

http://youtu.be/UxCbdauirq4

Liked it so much that I actually obtained the official soundtrack CD for this game some years back. The remixed arrangements on it are pretty slick

What didn't you like about the game?

I just felt the gameplay was kinda dull and repetitive, plus I'm not really a fan of isometric run & gun shooters (much prefer the overhead types like Ikari Warriors or Outzone).

Pretty much the only isometric-view game I ever liked was Crusader: No Remorse on PC back in the day.

[vrada501]

If a finished but unreleased game counts, The Shadow on SNES. Epic sounding music and sounds in a crappyish, film cash in Streets of Rage 2 clone.

Wolfchild, Jurassic Park 1 and 2, Cliffhanger, Spawn, Demolition Man, Judge Dredd all on SNES.
Castlevania 64. Last Battle/Fist of Northstar on Sega Genesis. Pretty sure there's a lot more I know that I can't think of at the moment.

I actually don't really hate some of these games, some are my guilty pleasure. I especially consider Castlevania 64 underrated. But, y'know, since they're all labeled as bad games they could just be mentioned here.

Seems like the SNES had a lot of games where the music was better than the gameplay, probably because of the blissful sound chip. So I bet the Commodore 64 has a lot of them too, but since I didn't grow up with one, I don't know much. But I do happen to know how awesome the sound chip in it is.

[BIL]

A few NES-confined black sheep with decent tunes:

Contra Force [NES] st1 BGM - always loved the frequent time changes in this one, like it's bucking and rearing whenever things get too comfy. Unruly and tuneful with that fat Hidenori Maezawa sound.

Strider [NES] opening - tone's a little thin but like the above, it packs a lot of action into a NES-small runtime. Unlike the above it develops in a consistent direction with a nicely delivered climax. This YT arrangement fattens out the sound a bit.

Snake's Revenge [NES] OST - I like this one easily as much as the era's canonical Kojima game soundtracks. The jungle infiltration BGM is classic Konami, energetic and adventurous with luxuriant tone.

[Leandro]

That Gauntlet 4 track was great...

KOF 99 is a good game, c'mon

I agree with whoever said SFEX games

Some of Taito shooters are crap but have great soundtracks, those Zuntata composers were good...

[BrianC]

Some of Taito shooters are crap but have great soundtracks, those Zuntata composers were good...

That reminds me of Rastan Saga 2/Nastar. Not a great game, but has some nice tunes.

Snake's Revenge [NES] OST - I like this one easily as much as the era's canonical Kojima game soundtracks. The jungle infiltration BGM is classic Konami, energetic and adventurous with luxuriant tone.

I was surprised to find out that Kojima likes the game. Actually, I liked what I played of it, but haven't played that far into it.

I wonder if Strider NES would have been better given more time. I don't dislike it, but it's certainly not anywhere close to the similar Top Secret: Hitler's Resurrection. Given the state of the Japanese proto, I'm under the impression that the NES Strider is an unfinished game that was rushed for US release.

[BIL]

Snake's Revenge was always a bit clunky for my liking, but then so is Metal Gear (MSX and NES). Apparently Metal Gear 2 is where it's at for that era, but I've not bothered with any of those games much. Love the soundtracks though! :3

Gauntlet MD's "Transparent Obstacle" and its fatty bass reminds me of Sakimoto & Iwata's very first soundtrack, REVOLTER for PC-88. No idea whatsoever about the game itself, but the OST's good stuff and a natural fit for this thread.

[trap15]

I was surprised to find out that Kojima likes the game.

Oh yeah? All I knew about it really was that it's non-canonical. If he likes it, maybe I should give it a shot.

[copy-paster]

Contra Force [NES] st1 BGM

Snake's Revenge [NES] OST

Nice selection, CF is the game I want like but the flaws still go. Snake's Revenge has some best OSTs fitting for stealth stuff (even the intro music has good compositions).

Oh yeah? All I knew about it really was that it's non-canonical. If he likes it, maybe I should give it a shot.

The game is the reason he want make MG2 iirc.

[Obiwanshinobi]

That domination-tastic boxart:



When my mom saw it, she said "Only urine stream is missing here".

[Strider77]

Browning on the PC Engine has some great tracks and pretty stellar presentation.

[Cagar]

How is Rockman X6 / Megaman X6 not posted yet?
Commander Yammark, Rainy Turtloid, Infinity Mijinion.. almost every song in this game is gud, but the game is weird/bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjSfq2F_7MY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op87KRv4bb8

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

X8 also has some good songs, like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n9mwhifuZ4

[chempop]

Shadow of the Beast, any ver but I like the amiga music most I think:
https://youtu.be/9MVAiRoseyk?list=PL247E2C470067074F

Batman Returns for the sega CD would have been pretty mediocre if it wasn’t for the awesome driving stages. One of the best soundtracks of all time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgUWTip ... 62&index=6

[BIL]

Oh man, have to atone for mentioning Metal Gear and Snake's Revenge in the same sentence as the first game's NES port. The former two never move me much, but the port's outright faulty. Instant alerts all over the shop, total slapdash. Gave it a brief revisit, wondering if I might pick up a nice FC copy to complement the MSX2 games on MGS3's "Persistence" disc. Hell no. Unsurprising that Kojima's on record as charitable towards SR but totally derisive of the port.

Snake's Revenge would be a lot more palatable without the sidescrolling segments. They've aged particularly badly, with the underwater lifebar-racing really grating. Great tunes though. Can't beat MG2's superlative compositions and SCC power, but it certainly contends for my favourite Konami NES OST. Even the sidescrolling delivers the BGM... I want to edit this cookin' groove into MGS2's naked sneaking bit.

Oh also, two somewhat unloved SFC members of noted series. Jaki Crush doesn't enjoy the popular acclaim of Alien Crush or Devil Crash, but its main table BGM is a highlight in a series full of strong music. Electrifying synthpop balladeering with a touch of the ol' hair metal! Thunder Spirits is a weak port on the whole, but I do really like its new Cerberus BGM. Admirable attempt to compete with the original's galloping epic - ultimately outdone, but that's a great lead hook, and the bass really bounces along.