Songs From Your Favorite SEGE Genesis Games

[raigon50]

I got the list of songs I got so far. Not all of them will be used, but here's what I want to do:

--------Raigon's list:--------------------------------------

Aero Blasters - Seaside Front
Out of Gravity

Altered Beast - Rise from Your Grave
I'll be Back

Comix Zone - Options (Into the Zone)
Episode 1, Page 1-1
Episode 1, Page 1-2
Episode 2, Page 1-2
Episode 2, Page 1-3

Gley Lancer - Level 1

Golden Axe - The Battle
Wilderness
Turtle Village 1

Grind Stormer - Large Charge
Free at Last
Repercussion
A Poisonous Snake
Night Bird

Gunstar Heros - Legend of the Gunstars
Military in the Max-Power
Empire - The Final Assault
Good Night, Baby!
Last Party on the Moon
Heros - Reprise for Yellow

Jewel Master - Jewel Master
Talk to the Wind
Fish Out of Water
Intergalactic Strut

M.U.S.H.A. - Aggressive Attack
Alpha Wave

Pulseman - Stereo Protect
File Select
Amabilis

Ranger-X - Stage 1-1 (Desert)
Stage 3-1 (Jungle)
Stage 5-2 (Access Tube Boss)

Ristar - Round 1-1 - Shooting Ristar
Round 2-1 - Splash Down!!
Round 2-2 - Break Silence
Round 3-1 - Busy Flare
Round 3-2 - Under Magma
Round 5-2 - Ice Scream

Shining Force - Komorebi no Musume
Akuma no Ibuki
Main Theme - Harukanaru Toki no Tabibito

Speedball 2 - Speedball2-Acorn

D&DWotES - Azcan Wander
Journey

Zero Wing - Open Your Eyes (Stage 1 Natols No Intro)

------------------------------------------------------------

16 Games
49 Songs

[Herr Schatten]

I second the recommendations for Monster World IV and Castlevania Bloodlines (Simon's Theme/Dance of the Holy Man).

[Dale]

No toejam & earl love?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x5HJNTk ... C4&index=6

RKA's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Vc7B3c ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06OrGMNY ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGvsvC86 ... re=related
Zero Wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAxcSujM1iw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL0W7GYk ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVTZ68wV ... re=related
Two Crude Dudes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jpf0iFd ... age&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpecY6Gx ... age&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUbAZcVX ... age&fmt=18
Techno Cop lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vii2mU4Edhc&fmt=18

[The Coop]

Just a few...

"Flood of Power"- Midnight Resistance
"Requiem for the Nameless Victims"- Castlevania: Bloodlines
"Metal Squad"- Thunder Force IV (Genesis metal baby)
"Omake 3"- Thunder Force IV
"Omake 2"- Thunder Force IV
"Stage 1-1"- Mega Turrican
"Into the Deep Blue Sly"- Master of Monsters (absolutely beautiful song)
"The Habam"- Red Zone
"Chinatown"- The Revenge of Shinobi
"Moon Beach"- Streets of Rage
"Fighting in the Street"- Streets of Rage
"Flugelheim Museum"- Batman
"Ending Theme"- Batman
"Organic Beat"- Phantasy Star IV
"Staff Roll"- Phantasy Star IV
"Mango!"- Super Fantasy Zone
"Sortie"- Gauntlet IV
"Adventures of Iron"- Gauntlet IV
"The Grubby Dark Blue"- Thunder Force III
"Truth"- Thunder Force III
"Prairie"- Devilish
"Setting Out"- Elemental Master

[jonny5]

Alisia Dragoon has some top-notch music - so does Gunstar Heroes. Almost pointless listing specific tracks from them.
Star Cruiser (was also released on various Japanese computers, but who cares about them) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df05c0kYryE
Exile too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88UqYdQcgLs
Castle of Illusion has 'medley' written all over it.
Also want to back up suggestions for Bio-hazard Battle, Gynoug and Phantasy Star IV.

Finally, Streets of Rage doesn't have good music (and is only a middling bmup). That's right, I'm throwing down.

This is hogwash!

indeed!

But for real, when you say 'remix', what do you mean exactly?

Just curious...

[BPzeBanshee]

I'm glad to see Thunder Force IV got some love, though Omake 5 needs some loving too.

Non shmup-related games I'd like to see some music remixes from: Crue Ball and Jungle Strike. They have some pretty awesome game metal in it, though probably not up to par with Thunder Force.

[Battletoad]

I recently compiled my favourite shoot ´em up tunes on the Mega Drive because the system has so many good ones, primarily the Thunder Force games, Battle Mania Daiginjou, Slap Fight MD (the Yuzo Koshiro music), Elemental Master and Zero Wing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVxGvHEN5Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko4ed7DF7tc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYKzILqfjao

In other genres, some of my favourites include:
Streets of Rage II - Dreamer, Little Money Avenue, shame the latter one was unused
Sonic 3 & Knuckles - Boss Music
Rocket Knight Adventures - best Boss Theme ever
Castlevania: Bloodlines - Calling from Heaven
Red Zone - Retirement
Contra: Hard Corps - The Foggy Cave In Darkness
Mega Turrican - Stage 3-1
The Super Shinobi (The Revenge of Shinobi) - Over the Bay

I don´t understand the love for Super Shinobi 2 aka Shinobi III. It has a few decent songs, but it´s a huge disappointment after its predecessor. Yuzo Koshiro simply can´t be replaced.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Great tunes. Heres a couple more but these arnt megadrive tunes but theyre are corkers imo so i thought i would share them

Silkworm Amiga A500 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZC7iYN3Itg
Rosenkreuzstilette - Luste's Stage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efpi4L-a ... re=related
Soul Reaver 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4FHaDT5mMs

Oh and heres Xenon2 played like shit but good tune non the less
Amiga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w-tiRna ... re=related
MegaDrive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hqCph_cpAY (of which i prefer out of the MD, Amiga and ST versions)

[monkeyman]

Many of these have already been mentioned but they need saying again because they're made of awesome:

Castlevania Bloodlines (particularly Iron Blue Intent)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4HhvGk4Uhk
Gunstar Heroes (7 force music really gets the blood pumping, and whatever the music that plays during the roofop stage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcSmSHeFh50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGRxveGB ... re=related
Alisia Dragoon (1st stage springsa to mind but it's all good)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpsalXard4c
Bio Hazard Battle (stage 7 - very relaxing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSTlRNa4 ... re=related
Don't remember if this was on the so good it doesn't need to be mentioned list but Golden Axe Pathof Fiend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umesvao4 ... re=related
Oh and I remember TJ + Earl 2 having a few top notch tracks in there as well.

[Damocles]

Phantasy Star 4 - Ooze

Pretty much everything from that game. "Laughter" is good, but pretty repetetive.

[gum_drops]

Golden Axe is probably my favorite, but the Shadowrun theme is right up there too.

[louisg]

Oh and heres Xenon2 played like shit but good tune non the less
Amiga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w-tiRna ... re=related
MegaDrive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hqCph_cpAY (of which i prefer out of the MD, Amiga and ST versions)

Damn! I remember when I walked into the Amiga store when Xenon 2 had come out.. it totally blew me away. The voice samples in the music, the many layers of parallax (which seemed to have incredible depth because of the star effect).. it all seemed so high tech. Shame about the game.. Here's another one they massacred on the Genesis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRfCWIK-nzM . Battle Squadron was actually an excellent Toaplan-like (and, IIRC, way before Raiden), but the port is horrible in every way possible.

Here are some of my favorite Genesis tunes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEnYrJynuSc - TF4: I love the chords at the beginning leading into that impossibly groovy slap bass line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bsVuo0JOyg - Midnight Resistance every-other-stage music:.. excellent, catchy, good harmonies
(and as long as we're on the subject of Data East: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0xdQDFiEnA#t=3m40s)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqP_q3o-hZ4 - Shinobi III: Perfect music for an elevator sequence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-vf3bbqNRk - RoadBlasters -- can't forget this one! The arcade was better, but hearing that ZZ Top/Huey Lewis-ish tune kick in as you slid through the checkpoint with no gas left has to be one of the best experiences you can have playing videogames

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W71gye7KSOM - OutRun: Step on Beat - only in the Genesis version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUaLTwJLWDo - I don't think this is in the Genesis Thunder Blade, but what the hell: amazingly intense jazz chords

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plHu1sHvWIc - AB2: Listen to that groove!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HpC9w8rpAg - Strider music doesn't get enough attention: Definitely an early instance of cinematic video game music. It's also somewhat experimental, which I dig. Actually, all the Capcom music from this era had a similar vibe to them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M46zo6uJ6m0 - Dragon's Fury / Devil's Crush music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVXHhNP3j4s - Elemental Master; as good as anything Technosoft's done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZpGeehryl4 - Orn base-- one of my favorites from TF3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYHNvYSgEAA - Mega Turrican had a good soundtrack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJUic0S_3TA - Horrible patch design, but it's got a charm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJUic0S_3TA - Best tune from Sonic 2

ok, I'll stop...

[Specineff]

Not a single mention of Ristar? YOU INFIDELS!

[louisg]

One more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugh8TEc_xpw .. bring the funk!

[raigon50]

Well, We closed up our lists now. I got quite of few of the suggestiopns here added to my list. Now it up to my friend to decided which ones he likes, and I get to decided from his list which ones I like.
For the hell of it, once we settle on a finshed song list, I'll post it for you guys. What I know so far:
30 songs, 2 discs, 15 songs each.

[JGcontraman]

Some of these games I specifically don't like but theres certain games I really like where the music is rather unappealing. On that note, heres my favorite Sega Genesis video game songs.

MUSHA - Stage 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gxIHVfrvGo

Alien Soldier - Stage 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6aME3AXNIc

Chakan - Elkenrod: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkXTUq7n ... re=related

Thunderfoce 4 - Stage 1 Boss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlmbkKtj ... CF&index=9

Verytex - Stage 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KfPM8xJ ... 2E&index=1

Contra Hardcorps - The Hard Corps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYNLz8go ... re=related

Sol-Deace - Stage 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6iP24zGplI

Gaiares - Stage 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6mcxDKvgGw

[Ed Oscuro]

BIL mentioned Shinobi and TF4 but forgot their best tracks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPeBMGSTCk0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTQIiIKummw

Whirlwind is the easy dopey-feely track getting all the credit...I like Solitary - similar - a bit better, and Idaten may be my favorite track from the game.

I can't disagree with your choice of Metal Squad though. \m/

And from other games, Data East's remixes of Midnight Resistance and Chelnov (Atomic Runner) music are great too.

That Chakan music reminds me of the Nightmare Circus music...or vice versa, I suppose.

[Herr Schatten]

Here's another one they massacred on the Genesis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRfCWIK-nzM . Battle Squadron was actually an excellent Toaplan-like (and, IIRC, way before Raiden), but the port is horrible in every way possible.

The music is also a lot better on the Amiga, which is quite surprising, because IIRC it was vg-music legend Rob Hubbard who ported the tracks over to the Mega Drive. The original music is also unique in that Ron Klaren almost exclusively used the Amiga's versatile synth generator, to stunning effects, while most musicians on the Amiga completely ignored it in favour of samples.

[Mero]

Bad Omen has a really good soundtrack

[monkeyman]

How could I have forgotten Strider in my list? Thanks for reminding me louisg - that game had a superb soundtrack.

[louisg]

Here's another one they massacred on the Genesis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRfCWIK-nzM . Battle Squadron was actually an excellent Toaplan-like (and, IIRC, way before Raiden), but the port is horrible in every way possible.

The music is also a lot better on the Amiga, which is quite surprising, because IIRC it was vg-music legend Rob Hubbard who ported the tracks over to the Mega Drive. The original music is also unique in that Ron Klaren almost exclusively used the Amiga's versatile synth generator, to stunning effects, while most musicians on the Amiga completely ignored it in favour of samples.

Yeah, I don't think a lot of Western composers had a good grip on FM synthesis, even if they rocked using subtractive or sample-based stuff.. I worked with a guy once from a Canadian game co. who admitted to using random patch data for their Genesis instruments. Also, a lot of the early EA games for Genesis generally were pretty rancid (Dark Castle, anyone?)..

There are a few other Ami soundtracks use a lot of sample-based synthesis tricks: Hybris and anything on TFMX comes to mind (Turrican)

EDIT:
Links so people know WTF we're discussing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKKNBjFz9XE <- Hybris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKltp-EWxxE <- Another one from Hybris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaUPnXyfSj4 <- Turrican.. there's something up with the tones in this.. like I think the bass may be some kind of synthesis and not just straight sample playback

I do think the synthier Amiga game tunes tend to have held up better

EDIT #2: on the subject of Ami synthesis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8JPSeoAXAM (not to totally derail the thread, but this is great )

[JGcontraman]

That Chakan music reminds me of the Nightmare Circus music...or vice versa, I suppose.

Probably my fav Genesis song too. Also that game is just really something. One of the most dark and grim games I've played but just really cool.

[Herr Schatten]

Yeah, I don't think a lot of Western composers had a good grip on FM synthesis, even if they rocked using subtractive or sample-based stuff..

This I find surprising, since most of the musicians on the Amiga had worked on the C64 before. Therefore, there should have been much more excellent synth based tracks given the versatility of the Amiga's sound hardware. I think they just were too fascinated with the possibility of excessive sample use the hardware offered. Synthesis probably just wasn't 'cool' anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaUPnXyfSj4 <- Turrican.. there's something up with the tones in this.. like I think the bass may be some kind of synthesis and not just straight sample playback

I think you're right. It makes sense, too, since Hülsbeck obviously knew a lot about the technical side of sound creation besides being an excellent composer. (My favourite examples would be the Katakis soundtack or the excellent title tune from Hollywood Poker Pro.) He also was notorious for doing very creative stuff with filters in his C64 days. It's obvious that he put all this knowledge to good use when he developed his TFMX system.

Another guy who made really cool music using synth sounds at around the same time was Jochen Hippel, although he worked more on the Atari ST, where these kinds of sounds were much more common.

EDIT #2: on the subject of Ami synthesis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8JPSeoAXAM (not to totally derail the thread, but this is great )

Too cool.

[louisg]

Yeah, I don't think a lot of Western composers had a good grip on FM synthesis, even if they rocked using subtractive or sample-based stuff..

This I find surprising, since most of the musicians on the Amiga had worked on the C64 before. Therefore, there should have been much more excellent synth based tracks given the versatility of the Amiga's sound hardware. I think they just were too fascinated with the possibility of excessive sample use the hardware offered. Synthesis probably just wasn't 'cool' anymore.

FM is a totally different bag than subtractive or chippy forms of synthesis though. It really needs a lot of practice-- it's not immediately intuitive. But yeah, sample-based stuff back then was way more impressive (though I used to fire up Battle Squadron just to groove to the music). It's amazing, looking back, how half assed a lot of Amiga game music was (like the Midnight Resistance music ). Or, just a severe lack of technique (subtle echos, original patches that suit the song, etc) compared to some of the better demoscene Amiga compositions.

Another guy who made really cool music using synth sounds at around the same time was Jochen Hippel, although he worked more on the Atari ST, where these kinds of sounds were much more common.

Yeah, the Lethal Xcess soundtrack rocks

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm ashamed, you're all failures.

Nobody mentioned the amazing 9 minute+ long (in some instances) tracks by Jesper Kyd for Batman? Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V3Anzg-wLc

Of course, there's a lot of filler passages and some of the tracks can get tedious. I think some of these were done just to brag at having done some of the longest synth videogame tracks. Even most new games don't come this long. A lot of the tracks are just strange - not as good as Jesper's new stuff - but a fair number of them have good moments.

Of course, I don't think any of the tracks compare all that well to the two Sunsoft Batman tracks The Coop posted. Flugelheim Museum in particular is great. I would add in Cathedral (just the opening though...) and the City Streets 1 tracks. (D-d-d-d-da do do dooOOoOo, da do da da da da da do DA DA, something like that!)

[JGcontraman]

I lost my interest for Batman video games. Sorry

[TrevHead (TVR)]

THX louisg for linking that 1st Hybris tune, that lead synth is pure sex on my ears

For anyone intrested heres a YT vid of Ron Hubbard giving a lecture about his old 8/ 16 bit music making days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiPdjbsiQqM

[Specineff]

For anyone intrested heres a YT vid of Ron Hubbard giving a lecture about his old 8/ 16 bit music making days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiPdjbsiQqM

Fscking Scientologists.

[Ed Oscuro]

I lost my interest for Batman video games. Sorry

Who cares about that, it's the music we're here for!

For anyone intrested heres a YT vid of Ron Hubbard giving a lecture about his old 8/ 16 bit music making days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiPdjbsiQqM

Fscking Scientologists.

Haha, I didn't catch that. Nice.

[raigon50]

Jewel Master had a pretty good soundtrack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBCOhhhUEuk
Also, don't forget about Ranger-X:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB7SN_zUycI (Epic robot game is epic)