June 24, 2008

Summer Hiatus... kind of

Whoops… it’s that time of the month again but I don’t have anything prepared!

I’ve been finding myself busy on nights where I’d normally spend time ripping soundtracks. Things like going out of town, working some more hours (thank god), and being glued to my friend’s TV set playing Metal Gear Solid 4… all add up.

For those who’ve been keeping up, I don’t plan on leaving explod unattended the whole summer, but I am going to take a break from the 4-soundtracks-routine. I’ll just be posting things randomly, probably one at a time for now

Anyways, yesterday my brother found a box on the sidewalk with a Nintendo and a couple games, including Classic Concentration. I’ll leave you with this puzzle from that horrid, horrid game…

Can you figure it out?

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June 9, 2008

Weeks 22-23: Skate or Die! / Skate or Die 2 / Sphere Brain / Verytex

SKATE OR DIE! (NES)

(full cover)

8 tracks, 10:37. Samples-

Title Screen

Skate Shop

Freestyle

Originally developed by Electronic Arts, Skate or Die! was ported to the NES by Konami in 1988. Series’ composers are credited as Rob Hubbard, Kyle Granger, and Christopher Grigg.

Wikipedia entry on Skate or Die!

SKATE OR DIE 2 (NES)

(full cover)

14 tracks, 27:49. Samples-

Title

Intro / Mayor’s Wife & Fifi

Halfpipe Situation

Unknown (not used)

Unlike the original, Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble was released straight to the NES in 1990 and was not ported to other systems. Rob Hubbard was the lone composer for this title. The title track is amazing…

Wikipedia entry on Skate or Die 2.

SPHERE BRAIN (C64)

(full cover)

5 tracks, 22:33. Samples-

Introduction

BGM (II)

Sphere Brain is a German C64 game from 1995. Being a significantly later title for the system, it’s quite shrouded in obscurity. It doesn’t even have an entry on lemon64, and it took me some effort to find the disk image so I could play through the game and name all the tracks.

The music is quite nice. I found it randomly from a sid archive and the music stood out amongst a lot of the other soundtracks I was browsing.

Composed by Tero & Toni Hilpinen.

VERYTEX (Sega Genesis)

(full cover)

12 tracks, 22:15. Samples-

Opening Theme

Act 3: Ruined Area

Act 6: Inside Planet Shirakusa

Ending Theme

Released in Japan only in 1991, Verytex is a scrolling shooter for the Sega Mega Drive. Developed by OperaHouse and published by Asmik.

Composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata, and JKL Furukawa.

Wikipedia entry on Verytex.

all previous selections

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June 2, 2008
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Hey! I finally broke my lazy-spell by writing a new song in one sitting. It’s been a while since I’ve done that.

“chipwitch” is an original composition that consists of NES samples.

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May 27, 2008

Weeks 20-21: Castlevania I, II, & III (Famicom + NES)

CASTLEVANIA (Akumajo Dracula)


(full cover)

14 tracks, 14:08. Samples-

Underground (name entry, FDS only)
Vampire Killer
Wicked Child
Black Night

Originally released in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System as Akumajo Dracula, this is the soundtrack to the very first Castlevania game. The Japanese version included a name entry screen with a short tune titled “Underground”, which was unused in subsequent ports. That track of music is hidden within the ROM data of the American Castlevania, but you’d never get to hear it by playing the game.

While the FDS had support for an additional channel of sound, it was unused for this game, making the Japanese and American soundtracks identical.

Composed by Kinuyo Yamashita.

Wikipedia entry on Castlevania.

DRACULA II


(full cover)

9 tracks, 8:28.

CASTLEVANIA II


(full cover)

9 tracks, 8:07. Comparisons-

Message of Darkness: Dracula II | Castlevania II
Bloody Tears: Dracula II | Castlevania II
Dwelling of Doom: Dracula II | Castlevania II
Within These Castle Walls: Dracula II | Castlevania II

First released in Japan as Dracula II: Noroi no Fuin in 1987, and later ported to the NES as Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, there are two different versions of the same score. This time around, the original floppy disk version made use of the additional sound channel.

There are more differences between the two than the cartridge version simply lacking an extra voice, however. Sometime during the 15 month gap that separated the two releases, Konami decided to tweak the soundtrack.

For their second attempt they added new (and more driving) percussion parts, and all sorts of reverb/ delay effects that weren’t there before. Other differences can be heard as well, including a different length for A Requiem and a different bass part for Within These Castle Walls.

It’s neat hearing how the original version sounds, but I much prefer the changes they made for the American release. Despite having less channels to work with, they managed to make the music more complex and interesting by manipulating the soundchip with more care.

Composed by Kenichi Matsubara and S. Terishima.

Wikipedia entry on Castlevania 2.

AKUMAJOU DENSETSU


(full cover)

26 tracks, 32:45.

CASTLEVANIA III


(full cover)

26 tracks, 32:14. Comparisons-

Prelude: Akumajou Densetsu | Castlevania III
Beginning: Akumajou Densetsu | Castlevania III
Mad Forest: Akumajou Densetsu | Castlevania III
Riddle: Akumajou Densetsu | Castlevania III

Just like the previous title in the series, this game had two different versions of the same score. Akumajou Densetsu was released in 1989, and Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse was released in 1990. The Japanese version had an interesting source of sound expansion, making use of the VRC6 MMC chip developed by Konami.

The Famicom supported room for sound expansion if a game came with an additional chip that added new sounds on top of the Famicom/ NES’s internal 2A03 chip. In other words, despite being more or less the “same” system, the NES was always limited to the sound of the 2A03, while the Famicom was not.

Games with sound expansion were a considerable minority compared to the entire catalogue of Famicom games, however, with only two games making use of the VRC6 specifically.

I dig the ripping sawtooth wave which is pretty alien sounding for the system, and there’s just more going on in the Japanese soundtrack overall. I’d say I prefer it, but even without the extra stuff in there the Castlevania III soundtrack is excellent anyways. It is amongst the best the 8-bit Nintendo system had to offer.

Composed by Y. Sasaki, J. Funamashi, and Y. Morimoto.

Wikipedia entry on Castlevania 3.

all previous selections

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May 12, 2008

Weeks 18-19: Double Dragon / Jewel Master / Splatterhouse 3 / Wonder Boy 3

DOUBLE DRAGON (NES)


(full cover)

11 tracks, 13:01. Samples-

Main Theme
Mission Screen (extended)
Abobo’s Theme

The Famicom/ NES version of Double Dragon was released in 1988. Everyone reading this blog probably remembers this game, if not the Main Theme at least. The theme was reused several times throughout the series, and it also made a surprise appearance in River City Ransom.

One of the neat bonuses that comes from listening to emulated soundtrack rips is finding either unused tracks, or longer versions of tracks that existed within the game’s data— but didn’t make it into the game play itself. In the case of Double Dragon, you never got to hear more than a couple seconds of the Mission Screen music, but the nsf I sampled this from revealed a longer version.

As I encounter more tracks like this in the future (I know there are a bunch like this from the Mega Man series), I will label them with “(ext)” in the mp3 tag.

Wikipedia entry on Double Dragon.

JEWEL MASTER (Sega Genesis)


(full cover)

22 tracks, 34:47. Samples-

Jewel Master
Talk to the Wind
Fish Out of Water

Jewel Master is a 1991 sidescrolling action game for the Sega Genesis. Some of the track names reference various rock songs, specifically several from Yes. The music is composed by Motoaki Takenouchi.

Wikipedia entry on Jewel Master.

SPLATTERHOUSE III (Sega Genesis)


(full cover)

30 tracks, 30:20. Samples-

Opening Theme
Stage 3
Unknown (Sound Test 02)
Unknown (Sound Test 19)

Released for the Sega Genesis in 1993, Splatterhouse 3 is the latest title in everyone’s favorite horror/ gore themed beat-em-up series. It was one of the earliest titles to recieve a rating from Sega’s now defunct Videogame Rating Council. The series is just being picked up again now, after a 15 year long hiatus.

The opening theme is mega-catchy and I love it! Composed by Milky Eiko.

Wikipedia entry on Splatterhouse 3.

WONDER BOY III (Sega Master System)


(full cover)

15 tracks, 18:45. Samples-

Side-Crawler’s Dance
The Danger Zone
The Dragon’s Trap

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap is a 1989 platformer for the Sega Master System. The music was composed by Shinichi Sakamoto.

You can see various gameplay footage on youtube.

Wikipedia entry on Wonder Boy 3.

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May 5, 2008

Red Max (C64) / Sprite Slowdown's cover

Here’s a little something to kill time in between weeks-

RED MAX (C64)


(full cover)

3 tracks, 2:47.

Sprite Slowdown: Red Max

This is a cover of the Main Theme, from Chromelodeon’s first Sprite Slowdown release. I was a member of Chromelodeon, although this track was recorded prior to me joining and I wasn’t involved. Asides from getting to play it live a bunch of times that is, which was always a blast.

Here is the backing video that was synched up and projected at shows:

It was made by Jason Clarke, a friend of the band who looks like me (according to some).

Red Max on Lemon 64.

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April 30, 2008

WEEKS 16-17: Alien 3 / Contra / Gremlins 2 / P-47 Freedom Fighter

ALIEN 3 (NES)


(full cover)

15 tracks, 20:19. Samples-

Title Theme
Missions 1 & 2
Ending Theme

Marketed to follow up on the 1992 film, Alien 3 was released for multiple systems in the following couple years. The NES version was released in 1993 and features music by Jeroen Tel, a composer who is well known for his Commodore 64 soundtracks.

Probably not by coincidence, you can hear similarities in the general sound to other composers who worked on the C64 as well (like Tim Follin). Perhaps composers who had experience making sid tunes had certain expectations from the 2a03, the NES sound chip.

The heavy use of the arpeggio effect is often regarded as the “Euro” style of Nintendo compositions, which is fairly distinct in sound from a lot of classic Japanese soundtracks which generally didn’t seem to use them nearly as often.

Wikipedia entry on Alien 3.

CONTRA (NES)

(full cover)

12 tracks, 12:47. Samples-

Introduction (J)
Jungle/ Hanger
Boss Theme

I don’t think this game needs much of an introduction. Ported from Arcade to the NES and Famicom 1988, Contra is amongst the most popular video games released in the late 80s.

However, If you grew up playing the NES and not the Famicom like most people not from Japan (or the greater Asian region), you may be unaware of some things that lack in the version of Contra that we’re familiar with.

The Japenese version included an introduction to the game, as well as an island map that would appear in-between stages. There were some other nice touches too, including animated background imagery and an unlockable sound test.

Why was this lacking from the US release? As it turned out, Contra would need a special mapper, an additional chip for memory and storage within the cartridge to support these things. In Japan, third party companies like Konami had the freedom to use whatever additional mappers they could develop, which in this case, was the VRC2 chip. In the US, Nintendo of America made it so that third party companies could only use additional mappers made by Nintendo, none of which (at the time) were suitable to Konami’s needs. Ultimately, they went ahead with a stripped down version for the NES instead.

These additions also lacked in the European and Oceanic PAL releases, known as Probotecter. That was a port of the US Contra, with the protagonists altered to be robots.

As a result, there’s also 2 songs exclusive to the Japanese Contra, and those mp3s are indicated with a “(J)” in their titles.

Composed by H. Maezawa and K. Sada.

Wikipedia entry on Contra.

GREMLINS 2 (NES)


(full cover)

12 tracks, 14:49. Samples-

The Office
Ventilation Shafts
Ending

Following the release of the movie, Gremlins 2: The New Batch was released for the NES in 1990. This soundtrack is amongst several Sunsoft titles that are distinct for using samples for the bass sound as opposed to the triangle wav.

California based musician (and genius) XOC, or Jason Cox, covered the each track from the game using a neat variety of instruments. The whole thing is up for free download (and streaming if you’re lazy) from archive dot org.

Gremlins 2 is easily one of my favorite soundtracks for the NES. If I had to pick two favorites that I’ve ripped for this blog so far, it’d be this and Gimmick.

Nobuyuki Hara, About SS, and Kodaka are credited as the composers.

Gameplay of Gremlins 2 on youtube.

P-47 FREEDOM FIGHTER (C64)


(full cover)

4 tracks, 11:27. Samples-

Main Theme
Unknown (Track 4)

P-47 Freedom Fighter is a 1990 Commodore 64 title. It’s a side-scrolling shmup, with nothing too particularly interesting about it asides from an awesome theme song. What do I like about it? The second verse has a melody carried by the bass line, and focuses on a more percussive sort of rhythm. The theme strikes me as one of those “really catchy but impossible to sing along to” kind of songs.

The main theme plays throughout the whole game, although the sid file has three additional tracks of which I couldn’t figure out the source. Unused tracks perhaps? I included them anyways, and tagged them as “Unknown”.

The music is composed by Dave Lowe.

Wikipedia entry on the real life P-47.

—-all previous selections—-

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April 14, 2008

WEEKS 14-15: Abadox / Mega Turrican / Mitsume ga Tooru / WEC Le Mans

ABADOX (NES)


(full cover)

10 tracks, 9:22. Samples-

Intro
Level 1/4/6
Ending

Abadox was first released for the Famicom in 1989, and shortly after in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It’s a scrolling shooter in which the protagonist, Second Lieutenant Nazal, must fly through the insides of an alien’s body to rescue a swallowed princess.

Around new years 2007, I played drums for an arrangement of the Ending theme with Chromelodeon for the second Sprite Slowdown release. It’s a straight forward cover and I tried to stay very close to the source. It can be heard here.

Wikipedia entry on Abadox.

MEGA TURRICAN (Sega Genesis)


(full cover)

28 tracks, 40:34. Samples-

Opening Theme
Stage 3-1
Stage 5-1
Unknown/ Unused Track

Released for the Sega Genesis in 1994, Mega Turrican is the 3rd title in the Turrican series. An Amiga version was released in late 2003, however this console version was completed earlier.

The music is by Chris Hülsbeck, who is well known for his C64 and Amiga compositions.

Mega Turrican on Wikipedia.

MITSUME GA TOORU (NES)


(full cover)

14 tracks, 19:19. Samples-

Stage 1-2
Stage 5-2
Stage 5-3
Ending - Credits

Based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka known in English as The Three-Eyed One, Mitsume ga Tooru was released in 1991 for the Famicom. It is an action platformer where protagonist Hosuke Sharaku must rescue his sister and defeat his nemesis.

One interesting thing to note, is that the Credits music takes a little over 2 minutes before it reaches its final looping section. It’s not uncommon for a track to have an introduction that doesn’t repeat, which is essentially the same idea… you’re just hitting the loop way later here. It’s not exactly a marvel of programming for the system and I’d know how to make an nsf that does the same, but I don’t think I’ve heard other NES tracks with indefinitely looping outros before.

I had interest in covering Stage 1-2 with my previous vgm cover group, but never got around to it.

Wikipedia entry on Mitsume ga Tooru.

WEC LE MANS (MSX)


(full cover)

4 tracks, 3:16. Samples-

Title Theme
Prepare to Start

Made by Konami, the MSX version of WEC Le Mans was released in 1987. The title theme heard here is a remake of one used in earlier Le Mans titles (the C64 game, etc). I’ve never played this game before, but I found the soundtrack randomly and enjoyed the main theme.

Wikipedia entry on Le Mans video games.

—-all previous selections—-

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March 31, 2008

WEEKS 12-13: Amiga Compilation / Ecco the Dolphin / Metal Gear / Otogirisou

AMIGA COMPILATION


(full cover)

5 tracks, 12:57. Samples-

Crystal Hammer
Myth

My focus on explod so far has been complete soundtracks as opposed to compilations, but this will serve as an alternative for selections that would be too short to feature individually. It wasn’t uncommon for an Amiga game to have music only at the title screen and silence the rest of the way.

These games here are guilty of exactly that, so each track is a complete OST in itself. The track listing is:

  1. Crystal Hammer (theme)
  2. Bubble Ghost (theme)
  3. Zoom! (theme)
  4. Eye of Horus (theme)
  5. Myth (theme + game over)

This compilation is also meant to be open ended. As I find more Amiga music that fits this category, I’ll post updates tagged as the same album, picking up at track 6, and so forth.

Wikipedia entry on the Amiga.

ECCO THE DOLPHIN (Sega Genesis)


(full cover)

19 tracks, 30:13. Samples-

The Lagoon
The Vents
Unused (Sound Test 06)
Unused (Sound Test 14)

Released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin is the first title in the Ecco the Dolphin series.

Unfortunately some tracks sounded as if they were peaking in volume when I ripped this, regardless of how much the volume was decreased. Most tracks sound fine, but be prepared for some distortion on some of them.

I ripped this one by request for Amy and Joey. Sry I couldn’t find a track called “vortex”, but hopefully its in there with an alternate name!

Watch gameplay from Ecco the Dolphin on youtube.

METAL GEAR (MSX)


(full cover)

10 tracks, 8:28. Samples-

Operation Intrude
-!- Red Alert
Escape -Beyond Big Boss-

For week 5 I ripped the 3 other classic Metal Gear soundtracks, opting for the NES version of the first game. However, I had a request to complete the collection. With this finally tackled, that covers every Metal Gear game prior to Metal Gear Solid. Hope you enjoy!

Gameplay from Metal Gear on youtube.

OTOGIRISOU (SNES)


(full cover)

14 tracks, 23:30. Samples-

Main Theme
Nami’s Memories
The Theme of Love

Released for the Super Famicom in 1992, Otogirisou is essentially a playable book. I haven’t been able to check it out, with the language barrier and all, but I like the music. I found the music browsing through random SPC sets, and Otogirisou stood out to me as having a very lush and orchestral sound.

From some google searching I’ve found later titles by the same company for the PS1 which are advertised as “sound novel” games, a genre of which I was unaware. I think the most reading I’ve done in a game was in Myst anyways.

There is very little information on this title available unfortunately.

—-previous selections—-

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March 21, 2008

down-sizing to bi-weekly updates

Hey everyone!

I love ripping and sharing these soundtracks, but I think I set myself a pace that’s difficult to keep up with! There’s no shortage of soundtracks for me to choose from, and there won’t be for a long time. I just find that I don’t have a whole lot of free time in the week to keep up with this, without cutting into other things I’d like to get done during then.

So fear not! I will keep this going, but the contributions will be halved. 4 soundtracks every other monday now. The next post will be on 3-31-08, but who knows, there may be some more of those ‘inbetween’ things coming up.

Thanks for listening!

Here’s another video of duracell rocking out.

—link—

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