Best CD32 game music?

wanderer · 16 April 2005, 19:48

Most CD32 games were platformers, with no significant improvement from their A500/A1200 counterparts. Some though, introduced us to a new game-audio revolution: CD tracks.
My absolute favourite is Fire and Ice, amazing. (Jason Page). Too bad there isn't a Huelsbeck original CD32 release to compare but this is a masterpiece.
The 1st level from SleepWalker has a wonderful tune and also Brian the Lion is nice.
What do you think?

spiff · 17 April 2005, 00:01

Most of the time I’m just disappointed at CDtracks. It’s really great opportunity to do some good music. But instead we just get a GM midi version with some cheesy reverb, and it sounds just as cheap as it probably was.

For the good ones.. well Xenon 2 CDTV had two versions of Megablast¨.

Imo game "CD" music didn't really take off untill much later when audiocompression become common. Command and conqer was the first title that really showed me how games could be when discsize no longer was an issue.

Mark_C · 17 April 2005, 08:26

My favourite CD soundtrack was for Skeleton Krew. Liberation had a great one, as did Sleepwalker.

I remember the demo of Donk having an euro dance tune with vocals. So did Whale's Voyage. Anyone remember "Drop The Bomb" from that sideways scrolling airplane shoot 'em up? Wish I could remember the name...

CodyJarrett · 17 April 2005, 08:30

Jetstrike

wanderer · 17 April 2005, 10:49

Let me know if you like them or not.

Shoonay · 17 April 2005, 11:28

Thanks wanderer!

That SleepWalker sample is just, WOW

...and the F&I also cute

Me is a never-owning-cd32 bastard, who wants more nice soundtracks in [theZone!]

wanderer · 17 April 2005, 14:19

Glad you liked them Shoonay. If there's a demand I could throw in another couple!

18 April 2005, 04:54

Liberation or Fire & Ice. The menu screen music from Super Skidmarks was pretty nice too (wish I could find it somewhere, as I can't rip it from the CD!)

wanderer · 20 April 2005, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiff

Most of the time I’m just disappointed at CDtracks. It’s really great opportunity to do some good music. But instead we just get a GM midi version with some cheesy reverb, and it sounds just as cheap as it probably was.

You're right, most of them were dull. Lotus Trilogy CD32 for example, unbelievably boring cd tracks, the original Amiga version was much better. Too bad there wasn't an option to hear either from cd or "chip"

as in Fire and Ice. (not any need there).
I think the need to overcome chip limitations led to some unforgettable C-64/Amiga tunes. Maybe they didn't/couldn't have the right equipment at the time or maybe the freedom cd media provided, proved just too much for most game composers...

gary · 21 April 2005, 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderer

I think the need to overcome chip limitations led to some unforgettable C-64/Amiga tunes. Maybe they didn't/couldn't have the right equipment at the time or maybe the freedom cd media provided, proved just too much for most game composers...

I think too much freedom caused some game composers to become lazy. Programmers too - look at all the bloated software available today.

derSammler · 02 May 2005, 12:16

I vote for Disposable Hero.

robotriot · 02 May 2005, 14:15

Definetly Skeleton Krew. Most CD music is crap unfortunately, they should've stuck to .mods :/

spiff · 02 May 2005, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary

I think too much freedom caused some game composers to become lazy. Programmers too - look at all the bloated software available today.

I think it's mostly a cost issue combined with the timing.
CD32 showleware didn’t get any extra money, so they dumped whatever they had quickly. When the mod with beefed up samplerate rate and good stereo mixing would have been better musically, midi was the practical answer.
A lot of the musicians those days probably didn’t have the equipment to deal with “CD quality” sampling rates unless they had a mac. While a A3000/4000 probably was great for game programming and mods, it’s definitely crap for CD mastering.

For the good/bad musicians
The chip limitation gave that special "synth" feeling and a lot of the music sounded the same due to memory limitation.. For good or bad we got used to it and music you get used to you often like, or at least tolerate. It’s like when you discover those great B tracks from your favourite artist after listening to the album 20+ times.

Modern game music much better (or worse, intrusive for the opposite reason) Nowdays you have some really great composers like Jeremy Soule, Baldurs gate, planscape torment. If you love subtile orchestration pieces and it fits to the game it’s incredible...
However the NFS tracks just makes most above 20+ nauseated.. chewingumskatepunk overcompressed as hell. EA really hits rockbottom.

Rebel-CD32 · 02 May 2005, 18:04

The music in the CD32 version of Kid Chaos rocks, if you have a subwoofer hooked up, it'll get a real good workout. Fightin' Spirit had better music on the CD32 version too, although the floppy version still had vocals in the opening theme song which was quite impressive for an A500 game. I preferred the MOD music in the floppy version of Super Stardust to the CD32 version's music though.

wanderer · 03 May 2005, 01:04

Ok, maybe you'd like to zone your favourites? I'd certainly like to hear from Kid Chaos, Fightin' Spirit and Skeleton Krew, never played them. Anyone knows about Little Divil? I missed that one too, did it have CD audio? It's from Gremlin though which probably means ultra-dull cd music. (Lotus trilogy, The Zool family and dog).

Quote:

Originally posted by WindowsKiller
I vote for Disposable Hero.

I agree! Totally appropriate for that game.

Duke · 03 May 2005, 01:34

I have uploaded two tracks from Fightin' Spirit

wanderer · 03 May 2005, 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

I have uploaded two tracks from Fightin' Spirit

Thanks Duke! Just heard them, both cool.

spiff · 03 May 2005, 10:22

Well.. another pretty cool thing it that the music in games we complain about can be replaced with good remixes, or just "surround" mixing nowdays

The CD32 remix project

wanderer · 04 May 2005, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoonay

That SleepWalker sample is just, WOW

...and the F&I also cute

Me is a never-owning-cd32 bastard, who wants more nice soundtracks in [theZone!]

There you have it. Catch them while you can.

Shoonay · 04 May 2005, 21:40

Thanks [Duke], almost missed them... phew...

...and yet another thanks to [wanderer] for the cutesy - sweetsy music samples

16 April 2005, 19:48	#1
wanderer I want an A1000 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pac-Land Posts: 738	Best CD32 game music? Most CD32 games were platformers, with no significant improvement from their A500/A1200 counterparts. Some though, introduced us to a new game-audio revolution: CD tracks. My absolute favourite is Fire and Ice, amazing. (Jason Page). Too bad there isn't a Huelsbeck original CD32 release to compare but this is a masterpiece. The 1st level from SleepWalker has a wonderful tune and also Brian the Lion is nice. What do you think?

17 April 2005, 10:49	#5
wanderer I want an A1000 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pac-Land Posts: 738	Fire&Ice+SleepWalker CD32 music in The Zone! Let me know if you like them or not.

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17 April 2005, 00:01	#2
spiff Oh noes! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Neverland Posts: 766	Most of the time I’m just disappointed at CDtracks. It’s really great opportunity to do some good music. But instead we just get a GM midi version with some cheesy reverb, and it sounds just as cheap as it probably was. For the good ones.. well Xenon 2 CDTV had two versions of Megablast¨. Imo game "CD" music didn't really take off untill much later when audiocompression become common. Command and conqer was the first title that really showed me how games could be when discsize no longer was an issue.

17 April 2005, 08:26	#3
Mark_C Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 48	My favourite CD soundtrack was for Skeleton Krew. Liberation had a great one, as did Sleepwalker. I remember the demo of Donk having an euro dance tune with vocals. So did Whale's Voyage. Anyone remember "Drop The Bomb" from that sideways scrolling airplane shoot 'em up? Wish I could remember the name...

17 April 2005, 08:30	#4
CodyJarrett Global Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: UK Age: 46 Posts: 6,160	Jetstrike

17 April 2005, 11:28	#6
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,106	Thanks wanderer! That SleepWalker sample is just, WOW ...and the F&I also cute Me is a never-owning-cd32 bastard, who wants more nice soundtracks in [theZone!]

17 April 2005, 14:19	#7
wanderer I want an A1000 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pac-Land Posts: 738	Glad you liked them Shoonay. If there's a demand I could throw in another couple!

18 April 2005, 04:54	#8
revolution Posts: n/a	Liberation or Fire & Ice. The menu screen music from Super Skidmarks was pretty nice too (wish I could find it somewhere, as I can't rip it from the CD!)

02 May 2005, 12:16	#11
derSammler Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Germany Posts: 1,648	I vote for Disposable Hero.

02 May 2005, 14:15	#12
robotriot Tubby mechanical friend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Regensburg / Germany Posts: 107	Definetly Skeleton Krew. Most CD music is crap unfortunately, they should've stuck to .mods :/

02 May 2005, 18:04	#14
Rebel-CD32 Amiga will never die! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tasmania, Australia Age: 43 Posts: 532	The music in the CD32 version of Kid Chaos rocks, if you have a subwoofer hooked up, it'll get a real good workout. Fightin' Spirit had better music on the CD32 version too, although the floppy version still had vocals in the opening theme song which was quite impressive for an A500 game. I preferred the MOD music in the floppy version of Super Stardust to the CD32 version's music though.

03 May 2005, 01:34	#16
Duke HOL-Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Germany Age: 43 Posts: 520	I have uploaded two tracks from Fightin' Spirit

03 May 2005, 10:22	#18
spiff Oh noes! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Neverland Posts: 766	Well.. another pretty cool thing it that the music in games we complain about can be replaced with good remixes, or just "surround" mixing nowdays The CD32 remix project

04 May 2005, 21:40	#20
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,106	Thanks [Duke], almost missed them... phew... ...and yet another thanks to [wanderer] for the cutesy - sweetsy music samples

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