Best music on a HuCard

Digi.k · 10/28/2006, 07:56 PM

currently on high with Image fight.. such a cool game n_n

samples are very similar to ninja spirit so if you don't like the sound of that stay away from these =D

featuring 2 different tracks
http://fileanchor.com/74787-r

featuring 3 different tracks
http://fileanchor.com/74785-r

Tatsujin · 10/29/2006, 03:33 AM

btw: today i bought a japanese Sega master system with the unique FM-chip set built in. i was just blown away from the warm'n'harm sound which flew over to my ears!! unfortunately i do not own any games at the moment, so i could only hear the fantastic space harrier song in the startup-title from the vers. 2.1. when i remember back in the time when i owned the euro SMS, the sound wasn't by far not that excellent as it comes from this machine!!

unbelievable!!!

so i hope i have a chance to buy some titles tomorrow (r-type, aleste, WBIII etc).
hope they also support the FM-chip set!!

Joe Redifer · 10/29/2006, 04:46 AM

I always found the FM sound from the SMS somewhat weak. I prefer the PSG. The FM chip set supposedly has 9 channels yet they use maybe 3? I find it funny how some people absolutely hate how the Genesis sounds with an extreme passion but somehow love the way SMS FM sounds.

Keranu · 10/29/2006, 04:51 AM

Quote from: Joe RediferI find it funny how some people absolutely hate how the Genesis sounds with an extreme passion but somehow love the way SMS FM sounds.

You could say I am one of those people, but maybe not that extreme

. I wondered about that before and I think the reason is because a lotta people like me don't like the normal sound on the Master System and hearing something that sounds a lot more "advanced" on it makes the person think it sounds really good compared to the original soundchip.

Tatsujin · 10/29/2006, 05:07 AM

but what i'm saying is, that the jap. sms sounds minimum a qadruple times better than the euro/us pendant. for those games which support the special FM-chip set. it's so a warm sound, never heard this before from an 8-bitter.

Joe Redifer · 10/29/2006, 05:57 AM

Actually it doesn't sound better (and certainly not more "advanced"), it just sounds "different", and I'd say worse and definitely more "drab" (or "dull" might be the better word... perhaps "flat"? I could come up with a ton of these). Like I said, the instrument polyphony does not increase at all, so it seems. I think a lot of people have a case of "You can't get this in the US so therefore I like the Japan-only version better because I am teh 1337".

Tatsujin · 10/29/2006, 06:38 AM

Quote from: Joe RediferI think a lot of people have a case of "You can't get this in the US so therefore I like the Japan-only version better because I am teh 1337".

do you talking about me?

sorry, just tried to explain my expierence i had to day for the first time. i owned a sms for several years back in those days, and i think, no..i can say with a clear conscience that the fm-tunez sounds a lot better than that what i've heard back then. just switched on the system and the lovely space harrier bgm was such tangentially, i was almost crying

Kaminari · 10/29/2006, 12:29 PM

Quote from: Joe RediferI find it funny how some people absolutely hate how the Genesis sounds with an extreme passion but somehow love the way SMS FM sounds.

Well, they have nothing in common. Why should you be surprised?

The MD's YM2612 is a cut-down YM2608 which sounds very metallic in the wrong hands. The SMS's YM2413 is the same chipset as in the MSX-Music (FM-PAK) extension. Its capabilities are limited, but it sounds definitely warmer than the Mega Drive FM. One could actually say that the FM-PAK is the precursor to the typical PCE sound.

CrackTiger · 10/29/2006, 02:12 PM

Before I got a MarkIII SMS, I also didn't like the FM music. But that was influenced by my shock at hearing Phantasy Star in the Saturn PS Coll. for the first time way back when and the occasional emulated SMS game.

Once I got the real hardware and a few decent sounding games though, I've come to love good FM music. Miracle Waariors/Haja No Fuin is still the best I've come across(R-Type is very cool), although the PSG soundtrack is still one of the best as well.

I'm still biased towards PSG, since I've been playing North American SMS games regularly for two decades now. But the MarkIII FM sound is great when it's used in a good way. Just like the Megadrive/Genesis.

Its definitely nice to have the choice of two versions of the same soundtrack in a game. And good FM sfx sound really cool too.

I have a Gamboy, -a Koreon SMS that is pretty much identical to the MarkIII SMS(it even has the same Space Harrier demo when you start it with no game), but is missing the FM sound. I use it to play MarkIII games when I feel like hearing the PSG sound.

I have a Tototek SMS to MarkIII converter I use play English SMS games with FM sound. This is the easiest and cheapest($15(?) for the converter) way to get to hear lots of SMS games with FM sound. Not all games work, support FM, even when the original version did.

So far the only way I've managed to get to hear the FM soundtrack to Wonderboy III is by playing Turma de Monica with the converter. WBIII doesn't work and I still have not found even a picture or a rom of a japanese version.

Unfortunately, WBIV doesn't support FM.

Quote from: Tatsujin
Quote from: Joe RediferI think a lot of people have a case of "You can't get this in the US so therefore I like the Japan-only version better because I am teh 1337".
do you talking about me?

sorry, just tried to explain my expierence i had to day for the first time. i owned a sms for several years back in those days, and i think, no..i can say with a clear conscience that the fm-tunez sounds a lot better than that what i've heard back then. just switched on the system and the lovely space harrier bgm was such tangentially, i was almost crying

He definitely wasn't talking about you.

I do think that Joe Redifer's personal biases/preferences turn him off to the MarkIII FM just as mine once did. Maybe if no one cared about the MarkIII FM sound and never compared it to the Genesis and no one ever dissed the Genesis' FM, he'd be more optimistic towards it?

Keranu · 10/29/2006, 06:30 PM

Quote from: Joe RediferActually it doesn't sound better (and certainly not more "advanced"), it just sounds "different", and I'd say worse and definitely more "drab" (or "dull" might be the better word... perhaps "flat"? I could come up with a ton of these). Like I said, the instrument polyphony does not increase at all, so it seems. I think a lot of people have a case of "You can't get this in the US so therefore I like the Japan-only version better because I am teh 1337".

Well I don't know the technical specifics of each soundchip to say if one is actually more advanced than the other, but I'd say majority of people's opinions think the SMS sounds weak so naturally hearing the FM chip in it makes the person think it sounds more advance.

Tatsujin · 10/29/2006, 07:47 PM

@tiger: all right

@keranu: yes, i feel it more advance compared to the non-fm one. anyway, basically it sounds really warm and touching. that's my personal feeling about it, if more advance or not doesn't matter in fact.

Joe Redifer · 10/29/2006, 07:58 PM

No Tatsujin, I was not specifically speaking about you. It was a general statement that I'm sure applies to some people and not others. I agree it is nice to have a choice, but the only game I've heard (so far) that sounds better on FM than PSG is Alex Kidd: Teh Lost Starz. I personally don't think SMS FM sounds in any way like a precursor to PC Engine sound. The PC Engine sounds a bit more abrasive (and much better) than SMS FM where as SMS FM is smooth and flat sounding. The biggest problems I have with SMS FM is that the percussion is ALWAYS too loud and sounds really, really, bad. Fix the percussion and then maybe it'd be OK.

Why can't the SMS do FM and PSG simultaneously like the Genesis can and does? That would certainly allow for more polyphony. And can somebody explain why they don't even attempt to use all of the 9 FM channels it supposedly has? The SMS FM sounds like a weak Genesis to me.

SignOfZeta · 10/29/2006, 11:37 PM

Quote from: Joe RediferThe SMS FM sounds like a weak Genesis to me.

Well...that would make a lot of sense.

termis · 10/30/2006, 09:58 PM

I was only able to hear Phantasy Star I FM sound emulated recently, and it just blew me away right from the title screen. To me, at least, it clearly sounded hell of a lot better than the US version I played back in the day. (And I would've thought 100% of the people would've agreed, but maybe not... hmmm)

I can't comment on the other games, though.

CrackTiger · 10/31/2006, 01:46 PM

Quote from: Joe RediferNo Tatsujin, I was not specifically speaking about you. It was a general statement that I'm sure applies to some people and not others. I agree it is nice to have a choice, but the only game I've heard (so far) that sounds better on FM than PSG is Alex Kidd: Teh Lost Starz. I personally don't think SMS FM sounds in any way like a precursor to PC Engine sound. The PC Engine sounds a bit more abrasive (and much better) than SMS FM where as SMS FM is smooth and flat sounding. The biggest problems I have with SMS FM is that the percussion is ALWAYS too loud and sounds really, really, bad. Fix the percussion and then maybe it'd be OK.

Why can't the SMS do FM and PSG simultaneously like the Genesis can and does? That would certainly allow for more polyphony. And can somebody explain why they don't even attempt to use all of the 9 FM channels it supposedly has? The SMS FM sounds like a weak Genesis to me.

A lot of games do use FM & PSG at the same time. They just don't use any more sound channels.

Digi.k · 11/20/2006, 11:49 PM

The sega mark III FM chip is ok.. reminds me of later famicom games with the special konami chip.. For really warm FM sound theres nothing like the Atari arcade games of the early 80's especially like paperboy and peter pack-rat ^___^

back to pc engine stuff Tatsujin should get a mention especially since I think the music is far better than the arcade and megadrive versions. The music alone makes me wanna buy the damn game as it fits perfectly with the action....

Open tatsujinbraveman.mp3
Open tatsujinsally.mp3
Open tatsujinhope.mp3
Open tatsujinunknown.mp3

esteban · 11/21/2006, 02:22 AM

Quote from: Digi.k on 11/20/2006, 11:49 PMThe sega mark III FM chip is ok.. reminds me of later famicom games with the special konami chip.. For really warm FM sound theres nothing like the Atari arcade games of the early 80's especially like paperboy and peter pack-rat ^___^

back to pc engine stuff Tatsujin should get a mention especially since I think the music is far better than the arcade and megadrive versions. The music alone makes me wanna buy the damn game as it fits perfectly with the action....

Open tatsujinbraveman.mp3
Open tatsujinsally.mp3
Open tatsujinhope.mp3
Open tatsujinunknown.mp3

Thanks.

Joe Redifer · 11/21/2006, 02:29 AM

I agree that definitely sounds faaaaar better than the Mega Drive/Genesis version and better than the arcade as well. Were these recorded from actual hardware or from emulation/VGM?

Digi.k · 11/21/2006, 11:46 AM

Its from emulation.. you should try downloading Ootake emulator and listening to the music on that.. it sounds 99% exactly like the pc engine. these were recorded from Yame though as will all my pc engine music MP3s.

Joe Redifer · 11/21/2006, 07:53 PM

Does this Ootake emulator run .HES files? Where do I get it and where do I get the .HES file for this game... or does Tru... err... Tatsujin have a sound test?

Digi.k · 11/21/2006, 08:44 PM

Ootake can be downloaded from here its japanese though but not difficult to download and setup.

http://www.ouma.jp/ootake/

It plays both HES and PCE files and I think the default keyboard keys are RETURN=start, SPACE BAR=select, Z=button 2, X=button 1.

Tatsujin has a hidden sound option too. Just score 7100 points and do a soft resent, next hold the select button while pressing start and u should access an enhanced options screen as mentioned by Rolins.

Kaminari has a website with HES and PCE music:

http://namida.com/kaminarimon/hes/

Joe Redifer · 11/21/2006, 10:20 PM

Is there an advantage to HES or PCE over the other?

Kaminari · 11/22/2006, 11:36 AM

HES are stripped down PCE ROMs. Naming them HES instead of PCE just makes it easier to remember if they're the full game or just the audio data. Most emulators can play them if you rename them with a PCE extension. But most players/plugins will only recognize them if the extension is HES.

Joe Redifer · 11/22/2006, 09:30 PM

Gotcha. I downloaded the Ootake emulator and loaded up the HES file and I am not sure if it played or not (I don't have sound output hooked up to my Windows PC). I didn't see any way of recording it to a WAV file so I could transfer it to my Mac, either. I didn't even see any way to skip to the next track. I was just planning on having the emulator convert certain tunes to WAV based on name (Brave Man, Unknown, etc) and listening to them on my real computer.

Windows sound cards have 3 colors on them... blue, pink and green. Which is which?

Kaminari · 11/23/2006, 08:50 AM

When playing HES files with an emulator, the display remains blank. You can skip between tracks with buttons I and II, but that will prove difficult without a sound output.

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 11/22/2006, 09:30 PMWindows sound cards have 3 colors on them... blue, pink and green. Which is which?

Let me check my SB Live... Blue is Line In, Pink is Mic In, Green is Line Out (speakers).

Joe Redifer · 11/23/2006, 05:52 PM

Thank you. Is there a way to record directly to WAV from the emulator or do I need to use an external recorder? Come to think of it, there might be a program that lets me record any sound made by the computer straight to a WAV or MP3 (WAV preferred).

_Paul · 11/23/2006, 06:01 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 11/23/2006, 05:52 PMThank you. Is there a way to record directly to WAV from the emulator or do I need to use an external recorder? Come to think of it, there might be a program that lets me record any sound made by the computer straight to a WAV or MP3 (WAV preferred).

Magicsofts Soundcapture is a great little free prog that records directly to mp3. No wav tho.

Digi.k · 11/25/2006, 01:53 AM

you can try yame but it don't have a dedicated site so you need to do a search.. last version was 0.38.

/81278-r.jpg

and as Kaminari already mentioned music by Kōji Hayama:
Kaizou Chounin shubibinman 1
Open shubibinmanA.mp3
Open shubibinmanB.mp3
Open shubibinmanC.mp3

Kaizou Chounin shubibinman 2 /AKA shockman
Open shubibinman2A.mp3
Open shubibinman2B.mp3
Open shubibinman2C.mp3
Open shubibinman2D.mp3

esteban · 11/25/2006, 01:14 PM

Quote from: Digi.k on 11/25/2006, 01:53 AMand as Kaminari already mentioned music by K?ji Hayama:
Kaizou Chounin shubibinman 1

Open shubibinmanA.mp3
Open shubibinmanB.mp3
Open shubibinmanC.mp3

Kaizou Chounin shubibinman 2 /AKA shockman

Open shubibinman2A.mp3
Open shubibinman2B.mp3
Open shubibinman2C.mp3

Open shubibinman2D.mp3

Yay! Thanks again for the mp3's

.

esteban · 06/30/2017, 09:00 AM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/02/2006, 08:37 PMWhat game(s) has the best music to be found on a HuCard? Both TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine games count here... ah what the hell so do SuperGrafx games with all of their unbelievable extra audio power that makes real life sound fake. I realize this is subjective, but I want to hear what YOU think is best. What do I think is best? That's tough as there is a lot, like:

Legendary Axe II
Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu
Blazing Lazerzzzz
Dragon Spirit
Wonder Boy III errr... I mean Dragon's Curse
etc etc etc

How about worst? Hard to say, but there are some games that sound like the NES or worse, like Legend of Hero Tonma. Sounds like a much lesser system than the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16.

I hope there isn't a similar thread in the archives because I like to be first at everything.

A: Dragon Spirit

crazydean · 06/30/2017, 09:01 PM

Este, you bumped a ten and a half year old thread. Do you spend your spare time looking through old threads?

There are still many games I have yet to play, but I forgot Dragons Curse was on card because the music is so good.

I love some Fantasy Zone, but the music is ear splitting.

Keith Courage · 06/30/2017, 09:07 PM

I'll keep the year and a half old thread going as well.

This may sound silly but I've always been a fan of the Override soundtrack. There is a sound test for the game too ;)

If I had to pick US realeases I'd go with Ninja Spirit, Neutopia, and Dungeon Explorer.

Arkhan Asylum · 06/30/2017, 09:11 PM

Quote from: Keith Courage on 06/30/2017, 09:07 PMThis may sound silly but I've always been a fan of the Override soundtrack. There is a sound test for the game too ;)

lets make out

Michirin9801 · 06/30/2017, 09:42 PM

Quote from: crazydean on 06/30/2017, 09:01 PMEste, you bumped a ten and a half year old thread. Do you spend your spare time looking through old threads?

That's probably why I've never heard of this thread, it sounds like my ideal thread! I LOVE me some PCE chiptunes~

That said though, I don't have the patience to read through 9 pages so I'll assume you've all already mentioned all the good ones like Devil's Crush, Super Star Soldier, Soldier Blade, Magical Chase, Bloody Wolf and the like, and crazydean just mentioned Dragon's Curse (which I LOOOOVE)
But you know another one that I REEEEALLY love? Cratermaze! The US version...

Digi.k · 06/30/2017, 09:46 PM

F1 Triple Battle's music - Hidden gem ? Plus sampled drums <3

Recorded from real hardware.

VS emulation sound

Michirin9801 · 06/30/2017, 10:04 PM

Quote from: Digi.k on 06/30/2017, 09:46 PMF1 Triple Battle's music - Hidden gem ? Plus sampled drums <3

Pretty awesome!

CrackTiger · 07/01/2017, 12:05 AM

Mednafen emulates the effect used in Human's and other misc games, which produces an FM sound style effect.

I'm not a fan of most of them. Fire Pro Wrestling 2nd Bout is the best.

Digi.k · 07/02/2017, 02:05 AM

MR II anyone ?

Every time I hear the music on this game I'm transported to Outrun and then I think why didn't NEC Ave use sound fonts like these on their port...

ClodBusted · 07/02/2017, 08:41 AM

From the few Hueys I've got (most of my PCE games are on CD/SCD), I'd choose Bomberman 94. Both the battle mode theme as well as the world 1 theme are pretty catchy... too catchy.

Plus, it has got penguins in the ice battle stage dancing to the rhythm of the music. My better half thinks they're adorable.

esteban · 07/02/2017, 10:42 AM

I love MotoRoader and MotoRoader II soundtracks. Different, distinct works, but both quite nice.

WELCOME TO TurboVille

PukeSter · 07/02/2017, 02:34 PM

Dungeon explorer intro
Fire pro wrestling 3 intro
Aero blasters stage 2
Ninja warriors "daddy mulk"
Street fighter ii credits theme
Air zonk stage 2
Bonk 1 desert
Bonk 2 waterfall
Bravoman credits
Ninja gaiden intro
Liquid kids tree level

nopepper · 07/03/2017, 05:19 PM

Quote from: esteban on 06/30/2017, 09:00 AMA: Dragon Spirit

Indeed. Such a haunting soundtrack that engulfs your senses and totally puts you in the zone whilst playing.

Dungeon Explorer and New Adventure Island are up there as well.

esteban · 07/04/2017, 08:49 AM

Quote from: nopepper on 07/03/2017, 05:19 PM
Quote from: esteban on 06/30/2017, 09:00 AMA: Dragon Spirit
Indeed. Such a haunting soundtrack that engulfs your senses and totally puts you in the zone whilst playing.

Dungeon Explorer and New Adventure Island are up there as well.

Haunting. Perfect word.

Dungeon Explorer is in my Top 10 of all time...the songs in Dungeon Explorer really complement the gameplay and settings.

Two more games, which are very different, but feature songs that completely evoke the perfect atmosphere: Legendary Axe II (Ankoku Densetsu) and Legendary Axe (Makyo Densetsu).

PC Genjin 1 & 2 do this very well, too (evoking the perfect atmosphere).

EmperorIng · 10/06/2017, 01:53 PM

The best-sounding music I've heard on the PC Engine (excepting some already mentioned here, like Tatsujin) is probably Parasol Stars. The boss theme is legendary.

I gotta give props to Taito though. They went from having some of the worst-sounding HuCards on the system, to some of the best.

Other than that, Metal Stoker. FACE made many mistakes and terrible games on the PC Engine.* Luckily they struck it out of the park with some NEO HARDBOILED SHOOTING! - audibly and visually speaking. And the game is good too, a shocker for their non-arcade outings.

*I just had to remind myself of how fucking terrible Alice in Wonderdream/Fushigi no Yume Alice was. Blech. At least it had a good soundtrack. It's not enough to actually go and play the game (aside from a curiosity on an emulator), but it's something!

gilbert · 10/07/2017, 01:28 AM

~~Fantasy Zone~~ Seriously, they did nearly everything in that game right, but messed up horribly in the sound department. The original compositions were LEGENDARY and even the SMS version sounded much better, not to mention the Famicom version sounded AWESOME. I think this was NEC Avenue's first published game, but still this is unforgivable.

As I'm sort of a collector of CD games I haven't tried many HuCard games, but I remember that Cyber Core had some nice tracks (probably not stellar, but still nice), and the arrangements in Salamander held up well compared to the Arcade version.

seieienbu · 10/07/2017, 04:44 AM

Dungeon Explorer has possibly my favorite Hucard soundtrack. The music is very fitting to the atmosphere and makes an already great game even better.

I thought Atlantean had a fantastic soundtrack. Nice job, Arkhan.

A few of my other favorites:
Magical Chase,
Legendary Axe 2,
Blazing Lazers,
SF2 (though I much prefer the Q Sound version),
Alien Crush
Devil Crush

Last but not least, honorable mention goes to Legend of Xanadu for sweet chiptune music. It would be on the main list except it's not a Hucard, so it's disqualified.

esteban · 10/07/2017, 12:58 PM

Quote from: gilbert on 10/07/2017, 01:28 AM~~Fantasy Zone~~ Seriously, they did nearly everything in that game right, but messed up horribly in the sound department. The original compositions were LEGENDARY and even the SMS version sounded much better, not to mention the Famicom version sounded AWESOME. I think this was NEC Avenue's first published game, but still this is unforgivable.

As I'm sort of a collector of CD games I haven't tried many HuCard games, but I remember that Cyber Core had some nice tracks (probably not stellar, but still nice), and the arrangements in Salamander held up well compared to the Arcade version.

Cyber Core's songs have very short loops, but they are pretty damn nice.

There is the DISCO POWER track that I especially love because I blast it whilst speeding downhill on bicycle.

Also, whilst driving fast on rural roads:

_{► /Cyber_Core/Level_8.mp3}

nopepper · 10/07/2017, 03:40 PM

That tune's synth riff reminds me of RType's 5th level's "you have reached your doom" song.

Michirin9801 · 10/07/2017, 07:01 PM

Oh wow, this Cyber Core song sounds amazing! I'm gonna have to rip wavetables from it ;3

turboswimbz · 10/07/2017, 08:37 PM

Quote from: esteban on 10/07/2017, 12:58 PMCyber Core ...

Yea, CYber Core doesn't get enough love for some of the wonderful sounds it does have. one of my favorites

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Best music on a HuCard