I was playing a few games on it and it seems like they all use the same instruments , its not versatile like the NES where every soundtrack seemed like it had its own unique instruments especially Sunsoft games with that heavy Bass. I know a few Master System games had an FM soundtrack but the only game i've ever seen it used in was Double Dragon.
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I really hate Sega Master System and Game Gear music
- Thread starter Zee-Row
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sixteen-bit
Member
Pulseman never came out on Master System or GG.
Awww crap. This is Crazy Bus level! :-o
TrueGrime
Member
Some of those tunes are goddamn classics. How could anyone hate them.
Phantasy Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwas5D8uftE
Phantasy Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwas5D8uftE
Dark Octave
Banned
Ok I thought I heard it all with the headaches over 30fps but this is a new one. Though I haven't played enough MS games to notice, I guess.
You're probably right though.
You're probably right though.
Rygar 8 Bit
Jaguar 64-bit
but astro warrior!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu2vh3QbntE
edit: zillions music is also pretty awesome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA3YIn3MuAQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu2vh3QbntE
edit: zillions music is also pretty awesome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA3YIn3MuAQ
There was some awesome music on the ms/gg
Sonic 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDBF9Z1_YR4
Wonderboy 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YbwIuhv0E
Sonic 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDBF9Z1_YR4
Wonderboy 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YbwIuhv0E
It might be nostalgia, but I liked some of the music:
Zillion
Scramble Spirits
Phantasy Star
Ghostbusters
Alex Kidd
Sonic the Hedgehog
Zillion
Scramble Spirits
Phantasy Star
Ghostbusters
Alex Kidd
Sonic the Hedgehog
baphomet
Member
I'm going to disagree somewhat. The standard master system PSG music is kinda samey, but with the FM mod you get some pretty awesome music. Far better than what the nes could do.
Master System Capture Test - Double Dragon - FM S : http://youtu.be/h_24FC3vfQ8
That's captured directly from my master system.
Sadly the game gear is pretty awful.
Master System Capture Test - Double Dragon - FM S : http://youtu.be/h_24FC3vfQ8
That's captured directly from my master system.
Sadly the game gear is pretty awful.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
But R-TYPE!
Whatever OP! I'll just post some good SMS music:
Govellius
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh8e-tiqafw
R-Type
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWGTGXmOpIA
Wonder Boy III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YbwIuhv0E
and for Game Gear:
Shinobi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_zrSvgdY0
Govellius
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh8e-tiqafw
R-Type
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWGTGXmOpIA
Wonder Boy III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YbwIuhv0E
and for Game Gear:
Shinobi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_zrSvgdY0
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
HOLY FUCK THAT'S ANNOYING
I can't even imagine being a parent and having to listen to my kid's bullshit Master System games if that's what they sound like.
KojiKnight
Member
I see your FM mod and raise you Famicom Disc System's audio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ7NVh1_QOM
That's a shame because the Japanese Master System produced some absolutely lovely audio: http://youtu.be/k_AWtAPTaes
http://youtu.be/sQ4116Epg2E
http://youtu.be/4QYiWBV0gX8
http://youtu.be/GkBx5efWmDQ
Its got some decent stuff. I bet GG Aleste games are up there.
http://youtu.be/4QYiWBV0gX8
http://youtu.be/GkBx5efWmDQ
Its got some decent stuff. I bet GG Aleste games are up there.
KojiKnight
Member
I further raise myself the custom sound chip used in the Japanese version of Castlevania 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptgaCJSF7j8
Shadow Hog
Member
Actually, I'm going to have to agree that the system's sound hardware was pretty damn limited.
The biggest problem, in my mind, is that the PSG has absolutely no duty cycling. The NES can vary its two square waves to four different settings (although two of them are inversions of each other and sound nigh-identical, so it's really more like three); hence, it's why the instruments in Super Mario Bros. 2's music sound different from the instruments in the first Super Mario Bros.'s music. The Master System, lacking that, is stuck with a bog-standard square wave, so every game's music uses very similar-sounding instruments, as such.
That said, there's still a fair bit of variation there, even within my limited frame of reference (the Sonic games, Land of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and Baku Baku). Underground Zone opens with something that sounds kind of like big brass. Gigapolis Zone makes me think more of some kind of jazzy piano (rhodes, maybe?). Meta Junglira evokes steel drums and exotic-sounding woodwind instruments with quite a bit of style. Tails Adventures's map theme similarly pulls off steel drums really well, making a fairly inviting tropical island theme (a bit jarring compared to the opening stage, which is basically a forest on friggin' fire). Sunset Park Act 3 is honestly one of the best tracks in the entire Sonic series. So, yes, it can sound a bit samey, but even then, you've still got standouts.
Also, the Master System supports FM synthesis; compare "Magical Sound Shower", for instance. Shame that never really expanded beyond Japan!
The biggest problem, in my mind, is that the PSG has absolutely no duty cycling. The NES can vary its two square waves to four different settings (although two of them are inversions of each other and sound nigh-identical, so it's really more like three); hence, it's why the instruments in Super Mario Bros. 2's music sound different from the instruments in the first Super Mario Bros.'s music. The Master System, lacking that, is stuck with a bog-standard square wave, so every game's music uses very similar-sounding instruments, as such.
That said, there's still a fair bit of variation there, even within my limited frame of reference (the Sonic games, Land of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and Baku Baku). Underground Zone opens with something that sounds kind of like big brass. Gigapolis Zone makes me think more of some kind of jazzy piano (rhodes, maybe?). Meta Junglira evokes steel drums and exotic-sounding woodwind instruments with quite a bit of style. Tails Adventures's map theme similarly pulls off steel drums really well, making a fairly inviting tropical island theme (a bit jarring compared to the opening stage, which is basically a forest on friggin' fire). Sunset Park Act 3 is honestly one of the best tracks in the entire Sonic series. So, yes, it can sound a bit samey, but even then, you've still got standouts.
Also, the Master System supports FM synthesis; compare "Magical Sound Shower", for instance. Shame that never really expanded beyond Japan!
Its such a shame NES hardware was so gimped compared to the famicom.
Came to post this. So good.
MrCunningham
Member
Also Sonic 1 GG Jungle Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iFlfmeHRLc
Scrap Brain Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSUZZXGbipc
Labyrinth Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwz_EVYRTM4
Sonic 2 GG Sky High Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM6Ij4b0SX4
Columns GG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQvmmlUML0M
Yeah, I loved Phantasy Star's soundtrack on the SMS.
Though, interesting to note, the Japanese version of the Master System had an optional FM synth module that enhanced the sound of some games that supported it...
for example...
US Phantasy Star intro using PSG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnzwr0S_7J0
Japanese Phantasy Star intro with FM synth module: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_AWtAPTaes
Japanese Master System attract screen intro with FM synth Space Harrier main theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQjiHKhQg0
KojiKnight
Member
Thing is, the NES actually wasn't gimped in this instance... more like a bad design decision. The extra pins that link to the sound system in the famicom still exist in the NES. The problem is that they moved the pins from the cartridge reader to the expansion port....
This was probably first designed as an improvement (an expansion device like the famicom disc system was designed for the NES and it wouldn't require the use of an extra cartridge) but came back around to bite them in the butt.
There ARE mods that allow you to pass on this extra audio data to an NES (for use with a region moded NES so you play Dracula 3).
I came to post this! Brilliant music with the FM stuff.
This is probably my favorite Game Gear Sonic track
Sonic 2 green Hills Zone theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N--kDI8M7A
Sonic 2 green Hills Zone theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N--kDI8M7A
TrueGrime
Member
Damn, that's nice! It's like a complete overhaul for some awesome tracks I remember as a kid.
Holy shit how did that get published!?
Indeed.
I love my Master System but (with the exception of a few games, like Phantasy Star and Sonic 1), I've always hated the PSG sound chip.
The FM sound chip is so much better imo.
Phantasy Star
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
I love my Master System but (with the exception of a few games, like Phantasy Star and Sonic 1), I've always hated the PSG sound chip.
The FM sound chip is so much better imo.
Phantasy Star
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
You know whats funny? Double Dragon's FM soundtrack on SMS sounds better than The Genesis version's soundtrack!
SMS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-InNqRFLl4M
Genesis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl5DYZk04fE
SMS sounds so much cleaner , Genesis sounds like a bunch of grinding metal.
SMS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-InNqRFLl4M
Genesis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl5DYZk04fE
SMS sounds so much cleaner , Genesis sounds like a bunch of grinding metal.
KojiKnight
Member
As someone who grew up with an SNES, that's how all Genesis music sounds to me.
And I raise you the C64 sound chip. http://youtu.be/CT2GEVqsomQ
Clearly the best with no add ons. But this was about MS and GG music sacking, which Op is wrong about. I still have Alex Kidd stuck in my head to this day.
Some soundtracks sounded brilliant to me like Streets of Rage or Sonic but yeah to me it all sounded like grinding metal or fart noises.
Ommadawnyawn
Neo Member
Alien 3 sounds pretty good for the PSG chip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o933ZnEoKjc
That and The Flash, Road Rash, Power Strike II (GG), Devilish (GG).
The chip only has like one out of the three types of sounds you got on the NES, plus a more limited noise channel than on the NES which could be turned into sort of a bass instrument and that was rarely done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o933ZnEoKjc
That and The Flash, Road Rash, Power Strike II (GG), Devilish (GG).
The chip only has like one out of the three types of sounds you got on the NES, plus a more limited noise channel than on the NES which could be turned into sort of a bass instrument and that was rarely done.
Red Liquorice
Member
Oh well, I love it. My rose-tinted glasses fit so snuggly 
LowerLevel
Member
Yeah.... Sorry Op, but I agree with everyone else here... You're off your rocker.
Miracle Warriors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTIe6oeVm2k&list=PLAD78441F30F0E796&index=3
The system that MADE me love gaming to start. Wasn't my first system, but it made the highest impact until the Genesis.
I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet.
Sonic Triple Trouble - Sunset Park Zone Act 3
Sonic Triple Trouble - Sunset Park Zone Act 3
HallucinatingElvis
Banned
Astro warrior was the first thing to pop into my head, I still play from time to time
Real Shame SEGA removed the FM sound chip from the non Japanese Master Systems. Although I can understand why they would do it as apart from cutting costs the west just didn't have the same respect from Video Game Music as Japan had back then.
Landstalker was for the Mega Drive wasn't it?
Landstalker was for the Mega Drive wasn't it?
What causes someone to wake up in the morning and decide they're going to start a thread with no intent other than to diss the musical capabilities of 20+ year old game systems?
Especially when they're wrong, as has already been proven. Phantasy Star alone makes the OP wrong.
Call me crazy, but I much prefer the non-FM synth version. FM synth version feels so weak to me.
Especially when they're wrong, as has already been proven. Phantasy Star alone makes the OP wrong.
Call me crazy, but I much prefer the non-FM synth version. FM synth version feels so weak to me.
Oop, indeed. Maybe seeing mega drive + game gear in the title just made think it was about all the sega consoles from that period.
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