Redbook audio?

[dairugger]

I was just playing some of my favorite sega cd games, and got to thinking- what ever happend to redbook audio? is it just me or does the music from lunar, sonic cd, ecco 1 & 2, dark wizard, terminator) sound better or richer than modern game music.. and another thing- i used to love game music- (from the nes to snes, genesis to sega cd, duo, etc )is it just me or does modern game music not all that great.. i cant really think of any game music that has the impact of say, chrono trigger, final fantasy 6, actraiser(s) super ghouls n ghosts... the list is endless! or maybe its just that those games were played during my childhood-everything seems so vibrant when your a child... any thoughts?

[klausien]

Its still around, its just that most games stream data during play, so it isn't feasible.

[Zing]

maybe its just that those games were played during my childhood-everything seems so vibrant when your a child...
Bingo.

[ianman]

Nostalgia plays a large roll in your music appretiation as well. Those games were some of the first of their kind, and the songs will stay with you forever. Sequels of sequels of sequels dont seem to have the same appeal that the golden oldies did.

I'm a big fan of game music, and the best stuff is still some of the old stuff.

[Ed Oscuro]

Damnit to hell, just lost a 15 minute post (I'll just retype it again) thanks to the system deciding to log me out...


Its still around, its just that most games stream data during play, so it isn't feasible.
Redbook audio sounds great, but it doesn't allow compression, is tied to an obsolete disc format, and hogs the optical drive (that's why Dracula X on the PC-Engine has synth sound during the boss marathon - the drive is being used swapping new boss data into the PCE's limited memory space).

Whenever I buy an early 90s disc game with redbook audio, I usually end up playing it in my car stereo for a while (months, in some cases). Some of my all-time favorites (note these may all be played in a good old fashioned redbook-only audio player, though some will fool newer mixed-mode players - and I'm not including games like Panzer Dragoon Saga or Dracula X: Symphony of the Night, which have only one track playable in this manner each):

Iga Ninden Gaoh (PCE SCD): Subpar game, and many of the tracks aren't too noteworthy. However, there are a few songs in here that are amazing. It's MIDI in redbook, but with classical Japanese/Chinese instruments thrown in at times. Very clean sounding, and some very nice compositions - but only a few out of the game's huge number of tracks (something like 33-34 music tracks).

The Ninjawarriors (Mega CD): The best port of the arcade game, partly because of the dual soundtracks. It offers a nice remixed arcade soundtrack by Zuntata, as well as the original arcade synth on redbook audio. Sadly, only a few of the remixes really impressed me - mostly the remix of stage one, and the ending music. The original arcade music is actually better overall, and has certainly aged well.

Galaxy Force II (FM Towns): Wow. I finally decided to try playing this in my car today, expecting to hear the arcade music I liked but was getting a bit sick of. Nope...this one has no original arcade soundtrack in redbook, but it does have some wildly inventive remixes. I'll rip two of them later today. You've gotta hear this...I know I shouldn't say the music is "one of a kind," but I've never really heard anything like the first remix. Just gotta get over the creepy woman talking in the first audio track. All that aside, I'm a bit disappointed there's no original sound version...maybe there's some MIDI version, but it would probably sound quite different as the arcade machine used some proprietary Sega PCM chips in conjunction with regular Yamaha synth.

CyClones (PC): It's not a very fun game, but it is important for introducing mouselook to FPS gaming (albeit a clunky kind) and certain other refinements (I don't remember all what, but I believe this was the first game with true multi-floor maps). A while back I ripped the introduction narration (which I think is silly) and put it online for a while, and actually got positive comments on it. The actual music tracks are awesome. They're all themed, and different tracks sound nearly alike - but if you listen closely you'll be rewarded by some ingenious variation on melody and other effects. It's great fun to listen to, and I don't think Raven has made a game since with music I like better.

System Shock (Mac): This is obscure. A few years ago I was looking for the music to the original System Shock, and found the Mac version's remixes buried amongst some (decent but not overwhelming) fan mixes at the Looking Glass fansite. There are some really great music tracks here - personal favorite is the Medical level track. As somebody else said, "makes you feel like it's your first time." Really inspirational stuff!

Gain Ground SX (PCE CD): This one barely gets in, but probably mostly because the number of tracks is so limited (that's true of the original game soundtrack, though). Great remixes to be had in this one, definitely worth a listen.

Dracula X (PCE SCD): I'm actually a big fan of the Ghost Ship music (Picture of a Ghost Ship), which puts me in the minority. On the whole, I think the music is very decently produced, and certainly is more complex than a lot of other games out there, but even so I think it wears thin after a while. In my case, uh, probably half a year of on-off listening. I almost lumped this one in with "all the rest," but I think Picture of a Ghost Ship is too fun to pass up. Obviously, if you aren't fatigued by classic Castlevania tracks such as Vampire Killer, Cross a Fear, Bloody Tears, and the like, this game features some of the best remixes of these to be found.

Other games I wouldn't list as being absolute favorites, but worth mentioning:

Half-Life (PC): Back in 1998-99, Track 15 blew me away. Half-Life 2 reuses a lot of HL tracks (as MP3 rips, unfortunately). It's a pretty diverse selection, between short instrumental cues, some tension/fight tracks, and a few "epic" tracks (my favorite being the one that takes an "Egyptian" cue and combines that with a sound something like an alien flyby - hey, don't laugh). I still like it a good deal. Half-Life 2, on the other hand, didn't seem to bring many new good tracks of note (far as I could tell).

System Shock (Mac): This is an obscure port of a great game. A few years ago I happened across the Looking Glass fansite and they had the Mac version's music buried alongside fan remixes, and it's very good. My favorite track is the Medical track. As somebody said for the site, "makes it feel like it's your first time." One of my favorite tracks of all time from a game.

Viewpoint (FM Towns): My first FM Towns game, and the first format I listened to the sound on. It's actually cut down compared to the arcade version, and I believe at least one track is missing entirely (just incidental stuff, like a highscore screen, nothing major). Tracks also seemed to fade out quickly. That said, it was nice to listen to.

Quake (PC): If you're mad, load up the Quake disc. Definitely composed for a game and simultaneously more "artsy" than all the other games on this list, actually. Lots of repetition of cues. I actually like it a lot. Fun trivia: Some years ago I was taking a trip with my family, and we were out on the road late at night. A tractor trailer truck sailed by to our left on the highway and I actually recognized the sound as one of the niftier samples used in the game. The bottom line: don't disregard it because it's Nine Inch Nails.

Quake II (PC): Hey, this time Sonic Mayhem created the soundtrack (with the exception of one track by Rob Zombie, I think). Does anybody mind? Good stuff.

Ecco (Sega CD/PC): A few decent tracks (once again, my favorite takes Egyptian cues), but the mixed disc I've got the game on (PC version, bundled with the first PC I ever used) copies the same awful "dramatic" track at least once. That said, not a total waste.

Hexen (PC): I prefer this game to Hexen II, and I actually would say the same of the soundtrack, despite it just being MIDI, and there being a ton of noise in the background. Moody stuff, fits the game perfectly. If you hate it THAT much, you can always check out the MIDI versions...

Hexen II (PC): Rather late for a PC game to feature both MIDI and redbook audio options, but there they are. I've only been playing the game the last few days, and listened to the soundtrack for the first time on Saturday (or so)...it's not horrible, but I don't think there's much of note here. There is a great remix of the E1M1 music from Heretic, but it plays in the Egyptian levels...hmm. On that note, I've got to check whether the MIDI version is exactly the same as Heretic's, or not...

Heretic II: Like Hexen, this game's music is pretty moody - more so than Hexen II which has more melodic tracks. Great stuff, but you can't dance to it. I'd just settle for being able to play the game on a modern PC, actually...

NAM 1975 (Neo CD): If you're itching for a version of the game's soundtrack on CD, and not a homemade burn of music you played in M1, this would be the way to go. From the MP3 rips I listened to (and I don't believe I missed any), the game totally lacks arranged tracks. Talk about a dissappointment. Personally, I'll pass. When I'm old and unable to remember my name or even be aware of where I am, I'll still be able to hum the melody from Street Battle...and I'll probably still have my AES NAM cart. No need to get it again.

Samurai Spirits RPG probably has good redbook (as opposed to arcade ripped) audio, and maybe some other Neo Geo CD games, as well, but I haven't checked those out yet.

[Haoie]

Let's not forget, a good number of PS titles have bonus tracks for standard CD.

But very very few have their entire soundtrack recorded in that manner.