Video Game Music from the 16-Bit Era

Hybris (1987) title screen from the Commodore AMIGA

My brother always thought it would be a cool thing for me to gather music from Commodore AMIGA. The AMIGA was the most advanced computer gaming system for its time when it debuted in 1985. So, in following his suggestion, I began to do research and tried to remember the best games from my youth. It later came to me and wondered, "What if I tried to find the best, melodic, sophisticated, video game music from the main leading systems from the day AMIGA debuted to the end of the Super Nintendo in 1999?"

During October of last year I finally compiled, and mostly recorded, over 40 tracks from the major video gaming systems from 1988-1996: Commodore AMIGA, Super Nintendo, and SEGA Genesis/Megadrive. I heard these songs extensively, found some sounds to fit-in for interludes as if it was an album made by one musical group. I tried to make it as consistent as possible, in that one track "logically" follows the next, considering that the technological/musical shifts over the years got better and better.

Each song was personally hand-picked in this way as I felt that the song itself stood out, and it didn't require the gameplay to support it. It is amazing that music so old, so stereotyped as music for "big kids", would have so much complexity and sophistication. As you analyze the music, you can tell that the tracks were done by someone who had good taste, and knew what was being composed. Enjoy!

The stars next to the song are my personal favorites.

Commodore AMIGA (1985-1994)

1. Turrican (1990) - Launch (0:15)
2. Turrican (1990) - Title Screen (4:29)
3. Project X (1992) - Title Screen (Rave) (2:11)
4. Hybris (1987) - Title Screen* (2:30)
5. B.A.M. (composer, 1990) - Hack Screen (2:27)
6. Lotus 3 (1992) - Intro/Menu Screen (3:36)
7. Ork (1991) - Title Screen* (3:16)
8. The Apprentice (1990) - Options Screen* (1:17)
9. Neuronics (1992) - In-Game (5:06)
10. Bloodmoney (1989) - In-Game (1:32)
11. Megatraveller 2 (1992) - Title Screen (4:15)
12. Crystal Hammer (1988) - Title Screen* (2:41)
13. Chaos Engine (1993) - Interlude (1:40)

Super Nintendo (1990-1999)

14. Kirby Super Star (1996) - Rude Awakening (ambient) (0:27)
15. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Enchanted Forest (2:14)
16. Donkey Kong Country (1994) - Underwater (2:17)
17. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Lava* (1:47)
18. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Swamp (2:37)
19. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Brambles (2:09)
20. Arcus Spirits (1991)- Level 2 (1:27)
21. Kirby Super Star (1996) - Caves of Wind, Fire, and Ice (2:21)
22. Kirby Super Star (1996) - Prologue of the Sun, the Moon, and Nova* (1:47)
23. Chrono Trigger (1995)- Secret of the Forest* (4:46)

SEGA Genesis (32X) (1988-1998)

24. Gunstar Heroes (1993) - Title Screen (1:47)
25.Gunstar Heroes (1993) - Ruins* (1:07)
26. Midnight Resistance (1991) - In-Game* (2:13)
27. Kolibri (1995) - Interlude (0:20)
28. Alien Soldier (1995) - Slap-Up* (1:01)
29. Light Crusader (1995) - What Lies Ahead (ambient) (1:12)
30. Cosmic Carnage (1994) - BGM 05* (1:25)
31. Rocket Knight Adventures (1993) - Level 1 (1:09)
32. Rocket Knight Adventures (1993) - Cave (0:58)
33. Cosmic Carnage (1994) - BGM 03 (1:21)
34. Light Crusader (1995) - Grave Matters (3:03)
35. Dynamite Headdy (1994) - Fly Hard* (1:35)
36. Dynamite Headdy (1994) - Backstage Battle (1:16)
37. Dynamite Headdy (1994) - Breakdown (0:39)
38. Sonic 3D Blast (1996) - Diamond Dust Act 1* (1:12)
39. Sonic 3D Blast (1996) - Diamond Dust Act 2* (1:17)
40. SEGA Sound Team (1994) - Staff Credits (1:56)

??Sequel??

41. Blazing Star (1998)- Endless (Ending 1) (0:54)

An Electronic Artifact

Tchaikovsky 1812 Nutcracker Suite (1977) by Kraft and Alexander

This is probably one of the most beautiful compositions of electronica from the 1970s. The album is very rare to find. The LP runs for 40 minutes. It is a remake of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Like many electronic musicians from this era, most of the music were remakes from great orchestral works. I don't have much to write about this, except that the music was based on the ARP 2000. It's one of those things you just have to give it a listen. It's a relic.

1812 Overture
The Nutcracker Suite Overture
March
Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy/Trepak - Russian Dance
Arabian Dance
Chinese Dance/Reed Flutes
Waltz of the Flowers

Ror-Shak

Deep (2007) by Ror-Shak

I was at the bookstore as a fellow curious being attempting to delve into areas no man has ever gone before. There was also a music section, and, being the great experimenter of all-time, I put on these clumsy headphones, and looked slightly to my left. A harmony of curves captured my eye. I then looked a little below to see the name, and it revved my curiosity ever more. The album cover was pretty neat. It seemed as though it was an inkblot test, or perhaps a musical synesthesia of lines. I haven't felt so relieved in hearing this album. It came to my mind of the trip-hop style of Massive Attack, and the chill-out of Thievery Corporation fused into one. Finally I had to purchase it. Oh it was a breath of fresh air indeed! It was a golden note that strung in my ear.

Ror-Shak is a group originally based in New York by Dj Stakka and Dj DB. It's no wonder there are allusions to Drum & Bass. The project, it seems, is supposed to have just a variety of singers. There are some instrumentals, but most contain a vocal artist. I should note that, at least in my copy, there is a misprint of having an extra "final track." Although the album is 56 minutes long, I have enjoyed the music.

On a side note, the name is a kind of homage to the Swiss Psychologist Hermann Rorshak, who invented the inkblot test.

You may check out some of their songs below. Have fun!

Lisa's Song feat. Lisa Shaw
Love & Pride feat. Wendy Starland