C64 Ports With Original Music

[BillyHW]

The C64 was more than capable of porting well known game theme music. However, sometimes (often?) developers chose to come up with something completely original on the C64, which gave C64 games their own "personality". I post a couple of examples below, can you guys post any others?

 

Arcade Ghosts'n Goblins:

 

 

C64 Ghosts'n Goblins:

 

 

Arcade Commando:

 

 

C64 Commando:

 

[gamecat80]

Those arcade versions make my ears bleed. Sounds like they are using that Yamaha FM sound chip used in the Sega Genesis. Blech.

The C64 versions sound much better, imo.

[108 Stars]

Those arcade versions make my ears bleed. Sounds like they are using that Yamaha FM sound chip used in the Sega Genesis. Blech.

The C64 versions sound much better, imo.

The Yamaha line of spundchips was very good. Even the version used in the Genesis cold produce great music, and that wasn't the top of the line model.

 

But granted, the C64's SID chip was also great and had a very unique sound.

Edited January 22, 2014 by 108 Stars

[BillyHW]

Those arcade versions make my ears bleed. Sounds like they are using that Yamaha FM sound chip used in the Sega Genesis. Blech.

The C64 versions sound much better, imo.

 

I actually really like both. Which is why I found it's surprising that the C64 programmers decided to go the original route. It seems like an unnecessary expense. I guess it was the culture around C64 development to be original with the music. I'm glad they did because having alternate tracks enriches us all. Part of the reason we all love classic gaming is the personality and flavour each system gave us. Unlike today, when everything is programmed on a PC and then just recompiled for the PSXBox460.

[Tanrunomad]

The C64 was more than capable of porting well known game theme music. However, sometimes (often?) developers chose to come up with something completely original on the C64, which gave C64 games their own "personality". I post a couple of examples below, can you guys post any others?

 

 

Sometimes they did, but not in the case of Ghosts N' Goblins. Awesome as it is, the c64 theme is not original, it is a remix of Chopin's Prelude No. 20 in Cm, Op. 28.

[BillyHW]

 

Sometimes they did, but not in the case of Ghosts N' Goblins. Awesome as it is, the c64 theme is not original, it is a remix of Chopin's Prelude No. 20 in Cm, Op. 28.

 

Yes, I had heard it was a classical piece. Fits the game perfectly though.

[Tanrunomad]

 

Yes, I had heard it was a classical piece. Fits the game perfectly though.

I completely agree. It's one of my favorites along with the Sacred Armour of Antiriad (c64 version).

[carlsson]

When it comes to Ghosts 'n Goblins, the HVSC STIL entry has a comment from Mark Cooksey that the harpsichord tune used too many channels, and that is why he composed his own tune, with elements from both Frederic Chopin and Klaus Wunderlich. Also notice the highscore melody actually is converted from the arcade game, and that tune itself (composed by Ayako Mori) supposedly is inspired by Chopin's waltzes, so it was reasonable for Cooksey to use more Chopin for the title/ingame music.

 

Regarding Commando though, it is supposed to be a loose cover of the arcade game music. If you listen to the melodic line, you will find the two are rather similar, although Hubbard uses a completely different accompanyment. Again, there is a back story in HVSC how Hubbard listened to the arcade music once, and then sat down to compose all night. He was done by 8 AM and took the train back home at 10.

 

Here are rest of the games that HVSC STIL marks as not covering the arcade game music:

 

Badlands

Bomb Jack

Bosconian

Cisco Heat

Crystal Castles

Double Dragon 3

Dynasty Wars

Hard Drivin

Indy Heat (demo version)

Jail Break

Karnov

L.E.D. Storm

Rampage

Real Ghostbusters

Shadow Warriors

Skull and Crossbones

Street Fighter (USA version, the European version however covers the arcade?)

Stun Runner

Super Hang-On

Super Space Invaders

Tetris (Mirrorsoft, one of the best C64 musics for that matter)

Thunder Jaws

Vigilante

Vindicators

WEC Le Mans

Xybots

I leave it as an exercise to the reader to look up respective games and listen to the differences. Actually I was a bit surprised that Super Hang-On doesn't use the arcade music, as its "prequel" Out Run did.

[+FujiSkunk]

The main theme for C-64 Commando is actually something of a mash-up between the main theme and boss theme from the arcade game. That means it's not exactly original, but it is a very nice variation on the themes. (samples)

 

C-64 Paperboy has music perhaps best described as "inspired" by the arcade game's tunes. The C-64 tunes are arguably unique, but if you listen closely you can pick up bits that harken back to the originals. The exception is the "high score" theme which stands completely on its own. (samples)

 

To my knowledge, C-64 Thunder Blade has original music which I find very catchy. Apparently there are multiple versions of C-64 Thunder Blade with different musical bits, so I'm referring to the one released in the U.S. (samples)

 

C-64 Space Harrier retains the arcade game's main theme, but the high-score tune is original, or at least it's different from the arcade game. The song is actually an arrangement of a Bach prelude, BWV 847, Prelude No. 2 in C Minor from book 1 of The Well-Tempered Clavier. (samples)

 

C-64 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game has all new music, including a title theme that features only the essence of the original arcade game (and TV show) theme. The cool thing is all the in-game music uses only a single sound channel, and yet manages to cram a full assortment of sounds -- bass, percussion and flourishes -- into that one channel without any digital sampling trickery. (samples)

 

C-64 Robocop has an original title theme, oddly moody for a straightforward beat-em-up action game but still quite nice to listen to. (samples)

 

Thundervision's Commodore release of Crystal Castles has a new main theme and a new extra-life tune. The rest of the musical bits are based on tunes from the arcade game, though with some different chords to go with those melodies. The Atari / U.S. Gold version is more faithful. (samples from the Thundervision release; I don't yet own the one U.S. Gold published)

 

C-64 Tetris has different music compared to Nintendo's NES release, but then so does Nintendo's Game Boy cartridge and the Atari arcade version. The original DOS game didn't have any music, so it's hard to define what "original" Tetris music is.

[BillyHW]

Thanks guys. When I have time I'll try and find some of those tracks and post them.

 

As for Commando, I realize it has moments that are quite similar to the arcade original. But I feel it diverges enough in places to call it a C64 original, for the purposes of this thread anyhow.

 

Here's another brilliant C64 original: Ghouls'n Ghosts. I post the arcade version first:

 

 

 

It's too bad you have to choose between music and sound effects for this game.

Edited January 23, 2014 by BillyHW

[vectrexroli]

The music for the C64 version of Commando was really impressive back then and I still like it. In my opinion one of the best tunes for that machine.

I remember from time to time I switched on the C64 just to hear that music and a friend of mine even bought 2 C64 and started a song on both of them at the same time to record the song in "Stereo" on a tape deck. Crazy...

[cimerians]

I love the music from Commando and many other SID tunes. Best gaming sounds of the 80's for me.

 

Some of these are not ports but I have to throw in The Last V8, Ultima III and IV and also the following:

 

Rambo

Legacy of the Ancients (intro)

Standing Stones (intro)

Realm of Impossibility

One Man and His Droid

Skate or Die!

Edited January 23, 2014 by cimerians