VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 10 of 10: Sonic CD JP/EU vs US VERSION OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

JP / EU Mega CD:

US Sega CD / Windows 95:

And so finally, in the case of the Sonic CD VERSION OFF:

Which version was the original? The Japanese/European version is technically the original. But I think the US version was released around the same time….with a completely redone soundtrack (minus the Past Time Zone themes, which were not changed, since they were hard coded in the ROM’s PCM.)

Familiarity/Novelty Disclosure: The US SegaCD/Windows 95 version is the familiar version for me. I got this game sometime in 1994, very shortly after renting it. I wasn’t even aware the Japanese version had a different soundtrack till probably the early 2000s…and I didn’t get to hear that version till probably the 2006 area, when I found MP3s for download off the internet. I didn’t get to play the game with the JP tracks till the Christian Whitehead version of the game came out for Xbox360/PS3/iOS/Android, and that wasn’t till like 2012 or so.

Sound hardware preferences disclosure: N/A. They’re both Sega CD. In fact, they’re both Redbook Audio (aka, playing of the disc like a music CD and not even using the Sega CD internal sound hardware.)

My verdict: The Japanese/European version.

Why? Just as music in a vacuum, I actually thing I have a very slight preference for the US version (though they are SUPER CLOSE - despite being so “from different planets” different). But I think the JP version is just a MUCH more fitting theme for the level. It’s the game’s obligatory pinball level. The US version almost sounds BGM for rescuing endangered wildlife from danger, and doesn’t say pinball at all. While the JP version perhaps doesn’t SCREAM pinball, it certainly makes a lot more sense than its rival in that context. Especially for as high velocity and high energy as the level is. Also, the Japanese version is just a million times more “16-bit Sonic” than the US version. The JP version is the same Genesis games soul, only using more advanced hardware. Whatever else we could say about the US version, for as great as it is….it's just not Sonic at all….it’s something COMPLETELY different. Also, since both versions use the JP’s past themes, the US version only has three tracks that fit a theme (present, good future, bad future), and then this odd stand-out in the past. The JP version, by comparison has all four versions fitting each other perfectly. This JP track is the perfect compliment to the past theme that I’ve listened to in bafflement for all these years. Lastly, there’s no pretension to the JP version. Everything is synthesized, and everyone knows everything is synthesized. Nobody’s trying to fool anyone. However, with the US version, while the electric guitar is a real person really playing a real electric guitar, everything else, and I mean EVERYTHING is synthesized. However, they’re trying their best to make it sound like NOTHING’s synthesized. While the trick totally worked on me as a pimple-faced, “Holy Crap! CD-Rom is SOOOOOO awesome” 14-year old, who likes his burritos poolside [see the Wolfchild VERSION OFF], this 35yr old sees right through it, and is not amused.

Was this a close contest? All that said, yes, this was as close a contest as any of these. They’re both just SOOOOO great, and I’m perfectly happy to waste tons of time listening to either of them! :-)

CLOSING: Okay, so those are my takes on the FACE OFFs from the “INTRODUCTION TO VGM FACE OFF” blog post. Please, light up the comments sections with your input. Whether you agree with me, whether you think I’m nuts. I don’t care! I want to know what you think, and which tracks you like best!

Cheers!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 9 of 10: Ghouls and Ghosts Arcade vs Amiga VERSION OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

Arcade:

Amiga:

In the case of the Ghouls and Ghosts VERSION OFF:

Which version was the original? Ummm….the Arcade!

Familiarity/Novelty Disclosure: While I knew ABOUT Tim Follin’s redone Amiga soundtrack for this game, and even was familiar with the Stage 3 and 4 themes from said version, I don’t think I’d ever really listened to the Stage 1 track til I posted the FACE OFF PRIMER blog post. So it’s brand new to me. The Arcade version, while I haven’t spent a ton of time with this particular version, it’s virtually identical to the Genesis version, and not that far off from the Supergrafx version, or the Stage 1 theme from the NES Ghosts and Goblins, or the SNES Super Ghosts and Goblins, both of which I’m also well familiar with. So the Arcade version is still the familiar one here.

Sound hardware preference disclosure: While there are still great differences between the Amiga and SNES sound hardware, they still remain the next closest things to each other. Also, the  YM2151 OPM FM chip in the Arcade version is very similar, but almost universally regarded as superior to the YM2612 OPN2 FM chip in the Genesis. So, in a round-about way, this is almost kinda like an SNES / Genesis contest. But since I like this OPM a little better than Genesis, and since I like SNES a little better than Amiga…and since I like Genesis a little better than SNES, this makes the Arcade sound hardware my clear preference.

My verdict: Amiga version.

Why? Because EVERYTHING! First, the Arcade version, in my opinion is a very weak usage of the OPM. Second, the Amiga version is an incredibly STRONG usage of the Amiga sound chip. Third, the Arcade composition is more cartoony than scary, and if it fits the vibe of being in a graveyard in a storm at night with zombies rising from the ground, and giant birds in the trees trying to kill you at all, it’s just barely. Meanwhile, the Amiga version is dark, and spooky, and ambient, and fits the vibe so much better! Also, while there are hints of the Follin hand on this track, this is perhaps the LEAST Follin sounding piece of Follin music I’ve ever heard (the earlier parts almost remind me more of Crateria from Super Metroid). It’s amazing through and through.

Was this a close contest? The Arcade vs PCE 1943 Kai TRACK OFF was not close at all….but it was way closer than this one. This one’s an absolute LANDSLIDE in the Amiga’s favor!

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 8 of 10: Wolfchild SNES vs Genesis VERSION OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

Genesis:

SNES:

In the case of the WolfChild VERSION OFF:

Which version was the original? Well, ultimately, neither of them. The Amiga version was the original version, and since I have no idea which came out first of the SNES and Genesis versions, I guess we’ll call that a draw. However, since the Genesis version features a Matt Furniss retooling of the Martin Iveness Amiga original, while the SNES and Sega CD version feature versions of a COMPLETELY new soundtrack, I guess we’ll call the Genesis version the original.

Familiarity/Novelty Disclosure: I somehow happened upon a copy of the Genesis version in the summer of 1994. This is the summer after finishing middle school, and before starting high school. This is the summer of Black Hole Sun, and my discovery of Grunge and Metal in general (my parents kept us relatively sheltered before this), this is the summer I got braces, this is the summer Taco Bell introduced the seven layer burrito, and this is the summer I discovered a particular one of the countless swimming pools in the Des Moines metro, one that I still frequent all these years later. The Genesis version of Wolfchild, as well as Shinobi III, and a handful of other games were the soundtrack to those days and those things, and will forever bear an inseparable cross-association (both Wolfchild making me think of those things, and those things making me think of Wolfchild.) I was vaguely aware of the SNES version at the time, and played it once or twice with the sound off at a used game store. But it wouldn’t be till the very very late 90’s that I’d actually get a copy of the SNES version, and it also wasn’t till then that I heard the soundtrack.

System hardware preference disclosure: [THIS IS A VERBATIM COPY/PASTE OF MY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION FROM THE STREETS OF RAGE VS SUPER ADVENTURE ISLAND VIBE OFF POST] Back in the day I was exceedingly pro-SNES in pretty much every way - including sound system preference. In 2003 or so, I began to find myself changing my preference to become pro-Genesis in most ways, but didn’t become pro-Genesis in the sound department till about 2009, 2010 or so. I ended up as strongly pro-Genesis on sound as I was pro-SNES way back when. While I would still call myself pro-Genesis now, I’ve been finding myself drifting back towards the center on the matter of late. Frankly, smack dab in the middle is precisely where I want to be. These two systems’ sounds are such a give-and-take, pros-and-cons trade-off, that I really can’t call them anything but a “tie”, a “draw”, a “stalemate”…you pick your word, I guess. So, if that’s where I am objectively, I’d really like to be there subjectively as well. I guess we’ll see where I am in the next year or so. There’s SOOO much more that can be said about Genesis sound vs SNES sound. A few years ago I wrote a series of articles about the 16-bit console wars that appeared in an online magazine that’s now defunct (and the website pulled down). The articles went into a lot of depth on the matter. At some point in the future, I plan to dust those off, retool them for the blog medium, and post them here as a series. I guess I’ll save the in-depth SNES vs Genesis talk for those posts.

My verdict: Genesis version.

Why? First, let me say that I love just about everything about the SNES version. It’s a fantastic track! It’s actually the only track where I prefer the SNES version to its Sega CD counterpart (though the two are surprisingly close to being identical). Let me also say secondly that really neither version does a tremendous job of matching the feel of the level they take place in. They take place in this old decrepit temple filled to the brim with large bugs (including man-sized cockroaches that walk upright and fire projectiles at you) as well as spike traps and boulders. Neither of them really capture that vibe. BUT, I think the SNES version misses it by an even larger margin than the Genesis version. As catchy and punchy as the Genesis version is, there’s a certain darkness to it, and the plinky melody is a bit exotic sounding, fitting the old temple vibe just a bit better than the splashy jazzy slap bass SNES track. Also, while I have nothing to complain about at all with the composition and arrangement of the SNES version itself, it just doesn’t seem as inspired as the Martin Iveness via Matt Furniss Genesis version. Plus, come on, the pimple-faced 14yr old sudden-metal-head in me still loves his seven layer burritos poolside with his favorite jams!

Was this a close contest? ABSOLUTELY! I really came sooooooo close to just punting and calling these a tie.

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 7 of 10: Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf vs Check Mii Out Channel VIBE OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf - BGM 2:

Check Mii Out Channel - Wii - Contest Results Parade:

In the case of the Arnold Palmer’s Golf vs Check Mii Out Channel VIBE OFF:

Which version was the original? Roughly two decades separate these two tracks. Probably better than 50% of gamers experiencing the Check Mii Out Channel theme when the channel was active were not even alive when the Arnold Palmer track first wafted out of the usually monaural single speaker of the old faux woodgrain CRT box TVs.

Familiarity/Novelty Disclosure: That said, I was not aware of the Arnold Palmer Golf game music till probably 2013, 2014, where I first heard this Check Mii Out track in 2008 or 9 or so.

System hardware preference disclosure: This is kind of a toughie. While it’s undeniable that the Wii sound hardware is exponentially more capable and advanced than the Sega Genesis, it also lacks that magic that made the 4th gen my favorite era for VGM. Namely, sound hardware that was advanced enough to do some really amazing, and complex things…but still basic enough that you could take absolutely nothing for granted. The Wii’s hardware is so powerful that it can effortlessly do ANYTHING…but when anything’s easy….nothing’s special. So for those reasons, I guess I’ll say Genesis.

My verdict: Check Mii Out Channel. 

Why? While I love the crisp punchy purity and simplicity of the Genesis track (complete with charming PSG “plinks”), there is just something special about the magic mix the Wii track finds. It’s got pizzazz, and propulsion, and is just so much “bigger”. Also, while there’s a crispness and cleanness in the simplicity of the Genesis track, the Wii track fits perfectly with the old Wii system menu/channel suites’  loosely held theme, which is the “squeaky-cleanest-in-a-totally-good-way” thing I’ve perhaps ever encountered in all of video-gamedom [subjective, I know]. It’s like the crispness of opening a can of pop, and the cleanness of white shower wall tiles, and mid-2000’s Target soap commercials…and I LOVE IT! Also, maybe there’s the nostalgia element as this channel was a fairly big part of the early days of us owning a Wii, and also, while the Genesis game is halfway between 20 and 30 years old, you can always play it on an emulator, or if you’re lucky enough to own a real Genesis…you can play it for realz! When Nintendo shut down the Wii channels, this thing in a very real sense died. With the Check Mii Out channel, there really is “no going home.” And that’s very sad, and perhaps makes this music, and the vibe of the channels, and everything associated with it just more special to me.

Was this a close contest? Yes. I had to listen back to back several times before I could really make up my mind.

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 6 of 10: Super Adventure Island vs Streets of Rage VIBE OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

Super Adventure Island - Blue Blue Moon:

Streets of Rage - Dilapidated Town:

In the case of the Blue Blue Moon vs Dilapidated Town VIBE OFF:

Which version was the original? Streets of Rage came out one year earlier than Super Adventure Island (1991 vs 1992), so it’s the original.

Familiarity/Novelty Disclosure: This is familiarity vs familiarity in a sense, as I’ve known of both for a comparably long time. In fact, I’m not even 100% sure which one I experienced first. However, I’ll call the SoR track familiarity, and the SAI track novelty since I’ve owned a copy of SoR for more than two decades, and have never owned SAI, only rented it. Therefore, I’ve heard Dilapidated Town many more times than I’ve heard Blue Blue Moon.

System hardware preference disclosure: Back in the day I was exceedingly pro-SNES in pretty much every way - including sound system preference. In 2003 or so, I began to find myself changing my preference to become pro-Genesis in most ways, but didn’t become pro-Genesis in the sound department till about 2009, 2010 or so. I ended up as strongly pro-Genesis on sound as I was pro-SNES way back when. While I would still call myself pro-Genesis now, I’ve been finding myself drifting back towards the center on the matter of late. Frankly, smack dab in the middle is precisely where I want to be. These two systems’ sounds are such a give-and-take, pros-and-cons trade-off, that I really can’t call them anything but a “tie”, a “draw”, a “stalemate”…you pick your word, I guess. So, if that’s where I am objectively, I’d really like to be there subjectively as well. I guess we’ll see where I am in the next year or so. There’s SOOO much more that can be said about Genesis sound vs SNES sound. A few years ago I wrote a series of articles about the 16-bit console wars that appeared in an online magazine that’s now defunct (and the website pulled down). The articles went into a lot of depth on the matter. At some point in the future, I plan to dust those off, retool them for the blog medium, and post them here as a series. I guess I’ll save the in-depth SNES vs Genesis talk for those posts.

My verdict: Dilapidated Town

Why? While I absolutely love the thick muddy bass, and organ, and while I like the mix of darkness, and levity Blue Blue Moon brings, and while I like how tight it is (tighter than Dilapidated Town, for sure), I like how Dilapidated Town doesn’t try to marry dark and light, but just doubles down on Urban plight, despair, and the fear of being out on run-down back streets alone after dark. It’s also crisper, and punchier, I like the lead organ voice way better than the lead voice in BBM, and I like the sparse, but clever use of the PSG. I do like the bass better on BBM, though.

Was this a close contest? This was a VERY close contest. I actually changed my mind on this two or three times before finally landing where I have. Ask me again in six months and see if I still have the same answer.

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 5 of 10: Mega Man 2 vs Blackbelt VIBE OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

Mega Man 2 - Wily’s Castle 1:

Black Belt - Boss:

In the case of the Mega Man 2 vs Black Belt VIBE OFF:

Which version was the original? Well, I think Black Belt came out a year or so before Mega Man 2, so that makes it the original.

Familiarity/Novelty Disclosure: The Black Belt track is definitely the novel one! I first played Mega Man 2 in the dawning days of 1990 (and it's a remote possibility that it may have even been that final post-Christmas week of 1989). In fact, the guy who ran the counter at the local "Drug Town" actually did a big no-no for us. He opened a copy for sale, and rented it to us. I don't remember anything about the guy except that his name was Bill. It wouldn't be too much longer before we actually owned the game. I got my first Mastersystem in the summer of 1998, just a month or so after graduation High School. I remember finding the idea of "an 8-bit Sega" aka "a Sega NES" paradigmatic, though in retrospect, I had been at least superficially exposed to an awareness of its existence much earlier. Black Belt was one of the games that came with it. So, while this song has been a part of my long-term-memory for closer to 20 years now, the Mega Man track has been for closer to 30...and was present during much more formative years.

System hardware preference disclosure: I definitely prefer the NES sound system. Outside of TIA (Atari 2600/7800), and whatever Channel F used, the SN76389 is arguably the most basic, and the most limiting of all the sound chips used in gaming. Three square waves, no flex duty ability, really basic white noise, the inability to pitch very deep, and the ability to use periodic noise, but at the expense of having to sacrifice two channels for just the one. Heck, even vs TIA, that’s still an open question which one’s more basic, I guess: TIA only has two channels vs the SN’s four. And also the TIA had SERIOUS pitch issues, where the SN did not. But the TIA was known for so many wild and diverse periodic noise tones that even with rock solid tonality, and double the number of channels, the SN is so plain and samey by comparison. The NES sound system is so much more advanced. It has two flex duty pulse wave channels (12.5%, 25%/75%, and 50%, which is a plain square wave), a triangle wave which produces a much “smoother” sound than square and pulse waves, almost as smooth as a sine wave, but with a little more character (not as much character as the square/pulses, though). It was typically (but not always) used for bass. The NES also had a more robust noise generator, AND, albeit ultra low grade, it had a dedicated PCM sampler channel. The NES sound system can be used to incredible effect. However, to be fair, there is a certain cleanness, and crispness, and singsonginess to the SMS that is really hard to match on the NES (and would be out of the question on TIA).

My verdict: Black Belt!

Why? While the Mega Man track is much fuller, much more iconic, and with a much greater sense of propulsion and inertia, I just love the crispy, ultra-80's sing-songy melody of the Black Belt track. And the melody is not only more complex in the Black Belt track, but more front and center in the mix. It definitely puts its best foot forward.

Was this a close contest? EXTREMELY! I am so close to going the other way on this one…but gosh, I still find myself loving the Black Belt track just a tad more.

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 4 of 10: 1943 Kai Kaisen TRACK OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

Arcade:

PC Engine:

In the case of the 1943 Kai Kaisen TRACK OFF: 

Which version was the original version? The Arcade - by approximately four years!

Familiarity/Novelty disclosure: The PCE track is the familiar version. I've never actually played either version. But I discovered the PCE one maybe three-six months before I was even aware it was an Arcade port.

System hardware preference disclosure: Mmmmm, I really wanna call this one a tie. I like Wavetable and FM about equally. But if you held a gun to my head, these days I’d probably have to say I actually like Wavetable just a little bit more. The Arcade version uses the YM2151 (OPM), the premier FM chip, though, and has more channels (so you probably could say the Arcade sound hardware is "more advanced", but somehow the PCE manages to sound fuller, and sound like IT has more channels, even though it doesn't. I'm gonna punt and say I just can't decide. 

My verdict: PC Engine wins!

Why? Several reasons: The PCE sounds MUCH fuller than the Arcade version. Though it only has six channels to the YM2151 OPM's eight, the PCE, as I said earlier, easily gives the [albeit false] impression that IT has the more channels, not the other way around. The PCE features really nice ADPCM sampled percussion while the Arcade version uses really thin FM percussion. The bass is fuller, richer, and more compelling on the PCE. I also like the pearly and whistly voices used in the PCE version much better than the [by comparison] "blend-into-the-mix-and-get-lost" Arcade equivalents. Furthermore, the PCE version in particular REALLY invokes very late 70's / very early 80's "elevator fusion" music, such as Larry Carlton's 1982 Sleepwalk album. That is lost somewhat in the more edgy, serrated, thinner Arcade version.

Was this a close contest? Frankly? No. The PCE mops the floor with the Arcade here, in my opinion. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I still like the Arcade version well enough. But I LOVE the PCE version. It leaves the Arcade original in the dust.

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

p.s......May the 4th be with you! (I'm sorry...I had to.)

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 3 of 10: Mega Man 1 TRACK OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

NES:

Genesis:

In the case of the Mega Man 1 TRACK OFF: 

Which version was the original version? NES - DUH!

Familiarity/Novelty disclosure: The Genesis version is definitely novelty. I first played Mega Man 1 in 1991 at age 11. I actually got a copy not too much later. I still have that same copy....I've never even played Wily Wars.

System sound preference disclosure: I definitely prefer the Genesis hardware to the NES hardware.

My verdict: Genesis (via Wily Wars)

Why? It retains the vibe of the original perfectly, only it's much richer, and fuller, with more going on, but nothing more going on. Nice use of the PSG keeps the old school sound there, but the FM dominant voices also bring it to the next level.

Was it a close contest? DEFINITELY!

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up!

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 2 of 10: Jackie Chan’s Action Kung-Fu TRACK OFF!

For the Introduction/explanation to this mini-series, here's Part 1.. The original VGM FACE OFF Primer post this is all based off of can be found here. For your convenience, here are the tracks again. Please listen to them BEFORE reading my write-up:

TG16:

NES:

In the case of the Jackie Chan Action Kung Fu TRACK OFF: 

Which version was the original version? I -THINK- the TG16 was the original, and the NES version was the port...but I won't swear to that!

Novelty/Familiarity disclosure: TG16 version was the familiar version, but barely, as I had only discovered it maybe a few months before the NES version.

System sound preference disclosure: I definitely prefer the TG16 sound to the NES sound as a whole.

My verdict: TG16 wins!

Why? Yes, the melody is clearer and more front and center in the NES version, and I actually do think I prefer the slightly slower tempo on it. But The TG16 wins for me because of the richer harmonies, the amazing ADPCM sampled drums (when it really tried, the PC Engine/Turbografx was amazing at sampling, avoiding both the scratchiness of the Genesis, and the muffle of the SNES), and the more pearly "plinkly" embellishes in the chorus, as well as the pearled harmonies in the verse. Of all those winning elements for me, I think the real clincher is just the richness and extra depth of the harmonies (sometimes consonant, and sometimes dissonant).

Was it a close contest? Mmm, close-ish, maybe? The NES version really is pretty great! But the PCE version is even greater!

So, what about you? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm totally nuts? There's a comments section. Light it up! 

VGM-FACE OFF PRIMER ADDENDUM: Part 1 of 10: Introduction

Back on April 18th, I posted a blog that gave a primer on what will be a very important facet of the Nerd Noise Radio blog - the FACE OFF! Basically, we have three different “kinds” of FACE OFF, the “TRACK OFF”, the “VIBE OFF”, and the “VERSION OFF” (again, I totally punted on the name “VERSION OFF”. I’m 100% welcoming of any suggestions for a better name!). I won’t repeat what these types entail since that post does so in detail. However, I shared three FACE OFFs for EACH KIND (so, nine FACE OFFs in total….math goooooooooood!) 

I said that I’d share my own personal verdicts for these in the comments section. Well, come to find out, there’s a character limit in the comments, and I blew way past it. So, today I’m starting a 10 part series working my way through these contests, and rendering my verdict. I’ll have two posts to kick us off tomorrow, two posts to round it all out a week from today, and one post each weekday in-between. For your convenience, I’ll include the tracks again in each one. Please listen to the tracks BEFORE reading my write up.

Also for your convenience, here's a link to that original primer post.

Okay! So see you again tomorrow with some FACE OFF action! 

Cheers!

NERD NOISE RADIO - A VGM FACE OFF PRIMER!

VGM FACE OFFs are one of the funnest things for me, because you get to compare and contrast different tracks, and decide which one you like better. This blog will be A LOT more than just FACE OFFs...but it will be one of the staple features.

A lot of people tend to automatically default to the "familiar" version, and it takes something utterly extraordinary to get them to break pattern. Though much, MUCH rarer, others will default to the "novel", and the version that's new to them has to really be much worse before they'll stick with the old standby. There's not a lot I can pride myself on, but here's one area where I can. I have found in the nearly two years of doing FACE OFFs, I've had a pretty neutral bias on familiarity and novelty. My "voting record", as it were, has also been at least closer to neutral between versions on a system I prefer vs on a system that I don't than my actual biases for the systems themselves.

Anyway, I don't say any of this to brag, I say that to say that when there are very few foregone conclusions, the contests are far more interesting, which only further impels me towards FACE OFFs. These FACE OFFs are something that I've been trying to only modest effect on Facebook (where Nerd Noise Radio got its start in January 2013 - and is still going) since NNRs inception. But I've found that the Facebook medium is, shall we say, less than ideal for them, and for the multi-part focus. Hence, the advent of the Nerd Noise Radio blog!

So, for Nerd Noise Radio, we'll have three distinct types of FACE OFF- TRACK OFF, VIBE OFF, and VERSION OFF (I am totally open to a better name for this last one). Here is a description of each type, and three examples of each:

TRACK OFF:

This is the simplest, most straightforward kind. This is where it's the same game, the same melody, either done on different systems (ergo, different sound hardware), or on very rare occasions, different releases on the same system. The question posed by the TRACK OFF is simple: "Which version do you like better, and why?" The majority of FACE OFFs we will do on NNR will be of this TRACK OFF variety.

Here are a few examples:

Stage 3 Jackie Chan Action Kung Fu (Turbografx16) vs Stage 3 from Jackie Chan Action Kung Fu (NES)

Elec Man's Theme from Mega Man 1 (Genesis - via Wily Wars) vs Elec Man's Theme from Mega Man 1 (NES)

Stage 3 from 1943 Kai Kaisen (Arcade) vs Stage 3 from 1943 Kai Kaisen (Turbografx16)

VIBE OFF:

This is one where two (or more) completely different tracks (usually from different games) are contrasted because either the melody is incredibly similar, or the "vibe, and feel" are. This kind will be more rare, and is more difficult, because it's my subjectivity saying these tracks are kindred, perhaps vs your subjectivity saying they're not. Therefore, when doing a VIBE OFF, in addition to the questions "Which one do you like better, and why?" there are also the questions "Which one do you think pulls off the vibe better?" and most difficult of all "Do you feel like this is a valid VIBE OFF in the first place?

I mean, taking the title screen to Final Fantasy IV and comparing it to the title screen of Thunder Force IV is going to yield an invalid VIBE OFF....but what about the battle theme to Black Belt and Wily's Theme 1 from Mega Man 2? Or Blue Blue Moon from Super Adventure Island vs Dilapidated Town from Streets of Rage? Or what about BGM2 from Arnold Palmer's Tournament Golf vs the Check Mii Out parade music?

These are harder to answer...but I'm going to let you, as I'm sharing all three sets (in the stated order). So again, "Which one do you like better, and why?" "Which do you think does better with the vibe?" and "Do you feel these are valid or invalid VIBE OFFs?"

Wily's Castle 1 from Mega Man 2 (NES) vs Boss Theme from Black Belt (Mastersystem)

Blue Blue Moon from Super Adventure Island (SNES) vs Dilapidated Town from Streets of Rage (Genesis)

BGM 2 from Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf (Genesis) vs Parade from Check Mii Out Channel (Wii)

VERSION OFF:

This is where you have two completely different pieces of music, generally with completely different vibes...but both belong to different versions of the same game. This will be the rarest type of all, most likely. But with a lot of Japanese games getting completely redone soundtracks when going to European gaming computer platforms, there are quite a few examples.

The questions for this kind are again "Which one do you like better, and why?", but also "which one do you think fits the game best?" If you're unfamiliar with the game, you may need to do a little YouTubing of game play videos, but it's still not hard to come to a conclusion.

Here are a few examples of "VERSION OFF" FACE OFFS (again, I'm totally open to a better name for these.)

Ancient Temple from Wolfchild (Genesis) vs Ancient Temple from Wolfchild (Super NES) - context is an old, crumbly, bug filled temple

Stage 1 from Ghouls and Ghosts (Arcade) vs Stage 1 from Ghouls and Ghosts (Amiga) - context is a graveyard during a thunderstorm with all sorts of undead baddies coming out of the ground after you, as well as large birds, killer plants, guillotines, and weather hazards

Collision Chaos Zone Present Theme from the Japanese/European versions of Sonic CD (Mega CD) vs Collision Chaos Zone Present Theme from the US (Sega CD) / PC (Windows 95) versions of Sonic CD - context is you're playing a Pinball world.

Like I said, FACE OFFs won't be all there is to the Nerd Noise Blog. I actually have all sorts of ideas for what I want to do on it...but they will be fairly regular - though I will usually just keep it to one FACE OFF per blog post. I definitely covet your feedback on which versions you like better when I do post them. I'll normally include my verdict in the blog, but I'm making an exception this time since there are so many. Maybe I'll share my verdict in the comments.

p.s. Why do I all-cap every time I say FACE OFF? It's just something we did in the very beginning. It  was meant to invoke the "SKITCHIN" shout from the game of the same name. Anyway, it's just stuck. It's the same with GEEKSPEAK.