Thunder Force 3 vs. Thunder Spirits - The Genesis vs SNES Soundtrack Comparison

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snes or 8-bit?

[supercj12]

Hmmm, which one, o, which one.........ha, just joking, SEGA FTW once again, It might be an example of fm-music for the snes, but the Genesis has clearer sound. Its like all the snes tried to add was bass, while the music on the genesis version is that kinda "You know its from a Sega Genesis" music, which kicks ass. Plus, the snes music sounded off speed, meaning that the same levels for the genesis version had music speed different from the snes version, which leads to epicness loss for the snes

[TheReasonWhyGuy]

as usual, I think the SNES version sounds more polished...

BUT, if you're looking for that harsh retro sound... GENESIS ALL THE WAY

[doujindance]

poor SNES.

[darklizardbattle]

WHAT! fuckin i used to love the SNES music, i didnt know there was a better version. i woulda bought a genesis

[tetohmu]

No emotion in the SNES version - it is fast and artificial

The MD version is clear, no useless sounds you feel something - Perfect.

[nibbler2012]

@tetohmu I just thought of another adjective for the SNES version: flat. The Genesis version has clearly superior sounds that sound almost 3D with much more depth. And I concur with the other guy who said SNES's sounds like MIDI sounds and don't trail off ..almost trance-like.

[kirgeez]

The real contest is only Graphical... Which I still will give to the Genny... The sound unless you are deaf stinks (for this game only) on snes. This is not the case on many snes games as they have great sound. I feel the snes was capable of so much more than this game offered... I do however want to do a Thunder Spirits Full run one of these days.....

[kirgeez]

@kirgeez In this game the sound effects are pretty bad as well on snes.... Again winner genny...

[majesticlizard]

SNES version sounds very goofy.

[1shoryuken]

wow, the SNES pretty much butured this great soundtrack, "Gorgon" and "Siren" sound like crap, the only good thing about it is the drumming.

[CarlosAyalaCalvo]

Oh NOoooooooooo!!!

the Snes has converted my prefered song "Seiren" in shit.

[nibbler2012]

@CarlosAyalaCalvo I was wondering what "Seiren" was; it's originally titled "The Grubby Blue Dark" and is my favourite of the entire OST. LOVE that one (on the Genesis).

[CarlosAyalaCalvo]

Genesis wins... more complex and clean audio.

[JZBEAST01]

When i think of genesis sounds i think of kick-ass rock and roll like lightening force(thunder force 4) opening music and when i think of the snes sound ship i think off this orchestra type sound like when you get to the flag in super mario all stars it does the orchestra type sound. Now tell me would you rather have kick-ass rock and roll or orchestra?

[JintaiThe3rd]

The difference between the two is that the Genesis version sounds alot more Native to the console's soundboard, while the SNES version sounds as if the Genesis's song collection was copied straight to the SNES and used default sounds from it's board.

[manapart24]

I Still have this game that never gets old

[TheBardsSongCGS]

Both are fantastic.

[Extaticus]

The MegaDrive's Thunder Force IV soundtrack is better than both versions of this...

[LightningHammer]

This is neat, thanks T-Dar for pointing out some Genesis games with great music.

I didn't play this game back in the day, but the music is hoppin'.

[JoelJW]

From my perspective, the two versions have their ups and downs. The percussions on the SNES version is much stronger, but the synths on the Genesis version is much better. All in all, I prefer the Genesis version of the soundtrack since it gives a more anthemic feel to the SNES pop-rockish feel. In my opinion though, Thunder Force AC's music is better than both of them.

[matthewdoucette]

maybe i spoke too soon. hydra was great on the snes but the other songs not. it's weird, the genesis sounds more clean but more fake too... maybe that's where the snes fails is that it tries to sound more realistic than it can be

[matthewdoucette]

snes is actually better... just most of us have heard the genesis one first.... listen to snes with an open mind and then play the genesis one... it's certainly more advanced, especially the drum and bass track. - sega genesis and thunder force 2/3 fan

[frigginjoe]

SNES has far better sound capabilities then Megadrive, but sometimes the FM audio just works better, IMO.

[MikeGartner]

Wow, both great. This type of music just sounds better on the Genesis though.

[armouredpriest]

Just a quick note. Most of the tracks in Thunder Spirits that don't have an equivalent in Thunder Force 3, can be found in either Thunder Force 2 or Lightening Force/Thunder Force 4. (in other words the Stages 4 and up part of the game)

[kw1ksh0t]

I like them both, I love the reverb on the SNES

[PanterAmetal100]

snes sounds more cooler than fm -sound on genesis/md , imao

[jeabl]

Both are very good. i was surprised with the firsts 2 tracks in MD. sounds very good and i guess better than snes. the md sound in this game sound cleaner than snes version.

well im snes fan and i preffer much more gradius III & Axelay( this have the best soundtrack)

[narox]

@jeabl I love Axelay music!

[jeabl]

@narox yes me too!!! even i said i preffer much more gradius III and Axelay as games, but as music all Axelay themes are gr8!!!!!

[Procyonidae]

ThunderSpirits was an example of the transition from FM-style music to SNES-style music done right. Unlike some of the disasters of the day (Ys 3, I'm looking at you), ThunderSpirits music didn't rely an that awful horn sound that so many SNES games did. They also didn't try to make it sound just like the Genesis or Arcade versions, they took into account what the SNES does well and gave it a more electro, percussion-heavy style, IMO. I'm sure plenty will disagree, but that's my take on it.

[narox]

@Procyonidae well said

[MysticArksRevenge]

@Procyonidae I agree with you on that, but I do like the SNES version of Ys III's soundtrack.

[foufeh]

@Procyonidae I loveeed Ys3 Music!! xd!

[wrestletube1]

I recon it's a draw. The first 2 tracks were clearly better to SEGA but the other 2 tracks were great SNES renditions.

[doujindance]

I love built-in FM sound chip(YAMAHA) on MegaDrive's board. Techno Soft LTD sound team has high level ability of FM sound.

[thrashybastard]

Both consoles versions are good snes had better sound and clearer instruments genesis version had more of an old school sound to it. both cool. cool game.

[mikedawgx01]

Sorry guys but I'm one of those wierdos who likes Thunder Spirits. Yes, I have to give the Genesis version that the music is more complex and maybe a little more smooth but I feel that the Spirits version of the music 1) has a more energetic feel to it and 2) emphasyses the better elements of the song. This is especially true of Stage 7's BGM. And, yes, I would agree that it has a "harsher" sound but (at least to me) that's part of its appeal. Sort of gives it a more "tooth & nail" feel.

[taismofanatic98]

Totally the Genesis. The SNES versions sound much more forced and harsh, and kind of like midi tunes in the way that all the sounds stop abruptly with no fade. The Genesis just sounds much more fluid and smooth. I love listening to the Genesis songs where as the SNES ones kind of hurt to listen too. Either way, this game had amazing music. You should take the winner and compare it to Thunder Force AC, the Saturn version of this game

[nibbler2012]

@taismofanatic98 Totally agree. I admit I did hear TF3's music first (had the MD game 15+ years ago) but even judging by the quality of the instrumentals the Genesis's is definitely better. My favourite track in TF3 is "The Grubby Blue Dark" -- AMAZING track -- and it sounds much better in TF3.

[4real0316]

I am the proud owner of both of these consoles and both games. I'm listening to this video through my Auzentech Explosion sound card )with the upgraded op-amps) In 5.1 through logitec 540 speakers. The SNES has a cool synthesized sound with a kicking bass. But the Genesis is clearer and more complex. It really sounds like it was produced in full surround sound. So if your into nostalgic synthesized sound you probably voted SNES. But if you are a true audiophile then you like me voted Genesis!

[gmintyfresh]

Awesome face off, snes tunes edge it for me. Give me the Megadrive game to play every time however!

[Soukyugurentai]

Genesis all the way. The SNES sound chip is best for mock orchestrated music.

[mafiosotucanazo]

The Genesis one for sure, I specially love the bass and drums. And thanks for putting a link to my playlist for this one and gaiares.

[techromancer1]

i like the genesis version better oh wait i like the snes version better oh wait hold on a second i can't seem to make my mind up ..i 'll just take one of each ..lol cool video as always youtube god....sir narox-alot :D

[ThePookninja]

both are good,but i perfer the genesis/mega drive version,in both music & gameplay.

[Serraxor]

To me, the Megadrive version is the better of the two, with the exception of stage 3; Seiren gets the gold on SNES!

Also, as a quick side note, the reason the stages differ past stage 3 (and also the reason you can't select the stages in the SNES version) is that Thunder Spirits is actually the SNES port of Thunder Force AC, not Thunder Force III. 

[TheLumberjackass]

thunder force music kicks ass. its probably the best music ever created for a shooter . and thats saying alot as there are so many great shooters out there with awesome music.

kickass dude !!!

[AdyShearer]

Snes stage 3 damages my ears. Megadrive once again, prevailes.

[ArcadeMameMachine]

Cool video, awesome music sound great.

[davidhass3lh0ff]

i love the mega drive but the sound on the snes was mind blowing it has so much depth and range and great sound fx's i think the sega cd did help to even things out be twine the two consoles

as allways great video

[bonggzilla]

mhhh which one sounds better thunder force 3 or thunder spirits ?both sounds great !!!!!!!!

noooooooo wait thunder force 4 sounds better hehe

[markvergeer]

Yum Yum, great music! Great game and an excellent comparison video. Love this concept.

I must say I prefer the Megadrive/Genesis FM synth. Still the Snes did a pretty good job and it didn't even sound too off key this time like most other Snes games do...

[jboypacman]

How video Master Narox and you reminded me i still to pick this game up for the Genesis.

[segagenesis1989]

narox, how did you come up with this concept? I believe you know where my heart lies. The up tempo beat and the higher pitched tune makes the SEGA Genesis music sound alot better. The SNES version is pretty good but when compared to the MD's FM synthesis sound chip, the music sounds alot crisper!

[mutronics1]

Mega Drive, without a doubt!

Awesome video mate, the Gorgon theme was the only track i'd listened to from Thunder Spirits on the SNES untill now, i thought it sounded ok but when compared to the MD's TFIII soundtrack the SNES music just sounds kinda flat.

[goemon7719]

i say the MD TF3 music better but the SNES TS dosn't sound bad eater

[narox]

@goemon7719 Put on those headphones buddy. You can hear that the SNES is really good.

[NeonGenesisPlatinum]

Awesome video man.

[cyanidebreathmintz]

'MD''s music by a country mile! :)

Nintendon't even come close..thumbs up if you agree.

great vid bro!

[Serraxor]

@cyanidebreathmintz Except stage 3. Even you have to agree =P 

[cyanidebreathmintz]

@Serraxor yeah, now that you mention it, stage 3 on the snes is better!

[28steryan]

What a game, a bit hectic and confusing graphically with the sprite and backdrop colour scemes sometimes though, or maybe it's just my old bastard eyes.