Thunder Force 4 - Metal Squad (サンダーフォースIV) NES/FC 2a03 + Konami VRC7

[SgtThom]

Distortion at it's finest.

[philiptwood]

VRC7 uses the exact same sound chip as the Sega Genesis.

[XBladenoJutsu]

@philiptwood lmao, no man. The VRC7 uses a cost reduced YM2413 which is unable to use more than 1 custom instrument at a time and has only 2 operators. The Genesis uses a YM2612 which can have as many custom instruments as you want and has 4 operators which allows way more diverse sounds.

[GXSCChater]

0:10 Holy Sh-ARRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[ZycaLaser]

Oh, this has to be like your worst enemy playing a homage to you. So it was, thunderforce IV, king of the 16 bit era ;)

[TheDemoniusX]

Unforunately this is the only good tune in the game, TF III had a MUCH better OST by far but this song stands out as the best of the TF IV (to the kiddies this is known as Lightening force here in the US)

[singularity3]

@TheDemoniusX Thunder Force 4 had a lot of awesome songs, including the intro, most of the boss themes, the staff roll, and of course this one. The only one I really like from 3 is the intro music, most of the songs are alright if you're playing the game, but nothing I would want to just listen to really.

[TheDemoniusX]

@singularity3

This is probably the only tune from the game I actually like compared to III's OST. Yes the music sounds alright when you are playing the game but nothing that will get stuck in your head. "Metal Squad" is the ONLY tune that stands out. TF III just had more tunes that were better composed. Just a matter of opinion.

[Bylga]

Great cover!

[johneymute]

sounds abit scratchy like a old movie.

[johneymute]

the only sound the vrc7 chip lacks is the guitar sound,will the genesis soundchip does has a guitar sound programmed in it,s chipset.

but offcource this is still amezing trough.

[namo8c]

From all the arrangemnts/guitar/rock version of metal squad, this version has got to be the most epic version of them all. The first time I heard it just struck inside me as an all time favourite with its 8bit/16-bit feel . Definatley sounds better than the original from the game and thats saying something !

[jbmaru]

@namo8c I wouldn't go as far as saying this version is better than the original, which still has better electric guitar sound synthesis and also stereo. Still it's very impressive for a NES, even with an additional chip.

[spacecobr]

@namo8c this version is really great, i didn't know there was such a good tune in TF4 i've only thought there was better gfx than the 3rd. The music from the 3rd were really Xptional and we cant hear clearly the guitar "riffs" in this version but i do feel the same "epicness".

[jbmaru]

Incredible for the NES.

[malducci]

Wow, this sounds bad (terrible). Not the composition, but the instruments. What's that constant buzzing/static in the background?

[6DeepKey9]

I love this soundtrack lol

[lolmushrooms]

Whoa, I had no idea the NES was capable of producing something like this. It's amazing when you think of the potential the NES had with a couple extra chips.

[stridervm]

@lolmushrooms

Yeah, it's very impressive. The only problem is that it isn't that practical cost wise, as they have to have the chips in every copy of the game they release. =(

But then they can't use it as an expansion port device because it could discourage users from buying the game.... -_-;;

[hoboterror]

its like that I was hearing it before

[BPzeBanshee]

Holy shit, this sounds almost exactly like the original. I'm amazed.

Is there any other conversions of this type around?

[MattTheSpratt]

Since the 2a03 is being used, they should boosted this with DPCM drums.

[aryinc]

how many games on nes used this chip? i want to hear more of it and is it better then the tg16 it soundchip?.

[mirabilis]

it was only used in one game: "Lagrange Point"

[aryinc]

nice stuff i'vw still got lagrange point but i don't understand the game it's all japanese.

[aryinc]

this is epic but also couse it is aa really good tribute to one of the best sounding games ever.the genesis also could got these encreasments in late 90ths they tought about it but sega killed theyre great console.

[Gorette66]

Impressive! Practically identical to the original.

[aryinc]

you must be kiddin me yes it is close but not exact.the genesis will always be better in music quality still for a ness pretty damn impressive.

[compactVotive]

It's amazing how accurate this one is and it's even more amazing considering what console it's on

[Segasaturn95]

This is epic. I have no idea how Konami managed to squeeze such good sound quality onto a system so outdated.

[johneymute]

yes i must say this version comes very close to the genesis version,only the guitar sound is abit softer but it,s just incredible how close it comes to it.

i woder how supermarioworld sounds like,once converting to vrc7 sound???

[Cashino0]

Holy shit, this sounds awesome and VERY close to the original.

[muijsch]

I can die happily now.

Respect for Toshiharu Yamanishi who made this unspeakably awesome track, and respect for the one who made this asskicking conversion.

[TronmanZ]

Awesome. I love that song, in fact I loved all of Thunder Force IV's soundtrack. TF IV is pure win all around

[SAGAIA2]

BTW Toshiharu Yamanishi did the music for TFIV

[SAGAIA2]

Konami is the developer that really mastered the ins and outs of the NES/Famicom hardware. Such a shame that few western gamers to this day have heard the great sounds of the VRC6 and VRC7 games because Nintendo of America/Europe refused to let Konami to release their games with their own chips.

[mrnuage]

That's not the only problem. The layout of the componenet inside the NES was different from the Famicom. They actually moved the pin that allowed the main soundchip to accept external ones from the cartridge connector to the bottom of the console.

They originally planned to release the Famicom Disk System to America and Europe, so i guess the unit would have been differently connected to the NES so it would have allowed to hear the extra soundchip contained in the FDS.