• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe

S

SeventhSon

Member
I don't post a lot in these threads, but some of them were already in gaming community and it surprised me that others hadn't been also moved given my understanding of the forum rules.

If signatures were allowed, I'd put a link for several of the retro community threads in it.
 
T

Teknoman

Member
Its funny how everyone is all hush hush about MJ's involvement with Sonic 3, yet its pretty obvious when you play the original cart alone.
 
T

Teknoman

Member
sixteen-bit said:
Sonic 3 had something like 17 different composers working on it, yet somehow it sounds cohesive and great.
Click to expand...

I still wish Chrome Gadget was an actual single player zone and not just 2p vs.

EDIT:

Space Invaders '91 actually seems pretty cool, or at least the soundtrack is.
 
S

stewy

Member
Yeah. I'd never played Space Invaders 91 before doing the show. I was pretty surprised at just how good the music is.
 
F

Fatnick

Member
Teknoman said:
Its funny how everyone is all hush hush about MJ's involvement with Sonic 3, yet its pretty obvious when you play the original cart alone.
Click to expand...

The MJ story is half right. Michael Jackson was originally going to work on the soundtrack, but he pulled out after it became apparent it would need to be an FM rather than a (Sega) CD based soundtrack.

MJ's writing partner at the time, a chap named Brad Buxor, did provide some music for the game however, which is why some of the instrumental parts from Sonic 3 found their way into tracks on Dangerous. If you want solid proof of this, all you need to do is listen to this track by Buxor's band, the Jetzons (which was unreleased in 1993:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvnsriLZvL0
 
A

Armoured Priest

Member
Just as an aside, that Jetzons unreleased stuff did recently get a release on Amazon. Its a pretty decent 80s New Wave style album.

Yeah...now when I hear that Sonic 3 Ice Zone track...I start singing the lyrics.
 
S

stewy

Member
Fatnick said:
The MJ story is half right. Michael Jackson was originally going to work on the soundtrack, but he pulled out after it became apparent it would need to be an FM rather than a (Sega) CD based soundtrack.

MJ's writing partner at the time, a chap named Brad Buxor, did provide some music for the game however, which is why some of the instrumental parts from Sonic 3 found their way into tracks on Dangerous. If you want solid proof of this, all you need to do is listen to this track by Buxor's band, the Jetzons (which was unreleased in 1993:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvnsriLZvL0
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link :)

I was trying to be really careful about how I worded the MJ stuff when it came to Sonic 3. I know there are loads of stories out there from people who were a part of the equation, but since no one who would have been involved at a contract level seems to be able to speak officially about it I didn't want to present any concrete reasons why it never happened.

I realize now, going back and listening to the episode that my musing about the child abuse allegations having an effect on the contract sounds a bit more authoritative than I was really going for. I have spoken to some people from STI who said they believe this was a factor, but again, none of them were really involved at a contract level.

Either way, you have to admit the timing of the allegations (summer, 1993) couldn't have helped the situation. Especially if you were around then and remember that Jackson was pretty much considered guilty in the court of public opinion almost immediately. I can't imagine Sega would have been too have its name linked to Jackson too strongly at that point.
 
F

Fatnick

Member
I was under 10 at the time, but remember what a big deal they were, but I would have thought if they wanted to distance themselves that much they'd have ditched all of the MJ-related tracks (so Brad Buxor's contribution too.) I suppose without having the timings or details of the contract it's difficult to say for sure (MJ may even have called it quits by the Summer of 1993,) but apparently Cirocco Jones actually has tapes of the demo material Jackson sent in, which could help answer whether any of his material remained in the game. For me the official story doesn't sound too implausible - I could see why someone who wasn't particularly tech savvy could be upset at having to make do with a cheap synthesiser when Kriss Kross ended up with their music video game ;)

On the main subject, any love for Outrun 2019? I recently picked it up and didn't expect much, but it's actually really good fun.
 
Z

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
stewy said:
Thanks for the link :)

I was trying to be really careful about how I worded the MJ stuff when it came to Sonic 3. I know there are loads of stories out there from people who were a part of the equation, but since no one who would have been involved at a contract level seems to be able to speak officially about it I didn't want to present any concrete reasons why it never happened.

I realize now, going back and listening to the episode that my musing about the child abuse allegations having an effect on the contract sounds a bit more authoritative than I was really going for. I have spoken to some people from STI who said they believe this was a factor, but again, none of them were really involved at a contract level.

Either way, you have to admit the timing of the allegations (summer, 1993) couldn't have helped the situation. Especially if you were around then and remember that Jackson was pretty much considered guilty in the court of public opinion almost immediately. I can't imagine Sega would have been too have its name linked to Jackson too strongly at that point.
Click to expand...

GameTrailers did a rather extensive episode of PopFiction about the whole thing that's worth watching if you haven't already. IIRC, It seemed to me that there really is no consensus as to whether he was dropped due to the accusations or whether he left voluntarily because he didn't care for the sound quality coming out of the Genesis. Different people seemed to remember different things. It's possible that there are grains of truth in all of it. But what isn't in dispute is that he did in fact, work on Sonic 3 in some capacity. And at least some of those tracks were definitely put into the final game.
 
S

stewy

Member
For what it's worth, Console Wars states he was dropped due to the child abuse allegations. Just read it last night.
 
A

Armoured Priest

Member
ZealousD said:
GameTrailers did a rather extensive episode of PopFiction about the whole thing that's worth watching if you haven't already. IIRC, It seemed to me that there really is no consensus as to whether he was dropped due to the accusations or whether he left voluntarily because he didn't care for the sound quality coming out of the Genesis. Different people seemed to remember different things. It's possible that there are grains of truth in all of it. But what isn't in dispute is that he did in fact, work on Sonic 3 in some capacity. And at least some of those tracks were definitely put into the final game.
Click to expand...

I recall an interview with Spencer Nilsen (composer for Ecco CD and others) and Al Nilsen (Marketing director...I'm assuming no relation) from during that time period. Talked about after getting their multimedia studia up and running for the Sega CD development. Jackson had come to tour Sega, and didn't seem very engaged until they took him over to the studio to have a chat with S. Nilson. Could very well be one of the reasons that he was less interested in the straight Genesis stuff was the general sound quality of FM versus redbook audio.
 
T

Timu

Member
The Sega Genesis, while not the 1st console I played on(NES), was the 1st console I ever owned. Sonic 1 being the 1st game I played on. Played so many games on that system it's insane.
 
T

Timu

Member
In the future I may get a Sega CD, only played a few games on it but I wouldn't mind getting the remainders I would like to try out.
 
G

Gunstarheroes

Member
Timu said:
In the future I may get a Sega CD, only played a few games on it but I wouldn't mind getting the remainders I would like to try out.
Click to expand...

Sega CD is easily worth the investment. As someone who has grown to love the cheese of FMV games, the game has a solid library, with games all over the place in terms of whats offered. Only shitty part is a vast majority of the good games are gonna cost you some dough.
 
Z

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
Mzo said:
Sounds like we're all in the same boat here. The misconceptions and biases are such bullshit.
Click to expand...

Like when SNES fanboys do list comparisons and include Altered Beast as one of the 5 Genesis games they pick to represent the system.
 
T

Timu

Member
Gunstarheroes said:
Sega CD is easily worth the investment. As someone who has grown to love the cheese of FMV games, the game has a solid library, with games all over the place in terms of whats offered. Only shitty part is a vast majority of the good games are gonna cost you some dough.
Click to expand...
My plan is 10-20 games so I'm hoping it won't be too bad. Although Earthworm Jim freaked me out with it's near 200 bucks price. I'll probably start next year though.
 
IrishNinja

IrishNinja

Member
ZealousD said:
Like when SNES fanboys do list comparisons and include Altered Beast as one of the 5 Genesis games they pick to represent the system.
Click to expand...

UGH
no EU kids list Super Tennis as a definitive SNES game

Shadow Hog said:
This is probably why the SNES has a bubble something fierce and the Genesis doesn't.
Click to expand...

+ so many quality titles (CIB!) for cheap!
- fuckin' nobody talks about them cause most of the retro "experts" on YT think it's a sonic machine, and even then only 1-2
 
S

Shadow Hog

Member
Timu said:
My plan is 10-20 games so I'm hoping it won't be too bad. Although Earthworm Jim freaked me out with it's near 200 bucks price. I'll probably start next year though.
Click to expand...
It's that high now? I swore it was "only" $100 a year ago.

Also, I'm still kicking myself for not buying Shining Force CD CIB for $50 when I had the chance.
 
Z

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
IrishNinja said:
+ so many quality titles (CIB!) for cheap!
- fuckin' nobody talks about them cause most of the retro "experts" on YT think it's a sonic machine, and even then only 1-2
Click to expand...

I'm still disappointed that Game Grumps doesn't touch the Genesis. I mean they picked SNES Sparkster over RKA, what kind of crap is that?
 
S

Sixfortyfive

He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
IrishNinja said:
- fuckin' nobody talks about them cause most of the retro "experts" on YT think it's a sonic machine, and even then only 1-2
Click to expand...
I was just swapping the contents of my Konami games around a few days ago. Some boxes are really beat up, while others are in mint shape, and I felt like putting my more valued games in the better boxes and a couple I want to get rid of in the ragged ones.

In the process of cross-checking the market value of these games as I was doing it, I couldn't help but be at least a little amused that Hyperstone Heist -- a decent but unimpressive (imo) entry of a decent but unimpressive beat-em-up series whose value is derived almost entirely from its license rather than its gameplay (imo) -- fetches some decent bank, while ACME All-Stars, a front-runner among my favorite sports games of all-time, can be had in mint CIB condition for a mere $15. People just don't know.

I've sort of been brainstorming ideas for some kind of communal Let's Play thread that would highlight one retro game per week or so, each accompanied by a fairly lengthy write-up and a twitch.tv livestream, with broad forum participation encouraged. I want to do one for the entire Super Mario series first (I'm finally close to getting my RGB NES, and I've just recently acquired the last couple of major games in that series that I've yet to play, so I think a straight-up Mario marathon would be the best way to knock out all of that in one fell swoop), but the Sega Genesis in general would certainly be the next thing I'd want to do after that, as the Genesis is the retro system for which I have the most robust library and also the largest backlog of games I still want to play through.

I dunno if I could pull it off, as I'm an incredibly boring LPer myself, but I think it would certainly be a nice change of pace from the SalesAGE, pixel-counting, console wars slop that dominates the Gaming forum these days. (And it'd probably just be shuffled off to Community anyway.)
 
P

PixyJunket

Member
I just assembled the full crew and got the boss second overworld music in Lunar.

This entire game is burned into my brain like a still image on an early plasma TV, especially the music.

If I don't get suckered into doing too much house work this weekend, I plan to power through to the end.

AND I AM NOW LOOKING TO BUY ETERNAL BLUE DISC ONLY WOO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

The 50 worst Sega Genesis/Megadrive Games- Kim Justice
Opinion Analysis Platform
8
2K
nush replied
GTA 3 (Dreamcast "Super Early Version" vs PlayStation 2) - Gameplay Comparison
Retro Trailer Indie 2 3
117
14K
polybius80 replied
First time you realized Japanese devs were GOAT?
Drama Retro Game Dev 2 3
118
4K
Spukc replied
Dreams that came true: Remember the timeline of the main rumors about the ''Dreamcast 2''
37
3K
Havoc2049 replied
SEGA's IP's. Which ones should be revived and how would you want them to be revived?
Opinion 2
95
3K
Come On Tars replied
Top Bottom