ReyVGM
Member
As most of you may or may not know, the GBA version of Donkey Kong Country 3, aside from having many good additions and changes to the map layout and story presentation, it also had an entirely new soundtrack composed by the master David Wise. He explained that porting the music to the GBA was basically impossible with the time he had available, so it was easier and faster to just create a new soundtrack. And as expected, it's excellent...
...for the most part. There are several tracks from the SNES version which are damned brilliant and I'm sad they weren't reused in some way. I do not know if those tracks were originally composed by DWise or Eveline Fischer, and I really do not care. This thread is just to determine (in my opinion) which track is better and more fitting.
Thus, here are my self-imposed rules for this versus match:
-I will compare the composition, the melody, and whatever makes a track be good regardless of the soundchip used. I will not compare the quality of the music, because as we all know, the SNES would win in every category.
-I am only going to compare the main tracks, barring a few exceptions.
-I will sometimes compare game sections that have multiple tracks.
-I am only going to compare the main tracks, barring a few exceptions.
-I will sometimes compare game sections that have multiple tracks.
A warning: my music terminology is very limited, so my explanations might not be very descriptive or easy to understand if you don't hear the music track in question.
1) Let's start with the Intro/Title Screen/Menu
SNES version:
The music starts with a fanfare, goes into the title screen, and then the main menu.
GBA version:
The music starts with a remix of Aquatic Ambiance for everything until you start the game.
I know that everyone would pick the GBA version purely for being an Aquatic Ambiance remix , it is a good song, and it does fit the new intro... but I'm partial to how the SNES game opens with that enigmatic fanfare. And while the title screen starts with a bunch of monkey sounds, it then develops into a wonderful remix of DKC1's bonus game music. The main menu music is very catchy too.
But since I'm pitting three tracks against one, and the GBA one is indeed excellent, I'm going to declare a tie.
Winner: It's a good tie.
2) The Map
SNES version:
World Map, Levels Map, Lost World Map
GBA version:
Map
The SNES version is amazing. That mysterious and oppressive World Map track alone and the upbeat Levels Map track trounces the more tropical and passive one from the GBA version (which is used on all the maps). And honestly, that GBA track sounds more fitting for a menu screen, don't you think?
Winner: SNES
3) First Level, Village
SNES version:
Stilt Village
GBA Version:
Stilt Village
Fantastic song to start the first level, in the GBA version. In my opinion, the SNES version of Stilt Village has a good melody and everything, but the choice of "instruments" gives it sort of a 'dumb, awkward & heavy' feel, which fittingly describes that ridiculous Kiddy Kong character that stars the game.
The GBA version, however, is DWise gold. The music beings with 20 seconds of ambient noise, but then once the melody starts, it never lets go. Around the .54 mark the music pounds your ear drums and switches the melody, by 1:44 it becomes magical, and then it tricks you into thinking the music has restarted, but no, the magic continues until the song ends.
Winner: GBA
4) The Mills
SNES version:
Mill Fever
GBA version:
Mill Fever
Both songs are good in their own way. What I like about the SNES version is that it feels like a care-free song, trumpeting as if you're just strolling through a vermin-less level. The GBA version has a 'metalic/factory' feel to it, it's not really fitting for these types of stages, but the composition is catchy, and by 1:44 the song adds a new melody which is really nice.
Winner: It's a good tie.
5) The Trees
SNES version:
Treetop Tumble
GBA version:
Treetop Tumble
Ugh... the GBA version is awful for this level. This track would be more fitting for a picnic scene or a menu screen. Compare that to the amazing SNES version... that crushing, frantic and dangerous track fitting for a level that has you hastily climbing the insides of huge trees while an even bigger saw is cutting everything beneath you. The second you hear that song's intro, you'll feel panic.
Winner: SNES
6) The Snow
SNES version:
Frosty Frolics
GBA version:
Frosty Frolics
Honestly, the GBA version sounds like circus music, it starts and cuts two times to have some native american chant or something? (*edit*, it's yodeling.)
The SNES version is much better, and keeps up with the enigmatic music style the other tracks have. It makes you feel like you're in a snow cave, sliding around danger.
Winner: SNES
7) The Water
SNES version:
Water World
GBA version:
Water World
This is where I might lose some of you... but the GBA version is (yay! groan...) yet another Aquatic Ambiance remix. While this remix is great, it doesn't hold a candle to the Water music in the SNES version. You see, in DKC3, water levels are not the pretty blue sea-life filled stages from DKC1, in the 3rd game the water levels are dark, uneasy and toxic. Just listen to that SNES track and tell me if you don't feel dread just from that foreboding opening?
Winner: SNES
8) Waterfall
SNES version:
Cascade Capers
GBA version:
Cascade Capers
The SNES version is a somewhat calm composition with a muted sense of urgency in the background, while carrying a very nice melody. Meanwhile, the GBA version starts subdued, but then picks up a nice strong and uplifting melody. In my opinion both are great tracks
Winner: It's a good tie.
9) Running
SNES version:
Chase
GBA version:
Chase
The SNES version has a frantic and mysterious composition, but it has no structured melody. The GBA version, however, is a pretty cool remix of DKC1's first level with a new additional piano melody.
Winner: GBA
10) Xmas
SNES version:
Jangle Bells
GBA version:
Jangle Bells
This track is only available by entering a cheat code in the SNES version. I don't know if it's readily available in the GBA version though.
Anyway, the SNES version is kinda Christmas-y song, while the GBA version sounds a bit more menacing and industrial-like. In my opinion, neither track is good, but they aren't bad either.
Winner: It's a bad tie.
11) The River
SNES version:
Enchanted Riverbank
GBA version:
Enchanted Riverbank
The SNES version has a strange combination of urgency, but at the same time it's very quiet-like. As if it's trying to pass undetected. The melody is very good.
The GBA version is pretty good too, it has a mesmerizing and calming melody. I can't say one is better than the other.
Winner: It's a good tie.
12) Metallic
SNES version:
Nuts and Bolts
GBA version:
Nuts and Bolts
The SNES version sounds very metallic and aggressive, while the GBA version is more dynamic and industrial. I'm not a fan of either tune, but the GBA version does seem to have a nicer melody. However, I can't say I like one over the other because I really don't care about either of them.
Winner: It's a bad tie.
13) The Tubes
SNES version:
Pokey Pipes
GBA version:
Pokey Pipes
Both tracks are pretty awful. I mean, they are just fine when played in the context of the game, but as stand-alone music? Boring.
Winner: It's a bad tie.
14) The Caves
SNES version:
Cavern Caprice
GBA version:
Cavern Caprice
The GBA version has a simple, but effective melody. The track incorporates a lot of ambient sound effects similar to the how DKC1 did with the cave music levels. The SNES version keeps the ominous theme used throughout the game, but this song adds a melody that actually makes you feel hopeful in spite of everything. Both tracks are very good, but the SNES version has the edge.
Winner: SNES
15) The Rocks
SNES version:
Rockface Rumble
GBA version:
Rockface Rumble
Now we're talking! Both are great songs. The SNES version starts with a windy motif, and drums and flutes its way to a nice ending reminiscent of a long lost DKC2 track. The GBA version is very country and almost danceable with its heavy use of the harmonica and violin. I couldn't really pick one over the other.
Winner: It's a good tie.
16) The Jungle
SNES version:
Jungle Jitters
GBA version:
Jungle Jitters
The GBA version is an amazing Jungle Japes remix from DKC1. I love this track. Unfortunately it starts with almost a minute of jungle noises. Why, David, why?
The SNES version, well, it feels like they took all the leftovers and cut parts of other compositions and made a song out of it.
Winner: GBA
17) The Bosses
SNES version:
Regular Bosses
Last Boss
GBA version:
Boss Theme 1
Boss Theme 2
I'm not particularly fond of either of the GBA boss themes. They both sound too passive for my tastes and the melody is not enticing. The regular boss theme for the SNES is better, it has a sense of urgency, but the melody is not that interesting either.
But the last boss theme? Wow. It starts with a menacing angry electric guitar scream, as if a huge monster is getting tortured. The melody of the song is pretty great too.
Winner: SNES
I will not compare the Bears theme, or any of the Kong family's theme, or any other theme because neither are particularly interesting in either game. And frankly, I have been constructing this thread for 4 hours now and I'm tired.
Conclusion:
From what I can gather, it seems that the soundtrack for the SNES DKC3 was more carefully planned, and the music fit the stages and areas very well. While the GBA version feels like DWise composed a bunch of GREAT disconnected songs which were then shoehorned into the stages, judging by how many tracks don't feel like they belong in certain stages. While the SNES version has the edge when it comes to better music tracks, the GBA version isn't too far behind.