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OCR02126 - King Kong 2 (MSX) "End of the Adventure"


djpretzel
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Feels great to have this one posted! I'd like to encourage all of you to take a listen to the incredible work Konami did back in the 80s with the MSX. There are, literally, dozens of masterpieces from a musical and gaming perspective. Take a particular look at 'King's Valley II', 'F1 Spirit', 'Space Manbow', 'Penguin Adventure', 'Knightmare', 'The Treasure of Usas', 'Firebird', 'The Maze of Galious', to quote some titles unavailable outside the MSX world. 'Penguin Adventure' has Mr. Kojima behind it, for example. Konami was so into Sound Design and Music, that included a Custom Sound Chip (called SCC) into their Rom Cartridges that expanded the 4 channels found on the MSX up to 9 adding 5 extra channels. And they really did use that added hardware bringing into the games some of the best music you've ever hearded into a videogame, just for the sake of highlighting the custom hardware.

So yes, I'm quite biased towards Konami and the MSX. But this comes for a reason, one I've tried to emphasize with these 3 mixes I've done into this EP 'Push Space Key (A Konami Tribute)': I just can't stand the feeling that all this incredible work just doesn't get the recognition it trully deserves.

I'm preparing for a second EP 'Press F5 to continue (Another Konami Tribute)'. (Obviously, you can imagine both sentences 'Push Space Key' and 'Press F5 to continue' were almost tied to every Konami game written for the MSX) The schedule is right now '2012', so, anyone getting some more MSX love before then?

Best,

Jorge

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  • 2 weeks later...

This is a really cool arrangement; definitely Pirates of the Caribbean-esque. I would say, though, that the PotC soundtracks definitely has in general a more dire/urgent edge to them, but this is definitely just as epic. The piano lead is amazing; I just love how it flows.

I really like this a lot, but I do feel like something is missing; there's just some level it doesn't quite hit, but it's still an awesome song.

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This is a very interesting song. I think that most orchestral remixes which go for the movie soundtrack feeling end up sounding too close to something e.g. Hans Zimmer would produce, loosing their video game roots.

This, however, is different. Except for the string-heavy section around 1:50, it never sounds too movie-ish; there's always a hint of good ol' video game composition to be found in it.

Obviously, I haven't listened to all movie soundtracks out there, so my comparison might be me just talking out of my ass, but that's how I feel anyway. Great job.

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If there's something I targeted to do with the 3 MSX mixes was, far beyond a better or worse interpretation of the source, being able to transmit the true feeling of excitement I had when I played these games.

I'm 37 right now, and most of them were played when I was 13.

So SD Snatcher was a spionage trhill, Salamander a dangerous and tragic epic space battle, and King Kong 2 a misterious and powerfull adventure in Japanese that I never got to understand.

The second goal was, again beyond the scope of the site, a true tribute to these genious that trough music and wonderfull games made me felt true emotions in fornt of a computer.

And last, but not least, a vision of true REMAKES of these games that, in my opinion, would prefectly suit these magnified versions I wrote.

So, if by any chance Konami has plans to do so, needless to say I would be trhilled to get the job, but please, whoever got it, I wish they got to transmit this sense of excitement via melody-based themes that I miss nowadays in recent games. :D

Best,

Jorge

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  • 1 year later...

King Kong! All I know about Konami's handling of it is that he appeared in Wai Wai World on the NES, but that was it :razz:

What you did with the source does indeed feel so much like that a movie score in a way; starting with that gentle piano intro, moving onto an interpretation of the theme that does strike similar dynamic similarities to the main theme of Pirates of the Caribbean (seemingly an intent due to the mix description), along with some nice buildup work in the middle and variation on the riff once more. It to me may sound like a straightforward arrangement, but what was handled with the source even in the lesser pronounced sections was highlighted remarkably well, and thus I approve of your passion for all things MSX with what you did.

Production wise, it managed to sound very sharp and well established; the strings to me feel lush and them along with the driving percussion are seen as key components for the track's realisation. That piano to me does indeed sound very heavily snapped though, which I'm not even sure is the intent of the work, but if something like that could be more realised given the nature of it being a 'key' instrument (double meaning?), then I can see you going places for even a fourth MSX arrangement for the site.

That said, hopefully you'll make a return in 2012 with more ways to honor the system! I'll be keeping a hold on this one :)

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  • 4 months later...

Yep, you can't really miss the PotC feel in this one, which makes it that much better in my opinion. The piano and strings were excellent in this and it screams "we're going on an epic journey". Love the way the drums were used here, not too loud, but you have a great crisp sound to it. Great ending as well.

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  • 10 months later...
  • Liontamer changed the title to OCR02126 - King Kong 2 (MSX) "End of the Adventure"

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