The Nintendo Power Retrospectives - Part 3

This time I'm taking a look at Fun Club News #3, featuring Metroid and Rad Racer.

This time I'm taking a look at Fun Club News #3, featuring Metroid and Rad Racer.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bDxjmG7_E0E?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <br />

We *heart* the YM2612 - The Arrangements of GeckoYamori

In the past, I've express my love for video game songs arranged in synth for a different console. Each of the 8 and 16-bit consoles/arcades/computers had a very unique sound, and the interpretations made by fans are astounding.

Somehow I came across the works of GeckoYamori on Youtube today, and found a number of excellent SNES songs redone using the YM2612 + SN76489 sound ships found in the Genesis. I know that Nintendo has retrospectively won the 16-bit wars or whatever and the Genesis looked and sounded awful. But, yeah, OK, the SNES sound chip could sound amazing in very particular circumstances, but there's something very hard edged about wailing FM synth guitars and crunchy PCM drums. Personally I think this arrangements are better than their SNES originals, but that's because GeckoYamori did a damn fine job with them.




Here's a bunch of different songs from Super Metroid. Sounds really damn moody.



Here's the first stage of Axelay. Again, totally excellent. Someone in the Youtube comments suggested that the only thing that could make it better would be the orchestral hits found in the soundtrack to practically every Konami arcade game of the early 90s. (And TMNT: Hyperstone Heist for the Genesis, of course.)



Were you disappointed that Sonic 4's music sounded like a Genesis game, except really, really hollow for some reason? This version corrects that. Way better than the official version.



The above (and next two) are from Mega Man X3. I never really liked this soundtrack all that much, but I think it had more to do with the sample programming than the actual composition. It worked great for the style in the first Mega Man X, but both the second and third SNES games sounded really weird. Some of these were improved by the arrangements for the CD versions of X3, but I wasn't a particular big fan of that style. (Here's the SNES and CD versions to compare.) These Genesis mixes really make the songs shine, though. Outstanding work.



MMX3 - Blast Hornet



MMX3 - Toxic Seahorse

In the past, I've <a href="http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2010/06/songs-of-moment-castlevania-and-contra.html">express my love for video game songs arranged in synth for a different console.</a> Each of the 8 and 16-bit consoles/arcades/computers had a very unique sound, and the interpretations made by fans are astounding.<br /> <br /> Somehow I came across the works of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/geckoyamori">GeckoYamori</a> on Youtube today, and found a number of excellent SNES songs redone using the YM2612 + SN76489 sound ships found in the Genesis. I know that Nintendo has retrospectively won the 16-bit wars or whatever and the Genesis looked and sounded awful. But, yeah, OK, the SNES sound chip could sound amazing in very particular circumstances, but there's something very hard edged about wailing FM synth guitars and crunchy PCM drums. Personally I think this arrangements are better than their SNES originals, but that's because GeckoYamori did a damn fine job with them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFMsrHCFXj0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFMsrHCFXj0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /> <br /> Here's a bunch of different songs from Super Metroid. Sounds really damn moody.<br /> <br /> <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_puu8KSDxcY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_puu8KSDxcY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /> <br /> Here's the first stage of <a href="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/konamishooters/konamishooters6.htm">Axelay</a>. Again, totally excellent. Someone in the Youtube comments suggested that the only thing that could make it better would be the orchestral hits found in the soundtrack to practically every Konami arcade game of the early 90s. (And TMNT: Hyperstone Heist for the Genesis, of course.)<br /> <span class="fullpost"><br /> <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MCtXDkMX9Ss?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MCtXDkMX9Ss?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /> <br /> Were you disappointed that Sonic 4's music sounded like a Genesis game, except really, really hollow for some reason? This version corrects that. Way better than the official version.<br /> <br /> <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OUwg-n1GgOo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OUwg-n1GgOo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /> <br /> The above (and next two) are from Mega Man X3. I never really liked this soundtrack all that much, but I think it had more to do with the sample programming than the actual composition. It worked great for the style in the first Mega Man X, but both the second and third SNES games sounded really weird. Some of these were improved by the arrangements for the CD versions of X3, but I wasn't a particular big fan of that style. (Here's the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ukxh9Ra5oQ&feature=related">SNES</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HH87QfF_kg&feature=related">CD</a> versions to compare.) These Genesis mixes really make the songs shine, though. Outstanding work.<br /> <br /> <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tGkbO2jcMoI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tGkbO2jcMoI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /> <br /> MMX3 - Blast Hornet<br /> <br /> <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/my1vSVle7gs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/my1vSVle7gs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /> <br /> MMX3 - Toxic Seahorse<br /> </span>

I'm sorry, Samus. I'm afraid I can't let you do that.

So, Metroid: Other M has had some time to simmer in the public, giving us a chance to see if the panic over it's initial critical response was a little too hasty - or too forgiving, depending on who you ask. There's no denying that changes were made to the formula, whether for the better or not, I guess that depends on what exactly you wanted to get out of it, but for the most-part, things are just sort of different, but in a way that suits the kind of game Other M turned out to be.

One point that seems to have taken a great deal of criticism is that, in contrast to other Metroid games, where you start off fairly underpowered and find new weapons and abilities as you go, this time around, you start the game off with all your cool upgrades already equipped, but are not allowed to use any of them until you're given authorization to do so by a man named Adam Malkovich, your former commanding officer, and the guy who's actually in charge of the rescue mission around which the game revolves. I don't want to go into too many details, for fear of spoiling some of the events, but I will say that, at best, it's no less ridiculous than introducing some random plot contrivance to have Samus lose all her gear yet again, at worst, it's fairly clumsy and introduces some strange holes into the already shaky plot, potentially calling into question whether or not Malkovich is fit to lead a dance, let alone a rescue, but the points where any of this matter are few and far between, and the majority of the game is spent running around in different environments teeming with otherworldly atmosphere, exploring, shooting space bugs, finding hidden trinkets, and making mental notes of places you'd probably like to re-visit once you're authorized to use this thing or that, things that should all feel pretty familiar to fans of the series.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWvYqaNMo3IgwxL9g_MKKzhZJzxE9zsztoQmzaSoD_RxgM-URhDbcplVNd8e_79x4uZNCLzJ4dRb6HK9YlgbwmruN33fkjFWhIxDIjx4i96Ikg0tHmrPgjx3CzmXkRCIozbl6SBTl1vA/s1600/Hal-9000.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516192848700816498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWvYqaNMo3IgwxL9g_MKKzhZJzxE9zsztoQmzaSoD_RxgM-URhDbcplVNd8e_79x4uZNCLzJ4dRb6HK9YlgbwmruN33fkjFWhIxDIjx4i96Ikg0tHmrPgjx3CzmXkRCIozbl6SBTl1vA/s400/Hal-9000.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;"></a>So, Metroid: Other M has had some time to simmer in the public, giving us a chance to see if the panic over it's initial critical response was a little too hasty - or too forgiving, depending on who you ask. There's no denying that changes were made to the formula, whether for the better or not, I guess that depends on what exactly you wanted to get out of it, but for the most-part, things are just sort of different, but in a way that suits the kind of game Other M turned out to be.<br><br>One point that seems to have taken a great deal of criticism is that, in contrast to other Metroid games, where you start off fairly underpowered and find new weapons and abilities as you go, this time around, you start the game off with all your cool upgrades already equipped, but are not allowed to use any of them until you're given authorization to do so by a man named Adam Malkovich, your former commanding officer, and the guy who's actually in charge of the rescue mission around which the game revolves. I don't want to go into too many details, for fear of spoiling some of the events, but I will say that, at best, it's no less ridiculous than introducing some random plot contrivance to have Samus lose all her gear yet again, at worst, it's fairly clumsy and introduces some strange holes into the already shaky plot, potentially calling into question whether or not Malkovich is fit to lead a dance, let alone a rescue, but the points where any of this matter are few and far between, and the majority of the game is spent running around in different environments teeming with otherworldly atmosphere, exploring, shooting space bugs, finding hidden trinkets, and making mental notes of places you'd probably like to re-visit once you're authorized to use this thing or that, things that should all feel pretty familiar to fans of the series.

The Wonderful World of Bootleg Merchandise

So some of the folks over at Cheapassgamer discovered this little bit of brilliance:



Yup, a Metroid thong. Click the picture for an Amazon link, too. Hoho! Sure is wacky. Given the way that Hot Topic and the like are whoring out 8-bit nostalgia to an audience that wasn't even really alive to appreciate it unironically, it wouldn't surprise me if these were somehow legitimate. Looking at the piece, though, it clearly isn't, as it seems like the smart folk at Carson's Collectibles went wild on Cafepress and stuck the same picture of Samus on practically every piece imaginable. Here are some of the best!















The best part of all of this was the extreme fervor Mr. Carson had in sticking Samus on stuff the intended audience would absolutely have no interest in. Does anyone under the age of sixty actually use letter openers? Who in their right mind would wear Metroid cufflinks? It's this sort of enthusiastic disregard for copyright infringement that sets this apart from the average Chinatown vendor.

So some of the folks over at Cheapassgamer discovered this little bit of brilliance:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Thong-of-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQLND2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480875&sr=1-1"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-thong.jpg"></a><br /><br />Yup, a Metroid thong. Click the picture for an Amazon link, too. Hoho! Sure is wacky. Given the way that Hot Topic and the like are whoring out 8-bit nostalgia to an audience that wasn't even really alive to appreciate it unironically, it wouldn't surprise me if these were somehow legitimate. Looking at the piece, though, it clearly isn't, as it seems like the smart folk at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=me%3DAF397YG75M9GK&field-keywords=metroid&x=0&y=0">Carson's Collectibles</a> went wild on Cafepress and stuck the same picture of Samus on practically every piece imaginable. Here are some of the best!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teddybear-Teddy-Bear-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQLMNS/ref=sr_1_104?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480700&sr=1-104"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-teddybear.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/BBQ-Apron-of-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQLLWA/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480833&sr=1-29"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-apron.jpg"></a><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hip-Flask-oz-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQNQP0/ref=sr_1_56?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480792&sr=1-56"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-flask.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Letter-Opener-of-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQLNVO/ref=sr_1_67?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480792&sr=1-67"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-letteropener.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Italian-Charm-Watch-Metroid/dp/B002DQFOJG/ref=sr_1_53?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480792&sr=1-53"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-watch.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cufflinks-Oval-of-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQE19A/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480833&sr=1-41"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-cufflinks.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Floral-Tote-Bag-Metroid-Samus/dp/B002DQHSUY/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&m=AF397YG75M9GK&s=generic&qid=1265480833&sr=1-46"><img border="0" src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/metroid-totebag.jpg"></a><br /><br />The best part of all of this was the extreme fervor Mr. Carson had in sticking Samus on stuff the intended audience would absolutely have no interest in. Does anyone under the age of sixty actually use letter openers? Who in their right mind would wear Metroid cufflinks? It's this sort of enthusiastic disregard for copyright infringement that sets this apart from the average Chinatown vendor.<br /></span>

Win Some Cool Free Metroid Stuff

Fellow Classicgaming refugee (and current fellow Kontek hostee) The Metroid Database is hosting a Design Your Own Metroid contest. The rules are below:

1. Create a Metroid using any kind of material or materials. (Be it plastic, clay, junk or trash, food, etc. The more creative the better. Big, small, heavy, light, soft, or squishy, go crazy!)
2. No drawings or 3D CGI accepted. The Metroid must be a real, physical object you can touch.
3. Take a photograph (or even upload a video if you want) of your creation and send it to us!
4. Just so we know it's your work, have a note with "MDb" on it somewhere in the image.
5. Entries are due by December 31, 2009 -- GET CRACKIN!

There's some cool prizes too:



1st place Prize:
* Metroid Prime Trilogy for Wii
* $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com
* Metroid Prime Trilogy official poster
* Signed 11x17 Metroid Artwork Print by Ivan Flores*

2nd place prize:
* Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for Wii
* Metroid Prime 3 T-Shirt (black, Size L)
* Samus Wall Sticker
* Signed 11x17 Metroid Artwork Print by Ivan Flores*

3rd place prize:
* Metroid Classic Series for GBA
* Metroid Prime 3 T-Shirt (white, Size L)
* Signed 11x17 Metroid Artwork Print by Ivan Flores*

That's some good stuff, even if you already have the games. Kinda wish I had some semblance of artistic talent...
Fellow Classicgaming refugee (and current fellow Kontek hostee) <a href="http://www.metroid-database.com/">The Metroid Database</a> is hosting a <a href="http://www.metroid-database.com/index.php?g=features&p=contest">Design Your Own Metroid contest</a>. The rules are below: <br /><br /><b>1. Create a Metroid using any kind of material or materials. (Be it plastic, clay, junk or trash, food, etc. The more creative the better. Big, small, heavy, light, soft, or squishy, go crazy!)<br />2. No drawings or 3D CGI accepted. The Metroid must be a real, physical object you can touch.<br />3. Take a photograph (or even upload a video if you want) of your creation and send it to us!<br />4. Just so we know it's your work, have a note with "MDb" on it somewhere in the image.<br />5. Entries are due by December 31, 2009 -- GET CRACKIN!</b><br /><br />There's some cool prizes too:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blog/mam_prizes_thm.jpg"></center><br /><br /><b> 1st place Prize:<br /> * Metroid Prime Trilogy for Wii<br /> * $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com<br /> * Metroid Prime Trilogy official poster<br /> * Signed 11x17 Metroid Artwork Print by Ivan Flores*<br /><br /> 2nd place prize:<br /> * Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for Wii<br /> * Metroid Prime 3 T-Shirt (black, Size L)<br /> * Samus Wall Sticker<br /> * Signed 11x17 Metroid Artwork Print by Ivan Flores*<br /><br /> 3rd place prize:<br /> * Metroid Classic Series for GBA<br /> * Metroid Prime 3 T-Shirt (white, Size L)<br /> * Signed 11x17 Metroid Artwork Print by Ivan Flores*<br /></b><br />That's some good stuff, even if you already have the games. Kinda wish I had some semblance of artistic talent...