FM Synthesizer chip YM2612 demo - Volume 3
33This is the third video of the YM2612, the soundchip of the Genesis / MegaDrive.
The DAC (digital audio channel, PCM) is disabled, as well as the PSG, a left-over from the 8-bit MasterSystem.
The songs are all from MegaDrive games and may sound "empty" or like something's missing because due to the lack of the PSG and DAC. But it's all about the YM2612, and this is what you can hear.
1) CHEETAHMEN / BILLY BOB
The infamous game Action 52 for the NES is probably the worst and unlicensed compilation of garbage ever. The Genesis version was much better, so the music. The author, the NU ROMANTIC PRODUCTIONS, are known for their funky music (e.g. from KID CHAMELEON), and with the soundset from TOEJAM AND EARL PANIC ON FUNKOTRON, the Action52 soundtrack is overall funky.
2) Curacao from GREENDOG. I liked that music, it was always so chilling and made me whistle certain tunes. This game waited for me at my grandparents house whenever I stayed there for holidays. So the music has a special value to me. PAUL GADBOIS uses the same instrument set as TALESPIN, note the well-sounding slap bass.
3) The main menu theme from LEMMINGS 2 lacks the DAC. Where you expect the "Wua-Wow" sound there's nothing, but then a fully-fledged FM song appears. Nice stereo effects and much FM-style is going on there. Listen to that snarrling sound "in the middle" of the stereo panorama giving some kind of background melody.
4) Ah, the LAKESIDE AT SUNSET from TINY TOONS. I always thought those cartoon songs (mostly old-fashioned instruments like trumpets) are only good at the SNES, but no, the OPN2 shows his capability.
5) Jesus Christ, I shit my pants when hearing that song from LANDSTALKER. In 1997 (?) my cousin got that game and they almost became insane trying to get over that passage that song is from: You are in a dungeon with eight (?) tombs, each one is a riddle. The person burried in that room died by a certain circumstance and it was up to you to "re-enact" that situation. If you get all 8 riddles done, you are allowed to pass a river. We managed to get all trough these riddles, except for one. It was something about "[Years lived, died] He has been a good natured person who would never hurt someone even his own life is in danger". Then three enemies appear in that room (bubbles). I always told them to get hit and wait. But nothing happened. The reason is you must almost be killed before the riddle is solved. So being hit once does not do anything. With your last few HP left you could pass this. It took my brother from 1997 - 2006 to make it. Now you can imagine how often that song played on hot summer days in a small village in a creepy 110-year old house with even a fatility in the ground floor and how it freaked me out. He wanted to solve that riddle, and I just wanted to ENJOY MY FUCKING HOLIDAYS........
6) Yeah, COOLSPOT. Who does NOT know him? Wheneve I see 7-up lemonade I think about the red dot surfing on a bottle. The rave dancetune is a cool song, but lacks for the DAC drums. I like the bassline most.