Hands-On: Streets of Rage 2 Soundtrack

[Melf]

Yuzo Koshiro's masterful tunes for Streets of Rage 2 have long been held as the best in the series, and so great was the demand for them that they were released separately. We put the collection through its paces in our full review (http://www.sega-16.com/2006/07/hands-on-streets-of-rage-2-original-soundtrack/).

[Nazza]

Good read, but the titlebar says "Streets of Ragw" and the italics continue after "clearly ahead of his time".

[GeckoYamori]

I thought the EQing was terrible. There's hardly any mid-range frequencies in there. I'd much prefer listening to a game rip.

[Benjamin]

If anyone is interested, these are the notes I made while comparing the CD and game. I mapped the BGMs to all of the CD tracks, made some brief notes, and linked each song to every stage section it's heard in. I lost my Little Money Avenue notes. :(

BGM 00 / Go Straight / CD version uses 2nd melody part -- stage 1.1 (red light district)
BGM 01 / Go Straight / CD version uses 1st melody part and jazzy chorus
BGM 02 / Never Return Alive / CD version - boss themes for stages 1.b (back of bar), 2.b (end of bridge), 3.b (alien attraction), 4.b (underground fight club - new stage), 5.b (rear of deck), 6.b (end of jungle road) 7.b (rooftop)
BGM 03 / In the Bar / CD version -- stage 1.2 (bar)
BGM 04 / In the Bar / slower tempo version
BGM 05 / Jungle Base / stage 6.2 (jungle road)
BGM 06 / Slow Moon / stages 5.1 (inside ship), 5.2 (next ship room), and 5.3 (on ship deck)
BGM 07 / Spin on the Bridge / stages 2.1 (first bridge section) and 2.3 (second bridge section and boss fight)
BGM 08 / Too Deep / stage 4.3 (secret elevator)
BGM 09 / Little Money Avenue
BGM 10 / S.O.R. Super Mix / stages 8.1 (office), 8.2 (elevator), and the intro cinema
BGM 11 / NOT ON CD / stage end jingle
BGM 12 / Wave 131 / stage 6.1 (beach)
BGM 13 / Max Man / stage 7.2 (Mr. X's office)
BGM 14 / Dreamer / stages 3.1 (amusement park entrance), 3.2 (arcade), 3.3 (inside "Pirates"), 3.4 (next room), and 3.6 (back out in the park)
BGM 15 / Under Logic / stages 4.1 (outside stadium) and 4.2 (on the baseball field),
BGM 16 / Never Return Alive / "rain" intro -- stage 1.3 (back of bar boss fight)
BGM 17 / Revenge of Mr. X / stage 7.2 (Mr. X's office)
BGM 18 / Alien Power / stage 3.7 (alien attraction)
BGM 19 / Expander / stage 7.2 (elevator)
BGM 20 / Ready Funk / CD version - stage 3.5 (pirate ship deck)
BGM 21 / Ready Funk / rumble in background - stage 2.2 (inside truck)
BGM 22 / Walking Bottom / CD version - more parts to the CD version -- "select screen music")
BGM 23 / NOT ON CD / game Over jingle
BGM 24 / Back to the Industry / stage 7.1 (factory)
BGM 25 / Good End / ending

[djtwok]

I thought the EQing was terrible. There's hardly any mid-range frequencies in there. I'd much prefer listening to a game rip.

I agree- already ripped my favorite Genesis/Gamegear Soundtracks.

[Benjamin]

The EQing of the songs I think changes with the CD since it is able to do true, real low bass notes, lower than the Genesis is capable of putting out without distorting itself. Since most of the tracks are basically low bass notes and higher synth sounds, it doesn't leave much midrange, but it's not something I would say detracts from the soundtrack. I prefer the cleaner tracks myself, but to each his own.

[Ash]

I do remember very clearly reading all the praises in the magazines when Streets of Rage 2 was released. ( I too was amazed by the Genesis's auditory abilities and had it connected to my stereo. ) I cranked up the stereo, turned it on and was prepared for something awesome, but it just never happened. None of the tracks moved me the way Revenge of Shinobi and the previous Streets of Rage did. This thread reminds me of my disappointment so long ago..... Anywho, I must say it was all put to shame by the Thunderforce 4 soundtrack. It still puts a smile on my face to this day.

[ary incorparated]

TF4 is the smile.one minor and thats the good hope back then fore another TF game in the same vein as TF4 on the genesis,i like the rock,heavy stuff allot and the guitar was kindo good,genesis can do really good guitar imitation hear dick vitals Awesome Baby,Okay its a crap game but uses sdome really nice guitar Tones Trough the crappy music,i still wonder if i ever heard a good guitarish solo on the genesis,probably not.Ohh yeah chuck rock LOl,and Road rash had a fun one but not tuning the sound harder.

[segagamer]

If ppl don't like the EQ levels on the soundtrack CD, why not just use an audio equalizer or something similar to adjust and balance out the sound on the CD? I use the one included with Windows Media Player to make it sound more alive.