Listen to the mix:
http://avgmix.blogspot.com/2018/05/avgm1-60-minute-shock.html
I can remember being on Holiday and pumping money into one of their multi cart cabinets. Every time i'd come back to the same games, mainly because the music was always spot on. Nominally started with Soccer Brawl and Fatal Fury before finding Art of fighting, Samurai Showdown and Windjammers.
The huge price of the home console stopped me looking any further in the 90's despite temptations. I waited till the late 2000's before diving back in with emulation. This time round checking out Magical Drop, Super Dodge Ball and the amazing Waku Waku 7. Also finally a chance to catch up with the outstanding King of Fighters series!
Rationale
Selecting tracks for the mix was fun. Bit of a nostalgia trip into my teens with tons of rave, rock, funk and hip-hop style tracks to sift through. A lot of songs were pretty amped up, reminding me of the intensity you'd get from playing the actual arcade cabinet.
I've tried to stick to a couple of genres at points during the mix while including some absolute favourites. I was surprised that the Neo Geo could produce songs as diverse as classical and drum n bass.
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| https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10441 |
Check out the slap bass on this one! Windjammers have been brought to the fore front recently with a re-release.
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| https://www.fightersgeneration.com/games/realboutspecial.html |
This track made me picture a blaxploitation film set in Hong Kong...
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| http://www.vizzed.com/play/magical-drop-ii-mame-arcade-52252-game |
Entering the pop section of the mix-tape, a straight up disco number.
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| http://www.mobygames.com/game/neo-geo/twinkle-star-sprites/screenshots/gameShotId,380358/ |
Reminded me a little of 80's Stock Aiken Waterman productions but with a 90's dance remix on top. The Sky Stage 1 track from this game features the same tune with out the piano loops over the top and a slower beat.
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| https://hg101.kontek.net/sunsoftfighters/sunsoftfighters2.htm |
Waku Waku 7 is a bonkers but entertaining fighting game which features some cracking characters. One of them is explorer extraordinare Dandy J who's stage music this track features. Action packed wild western with awesome harmonica solo.
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| https://hg101.kontek.net/sunsoftfighters/sunsoftfighters2.htm |
Got an 80's action movie vibe about this one. Nods to synthtastic John Carpenter film scores and the open tom toms that wouldn't be amiss in a Genesis track.
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| https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/mutation-nation-2/ |
Early 90's breaks complete with guitar stabs. Funky synth saxophone added for good measure... where are my high tops at? Seriously I can picture those giant suits that were popular back in the day.
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| http://game-oldies.com/play-online/street-hoop-snk-neo-geo |
Sticking with the hip hop vibes, this track features some voice samples. You can clearly hear what's being said although it sounds like it's through an old cb radio.
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| https://moegamer.net/2018/01/29/neo-geo-essentials-neo-turf-masters/ |
Ahhhh yeaahhhh! Smooth easy listening jazz, great accompaniment before hitting the back nine and relaxing at the club house. Fits in so well with the pace of the game.
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| http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/view.htm |
I had a had time picking a single track from this game as there are so many good ones. In the end the SWV 90's RnB vibe won out. I'm sure the drum roll is from Eric B and Rakim.
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| http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/prehistoric-isle-2 |
Classical piece here, something about the crescendo part really stuck with me.
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| http://coolrom.com/roms/neogeo/26/Fatal_Fury_3.php |
Another solid classic toned piece here, slightly creepy start, would not be out of place in a castlevania.
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| http://www.neo-geo.com/reviews/neo-reviews/lastblade/lastblade.html |
It'd be a crime not to include something from the often overlooked Last Blade. A semi-romantic classical piece from a time where samurai were real samurai...
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| http://www.neogeofun.com/sdodgeb |
Not quite sure where to place this one, techno rave style starting leads into pumping rock track. Change in time signatures here too... just what you need when you face an end of level boss.
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| http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof99hero.htm |
Loved the use of jet engine samples in this track. Pumping techno working you up for another big bad. Wouldn't be out of place in a modern day fighting game.
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| https://hl2b.com/game.php?id=5548 |
Reminded me of very early techno... before it even knew what it was. A quality example from early on in the arcade systems life. Sigue Sigue Sputnik anyone?
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| http://www.neo-geo.com/reviews/neo-reviews/shocktroop1/shocktroopers.html |
The Shock Troopers sound track is full of drum and bass loops. I picked this one out the bunch as it had the dark and moody vibe and very unpredictable breaks. Another soundtrack to add to my rotation list.
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| https://www.emuparadise.me/M.A.M.E._-_Multiple_Arcade_Machine_Emulator_ROMs/Galaxy_Fight_-_Universal_Warriors/13061 |
Time to rock out! Nice pace to this one, with some good variety to keep you pumped up.
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| https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Samurai_Shodown/Characters/Earthquake |
Samurai showdown has some great thematic pieces for each fighter, but I was having difficulty placing any other than this beast of track. Crank up the Judas Priest style guitar for this one. I can feel my skin getting redder as my POW meter fills up!
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| http://nes123.com/5379 |
A bit of thrash from a soccer game? Why not.
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| http://www.mobygames.com/game/neo-geo/savage-reign/screenshots/gameShotId,240047/ |
A good comedy rock piece, still tons of pace to it!
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| http://www.honestgamers.com/10614/neogeo/last-resort/game.html |
All good things mus come to and end. Closing credits track right here... walking off into the sunset.
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| https://www.emuparadise.me/Neo_Geo_ROMs/Rage_of_the_Dragons_(Decrypted_C)_(Non-MAME)/119729 |
Finishing on a feel good track, amazing to hear how far the speech samples came along from street hoops.
So that sums up the first Mixtape, thoughts below as always.
