I heard MyLifeInGaming also reference how epic it is. Am I missing a reference? It was clever, I'm assuming Joe wrote a song and then used AI to create it, but from all the hype I feel like I'm missing the punchline.
“Why did they even bother to include the chip if they’re almost never using it?” - good question, and one thing the internet seems to forget is that most of these chips were first *graphics and memory mappers*, with audio as a _secondary capability_. The Namco 163, for example, expands the program ROM space from 32KiB (stock NES) to 512KiB. Some others, like the MMC5, even allow for mid-frame tile swaps and scroll effects that are not possible with a stock NES or Famicom.
He overlooked the fact that the NES was unable to use audio expansion chips like the Famicom. It's not just that the rest of the world "wasn't ready." While the NES had more pins in the cartridge connector than the Famicom, it was lacking the audio pin.
@@Chris-uj3dh I think OP has a point with what he said about the chips not being only for audio (definitely an oversight), but I think that that part about the world not being ready is just Joe being funny.
Great Episode! Fun fact. Jake Kaufman composed his music using a VRC6 for the Shovel Knight games. It's really great! I have a modded NES and an original Famicom just for the purpose of music.
I will never not love the Castlevania 3 soundtrack. The NES version actually was great for what it was, but I was blown away the first time I heard the VRC6 version.
@@PlasticCogLiquid that’s not why, silly. We would have been so impressed that we’d have constantly dropped our controllers and started clapping. Like when we’re in a movie theater, or when a plane lands. Or after a meal. Or a really satisfying bathroom trip.
Man, these technical episodes just keep getting better. Being able to isolate the individual chip contributions and then comparing them makes a real impact. Well done as always and look forward to the next one.
Wow!!! That ending is pure lunacy, even for you!!! And if that was done with AI, it's the single best use of it ive ever seen. And if not? Then how?!?!!!
He responded to my comment and said he wrote ALL the lyrics. :) And I think we can assume that the music was AI composed to his lyrics. I really hope he does more stuff like that because it was epic. And I mean as a first try even, imagine if he really gets into it. He could put out some retro game themed bangers for sure.
@cajampa yeah, agreed. That's exactly what I thought too. After years of watching, those lyrics were joe through and through! Cheers for confirming that though mate, much appreciated.
So there were two separate decisions from Nintendo involved here: 1. No audio pins on the NES cartridge. 2. No third-party chips allowed (games that used a third-party mapper like the VRC6 had to be re-written to use one of Nintendo's chips). Most of the chips that had audio capability were third party, but even Nintendo's own MMC5 had extra audio that unfortunately went unused in the west because there was nowhere for it to go.
Number 2 isn't quite true some Sunsoft, Namco and Konami mappers did make it into NES cartridges. But for number 1 yeah why they would expand the number of pins on the connector but drop the audio pins, there's theory's but no real explanation.
@@schaffiourketaris2691 That's for Japan, the Famicom didn't have a lockout chip and so everyone could make cartridges for it. For the NES, Nintendo decided that they should be the only company allowed to fabricate the cartridges, and so they added those extra restrictions.
Also they moved the pins to the bottom expansion connector because they probably intended to release a Disk System that docked to the bottom. It's likely that they never anticipated that cartridge games with expansion chips would become much of a thing, especially not with extra audio. And of course some of the added pins are for the lockout chip so that the chip on the console can communicate with the one on the cartridge.
@@Nukle0n You beat me, that is what i was about to comment. The external audio pin was relocated into the expansion connector on the botton of the NES, most likely to accomadate an American version of the Famicom Disk System that sadly never happened.
@@Nukle0n Yes Nintendo made all the cartridges but some do have 3rd party mappers for instance Batman return of the Joker and Mr Gimmick use the Sunsoft FME-7 chip.
The look on your face while you sauntered across the room for another game was pretty epic, not gonna lie. Really made my day. Thanks, Joe. Never change.
Few things I think were not touched upon in this episode, especially noting when the chips are not fully utilized for audio and quipping why even have it: These chips were multi functional, and were Japanese versions of mappers. The added sound capability was just one of many features they provide as they also do same jobs MMC chips do in western games, hence why Akumajou Dracula is powered by VRC-6 in Japan and it needed MMC5 in west. Many of MMC chips were not even used in Japan because the companies had solved the problem themselves with their own chips, and they thought why not go all out during it. So games that might have utilized the sound capability less were likely just modern games that needed modern memory mappers and sound was indeed inconsequential, but the hardware is still there for a reason, they cannot just throw away a fancy enhancement chip that was more or less a requirement for competitive modern Famicom game very much so as in west. It seems the sound capabilities of VRC-7 (Lagrange Point) are very close to expansion audio chips and cartridges Konami produced for MSX2. My source aside I made it the F up is that SD Snatcher (For MSX2, which has it's own audio enhancement cartridge) and Lagrange Point both use exactly same sound effects for menu choice. If I had played more SD Snatcher I would note if any other sounds were the same or extremely similar between the two platforms and games. Namco 163: I think there is omission of two titles here: Pac-Man Championship Edition (For Famicom) and I think likely Gaplus though I cannot make sure. These are both modern and officially digital only. But, M2 handling Namcot Collection/Namco Collection 1 & 2 were such detail and style freaks that they made these (somewhat) new Famicom games to match and use Namco 163, or at least, Pac-Man Championship Edition does. It utilizes the sound capability to make extremely good BGM for the game. Gaplus has less BGM but the soundscape is much richer than in other Galaxian/Galaga titles on the system. While digital, these titles work fully on actual hardware with expanded audio if you sacrifice a namco163 game for your reproduction, or use a flashcart that has expansion audio simulation capability (and if using western NES system, right kind of hardware modification to the console)
I just want to say this is the only youtube channel i give a like on every video because Joe isnt an obnoxious like beggar just like every other youtuber. Thank for the quality content all these years.
Joe, this summer marks the 10th year since I started watching Game Sack, but this skit is the absolute religious experience. Thank you so much for perfecting Game Sack for us no matter what!
Expansion audio is one of the reasons I had to get an AV Famicom. Hearing some of these sounds coming out of an 8-bit game is a really wild experience.
The VRC 7 was also used in Tiny Toon Adventures 2, however it was only the graphics and memory management side of things that was used, not the sound. All those chips allowed the Famicom to do things graphical that were not possible stock standard, from vertical scrolling, angle scrolling, animation in the back grounds, all sorts of things, I know it was sound topical, but I think you could have mentioned that also. Lagrange point is an amazing game, it was doing things graphically and gameplay wise that were unseen on the Famicom prior to its release in 1991, it has weapon building and a pretty deep story, a lot of the enemies were actually designed via readers of Famitsu and chosen via competition, also the MMC 5 is based on the VRC 6, those two Hal games were epic, give them some time and remember that you are playing a Famicom when doing so. Thank you for your video.
26:59 Okay, say what you want about the game itself, but you have to admit- that is some TENSE music to be playing during a Mahjong game! It sounds like something that would play when a killer is about to be unveiled in a murder mystery.
Fun fact about Dream Adventure: There's a rather vulgar easter egg that requires waiting _OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF_ before a code can be entered to show it. After beating the game, just sit there on the final image. Eventually, it turns black and white, then sepia, then after almost an hour later the music stops, press 🅰+🅱+ START + SELECT + ⬅ on controller 1 and 🅰+🅱+➡ on controller 2 to start some music, press 🅱+ SELECT +➡ on controller 1 and 🅱+↘ on controller 2 to play Hidemushi's first message, after the first message, press 🅰+🅱+⬆ for one last message. That's quite a long wait, isn't it? Even sped up in an emulator, it'd probably still take you half an hour waiting depending on how quickly the device you're using is able to fast forward. I've only seen a video of this message in Japanese. I wonder if the translation patch has it too?
You didn't cover digital devil monogatari 2. The ethereal sound of that game slaps hard, it also really nailed the sound of smt games as a whole in 8 bit
Thank you Joe, again u r super serving me what I want! I have everdrive pro N8 and I modded my NES so it actualy plays the expansion audio, so this is just the info I need to know what games to play to take advantage! The biggest one so far is japanese Castlevania 3, it sounds so amazing I cant believe it
The answer to every "why they even bothered" in this video is that the chips were used as mappers first. I guess they had a huge stock of them and didn't mind putting them in games that didn't really use the audio functionality. Also you missed Megami Tensei II
one cool thing about gimmick's soundtrack is some of the most distinctive tones are just clever programming of the 2A03 - the 5B isn't actually doing that much! since they didn't recode the music for the unexpanded release (just removed the 5B tracks and left everything else as is) that version is missing a lot of potential. i believe some people have made new versions of those songs with just the 2A03 to demonstrate just how much more could have been done to make the loss of those extra channels sting less
They recoded. The 5B was doing many of the sound effects on it's own before. I had a section in there with the Famicom on it's own and it's not identical to the NES release, but I removed it because it was getting annoying with that section being played so many times in a row.
If you're looking for a third game in the series, I wonder if the 32X fits the bill. I don't remember the specifics but the 32X added a few channels of PWM audio that were used in a few games.
I really love the subtle audio enhancements in famicom disc system ganes especially. Also i am very disappointed we didn't get to see joe playing dance aerobics with the powerpad on camera, that would have been incredible
That Namco 163 was *criminally* underused. It could have made Turbografx-16 audio commonplace on the Famicom, but got relegated to some beeps and buzzing in most games. There are some fan works that make much better use of the chip- for example, there are at least two fantastic N163 covers of Metal Squad (from Thunder Force IV). Raijin's version sounds like a high-end TG16 game, but ballandpaddle somehow manages to even top the Genesis version!
JRPGs from the Famicom/Nes era were still not as popular in the west. They started to get some popularity in the Super Famicom/SNES era but exploded in popularity with the Play Station 1 and Final Fantasy VII
It really boggles my mind why Nintendo seems so fond of using all these extra chips in their cartridges, seems like it was too late in the final production of the Famicom to add something extra? I rather have some extra chips in my console and have that a little more expensive, than having to buy more expensive games.
I will always miss Dave, but I love Game Sack as it is now. I’d have no problem nagging and saying “make a new channel” if I thought this was no longer “Game Sack”. But it has been since. You’re the man, Joe. Keep the flame burning 🔥
I remember growing up in the early 90s and Id go over to visit my grandparents. I'll never forget walking into my Grandfather's tool shed while he was listening to this old timey jazz song and it really peaked my interest. I asked my grandpa what the guy was singing about and he sat me down and told me about when he was a small boy the number one song was about 16 bit power and Greendog. He told me that naturally, they had no idea what the song was about but they liked it anyway.
Due to my username, I'm considered an authority on this subject, and I concur, Jesus does in fact love Green dog, as well as Game sack, Joe Redifer, you and even me.
7:36: TWOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo 🤣🤣🤣 excellent video, thanks for breaking down all these sound chips and especially each game, love the isolated sound demos too!
The Namco 163 was effectively a repurposing of the audio chip Namco developed for their early 80s arcade games like _Pac-Man, Galaga_ etc., which itself was few years ahead of the norm for those years. It says a lot that it was _still_ giving some of the best audio on a console through most of the 80s. The chip, or rather the emulation of said, was officially used one more time when Namco put together their Famicom de-make of _Pac Man Championship Edition._
Great episode and topic choice! NES audio (inc. expansions and DPCM) was one of the subjects that cemented my nerdy interest in games and gaming tech (you know, as opposed to just playing the games like a normal person). By the way, SanGokuShi is just the Japanese version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so you don't need fan translations!
Joe could you please make an episode about those 75 games 17:40 with enhanced audio on Famicom Disk System? Or at least share a link to the list of those games here? ❤
That last song the singer reminds me of John Fogerty. Now I wish Creedence Clearwater Revival made a Thunder Force 3 song. John Fogerty's voice singing about blowing things up would have been amazing.
While Family trainer erobic studio for the famicom just uses the M50805 chip for single channel 4/8bit pcm audio,but the us version of it just uses downsampled 1bit dpcm samples of it to make then playible on a western nes not only to get around if as an alternative solution but also for economical reasons as well,pretty clever😁
If I owned a retro gaming store I’d have all your videos playing endlessly on a vintage TV. Keep up the excellent content. You are dying breed of entertainment and among the best informative retro gaming YT channels. Always look forward to your next episode.
@@FIXTREME oh I know 😀 it’s just one of those iconic lines that always sticks. Mark is back on actually. I’ve seen some videos on the CGR channel. Now he has like a never ending live feed on there lol
I like how almost all of those Jaleco baseball games are substantially different from the previous one. None of that "same game as last year" nonsense from them.
@@skins4thewinYeah, good point. If your music sounds like something from the crappy NES port of 1942, you probably shouldn't use it once let alone multiple times.
Great episode, and I love how these extra chips can add layers to video game music. A few years ago I was in Japan, and I walked past a retro game store and heard a familiar tune, but it sounded a little different. It was the Legend of Zelda main theme, but it had additional instruments, and this extra chip thing was unknown to me at the time, I found it pretty darn cool.
Damn, you just increased SEGA's stock by at least 2% with that absolutely soul-cleansing ending commercial. Credits to whoever did the song too for they've done a beautiful job faithfully capturing the spirit of a 1940s-50s era gospel music.
@@Paulnap I think you mean "AI" but I did noticed a few glitchings here and there in the vocals. I was kinda hoping it was only the vocals that were AI and the music itself was human-made. But if it is entirely AI, well that's a bummer. It's still a pretty entertaining song though admittedly.
and then you have guys like Tim Follins who can make better sounds using the NES chip than what the expansions chip provided, and he was doing this during that time
Hands Down, One of the Best if not the best End Skits ever! GameSack rules!
I heard MyLifeInGaming also reference how epic it is. Am I missing a reference? It was clever, I'm assuming Joe wrote a song and then used AI to create it, but from all the hype I feel like I'm missing the punchline.
"Hey, Joe. What are you listening to? Blues?"
"Nah, Greens."
GREEN DOGS
What about reds, peppa pig reference
All timer of an end sketch in this one. Absolutely brilliant. The VRC6 rendition of the Game Sack theme was great too.
“Why did they even bother to include the chip if they’re almost never using it?” - good question, and one thing the internet seems to forget is that most of these chips were first *graphics and memory mappers*, with audio as a _secondary capability_. The Namco 163, for example, expands the program ROM space from 32KiB (stock NES) to 512KiB. Some others, like the MMC5, even allow for mid-frame tile swaps and scroll effects that are not possible with a stock NES or Famicom.
He overlooked the fact that the NES was unable to use audio expansion chips like the Famicom. It's not just that the rest of the world "wasn't ready." While the NES had more pins in the cartridge connector than the Famicom, it was lacking the audio pin.
@@Chris-uj3dh I think OP has a point with what he said about the chips not being only for audio (definitely an oversight), but I think that that part about the world not being ready is just Joe being funny.
Great Episode! Fun fact. Jake Kaufman composed his music using a VRC6 for the Shovel Knight games. It's really great! I have a modded NES and an original Famicom just for the purpose of music.
Yeah same, I just had to have the ability to hear the extra sounds.
That guy rules, really beautiful work on that game
Is he the same guy who did the awesome music for Double Dragon Neon?
Great game that Shovel Knight. Love the soundtrack,"especially " le dance macabre "
Wait Kaufman made Shovel Knight music? It makes so much sense now.
Wow that ending was superb! Am impressed to see that Joe has an entire 1950's gospel church at his disposal!
This is probably the peak of AI generated music
@@Xydako I don't care if it's AI generated music, I want a copy of that record!
@@emerje0 praise greendog, yes!
@@emerje0I need a 45 of this right now
The song at the end is amazing.
Quickest click I’ve ever done! Thrilled to see Famicom expansion chip stuff finally covered.
Nothing better than getting a fresh game sack on a Sunday!
Oh Lordy, that song at the end was mighty good!
That end song was fantastic. Expanded audio really enhances Game Sack.
I will never not love the Castlevania 3 soundtrack. The NES version actually was great for what it was, but I was blown away the first time I heard the VRC6 version.
Castlevania music is the best
I have a "mixed" ROM that combines the Japanese and English versions, and has all the expansion audio. Emulators handle the extra audio just fine.
Japan knew we couldn't handle that kind of sound here in America. It would have scared us.
@@PlasticCogLiquid that’s not why, silly. We would have been so impressed that we’d have constantly dropped our controllers and started clapping. Like when we’re in a movie theater, or when a plane lands. Or after a meal. Or a really satisfying bathroom trip.
Man, these technical episodes just keep getting better. Being able to isolate the individual chip contributions and then comparing them makes a real impact. Well done as always and look forward to the next one.
Wow!!! That ending is pure lunacy, even for you!!! And if that was done with AI, it's the single best use of it ive ever seen. And if not? Then how?!?!!!
He responded to my comment and said he wrote ALL the lyrics. :)
And I think we can assume that the music was AI composed to his lyrics. I really hope he does more stuff like that because it was epic.
And I mean as a first try even, imagine if he really gets into it.
He could put out some retro game themed bangers for sure.
@cajampa yeah, agreed. That's exactly what I thought too. After years of watching, those lyrics were joe through and through! Cheers for confirming that though mate, much appreciated.
How has no one mentioned how awesome the fm intro was?
Came here to say that! So cool!
💖
I love that you’ve been covering game audio so much recently! Thanks for all the content Joe
So there were two separate decisions from Nintendo involved here: 1. No audio pins on the NES cartridge. 2. No third-party chips allowed (games that used a third-party mapper like the VRC6 had to be re-written to use one of Nintendo's chips).
Most of the chips that had audio capability were third party, but even Nintendo's own MMC5 had extra audio that unfortunately went unused in the west because there was nowhere for it to go.
Number 2 isn't quite true some Sunsoft, Namco and Konami mappers did make it into NES cartridges. But for number 1 yeah why they would expand the number of pins on the connector but drop the audio pins, there's theory's but no real explanation.
@@schaffiourketaris2691 That's for Japan, the Famicom didn't have a lockout chip and so everyone could make cartridges for it. For the NES, Nintendo decided that they should be the only company allowed to fabricate the cartridges, and so they added those extra restrictions.
Also they moved the pins to the bottom expansion connector because they probably intended to release a Disk System that docked to the bottom. It's likely that they never anticipated that cartridge games with expansion chips would become much of a thing, especially not with extra audio.
And of course some of the added pins are for the lockout chip so that the chip on the console can communicate with the one on the cartridge.
@@Nukle0n You beat me, that is what i was about to comment. The external audio pin was relocated into the expansion connector on the botton of the NES, most likely to accomadate an American version of the Famicom Disk System that sadly never happened.
@@Nukle0n Yes Nintendo made all the cartridges but some do have 3rd party mappers for instance Batman return of the Joker and Mr Gimmick use the Sunsoft FME-7 chip.
Please consider making the end skit it's own short. It deserves it.
The look on your face while you sauntered across the room for another game was pretty epic, not gonna lie. Really made my day. Thanks, Joe. Never change.
The ending sounds like an Obscurest Vinyl Production! I love it!
i have always wondered what akumajou densetsu would sound like if played in a normal NES thank you for finally satisfying that curiosity
Few things I think were not touched upon in this episode, especially noting when the chips are not fully utilized for audio and quipping why even have it:
These chips were multi functional, and were Japanese versions of mappers. The added sound capability was just one of many features they provide as they also do same jobs MMC chips do in western games, hence why Akumajou Dracula is powered by VRC-6 in Japan and it needed MMC5 in west. Many of MMC chips were not even used in Japan because the companies had solved the problem themselves with their own chips, and they thought why not go all out during it. So games that might have utilized the sound capability less were likely just modern games that needed modern memory mappers and sound was indeed inconsequential, but the hardware is still there for a reason, they cannot just throw away a fancy enhancement chip that was more or less a requirement for competitive modern Famicom game very much so as in west.
It seems the sound capabilities of VRC-7 (Lagrange Point) are very close to expansion audio chips and cartridges Konami produced for MSX2. My source aside I made it the F up is that SD Snatcher (For MSX2, which has it's own audio enhancement cartridge) and Lagrange Point both use exactly same sound effects for menu choice. If I had played more SD Snatcher I would note if any other sounds were the same or extremely similar between the two platforms and games.
Namco 163: I think there is omission of two titles here: Pac-Man Championship Edition (For Famicom) and I think likely Gaplus though I cannot make sure. These are both modern and officially digital only. But, M2 handling Namcot Collection/Namco Collection 1 & 2 were such detail and style freaks that they made these (somewhat) new Famicom games to match and use Namco 163, or at least, Pac-Man Championship Edition does. It utilizes the sound capability to make extremely good BGM for the game. Gaplus has less BGM but the soundscape is much richer than in other Galaxian/Galaga titles on the system. While digital, these titles work fully on actual hardware with expanded audio if you sacrifice a namco163 game for your reproduction, or use a flashcart that has expansion audio simulation capability (and if using western NES system, right kind of hardware modification to the console)
The song at the end was the best religious experience I’ve ever had on a Sunday
16 Bit Power! Ohhhh Lord help us allllllll! 😅
By the preacher Blast Processor himself.
Testify Brother !
Amen!
Lord, give us our daily bits.
That was the greatest skit you’ve ever done. That song was amazing.
I just want to say this is the only youtube channel i give a like on every video because Joe isnt an obnoxious like beggar just like every other youtuber. Thank for the quality content all these years.
Joe, this summer marks the 10th year since I started watching Game Sack, but this skit is the absolute religious experience.
Thank you so much for perfecting Game Sack for us no matter what!
Expansion audio is one of the reasons I had to get an AV Famicom. Hearing some of these sounds coming out of an 8-bit game is a really wild experience.
The premise of Madara must be a nod to Tezuka's Dororo... one doesn't easily forget the idea of a cursed, limbless caterpillar baby!
The VRC 7 was also used in Tiny Toon Adventures 2, however it was only the graphics and memory management side of things that was used, not the sound.
All those chips allowed the Famicom to do things graphical that were not possible stock standard, from vertical scrolling, angle scrolling, animation in the back grounds, all sorts of things, I know it was sound topical, but I think you could have mentioned that also.
Lagrange point is an amazing game, it was doing things graphically and gameplay wise that were unseen on the Famicom prior to its release in 1991, it has weapon building and a pretty deep story, a lot of the enemies were actually designed via readers of Famitsu and chosen via competition, also the MMC 5 is based on the VRC 6, those two Hal games were epic, give them some time and remember that you are playing a Famicom when doing so.
Thank you for your video.
26:59 Okay, say what you want about the game itself, but you have to admit- that is some TENSE music to be playing during a Mahjong game! It sounds like something that would play when a killer is about to be unveiled in a murder mystery.
that transition at the end of the aerobics game was mildly nightmare inducing. I think she got banished to the shadow realm.
One! Twooooooooo...
These transitions are next level. Always an A+ production at Game Sack. Keep up the good work.
Fun fact about Dream Adventure: There's a rather vulgar easter egg that requires waiting _OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF_ before a code can be entered to show it. After beating the game, just sit there on the final image. Eventually, it turns black and white, then sepia, then after almost an hour later the music stops, press 🅰+🅱+ START + SELECT + ⬅ on controller 1 and 🅰+🅱+➡ on controller 2 to start some music, press 🅱+ SELECT +➡ on controller 1 and 🅱+↘ on controller 2 to play Hidemushi's first message, after the first message, press 🅰+🅱+⬆ for one last message.
That's quite a long wait, isn't it? Even sped up in an emulator, it'd probably still take you half an hour waiting depending on how quickly the device you're using is able to fast forward. I've only seen a video of this message in Japanese. I wonder if the translation patch has it too?
You missed the most impressive N163 audio enhanced game. Megami Tensei 2.
I like the A and B comparisons and then combining the tracks. That made it so much easier to pick up on the additions. Thanks again, Joe!
You didn't cover digital devil monogatari 2. The ethereal sound of that game slaps hard, it also really nailed the sound of smt games as a whole in 8 bit
That ending tho
Thank you Joe, again u r super serving me what I want! I have everdrive pro N8 and I modded my NES so it actualy plays the expansion audio, so this is just the info I need to know what games to play to take advantage! The biggest one so far is japanese Castlevania 3, it sounds so amazing I cant believe it
this should be an upload on Sound Sack
THEY’RE MY SOUNDS, AND I WANT THEM NOW
CALL 877-SOUNDNO
(…stupid number limitations….)
I have a cash annuity and I need sounds now
🎶Call J Joe Redifer, 877- Sack Now🎶
The answer to every "why they even bothered" in this video is that the chips were used as mappers first. I guess they had a huge stock of them and didn't mind putting them in games that didn't really use the audio functionality. Also you missed Megami Tensei II
The episode I was truly waiting for. Thank you for all the free content you put out. It’s stellar stuff.
I could imagine that some of these sound chips were also implemented as anti piracy devices.
one cool thing about gimmick's soundtrack is some of the most distinctive tones are just clever programming of the 2A03 - the 5B isn't actually doing that much! since they didn't recode the music for the unexpanded release (just removed the 5B tracks and left everything else as is) that version is missing a lot of potential. i believe some people have made new versions of those songs with just the 2A03 to demonstrate just how much more could have been done to make the loss of those extra channels sting less
They recoded. The 5B was doing many of the sound effects on it's own before. I had a section in there with the Famicom on it's own and it's not identical to the NES release, but I removed it because it was getting annoying with that section being played so many times in a row.
Tell me you're going to print and sell that record from the end skit.
If you're looking for a third game in the series, I wonder if the 32X fits the bill. I don't remember the specifics but the 32X added a few channels of PWM audio that were used in a few games.
What an awesome LP!! Thank you kind Sir!! 👏👏👏🍻💥🍻😄
I really love the subtle audio enhancements in famicom disc system ganes especially.
Also i am very disappointed we didn't get to see joe playing dance aerobics with the powerpad on camera, that would have been incredible
That outro was amazing dude.
Loved the AI composed song, I bet you wrote most of the lyrics though. I want to see full goofy episodes like this.
I wrote ALL of the lyrics. :)
@@GameSack Yeah, I am not surprised. You have to do more content like that. Looking over the comments it seems we all loved it.
Namcot was the label that Namco used for home releases in Japan, until early '95.
i`ve always wondered why? thanks☺👏
That Namco 163 was *criminally* underused. It could have made Turbografx-16 audio commonplace on the Famicom, but got relegated to some beeps and buzzing in most games.
There are some fan works that make much better use of the chip- for example, there are at least two fantastic N163 covers of Metal Squad (from Thunder Force IV). Raijin's version sounds like a high-end TG16 game, but ballandpaddle somehow manages to even top the Genesis version!
Your videos can always make a day better. Always such consistent quality, thank you Joe 🙏
Joe, you really got to run the Japanese titles by Google Translate speech. The way you were saying 'moe' as 'mow' in English, my sides 😂
And deny you some quality laughing time? Never! :)
Its a shame the Esper Dream series and LaGrange point never came out to the US
JRPGs from the Famicom/Nes era were still not as popular in the west. They started to get some popularity in the Super Famicom/SNES era but exploded in popularity with the Play Station 1 and Final Fantasy VII
It really boggles my mind why Nintendo seems so fond of using all these extra chips in their cartridges, seems like it was too late in the final production of the Famicom to add something extra?
I rather have some extra chips in my console and have that a little more expensive, than having to buy more expensive games.
Godlike that song was godlike. Sounded like i was listening to a 70s ccr song. Seriously whoever did that needs a raise
I'm guessing AI generated but who cares it's amazing
I will always miss Dave, but I love Game Sack as it is now.
I’d have no problem nagging and saying “make a new channel” if I thought this was no longer “Game Sack”. But it has been since. You’re the man, Joe. Keep the flame burning 🔥
Weirdly powerful songs. Gotta go get Greendog... And a cursed turntable.
I'm always excited when Joe gets his Sack out.
join the club
LGB
Great song at the end! Very authentic sounding
The ending skit was absolutely fantastic. Well done
I remember growing up in the early 90s and Id go over to visit my grandparents. I'll never forget walking into my Grandfather's tool shed while he was listening to this old timey jazz song and it really peaked my interest. I asked my grandpa what the guy was singing about and he sat me down and told me about when he was a small boy the number one song was about 16 bit power and Greendog. He told me that naturally, they had no idea what the song was about but they liked it anyway.
Remember when Konami made games?
The music in the sketch is so good.
JESUS LOVES GREENDOG 🎶🔥
Due to my username, I'm considered an authority on this subject, and I concur, Jesus does in fact love Green dog, as well as Game sack, Joe Redifer, you and even me.
7:36: TWOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo 🤣🤣🤣 excellent video, thanks for breaking down all these sound chips and especially each game, love the isolated sound demos too!
I’m gonna rip that last song to hear while gaming.
The Namco 163 was effectively a repurposing of the audio chip Namco developed for their early 80s arcade games like _Pac-Man, Galaga_ etc., which itself was few years ahead of the norm for those years. It says a lot that it was _still_ giving some of the best audio on a console through most of the 80s. The chip, or rather the emulation of said, was officially used one more time when Namco put together their Famicom de-make of _Pac Man Championship Edition._
Great episode and topic choice! NES audio (inc. expansions and DPCM) was one of the subjects that cemented my nerdy interest in games and gaming tech (you know, as opposed to just playing the games like a normal person).
By the way, SanGokuShi is just the Japanese version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so you don't need fan translations!
They drop videos at 2 am eastern every now and then 😂 I enjoy game sack to fall asleep too sometimes
I mean it makes sense, it's midnight in his time zone.
The soundtrack to Lagrange Point is such a surprising experience that it's almost criminal that Konami never officially released the game in the U.S.
Damn, that ending... how did you even...?????
I think it's AI generated "era" music. :) There are a few places that have some "style" songs that have fart or (insert body part) themes :-)
Welcome to the AI world. In 10 years we wont be able to know whats real or fake in the internet.
The voice sounds very much like generative AI.
If it's AI, it's a damn good use of it.
Amazing episode! Congrats for the end skit.
The GameSack show is like a good wine that you savour and have a good time!
You're missing out, Joe. Gimmick is definitely one of the top 10 best games on the NES.
Dude this was hands-down the very best ending skit in a LONG time.
Sunsoft and Konami games have some of the best soundtrack in the cartridge era of video games
Joe could you please make an episode about those 75 games 17:40 with enhanced audio on Famicom Disk System? Or at least share a link to the list of those games here? ❤
What a good video, talking about sound chips that i didnt know it exist, thanks gamesack for that info!!! Just in time for me
Actually saw Greendog in a local game shop loose cart, and made me think of Joe 😂
GREEEEEEENNDAAAAWWWWGGG
That last song the singer reminds me of John Fogerty. Now I wish Creedence Clearwater Revival made a Thunder Force 3 song. John Fogerty's voice singing about blowing things up would have been amazing.
Since the companies made their own Famicom carts in Japan there's probably some copy protection aspect with extra chips.
Video game publishers investing in hardware for the sole purpose of making a game more immersive. What a time to be alive.
While Family trainer erobic studio for the famicom just uses the M50805 chip for single channel 4/8bit pcm audio,but the us version of it just uses downsampled 1bit dpcm samples of it to make then playible on a western nes not only to get around if as an alternative solution but also for economical reasons as well,pretty clever😁
I suppose the extra chip was worth it for the extra clean voice samples.
If I owned a retro gaming store I’d have all your videos playing endlessly on a vintage TV. Keep up the excellent content. You are dying breed of entertainment and among the best informative retro gaming YT channels. Always look forward to your next episode.
Greendog forever……..Also long live Truxton
Truxton?! Wrong channel 😂 What ever did happen to Mark
@@FIXTREMEhes making content again. He does livestreams
@@FIXTREME oh I know 😀 it’s just one of those iconic lines that always sticks. Mark is back on actually. I’ve seen some videos on the CGR channel. Now he has like a never ending live feed on there lol
I love this musical Gospel ending !! Joe, you're a really talented person. Thanks !
Know what *other* sound we've been robbed of? The OG intro fart sound.
Best end skit EVER! Thanks Joe!
My favorite end skit ever
12:42 Nice scanlines and bubble effects. Yeah, we noticed. Thanks for the nice touch.
I like how almost all of those Jaleco baseball games are substantially different from the previous one. None of that "same game as last year" nonsense from them.
Other than the Music that is... Can't believe they thought it was a good idea to use that horrible music for back to back games!
@@skins4thewinYeah, good point. If your music sounds like something from the crappy NES port of 1942, you probably shouldn't use it once let alone multiple times.
Damn, we need an album of THIS.
Great episode, and I love how these extra chips can add layers to video game music. A few years ago I was in Japan, and I walked past a retro game store and heard a familiar tune, but it sounded a little different. It was the Legend of Zelda main theme, but it had additional instruments, and this extra chip thing was unknown to me at the time, I found it pretty darn cool.
Megami tensei 2. Nice music in that one too!
yes
Can't believe they missed it!
Nice haircut brother! Keep on keepin' on! Love me some Game Sack
OH it’s Joe with a haircut! I thought he managed to get BRAD PITT to guest host an ep /grandmacomment
😊😊 really tho, looking forward to good Joe!
Joe knocks it out of the park once again. Thanks once again for all your efforts as they are greatly appreciated, Joe.
Damn, you just increased SEGA's stock by at least 2% with that absolutely soul-cleansing ending commercial. Credits to whoever did the song too for they've done a beautiful job faithfully capturing the spirit of a 1940s-50s era gospel music.
It's IA. You can hear the glitches, specially in cymbals. Voice sounds robotic in some passages.
@@Paulnap I think you mean "AI" but I did noticed a few glitchings here and there in the vocals. I was kinda hoping it was only the vocals that were AI and the music itself was human-made. But if it is entirely AI, well that's a bummer. It's still a pretty entertaining song though admittedly.
My favorite sound effect was Joe trying to pronounce Japanese.
I wonder what Joe would sound like expanded audio.
They trialed this a few years ago, it was called the Dave chip. They decided not to move forward with it though.
and then you have guys like Tim Follins who can make better sounds using the NES chip than what the expansions chip provided, and he was doing this during that time