Observation of Cadash on TG vs Cadash on Genesis

[nat]

I just wanted to say, I was looking at the music engine for Cadash on the PCE and it *only* used 4 sound channels. Another taito game to do that on the PCE is Ninja Warriors. I have not idea why they would squander 2 channels like that. Almost all other music engines use all 6 channels, and then dynamically bring in a FX on a low priority channel when needed/requested. That and the music engine itself seems pretty limited.

It's funny how people run around singing praises of the Cadash soundtrack, I always thought it sounded like shit. Probably for the reasons you mention here. Oddly enough, I also think Ninja Warriors sounds like shit, haha. They are both NES-par when it comes to the music, maybe slightly better at their finest shining moments. The first five or ten seconds of Cadash says it all. I always found that odd, since other Taito games like BB3 and Darius (SGX hybrid cart) have such fantastic chip music.

I just wanted to say, I was looking at the music engine for Cadash on the PCE and it *only* used 4 sound channels. Another taito game to do that on the PCE is Ninja Warriors. I have not idea why they would squander 2 channels like that. Almost all other music engines use all 6 channels, and then dynamically bring in a FX on a low priority channel when needed/requested. That and the music engine itself seems pretty limited.

It's no mystery... Taito sucked, and treated their PCE games like souped-up NES games.  Taito games have some of the worst sound quality on the PCE (Cadash, New Zealand Story, Rastan Saga II...)  At least they improved a lot for Parasol Stars.

Yeah, that's it. What he said.

EDIT: Now that I think about it though, I suppose Taito didn't actually do the music for Darius in-house, must have been NEC Avenue.

[Keranu]

Hey I liked Space Invaders Plus from Taito. Crappy sound, yeah, but fun overlooked game. And despite the poorish sound quality of Cadash, there were still some good tunes.

[ccovell]

Rastan Saga II, Arcade:   (GREAT soundtrack!  Listen to all of it...)
Rastan Saga II, PCE:    
same... Mega Drive:    

Ninjawarriors, Arcade:   Another game with a great soundtrack, all of it.
Ninjawarriors, PCE:   (not bad...)
Ninja Warriors Again, SFC:    

Cadash, Arcade:   Not bad...
Cadash TG16:    
same... MD:

[Joe Redifer]

The MD Cadash sounds fairly close to the arcade, but certainly not exact.  I don't think I approve of those slowly dithering screen transitions, though.  I'd rather just climb down a simple vine like the arcade.

[nat]

Oh lord, I forgot how awful the Duo version of Ninja Warriors looks. It's truly painful.

[Black Tiger]

I always liked the Turbo Cadash music and felt that it suits the Turbo version's visual style. A few instruments may not be hi-tech, but there are many more nice FM'ish soft sounds and there are some cool combinations, in particular the first area. It does sound a lot better on real hardware than through emulation.

[guyjin]

OK, so the Genesis version's music is better. I still like the TG16 version. I'd still rather play Cadash than Parasol Stars.

As far as the '4 channels' thing goes, it might make sense if it were the first or second game Taito made for the PCE - was it?

[Joe Redifer]

Unlikely.  Taito was fairly big on the PCE scene from what I understand.

[spenoza]

I though the TG could do a single FM channel if it sacrificed the first 2 channels. Would have made sense for this game.

[Arkhan]

Yknow I think when a game gets looked into and over analyzed too much, it loses the fun because all you do then is think of all its short comings and limitations.


Saying that, I think I'll go play some crapass atari 2600 games with farty noises and flickery graphics.  Itll be fun

[Tom]

I though the TG could do a single FM channel if it sacrificed the first 2 channels. Would have made sense for this game.

 It's not worth the waste of a channel. Plus, it's not exactly FM like a normal FM(or PM) sound since you can't adjust the volume of the modulating channel to effect the other channel - to make that classic 'buuuaaarrrroooowwwww' sound. Instead, you have 4 levels of modulation timbre.

It's funny how people run around singing praises of the Cadash soundtrack, I always thought it sounded like shit.

 I agree. I think it sounds terrible. It's really generic sounding. Even an NES port of the tune would've had more 'oumpf' to it.

Probably for the reasons you mention here. Oddly enough, I also think Ninja Warriors sounds like shit, haha. They are both NES-par when it comes to the music, maybe slightly better at their finest shining moments. The first five or ten seconds of Cadash says it all. I always found that odd, since other Taito games like BB3 and Darius (SGX hybrid cart) have such fantastic chip music.

 I looked at ninja warriors too. Same crappy sound driver. 4 channels, crappy instruments and technically port rendition. Darius on the other hand uses all 6 sound channels and has a much better quality of sound.

[spenoza]

I think the reason people like Cadash's music has to do with the weird tunes. Cadash has an... odd soundtrack. Even a lesser representation of it is still intriguing.

[Arkhan]

Some of the music coupled with the backdrops is pretty eerie and fun ..!

[Press_Run]

After watching and listening, Cadash is a one of those games better off on the Turbo CD. The extra memory benefits for the outcome of better music and improved visuals to reach on par or better than the arcade standard. Look at Ys I&II, the quality of sound selection skyrocketed through the roof and part of the reason why I enjoy playing it every time. 

[ceti alpha]

After watching and listening, Cadash is a one of those games better off on the Turbo CD. The extra memory benefits for the outcome of better music and improved visuals to reach on par or better than the arcade standard. Look at Ys I&II, the quality of sound selection skyrocketed through the roof and part of the reason why I enjoy playing it every time. 

For sure. Cadash would have been a lot better on CD, but at the same time, having Cadash on a Huey allowed for basic TG owners the chance at buying an arcade classic without losing anything too substantial in the translation. For some reason I didn't buy it and instead went for something stupid, like Falcon or Silent Debuggers. I think I actually traded in Silent Debuggers for Falcon. lol  I guess I can't complain too much about my buying decisions BITD - just one regrettable purchase isn't too bad, I guess. Just to think,  that I could of had NAI, Cadash, or Soldier Blade instead.

I'm just waiting for someone to translate all TG/PCE games to the Arcade Card.