I'll always choose the JP soundtrack over the US one, because I know it's the original one. The US soundtrack sounds pretty generic in many places and considering that it uses the JP soundtrack's Past themes, well, that's just lazy. However, I'd be lying, if I said that I didn't enjoy listening to "Sonic Boom" and the US Stardust Speedway. Those are undoubtedly the best tracks from the US soundtrack. Also, the US boss music is TERRIFYING. (You could say that it's as terrifying as Robotnik from SatAM.)
I had to change the wording a bit, but that's always been the way I looked at it. They can change the CD-DA but not the PCM, without screwing something up. I have no real issue with the original version of something being changed IF was crap to begin with, but when the Americans start changing things needlessly.... Have a go AFTER the initial release, call it a limited edition or something but don't go altering something just because you can! What if the UK/European release decided to do the same and we had 3 different soundtracks? Slightly OT but still relevant (I think)... Intro to Oban Star Racers (UK/JAP/FRENCH-Chance To Shine VS US-Never Say Never*) Or Gohan's SSJ2 music in DBZ (no link needed, we all know what happened here).... *I shit you not Justin Bieber fans....They really called it that...
I enjoy both soundtracks, but I honestly think the US soundtrack is a bit more atmospheric and I love muh atmosphere.
Oh, this discussion again? This game is in a weird place, musically. On the one hand, I prefer the US soundtrack for general listening. It suits my musical tastes better. On the other hand, I prefer the EU/JP sound for playing the game, because the music better fits the levels, and because there's no disconnect between the present/future and past music. I would love to see a project to compose and insert past versions of the US songs for a more coherent experience. Not that I have either the chops or the patience to do something like this myself, either part really, but it's cool to imagine what it'd be like.
Well, I think that US soundtrack is lame, especially with those choirs that have nothing to do. Im not a huge fan of JP soundtrack neither, but it is better in my opinion. Especially when you start the game, then you hear JP Palmtree Panic Zone and its amazing, it has so much energy, it really makes you WANT to play the game. The other one well... meh. Again, it's just my opinion, nothing personal with anyone, you know (Im not here to make enemies, I would like to stay). EDIT: I would like to add that Jp's Final Fury music is damn awesome, THAT is music for a boss, and the regular boss's theme should be of similar style. It has to tell you that you're fighting against the dictator he is, just like S1's boss songs, and like in the newer S2 (ESPECIALLY the final boss one).
There are 2-3 cool tracks in the US version, buut Sonic Boom cant hold a candle to Toot-Toot Sonic Warrior. Yep I said it.
I... I can't believe we're seriously having this debate. In 2015. I mean, I remember reading an archive of an Usenet discussion from 1993, shortly after Sonic CD's release. And it was pretty much the exact same arguments on either side. It's as passé as Joel vs. Mike. Spoiler Besides, I prefer whichever version you select when you watch my Sonic CD video! :v: It's totally subjective. One isn't really any better than the other, beyond your own tastes. So, okay, here's mine: The JP/EU soundtrack is certainly more Sonic-y, and usually provides a much stronger medley. Plus, it's cohesive with the past versions. The US soundtrack is more nostalgic for me personally, and has a sense of atmosphere that wasn't often seen in video game music, especially back then. I love them both equally, they're both fantastic, and I find myself switching between them on the Taxman remaster pretty much every time I play it.
Back on topic... It would be pretty cool to have Past music in the US style. I'd make some myself, but I'm not sure how I'd get started.
Hm... is Spencer Nilsen still active? It'd be a longshot, but I'd definitely contribute to some kind of Kickstarter campaign for him to make a past soundtrack.
I don't know if they have to. They didn't seem to have the rights to the US soundtrack a few years ago. We weren't sure if the Taxman remaster would include it or not and it was added in fairly close to the end as far as I remember.
Also, David Wise (Donkey Kong Country composer) has worked on remixes for OC Remix projects of his own work, so I'd imagine he could do it, regardless of whether SEGA owns the rights.
I did some spelunking through the forum pertaining to my idea and it looks like it could be feasible, if not by my hand than by someone else's, definitely.
Well, a Sonic CD disassembly is being worked on, this means that learning how to use the Ricoh chip will be possible, so it would be matter of getting samples, make the arrangments from the present versions to make them past-like and then voila, Sonic CD US past versions songs. I personally would like to get my hands on that ricoh chip and make it work in a Sonic 1 ported to CD, but lets be honest, Im useless. Im not being able to complete any task that I wanted to so, so better stop dreaming.
If anyone's up to the task of making some interpretive versions of the US soundtrack to cover the past, there's no reason to wait for SCD's version of SMPS to be fully cracked. Either a MIDI with a custom sounfont or a simple XM or IT module would do fine, and it could be ported later when the music format is cracked.
