J information

J's reviews:

Skittles 2: Game rip
"Fantastic oldschool tunes" (by J, 9 Jan 2010) [10/10]
I just had to comment this! These tunes are excellent material to convert into MP3 for listening on your MP3 player/cell phone or in a car (or why not play them in some club if you are a DJ)

Thank you Mirsoft very much for keeping this site up!

Water Bugs: Game rip
"*Quality* easy listening" (by J, 23 Dec 2008) [10/10]
These tunes have very nice and easy melodies, percussion backgrounds are decent and are not 'pushing themselves to the front' of musical 'picture'.
Overall tunes sound New age style, but I can't say they are weird or too dreamy.

Subtle instrumental and melodic sub-parts add to 'high resolution' quality of compositions and you might find something new when re-listening.
Every tune in this package is different, yet true to group style.

Instruments mostly used are flute, strings, saxophone and hi-hats...

For overall implementation in its genre I give this tunes max rating and recommend that while bothering to read this review you reward yourself with fine tunes from this package.

Cosmo Bots: Game rip
"Great music & style" (by J, 22 Dec 2008) [9/10]
Music style is mix between modern (1994) dance-trance style and old school C64 chip tunes/technique.
Overall it sounds great, dynamic and there are no dull parts.

"cosmo1" tune is used in intro/main menu (on PC version at least) and is superb (if you hear *whole* tune)!

"cosmo2" tune (N/A in this package) is also awesome (although it 'gets in ear' too quickly) and too bad it is unavailable here for download. Emphasis in this tune is on C64 'feel'.

"cosmo3" tune is to admit it a little too repetitive and generally lacks dynamics compared to previous two, but is otherwise fine tune in this collection.

"cosmo4" tune is a faster variation of "cosmo2" with a different intro part and more overall percussion but is otherwise identical on melodic part (this one has less C64 'feel')

"cosmo5" tune (N/A in this package) is a progressive piece which follows dynamics of other tunes in this package, sounds appropriate at a later levels as a "goodbye tune" when you are near end of game.

***

Originally in PC version there are 5 tunes (cosmo1, cosmo2, cosmo3, cosmo4 and cosmo5)

Also, in PC version tunes are in MO3 format. (MO3 is is the evolution of module format in a way that samples can be in 16 bit MP3 format which leads to not only smaller module filesize (here about 9x) but also higher quality sound.)

By comparing sound of MO3 tunes from PC version (via Winamp plugin with all sound enhancement options turned off) to these plain modules it seems that MO3 tunes sound marginally crispier.

Turrican 2: Arranged/Remixed tunes
"Bad reconstruction" (by J, 24 Apr 2008) [4/10]
These modules are not original Chris Huelsbeck's. If you wonder why, it's because Chris almost always coded his own formats.
In game Turrican 2 "format" is called Seven-voice routine or so.
These modules (other people's remakes) you are about to download are quite bad compared to the original and doesn't sound like the original (few exceptions come close though). I've ripped Turrican 2 music in digital audio format (using stereo-mix method) from original game on WinUAE Amiga Emulator.
I suggest you to do the same if you really want Turrican 2 music.

!!! EDIT (following text was added much later): you can however get the *original* Chris Huelsbeck's modules in his proprietary TFMX format at: http://www.exotica.org.uk/wiki/Chris_H%C3%BClsbeck
including also all of the Turrican (1, 2 & 3) tunes! Only thing you need is a TFMX player. There are few really good ones available as a Winamp plugins!

(the original Turrican tunes would of course get maximum 10/10 rating!)

You can also get great Turrican remixes (in MP3) from www.AmigaRemix.com just go here: http://www.amigaremix.com/remixes/search/turrican

Tsumera Pinball: Game rip
"Amusing music" (by J, 24 Apr 2008) [6/10]
There are 8 tunes inside this package, I'll try to quickly describe them all;
--------- - - - - >
"Title" mod: is similar in style to title mods of other pinball games (such as "Pinball Fantasies", "Pinball Dreams", "Pinball Illusions" and similar)
Now that's good :)

"Opening" mod: also quite resembles option-screen tune from other popular pinball games... Actually it seems this module is the same as "Title" mod; it has the same file-size and duration...but why would anyone put two of exactly the same 336 KB tunes in the one package...

"Ghost" mod: it is just a short (46 sec) 'elevator' type piece.

"Final" mod: a short tune with melody that varies...not much to say

"Ending" mod: well, it has suitable name :)
It is slow and melodies 'kick-in' a little later. Like China army-exhibition... (not that there's anything Chinese in it)

"Dragon" mod: starts with a feeling of tension which sustains and later it starts to feel like it's music from a level of some sidescroller shoot-em-up (Turrican?)...and then it stops abruptly. Obviously meant to be looped...

"Boss" mod: very cool mod! But I can more easily imagine it to fit in some later-level of Turrican than in pinball game though.

"Begin" mod: gets interesting in the latter part.


Conclusion: all modules are 110-335 KB in size, but each of them is short (around a minute), nevertheless, these modules are interesting and worth download.
I would give them rating of -7- if they are longer.

Pocket Tanks: Game rip
"Quality stuff" (by J, 2 Jan 2008) [9/10]
Ok, so there are two tunes in this 375KB package:

pocket.it -> "Pocket Tanks (intro)"
ingame.it -> "Pocket Tanks (ingame)"

The first one can be described as "cute", nothing more.

But the second one seems very quality made.
By "very quality made" I mean that the samples
are HQ and there are over 42 channels used!!
The style is serious and it seems like it is from some movie. But don't get me wrong, it IS melodic.
I recommend you to add this package to your mod collection.

Steel Fighters: Game rip
"Really good tune!" (by J, 16 Nov 2007) [10/10]
Dr.Spa's right!
...so there's no need for me to write anything additionally. :)

Hazard Ball: Game rip
"Real thing(s)" (by J, 19 Oct 2007) [10/10]
And he even says he got improved!
(I can't imagine that's possible:)

Chrono Trigger: Arranged/Remixed tunes
"Recommended!" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [9/10]
If you like the Age of Wonders music then you should definitively have these in your collection too!

Morphello: Game rip
"Serious?" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [6/10]
Do you like contemplative and serious music which seem to have a story built-in?
This one is not that serious or contemplative, but any other description would not fit exactly.

Qwak: Game rip
"C64-ish" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [7/10]
Intro tune is very good.
Altough it *might* be a little too happy for todays sad, burdened, and worrying people :)

Kasei Vallis: Game rip
"Ambiental" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [9/10]
Mix of ambient, melodic and easy beat.
Quality and relaxing stuff.
Very enjoyable and you might forget that these are modules and end up copying them to your portable MP3 player.
Hm, is there any portable MP3 player that can directly play modules? (just convert them you lazy...)

Fantastic Voyage: Game rip
"Worth download" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [7/10]
I found (last) 3 out of 6 tunes very enjoyable to listen.
Very good as a background tunes while you work/code/surf-the-net at night alone.

Sub War 2050: Game rip
"Quality ambient" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [8/10]
Great simulation (if you have opportunity to play it on Amiga/emulator you should try it! Publisher is Microprose so all of you who know about gaming should get the idea.)
Anyway, description of tune in this package is as follows: genuine mystic, ambient feeling of dark unknown and silent deepness of ocean...where you are alone...and far, far away from the surface.

Thunderbirds: Game rip
"Thunderbirds are go!" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [6/10]
It's made in 1989.
More good than bad.
Difficult to say more (see rating).

Mortal Kombat: Game rip
"What to say..." (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [5/10]
Quick info to help make you decide:
Package contains only one song lasting 45 sec.
If you are looking for something special and you don't want to waste your time then I suggest you to pass by this one.

Age Of Wonders: Game rip
"Masterpiece" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [10/10]
If you like(d) music from the early "Unreal Tournament series" (Michiel van den Bos had his fingers also in here) then you will surely enjoy this ImpulseTracker mods too!

Zeewolf: Game rip
"Brimble moments" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [7/10]
You know those composers that seem to never release a crap tune?
Well, Brimble is not one of them.
But good/bad tunes ratio is on the bright side and that is why he was so mega popular in the early-mid '90s Amiga demo and professional (commercial) scene.
Ok, so what to say about these tunes?
They are dynamic but there are lots of much better tunes from Allister Brimble available to find.

Waggle-O-Mania: Game rip
"Waggling tune" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [6/10]
Unconventional, but not necessarily bad because of that.
Don't let this review let you decide not to download it, you just have to be patient to get to the good part(s) :)

Troddlers: Game rip
"Nothing special" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [5/10]
There are just some tunes that aren't enjoyable if you listen to them standalone. (as separate part of the game)
These are example of that case.

Toy Story: Game rip
"SNES version is better..." (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [6/10]
I played the Toy Story on SNES at the time when Playstation 1 was kicking in "on the big door" and I thought that it had a GFX just like some game on PS1 (it was that good, and still is)
The music itself is MUCH better on SNES than on Amiga (I am a big Amiga fan so no bias here).
I suggest you to download SNES version as it is VERY enjoyable. (I would give it 9/10)

Slightly Magic: Game rip
"Slightly magic tune :)" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [6/10]
It's good...
...and gets somewhat monotonous after a short time.
Download and hear for yourself :)

Screamer, The: Game rip
"Interesting" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [6/10]
Ok, I know it is bad to say for a tune that it's interesting (it's like when you say that to a woman when she asks you what do you think of her new hairstyle :)
So what's so interesting? It is a rock/metal (but not hard) tune with very good guitar sample(s). But it lasts only 36 seconds.
Download or not...the choice is yours.

SAS Combat Simulator: Game rip
"Boring" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [4/10]
So, what do you expect, it's tune for a simulator game :)

Project-X: Game rip
"Very good tunes!" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [7/10]
I am not surprised why there aren't more reviews about this Brimble's work. It is very difficult to rate and comment this particular package.
If you like techno/house or similar dynamic music then you might end up winding this up on your Hi-Fi and feeling good :)
Even if you don't, it is worth downloading and checking these tunes out.

Batman: Game rip
"Ouch!" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [3/10]
I was curious why such bad reviews so I downloaded it.
This is very very bad tune. It's like author was dumped by a girlfriend, and then he went to make this tune. It starts awfully, although it has a few parts that seem like Brimble had a glimpse of inspiration but...
I cannot imagine that someone would want to include this tune in actual game.
Don't download, it will only make you nervous. You know that music alters the mood :)

Assassin (Team 17): Game rip
"Very good" (by J, 16 Oct 2007) [8/10]
Title song is very good. Serious and kind of Michiel van den Bos alike. (Like in Unreal Tournament 1 but little slower)
What I'm trying to say is that this is not a shallow, childish or boring piece.
I recommend "05-assassin-special-edition.mod" which seem to be a little more backed up by a slight additional background.

One Must Fall 2097: Game rip
"Fantastic" (by J, 27 Sep 2007) [9/10]
Those who know about modules & music need only one information to get the point: it's from 1994!