Rare's phenomenal Donkey Kong Country was quite the game changer in late 1994, not only giving an extra edge to the Super Nintendo in the 16-bit console war but also becoming one of the most cherished games in the entire SNES library. Despite the fancy ACM graphics, one of they key features that still resonates with people nowadays is the fantastic soundtrack by veteran composers David Wise, Eveline Fischer and Robin Beanland.
Last week (after quite an uphill battle) music modder Conn was able to finally crack all the quirks needed to enable the game to receive MSU1 sound data correctly while muting the SPC source; the end result is now up for grabs. It didn't take long for the community surrounding MSU1 activities to begin compiling sound packs to go along with the game, such as Kurrono Kei's "Kremlings Revenge Remodel", which you can hear in action in the following gameplay clip.
Considering the amount of people remixing the popular original OST it will be interesting to see if more sound packs will become available in the future. If you're feeling a bit nostalgic over Nintendo's tie wearing ape, do remember the game is one of the twenty one being re-released along the SNES Classic Mini, which is just shy of two weeks from hitting retail.
In case you're wondering: Yes, it is possible to replace every single track with the DK Rap, but please do consider your own sanity.
[source zeldix.net]
Comments 24
Very nice.
Also, there is never a bad time for a DK rap!
If you were going to replace all soundtracks with DK Rap, couldn't you just mute the game audio and put DK Rap on youtube (on loop, assuming someone hasn't made a 10-hour upload ).
I only watched the video for the underwater theme
I was not disappointed.
@KingMike theoretically yeah but then the sound effects will be absent too.
"enable the game to receive MSU1 sound data correctly while muting the SPC source"
Because everyone here totally knows what that means.
BAM
Right in the nostalgia.
I prefer the original chip tunes. I just can't get into msu 1 tracks.
I need to find out how to use my own tracks so I can make the best version of this with these: https://twitter.com/PrinceSamlet
As I mentioned in the previous MSU1 article, this guy is remastering the DKC soundtrack by basically figuring out which synths were used to create the samples used in the final games, creating high quality samples of those, and then replacing the original soundfonts with the new, high quality ones. It really sounds just like the originals, but with CD quality audio.
Boo for no Gangplank Galleon theme.
I appreciate what the MSU folks are trying to do here, but the music just feels out of place with the gameplay and visuals. I'm a huge fan of SNES soundtracks, with Donkey Kong Country being among my favorites, and this doesn't work for me at all.
Yeah nice, now do DKC 2.
I suggest that if you're of a mind to replace every single track with the DK Rap, you have already parted ways with your sanity.
Out of all the games to apply MSU1 to, they choose a game that doesn't use chiptunes and already has a kicking stereo Soundtrack.
I hope I never come across this again, Sadly though in the far far future I know kids will be playing this MSU1 version thinking its the original and missing out big time.
As if the Rom collections aren't contaminated enough already.
This is the true definition of hacked,
Hacked to Fook
@BAN It means adding new music while muting the original game's music.
As much as I think the MSU1 is a great technical achievement, playing as it does through original hardware, none of it looks or sounds right with SNES games in my opinion. In every instance I've come across I always prefer the original.
This is the system that produced the Secret of Mana soundtrack. That's already the pinnacle in my eyes (ears?).
But I understand why this gets so much attention, it is technically very clever. Except for that MSU1 cartoon intro to Link to the Past with voice acting. Ugh!
Cool stuff! I freaking love David Wise. The DKC series OST is probably my favourite video game music ever!
I really need to try some of the music enhancements out. Wish something like this existed for the Mega Drive / Genesis.
@BAN
The MSU1 is basically a expansion chip that allows high quality sound/ motion video to be played on the SNES. Similar to how the FX Chip allowed for wire frames in Star Fox.
By disabling the SPC sound, they mean disabling the SPC700 from the Nintendo S-SMP (audio processing chip). This is where the music is played.
More information at these websites:
http://helmet.kafuka.org/msu1.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_S-SMP
@NickOfTime90 That has been already done in the past unless I am mistaken.
I don't like it. Prefer the original one. Enchanted doesn't mean always better
@Shiryu Neat, I will look into it later. Still a nice article though.
The old music is better.
@RadioShadow I know. But my point is that this article is being posted on a site that's geared towards a general audience, most of whom have no way of knowing what the article is talking about, but the article seems built on the assumption that they do.
8:13!
Let,s not forget Eveline Fisher.
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