Let's talk about Jun Senoue.

[Riff-making Love]

Jun Senoue used to be good...

...until he made the music for Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

The real problem with sonic 4's music was trying to emulate some sense of nostalgic catchy tunes that the classics used to provide without using an FM chip. It's like the samples are halfway between modern and classic, something I'm sure many people would say about sonic 4 as a whole. They really should have went with just using FM. If not the chip at least a DX7 or something. You've seen what people do with VOPM and FM7/8, why couldn't Jun do that?

[Dizcrybe]

The real problem with sonic 4's music was trying to emulate some sense of nostalgic catchy tunes that the classics used to provide without using an FM chip. It's like the samples are halfway between modern and classic, something I'm sure many people would say about sonic 4 as a whole. They really should have went with just using FM. If not the chip at least a DX7 or something. You've seen what people do with VOPM and FM7/8, why couldn't Jun do that?

Apparently he couldn't find the original Genesis soundchip, so he used... whatever he used instead. This suggests that he had/has no idea about the existence of VOPM.

Also, what's FM7/8? Free Music Tracker?

[Riff-making Love]

Also, what's FM7/8? Free Music Tracker?

Popular FM VST by Native Instruments.

[lounge]

He doesn't necessarily have to use the chip that has the same sounds used for a genesis to make it sound "classic". You can use great quality equipment to make retro sounds. It doesn't literally have to be 16bit. What Jun considers retro with what he did in Sonic 4 and Heroes is his biggest flaw. He's really brilliant when he's not in composing in that mindset.

A great example is when he was creating a few extra songs for the multiplayer levels in SA2Battle (Grind Race for example) he actually took the time to learn new software and equipment to make new sounds and improve. I read this in an interview a while back.

[sonfan1984]

Again I ask, what is so flawed or 'dumb down' about his work in Heroes? Heroes got a great soundtrack IMO.

Edited December 10, 2012 by sonfan1984

[Scar]

Again I ask, what is so flawed or 'dumb down' about his work in Heroes? Heroes got a great soundtrack IMO.

Heroes had a pretty varied soundtrack. It was brilliant. Senoue's blandest OST is probably Shadow. Even Sonic 4 had some catchy, nicely composed melodies, marred either by short length or by horrible instrumentation.

[Dizcrybe]

Yeah, I just skimmed the stuff he did for Shadow, and barring Digital Circuit, it's probably some of his worst work.

[720]

I enjoy most of his work. His reputation shouldn't be ruined just because Sonic 4 had a poor budget and 'nostalgic limitations.' I never hated any music from Jun before Sonic 4, and even the meow music wasn't as horrible as it was made out to be, just repetitive. Also I think the Shadow soundtrack is underrated.

[lounge]

Again I ask, what is so flawed or 'dumb down' about his work in Heroes? Heroes got a great soundtrack IMO.

The sound was really mediocre and annoying compared to the high quality production of the Adventure music. The music can just get really repetitive. Egg Fleet, Final Fortress, Mystic Mansion, Rail Canyon, Bullet Station, Casino Park, Bingo Highway, Power Plant, and the boss music all have this lack of detail and irritating sound that can drive me nuts when listening to it for minutes and minutes. This has bothered me since the day I first played the game.

I never had a problem with this type of thing in ShtH or Black Knight. Even though ShtH also doesn't have the quality of Adventures, the sound doesn't irritate me. Even a track like Digital Circuit, Jun did something with that that made it sound really cool and at the same time not grating on the ears.

Tracks like Lost Jungle and Ocean Palace are really nice though. The special stage themes are cool too.

[Soniman]

Again, I have no idea what makes Heroes' music sound "low quality" compared to the Adventure games.

[sonfan1984]

To each their own but I've never found any of the music in Heroes to be annoying. I put Heroes soundtrack in the same quality as the Adventure games or probably alittle above it.

[Dr. Crusher]

I'm with Sonfan, I actually overall like the Heroes soundtrack a little more than the SA2 one, level theme-wise anyway.

[MamboCat]

Jun Senoue used to be good...

...until he made the music for Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

I'm pretty much in the same mindset, although I haven't played Shadow... so can't really comment on the music in that.

I'm not a fan of Sonic 4's music at all - it's almost as though someone heard the drum machine in some of the old Sonic games' music, and thought "let's over-do that, so the fan's really know they're playing a game referencing Sonic's good old days!" I find it very grating indeed.

Edited December 10, 2012 by Mash-It Mambo

[lounge]

Again, I have no idea what makes Heroes' music sound "low quality" compared to the Adventure games.

Heroes sound kind of felt stripped down. The music itself was loud, but the actual detail and sounds used never stroked me as amazing. More in the generic category.

I mean compare Bullet Station to Sky Rail (SA2). Sky Rail has overall just a higher quality production to it, with more original sounds, and it doesn't drone on and on in the bg.

Lost Jungle by Yutake Minobe is a good example of unique, original sounds, and nice variety. The song doesn't feel repetitive because there's also lots of new sections in it. Lots of mysterious layers.

Even the sound effects were pathetic. The worst offender being the sounds of enemies blowing up. Even with Dolby Prologic.

[JD!]

I'm pretty much in the same mindset, although I haven't played Shadow... so can't really comment on the music in that.

I'm not a fan of Sonic 4's music at all - it's almost as though someone heard the drum machine in some of the old Sonic games' music, and thought "let's over-do that, so the fan's really know they're playing a game referencing Sonic's good old days!" I find it very grating indeed.

I actually don't mind the music in Ep 2 at all.

[Dizcrybe]

I actually don't mind the music in Ep 2 at all.

Ep. 2 definitely has the better soundtrack.

[Lange]

Music in Sonic games is some of the best in any video game i've ever played. I mean when I tell people one reason Sonic music is important I mention: Do you know of many games that have a professional bad dedicated to making music for the games? Crush 40 is a very good rock band as a whole and they in my book can compare to a lot of mainstream bands. Just shows how great the dedication is for music for Sonic games. Jun Seone is a amazing composer as well and really adds a lot of great music to the games. I actually am looking to buy the CDs to many of the Sonic games because i've always loved them so much.

[Scar]

Yeah, it's got some good moments. I like Oil Desert tracks and the first act of Sky Fortress.

Why does Sky Fortress Act 2 get no love....Its one of the best tracks in the game. Same with Death Egg Mk II

[Faseeh]

Episode 2 has good melodies, it's got the better soundfont, my main problem is how short they are, seriously.

[Kaze_Senshi]

Episode 2 has good melodies, it's got the better soundfont, my main problem is how short they are, seriously.

I don't think that music length is a problem, Sonic 1 and 2 musics are pretty short I think.

And he made the musics of S3 and S&K, so I like him

[Dizcrybe]

I don't think that music length is a problem, Sonic 1 and 2 musics are pretty short I think.

Yeah, people who complain that the music in Sonic 4 is too short seem to forget (or just not care) that Sonic 1 had pretty short tracks (the boss theme and Final Zone, anyone?).Especially the Game Gear version.

[Mr. Taxi]

And he made the musics of S3 and S&K, so I like him

He didn't.

[Kaze_Senshi]

He didn't.

Oops, so I like him because of the Sonic 3D blast musics lol

[Mr. Taxi]

Oops, so I like him because of the Sonic 3D blast musics lol

Are you completely sure, though?

[Kaze_Senshi]

Are you completely sure, though?

Now I am confused