The Music of Sega Genesis (3+ Hours)

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A whole mess of music recorded from many different games. All of these tracks are recorded from real hardware, just like all my other recordings. They are recorded via VGM & a flash cartridge.
This is not really intended to be a "best of." The tracks are not sorted in any way (they are randomized) and I picked tracks I felt are representative of the various sounds of the Genesis. I picked some tunes not because I think they are great but because I think they are "essential" so to speak. I tried to veer toward slightly more obscure games versus the ones everyone knows, but there are plenty of old favorites included too.
Fun facts: the uncompressed 96kHz/24bit recording totals over 6GB. It took about 5 flash cart flashes to get all these tunes recorded. The splitting, normalization and fading of tracks was totally automated via SoX on Linux (sox.sourceforge.net/). (Please inform me if you hear any errors--there is one track, "Flash of Sword" from Valis that has an awkward loop point--AFAIK this isn't a recording error.) All the recordings here, and all the recordings I make are made with free software. Even the graphic I made for this video was made in the GIMP. Do you like it?
Enjoy! and subscribe!
00:00 Robocop 3 - Title Theme
02:14 Sonic Spinball - The Machine
06:15 Virtua Racing - Replay
07:40 Eternal Champions - Blade's Stage
09:46 Ecco 2 - Crystal Springs
14:01 T2 The Arcade Game - Stage 1
16:12 California Games - Surfing
18:46 Columns - Clotho
21:48 M.U.S.H.A. - "For the Love of..."
25:06 Ys III - "Be Careful"
27:10 Cool Spot - "Rave Dancetune"
29:29 Aladdin - "Turban Jazz"
34:28 QuackShot - Duckburg
35:47 El Viento - "High Sky"
38:11 After Burner - "City 202"
39:00 Sonic 3 - Ice Cap Zone
41:54 Columns III - "Column Dive"
43:41 Castlevania: Bloodlines - "The Sinking Old Sanctuary"
45:37 The Jungle Book - "Jungle Tek"
48:36 Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle - Town
49:40 X-Men - Shi'ar Empire
53:28 Fatal Fury - Australia Stage/Big Bear
56:34 Battletoads / Double Dragon - "Inside the Ship"
59:43 Buster's Hidden Treasure - "Inside the Caverns"
1:01:06 Ecco the Dolphin - "Jurassic Beach"
1:03:22 Streets of Rage 2 - "Dreamer"
1:05:36 F-15 Strike Eagle II - "Decisions, Decisions"
1:07:38 Landstalker - "Bustling Street"
1:10:00 Super Hang-On - "Outride a Crisis"
1:15:10 Kid Chameleon - Mountain
1:16:16 TMNT Hyperstone Heist - "The Gauntlet"
1:17:56 Ristar - "Ice Scream"
1:20:36 Gunstar Heroes - Rolling Chaser
1:23:38 Golden Axe - Death Adder
1:28:26 Comix Zone - Episode 2, Page 1-1
1:31:51 Pitfall The Mayan Adventure - (21)
1:36:00 Beavis and Butthead - Drive-In
1:36:52 Panorama Cotton - Last Battle / Midboss - Cookie
1:37:58 Toejam & Earl 2 - "Lewanda's Love"
1:40:31 Michael Jackson's Moonwalker - "Beat it"
1:42:29 World of Illusion - Level 3-1 Underwater / Coral Reef
1:44:50 B.O.B. - (unknown non-tech level music 1)
1:50:26 Valis - "Flash of Sword"
1:52:34 NFL '95 - "Scoreboard Groove"
1:53:16 Earthworm Jim - New Junk City
1:57:34 Truxton - "Crisis"
1:58:40 Earthworm Jim 2 - "Lorenzen's Soil"
2:03:36 Ren & Stimpy Stimpy's Invention - The Zoo
2:05:17 Decap Attack - Bonus Stage
2:06:18 Jungle Strike - Intro
2:08:39 Vectorman - "Oshin Thing"
2:10:31 Shining Force II - "To Arms!"
2:13:12 Spider-Man (Acclaim) -
2:16:42 Street Fighter II SCE - Guile Theme
2:19:04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Crossroads of Time - (sound test 20)
2:23:09 Jurassic Park - Power Station
2:25:12 Streets of Rage 3 - "Dub Slash"
2:28:45 NBA Jam - Title Theme
2:30:18 Flashback - (sound test 11)
2:33:04 Last Battle - Boss 1
2:34:24 Sonic 2 - "Chemical Plant Zone"
2:36:21 Elemental Master - "Blood Stained Lake"
2:39:11 Valis - "Flash of Sword" (Oops! So nice it's in here twice)
2:41:19 Contra Hard Corps - "The Hard Corps"
2:44:21 Mortal Kombat - "Opening Theme"
2:45:23 Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - 2p VS
2:47:26 Super Thunder Blade - Stage 3
2:50:35 Batman - Stage 4-2 & 6-2
2:52:27 Midnight Resistance - "Flood of Power"
2:55:21 Phantasy Star IV - "Terrible Sight"
2:57:32 John Madden Football - Title Screen
3:01:08 Rocket Knight Adventures - Stage 7
3:03:36 Alien 3 - Title Theme
3:06:35 Mega Bomberman - "Vexin' Volcano"
3:07:53 Streets of Rage - "Attack the Barbarian"
3:10:59 Saturday Night Slam Masters - Tokyo Theme
Thanks to Chris Sphinx for some IDs and track times

[@DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL]

www.patreon.com/dustinodellofficial

[@ExpressoTheCat]

hi

[@Seven71987]

Scrappy Doo

[@nzyt1]

All of us who played on the Genesis are friends.

[@LITTLE1994]

Yup.

[@Princescyther]

Don't leave us Mega Drive players out.

[@RetroLove-]

@@ikeygtd yes, welcome 😁

[@retrocalico]

Absolutely we are my friend

[@mayomonkey-gen1]

Genesis kids were always coolers than snes kids. That's just an objective 1990s fact. Lol.

[@5ch3nk]

I love the original Genesis sound chip. Anyone who talks bad about it hasn't played a game that properly utilized it. It's bass tones and lower frequencies especially always stood out to me as something special.

[@Ch4osWe4veR]

I agree, I always loved the sound of it. It was very versatile too, could do some badass heavy metal stuff, techno (Vectorman's menu music sounded almost like a real produced track that might have been made at the time, blew me away), and even some cheesy but lovable 80s synthpop sounding stuff. I think the SNES had only the advantage in atmospheric symphonic stuff (Zelda and Mario World's castles as examples) and maybe had more "fidelity". I love the Snes sound reproduction but I think the most standout tracks for me were on the Genesis.

[@bugadinho_gamers]

5ch3nk The best game to show the power of the Genesis sound chip is Show Do Milhâo,but it isn´t in english,only in portuguese.

[@DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL]

Random Games I checked this out and I don't really agree--it's just a bunch of digitized sounds. Which is sort of technically interesting and unique for a 16 bit game, but it's a text based quiz game. I'm sure they had plenty of room for big PCM samples. From a purely technical perspective playing digitized sounds on Genesis hardware is actually pretty trivial, nothing like say what Konami or Sunsoft or Yuzo Koshiro could get out of an FM synth.

[@paulolameiras861]

5ch3nk I agree. Games like Streets of Rage 2, Aladdin, Castlevania BL and the Sonic series are some of my favourite examples!

[@joelawson33]

5ch3nk Hell yeah, man. I've always thought Sega sounds more dark and gritty whereas SNES sounds bright and cartoonish. I still love Sega's music best of any console to this day.

[@thatwasntworthit]

2:45:20 I've played Mean Bean 2p a thousand times and never noticed how much the music SHREDS. That drum beat too, I could see this being shredded on stage especially 2:47:10 my good

[@EE_99]

If you like the meanbean version, you gotta hear the original ver final of puyo puyo

[@gold_lightning]

Damn, even got the NFL 95 pause music in here. This man is on point and knows his Genesis!

[@avgeek1024]

gold lightning SEGA!!!

[@rainehappy7097]

I like NBA Jam's music a lot.

[@willpowerrazorblade6436]

It feels good to see other SEGA gamers showing SEGA love. SEGA forever baby!!!

[@SgtSega]

Mutant League and NBA Jam are my favs when it comes to music in sports games.

[@bytesabre]

For some people, the 16 bit console wars never ended. Remember, we are stronger together, no matter how much better the megadrive was ;)

[@Shendue]

AHAHAH the subtle disrespect. XD

[@AdrianoSnake]

Am I tracking a Snes fanboy here???? Ahahahah

[@Insomniac_Hart]

Yeah Fuck Nintendo! Sega 4 life! #Stillhasagenesis

[@edgarector]

SEGA FOREVER!

[@wuffy8006]

While I personally liked the snes better, I do enjoy some of the sega library. and sega needs to bank on their 16 bit legacy more if they want to find success in todays market. Nostalgia is bankable if done right.

[@UniverseofDominion]

The fact that I haven't played more than half these games speaks to how many amazing Genesis tunes are out there that I'll never even hear.

[@infinitecanadian]

Raw FM power at it's best!

[@sidneyd.dacosta4361]

+infinitecanadian sure, memorable inspirated tunes

[@canadaman3191]

"Dramatic music starts playing"

[@IBroLLyISePhIrOtH]

43:41 Castlevania: Bloodlines - "The Sinking Old Sanctuary"

[@Ch4osWe4veR]

It's strange, I think Castlevania: Bloodlines and Contra Hard Corps are my 2 favorites of their respective series, and they're each one-off Genesis versions of franchises at that time synonymous with Nintendo. Wish Konami would have utilized the Genesis more, they seemed to be naturals at programming for it, and both had amazing soundtracks.

[@IBroLLyISePhIrOtH]

Ch4osWe4veR Indeed

[@SgtSega]

That song was remade in Legacy of Darkness. I like both versions.

[@qmto]

@@SgtSega Art Tower. I used to just sit in the lobby and let the music play.

[@chemicaljk1447]

48:36 fun fact: this melody was inspired by cannibal corpse songs

[@solidsnake2085]

I am so tired of hearing remixes of Sega Genesis tunes. So glad to find this! Brings me back to the 90s.

[@SgtSega]

It works with metal music though. I got a playlist of em.

[@vectororbitex7866]

This is the Ultimate Genesis Songs Collection

[@gearhead2519]

SEGA soundtracks were always great

[@willianwill6541]

M.U.S.H.A. - "For the Love of awesome music

[@Pan_Z]

Ikr? For a pretty obscure game it has one of the best tracks from the Mega Drive's whole library.

[@jedite7503]

Who says Sega Genesis music sucks? This compilation shows that the YM2612 can run with the best of them.

[@powdream84]

2:52:27​ Midnight Resistance - "Flood of Power" Amazing.

[@Ale-Tronic]

I absolutely like the duo YM2612 + PSG, I like how the electronic tones sound, and I like how you can produce a sound with FM synth that doesn't exist in real life, the ones that the only instrument able to generate are ... synthesizers. Those tunes sound quite familiar to my Japanese Mega Drive VA6 model 1. For me, this is video game music. :-)

[@bonsai6792]

god the ristar one punched me in the fucking gut lmfao

[@LegendBegins]

Genesis music is so crunchy-I love it.

[@suckturdslmao]

I don't know what it is, but something about those sawtooth sounding guitar tunes is so charming to me.

[@i-N-k-Primus]

Through the years, my music library changed, a lot, but sega tunes are always there, since i was a kid

[@diego_villena]

Column Drive is incredible. Pure Genesis.

[@DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL]

I'm willing to take more suggestions for any tracks I missed here, I wouldn't mind compiling a longer version of this.

[@ChemiBaralust]

DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL yes please! we want a longer version with more tracks! this compilation is awesome! I used to listen this all the day while I'm working :D

[@Peligonzo]

DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL If you do a new version, could you also add the titles on the video itself? Like "now playing", etc. Great channel you have here, anyway. Keep up the good work!

[@X-RAGE]

DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL heres a list of song that would be cool to be on your next compilation Sonic 3 : Flying Battery Act 2, Nightmare Circus : Wall of Death and Funhouse Street Of Rage 3 : Shinobi (reversed), The Super Shinobi : Terrible beat and Chinatown, Dr Robotnick Mean Bean Machine : Brave (unused), Sonic 3D Blast : Boss 1, Boss 2 and Final Boss Adv of Batman & Robin : Music test 10

[@skeletonhaver]

DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL I'd say something from Thunder Force III or IV? I like the music more in III, but IV maybe has a more unique sound? Raiden Trad has some really neat sounds, from the harder driving stage sounds to the super cool-sounding name entry tune. I'll try to think of some more.

[@infinitecanadian]

DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL The 1st level track to the Japanese game 'Verytex' is awesome; also, 'Sealed Time' from Ys 3.

[@_skyyskater]

MUSHA and Dr. Robotnik's had such good music and are totally underrepresented usually. Good to see them here!!

[@lennicodimo1208]

So many great memories playing X-Men games on Genesis

[@MrOzzerssj]

Play in 0.75% speed for UK retro experience... Aww the feels.

[@Juanknes]

Still the most badass console ever made.

[@pekkanyrhinen8106]

NHL 93 title screen definitely needs to be here!

[@PRG013]

So happy to finally hear Attack the Barbarian the way I remember it. Not with the Emu drum sounds.

[@aleste37]

This brings back so many memories! Specially of times I'd just let the music play, or even record the game to tape for listening in the car!

[@daminmancejin]

OMG Buster's Hidden Treasure I LOVE THIS TRACK I STILL PLAY THIS

[@jballs5434]

Nothing from Mega Turrican? :( That game has a superb soundtrack. And it's just a cool game.

[@patriciaiacobellis114]

definitly ... as golden axe 3, comix zone ...

[@ivgentis]

Came here from a "SNES Drunk"'s SNES music video after literally starting to feel sick from it. So much better.

[@avideogamemaster]

Often I see people commenting how the Snes soundchip has aged better than the Genesis soundchip. Honestly, I think the opposite. The genesis sounds more electronic, synthesized. If you turn the radio today you definitely will listen to an EDM or a similar genre song, which means the Yamaha 2612 actually could reproduce the song very close to the original. Tracks from games like Streets of Rage could be played in a night club with no problem. To this day games have electronic audio (with no need to sound organic nor realistic) and people still don't mind it at all. Now, the snes soundchip. The samples are low quality and muffled (still better than the genesis samples, but with more usage). Why would you bother listen to the snes samples if you can have cd quality audio nowadays? The same with some sounds that can emulate real instruments. The Final Fantasy/Chrono Trigger soundtrack is great, but would you rather just listen to the original tracks or the same song being played by real people and instruments? Both are great in their own way, but the Yamaha has aged better.

[@Suzukisenpai]

SOR OSTs for the night clubs are ideal =) kzbin.info/www/bejne/np-9opSDo6-bgqM

[@craiganderson7085]

I'd say add anything by Yuzo Koshiro. That guy was beast and could do anything with the Genesis soundchip. Revenge of Shinobi (Super Shinobi) Glad to see you had music from the very underrated Streets of Rage 3 soundtrack. Oh and my favorite SoR YK track ever! Attack of the Barbarian near the end :) Guynoug had awesome music. Some of Michael Jacksons tracks for Sonic 3 were fantastic - Hydrocity Act 2 :) and the end of the games music is where MK originated the basslines for 'Stranger in Moscow'. The other Golden Axe games had some great tracks.... lots and lots of options really Really dug the Snes soundchip, but liked the Genesis more overall. alot of great tunes adding to the atmosphere of the games Thanks for the nostalgia, dude :)

[@hocuspocusfocus6229]

Oh god, you woke up in me so much nostalgia.

[@TSC0000]

yo i was not prepared for robocop 3's title theme to go so hard

[@piticusomancuso953]

It's really amazing how a real Mega Drive sounds!!! OMFG

[@wwarriorww]

Really enjoying these custom selections of tracks, please do more!

[@placebo_yue]

duckburg is such an underrated classic. Absolutely iconic. Quackshot is a wonderful and often overlooked game

[@Whatthetrash]

I just wanted to say that I absolutely love this. Just LOVE IT! I barely knew any of the tracks (I think I only knew like 3 of them), but every song just sounds so cool. Lately I've been listening to this over and over. Thanks for introducing me to a world of new awesome video game music! :)

[@greenhillmaniac]

Really awesome work! Your dedication to Mega Drive music is unparalleled! Now I have something to listen while I work 😁

[@KokoRicky]

Thanks so much for posting this. What a wonderful and easy way to jam to Genesis tunes for hours.

[@archon9000]

Listening to this while working. Great selection of tracks!!! THanks for the upload!

[@fearturkey2915]

thank you for putting all of this together i miss my Sega Genesis so much

[@MohamedAkhbar]

thank u for putting ur effort together to piece all of this bro.

[@Sevish]

I keep coming back to this amazing mix. Thanks! FM for life!

[@jknikk]

Great Upload! thanks for the nostalgic memories

[@Readous]

Gotta love that funky genesis music, especially toejam and earl/sonic

[@occamania2262]

This is the perfect playlist for getting morning work done. Thank you!

[@MrackRUE]

This is an amazing mix!!! It's very similar to my own Sega Genesis playlist

[@JoshTaylorsegagenesisnerd]

really love this 3 hr collection of great sega genesis music. so much nostalgia growing up and playing these games and listening to the music it was an amazing time in my life. long live the sega genesis!

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

The amount of awesome is almost too much to handle. I know what I'll be listening to tonight :)

[@author_wericmyers]

As someone who has loved and lived through the console wars since the fight began between the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision, I'd like to weigh in on the whole Genesis/SNES bit. Back in the day, I lauded over the SNES and scoffed at my buddy who was a Sega fanboy. The SNES just sounded so much better, especially games like Plok, Actraiser, and Adventure Island. But, in today's day and age where games are so generic in that the graphics, animation and cut scenes are all about the same and the music is all recorded, I find myself craving chiptunes. I continuously come back to the Genesis for soundtracks to keep me going while I work. Soundtracks like Thunderforce IV, Verytex and Streets of Rage keep my happy going.

[@fuzzyg8653]

this is sweet. I appreciate the fact that you recorded the actual hardware output. what a great video, thanks.

[@Calham64]

James Pond 3 - The Spirit Of An Angel! That has some good bass for the Genesis/Mega Drive's sound capabilities!

[@Calham64]

***** Ha! That's cool! :D

[@Tclbmx_]

Nothing can beat the real thing.. This sounds so much better than any emulator out there.

[@user-cp9id1mj8b]

Why is this so awesome ?

[@socialengineering2539]

@madmomentsgo hhhh i open the reply to answer him like youu so you did it first hh thank you . it too easy its our segaaaaaaaa your welcome bro from morocco

[@fr0z3n2]

It’s the genesis bitch

[@fr0z3n2]

It's cool as fuck to see the Genesis make it's mark out there too.

[@cbtillery135]

@nope not telling What Nintendon't. Seriously, the system had better everything imo.

[@YASYTU]

Blast processing. What else could it be?

[@user-vx4vr8rb7i]

Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine has no right to sound so serious!

[@ParisFletcher]

This music really helped me to get grinding done, the perfect tone for that.

[@SergioInToronto]

Just discovered this.. 7 years after you made it. Thanks!

[@JossinJax]

Been following you for a while. Love your channel

[@AnotherSchmoe]

Great playlist! Listened to the whole thing while playing WoW Classic. Thanks.

[@Retrobitios]

Great work! Really good Genesis tunes and perfect flow between tracks

[@DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL]

That's funny, the tracks are almost 100% randomly shuffled (I moved a few around) but I listen to this mix myself every now and then, and you're right--it does flow pretty well.

[@Yuzoboy]

1:03:24 - Yuzo Koshiro all the way :) Nice compilation of FM music here.

[@koolca0176]

+Yuzoboy i read your comment exact moment the music play. (sorry my bad english)

[@Boonz]

Hi. (sorry for bad English.)

[@CyPhaSaRin]

+ Points for Last Battle Boss, - Points for no Home Alone - Haunted House

[@TheKevinNewsom]

Great memories! Thanks for posting.

[@franciscooteiza]

Very Nice, love you work pal. Instant subscribe

[@HEYitzED]

Awesome collection, but needed something from Mercs. That game kicked ass!

[@davidvosspoor4694]

This playlist reminds me of sounds and melodies I didn't even know I remembered

[@MuttonTheDragon]

I'll be honest: I didn't grow up with a genesis. The closest I got was the plug n play that had a few sega games on it, but that was only when I visited my mom during the summer. But dangit, the NES and Genesis soundchips made for some of the best-sounding music.

[@CresCoJeffToo]

1:23:38 I fantasized about running a Golden Axe show with my marching band, using the Death Adder theme as the capstone march; never happened, but would've been soooo epic!

[@toomanywitches]

crraaaazzy compilation man. thanx a lot.

[@manguejoe]

Damn the first song, Robocop 3 Title theme is lit!

[@GoodHomeVideos]

I used to bring up this video all the time while doing homework in college. I graduated in 2016, and it's good and nostalgic to find myself back here after a few years. Thank you @DUSTINODELLOFFICAL for the work you're doing here.

[@RepublicConstitution]

8-bit and 16-bit music was incredible. I heard one on SNES last night that blew me away from. I'll edit this post and put in the name.

[@r91playsind]

You didn't edit this post and put the name

[@Mchenrygames]

thanks for putting this togetherit really helps me sleep

[@dariodifranco9509]

This mix is MARVELOUS! Thank you VERY much for uploading this, friend! If I could add just one more song to it, I'd go for something from Zombies Ate My Neighbors, probably "Weird Kids on the Block". Thanks again!

[@HitmonleeDeluxe]

This is really cool stuff! I recently got my Japanese Mega Drive MB rev 2 recapped and have been recording via headphone jack and Mega Everdrive (using roms created using vgm player v3.30) and it's been an absolute blast, I can't believe I ever tolerated my oem Genesis model 2's sound, haha. Anyway, I thought it was cool that you record with real hardware and to keep at it!

[@Ch4osWe4veR]

Ah, Truxton. Hard as balls, but I keep coming back, the music being quite a part of that.

[@hadi9127]

You could not have this video up without 2:34:24 - Sonic Chemical plant, it's just not fkn possible. It's against all rules. Sonic and Superhang On had some straight BANGERS.

[@CanadianPenny]

"Flood of Power" - perfect title for that song.

[@danielferratti8727]

So many memories

[@carlosperezalvare2056]

Greastest compilation i've ever seen. Congrats!

[@nicomelgar9336]

I love MegaDrive music because it reminds us of the old 8 bit days... what I mean is that sometimes 8 bit tracks can be heard in some MegaDrive tracks like Sonic 1

[@scifyry]

I couldn't play the Genesis version of Jurassic Park at night because of the music. Freaked me out so bad.

[@CgitEinsteins]

PERPECT !

[@csikocska]

The Sega Genesis games' music (especially Sonic game music) are cool. They are really good for listening while playing some indie games with boring music. :)

[@epicon6]

A boss fight compilation would be pretty cool

[@streeterville773]

I know what I'm going to study to this weekend :) Thanks for this video.

[@rpgfreak9999]

16:12 I've never heard this tune before nor played the game, but it's very relaxing, as are many tracks from the Sega Genesis' vast library of music.

[@somemadcaaant]

Good selection the best seen so far.

[@DeathRocket4990]

I really like that electronic music

[@KUPHSER]

yamaha fm sounds so good

[@alinn.4341]

Thank you Dustin for your work. Last year I bought myself 2 Mega Drives 2 SNES and 1 NES. I like the Mega Drive so much. I have the HD version with audio out and played live the SoR intro at a party. People went crazy.

[@Erandros]

who can forget that mk1 intro synth...

[@videoradeon]

very good list! Congratulations!

[@ackronomicon]

Amazing. Thank you

[@lilacdragonblade]

There's a certain something about Sega genesis music I can only describe as 90s attitude in sound form.

[@rezaraditya8569]

Duck burg and the sinking of old scantuary