View Full Version : Konami Battle Albums
Where the hell have I been???? My god. I have these albums in Mp3 forever, and I have no idea why I have never listened to them. I am becoming obsessed though. They are freaking amazing. Maybe I just have falcom on the brain and didnt think to expand my horizons as much as I should have.
Since I am in love with the 4 battle albums I have, are there other things you guys can suggest to me of simliar style? And what do you guys think of these albums? The second I started them, I knew I was falling in love...
Karasuman
10-06-2002, 03:21 AM
First, there are six albums in total, so if you only have four, you might want to seek out the other two. In order of release date:
Konami Shooting Battle ~ Perfect Selection
Dracula Battle ~ Perfect Selection
Dracula Battle II ~ Perfect Selection
Snatcher Battle ~ Perfect Selection
Konami Shooting Battle II ~ Perfect Selection
Konami Battle the Best
The last one is a "best of" compilation, but since all the tracks are so good, it's really just down to personal taste as to whether they're the best tracks. It also has two original arrangements from Super Contra and slightly remixed versions of "Don't Wait Until Night" from Dracula Battle I and "In the Castle" from Dracula Battle II.
Similar in style? Guilty Gear X HRT has some definite similarities to the Dracula Battles, although it's much heavier. I wouldn't know what to suggest other than that. They're in a league of their own.
Rince
10-06-2002, 03:54 AM
They are the best!
If we are to get any RARE OOP music, we have to rerip them all to our standard. Mine here certainly could use a bitrate upgrade (safe for Konami Shooting Battle 2 and Battle the Best, which I have as a Falchion Gold release in 320 k/s).
Lentium
10-06-2002, 03:59 AM
Actually alot of the tracks on Battle the Best (I mean studio tracks, not whole songs) were re-recorded for many of the songs. Most of the solos are completely different, and I notice different tones or added instruments. Overall enhanced.
Did you listen to F-Zero X Guitar Arrange Version yet?
I think the reason they're worth so much is because
1) They're konami
2) They're rock arrangements, which seem to be very rare
Zephyrin
10-06-2002, 11:36 AM
I have heard them all. Indeed they are very great. Most of them are among my favorite albums.
Unfortunately, Snatcher battle I got from Naka and was full of skips. Then my Dracula albums are in shitty quality. I will probably just hit up SS for his sets sometime.
Eriol
10-06-2002, 12:01 PM
Koei Battle Special Vol. 1. Volume 1 is rock and techno. It's good, but not the quite same as Konami rock.
Battle Arena Toshinden 2 has good rock tracks.
Strohmie
10-06-2002, 10:07 PM
I've had all six CDs in my possession at one point or another, and currently own all but the Shooting Battle albums (I generally don't find them to be nearly as powerful as the Snatcher or Dracula Battle CDs). They can be easily VBRed (the Shooting Battle ones already are) when I have the chance if anyone wants them for the site.
Speaking of Koei Battle Special, I have both albums and they're currently up for sale. They're an eclectic mix of rock, techno, orchestral, and new age. If anyone has interest, gimme a message.
The only one listed I havent heard yet is Snatcher. I will take a listen to it. Zeph worries me though, if he says its full of skips. I will have to seek out a better rip.
Lentium.... YOU MUST know me better than that. I LOVE that album!
Eriol, I will give those a try.
Rince, I have CDRs of the Shooting Battles, so we can get those in SD standard style no problem!
Rince
10-07-2002, 03:18 AM
The Snatcher Battle is worth of the name "Battle" - it's fantastic. The Title Melody alone I could listen over and over to. To have all the battle Albums as original would be a collector's Dream, I guess.
I know its not the same style as the battle, but Dracula New Classic is awesome too. Konami, where have you been all my life?? :D
Rince
10-07-2002, 06:48 AM
I would surely count Dracula New Classic to the "Battle" Album series in coolness and arrangement. I'm still thinking this was really orchestrated, but I'm sure this was done by a high-class synthie.
Eriol
10-07-2002, 09:15 AM
Originally posted by Strohmie
Speaking of Koei Battle Special, I have both albums and they're currently up for sale. They're an eclectic mix of rock, techno, orchestral, and new age. If anyone has interest, gimme a message.
Hey Naka, buy the Koei albums.
Strohmie, you suck for selling those albums. =P
Thos are pretty nice albums.
Karasuman
10-07-2002, 09:16 AM
If you're interested in knowing more about the people behind the Battle albums, this site (http://gmi.rocketbaby.net) has scans of the liner notes for them, complete with pictures.
As for me, I recently acquired MP3's of Gradius Perfect Selection Vol. 1 (done by the same people as Dracula New Classic) off SS, and it's great. Much more upbeat than Dracula New Classic, and much more synth-oriented, but incredible arrangements. I've never played any of the earlier Gradius games, and it still gave me a huge sense of nostalgia listening to some of the tracks.
Zeratul
10-07-2002, 09:39 AM
I've never listened to them but now I better. So much good music, so little bandwidth, and I'm running out of space. I better fill it up quick before my harpy sister puts another horrid rap or Avril song on the computer!!
JumboMaverick
10-07-2002, 01:52 PM
Konami Battle CDs are GOD. ABSOLUTE GOD. I just wish I owned more than one. :( But owning Perfect Selection Dracula Battle is pretty damn fine IMO. :)
IkarusZino
10-09-2002, 12:00 PM
Konami music in general is my absolute favorite music, right next to Square and Namco. I have never been introduced to Falcom, even though I have a ton of their stuff.
I love the Battle albums, and Dracula new Classic is incredible. Orchestrated "Evergreen" is song I have been yearning for since I was 10 and sitting in front of the NES sound test daydreaming to that song.
Eriol
10-09-2002, 12:16 PM
Originally posted by Karasuman
As for me, I recently acquired MP3's of Gradius Perfect Selection Vol. 1 (done by the same people as Dracula New Classic) off SS, and it's great
Hmm, a band called Nazo Nazo did Gradius Perfect Selection, if I remember the liner notes.
Karasuman
10-09-2002, 12:18 PM
Yes, the NazoČ Project. They also did Dracula New Classic, and all Konami's other "Perfect Selection" albums (except the "Battle" ones, obviously).
Eriol
10-09-2002, 12:36 PM
Originally posted by Karasuman
Yes, the NazoČ Project. They also did Dracula New Classic, and all Konami's other "Perfect Selection" albums (except the "Battle" ones, obviously).
They did the opening theme to Guradian Heroes for the Sega Saturn. Interesting band.
Zeratul
10-09-2002, 12:41 PM
I've just heard Dracula Battle 1 Perfect Selections and its one of my best downloads so far. I can't wait to hear the songs on the second one!!
"Beginning", "Bloody Tears", "Cross a Fear", "Op. 13", and "Calling From Heaven" are simply amazing.
Strohmie
10-13-2002, 12:56 AM
Belated reply, but anyways...
Eriol, for some reason I haven't really been able to get into most Koei stuff other than the Nobunaga's Ambition series (for which I have that Ultimate Collection 2 CD set). Jodo and I did a big CD trade a bit ago, and the CD-Rs I ended up with from Koei didn't impress me greatly...likewise, the tracks I liked the most from the Battle albums were ones I already had from Nobunaga and UW, so I felt no need to keep the CDs.
Besides, I may as well sell stuff I don't like as much too. ^_^ And I'm truly in need of money momentarily, with grad school applications due relatively soon, and no money to send with them.
Eriol
10-13-2002, 01:30 AM
Originally posted by Strohmie
Eriol, for some reason I haven't really been able to get into most Koei stuff other than the Nobunaga's Ambition series (for which I have that Ultimate Collection 2 CD set). Jodo and I did a big CD trade a bit ago, and the CD-Rs I ended up with from Koei didn't impress me greatly...likewise, the tracks I liked the most from the Battle albums were ones I already had from Nobunaga and UW, so I felt no need to keep the CDs.
Interesting because I can't get into the Nobunaga's Ambition music, while everything else is ok. Well, I'm selling my True Legend of Nobunaga 2 album.
Monkeyman
10-15-2002, 09:25 AM
Originally posted by Naka
Since I am in love with the 4 battle albums I have, are there other things you guys can suggest to me of simliar style?
You have to check Konami's Midi Power and Midi Power Pro albums. They are amazing. Very similar style compared to Battle Albums. People just look down on them, because they see "Midi" on the album name, but the music has nothing to do with it. The "Midi" word is there, because the albums contain floppy disks with midi samples in them.
Anyway, I would especially recommend Midi Power 5.0 - Snatcher and Midi Power Pro 5 - Salamander. Them rock.
Eriol
10-15-2002, 09:42 AM
Originally posted by Monkeyman
You have to check Konami's Midi Power and Midi Power Pro albums. They are amazing. Very similar style compared to Battle Albums. People just look down on them, because they see "Midi" on the album name, but the music has nothing to do with it. The "Midi" word is there, because the albums contain floppy disks with midi samples in them.
Anyway, I would especially recommend Midi Power 5.0 - Snatcher and Midi Power Pro 5 - Salamander. Them rock.
I disagree. The Midi Power albums, while good, are done through heavy use of Midi synthesizers. It is not the same listening parity.
The musical difference between Midi Power Pro 6 and Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight OST was noticeable.
Rince
10-16-2002, 01:27 AM
I find the Midi Power albums not very bad overall. They use quality soundbanks and adjust the midis to those.
You could use one of the good software banks too, and listen to your midis through a software based synthie (like on SB LIVE or Audigies). I have some quality soundbanks and it rocks that way. Good old "General Midy Synth" wavetable action! Similar to expensive Roland Cards in the early PC ages this is the same experience.
ckain
10-20-2002, 11:42 PM
But hey. Has anyone seen Shooting Battle Perfect Selection I MP3's better than 160 kbps ?
Or is there even better, an ogg-version?
Eriol
10-21-2002, 07:55 AM
Originally posted by ckain
But hey. Has anyone seen Shooting Battle Perfect Selection I MP3's better than 160 kbps ?
Or is there even better, an ogg-version?
Yeah, I have. I own the CD and I rip via --alt -default -preset
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