Personal 10 Best 8 & 16-bit Intro Tunes [Home Computers] - It's a Pixel THING - Ep.#35

I must first remind you that, in this video, I only make reference to titles from 8 and 16 bit home computers of late eighties and early nineties. At that time these were THE gaming platforms here in Europe.

In that Era, the Amiga was the pinnacle, not only in terms video, but also in the audio department. As for the 8 bit machines, and spite the superior audio chip of the Commodore 64, my preference goes directly to the ZED X Spectrum.

Let’s dive right into my Top 10 Intro Tunes from 8 and 16 bit home computers!

FUZZBALL (AMIGA) 

Developed by Scangames Norway and published by System 3 Software in the beginning of 1992, Fuzzball features music from composers Tomas Dahlgren and John Carehag. The intro music is a really platform friendly tune that fits right into the mood of this Amiga exclusive title.

Watch the video.

DARK FUSION (ZX SPECTRUM) 

Back in 1988 I was blown away by Dark Fusion’s drum style intro music on the ZED X Spectrum! I recall questioning “is this even possible in such a limited machine”? It is such an awesome intro tune that, most of the times, I just loaded the game only to listen to its music! By the way, the artist responsible for it is Ben Daglish and the game was published by Gremlin Graphics.

NAVY SEALS (ZX SPECTRUM) 

Based on the movie of the same name and, obviously, developed and published by Ocean Software in 1991, this intro tune was written by Matthew Cannon, also known for other great musical pieces of other astonishing movie conversions made by Ocean, like, for instance, Batman the Movie and Robocop 2.

XENOPHOBE (ZX SPECTRUM) 

Right after Xenophobe is loaded, this super-fast pumping audio track shoots awesomeness everywhere!

The original arcade game from where it was ported gave three players the opportunity to, simultaneously, exterminate all aliens. It was so much fun!

ASTRO MARINE CORPS (ZX SPECTRUM) 

From Spanish developer Creepsoft and publisher Dinamic Software came, in 1989, this amazingly colorful arcade shoot-em-up that, in the ZED X Spectrum version, we’re contemplated with this amazing tune, from composer Jose Antonio Martin Tello, right after the game is loaded.

MIDNIGHT RESISTANCE (ZX SPECTRUM) 

Midnight Resistance’s soundtrack needs no introduction. It’s simply one of the best ever created for a video game and, on the megadrive/genesis, is where it really shines!

Even so, I’ve found the ZED X Spectrum intro music the most enjoyable and the game was considered one of the best ever made for this platform. Published by Ocean Software in 1990 for all available home computers of that time, Midnight Resistance was a conversion of another awesome arcade original. Credits for its music goes to composer Keith Tinman.

SAVAGE (ZX SPECTRUM) 

In 1988, Probe Software developed this awesome 8 and 16bit gem: Savage. By that time, I was simply blown away when I first heard the intro music for this game, and I simply stood there, listening to it over and over again. David Whittaker, responsible for this great tune and for others like Shadow of the Beast’s, was known as the composer with the largest amount of work in this area in late 80s.

THE NINJA WARRIORS (AMIGA) 

Faithful to the arcade original, the intro music for The Ninja Warriors on the Commodore Amiga is one of the best I’ve ever heard since I began playing video games. This tune continues throughout the first level and it has an extremely high quality taste from its original composer, Hisayoshi Ogura of Taito. 16 bit versions were the responsibility of Ronald Pieket Weeserik and they sound really faithful to the original.

STORMLORD 2: DELIVERANCE (ZX SPECTRUM) 

Written in 1989 by Dave Rogers, Stormlord’s 2 intro music is a really gorgeous tune and different from all other available at that time.

Watch the video to listen this awesome tune!

TURRICAN 2 (AMIGA) 

Finally, my number 1 intro tune and number one video game soundtrack is from Turrican 2: The Final Fight, from award winning composer Chris Hülsbeck.

Released in 1991 by Rainbow Arts, the game is an audiovisual masterpiece and one of my top 10 titles of all time across all platforms.

Please let me know, on the comments section below, your personal top 10 intro tunes that keep playing on your head over and over! Amiga, C64, Spectrum, CPC, MSX, Megadrive/Genesis, NES, everything goes!


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