Which games have the best sound effects?

[JingleJoe]

I want to know what games have the best most computery, bleepy, video gamey sound effects on the Atari 2600.

 

 

Alot of the games I've got rely heavily on the noise waveform, everything seems to try and emulate the real sounds of gunfire or tank engine or plane engines or spaceship engines or whatever it is in the game but because the 2600 is such old technology it's too limited to produce realistic sounds and so they don't really sound too much like the real thing.

 

I want to know what games have sound effects that play to the 2600's strengths; bleepy bloopy computery sounds! Megamania is a great one for this it's sound effects are kinda percussive but still really electronic and nice.

Pacman has some really brilliant sound effects too (Not the first pacman on the 2600, the later ones) and Asteroids is another great example, it uses some noise waveform but redeems itself with the missles sound effects and that constant beep boop beep boop beep boop.

 

Defender is a good example of too much noise waveform, it has two or three pretty good bleepy sound effects however most of it is engine noise and even your lazer sound effect uses the noise waveform

Combat is one of the prime examples of too much noise waveform too.

 

 

 

I dont want realism in my sound effects I want an electronic neon soundscape like listening to the heartbeat of a 1980's super computer, I want a sound that evokes visions of the electric roads in a circuit board city!

[bomberpunk]

Beany Bopper?

[JingleJoe]

Beany Bopper?

Yeah that one is fantastically electronic!

The eye-beam or whatever it is your player fires has a bit of a harsh sound effect but it does sound like electrical sparks and it evokes visions of those giant power plant transformers

 

Keep 'em coming

[The_Laird]

Defender 2

 

Solaris

 

Double Dunk

 

Realsports Boxing

 

Space Invaders

[Miss 2600]

I like games with cute little tunes like Bump N Jump, Pitfall II, Tapper, and Dig Dug (though I know they can get on some people's nerves).

[jeremysart]

 

I dont want realism in my sound effects I want an electronic neon soundscape like listening to the heartbeat of a 1980's super computer, I want a sound that evokes visions of the electric roads in a circuit board city!

 

Heh, that sounds like one of my fantasy worlds. You might like my art in that case (link in my sig).

 

Its not an Atari game, but I have a feeling you would love Beat Trip, look it up on Youtube!

 

Two of my favorite games for the VCS are poor suggestions for Bleepy goodness, as the sounds (in Mario Bros and DK Jr) are ear rapingly terrible.

 

I always liked the sound fx in DigDug, and Pheonix especially.

[Ranthulfr]

Secret Quest has good electronic-sounding music and effects. The sonic blaster has an especially nice kick to it.

[littleman jack]

The sound effects and music on the homebrew Flap Ping are pretty fantastic. Very 80s techno.

[SpendTooMuchOnAtari]

Quadrun! Quadrun! Quadrun!

[lushgirl_80]

I actually love the sounds in E.T.

 

 

That sound when E.T. is running is sooo cool and the sound effect they use for when the spaceship lands is awesome. Plus the main title song in that game is well done for it's time.. People who say E.T. is the worst game ever don't really know what they're talking about. I love that game.

 

 

Love the sounds in Donkey Kong too.

[Herbarius]

I wouldn't say they're very good sounds, but Breakout definitely has very beepy/bloopy sound effects.

 

 

Would I call them "computery"?... I don't know, they rather sound almost like an Electrocardiograph in a hospital

 

 

But maybe that is what you're looking for anyway?

 

 

I actually love the sounds in E.T.

 

 

That sound when E.T. is running is sooo cool and the sound effect they use for when the spaceship lands is awesome. Plus the main title song in that game is well done for it's time.. People who say E.T. is the worst game ever don't really know what they're talking about. I love that game.

Yes, I think the sounds in E.T. are quite nice as well. However, the do rely heavily on the noise waveform, especially the footsteps of course.

Edited July 1, 2010 by Herbarius

[pinball22]

Pitfall... the jumping sound, the swinging sound, and especially the treasure sound are all great.

And I love the music in Pitfall II more than any other sound on the 2600... but that's kind of cheating.

Edited July 1, 2010 by pinball22

[Emehr]

I concur with the sounds in ET. The spaceship sound is so rich and dramatic and ET's footsteps have a nice rhythm. I'm also fond of the sounds in Space Invaders. The invader march sound effect is nice and ominous. I like to time my shots to it. And when the UFO shows up it adds a cool backdrop to it. It's music to my ears!

[JingleJoe]

I wouldn't say they're very good sounds, but Breakout definitely has very beepy/bloopy sound effects.

 

 

Would I call them "computery"?... I don't know, they rather sound almost like an Electrocardiograph in a hospital

 

 

But maybe that is what you're looking for anyway?

Yes it is! I love the sounds in breakout

 

I have Pitfall 1 and Dig Dug too, they have fantastic sounds! Thanks for all the suggestions chaps, I will be looking them up periodically through near future time spaces.

[+bfstats]

Two rather obscure titles here.

 

First a GOOD (realistic) sound effect:

 

Artillery Duel - the "snare drum" as the soldiers march across the screen between rounds. Always makes me smile.

 

 

...offset by BAD:

 

Anytime I WANT to get on someone's nerves, I just plug in Dishaster. The "theme music" could provoke "grown men to pull their own 'eads off!"

[jeremysart]

I'm also fond of the sounds in Space Invaders. The invader march sound effect is nice and ominous. I like to time my shots to it. And when the UFO shows up it adds a cool backdrop to it. It's music to my ears!

 

Much agreed, Space Invaders on the VCS has an awesome rythm to it. I love the sound of the UFO

[The #5]

The music when you start and lose a life in Espial gets very annoying, but the first time I heard it, I started laughing, because it doesn't seem to fit in with a shooting game like that...

[Godzilla]

i really agree with solaris, especially when warping. i love how some of the sounds are sound different at times, as well, not always exactly the same. also love the sounds in reactor, firefly and sorceror. turmoil and bermuda triangle and solar fox has some neat sonic stuff too. always love the pulsating of the demons in demon attack as well...

[lushgirl_80]

...I also love the BURP! sound in Fast Food lol ..

[Rom Hunter]

IMO nothing beats the sound of an exploding Swirl.

 

[Lord Helmet]

As far as homebrews go I really like the sound in Star Fire. As far as games released back in the day...there are so many with great sound effects. Nothing sounds quite like a 2600 game you know? I still love the sound effects in the original Space Invaders. Other good ones are Solaris, Stargate, Demon Attack, the list goes on.

[Herbarius]

i love how some of the sounds are sound different at times, as well, not always exactly the same.

Oh, yes I noticed this as well, although I don't recall which game it was (not Solaris, as I don't have that)... I was thinking if it may be intentional or by accident, but finally I concluded it's most likely by accident, although the designer(s) may have noticed it during development, but decided not to try to prevent it, as it actually gives the sound a more realistic feel.

Edited July 2, 2010 by Herbarius

[BassGuitari]

Star Ship. I think every stereotypical "bleep" and "bloop" associated with computer/video games must have been inspired by Star Ship. I think those sounds in the game are supposed to be your star ship's computer systems, but I'm not sure. Also, the sounds of your lasers firing and the "zap" when they disintegrate an enemy are classic.

[roadrunner]

Fun With Numbers

[JingleJoe]

I got original breakout (not super) and solar storm today I can confirm thier sound effects are spiffing! Breakout has the circuit board city sound I was after But I still need more! My incredible hunger for video game sound effects cannot be sated by a mere two games!