WM-0793~4: Technosoft Music Collection -THUNDER FORCE III & AC-

[Aifread]

Just announced! I already own TF3, but it's nice to finally get the arcade version. I added composer info based on what we have from TCS-0003.

[Sherkel]

All these years waiting for a proper title for TF4's Omake-2, and it's "Omake-2"! Good to see the arcade version on CD at least. Circumstances permitting I'd like to nab a copy...

[Aifread]

I had never heard the arcade version before so I decided to check it out on Youtube before deciding whether to buy this (I already have the original TF3 album from 1990) and I gotta say the arcade version is a bit of a downgrade. I'm not privy to the spec differences between Mega Drive and System C2, but in this case MD is more dynamic and sounds way better. All the notes are still there in the arcade version, but they don't have the same punch. I feel like it's just there for the recognition from the recent Switch port.

The other exclusives are a nice touch, but they aren't enough to make me pull the trigger here. I'd still highly recommend this album to people who don't have the TF3 soundtrack yet since it's considerably cheaper than getting the old albums secondhand.

[Aifread]

Omake 2 is Takeshi Yoshida's composition (aka OMEN) according to his comments in TCS-0005.

[Sherkel]

Main draw for TFAC for me was always the Death Faces remix. I was never too big a fan of TF3's overall after the first three stage themes, though it's plenty worth owning with a bonus like this. I wonder what "Venus Fire -1991 MD Omake Other Ver.-" is? I thought it would be the Devil Crash/Dragon's Fury version at first, but that was 1993.

[José BxR]

Devil Crash MD was indeed out in late 1991 in Japan. Still possible it's that one.

Can't tell if Track 2-11 is "Omake 2" because Wave Master was lazy or because Yoshida was lazy. I'm sure someone, somewhere had something resembling a title in mind when it was composed for "AC".