It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion (archive)Terrible sounds in old games(34 posts)(34 posts)
(34 posts)
Pages:
1
2
3
This is my favourite topic
Posted August 28, 2013
We discuss pretty often that some game aged badly, be that gameplay-wise (repetitive, stupid AI), UI problems (clunky controls, camera problems) or ugly graphics. But I've just realized there is one more aspect that can age badly: sounds. A perfect example is Settlers 2. I didn't mind at all back in 90s but nowadays I just cannot stand those bloody birds chirping all the time!

The second example, which is actually the reason I started this thread, is Die by the Sword. I've finished playing it a few minutes ago but I had to switch off the sounds. Why? Because during battles Enric cannot keep his mouth shut for more then 5 seconds! Don't get me wrong, I love his taunts (especially "You hit like a kobold" while fighting a kobold - hilarious) and even his guffaw but enough is enough! He says something literally every time he hit or gets hit! By the time I reached the first ogre I was so fed up with this that I let the monster smash me all around the room. It didn't help much because Enric kept shouting "bloody hell" and "is that all you can do?" all the time. So I switched the sounds off... enjoying the silence... The thing is I don't remember having this problem fifteen years ago!

So now I wonder... is something wrong with me or is it really that some sounds were acceptable back then but became extremely annoying over the time?
Posted August 28, 2013
Some old games have terrible sound effects I agree, your mention of Settlers 2 couldn't be more fitting, another one I might add is Flashback, the opening of doors is like scratching nails over a blackboard.
Some of it was due to the fact that soundcards where still primitive though some games back then had good sound effects, LA's Star Wars games comes to mind.
Posted August 28, 2013
I think it's both. Speaking as someone raised on the original NES, several of those games tried to emulate talking by using 'inflected grunts'; anyone who remembers Mario counting in the original "Punch Out" or "Double Dribble" knows what I'm talking about. The thing is, they were annoying as hell but because that was as high tech as games got we still loved them because it seemed so cool that they could simulate the words at all. All these years later it is still annoying but unlike when we were kids it's no longer high tech or far out or cool. Now it's just annoying and old.
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
Ghorpm: We discuss pretty often that some game aged badly, be that gameplay-wise (repetitive, stupid AI), UI problems (clunky controls, camera problems) or ugly graphics. But I've just realized there is one more aspect that can age badly: sounds. A perfect example is Settlers 2. I didn't mind at all back in 90s but nowadays I just cannot stand those bloody birds chirping all the time!

The second example, which is actually the reason I started this thread, is Die by the Sword. I've finished playing it a few minutes ago but I had to switch off the sounds. Why? Because during battles Enric cannot keep his mouth shut for more then 5 seconds! Don't get me wrong, I love his taunts (especially "You hit like a kobold" while fighting a kobold - hilarious) and even his guffaw but enough is enough! He says something literally every time he hit or gets hit! By the time I reached the first ogre I was so fed up with this that I let the monster smash me all around the room. It didn't help much because Enric kept shouting "bloody hell" and "is that all you can do?" all the time. So I switched the sounds off... enjoying the silence... The thing is I don't remember having this problem fifteen years ago!

So now I wonder... is something wrong with me or is it really that some sounds were acceptable back then but became extremely annoying over the time?
i never had any problems with sounds in old videogames and dude spouting stupid shit all the time isn't in fact bad sound of the game, that's just the way the character obviously is :). The same thing appears in newer games as well. XCOM for example has a few lines that are repeated over and over again.
Posted August 28, 2013
Thought this was going to be another thread about bad music scores from games. I still haven't played the older games you mentioned, but I do like games like Baldur's gate series and Civilization where you can turn off different annoyances, whether they be characters crappy comments, or birds singing in the background.
Now if only I could mute certain characters in Baldur's gate, because I can't get sick of hearing Minsc, but Jaheira and Khalid annoy the ever loving shit out me.
Post edited August 28, 2013 by jjsimp
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
Ghorpm: A perfect example is Settlers 2. I didn't mind at all back in 90s but nowadays I just cannot stand those bloody birds chirping all the time!
The original game didn't have that problem. It's GOG release (DosBox?) issue, it's discussed in settlers series boards.

Noone would stand that shit even back in the day.

edit: I can't find this discussion now, but I'm sure as hell I read it somewhere...
Post edited August 28, 2013 by keeveek
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
Ghorpm: A perfect example is Settlers 2. I didn't mind at all back in 90s but nowadays I just cannot stand those bloody birds chirping all the time!
avatar
keeveek: The original game didn't have that problem. It's GOG release (DosBox?) issue, it's discussed in settlers series boards.

Noone would stand that shit even back in the day.

edit: I can't find this discussion now, but I'm sure as hell I read it somewhere...
I did! I've just checked, and my version (Veni, Vidi, Vici) has the same annoying birds. I've never played/heard any other version :)
Posted August 28, 2013
If you play Lords of the Realm 1, turn off the sound immediately (or don't run as admin, which will achieve the same result). The music seems quirky enough at first, but switching between screens (which you do frequently, as in every 3 seconds) causes a different tune to start, I know the first 3 seconds to each menu screen's tune instantly. For some reason I can't play with the sound off though, I'd feel like I wasn't playing the game as it was.
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
tinyE: The thing is, they were annoying as hell but because that was as high tech as games got we still loved them because it seemed so cool that they could simulate the words at all.
Sorry, but I'd say that the NES opted for the cheaper hardware. Take a look at little gem from 1981. Or [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPURasK8EPg]this one from 1982.
The speech synthesizer for the TI99/4A did cost ~$150 on release, compared to the computer's $525, so it's no wonder NES (and the other succesful consoles) decided to skip the good hardware and go for a cheaper approach.
Posted August 28, 2013
i love the score of most games more than the game itself (bought many bundles only to get them).
Some are annoying sure especially in racing games if they don't have one good rock song or
the announcer is driving me mad.
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
Ghorpm: I did! I've just checked, and my version (Veni, Vidi, Vici) has the same annoying birds. I've never played/heard any other version :)
running with or without dosbox? it may be that dosbox is causing the bird sound to play way too often...

Anyway, the best solution would be if GOG could "patch out" the bird sound somehow from the game, if possible..
Post edited August 28, 2013 by keeveek
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
JMich: The speech synthesizer for the TI99/4A did cost ~$150 on release, compared to the computer's $525, so it's no wonder NES (and the other succesful consoles) decided to skip the good hardware and go for a cheaper approach.
Speech syntesizer made me remember the days of the C64 and Mission Impossible. At the beginning of the game there is a speech synthesizer and I never understood the first part of it. I thought they were speaking gibberish or another language. Another Vistor, Stay Awhile, Stay Forever.
Post edited August 28, 2013 by jjsimp
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
tinyE: The thing is, they were annoying as hell but because that was as high tech as games got we still loved them because it seemed so cool that they could simulate the words at all.
avatar
JMich: Sorry, but I'd say that the NES opted for the cheaper hardware. Take a look at little gem from 1981. Or [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPURasK8EPg]this one from 1982.
The speech synthesizer for the TI99/4A did cost ~$150 on release, compared to the computer's $525, so it's no wonder NES (and the other succesful consoles) decided to skip the good hardware and go for a cheaper approach.
I really have to stop talking out of my ass.
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
tinyE: I really have to stop talking out of my ass.
No worries, the TI99/4A is quite a weird case. The original TI99/4 costed $1125 with the monitor, and you couldn't hook it up to your TV. The 4A had a standard RF port, so you didn't need to pay for the monitor. Both versions had a shitload of peripherals, but the price they had made them prohibited for too many people.
Still, the TI99/4A sold 2.5 million copies, one of which had found its way to my home.

But a machine that costs $600 in 1981 and was quite specialized wasn't a good business decision. NES and the rest decided for a cheaper specialized machine, while IBM and its clones decided for an expensive but flexible machine.

On the other hand, why does the intro music from Alpiner sound so familiar? Which other game had it?
Posted August 28, 2013
avatar
Ghorpm: I did! I've just checked, and my version (Veni, Vidi, Vici) has the same annoying birds. I've never played/heard any other version :)
avatar
keeveek: running with or without dosbox? it may be that dosbox is causing the bird sound to play way too often...

Anyway, the best solution would be if GOG could "patch out" the bird sound somehow from the game, if possible..
Yeah, with dosbox. You can be right, perhaps it somehow amplify this dreaded sound.
Pages:
1
2
3
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Terrible sounds in old games(34 posts)(34 posts)
(34 posts)