Impressive RP2A03 (NES/FC/FDS) & Audio Expansions Music
This YT video series by explod2A03 explains in detail how composers used certain techniques to get the most out of the sound chip. A lot of these were used on other sound chips as well.
In Japan, a decent number of games used either the Famicom Disk System or additional hardware in the game carts themselves to expand the audio capabilities of the NES. Scroll down to find the separate list for these games.
In Japan, a decent number of games used either the Famicom Disk System or additional hardware in the game carts themselves to expand the audio capabilities of the NES. Scroll down to find the separate list for these games.
Journey to Silius
Standout tracks: Title, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3
Robocop 3 (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Ending
Overlord/Supremacy (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Game Over
Silver Surfer
Standout tracks: Stage Theme 2, Stage Theme 1, Title, High Score
Solstice
Standout tracks: Title, Ending, Main BGM
Standout tracks: Title, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3
Robocop 3 (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Ending
Overlord/Supremacy (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Game Over
Silver Surfer
Standout tracks: Stage Theme 2, Stage Theme 1, Title, High Score
Solstice
Standout tracks: Title, Ending, Main BGM
The Smurfs (NES)
Standout tracks: Swamps/Gargamel Manor House, Mountains, River Smurf/Sledge, Sarsaparilla Fields/Bridge
Pictionary
Standout tracks: Title, Drawing Game
TMNT, TMNT II (NES), TMNT III: The Manhattan Project
Standout tracks: Title, Area 2-1, Overworld 2; Scene 1, Scene 2-1, Scene 6, Scene 7; Scene 1, Scene 3, Scene 5, Scene 8
Asterix (NES)(added stereo)
Standout tracks: Credits, Rome, Egypt
Erik the Viking (unreleased)
Standout tracks: Peace in the Harbor, New Dawn, To the Death, Village Life
Hero Quest (NES, unreleased)
Batman: Return of the Joker (NES)
Bucky O'Hare (NES)
Gremlins 2 (NES)
Super Spy Hunter
Magician
Treasure Master
Metal Gear 2: Snake's Revenge
Skate or Die 2
Contra Force
Bayou Billy
Target Renegade (NES)
Wolverine (NES)
Shatterhand
Ninja Gaiden (NES), Ninja Gaiden 2, Ninja Gaiden 3
Ufouria/Hebereke
Mega Man 3 (NES), Mega Man 2 (NES), Mega Man 5 (NES), Mega Man 6
Street Fighter 2010
Batman (NES)
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest & Castlevania III (NES)
Darkman
Mega Man 4
Contra (NES), Super C
Blaster Master
Metal Gear
Shadow of the Ninja
Super Mario Bros. 3/SMB3
Life Force
Jackal
Crisis Force
Doki! Doki! Yuenchi: Crazy Land Daisakusen (added reverb), Space World
Kick Master
Choujin Sentai: Jetman
Mission Impossible
DuckTales (NES), DuckTales 2 (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Fester's Quest
Robo Warrior/Bomber King
Gradius II (NES)
Lethal Weapon (NES)
Alien 3 (NES), Bee 52, Rollergames (NES), Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei & Dodge Danpei 2 (NES), Sky Shark, Legacy of the Wizard/Dragon Slayer IV (NES), Castlevania, Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (NES), Shanghai II/Shanghai 2 (added reverb and stereo), Guardian Legend,
Power Blade, Gyruss (NES), Double Dragon II (NES) & Double Dragon 3 (NES), Base Wars, Batman Returns (NES), Little Nemo: Dream Master, Battletoads (NES) & Battletoads & Double Dragon (NES), Maniac Mansion (NES), Top Gun: TSM, James Bond Jr. (NES),
Pescatore (Beta, added stereo), Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (NES), Heavy Barrel (NES), Cosmic Wars, Magic Johnson's Fast Break, Ys III: Wanderers From Ys (NES), Ganbare Goemon Gaiden (NES) & Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 2 (NES), Final Fantasy (NES) & FFII & FFIII/FF3, Tecmo World Wrestling, M.C. Kids,
Power Blade 2 (NES), Super Robin Hood (NES), Incredible Crash Dummies, Tom & Jerry: TUGoCaM, Terminator 2 (NES), Zen: Intergalactic Ninja, Ultima III: Exodus, Mother, Kirby's Adventure, Monster in my Pocket,
Action 52 (unlicensed, some samples only tracks), Konami Hyper Soccer (NES), Laser Invasion (MMC5?), S.C.A.T./Action in New York, Jungle Book (NES), Rackets and Rivals (NES), Willow (NES), TwinBee 3, The Great Waldo Search (NES, samples only?), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (NES),
Best of the rest
NES w/ audio expansion (VRC6, VRC7/"YM2413" (FM Synthesis), Namco 163 (Wavetable Synthesis), FDS (Wavetable Synthesis), Sunsoft 5B/YM2149F/"FME-7", NEC µPD7755C, NEC µPD7756C, Mitsubishi M50805 or Nintendo MMC5):
Castlevania III/Akumajou Densetsu (FC)
Gyruss (FDS)
Esper Dream 2 (added stereo)
Ma-Da-Ra/Madara (VRC6)
Lagrange Point (FDS, VRC7)
Mr. Gimmick! (FC, Sunsoft 5B/YM2149F)
Megami Tensei II (N163)
Falsion (FDS)
Sangokushi II: Haou no Tairiku (N163) - find (retro game audio)
Rolling Thunder (FC, N163)
Exciting Soccer: Konami Cup (FDS, added stereo)
Erika to Satoru no Yumebouken (N163)
Meikyuu Jiin Dababa (FDS, added stereo and reverb)
Sexy Invaders (FDS)
Arumana no Kiseki/Miracle of Almana (FDS)
Kid Icarus/Hikari Shinwa (FDS)
King of Kings (N163)
Ai Senshi Nicol (FDS)
Metroid (FDS)
Final Lap (N163)
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (FDS)
Famicom Tantei Club II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo (FDS)
Esper Dream (FDS)
Famicom Mukashi Banashi: Shin Onigashima (FDS)
Metal Slader Glory (MMC5)
Exciting Basket (FDS)
Risa no Yousei Densetsu (FDS) (added stereo)
Mysterious Muramase Castle/Nazo no Murasamejou (FDS)
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha (FDS)
Nankin no Adventure (FDS)
Fire Bam (FDS), Dead Zone (FDS), Moe Pro! '90: Kandou-hen (NEC µPD7756C), Moe Pro!: Saikyou-hen (NEC µPD7756C), Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally (FDS), Knight Move (FDS), CGS2: Super Boy Allan (FDS), Dirty Pair: Project Eden (SFX only, FDS), Big Challenge! Dogfight Spirit (FDS), Exciting Billiard (FDS),
Backgammon (FDS), Gall Force: Eternal Story (FDS), Namco Classic 2 (N163), Mappy Kids (N163), Family Composer (FDS), Matou no Houkai: The Hero of Babel (FDS), Doki Doki Panic (FDS), Castlevania II/Dracula 2: Noroi no Fuuin (FDS), City Fighter IV (Unlicensed, PLC chip for 4-bit DAC - SFX only?), Santa Claus no Takarabako (FDS),
Best of the rest
Homebrew tracks (WIP):
Standout tracks: Swamps/Gargamel Manor House, Mountains, River Smurf/Sledge, Sarsaparilla Fields/Bridge
Pictionary
Standout tracks: Title, Drawing Game
TMNT, TMNT II (NES), TMNT III: The Manhattan Project
Standout tracks: Title, Area 2-1, Overworld 2; Scene 1, Scene 2-1, Scene 6, Scene 7; Scene 1, Scene 3, Scene 5, Scene 8
Asterix (NES)(added stereo)
Standout tracks: Credits, Rome, Egypt
Erik the Viking (unreleased)
Standout tracks: Peace in the Harbor, New Dawn, To the Death, Village Life
Hero Quest (NES, unreleased)
Batman: Return of the Joker (NES)
Bucky O'Hare (NES)
Gremlins 2 (NES)
Super Spy Hunter
Magician
Treasure Master
Metal Gear 2: Snake's Revenge
Skate or Die 2
Contra Force
Bayou Billy
Target Renegade (NES)
Wolverine (NES)
Shatterhand
Ninja Gaiden (NES), Ninja Gaiden 2, Ninja Gaiden 3
Ufouria/Hebereke
Mega Man 3 (NES), Mega Man 2 (NES), Mega Man 5 (NES), Mega Man 6
Street Fighter 2010
Batman (NES)
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest & Castlevania III (NES)
Darkman
Mega Man 4
Contra (NES), Super C
Blaster Master
Metal Gear
Shadow of the Ninja
Super Mario Bros. 3/SMB3
Life Force
Jackal
Crisis Force
Doki! Doki! Yuenchi: Crazy Land Daisakusen (added reverb), Space World
Kick Master
Choujin Sentai: Jetman
Mission Impossible
DuckTales (NES), DuckTales 2 (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Fester's Quest
Robo Warrior/Bomber King
Gradius II (NES)
Lethal Weapon (NES)
Alien 3 (NES), Bee 52, Rollergames (NES), Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei & Dodge Danpei 2 (NES), Sky Shark, Legacy of the Wizard/Dragon Slayer IV (NES), Castlevania, Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (NES), Shanghai II/Shanghai 2 (added reverb and stereo), Guardian Legend,
Power Blade, Gyruss (NES), Double Dragon II (NES) & Double Dragon 3 (NES), Base Wars, Batman Returns (NES), Little Nemo: Dream Master, Battletoads (NES) & Battletoads & Double Dragon (NES), Maniac Mansion (NES), Top Gun: TSM, James Bond Jr. (NES),
Pescatore (Beta, added stereo), Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (NES), Heavy Barrel (NES), Cosmic Wars, Magic Johnson's Fast Break, Ys III: Wanderers From Ys (NES), Ganbare Goemon Gaiden (NES) & Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 2 (NES), Final Fantasy (NES) & FFII & FFIII/FF3, Tecmo World Wrestling, M.C. Kids,
Power Blade 2 (NES), Super Robin Hood (NES), Incredible Crash Dummies, Tom & Jerry: TUGoCaM, Terminator 2 (NES), Zen: Intergalactic Ninja, Ultima III: Exodus, Mother, Kirby's Adventure, Monster in my Pocket,
Action 52 (unlicensed, some samples only tracks), Konami Hyper Soccer (NES), Laser Invasion (MMC5?), S.C.A.T./Action in New York, Jungle Book (NES), Rackets and Rivals (NES), Willow (NES), TwinBee 3, The Great Waldo Search (NES, samples only?), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (NES),
Best of the rest
NES w/ audio expansion (VRC6, VRC7/"YM2413" (FM Synthesis), Namco 163 (Wavetable Synthesis), FDS (Wavetable Synthesis), Sunsoft 5B/YM2149F/"FME-7", NEC µPD7755C, NEC µPD7756C, Mitsubishi M50805 or Nintendo MMC5):
Castlevania III/Akumajou Densetsu (FC)
Gyruss (FDS)
Esper Dream 2 (added stereo)
Ma-Da-Ra/Madara (VRC6)
Lagrange Point (FDS, VRC7)
Mr. Gimmick! (FC, Sunsoft 5B/YM2149F)
Megami Tensei II (N163)
Falsion (FDS)
Sangokushi II: Haou no Tairiku (N163) - find (retro game audio)
Rolling Thunder (FC, N163)
Exciting Soccer: Konami Cup (FDS, added stereo)
Erika to Satoru no Yumebouken (N163)
Meikyuu Jiin Dababa (FDS, added stereo and reverb)
Sexy Invaders (FDS)
Arumana no Kiseki/Miracle of Almana (FDS)
Kid Icarus/Hikari Shinwa (FDS)
King of Kings (N163)
Ai Senshi Nicol (FDS)
Metroid (FDS)
Final Lap (N163)
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (FDS)
Famicom Tantei Club II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo (FDS)
Esper Dream (FDS)
Famicom Mukashi Banashi: Shin Onigashima (FDS)
Metal Slader Glory (MMC5)
Exciting Basket (FDS)
Risa no Yousei Densetsu (FDS) (added stereo)
Mysterious Muramase Castle/Nazo no Murasamejou (FDS)
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha (FDS)
Nankin no Adventure (FDS)
Fire Bam (FDS), Dead Zone (FDS), Moe Pro! '90: Kandou-hen (NEC µPD7756C), Moe Pro!: Saikyou-hen (NEC µPD7756C), Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally (FDS), Knight Move (FDS), CGS2: Super Boy Allan (FDS), Dirty Pair: Project Eden (SFX only, FDS), Big Challenge! Dogfight Spirit (FDS), Exciting Billiard (FDS),
Backgammon (FDS), Gall Force: Eternal Story (FDS), Namco Classic 2 (N163), Mappy Kids (N163), Family Composer (FDS), Matou no Houkai: The Hero of Babel (FDS), Doki Doki Panic (FDS), Castlevania II/Dracula 2: Noroi no Fuuin (FDS), City Fighter IV (Unlicensed, PLC chip for 4-bit DAC - SFX only?), Santa Claus no Takarabako (FDS),
Best of the rest
Homebrew tracks (WIP):