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.
Scroll down for the audio expansion-based list.
Youtube Playlist (combined)
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.
Scroll down for the audio expansion-based list.
Youtube Playlist (combined)
Journey to Silius (NES)
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 (NES)
Standout tracks: Stage Theme 2, Stage Theme 1, Title, High Score
Solstice (NES)
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 (NES)
Standout tracks: Stage Theme 2, Stage Theme 1, Title, High Score
Solstice (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Ending, Main BGM
The Smurfs (NES)
Standout tracks: Swamps/Gargamel Manor House, Mountains, River Smurf/Sledge, Sarsaparilla Fields/Bridge
Pictionary (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Drawing Game
TMNT (NES), TMNT II (NES), TMNT III: The Manhattan Project (NES)
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)
Standout tracks: Credits, Rome, Egypt
Erik the Viking (NES, 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 (NES)
Magician (NES)
Treasure Master (NES)
Metal Gear 2: Snake's Revenge (NES)
Contra Force (NES)
Mr. Gimmick!/Gimmick! (NES, PAL)
Bayou Billy (NES)
Target Renegade/Target: Renegade (NES)
Wolverine (NES)
Shatterhand (NES)
Skate or Die 2 (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES), Ninja Gaiden 2 (NES), Ninja Gaiden 3 (NES)
Ufouria/Hebereke (NES)
Batman (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES), Mega Man 2 (NES), Mega Man 5 (NES), Mega Man 6 (NES)
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES) & Castlevania III (NES)
Darkman (NES)
Contra (NES), Super C (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Blaster Master (NES)
Street Fighter 2010 (NES)
Metal Gear (NES)
Shadow of the Ninja (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3/SMB3 (NES)
Life Force (NES)
Jackal/Akai Yousai: Final Commando (NES/FDS)
Crisis Force (NES)
Doki! Doki! Yuenchi: Crazy Land Daisakusen (NES)(added reverb & stereo), Space World
Kick Master (NES)
Choujin Sentai: Jetman (NES)
Mission Impossible (NES)
Fester's Quest (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Gradius II (NES)
Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei (NES) & Dodge Danpei 2 (NES)
DuckTales (NES), DuckTales 2 (NES)
Robo Warrior/Bomber King (NES)
Lethal Weapon (NES)
Alien 3 (NES)
Shanghai II/Shanghai 2 (NES)(added reverb and stereo)
Bee 52 (NES)
Rollergames (NES)
Sky Shark (NES)
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (NES)
Gyruss (NES)
Castlevania (NES)
Power Blade (NES)
Legacy of the Wizard/Dragon Slayer IV (NES)
Base Wars (NES)
Guardian Legend (NES)
Batman Returns (NES)
Little Nemo: Dream Master (NES)
Top Gun: The Second Mission (NES)
Battletoads (NES) & Battletoads & Double Dragon (NES)
Trolls in Crazy Land (NES)(in-game)
Maniac Mansion (NES)
James Bond Jr. (NES)
Pescatore (NES, Beta)(added stereo)
Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (NES)
Cosmic Wars (NES)
Magic Johnson's Fast Break (NES)
Double Dragon II (NES) & Double Dragon 3 (NES)
Ganbare Goemon Gaiden (NES) & Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 2 (NES)
Heavy Barrel (NES)
Power Blade 2 (NES)
M.C. Kids (NES)
Super Robin Hood (NES)
Tecmo World Wrestling (NES)
Incredible Crash Dummies (NES)
Final Fantasy III/FF3 (NES)
Terminator 2 (NES)
Tom & Jerry: TUGoCaM (NES)
Zen: Intergalactic Ninja (NES)
Mother (NES)
Kirby's Adventure (NES)
Monster in my Pocket (NES)
Konami Hyper Soccer (NES)
Laser Invasion (MMC5?)
S.C.A.T./Action in New York
Jungle Book (NES)
Rackets and Rivals (NES)
TwinBee 3 (NES)
The Great Waldo Search (NES, samples only?)
Action 52 (unlicensed, some samples only tracks)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (NES)
Palamedes II (NES)
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni (NES)
Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)
Werewolf: The Last Warrior
The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper (NES)
Willow (NES)
TMNT: Tournament Fighters (NES)
Kiwi Kraze/Newzealand Story (NES)
Skate or Die (NES)
Nantettatte! Baseball (NES) & Nantettatte! Baseball '91: Kaimaku-hen (NES)
Alter Ego (NES)
Might & Magic: Secret of the Inner Sanctum (NES)
Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun/Kid Dracula (NES)
Mighty Final Fight (NES)
Tecmo Bowl (NES)
Track & Field II
Super Spike V'Ball (NES)
Toukon Club (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES) & Tiny Toon Adventures 2 (NES)
Ski or Die (NES)
G.I. Joe (NES) & G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor (NES)
RodLand/Rod Land (NES)(added reverb)
Palamedes (NES)
Parodius Da!/Parodius (NES)
Wai Wai World 2 (NES)
Dark Lord (NES)
Friday The 13th (NES)
Double Dragon (NES)
Yume Penguin Monogatari (NES)
Bad Dudes (NES)
Ys III: Wanderers From Ys (NES)
Blades of Steel (NES)
Spider-Man & the Sinister Six (NES)
Beauty and the Beast (NES)
Sunman (NES, unreleased)
Cocoron (NES)
Time Diver Eon Man (NES, unreleased)
Rampart (NES, Konami ver.)
World Champ (NES)(in-game)
New Ghostbusters II (NES)
Barcode World (NES)
Cowboy Kid (NES)
Wizards & Warriors III (NES)
Jurassic Park (NES)
Ultima III: Exodus (NES)
Final Fantasy (NES) & Final Fantasy II (NES)
Dragon Spirit (NES)
Gauntlet (NES)
De-Block/Deblock (NES)
Fire 'n Ice/Solomon's Key 2 (NES)
Al Unser Jr. Turbo Racing (NES)
Best of the rest
NES w/ Audio Expansion (VRC6, VRC7/"YM2413" (FM Synthesis), Namco 163 (Wavetable Synthesis), Ricoh 2C33 (Famicom Disk System)(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 (VRC6) (added stereo)
Ma-Da-Ra/Mouryou Senki Madara (VRC6)
Lagrange Point (FC/NES, 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)
Kaettekita Mario Bros. (FDS), Fire Bam (FDS), Famicom Mukashi Banashi: Yuuyuuki (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) & Family Composer Demo (FDS), Matou no Houkai: The Hero of Babel (FDS), Doki Doki Panic (FDS), Castlevania II/Dracula 2: Noroi no Fuuin (FDS),
Best of the rest
Homebrew tracks (WIP):
Standout tracks: Swamps/Gargamel Manor House, Mountains, River Smurf/Sledge, Sarsaparilla Fields/Bridge
Pictionary (NES)
Standout tracks: Title, Drawing Game
TMNT (NES), TMNT II (NES), TMNT III: The Manhattan Project (NES)
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)
Standout tracks: Credits, Rome, Egypt
Erik the Viking (NES, 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 (NES)
Magician (NES)
Treasure Master (NES)
Metal Gear 2: Snake's Revenge (NES)
Contra Force (NES)
Mr. Gimmick!/Gimmick! (NES, PAL)
Bayou Billy (NES)
Target Renegade/Target: Renegade (NES)
Wolverine (NES)
Shatterhand (NES)
Skate or Die 2 (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES), Ninja Gaiden 2 (NES), Ninja Gaiden 3 (NES)
Ufouria/Hebereke (NES)
Batman (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES), Mega Man 2 (NES), Mega Man 5 (NES), Mega Man 6 (NES)
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES) & Castlevania III (NES)
Darkman (NES)
Contra (NES), Super C (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Blaster Master (NES)
Street Fighter 2010 (NES)
Metal Gear (NES)
Shadow of the Ninja (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3/SMB3 (NES)
Life Force (NES)
Jackal/Akai Yousai: Final Commando (NES/FDS)
Crisis Force (NES)
Doki! Doki! Yuenchi: Crazy Land Daisakusen (NES)(added reverb & stereo), Space World
Kick Master (NES)
Choujin Sentai: Jetman (NES)
Mission Impossible (NES)
Fester's Quest (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Gradius II (NES)
Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei (NES) & Dodge Danpei 2 (NES)
DuckTales (NES), DuckTales 2 (NES)
Robo Warrior/Bomber King (NES)
Lethal Weapon (NES)
Alien 3 (NES)
Shanghai II/Shanghai 2 (NES)(added reverb and stereo)
Bee 52 (NES)
Rollergames (NES)
Sky Shark (NES)
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (NES)
Gyruss (NES)
Castlevania (NES)
Power Blade (NES)
Legacy of the Wizard/Dragon Slayer IV (NES)
Base Wars (NES)
Guardian Legend (NES)
Batman Returns (NES)
Little Nemo: Dream Master (NES)
Top Gun: The Second Mission (NES)
Battletoads (NES) & Battletoads & Double Dragon (NES)
Trolls in Crazy Land (NES)(in-game)
Maniac Mansion (NES)
James Bond Jr. (NES)
Pescatore (NES, Beta)(added stereo)
Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (NES)
Cosmic Wars (NES)
Magic Johnson's Fast Break (NES)
Double Dragon II (NES) & Double Dragon 3 (NES)
Ganbare Goemon Gaiden (NES) & Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 2 (NES)
Heavy Barrel (NES)
Power Blade 2 (NES)
M.C. Kids (NES)
Super Robin Hood (NES)
Tecmo World Wrestling (NES)
Incredible Crash Dummies (NES)
Final Fantasy III/FF3 (NES)
Terminator 2 (NES)
Tom & Jerry: TUGoCaM (NES)
Zen: Intergalactic Ninja (NES)
Mother (NES)
Kirby's Adventure (NES)
Monster in my Pocket (NES)
Konami Hyper Soccer (NES)
Laser Invasion (MMC5?)
S.C.A.T./Action in New York
Jungle Book (NES)
Rackets and Rivals (NES)
TwinBee 3 (NES)
The Great Waldo Search (NES, samples only?)
Action 52 (unlicensed, some samples only tracks)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (NES)
Palamedes II (NES)
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni (NES)
Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)
Werewolf: The Last Warrior
The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper (NES)
Willow (NES)
TMNT: Tournament Fighters (NES)
Kiwi Kraze/Newzealand Story (NES)
Skate or Die (NES)
Nantettatte! Baseball (NES) & Nantettatte! Baseball '91: Kaimaku-hen (NES)
Alter Ego (NES)
Might & Magic: Secret of the Inner Sanctum (NES)
Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun/Kid Dracula (NES)
Mighty Final Fight (NES)
Tecmo Bowl (NES)
Track & Field II
Super Spike V'Ball (NES)
Toukon Club (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES) & Tiny Toon Adventures 2 (NES)
Ski or Die (NES)
G.I. Joe (NES) & G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor (NES)
RodLand/Rod Land (NES)(added reverb)
Palamedes (NES)
Parodius Da!/Parodius (NES)
Wai Wai World 2 (NES)
Dark Lord (NES)
Friday The 13th (NES)
Double Dragon (NES)
Yume Penguin Monogatari (NES)
Bad Dudes (NES)
Ys III: Wanderers From Ys (NES)
Blades of Steel (NES)
Spider-Man & the Sinister Six (NES)
Beauty and the Beast (NES)
Sunman (NES, unreleased)
Cocoron (NES)
Time Diver Eon Man (NES, unreleased)
Rampart (NES, Konami ver.)
World Champ (NES)(in-game)
New Ghostbusters II (NES)
Barcode World (NES)
Cowboy Kid (NES)
Wizards & Warriors III (NES)
Jurassic Park (NES)
Ultima III: Exodus (NES)
Final Fantasy (NES) & Final Fantasy II (NES)
Dragon Spirit (NES)
Gauntlet (NES)
De-Block/Deblock (NES)
Fire 'n Ice/Solomon's Key 2 (NES)
Al Unser Jr. Turbo Racing (NES)
Best of the rest
NES w/ Audio Expansion (VRC6, VRC7/"YM2413" (FM Synthesis), Namco 163 (Wavetable Synthesis), Ricoh 2C33 (Famicom Disk System)(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 (VRC6) (added stereo)
Ma-Da-Ra/Mouryou Senki Madara (VRC6)
Lagrange Point (FC/NES, 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)
Kaettekita Mario Bros. (FDS), Fire Bam (FDS), Famicom Mukashi Banashi: Yuuyuuki (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) & Family Composer Demo (FDS), Matou no Houkai: The Hero of Babel (FDS), Doki Doki Panic (FDS), Castlevania II/Dracula 2: Noroi no Fuuin (FDS),
Best of the rest
Homebrew tracks (WIP):
