Master System Phantasy Star: FM or PSG soundtrack?

xuvetyn96

Paladin Knight
Writers Guild
Level 1
63%
Joined
Dec 13, 2024
Messages
72
Level up in
28 posts
Reaction score
210
Points
477
Location
Raccoon City
As I'm sure some of you know, the Sega Master System's Japanese model featured an FM soundchip (the YM2413), while other models had a PSG chip (the SN76489). I've been playing through the original Phantasy Star and I can't decide which one I like more for its soundtrack. The PSG has that great classic, chiptuney retro sound, but I prefer the FM in some places, like the intro (here's the PSG version to compare). So for those who have played this game, what is your favorite way to hear the soundtrack, and, more importantly, why?

EDIT: to add on, I definitely like the PSG battle theme way, way more than the FM one.
 
I like them both, but if i was pushed FM, there is just something nicer sounding about it. Brings me back to when i was a weee wee nipper.
 
I only played Phantasy Star with the PSG sound. Looking at the videos, I prefer the PSG one. When I emulated Wonder Boy III for the first time on Retroarch, FM audio was default. I was trying to figure out why everything sounded so weird compared to what I remembered. It's probably nostalgia bias but I don't like the way FM sounds.
Wonder Boy III PSG
Wonder Boy III FM
 
I think I would go PSG solely because it's what sounds more familiar to me. Had it been the other way around, I'm guessing my preference would too.
That's likely the reason I prefer it too. Some FM soundtracks are so radically different that my brain doesn't process it. Take Kenseiden for example, one of my childhood favorites, give it a listen:

 
That's likely the reason I prefer it too. Some FM soundtracks are so radically different that my brain doesn't process it. Take Kenseiden for example, one of my childhood favorites, give it a listen:
Exactly. I remember the first time I heard the FM for Outrun, thinking that it's definitely good, but once your brain is married to a certain sound with a certain game, it's hard to deviate from that.
 
PSG by a wiiiiide margin for this one. Opening has a slight Phantasy Star 2 vibe in the FM version (in the vein of Prologue, Power, etc.) which makes sense, but otherwise the overload of quiet sine waves where robust PSG sounds should be comes across to me like a page Xeroxed ten times over.
 
Last edited:
Beware: There have been no replies in this thread for 90 days.
Keep that in mind when expecting a reply from the people on it,
You can also start a new thread instead. This is just a heads-up, bumping is allowed in this forum.

Users who are viewing this thread

Connect with us

Support this Site

RGT relies on you to stay afloat. Help covering the site costs and get some pretty Level 7 perks too.

Featured Video

Latest Threads

Have you done any ridiculous fixes?

The classic dad, a strange creature, proclaiming the famous "I can fix it!" while doing...
Read more

How do I make a thread?

I think i forgot, can someone explain it to me?
Read more

What do these two have in common?

images (6) (23).jpegimages (6) (22).jpeg
Read more

Remembering this forgotten game

Well, here we are in Sept 2025, and around 20 years ago this month. Some truly awesome games...
Read more

Amazons Tomb Raider TV Series is alive and confirms Sophie Turner as Lara Croft

lara-960x540.jpg

I'm a huge fan of Lara Croft and I think she's so hot but this Sophie Turner is...
Read more

Online statistics

Members online
125
Guests online
237
Total visitors
362

Forum statistics

Threads
12,509
Messages
305,254
Members
865,857
Latest member
MenuSkip

Advertisers

Back
Top