Скачать или смотреть Syd of Valis (AKA Valis) for the Sega Genesis & Mega Drive OST Original Video Game Soundtrack

SDヴァリス

Release date: Feb 14th, 1992

Original Composer: Michio Fujisawa (藤澤道雄)

1. Title Theme
2. Stage 1
3. Boss Theme
4. Stage Clear
5. Stage 2
6. Stage 3
7. Visual Scene 1
8. Stage 4
9. Stage 5
10. Last Boss
11. Visual Scene 2
12. Staff Roll

🎶 Symphony of the Super Deformed: The Music of Syd of Valis

The story of the music for Syd of Valis (known in Japan as *SD Valis*), the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive port of *Valis II*, is one of playful reinvention, technical translation, and the unique challenges posed by the Mega Drive's sound architecture. Released in 1992, the game itself was a departure, adopting a "Super Deformed" or chibi art style, which demanded a soundtrack to match its lighthearted, though still action-packed, aesthetic.

The original PC Engine CD-ROM² version of Valis II boasted a high-quality, Red Book audio soundtrack composed by *Kenichi Kamio* and *Shinobu Ogawa**. This meant the music was streamed directly from the CD, offering the full fidelity of recorded music. For the Mega Drive port, developed by Imaginative System Create (I.S.C.), the challenge was immense: to compress and re-arrange that rich, CD-quality score using only the console's onboard sound chips, specifically the **Yamaha YM2612* FM synthesizer and the *SN76489* PSG.

The Mega Drive's YM2612 chip was an FM synthesis beast, capable of producing six channels of complex, metallic, and funky sound. However, unlike the sample-based SNES, it required the music team to program every single instrument sound from scratch using mathematical operators. This demanded a composer or arranger with a deep technical understanding of FM synthesis—someone who could capture the essence of the original's melodies and instrumentation while embracing the aggressive, digital character of the YM2612.

While the original music was a joint effort, the work on the Genesis version often fell to a dedicated sound arranger/programmer, though specific credits for the Syd of Valis port can be elusive due to Telenet Japan's internal development shifts (with divisions like Laser Soft and Riot). The arranger’s task wasn't just translation; it was **interpretation**. They had to decide which channels would carry the crucial bass lines and drums (often handled by the single-channel SN76489 for crispness or a dedicated YM2612 channel for punchy FM bass), and which four or five remaining FM channels would simulate the complex orchestral and rock instruments of the source material.

The sound of Syd of Valis is characterized by its bright, energetic FM lead melodies, often utilizing a heavy vibrato or "wobbly" pitch effect to give the instruments a distinct, synthesized voice. The percussion is sharp, leveraging the limited channels for impactful, driving beats—a signature of the Mega Drive sound. Tracks like the stage themes had to be perfectly looped and fit into tiny memory constraints, requiring meticulous optimization of the music data.

The most satisfying part of the process was likely the *re-imagining* of the dramatic themes from Valis II to fit the "Super Deformed" style. The music, while faithful to the melodies, often has a more bouncy, up-tempo feel, perfectly complementing Yuko's chibi sprite as she battles through Vecanti. The final result is a soundtrack that is a technical marvel of adaptation, transforming a CD-ROM soundtrack into a classic, gritty, and undeniably '90s Mega Drive chiptune score. It stands as a testament to the skill of Telenet's sound teams in wringing emotional and energetic music from the challenging but powerful YM2612.