One of the most influential video game composers is working on a new game, for an old console. Yuzo Koshiro, known for his contributions to the soundtracks of Streets of Rage, ActRaiser, Shenmue, and many more, is returning to the Genesis/Mega Drive era for a shmup game that will be releasing on the console, more than 30 years after the system's debut. Koshiro teased two screenshots of a 16-bit game, explaining that he's working on a shoot-em-up project that harkens back to the 80s, as both composer and designer. The Genesis's YM2612 soundchip will be used in making the soundtrack. There's no name for the game, nor even a working title, but it's being developed by Ancient Corp.--Koshiro's own company.

It looks like an old shoot 'em up but is a new game we're developing, harkening back to famous franchises in the 80s. We will release it for MD/Genesis. I'm making the soundtrack and have been back also as a game designer since Beyond Oasis. pic.twitter.com/nFPEDoYj1B

— Yuzo Koshiro (@yuzokoshiro) November 30, 2022

 

[godreborn]

think he did etrian odyssey and ys. damn fine stuff.

 

[x65943]

TIL the word shmup

Not a big fan of that genre but always excited to see new games for old systems

 

[Lostbhoy]

Love a good shmup, the screens have got me!

SoR1 soundtrack is the most awesome and of its time soundtrack but it still sounds fucking great today! I hope he's tapped into some old demos from the 90s for this soundtrack.

 

[godreborn]

Love a good shmup, the screens have got me!

SoR1 soundtrack is the most awesome and of its time soundtrack but it still sounds fucking great today! I hope he's tapped into some old demos from the 90s for this soundtrack.

I love shmup games, but I'm bad at them. I've been collecting them, have a few on switch as well like sisters royal. they do tend to have good music. I remember otomedius gorgeious on the 360, which is far better than the ps3 when it comes to shmups (must've had an agreement with treasure and cave).

 

[raxadian]

Like I get why this is fun and all but you know 9 out 10 people will end playing it on Steam.

 

[Wolfy]

All I can say is, can't wait to see how it turns out, and wonder if it'll cause anyone else to be inspired and create for the console again!

 

[SylverReZ]

This is gonna be interesting when it comes out. It's great to see the community still create new games for older consoles.

 

[Lostbhoy]

I love shmup games, but I'm bad at them. I've been collecting them, have a few on switch as well like sisters royal. they do tend to have good music. I remember otomedius gorgeious on the 360, which is far better than the ps3 when it comes to shmups (must've had an agreement with treasure and cave).

Always gets me thinking of shoot em up construction kit on my C64... Which I recently got again thru retroarch but cannot for the life of me remember how to navigate it!!

Also got a shit ton of them on retroarch, cps 1 2 3 and so on... Haven't gotten round to testing them all yet but this has got my juices going!

 

[slaphappygamer]

Gradius immediately comes to mind. The soundtrack for Streets of Rage (all of them) is one of the best. Looking forward to this. I’ll start cleaning up my arcade stick now!

 

[SG854]

For some reason I thought this was a death announcement

 

[JuanMena]

Cool!
Last "new" Genesis game I played was *Xeno Crisis and it plays really, really good with Gamecube C-Stick remaped to shooting button in RetroArch.

I can't wait to try this one, besides platformers, sh'mups is fourth favorite genre.

 

[shadow1w2]

Looking forward to this.
Hope it gets released on PC though.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

What the heck!?

There was rumors about BEYOND OASIS (Aka STORY OF THOR SUCCESSOR OF LIGHT... in other regions of the world) WHERE'S THAT NEWS AT MAN!?

 

[Dust2dust]

For some reason I thought this was a death announcement

Me too! It's the way it's phrased! If it had read "A brand new Sega Genesis game is announced by Yuzo Koshiro, Streets of Rage composer", it would have been better. You scared the shit out of me, Chary!

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

SoR1 soundtrack is the most awesome and of its time soundtrack but it still sounds fucking great today! I hope he's tapped into some old demos from the 90s for this soundtrack.

What about the rest of the streets of rage games? People seem to think the second one has best soundtrack, and the third is just "MEH!" (Though I'm listening to Stage 3 Beach song right now cause it's raining)

I love shmup games, but I'm bad at them. I've been collecting them, have a few on switch as well like sisters royal. they do tend to have good music. I remember otomedius gorgeious on the 360, which is far better than the ps3 when it comes to shmups (must've had an agreement with treasure and cave).

I only have thunder force 4 from sega ages. I was hoping nintendo release new sin & punishment in HD, but guess that's a pipe dream. Though maybe they call that "Rail shooter" instead of "Shoot em up" Seem similar to me. Also mad Konami won't give America PARODIUS GAMES!

All I can say is, can't wait to see how it turns out, and wonder if it'll cause anyone else to be inspired and create for the console again!

Make new games for sega genesis/megadrive? I mean people has been for the past few years. Pier solar, Paprium, Demons of Asteborg, Tanglewood, Tanzar, Xenocrisis... there is lot more too, including homebrew! Also SEGA released the genesis mini which had Darius and Tetris on the first one. Second had new games too.

Gradius immediately comes to mind. The soundtrack for Streets of Rage (all of them) is one of the best. Looking forward to this. I’ll start cleaning up my arcade stick now!

Not many people seem to think highly of Streets of Rage 3 soundtrack. I mean even when streets of rage 4 got made, they added retro tracks to the game. None of them was from Streets of Rage 3. They even added game gear music too.

This is gonna be interesting when it comes out. It's great to see the community still create new games for older consoles.

Well, I suppose this is interesting for the technical aspect, but honestly. Most people don't own those old consoles anymore, and only people who do are probably paying or selling them for premium prices. Perhaps some rich game collector? If these games do get released on systems like that, I hope they eventually just be ported to modern consoles.

 

[SylverReZ]

Well, I suppose this is interesting for the technical aspect, but honestly. Most people don't own those old consoles anymore, and only people who do are probably paying or selling them for premium prices. Perhaps some rich game collector? If these games do get released on systems like that, I hope they eventually just be ported to modern consoles.

There are people out there who do still enjoy playing on old consoles, not just the collectors who leave them on a shelf for thousands of years.

 

[AlexMCS]

I know devs to this for their own satisfcation and not at all for profit, but I feel like it's a gigantic waste of time and talent to develop for obsolete hardware.

But if they're having fun, good for them.

 

[RedoLane]

I'll buy 20.

 

[Jack O'Lantern]

Yuzo is my most fav vgm composer. He influenced the influential ppl. Nobuo got influenced from him by ActRaiser and ActRaiser 2. His first composer works was with Nihon Falcom, that said that time Falcom already have many great composers, Ys1,2 are the great works of many, Romancia he only composed the opening tho in this time its Soccerian that associated with him.
Other then Bare Knuckle series he also the composer of Wangan Midnight series
Some obscure work but sounds great by him then The Scheme(1988) and Jaseiken Necromancer 2. I also like his works in TokiTowa.
Tho I must say I love his works most in 7th Dragon and Etrian Odyssey most.
This new game is not his first Shmup work but prolly first full time Shmup. Not related but Iwadare is my other big time fav composer.
https://www.tumblr.com/thearkhound/187250332623/yuzo-koshiro-interview-january-1993