Would you buy a port of Sonic 3 & Knuckles that didn't have the original Genesis soundtrack?

[Rotobit]

The common consensus behind Sonic 3 & Knuckles' omission from modern porting projects like Sega Ages and Sega Genesis Classics is that the Michael Jackson estate could sue Sega for using the tracks that were composed by him for the original Genesis release.

Last year, thanks to a beta, it was confirmed that they weren't the "true" original songs, instead replacing tracks that the general public had assumed were created for the later PC port.

For a comparison, here's the OG Genesis version of Ice Cap:




and the PC/beta version:



Presuming Sega would be fine re-releasing the game with the latter soundtrack, would you still pick it up? Or is the Genesis soundtrack integral to the experience for you?

EDIT: I shoulda mentioned this originally but it wouldn't effect every song in the game -

Reminder that only Carnival Night, Ice Cap, Launch Base, Knuckles Theme, Miniboss Theme, Credits and Competition Menu are the only affected tracks.

Click to shrink...

 

[topplehat]

Of course

 

[Video Games Are Dumb]

Third option "no, but it has nothing to do with music would be good"

 

[RyuCookingSomeRice]

Thats not the correct concencus, because you can still buy Sonic & Knuckles from XBLA for instance

also no.

 

[LewieP]

Yes I would.

But I suspect that if Sega were willing/able to do that, they would have done by now.

 

[OneThirtyEight]

Nope.

 

[Last Jon Standing]

No Angel Island Act 2, no buy.

 

[Gelf]

Sure, and if it was on PC modders would probably have the original soundtrack back in pretty soon anyway.

 

[Exodus 1831]

Without a doubt.

 

[Yazuka]

It would suck to not have the original Mega Drive soundtrack.
But if we could get the game I would be down with it.

 

[nsilvias]

if i want different music ill play one of those crappy genesis you can buy in walgreens preloaded with sonic 3

 

[Altered]

Nope

 

[Ferrs]

Totally. The beta music was good enough.

 

[Malajax]

Absolutely. Retro engine port with Tee Lopes to redo the entire soundtrack. It'll be fantastic.

 

[Deleted member 4260]

I would if someone like Tee Lopes were to redo the whole soundtrack.

 

[VeePs]

If Taxman & Sega put out Sonic 3 and the music had to be replaced to release it, of course I would buy it.

 

[V_ac]

In a heartbeat.

 

[Ferrs]

Reminder that only Carnival Night, Ice Cap, Launch Base, Knuckles Theme, Miniboss Theme, Credits and Competition Menu are the only affected tracks.

 

[Platy]

Yes....but absolutely would help if they hire someone like Yuzo Koshiro to write new songs

 

[spookyduzt]

Naw.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Sure, no problem with that. Just gimmegimmegimme the Taxman ports of Sonic 1 + 2, and a Taxman port of Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Spoiler

with Knuckles

for PS4.

 

[Deleted member 17210]

Sega should make a deal/agreement to have the original (and proto) tracks included similar to how arcade Donkey Kong finally got re-released this gen.

 

[Ultimate Bear Cub]

Sonic & Knuckles Music: Flying Battery Zone Act 1

This is the music for act 1 of the Flying Battery zone in Sonic and Knuckles.

youtu.be

 

[Bgamer90]

I really want Sonic 3 & Knuckles on the Switch, so yeah—I would still get it. Different music would bum me out a bit, but I'll live.

 

[Rotobit]

No Angel Island Act 2, no buy.

Click to shrink...

Some songs remained the same in the beta (although they were much rougher quality)



In this hypothetical scenario I assume they'd keep the current versions of the songs they're confident in ownership of and maybe redo the beta tracks for things like Ice Cap.

 

[Lupin]

.

 

[Mesoian]

Absolutely not.

 

[SMD]

.

 

[Bane]

Not a chance. It's quite easy to still play the original version.

 

[SalTea]

Weren't remixes of flying battery zone and ice cap zone in sonic mania? Is music from the game really an issue for SEGA?

 

[Subnats]

The only real loss would be Ice Cap imo so I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Modders would probably have the originals put back in on day one anyway.

 

[Deleted member 34949]

I definitely would, especially if it was along the lines of the Taxman ports.

I feel like re-releasing it with any of the tracks replaced would be an admission on Sega's part that the replaced tracks were indeed legally problematic, and that'd probably invite more legal trouble on their end. It's probably why they're seemingly intent on just pretending 3&K doesn't exist as of late.

 

[ned_ballad]

Reminder that only Carnival Night, Ice Cap, Launch Base, Knuckles Theme, Miniboss Theme, Credits and Competition Menu are the only affected tracks.

Click to shrink...

Yea, it'd just be these songs that'd be changed, and half of them have Sonic and Knuckles versions they can easily use (and were used in S3+K)

 

[jacket]

No

 

[Last Jon Standing]

Some songs remained the same in the beta (although they were much rougher quality)



In this hypothetical scenario I assume they'd keep the current versions of the songs they're confident in ownership of and maybe redo the beta tracks for things like Ice Cap.

Click to shrink...

Whoah, that's great! Considering that Hydrocity Zone's themes were in Sonic Mania, I believe they would be okay as well. Okay, I just changed my vote to "Yep".

 

[Ferrs]

No Angel Island Act 2, no buy.

Click to shrink...

That track doesn't need to be replaced, is not affected by the MJ situation.

I would if someone like Tee Lopes were to redo the whole soundtrack.

Click to shrink...

Absolutely. Retro engine port with Tee Lopes to redo the entire soundtrack. It'll be fantastic.

Click to shrink...

Yes....but absolutely would help if they hire someone like Yuzo Koshiro to write new songs

Click to shrink...

why? Sega having to spend money on a new composer would be a way to never re-release the game.

The original tracks are already composed and done with the Mega Drive versions, the ones we had in the retail version were new ones done when MJ jumped in. Just put these original tracks from the beta in the re-release.

 

[RedSwirl]

No MJ Ice Cap, no sale.

At this point the best thing to do is get the ROM off the Steam version and throw it into Sonic 3 AIR.

 

[JCal]

I'd hate every second of it, but I would definitely buy it. It's time to move forward and get this game back in people's hands. Change the music already.

 

[V_ac]

Weren't remixes of flying battery zone and ice cap zone in sonic mania? Is music from the game really an issue for SEGA?

Click to shrink...

It's not the whole soundtrack, but a handful of songs that's the problem (Flying Battery is fine for instance, but Ice Cap is not.) See Ferrs' post a bit earlier for what would need to be swapped out.

 

[Deleted member 7462]

Reminder that only Carnival Night, Ice Cap, Launch Base, Knuckles Theme, Miniboss Theme, Credits and Competition Menu are the only affected tracks.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, but the bolded are all GREAT tracks.

Carnival Night basically being a chiptune version of "Jam" immediately makes it one of the greatest pieces of music in a video game ever.

(I'd still buy a version with swapped-out music for these levels.)

 

[Belthazar90]

Yes, but it would be a shame as the songs were magnificent.

 

[LinkStrikesBack]

Thats not the correct concencus, because you can still buy Sonic & Knuckles from XBLA for instance

also no.

Click to shrink...

I mean, we've gone through multiple platforms where Sega has chosen to skip (so far) releasing Sonic 3 and knuckles even when they release 1/2. I can't believe they're choosing not to rerelease the game, since almost a decade ago now, for a laugh when multiple ports of 1/2 have existed across a bunch of platforms.

 

[ZeoVGM]

Absolutely not.

Sega can figure out the music nonsense if that is the issue. They just haven't cared to do it or wanted to.

 

[Ultimate Bear Cub]

Huh, interesting. Ice Cap is still a loss for me. I really want it unchanged.

 

[secretanchitman]

Absolutely not. A large part of why Sonic 3 is special to me is because of the amazing soundtrack.

 

[Jacknapes]

Without a doubt, would love to replay Sonic 3 & Knuckles on PS4/Switch

 

[entremet]

Nope. Those tracks are iconic. I already have a legit copies of the original.

 

[Lukar]

A port with a different soundtrack is better than no port at all.

 

[Hayeya]

Tell me which songs i will be missing.

 

[Ferrs]

Absolutely not.

Sega can figure out the music nonsense if that is the issue. They just haven't cared to do it or wanted to.

Click to shrink...

At this point we don't know if the issue can even be fixed, if they don't have the rights. Like how Sega has to pay Masato Nakamura every time they put Sonic 1/2 music, maybe whoever has the rights of that Sonic 3 (probably a bunch of people not just MJ estate) just doesn't want to?

This is a conjeture but the issue seems to be really complicated because thre's a bunch of producers involved, some of them angry because, as one of them said, Sega owes them a lot of money.