![The SNES Is Getting A New RPG Adventure Called Mysterious Song 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/6ad2c6b0aa442/the-snes-is-getting-a-new-rpg-adventure-called-mysterious-song-1.900x.jpg)
Homebrew developer Rafael Daniel has revealed that a SNES port of Darkness Ethereal's 2000 DOS freeware release Mysterious Song is nearing completion.
The game has previously been ported to the NEC TurboGrafx CD by Frozen Utopia, and it was this version which brought it to Daniel's attention.
"I'm not really a game programmer, but I've always been passionate about 8/16-bit consoles," he says on the port's official site.
"Taking advantage of the knowledge I already have in programming, I started to explore the world of development as a hobby. Along the way, I found out about this version for TurboGrafx-CD through PIKO INTERACTIVE, who kindly sent me the source code. Unfortunately, I was unable to take advantage of it due to architecture issues. I used as a base an engine that I already have (FaelRpgEgine) and adapted it through the sprites and tiles that I had in the original source code that I cited to replicate it on both platforms."
Daniel is keen to stress that this is very much a port, and he doesn't expect to take credit for all of the hard work done by the original developer. "All content was originally created by Darkness Ethereal. Frozen Utopia used this version as the basis for its TurboGrafx-CD version, and I used the Frozen version as the basis for creating mine on the SNES/Genesis."
However, it's clear that a lot of work has gone into this version, regardless. "In development, I had a huge job to export all the graphic content, I practically redid everything manually, animation of the spirtes, dialogue box and assembly of the levels so that it could be used on the SNES," Daniel adds.
"None of the previous mechanics were used, and almost everything was created from scratch, and on purpose, as I wanted to have experience to use in future projects. I would also like to thank the excellent work of the composer and programmer Kung Furby in converting the original soundtrack to the SNES audio CHIP, after all his work managed to leave the same as the TurboGrafx-CD."
It's worth noting that Piko actually announced the Mega Drive / SNES ports way back in 2014, so it's taken a decade to get to this point.
You can download a demo here. The plan is to also bring the game to the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, as well as a third undisclosed platform.
Comments 4
Nice to see something new coming to the SNES. Doesn't get near enough of it these days. So this is more than welcome.
PS. Also, despite the fact it started shipping to backers more than a week ago now [and me even messaging the site about it], I haven't seen an article on any of your sites covering the recent release of Xeno Crisis on SNES yet. So, I guess I'll just link the article below here, as there will surely be people who aren't even aware it's now out, since it's not really being reported on:
https://inceptionalnews.wordpress.com/2024/04/08/my-thoughts-on-xeno-crisis-for-snes/
I think there's some issue with Bitmap Bureau moving stock to their new warehouse or something, which has temporarily halted the ability to purchase the game from their online store, so maybe all the gaming sites are waiting for that to get sorted before they post any new coverage for the SNES version. I dunno.
@RetroGames Damn right!
@RetroGames Honestly, I think it's more that the game is already available on so many other retro platforms that it's been covered enough by now. It's just not that exciting that there's a SNES version of Xenocrisis at this point. Great game, but it's been covered plenty of times already.
@MARl0 It's a brand new 2024 indie/homebrew game for SNES [with even some elements unique to the SNES version], and I personally think it absolutely deserves to be covered even for that reason alone, especially on this site of all places.
For the literally tens of millions of SNES fans in the world--no idea how many of them visit here--I'm absolutely sure they'll be happy to hear more about this specific version, such as how good the game feels to play with the frankly perfectly-suited default SNES controller, how the transparency effects have been added and used uniquely in this version, how there's some added environmental effects like rain and fog in a couple of the levels, how the additional voice samples and audio that uses an extra chip sounds on SNES, how it has slightly faster loading times into levels, how it's been changed from the original to work on SNES specifically and sometimes that means a bit of a compromise in certain areas, etc.
For SNES fans specifically interested in the SNES version, it's actually really not been covered much at all. And I expect there are many people who are particularly interested in this specific version, with SNES maybe being the main retro system they own or follow, who would like to see more on it. I'm one of those people.
So, yeah, hopefully the gaming journalists on the site see the value in covering the SNES version properly, just like they did with other versions of the game over the years.
To Raphael, apologies for going off on a slight tangent. This SNES port of the Mysterious Song game looks cool too.
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