With this Super Mario World soundtrack remaster we can hear what the iconic music sounds like when not compressed for the limited hardware of Super Nintendo. The result is richer, more dynamic versions of some of the most recognizable tunes in video game history.
The Super Mario Restored Project is the group responsible for delivering new classic stuff, and the way they do it is really interesting. Instead of just taking the tracks as they sound on SNES and improving them, they are actually digging up the original samples and restoring them completely uncompressed. In essence, it’s probably similar to how Super Mario World composer Koji Kondo originally intended the music to sound.
The full, restored soundtrack is not yet available, but there is a good variety of tracks you can currently listen to. Here is the famous jingle of the title screen:
And here’s the “Athletic” theme, which will remind you of some of the more chaotic levels of Super Mario World. You can compare it to the original version of the tune to see how the quality of the tracks is compressed.
It’s a wonderful pleasure to hear these tracks recover in their uncompressed glory, and The Super Mario Restored Project is doing a great job. But to be honest, it’s throwing me off. There is something a little disorienting about hearing this music that is so intertwined with my psyche with all this newfound clarity. The chirping, canned sound of the original music feels just as right to me. The remaster is still very cool for the novelty alone.
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