Difference between revisions of "Arctic (FC)"

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  | Platform  = [[Nintendo Entertainment System|FC]]
 
  | Platform  = [[Nintendo Entertainment System|FC]]
 
  | Year      = 1990
 
  | Year      = 1990
−
  | Developer = {{Developer|Unknown}}
+
  | Developer = {{Developer|Crosstalk}}
 
  | Amazon    =  
 
  | Amazon    =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
'''''Arctic''''' is a puzzle game originally developed by [[Artdink]], the same company behind the [[A-Train]] games. The game plays in a similar fashion to A-Train, but is unique in its own ways. There are blue and yellow balls that move around the track when you press the Start button, and your goal is to guide the balls back to their respective-colored stations. You can move all the blue tracks at once with the A button and all the yellow tracks with the B button. You must also watch out for the silver balls on the track, which will send your balls back in the opposite direction.
+
'''''Arctic''''' is a puzzle game originally developed by [[Artdink]], the same company behind the [[A-Train]] games. It was ported to the Famicom as one of four Famicom/NES games by Crosstalk. The game plays in a similar fashion to A-Train, but is unique in its own ways. There are blue and yellow balls that move around the track when you press the Start button, and your goal is to guide the balls back to their respective-colored stations. You can move all the blue tracks at once with the A button and all the yellow tracks with the B button. You must also watch out for the silver balls on the track, which will send your balls back in the opposite direction.
  
 
The game also has a level select screen, so you don't have to start the whole game over whenever you turn off the game.
 
The game also has a level select screen, so you don't have to start the whole game over whenever you turn off the game.
Line 14: Line 14:
 
Though the game is completely in English, it was never released outside of Japan, possibly because Pony Canyon or FCI didn't believe the game would sell well.
 
Though the game is completely in English, it was never released outside of Japan, possibly because Pony Canyon or FCI didn't believe the game would sell well.
  
−
The game was also released for other home computers such as the PC-9801 and MSX.
+
The game was also released for other home computers such as the [[Arctic (PC98)|PC-9801]] and [[Arctic (MSX2)|MSX2]].
−
 
 
−
It is unknown who developed the Famicom version of the game, but it is likely that it was [[Crosstalk]].
 
−
 
 
 
==Screenshots==
 
==Screenshots==
−
{{Issue Screenshots}}
 
 
{| align="center" |
 
{| align="center" |
 
|
 
|
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| Image      = Arctic_-_FC_-_Gameplay_1.png
 
| Image      = Arctic_-_FC_-_Gameplay_1.png
 
| Description = Playing the first level.}}
 
| Description = Playing the first level.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Arctic_-_FC_-_Gameplay_2.png
 +
| Description = Viewing the options, which lets you set the speed and level.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Arctic_-_FC_-_Gameplay_3.png
 +
| Description = Stage 15.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Arctic_-_FC_-_Gameplay_4.png
 +
| Description = The final stage.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Arctic_-_FC_-_Gameplay_5.png
 +
| Description = I win!}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==Music==
 
==Music==
−
The game's title music is taken from the computer versions, though the rest of songs should be checked if they are used in the computer versions as well. The in-game music is exactly the same as the title music, but omits the second square wave channel, as well as plays slightly quieter.
+
The game's title music is taken from the computer versions. However, the Famicom version includes all the pre-level themes from the [[Arctic (MSX2)|MSX2 version]], also by the same developer. For some reason, the music plays a whole step up from the MSX2 version. In addition, the track ''Arctic Game BGM'' is exactly the same as ''Arctic Main BGM'', but with one of the square waves removed. In the MSX2 version, the song also plays much faster.
 +
 
 +
According to Kobayashi, the Famicom and MSX2 versions' arranger, the new music may have been written by another composer who worked for the developer. The songs ''Arctic Main BGM'', ''Game Over BGM'', and ''Winner BGM'' were most likely written by a composer from Artdink.
  
−
The game contains a hidden sound test accessed by holding '''Down''' and '''Start''' at the title screen. Surprisingly, the game gives the names of the songs. Tracks 3-10 all play when you are starting a level.
+
To do the arrangements, Kobayashi sequenced the music on a PC-8001 mkII computer, and gave the music to Kazuhisa Mitani to program into the game.
  
−
No version of the game seems to have credits, so it is unknown who composed the music. If Crosstalk developed the Famicom version, it is most likely [[Yoshio Kobayashi]] did the arrangements, as he was their primary audio composer.
+
Like the MSX2 version, the Famicom version has a music test which gives all the names of the songs. All the songs in the Famicom version share the same titles with the MSX2 version, with the exception of ''City Route XYZ'', which was titled ''City Route 201'' in the MSX2 version.
  
 
===Recording===
 
===Recording===
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  | Title      = Arctic Main BGM
 
  | Title      = Arctic Main BGM
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 1
 
  | DurationMin = 1
 
  | DurationSec = 55
 
  | DurationSec = 55
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  | Track      = 2
 
  | Track      = 2
 
  | Title      = Arctic Game BGM
 
  | Title      = Arctic Game BGM
 +
| TitleLink  = Arctic Main BGM
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 1
 
  | DurationMin = 1
 
  | DurationSec = 55
 
  | DurationSec = 55
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  | Title      = Ran Ran Ran
 
  | Title      = Ran Ran Ran
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 36
 
  | DurationSec = 36
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  | Title      = One Night King
 
  | Title      = One Night King
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 45
 
  | DurationSec = 45
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  | Title      = Fighting Ball!
 
  | Title      = Fighting Ball!
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 31
 
  | DurationSec = 31
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  | Title      = Nori! Nori!
 
  | Title      = Nori! Nori!
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 31
 
  | DurationSec = 31
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  | Title      = City Route XYZ
 
  | Title      = City Route XYZ
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 31
 
  | DurationSec = 31
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  | Title      = Final Touch Down
 
  | Title      = Final Touch Down
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 31
 
  | DurationSec = 31
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  | Title      = Children Plaza
 
  | Title      = Children Plaza
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 31
 
  | DurationSec = 31
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  | Title      = Pri Pri Hips!
 
  | Title      = Pri Pri Hips!
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 31
 
  | DurationSec = 31
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  | Title      = Game Over BGM
 
  | Title      = Game Over BGM
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 9
 
  | DurationSec = 9
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  | Title      = Winner BGM
 
  | Title      = Winner BGM
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
 
  | Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Unknown}}
−
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Unknown}}
+
  | Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationMin = 0
 
  | DurationSec = 8
 
  | DurationSec = 8
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* '''Game Credits:'''
 
* '''Game Credits:'''
 
** ''Unknown Composer:'' {{Credits|Unknown}}
 
** ''Unknown Composer:'' {{Credits|Unknown}}
−
** ''Unknown Arranger:'' {{Credits|Unknown}}
+
** ''Unknown Arranger:'' {{Credits|Yoshio Kobayashi}}
  
 
(No source; Game lacks credits.)
 
(No source; Game lacks credits.)
  
−
Neither the game nor the manual have credits. The computer versions' manuals should be checked for credits, as the computer versions don't appear to have any in-game credits at all.
+
Neither the game nor the manual have credits. When you beat the final stage, the game takes you back to the first stage. The computer versions' manuals should be checked for credits, as the computer versions don't appear to have any in-game credits at all.
 +
 
 +
We reached out to Yoshio Kobayashi, who confirmed that he did the arrangements. He said that a composer that worked for the company part-time with the surname Yanagawa was likely the composer. However, due to the passing years, he is unable to remember his name.
  
 
[[Category: Games Without Credits]]
 
[[Category: Games Without Credits]]

Latest revision as of 20:00, 11 May 2023

Arctic
Arctic - FC.jpg
Platform: FC
Year: 1990
Developer: Crosstalk

Arctic is a puzzle game originally developed by Artdink, the same company behind the A-Train games. It was ported to the Famicom as one of four Famicom/NES games by Crosstalk. The game plays in a similar fashion to A-Train, but is unique in its own ways. There are blue and yellow balls that move around the track when you press the Start button, and your goal is to guide the balls back to their respective-colored stations. You can move all the blue tracks at once with the A button and all the yellow tracks with the B button. You must also watch out for the silver balls on the track, which will send your balls back in the opposite direction.

The game also has a level select screen, so you don't have to start the whole game over whenever you turn off the game.

Though the game is completely in English, it was never released outside of Japan, possibly because Pony Canyon or FCI didn't believe the game would sell well.

The game was also released for other home computers such as the PC-9801 and MSX2.

Screenshots

Arctic - FC - Title Screen.png

The game's title screen.

Arctic - FC - Gameplay 1.png

Playing the first level.

Arctic - FC - Gameplay 2.png

Viewing the options, which lets you set the speed and level.

Arctic - FC - Gameplay 3.png

Stage 15.

Arctic - FC - Gameplay 4.png

The final stage.

Arctic - FC - Gameplay 5.png

I win!

Music

The game's title music is taken from the computer versions. However, the Famicom version includes all the pre-level themes from the MSX2 version, also by the same developer. For some reason, the music plays a whole step up from the MSX2 version. In addition, the track Arctic Game BGM is exactly the same as Arctic Main BGM, but with one of the square waves removed. In the MSX2 version, the song also plays much faster.

According to Kobayashi, the Famicom and MSX2 versions' arranger, the new music may have been written by another composer who worked for the developer. The songs Arctic Main BGM, Game Over BGM, and Winner BGM were most likely written by a composer from Artdink.

To do the arrangements, Kobayashi sequenced the music on a PC-8001 mkII computer, and gave the music to Kazuhisa Mitani to program into the game.

Like the MSX2 version, the Famicom version has a music test which gives all the names of the songs. All the songs in the Famicom version share the same titles with the MSX2 version, with the exception of City Route XYZ, which was titled City Route 201 in the MSX2 version.

Recording

# Title ComposerArranger Length Listen Download
01 Arctic Main BGM UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 1:55
Download
02 Arctic Game BGM UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 1:55
Download
03 Ran Ran Ran UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:36
Download
04 One Night King UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:45
Download
05 Fighting Ball! UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:31
Download
06 Nori! Nori! UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:31
Download
07 City Route XYZ UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:31
Download
08 Final Touch Down UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:31
Download
09 Children Plaza UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:31
Download
10 Pri Pri Hips! UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:31
Download
11 Game Over BGM UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:09
Download
12 Winner BGM UnknownYoshio Kobayashi 0:08
Download

(Source)

Credits

(No source; Game lacks credits.)

Neither the game nor the manual have credits. When you beat the final stage, the game takes you back to the first stage. The computer versions' manuals should be checked for credits, as the computer versions don't appear to have any in-game credits at all.

We reached out to Yoshio Kobayashi, who confirmed that he did the arrangements. He said that a composer that worked for the company part-time with the surname Yanagawa was likely the composer. However, due to the passing years, he is unable to remember his name.

Game Rip

Format

Download

NSF.png


Audio Devices

The game uses the NES's 2A03. The Noise channel is never used. The sound driver used in this game was also used in Bakushou! Jinsei Gekijou (FC), Hillsfar (NES), and Jangou (FC).

Releases

  Japan.svg   Japan
Arctic - FC.jpg
Title: アークティック (Arctic)
Platform: FC
Released: 1990-02-23
Publisher: Pony Canyon Inc.

Links


Arctic
Arctic Platform - FC.png • Platform - FM7.png • Platform - MSX.png • Platform - PC88.png • Platform - PC98.png • Platform - X1.png
Notable Songs Arctic Main BGM
Notable Personnel Unknown • Yoshio Kobayashi
Notable Companies Artdink • Crosstalk • Pony Canyon


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