This file is downloaded from https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/emerald-dragon-opm-x68000-gamerip-1990

Name: Emerald Dragon (OPM)

Alternative Titles:
Emerald Dragon X68000
EMEDRA
EMEDORA
エメドラ
エメラルドドラゴン

Year: 1990
Platforms: X68000
Developed by: GLODIA
Published by: Glodia

Description: 

Original PC-88 version (YM2608 OPNA): Released in December 1989.
X68000 version (YM2151 OPM): Released in December 1990.

Hiroyuki Kuwata (then an ordinary office worker) was almost entirely responsible for the X68000 version’s programming.
While the PC-88/98 version was notorious for being riddled with bugs, he managed to fully port it in just one year and made the following changes to the music:

(1) Rhythm Sound Source → Completely Replaced with FM Percussion
He recreated the OPNA’s dedicated rhythm sounds (drums, cymbals, etc.) note by note using OPM’s FM. While maintaining the original impact, the sound was transformed into the “metallic and sharp” tone characteristic of FM.

(2) “Complete Refinement” of the SSG (PSG) Parts
This is the biggest behind-the-scenes detail. While many songs on the PC-88 used the SSG to play melodies with a “sharp” tone, the X68000 version did not attempt to mimic the original timbre; instead, everything was softly reconstructed using FM. The result was a warm tone reminiscent of the Electone (electronic organ) of that era. The same approach was used in the X68k version of the company’s other game, Sabash, but in Emedra, it was further refined into a sound that is “comfortable to listen to.” Even today, fans are divided into the “PC-88 faction (the crisp faction)” and the “X68000 faction (the soft faction).”

(3) Mysterious Arrangements: Song Titles, Keys, Tones, and Structure
Song titles differ significantly from the PC-88 version (which is puzzling, given that the content is almost identical).
Tones were fundamentally changed in some tracks, such as “King Elbird.”
Several songs have changed keys, drastically altering the overall impression.
A new track, “Those Guided by Fate,” was added. On the other hand, the PC-88 track “Eternal Farewell” was removed (though it appears the melody survived in a different arrangement).
The biggest mystery arrangement is the ending: it begins by “cutting off” the PC-88’s SSG phrase intro. Why? It was likely the result of prioritizing elements within the OPM’s 8-channel limit, but it remains a topic of discussion to this day: “Was it an intentional artistic choice? Or…?”

Published on site: 10th of April, 2026