Why did old console games have music/SFX tests in options?

[Gigifusc]

I've just been asked this question and the truth is I have no idea?

I would assume it was a cultural phenoma from Japan. Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

[snowkatt]

at a guess so you can listen to music tracks you liek with out having to play the game to get there and then just stand there and listen to the music

nothing i ever felt the need to do with streets of rage i can tell you that

[Gigifusc]

yeh, I guess. But it wasn't only music - they let you listen to all the SFX too?

[gman72]

It was so you could listen to all the music in the game, some modern games have them too.

[Mootown]

On Thunderforce III (Megadrive) one of the sound effects when played (it was an explosion sound effect) would cause whatever currently playing piece of music you had on to go at around half the speed for a few seconds. Boring fact #1

[nakamura]

So we could work out what Ryu said during his hurricane kick.

[Vyothric]

I haven't updated it in a while, but if you're interested I started this list of games with a sound test/music menu a while ago.

[Megamixer]

Used to love the sound tests in the Tekken games, especially Tekken 2 where I could sit there for ages and just listen to the fantastic music. Tekken 3 also had the brilliant little BGM/ending FMV player where you could swap the disc out for the first two games and listen to all the music from those games

[snowkatt]

It was so you could listen to all the music in the game, some modern games have them too.

i said that !

So we could work out what Ryu said during his hurricane kick.

what did he say anyway ?

Used to love the sound tests in the Tekken games, especially Tekken 2 where I could sit there for ages and just listen to the fantastic music. Tekken 3 also had the brilliant little BGM/ending FMV player where you could swap the disc out for the first two games and listen to all the music from those games

not ahuge fan of tekken and i rather disliked tekken 3 but there was some music in tekken 2 i really liked
especially the devil stage bgm

this is a game that needs a ost

[Megamixer]

this is a game that needs a ost

Oh but it does . This is the arcade OST (which I have):



...and the excellent PS remixes came on two 'Strike Fighting' volumes (which I'm yet to get as they are damn rare and expensive):

[Hitman_HalStep]

So we could work out what Ryu said during his hurricane kick.

what did he say anyway ?

Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku

The Hurricane Kick (竜巻旋風脚, Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku, literally "Tornado Whirlwind Leg") is a special move that is usable by Ryu and Ken in Street Fighter.
source: http://streetfighter.wikia.com/wiki/Tatsumaki

[jimmyjimjim]

I was convinced one of the fighters in SFII always said "Helloooo Ken!" during his attack. Not sure who, was never a big fan of the game.

Never really understood why games had sound tests, but I do remember using them to record music from Mega Drive games onto cassette tapes through a cable from the MD headphone socket into my hifi.

[Hitman_HalStep]

^ it's close to that.it's the fireball shout for ryu and ken but they say:

[Black Ridge]

So we could work out what Ryu said during his hurricane kick.

This is what he says

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL_x1rRg ... A&index=13

[SonicTheHedgehog]

what did he say anyway ?

It sounds like UHH STIYST EMM BAAAA KET