Lunar Pool (NES)

Lunar Pool

Platform: NES Year: 1985 Developer: Compile

Lunar Pool (Lunar Ball in its native Japan) is pool with a twist. There are 60 levels, and the goal is simple, to pocket all of the balls. However, unlike normal billiards, you are punished for mistakes. You start out with three "shots", or attempts, rather, which deplete every time you fail to pocket a ball. Fortunately, the game has a level select available. You can also control the friction so that the balls move for a lot longer when hit. You can also play 2 players against either both another human player or a computer.

The game was also released for the MSX and PC88 computers in Japan. The game received mixed-to-positive reviews from players and critics.

Screenshots

The title screen. The main menu. Playing a game of pool. Perfect! The game over screen. The ending.

Music

Since the game is from the early days of the NES, the soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired. The music is taken from the MSX version of the game, but some of the songs play in different locations. For instance, the title screen music plays in the MSX version during the staff roll screen, and the menu music in the NES version is originally the title screen music in the MSX version. The NES version also has two Game Over themes. The first one is a new composition, and plays during the traditional way of getting a Game Over. However, if the player resets the game 10 times, they are treated to the original Game Over music from the MSX, when the player gets a Game Over. Fortunately, the NES has superior sound to the MSX version, as it contains more pulse widths. Also, traditional of Compile's NES music, the driver is tuned a little flat. All the songs in the game were written by Masatomo Miyamoto, Compile's primary composer at the time.

To create the game's soundtrack, Miyamoto wrote the music in assembly macros on an MSX computer. It was then converted into data into Takayuki Hirono's sound driver.

The stage theme is only a 9-second loop that never stops, so it's easy for it to get annoying.

Recording

Though the game was released in Europe, the PAL version's soundtrack sounds identical to the NTSC version; as it plays at the same pitch and tempo, so only the NTSC version has been recorded.

#	Title	Composer	Length	Listen	Download
01	Title Screen	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:49		Download
02	Main Menu	Masatomo Miyamoto	1:01		Download
03	Stage Start	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:04		Download
04	Stage Theme	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:29		Download
05	Stage Clear	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:03		Download
06	Perfect!	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:05		Download
07	Game Over 1	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:04		Download
08	Game Over 2	Masatomo Miyamoto	0:04		Download

Credits

• Ripper:
• Recorder: Doommaster1994
• Game Credits:
  • Program: Takayuki Hirono credited as Jemini
  • Music: Masatomo Miyamoto credited as Miyamoto

(Source)

The North American release of the game does not have credits. However, the original Japanese release of the game has a staff list at the title screen, much like the MSX version. It is unknown why the credits were removed for the NES version, especially because they're in English. The MSX version also credits Miyamoto as the composer, which confirms he acted as both a composer and arranger, rather than just porting over the music.

Takayuki Hirono is listed as the game's programmer. We have received verification from Compile staff that their NES sound driver was programmed by Hirono.

Game Rip

This rip is missing songs.

Format	Download

Ripping NES music is an arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site. The music was recorded in NSFPlay Synthesia Mod.

Audio Devices

The game uses the 2A03 of the NES. It uses Takayuki Hirono's sound driver.

Releases

Japan Title: ルナー・ボール (Lunar Ball) Platform: FC Released: 1985-12-05 Publisher: Pony Canyon     USA Title: Lunar Pool Platform: NES Released: 1987-10-?? Publisher: Fujisankei Communications, Inc.     EU Title: Lunar Pool Platform: NES Released: 1987-??-?? Publisher: Fujisankei Communications, Inc.