# Memorable digitized speech in classic games **URL:** \ **Category:** Video Games\ **Created:** [January 12, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560 "2022-01-12T21:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/1 "2022-01-12T21:51:56Z")
Nowadays, hearing speech in video games is nothing special. However, there once was a time when voice samples in games were few and far between. At the dawn of gaming, the memory available for a game was rather scarce, and since digitized speech took up quite a bit of space, it was used sparingly. To me, that made the moments when digitized speech suddenly erupted out of my lowly 8-bit computer all the more memorable. Here’s a few of my favourites (all Commodore 64 games, except the last one). Please share yours! The first one I can remember is this ominous greeting at the start of Impossible Mission. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i1_fDwX1VVY/hqdefault.jpg "Impossible Mission (C64): Another visitor! Stay a while; stay forever!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1_fDwX1VVY) I was used to the bleeps and bloops of the Atari 2600, so hearing this threatening voice boom out of my brand new Commodore 64 was pretty damn impressive! Next up: Ghostbusters! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mw-XHU9l-hI/hqdefault.jpg "Ghostbusters C64 [Intro]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw-XHU9l-hI) A voice screaming “Ghostbusters!” and an evil sounding laugh, immediately followed by the Ghostbusters theme tune is just a great way to start a game. Also, I love the bouncing karaoke ball that encourages you to sing along with the theme tune. Transformers: The Battle to Save the Earth’s intro is fully spoken and features nearly two minutes of digitized speech! Completely bonkers! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/htjtHlmdPwM/maxresdefault.jpg "Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth - Commodore 64 1986)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htjtHlmdPwM) Imagine witnessing this at the time of release. I probably would’ve fallen out of my chair in amazement. Last but not least, here’s an arcade game. Let’s listen to Sinistar! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3hT2i4NUza4/hqdefault.jpg "Sinistar voice samples") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hT2i4NUza4) Man, I love that menacing voice! And that bloodcurdling roar still sounds chilling. When that loud growl suddenly blasts out of the speakers during gameplay, it kinda feels like a jump scare. Great stuff! ---
**Author:** ![jbueno](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/jbueno/32/1609_2.png) [@jbueno](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/jbueno)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/2 "2022-01-13T00:14:06Z")
How about Konami’s Double Dribble? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LG2AXbYDHBs/hqdefault.jpg "The National Anthem by Double Dribble") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG2AXbYDHBs) Salamander / Life Force arcade had some memorable voice overs too. Kidney stones CANNOT be destroyed. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tjCPYXBXzl0/maxresdefault.jpg "LIFE FORCE (SALAMANDER) VOICES") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjCPYXBXzl0) ---
**Author:** ![D.Lo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/d.lo/32/4116_2.png) [@D.Lo](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/D.Lo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/3 "2022-01-13T01:29:10Z")
Impossible mission was the first I thought of. How about Pizza Time on Turtles 2 Game Boy? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gyOBaDncQKg/hqdefault.jpg "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II - Back from the Sewers OST - Pizza Time") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyOBaDncQKg) Cowabunga! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XgVGhgt239Y/hqdefault.jpg "pizza time") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgVGhgt239Y) ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 7:55am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/4 "2022-01-13T07:55:07Z")
I didn’t have a NES growing up (I was a C64 & SEGA dude), so it wasn’t until last year or so that I heard the Double Dribble rendition of the US anthem for the first time. It sounds adorable 😁 ---
**Author:** ![harborline\_765](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/harborline_765/32/5947_2.png) [@harborline\_765](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/harborline_765)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 9:21am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/5 "2022-01-13T09:21:01Z")
Great thread idea! On portables, I remember being blown away upon hearing a digitised “Pikachu!” at the title screen of Pokemon Yellow. And again, on GBA, the fully voiced intro to Boktai was a big deal at the time: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Vvbcp5yNlzA/hqdefault.jpg "Boktai; beginning and game over (60 fps)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvbcp5yNlzA) (Bonus points to Wario Land 4’s soundbytes) ---
**Author:** ![McBradders](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/mcbradders/32/383_2.png) [@McBradders](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/McBradders)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 10:03am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/6 "2022-01-13T10:03:15Z")
This has been seared into my brain since the moment I first heard it in the arcades back in the day; [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4W_nr2DqAvE/maxresdefault.jpg "SPACE HARRIER 002 Voice Welcome to the Fantasy Zone, get ready! (arcade game music)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W_nr2DqAvE) Couldn’t find a video with the specific samples ready to roll, but the speech in Atari’s Star Wars game are just a beautiful snapshot of where videogames were at at that time, a place of infinite possibilities. The weird ass “Yahoo!” as you yeet your torpedoes into the exhaust port is just pure magic 😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iXOTExRQJSE/hqdefault.jpg "Star Wars - Best Arcade Game (Atari 1983)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXOTExRQJSE) YAHOO! ---
**Author:** ![D.Lo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/d.lo/32/4116_2.png) [@D.Lo](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/D.Lo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 10:08am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/7 "2022-01-13T10:08:02Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qKz_nI2RLLs/hqdefault.jpg "Clay Fighter (SNES) - Clay Fighter Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKz_nI2RLLs) SNES Clayfighter Song ---
**Author:** ![Peagles](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/peagles/32/3067_2.png) [@Peagles](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/Peagles)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 11:06am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/8 "2022-01-13T11:06:29Z")
We always loved to make fun of California Games on Master System [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Pq9ExM4-l1E/maxresdefault.jpg "California Games (SMS) voice samples") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq9ExM4-l1E) And the “Hellooo” on Toy Story for Mega Drive [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ksRULxaJhE0/hqdefault.jpg "Toy Story - #11 - Really Inside the Claw Machine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksRULxaJhE0) ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 11:40am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/9 "2022-01-13T11:40:01Z")
Some great examples so far. Keep 'em coming! That legendary Space Harrier voice sample reminded me of another SEGA game with a well-known voice sample at the start of the game. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hihEhsdwiIk/hqdefault.jpg ""Rise from Your Grave!" - Altered Beast") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hihEhsdwiIk) ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 11:52am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/10 "2022-01-13T11:52:39Z")
And here’s another SEGA game, but this time it’s a Commodore 64 port. It’s Jeroen Tel’s Turbo OutRun intro! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qG82RMyS07Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Turbo Outrun (C64) Title Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG82RMyS07Y) ---
**Author:** ![McBradders](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/mcbradders/32/383_2.png) [@McBradders](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/McBradders)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 12:28pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/11 "2022-01-13T12:28:35Z")
Wow that really is _something._ How have I never head this before… absolutely incredible. ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/12 "2022-01-13T16:19:46Z")
Warning: do NOT turn the volume all the way up before watching this clip! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eKCfsaQODJo/maxresdefault.jpg "The Way of the Exploding Fist - C64 - Best Karate Games (1985)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKCfsaQODJo) When I loaded Way of the Exploding Fist for the first time I almost had a heart attack thanks to that sudden Bruce Lee yell! ---
**Author:** ![DaveLong](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/davelong/32/1419_2.png) [@DaveLong](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/DaveLong)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/13 "2022-01-14T18:16:39Z")
Sinistar was brilliant at the time, and one of a kind. Clear speech was rare back then! Compare to Bosconian’s “BLACK ALL!” (It’s “blast off” I think…) and “ALAR! ALAR!” where the M was lost to clipping. lol! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rQEfiUkKA3Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Arcade Longplay - Bosconian (1981) Namco") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQEfiUkKA3Y) ---
**Author:** ![Danexmurder](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/danexmurder/32/3014_2.png) [@Danexmurder](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/Danexmurder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/14 "2022-01-14T21:22:26Z")
GET OVER HERE! ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/15 "2022-01-15T12:39:24Z")
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars was my first experience with digitized speech on the Master System. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MeDiXYkdGmo/maxresdefault.jpg "I'm the Miracle Ball") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeDiXYkdGmo) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DgCguRiTUZ4/hqdefault.jpg "Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars - Aaargh!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgCguRiTUZ4) Having to hear that ear-piercing scream each time you died was pretty grating! ---
**Author:** ![raskulous](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/raskulous/32/11773_2.png) [@raskulous](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/raskulous)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/16 "2022-01-16T11:54:18Z")
You can’t forget one of the earliest arcade games. Berserk! It would say “Coins detected in pocket” haha! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DFSQ0Pl4KDk/hqdefault.jpg "Arcade Longplay [503] Berzerk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFSQ0Pl4KDk) Also the Intellivision has voice module that enabled voice synthesis on all the games with gold cartridges. It was a pretty big deal back then. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MnyrOo5EJbU/hqdefault.jpg "Intellivision (intellivoice) retro video game commercial (1982)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyrOo5EJbU) ![Intellivoice2](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/retrogameboards/original/3X/a/5/a5e4b4232481f41eea018aab76644cc5a9763923.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Glowsquid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/glowsquid/32/8110_2.png) [@Glowsquid](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/Glowsquid)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/17 "2022-01-16T15:57:52Z")
This is Excelica. mfffffffffff. mffffffffffff. good luck [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hPqNl37t6QA/maxresdefault.jpg "Thunder Force II - Longplay/Walkthrough (No Damage)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqNl37t6QA) ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/18 "2022-01-16T23:59:23Z")
Yeah, those Berzerk voices are legendary. “Chicken, fight like a robot!” I like how the pitch is constantly changed for a bit of variety. ---
**Author:** ![retroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/retroman/32/25205_2.png) [@retroman](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/retroman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/19 "2022-01-17T00:00:29Z")
LOL, never heard that one before ---
**Author:** ![fester](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/www.retrogameboards.com/fester/32/16133_2.png) [@fester](https://www.retrogameboards.com/u/fester)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 2:16am UTC](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560/20 "2022-01-18T02:16:31Z")
Maybe a bit more modern than some of the other examples, but this has been permanently etched into my brain since ~1993 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hEjXuuwI0oE/hqdefault.jpg "Reticulating Splines") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEjXuuwI0oE) [Next page](https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/memorable-digitized-speech-in-classic-games/2560.md?page=2)