Last Ninja 2 Central Park Cover by KATOD

HQ audio (bandcamp): katodmusic.bandcamp.com/track...
My version of amazing C64 SID tune from Last Ninja 2 game.
Original C64 version composed by Matt Gray.
This cover arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by KATOD.
High quality audio version on my soundcloud:
/ last-ninja-2-central-p...
Video-clip recorded and assembled by Katod.
fanpage: www. KATODmusic
Instruments:
- modified Commodore C64 computers (original SIDs)
- Mssiah cartridge in one of them
- CynthCart 1.24 in second one
- Commodore MK-10 MIDI keyboard
- Waldorf Blofeld
- Dreamblaster module
- Electric guitar Jackson DK2S
- Atari 1040 STE (as MIDI sequencer)

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

RIP, Ben Daglish, who created many of the iconic tunes from the first Last Ninja. Matt Gray did all the tunes for the second one. All of the tunes from both games are memorable.

[@Fourmyle44]

I'd mention Reyn Ouwehand too as Ninja III composer. He had a hard task to keep up with his predecessors and he managed brillantly. Not bad from a 18 year old guy.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@Fourmyle44 Big time respect for all those old composers, not just for the awesome music itself but because at that time there weren't many tools to make the music in the first place and so their programming skills were on an equal footing with their musical ability. I remember watching an interview with Rob Hubbard - one of the greatest ever - and he said that sometimes a developer would ask for some tunes and then say he only had 1k or something to do it in. "Oh, and can you have it done in 2 weeks?"

[@Fourmyle44]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere 1k salary or 1k memory to fit the music in :) maybe both but I hope they made much more with these works

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@Fourmyle44 1K of RAM, but I doubt he made much more than 1000£ to do the job. Probably less (until he became the go-to guy for game developers).

[@riwylie4265]

Ninja Spirit soundtrack tried to one up TLN 😂🤣😂

[@moamar9737]

Takes me back to when I was a kid ...playing last ninja together...bro I miss u...Great times...best times..RIP bro

[@ForaPhil]

One word epic. And that from a C64 guy from the 80s (born 76). If they'd play this at some music festival I would go bananas.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you. I'm playing concerts... you can always find up to date info on my FB fanpage. I hope will be few concerts in 2021.

[@footagelviv]

this should have millions of views

[@KATODmusic]

:) thank you very much.

[@ferkramer2817]

Yes dude for sure

[@scollins79]

Incredible!
And just like that, I'm 10 again

[@KATODmusic]

:) Thanx Steve.

[@madfzr]

Blew my mind on the guitar 🎸 came in

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@moamar9737]

5.00...at this point for about 60secs...makes u wanna run through the park dressed like a ninja while this is playing...I bought a ninja suit..epic

[@NikkoHUN]

The essence of my childhood is in your room! Who can recognize your stuff and it means something to him, then he is a good vintage. Thank you for this wonderful experience! :)
(Last Ninja is the best forever and this performance is AWESOME!)

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks! Greetings!

[@muzaffercaginipekoglu105]

I was born on 1976, had my C64 when I was 12, 1988. Wow, amazing cover this is, SID chip...amazing job, thanks for the fun :)

[@fnostalgiaanostalgia4766]

you lucky jung man ;D im 72er

[@muzaffercaginipekoglu105]

​@@fnostalgiaanostalgia4766 Coming to think about it, we are all very lucky I believe, to have been through a childhood with C64, and the SID chip...freak factory, impossible mission, last ninjas, boulderdash, sentinel, defender of the crown, commandos, EHIS, microprose soccer, Summer Games, California Games, test drive, all those footbal manager games, iron man off road mania, etc... many more...countless minutes spent with friends in tournaments, joysticks broken repaired, tape head set screw, the happiness of scoring a goal, passing a stage...Oh pirates, Sid Meier...how can I forget?...endless time...math, science hws were set aside while sunday morning's was for the tournament I planned in my head, who to pick for midfield, etc...what strategy to follow while playing impossible mission...and the music gets us all back there, to those riveted memories...how can we complain our kids for playing so many ipad, iphone games now...that's another matter maybe, dunno...hail C64...and all the amstrad, sinclair, amiga, atari ones too...a hell of a childhood...a hell of it...yeah...

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you. I'm very happy too, that I was able to live in 80s and 90s... It was amazing time!
SID rulez :)

[@kruder79]

@@muzaffercaginipekoglu105 The games you listed... Man.. After 30 years... Welp :,) The kafa ayari days of the old :))

[@andreap9869]

1974 for me had a c64 thru primary/high school, i still listen to the C64 tunes today, you can never forget them.

[@RivaldoDeniz]

this NEEDS more likes!!!!!

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you Rivaldo Deniz. Greetings! :)

[@AtaruMor0boshi]

I definitely agree. At least ten times as much.

[@zBLACK0Rz]

This needs to be played live on a massive stage in front of 10k+ rocking people! 😹💦 🇩🇪🐺✊🏻

[@floriderfux8534]

Heck yes, it's so unfair that I can only like it once! I come back here again and again to listen to it :D

[@ersintalas]

Helalll Rivaldo

[@Kutersing]

Yes yes and more yes! Thats my old gray soul waking up and remembering the colors from the 80s

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@robretro1875]

I could literally cry from the nostalgia flash!

[@TheWaste0Time]

It's one thing to do a remix or remaster, it's entirely different thing to actually embody the spirit of what made these songs so memorable in the first place.
This was absolutely fucking incredible.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you very much. C64 SID tunes was so amazing, because was done with passion. These machines deserves be still used and played and composing on them :)

[@GoogleAccount-vn8mu]

I think that ending is mimicking the sids warbling arpeggios. Amazing

[@KATODmusic]

Exactly :) Thanks.

[@GoogleAccount-vn8mu]

@@KATODmusic fantastic job. Would love to hear a remake of the c64 target renegade intro music. Any chance of that?

[@stefannafets7828]

I always thought, since then. The last part can only be a Guitar Solo. And thanks to all who PLAYED THIS AS ONE!!!!!!!

[@petermerkus5175]

I wish those good old days came back again

[@carstenmaul7220]

Good old days need to be in the past to be good old days.

[@tortue_ch]

That's one of the best cover I ever seen. You sir are extremely talented !

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@madfzr]

Still shreds in 2023 great production and it jams!

[@SkyFire31]

110/5000
I was born in 1975 and got the c64 in 1989. very nice memory and still a great sound

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :) yes, C64 still sounds great :)

[@RMCRetro]

Oh I was enjoying this and then you shredded the guitar and I LOVED it! Amazing work

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@betweenzone]

It was one of my favourite game soundtracks and the game was so great, such good graphics in that days

[@KATODmusic]

yes. graphics and music was amazing in LN2. And still there is :) Only problem was that not everyone could afford floppy drive in that days :) Greetings!

[@193819441974]

I remember all the games music I have heard in this C64. But I have a secret: I played C64 till 1998 x). Now, I don't want to break it, my precious! ^^

[@KATODmusic]

:)

[@nichderjeniche]

Haha nice secret, I got my C64C+1541-II as xmas present in 1993 (as is became first time available in 1991 in east germany and was still very expensive) and played it till the early 2000s :)

[@perfectfutures]

This truly brings this tune to the next generation. Love the details of drum module and passionate guitar.
Don’t know how you have so much talent, sir, but you’re putting it to good use.

[@madfzr]

This video is truly amazing! Many hours as a kid in 1984 waiting for games to load on the 1541/1571 the guitar part and video editing AND talent blew my mind!

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :) yes, 80s was a great time...

[@techmoney8637]

Commodore 128 owner here this is incredible!!

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks. Congrats C128 machine :)

[@DigitalMusicXpress]

I cannot express how much I love this, I nearly flipped off my chair when the guitar entered, what a nice addition!!!!

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@blackwolfthedragonmaster]

Yess!!!

[@janmakaron9610]

@@KATODmusic tak kochamy to!

[@janmakaron9610]

@@KATODmusic play!

[@Nord562]

This sound brings me back to good old times. Everytime I'm listen to it and that happens pretty often. Don't you ever dare to delete this masterpiece. *bows*

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you very much :)

[@Nord562]

Neverending love tune :) great remastered

[@jeffkurtz6011]

The the tones and drum programming from heaven

[@KATODmusic]

thanks

[@Szlejer]

As someone who grew up on these C64 games and also a beginner/intermediate guitar player... Simply amazing, the solo especially.

[@KATODmusic]

thanks :)

[@nicolasnikopol7946]

That's....incredible. I don't know if I wish to cry or yell my joy. Thank you very much for this.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you Nicolas :)

[@ziutekkxx1987]

I remember I got my 1st C64 in 1994. It was damn expensive in Poland. 2 years after I managed to buy the floppy drive. My whole salary spent on it :-) Crazy times. I still recall it. SID has been the greatest music chip ever. This song is also amazing!

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :) SID rulez!

[@PiotrJ.YelayahPiasecki]

Świetnie brzmi na żywca.

[@valantj]

Atari central here :) Great cover! Always liked SID and combined with guitar, it rocks! :) Excellent!!

[@KATODmusic]

:) thanks. SID rocks...

[@neomdye]

simply LEGENDARY ... EPIC ...
can't stop hearing this :D

[@seabreeze72]

Great cover, the electric guitar is fantastic. The Last Ninja 2 was probably of of the best C64 games I played when I was a child and right through my 20's. Once again excellent cover version. Well done.

[@xanerxaner8467]

Panie Mariuszu gratuluję kompozycji, aranżacji, i świetnej muzyki, której słucha się doskonale. Łapka w górę. Czekam na więcej.

[@KATODmusic]

Dziękuję i pozdrawiam :)

[@metropoliszx9961]

The final riff... i wish it would last forever❤

[@KATODmusic]

:) oh yeah. Thanks.

[@hans-peterlossel3552]

This is sooo great - thx for the nostalgia! Simply stunning guitar! As a 1983 born this is taking me back to the 80s playing this game as a kid with my brothers!

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks. yes, great memories :)

[@jacobiter]

This is up there with the streets of rage cover, fantastic.

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks

[@dataduden]

I played The Last Ninja on the Commdore 64 as a kid , and tank you very much for making this AWSOME cover version :)

[@KATODmusic]

thanks :)

[@AnthonyCassidy50]

Cor blimey, the fingering archipeggio thing at the end is spine chilling.

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks. I like it too :)

[@vauxhalldotnet]

Amazing! How does this not have a million views?

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@gianlucacrispino]

One of the best covers I've heard so far. Not talking about videogames, I'm talking about EVERY cover around!
Great job man!

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you very much for kind words :)

[@beeman2075]

I used to love playing this game almost 30 years ago. Awesome cover :)

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@BillAnt]

Great mix keeping the essence of the original C64 sound.

[@KATODmusic]

thanks ;)

[@DMChannel01]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Simply Amazing! The best era of my life comes back in these notes.

[@KATODmusic]

Nice to hear :) Thx.

[@therisinghope]

This is pure scene soul.! No doubt. Love it.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@balmoral2472]

Matt Gray would be proud of you!

[@sajmon11000000]

Średnio raz dziennie w wozie u mnie musi ta muza lecieć .Mistrzostwo

[@KATODmusic]

super :) Zapraszam na koncerty...

[@anthonyharris1235]

Now that's a cover

[@EnricoPintonello]

All C64 and Amiga fan became a musician !!

[@KATODmusic]

thanks. 8bit & 16bit machines rulez :)

[@janmakaron9610]

Kathod, you are one of the best. really best. I love you. can hear this thousand times.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@aquarius01011]

Doskonała aranżacja. Słucham z ogromną przyjemnością :)

[@KATODmusic]

+Zbigniew Pilip Dziękuję. Pozdrawiam!

[@Neolord12]

Nice work man, sounds near to original yet own style...very nice work!!Specialy the tapping on the end part!

[@bigbadbillyb5195]

What a song man, really impressive stuff. This ones gonna stay on my playlist for the rest of my life. Bravo guy! 😁💯

[@JaneCk01]

Whole track is perfect, but the ending with the guitar... This is BEST!!!

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@Nord562]

it is

[@maciekm1648]

Rozwaliło system.

[@djsharman]

I keep coming back to this and listening again. Amazing stuff.

[@Eliminaattori]

Great cover! I'm crazy about this part: 3:10 - 3:50. I just linked this video to a finnish retro gaming group in Facebook, hope you get many views more! Someone was looking old retro games music specially with guitar in them and I thought this is the one I share.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@CJWarlock]

Rewelacja! Szczerze gratuluję. Cieszę się, że wziąłeś na warsztat muzykę z The Last Ninja 2, i to ten znany, przyjemny utwór. Bardzo dobrze zmontowany wideoklip, ciekawy. Roześlę link do znajomych w temacie. Dobra robota, pomyślności w następnych aranżacjach! C64 rulez. :)

[@KATODmusic]

+CJWarlock Dziękuje. Pozdrawiam!

[@harald6442]

Brilliant!! 🙏 I remember this epic game and its music making magic many days in my youth.

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :) You are right, these days was amazing...

[@thelastninja1]

Great Performance !! You are amazing !! I Love Last Ninja 1 + 2 Music

[@KATODmusic]

thank you :)

[@jerrettfarmer]

Thank you!

[@DavidSpringenseis]

Wow, that was neat - thanks! - Real C64 sounds, arpeggios, with electric guitar - awesome...

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@IoftheBeeholder]

Wow, that was amazing! That doubled tapped solo at the end kicked it! Thank you for this! And the video with the original set and the lighting, perfect work!

[@CAPNGRIZZ]

Your outro at the end was amazing much respect for what you have done with this legendary theme.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@spinal_nerd]

Man, this is really incredible! Wow, that last part during the fade out must have been a nightmare

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :) That part is not so really difficult anyway...

[@ledorzejean-etienne3747]

From times when videogames musics rocked! Top video

[@KATODmusic]

yeah :) thanks.

[@jonathanfagan]

This is class, i remember the original. Great tribute !

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@ArttuTheCat]

Awesome cover version of the greatest classic Commodore 64 game music ever. Thank you! You rock! 😺😸🐈🎸📼👍

[@Nord562]

I'm still listening to this masterpiece :)

[@madfzr]

Still here 12/23/2023

[@BrickVada]

Incredible!!! Best thing my eyeballs and ears have seen and heard in years

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you very much :) Greetings!

[@steamdog812]

Just WOW! Thank you!

[@xaxtharkas]

Amazing!!! Great Work with SOund and Video.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you Chris.

[@chroik]

Flawless

[@rasmuslernevall6938]

This is one of the best bit-pop covers I have heard. It's just perfection. Thank you for this awesome piece!

[@rijden-nu]

Wow! There I was thinking this was the most awesome cover I heard in a while... But then the guitar was added. Damn thats some nice-ass playing there!

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you very much :) Greetings!

[@rijden-nu]

Dude, I listened to it again. Then, again. And again. Then I put it on my phone and listened to it in repeat during a 1hr motorcycle ride. It kept on being awesome. That guitar part in the 3rd minute, man, it is sooooo gratifying. You know that feeling where something is so good your brain simply can't decide between crying and laughing? Well you pierced right into that as far as I'm concerned. It's like the saxophone solo in Lenny Kravitz' "Let Love Rule".

[@KATODmusic]

:) Yes, I know what you mean... I have the same with some tunes, especially from 80s... Thank you very much again.
Please check my albums too, for example Fusion64 you'll find here:
katodmusic.bandcamp.com/album/fusion64
I'm sure you'll find some interensting tracks there :)
Also I hope you'll be able to come to my concert some day... I'm playing live these tunes (Including Last Ninja).
Greetings!

[@rijden-nu]

Ok, I like Fusion64 somewhat less, especially the first few songs, the drumkit is a little bit too fake for my taste, for how emphasized it is... Also I'm normally much more into 8-bit, a capella, country, stuff like that, than jazz/fusion... The bass is f** awesome though. No complaints about the quality of the guitar, you're a great player to listen to, very human and not afraid to just make just that little mistake every now and then, which makes it totally real and honest and that makes it extra cool! :) I would much rather listen to just you guitarring, the bassist bassing, maybe a few supporting synths and a C64 drum kit, and good old chiptune elements. The last two songs were better. I don't know where you play, but if you're ever in the Netherlands I'd certainly be willing to come and space out on your music - the whole jazz/funk/fusion thing is much better experienced in person anyway

[@aresaurelian]

Well played. Thank you.

[@ETA555]

6:02 love that fill in.

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@gustavo320]

Excellent!!!

[@hans-peterlossel3552]

einfach geil! listening for years now! still incredible

[@alexfaria6551]

im crying buy im happy gonna take out the dust of my c64 aaaaaauuuuuu. thx bro nice mix😁👌

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks. Good luck with your c64 :)

[@robertmesko6112]

amazing cover KATOD

[@SuperColdLemonade]

This is so fantastic, hard to grasp!! AWESOME

[@Mralriga]

Epic cover

[@mircon2198]

Fantastic, with memories from the past
with greetings

[@kamilwachel2832]

głęboki ukłon, przyjacielu.
szacun.
(humble salute friend, respect)

[@marekwojciechowski9179]

Mariusz jestem na AA i jak cię słucham to aż mnie jął ściska jak ja mogłem się tak doprowadzić do takiego stanu w którym jestem. Jesteś wielki

[@KATODmusic]

Trzymaj się Marek. Pozdrawiam serdecznie

[@alexandermaasland3494]

Such good memories from this game and it's groundbreaking music, you certainly did an excellent job on this recreation! well done!

[@meinemeinungzuxy]

For me still the best. Nice job. Music and video!

[@theneuland9876]

wonderful

[@KATODmusic]

thanks :)

[@floriderfux8534]

Holy cow, this is soooOOOOOoooooooooooo good! Just brilliant, can't get enough of it! Thanks dude!!! *thumbsUp!*

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@SchardtCinematic]

If i ever go to NY City i want to play this as i walk through Central Park

[@atakant1975]

Fantastic !

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks :)

[@goeuldi]

1:14 that pulse gave me chills. good work!

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks. I love PWMed squarewave :)

[@user-lh2uj4ti6n]

крутяк, на то время была одна из лучших.

[@KATODmusic]

Thanks

[@bezejel]

Brilliant cover, one of the best, and also this video is fantastic. I love the visual build up to the guitar.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)

[@siegeupon5894]

Yes!

[@patrickj9752]

Still Great 8Y Later!

[@mdebough]

Amazing.

[@KATODmusic]

Thank you :)