First post, by pixelmischief
I grew up on Atari computers; the eight-bit line in particular. I drooled over the Atari ST at the store, but it was way out of my reach. When I finally moved out on my own, I rented a room in a house where the owner also rented rooms to a couple of other guys. We got along well and eventually he let me use his computer; an IBM PS/2 with a VGA monitor. His kid, who didn't live with him, loaned me Space Quest III one weekend. It was the first PC game I ever played. Even on the PC speaker, it blew my mind. Sixteen bright, vibrant colors on a VGA monitor were astounding when compared to the little color TVs I had been using with my Atari 8-Bits. I was hooked and Space Quest III did it.
Fast forward 20 years and here I am; an accomplished adult and life-long gamer. I've played through a million games and loved almost every one of them. In particular, audio has always been the primary source of immersion for me. I had seen the MT-32 option in so many games over the years, but just glossed over it; thinking it was some specialty hardware that really wouldn't make much of a difference. But recently I watched an episode of Phil's Computer Lab, and another on LGR, featuring the MT-32. I'd been looking for something to reignite the spark in me lately, and I knew I had found it.
I went straight to eBay and bought all the parts to build a 486 gaming PC and an MT-32 to boot. Tonight I hooked it all up. And I fired up Space Quest III again, for the very first time. It brought tears to my eyes. Truly the sound is among the most beautiful things I have ever heard. I know nostalgia played a big role in the depth of my appreciation for it, but that knowledge does not diminish my affectionate awe in the least. I am smitten, once again.
I hope Eye of the Beholder sounds as good. =)