Today I played Exile on both the TurboGrafx-16 and the Sega Genesis 16-bit Entertainment System. The Genesis one is a bit easier I think, but the buttons seem to be stuck on permanent rapid-fire. Perhaps I should try to set the controller to 3 button mode... I just now though of that. The text is easier to read in the Turbo version by far, and I prefer the softer sound effects on the Turbo as well. The music is pretty much a draw right now. The CD music is not impressive. The Genesis definitely has better music in the first town.
Ha! I have to say that the Red Book for Exile is pretty awesome... all of the techno-esque dance tunes, anyway. There's a nice homage to Kraftwerk (specifically, Kraftwerk's track "Numbers"). I have never read anyone point this out before, and I even wrote an article a few years ago (I don't think I ever finished it) that pointed out the "coincidental" similarities between a bunch of PCE Red Book and popular synth-pop of the 80's. Most of the stuff really was due to the musical zeitgeist... but that particular track in Exile is no accident, it is an homage, or sorts, to Numbers.
The non-dance tracks work well in the game, but they aren't designed to be anything more than nice background music (like most games).
Unsolicited anecdote: My brothers and I made a movie called "Snow Bash 3000" and we used one of the tracks from Exile (I think it was the boss tune) because we loved that track -- the game had just been released and we were stoked that Working Designs was breathing some life into the console. As far as Snow Bash 3000 is concerned, well, it was a stellar moment in the history of world film, let me tell you
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