OCR01016 - Sonic & Knuckles 'Deep Damp Sandcastle'

[djpretzel]

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

[The Xyco]

love it, really love it.

this is one of the few mixes that i can honestly say it has a good ending. Add to that the transitions are really good (specially the first one)

[Ryudo_of_Destiny]

Tempo is a little slow for my liking, but it still well done.

[Riddler Sensei]

Wooo! I remember Beatdrop talking about this awhile ago! Great to see that it's finally been posted! The rhythm section during the slower sections is almost rap like (which works well). This really sounds like something that would play well if they remade S&K as a 3D game (mostly because it kinda provides a bit more ambience). Gives a real great feel. I personally don't think it's Beatdrop's best, but still great work. :wink:

[Eccles]

Hrm...
I didnt like the way the melody take stabs.

I also dont like the part that plays on what sounds to me like some kinda distorted sitar.

Oww...no, sorry...the scratchings and fast paced sections do absolutley nothing for me...I do *not* like those at all.

The pads are good though...like those.

...sorry, BD, but I cant bring myself to like this one...not one little bit....*sigh*

[Meiguoren]

Well, Beatdrop was kind enough to share this mix with me months ago, and I have been enjoying it ever since. As DJP said in the intro, it took me a few listens before I really got into it, but once I got into it I loved it.

The progressions are well thought out, as there always seems to be the perfect amount of time between them all. The sharp builds lead very well into the sudden drops and I really enjoy the middle section (1:45ish-2:20ish). The eerie beeps and synthetic laughter always manage to make me smile. The ending works very well too. I'm usually not a fan of a quick conclusion. It often feels tagged on and too fast. But in this case it works very well with the final build, working up the power of the music and then silencing it completly.

But the greatest thing about this track? I am not familiar with the original in any way shape or form (I'm still looking for this game as I only got a Genesis three years ago). Yet I love it still.

While I have to agree with Eccles and say that this isn't BD's best work, I must also follow that up with "it's pretty damn good".

[Kamikaze Noodle]

While not bad by any means, this song doesn't exactly kick me in the pants. It pulls off what it wants to achieve, and for that I give it credit. Sample quality is a bit "meh" but you can't really fault someone for that. The beginning is fine, no qualms. But at 0:54 the song takes a big fall for me. Without any harmony it seems more like notes just...playing. Not too interesting a listen as the notes also seem to play disjointedly. And while the lead at the first fast section is awesome, I think some more harmony would have helped the fast section seem more "energized". 1:42 - 2:08 is just the bassline, by itself. Prett bland in my opinion. After the strings come in though, the song becomes more interesting and much tighter in terms of direction. The final fast parts are my favorite part of the song, thanks to the use of tons of background sounds. It makes for a great climax And the ending is sweet, with the wind blowin and stuff.
I think with more work and better samples this could've been awesome, but with such sparseness and a strangely "flat" sound over the whole song (almost like it needs more "body") I'm just not diggin' it...

[Fray]

I think this mix is really great. I've only listened to it twice so far, and I liked it both times :P It's very creative, and as someone mentioned earlier, it has an incredible ending. My only gripe is that the synth at 0:55 sounds really weak by itself. But otherwise this is innovative, atmospheric, cool music. It's adventurous, but still enjoyable to listen to.

Fray.

[Eccles]

On second thoughts I get the impression my write-up was a little too harsh.
So Im confirming what Kamikaze noodle says...
Its not a bad track, I just really dont like it

[Epsilon]

This level in the game used to scare the crap out of me when i was little, you know trying to keep the lights on in the temple or else the ghosts would getcha? Well whatever I thought it was a great song, yes it is a little lowkey but it's befitting of the level in the game. I personally think its a great remix of that song in particular

[Ytmh]

How this got accepted is beyond me, but then again, not like getting accepted means anything nowadays.

[Disco Dan]

How this got accepted is beyond me, but then again, not like getting accepted means anything nowadays.

Hmm... yeah, I probably should have listened to this one beforehand. Oh well. Can't win 'em all.

D

[endblink]

I dig it.

It's different, yet, quality.

Change is good.
How this got accepted is beyond me, but then again, not like getting accepted means anything nowadays.This is just asinine.

[sgx]

Hmmm. I dig. Always up for something creative, and this is just that. Diggin it...(wait, already said that). Likin it. Cool lead synth.

[Ytmh]

Well, sorry I didn't go into a 7 page long dissection of the song just to say I didn't like it. I think it saves us all time and page space if I'm just bluntly objective. :)

[Dj Orange]

Meh. Didn't like it. But then again, I'm prejudice against Sonic remixes (the notable exception being Love Hurts), because I despise the "classic" Sonic games, and their soundtracks.

I think Beatdrop needs some new ideas for intros. Many of his mixes seem to begin with wind effects and wind-like atmospheric pads. Examples: CT Ruined Landscape, and that FFMQ Mountain Squaredance "too late" remix thingy.

This is like of Systemaniac's remix of the Black Mage theme (FF9), but with less energy.

[DrumUltimA]

This level in the game used to scare the crap out of me when i was little, you know trying to keep the lights on in the temple or else the ghosts would getcha?

I hated Sandopolis Zone because:
1. Too frikken long
2. Impossible to find any giant rings
3. Scary ghosts

But I liked the music. Especially for act two, when the bass line became much more loud, deep, and driven. I was even thinking that it would be fun to write a remix of it (of course it would be a midi, which means there's no way I'd ever get it on the site >P). Even though this was act one, I still liked it alot. I mean, it was quite slow, and possibly a tad bit boring at times, but it had a certain level of coolness to it. And then when the tempo change came and it went faster, the coolness turned to energy and got me pumped. It was really cool; I could tell from the beginning that this was a song you either love or hate, but I love it =D

[Beatdrop]

I think Beatdrop needs some new ideas for intros. Many of his mixes seem to begin with wind effects and wind-like atmospheric pads. Examples: CT Ruined Landscape, and that FFMQ Mountain Squaredance "too late" remix thingy.

Haha, you know, it's funny you should say that, because I was just thinking the same thing about a week ago when listening to some of my other songs. I did it on this one, and Ruined Landscape, and then I had crickets in the intro of my Super Thunderblade remix... and I can't remember for sure whose idea it was for the wind in the FFMQ song, but it really makes sense in that one anyway.

Anyway, a couple of things about this remix:

I do agree with some people in that it's a bit sparse, but that was mostly intentional since I wanted it to be sort of creepy and deserted, just like the level. In all honesty, after a couple of weeks while this was on the panel, even I started to wonder if maybe I should have just submitted something better and left this one out, but I've been meaning to do this song for a long time (actually completed another slower version, but scrapped it and started anew after I realized I couldn't figure out how to change it to make it longer and more interesting) and decided to go ahead with it anyway.

I can't remember for sure (and I can't check at the moment), but I think I used some of the default FL4 drum samples because the fit the sound I was looking for (and some of the newer samples aren't all that bad). The synth lead during the faster parts is WASP, the FM synths are all mda DX10 (pretty much the same thing as Fruity DX10, but without the snazzy graphical interface), and that's about all I can specifically remember off hand.

The tempo changes are only a difference of about 15 bpms or so as far as I can remember, but the drums shift into cut time to make it seem a lot faster than that.

Uhhh... and that's about it. I'm not sure (since I can't access my hard drive from here in Iowa :?), but I don't think I have anything really new ready for submission. However, DDR fans might be glad to know that I'm thinking of remixing something from the game, possibly AM-3P or maybe Healing Vision if I'm feeling extremely inspired.

[Sonic]

Soo close yet so far. IMO the only thing keeping me from liking this song is the fact that most of it is too slow. The only section of the song that I liked is from 01:21 to 01:41 when it gave me the hope that the rest of the song would go at a pace that would keep me interested in the song. Unfortunatly it would return to its slow pace and before the song is even over it was ruined for me. If it was at a constant medium or high pace then it would have been a remix to rival that of JiveMaster's.

[frobnitz]

I think it's really good, the bass line is really great, that stands out the most, as I see it. I give it a 4/5.

Someone earlier said that the 55' synth is weak by itself, but I think it sounds pretty dern good

[Klondike]

Beatdrop, doing Healing Vision would be astounding. Would it be too much to ask for you to do the Angelic Mix version of it? AM-3P would also be pretty excellent.

Anyway, this remix made me go back and listen to the original Sandopolis songs, and they have more merit than I originally gave them credit for...they had good melodies. I don't know that I really feel that in this, though. It takes close to a minute and a half to get to the actual melody, where it takes center stage only briefly before dissolving back into incoherent atmosphere again. It just doesn't keep the coherence of the melody for long enough for me to like this mix. But, it got me to listen to the originals, so that is pretty awesome.

[NightWish]

In full context, this remix sounds quite funky and that must be what Beatdrop wanted to accomplish. At times sounding like something straight out of a videogame (in terms of simplistic melodies and scratchy effects of the music quality), sometimes sounding like a funky backdrop of a rap music (near the middle, there's a nice beat reminiscent of a cool little jazz/rap melody), and at times it started sounding ORCHESTRAL!

My only gripe is how the mix ends a bit abruptly, but that's only a little gripe.

I can't quite put a finger on categorizing this remix into a particular category like trance, rap-theme, pure techno and such, and that's the biggest compliment there is for this remix so far as I'm concerned.

Fun little mix to say the least!

[bLiNd]

Love the tempo changin, choice of timbres = unique and tasteful. Good fx and arrangement is THA BSET EVAR

great job d00d

[..........]

It's very interesting.

The only thing keeping me from loving it, as it has been mentioned, is that it's so slow and... empty... at times. It does sound more like background music than something you would listen to by itself.

I'm still liking it, I'll keep it. (It takes a lot for me not to like a song anyway)

EDIT: I remembered wise words I heard once -

If you don't like a song, turn it up (repeat as needed).

- so I did and I'm loving it! The bass seems so much cooler.

I recommend listening to this one with the volume up high.

[Mr_44]

Well, sorry I didn't go into a 7 page long dissection of the song just to say I didn't like it. I think it saves us all time and page space if I'm just bluntly objective. :)

You'd save us even more time and page space if you simply didn't speak. :roll:

Now that that's out of the way, on to the mix! I like this one a lot. I particularly like the minimal sound it has. Sometimes it's too tempting to keep piling on sounds until none of the individual parts can be fully appreciated. In the first 13 seconds I thought I was listening to a Throbbing Gristle song, and then I was reminded of the new cEvin Key/Ken Marshall album The Dragon Experience (those are both complients, btw :wink: ). If you were considering revisiting this tune at any point, my only suggestion would be to stave off your impatience and evolve the groove instead of speeding it up. On the other hand, the fast parts are catchy, so that would be a tough call. Maybe it could become a two-part remix? You could use a drug theme... part one: k-hole, part two: tweaking. Ok, i'm just rambing now.

Good mix, Beatdrop!

[Nobbynob Littlun]

My normal complaint with Beatdrop's songs is that they lack the kind of polish that I prefer - I'm not much of a minimalist person, I like when there are lots of things to listen to at one time. However this song is so goofy and whimsical, with liberal use of whatever pleases, I cannot help but love it! If the workings of my mind were to be put into music, it would likely sound like a cross between this and Adhesive Boy's "Da Phunky Forest".

[mattyrb]

I've been going through all of the sonic remixes over the past few hours and i have to say this one stuck out like a sore thumb. I love the build ups that are followed by an amazing groove that just hammers the hell out of the speakers.

I'm sure giving this one the thumbs up approval!

[nodspaw51]

Wow, this is one of those songs you dont have to previously know to like. The tempo change always gets me all hyped. Nice job with the end I like that the best...

[Nys SOB]

I'm having mixed thoughts about this mix (no pun intended). On the one hand, the instruments and SFX keep that creepy Egyptian feeling. On the other hand, the slow tempo for most of the song takes away from the feeling that it's a Sonic song. It also sounds a little uncoordinated.

It's OK, but it needs work in a few areas.

Also:
This level in the game used to scare the crap out of me when i was little, you know trying to keep the lights on in the temple or else the ghosts would getcha?

I hated Sandopolis Zone because:
1. Too frikken long
2. Impossible to find any giant rings
3. Scary ghosts

Yes, the ghosts were scary, at first (I tried to avoid opening that capsule as Sonic for the first few times), until you remember the jumping and lever pulling paterns for the level. But I do remember that there are at least 2 giant rings in act 1 and one in act 2. All I can remember is that you should be going higher than the game makes you think you should.

The only thing I really hated about Sandopolis was the boss for Knuckles. For those of you who never played S&K, the Knuckles story line is shorter than Sonic's, about 2 zones shorter. To make up for this, it seems the designers decided to make the bosses for Knuckles harder. If you ever manage to get the game, by the time you get Knuckles to the Sandopolis boss(who, by the way, moves twice as fast as the one Sonic fights), you'll see what I mean.

[DistantJ]

The slow tempo tends to make the song drag a little, and can sometimes make it hard to recgonise the tune. It'd fit nicely in a videogame as an "Act 2", or a RARE style remix theme, as it works better when you're more familiar with the theme. The end is the point where this mix gets good though, when it starts to speed up. It's a shame the song had to end so soon after the speedup.

[Error 404 KMA]

What an utterly brilliant piece of work. Delightful contrast between instruments, excellent bass line running through the background, and a suitably scrumptious "Indiana Jones meets the Sacrificial Altar" eerie-yet-addictive mood running throughout. My personal favourite remix I've heard on the site so far. Playing Sandopolis Zone in time with it on the keyboard, I couldn't stop moving it was so catchy. I especially liked the sudden increment of tempo at the "C; C; B; B; A-flat; A; B;" bit. Excellent. I'd say about... 9.5/10 =P

[jordex]

Dang I love when the song speeds up but it quickly goes away

The slow part isn't bad, its just too long, most of the song should be at that faster tempo

Anyways yeah, great at some parts. The slow parts not actually that bad, it's just not what you're looking for if you're looking for "trippy"

=)

[Pip is uh.....]

Man oh man this is nice. I dig how ambient and moody this track is. It feels like your in some damp cave or somethin. Of course the beats are great. The track has an excellent flow to it. It's great stuff.

[Jemnisimi]

I think the change of pace is the musical portrayal of the lights going out in Sandopolis Zone 2. I didn't really think about it until I noticed some of the beat sounds were very reminiscent of the 'levers' you push to make the lights turn back on, and from there was drawn back in time, imagining the ghosts which became more violent as the lights dimmed more, making you wanna rush rush rush to get to the next lever.

This mix really made me smile. Creativity aside, I caught myself tapping my foot more than once. Yay!

*boogie*

[Bummerdude]

Well this is obviously different from Beatdrop's Catapult (http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR01393/), but this one was also made two years before that. At first I thought that Beatdrop actually was going to do something calm and ambient, since this castle is so damp, but at many places in the arrangement, that wasn't the case.
The turns might've been to sudden or simply too different. If you switch to a different melody perhaps, but this is two different music styles. I like what you did with the beginning, some bass and a silent sitra laying in irs loneliness, then BOOOooooommmm....it changes style to calm again. It's like if it cannot decide if it's gonna be relaxing and deep or fast and jumpy.

I liked the part that began at 2:35, since the strings and the sitra worked well together and created this ancient feel to this arrangement, and when the synth appeared it went alot more smooth than the previous time. But when it went a level higher, it didn't smooth anymore, and the it suddenly started to fade and that was the end of it.

Nice remix, no questions, but it was more like two remixes in the same arrangement that argued of which one of them that would take the lead.

[darkmelee]

This is definitely one that NEEDS to grow on you. I was very fond of the feel, but the "whimsical" bit do tend to make it rather...uhhh...odd? i've had renditions of this song in my head before, but i never quite cross THAT many lines...not that it's a bad piece, don't get me wrong. it's actually quite awesome. Like...a LOT. It's just not my perfectionistic taste, but it's cool to listen to, nonetheless. Kudos.

[KogeJoe]

This work was pretty cool.

The one thing I found annoying, however, was the tempo changes... Until then it was quite relaxing to listen to. I can actually picture being out on a hot desert listening to this...

[42]

Eh... no.
If this mix was a sine wave, the period of it would change occasionally, but a sine wave is still a lazy, lolling sine wave.
Also the echo effects on some of the notes feel very poorly implemented.
While one has to be an active listener for this track, I feel it's for the wrong reasons. I don't really recommend this track.

[OA]

definitely a unique take on the source. I found it really interesting, and while I can see where the mixed reviews are coming from, I found it to be a pretty sweet track overall. I love when creative risks are taken, and there are plenty in this track that paid off.

Nice work. :-)

[Level 99]

I wasn't really captured from the first minute or so of the song, not that it was really bad. It just seemed very bland, and does seem bland until some of the drums, FX, and speed change at 1:20. Even then, there's really nothing that sticks out and grabs me. It's adequate, but just overall, I guess I was anticipating some more. I did like the echoes of some of the snare hits and the way it switched up and back and then up again at the end, but overall, this wasn't my bag.

[Skinner3D]

The tempo changes in this song are the major focal point. As a couple of other people have mentioned I think it was done on purpose. :mrgreen: The actual game level was slightly frustrating because of lights, and doors that only stayed on/open for a limited amount of time. This remix reflects that and the underground feel really well. :)

[Crulex]

At least the ReMix kept up with the feel of the zone with the tempo changes. No, seriously, I think that is what is best about this ReMix. Starting off with a deep beat and then the tempo changing into a more frantic "ghosts appearing and the pyramid getting darker" feel before going right back into the "hit the light switch, all is cool now" feeling. As much as I hate Sandopolis Zone, this ReMix is something I can't even frown at, being so good.