OCR01172 - Secret of Mana 'Return to Elysian Lands'

[djpretzel]

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

[Trenthian]

::drool::

and its not just cause its orchestral.


man, emotive as all hell.
very very good arranging
there are time swhen it screams "im synthy," but thats okay, its very adaptative in this vibe that it should sound like this.


very surreal texture to a lot of it, and a completely enjoyable listen, DL now cause the man says so.


(is this Squid font? if so, I have never heard a better usage of those samples... like DEAR GOD! thats some amazing sequencing for squid.)

[Arian]

This is really nice work, you can hear the effort and love that went into it. I give this guy a big thumbs up![/img][/b]

[Drugski]

I like it, nuff said

EDIT: I like it alot actually, for those that haven't downloaded it. Do so NOW!

[Isk]

wonderful piece! glad to see it posted here as well; as many people as possible should listen to it.

[killgott]

This song is amazing! OMG sounds just like a movie score!

[Oddity]

This is pretty good (like a few aspects), but like GrayLightning said in the judge forum, his originals are better. His MysticalLand sounds a lot like The Great Gianna Sisters.

EDIT: His longer originals are better. There are a lot of short minute-ish ones, but those are in the older section it would seem. The latest 4 and most of the later ones make me think the rest in the future are going to be long and good. Maybe one day I'll be able to make a CD =) So you have to agree even though you don't like spending long on arrangements it sure makes you more well known.

[Nigel Simmons]

:D

[ella guro]

There is some nice work here done in making this sound like an actual orchestra, and the samples are all very good except for the percussion, yet the arrangement gives me a kind of ehh feeling in the end. It never seems to be very fulfilling - it's kind of anticlimactic, and the parts are mostly sparse and conservative. I really wish it would build to an intense climax, but it always seems like it's just on the edge and never quite gets there.

Still, the sound you've got is definitely right (minus the percussion). I just think the parts are all fairly conservative and almost hesitant to build up to something. It needs to be expanded into further territory and take some more risks. Otherwise, as I said before, it's kind of unfulfilling in the end.

[risingson77]

Yes...oh yes.

I love it. This is the dreamy/surreal mix this piece needs. I almost don't like the crescendos (if that's the word). I could just listen to that one mist refrain in the opening over and over... :)

[xamgis]

Excellent! Very moving. Nice work.

[willow-whisp]

Epic... moving...

This will inspire me for a good long while.

THANK YOU for doing this theme justice.

[Shhteve]

This piece most definitely sends me off to a faraway landscape as I listen to it. Although very dreamy, I'm not too impressed with it unfortunately. It is a great piece, but in my opinion I have heard much better remixes. *Shrug* :(

[Xatos]

I simply love the original song and this is my favourite remix of it so..
..i love it too!:)

[Anonymous]

Eh, it's above average, but there are just way too many remixes of this song.

[Nase]

so what, i can listen to this theme forever and ever!

it loops quite nicely. maybe thats why the ending is so sudden?

[tgfoo]

I'm using the Vienna Strings samples and a bunch of Miroslav.

That would explain why the strings sounds so good. My only wish (can't really call it a complaint, this song is too pretty sounding to complain about) is that there was more brass in it so that we got more of a full orchestra sound as opposed to the string orchestra with some woodwinds. Either way, this is really good.

[Keii]

Three seconds into the remix I basically had to compose myself so as to avoid an immediate seizure. Mana was my first RPG, and to this day the mysticism and majesty of that world holds tight with me, and this remix carries on that spirit strong. This remix just draws you right into the title scene, the majesty of that gigantic tree, the backstory of destruction and rebirth rolling on slowly, and I'll be damned when those bells ring I can see flocks of those pink birds fluttering across a majestic forest with sunlight peeking through the boughs of the mana tree. Utterly fantastic, here.
I could imagine this done to a fully animated opening with a quality so high it'd put Studio Ghibli to shame. Bravo, man.

[MrNemo]

This is one hell of a remix. One of the best symphonic mixes I've heard on OC Remix to be honest. The arrangement is just stellar. I am partial to movie scores and this definitely delivers. The mix and arrangement is so well done that my brain basically accepts the strings as the real thing. The timpani sounds really sweet. Quality, man, this is quality work.

[Namnesor]

This remix reminds me a lot of a Final Fantasy Tactics song, and that is a very good thing, as Tactics had some of the best music ever, in my opinion. The gentle swaying of the song going up and down is extremely soothing. I never get bored of this.

[Wallace Guyford]

When I first heard this, I was kind of unimpressed and I and I almost deleted it, but I am not sure why I didn't.
But I am sure glad I didn't. This, like many of my favorite tracks, took more than a first impression for me to fall in love with it. Once I listened to it more, it grew on me, and I realized that the different, more minimalist tone was not a fault.
I like to listen to this mostly when I am drifting off to sleep, and it's very moving. Especially at 1:13 all the way to 2:00, and then at 2:59 to 3:13 it just gives me a very serene feeling and I envision the most beautiful things. It gives me a feeling not unlike the kind you have when you are looking at someone you have a crush on. A feeling of longing and admiration, of utmost beauty.
It's very smooth, mellow, peaceful and dreamy, and that doesn't make it bad. I love that it's more minimalistic, I love the chords that drift in and out like gentle waves. Remarkable work. Great job. I recommend you listen to it a bit more and try to be detached from other things when you do if you did not like it at first.

[Angelus Laminarum]

This is truly beautiful, Nigel. I love the epic feel to this entire piece. There is a sense of nature, almost, within this. The song would fit perfectly to wandering through a lush forest, peaceful, yet grand. Powerful... yet tender.

Not to mention that it loops flawlessly. Put the song to be the only one on the list, and set your player to repeat. It's just... wow...

Awesome job, Mr. Simmons.

P.S. I'm now a Red Mage. :wink: Better than an Eggplant Wizard, anyday.

[Nigel Simmons]

Hey, thanks a lot! I don't know if you'll ever see this, but hey. :D

[RimFrost the Tourianist]

Hey, thanks a lot! I don't know if you'll ever see this, but hey. :D

Bumped it for you :wink:

Excellent song btw. I was moved by it also..it could have fit in a movie soundtrack anyday.

[Bummerdude]

Agrees with pretzel and Rimfrost, this can as easy as pie be the music to the movie of this game. This is a majestic piece, the strings and flutes goes up and down like a wave, and gets continuously pushed up by the have drums and cymbals. I'm very familiar with the melody, it does sound good in orchestral form.

This is gold.

[Kozmo]

Beautiful. Epic. I could listen to this song forever. It has the power to conjure such images and the momentum carries me away everytime i listen to it. Immpeccably made. I am very fond of the strings, especially when there is a simple chord between a lower sound and an upper sound. Extremely impressive, Nigel.

[42]

Agrees with pretzel and Rimfrost, this can as easy as pie be the music to the movie of this game.

Agreed. This is worthy of being on the big screen, and I can't believe this mix has been hidden away in the archives of OCR for so long.

Very calming, peaceful, deep and complicated, sweepingly majestic, very awesome and a must download. Awesome indeed. :-)

[OA]

Really really nice- beautiful swells and a great atmosphere. Some of the transitions were well thought out, but not 100% executed cleanly, but it's a fantastic piece regardless. The arrangement itself is pretty subtle, but definitely lends a lot of emotion to the original.

Strongly Recommended.

[vasudean]

A really beautiful piece of music. It gives an air of an epic story being told. During the swells, it really captures the senses. This is my personal favorite song on this website. Bravo Nigel Simmons. Bravo.

[Liontamer]

Still a very nice listen after all these years. Very chill; great energy here. The resolution was too sudden, but other than that, I'd love to hear this performed live, that's for sure. Nigel's got great material, both arrangements and originals.