ReMix: Pac-Man 'Raveinthemirrormaze'

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Game: Pac-Man (Namco, 1980, ARC)
ReMixer(s): Franz Keller
Composer(s): Toshio Kai
Song(s): 'Start Music'
Posted: 2000-11-02, evaluated by djpretzel

Hey, hey - bring it on! One of the hardest things about ReMixing really old games like frogger and pacman is that the 'music' was really only a few notes played at the beginning of each stage. In other words, there ain't much to work with as far as putting together a substantial ReMix goes. Yet that's just what Franz Keller has done with this great techno-rave take on that brief-but-famous Pacman intro theme. A lot of delay effects, some analogue-type 'chirpy' sounds, and excellent ambience and attention to processing make this one a definite keeper. Notice how he alters certain notes of the major-scale theme to minor to give it that 'rave' feel. Very well done, and not an easy 'song' to take on.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

While the sound samples and the instrumentation could use some updating, I found that I enjoyed this remix. Nice job!

- MechaFone on December 19, 2010

While showing its age , music-wise , it was a good rendition of something simple and repetitive. The first few minutes or so seemed a tad dark for a pac-man game , almost sounded like something that should have been in Resident Evil or Silent Hill. Much like being able to build a shelter from scraps of nothing , this song does deliver considering what it is based from.
I'm one of those people who don't mind a song created for nostalgia's sake or for "up to your interpretation" so this song doesn't bother me. While simple , I did enjoy the choir-like background during it all. Added to the creepy ghost-hunting , pellet chomping theme of it all.

- Mini-Mal on January 7, 2010

Considering what source material is worked with here, this is pretty cool - wish the production was more up to date, but eh, this is an old song.

- Bahamut on January 7, 2010

If there was such a thing as "gentle" four on the floor, this would be the embodiment of that style. The arrangement is simple, yet it has a lot of layers behind it. Nothing stands out, but nothing is too quiet. It's got a nice balance to it and it's easy on the ears! The repetitive nature of the track gets a little grating, but on the whole, it's a nice piece. Again, for something done 9 years ago, it blows anything I could have done back then out of the water!

- tweek on October 13, 2009

This really is a crazy remix that has lots of things going on which i liked and the sound effects were great but did get up my nose by the end.

- metalsnakejuice on April 19, 2009

I'm impressed what was done to the very short melody of the original. Not crazy about the mix itself, but it's cool to see what was done to really expand the source. Weird, kind of annoying, but interpretive.

- DragonAvenger on December 7, 2008

For a Pac Man remix this is pretty interprative and it makes it a lot more interesting to listen to. Some of the sound effects got a bit annoying by the end of the mix, but everything else works well enough. The production seems a little crowded, and could have been given a little more space, but the idea is sound.
This rave style music is perfect for a game where you run around in the dark chomping down pills.

- OA on April 18, 2007

Nice arrangement for being a remix of Pacman, Keller has pulled all of his strings to make something like this, but although it mentions rave in the title, it could have been more of it. It's still a very decent remix since it has good variation between synths and beats, and the occational moments of less commotion contributes quite well. However, the bright synth began to bug after a while, so it didn't work for me. Nevertheless, it's a good remix, and I found the idea of having screams in the arrangement funny.:D Nice work FK.

- Bummerdude on January 7, 2006

I think this strayed a little too far from the original. It just seems a little too... dark for Pac-Man. Still the music isn't that bad. 6/10

- Lord Veovis on April 4, 2004

This Mix is a little too active for my liking. The 4 or 5 melodies from the game really shouldnt be overlayed like that. And as always, repetivity is a problem. However, I think that is hard to avoid, so kudos on making a mix of this game at all. I couldn't do it.
-chth

- chthonic on February 8, 2003

Sounds like a less chaotic (and thankfully shorter) version of Aphex Twin's 'Pacman Powerpill'.
I like. Two thumbs up.

- endblink on August 28, 2002

hey, folks, the name of the game is fun. granted, i can't sit here and just sorta listen to it, i gotta get drunk and dance. that's fun.
so instead of harping on it, i say enjoy it as camp. i bet franz keller submitted this song just to be zany anyway. fun.

- MB on August 28, 2002

I noticed a couple o sounds that appear in other remixes.
There just seemed to be too much going on for pretty much the whole of the remix. Still, a fair attempt for a song consisting of about 10 notes.

- Eccles on July 14, 2002

I'm gonna have to go with the fact that this mix kinda made me laugh...just the intro sounded soooo silly, I just kinda chuckled to myself when I heard it. Nevertheless, I like it....I don't see anything really wrong with the Pac Man theme...although if you listen to it over and over for days, you do get to the point of throwing something...or someone...:D

- skawttieboy on June 22, 2002

Im not much of a fan for rave, but like the Pac-Man theme to its extents. I never really got hooked on the game so it never really got on my nervers, although I could see why being its only like 8 notes long...the ambience here sounded kind of out of plave, and the "chirping", as DJP put it, just anoyed me. I didnt enjoy this song at all...I give it a 4/10 (sry).

- krispy on June 10, 2002