ReMix: Mega Man 2 'Crash Test Dummy Man'
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- Game: Mega Man 2 (Capcom, 1988, NES)
- ReMixer(s): A_Rival
- Composer(s): Manami Matsumae, Takashi Tateishi
- Song(s): 'Crash Man Stage'
- Posted: 2002-01-19, evaluated by djpretzel
AE scares me. Not only can he give people (ok, me) the slapdown in Street Fighter Alpha, but he creates drum tracks that are works of absolute art. Proving that FruityLoops alone is a very viable musical platform, AE's legacy of MegaMan tracks should have included this piece a long time ago, but it slipped through the cracks. Crashman gets the royal treatment, with some of the trickiest programming on the block. AE is one electronic artist that refuses to let any element go unmodulated, bended, filtered, phased, flanged, etc. for too long, and it shows in the tremendous energy and vitality his pieces have. Highlights? Too many too list - check out the funky dummer bit at 2'40", the numerous consecutive tricks & flips from 2'00" to 2'10". . . hell, just check the whole piece. This one's a lot of fun and laden with ear candy galore. Given that the team behind FruityLoops have been adding all sorts of improvements lately, including a soundfont player, one can only wonder what the future holds in store. Fabulous.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the well, his name may be Rockman, but his music has always been
electronic. and this mix reflects that excellently. I love this
track and it is a statement of the longevity of it's sound.
- Daemos on April 2, 2012
- Daemos on April 2, 2012
It's a pretty simple approach to the source arrangement-wise, but
this mix is largely all about technique, unique sounds bouncing off
one another, layered textures and a driving beat. The entire
equation results in a very interesting sonic whirlwind that feels
longer than it is, but doesn't overstay its welcome.
I do think that despite the large amount of gradual variation in sound and idea, the mix teeters close to the 'repetitious loop' effect due to the lack of expansion in arrangement. But once you grasp that this is a conservative interpretation of a theme that is effectively used to showcase some intricate glitchy wizardry goodness... my ears are at peace once more.
As it stands, its one of the more enlightened remakes around.
- Marmiduke on February 14, 2012
I do think that despite the large amount of gradual variation in sound and idea, the mix teeters close to the 'repetitious loop' effect due to the lack of expansion in arrangement. But once you grasp that this is a conservative interpretation of a theme that is effectively used to showcase some intricate glitchy wizardry goodness... my ears are at peace once more.
As it stands, its one of the more enlightened remakes around.
- Marmiduke on February 14, 2012
Love the opening of this! He really creates the tone well with his
synth choices. Same classic synth sound all around. This track
shows his growth as an arranger a bit more as he has more
counterpoint written in this piece that he has in past pieces. Very
good! Lots of filter automation, bit crushing, stuttering,
glitching goodness in this one. The funk drums at 2:45 were
interesting. The groove of them didn't feel as solid as his
previous groove, but that's personal preference on my part. The
ending was abrupt, but it worked well for this piece.
- tweex on August 6, 2010
- tweex on August 6, 2010
Funky with a great groove, I really liked this one.
Excellent balance, great synths, and a fantastic beat. Great variation, and great progression, and a surprising but very well executed ending.
Production is pretty clean and there is a lot of strutting energy on this one. Very nice stuff.
This mix is over 6 years old now, and it still holds up amazingly well today, which very few of it's peers can claim.
Songs like this are why AE is one of the most highly regarded of the earliest remixers.
Excellent work. :-)
- OA on April 22, 2008
Excellent balance, great synths, and a fantastic beat. Great variation, and great progression, and a surprising but very well executed ending.
Production is pretty clean and there is a lot of strutting energy on this one. Very nice stuff.
This mix is over 6 years old now, and it still holds up amazingly well today, which very few of it's peers can claim.
Songs like this are why AE is one of the most highly regarded of the earliest remixers.
Excellent work. :-)
- OA on April 22, 2008
What can I say? AE has a natural talent at remixing Mega Man music,
great job.
- Psychotic Ninja on January 27, 2006
- Psychotic Ninja on January 27, 2006
Quasikaotic wrote: I think it's great to try to leave responses of constructive criticism for people in order for them to improve. But to go on this website, download the (FREE) songs by a particular artist, and then bitch about how he should work harder because you don't happen to like the style he's using in his excellent remixes is total bullshit. Artists like AE don't have to submit songs to this site, they do it because it's fun and because they want to share their creations with other fans that might enjoy it. To go on these boards and be so disrespectful and rude pretty much invites people who actually APPRECIATE the work that goes into thes songs to basically say "If you don't like it, then please go away." Take your negative attitude and your similarly negative comments somewhere where they are more deserved and perhaps tolerated, and don't try and just shit on some of the best remixes on this site just because they don't happen to tickle your fancy.
Nobody's forcing you to like these songs, but if you don't, then have a little more respect than to go around bitching about them. As for AE working harder, I think it is the general consensus on this site that he's one of the least lazy (and most resourceful) remixers around here, and does a great deal of justice to the MegaMan songs. Of course you don't have to agree. But in a place where aspiring artists give their stuff out for free at least have the common decency to talk about the artists and their work with a little respect.
Right on bro, but unfortunately this is a remixforum, which automatically gives people the reason to either criticize or encourage, Riku criticized. It´s nice of you to give the remixers view of this, but just because AE does this voluntarily, it doesn´t mean he can´t get some points about hos way to remix.
Sure, sometimes there are just minor subjects that soemone sure can work out, but if someone just don´t like his work? He doesn´t really have to care. Maybe if a majority was against him, maybe then, but now we both know that that´s not the case. That´s the way of life.
You get both shit and praise for what you do, it´s up to you to care or not. But good that at least someone defended AE, we all must have a part to explain why our remixers rules in a certain way.
ByeBye.
EDIT: Darn it, forgot to review the remix.
It had nice techno touch to it, AE is quite familiar with that specific region. The synths was alright, although some of the choices got annoying when they temporarily showed up, but that´s a minor detail. The track was very good, just like pretzeldude pointed out himself, but now I can clarify it. Alltogether, if we adds cool synths and beats, divides with annoying noises and multiplies with the awesome drumtrack, we get as a result a great remix dudes!
Rock on, AE.
- Bummer on November 13, 2005
...just continues to impress me. Another xlnt mix. Need I say
more?
By the way...AE's Bubbleman ReMix is still playing in my head :roll:
- muzikal-phoenix on August 24, 2005
By the way...AE's Bubbleman ReMix is still playing in my head :roll:
- muzikal-phoenix on August 24, 2005
AE is one of the most talented remixers on OC Remix. We're all
entitled to our opinions, but I engineer professionally, and his
MIXES continue to amaze me, and this song eludes any valid
criticism. This tune, like all of his others, is remarkable in
every way.
- MrNemo on August 23, 2004
- MrNemo on August 23, 2004
Here's what we should do. We should have AE finish up the rest of
the Megaman 2 soundtrack (he's already halfway there), then patch
the music into a ROM and listen to all of AE's mixes instead of the
game music. Just a perfect job on here, just like all the others.
- Krendall on April 22, 2004
- Krendall on April 22, 2004
Riku wrote: Electronica doesn't work for Megaman.
AHAHAHAHA. Im sorry, electronica works for megaman. It is just meant to be that way, im so sorry to tell you this, but it just is.
- Julio Jose on April 22, 2004
Riku wrote: Electronica doesn't work for Megaman.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but uh...don't most of the original megaman tracks fall under the electronica category? BTW If you can't at least respect the massive skill envolved in any AE remix, even if you don't like the song, then you've got problems indeed.
AE straight [b]destroys[/b] anything he touches. And I mean that in that in street slang for "owns." Nuff said.
- metaphist on April 22, 2004
9/10 I love the way AE works with the rhythms on this one. That
thing at 1:20-1:21 just blows me away. I found it easy to get into
and easy to feel.
- fisherman on April 4, 2003
- fisherman on April 4, 2003
mDuo wrote:
That's usually because people are so blown away that they have little to no constructive criticism to give. :wink: That being said, looove the arrangement! Although it's a little more mellow than I would've expected from AE (especially after hearing StainlessSteel), it's still a really fun tune!
Riku wrote:
Okay, first off, if you really wanna hear something that close to the original tune, dust off your NES and play some Mega Man 2. The point of a remix is to give the original song new life through new sound. Second, the reason people add variations and tweaks to the original tune in their remixes is a little thing called artistic expression, through which you make the song yours by jamming along with it in your own way. Third, not to be a dick, but if you can't catch the original tune in any of AE's works, you've got a horrible, HORRIBLE ear for music. And finally, if electronica doesn't work for Mega Man, what would... POLKA??? (Don't even think about it, McV... I don't wanna get hooked on a polka song. :lol: ) Mega Man's a robot. Electronica's what's been playing in Mega Man games since day one. What you said makes NO SENSE.
- GlockMonkey on November 13, 2002
I can't believe how little attention AE seems to get in the reviews department for a ReMixer of his calibur...
That's usually because people are so blown away that they have little to no constructive criticism to give. :wink: That being said, looove the arrangement! Although it's a little more mellow than I would've expected from AE (especially after hearing StainlessSteel), it's still a really fun tune!
Riku wrote:
A whole lotta n00bish.
Okay, first off, if you really wanna hear something that close to the original tune, dust off your NES and play some Mega Man 2. The point of a remix is to give the original song new life through new sound. Second, the reason people add variations and tweaks to the original tune in their remixes is a little thing called artistic expression, through which you make the song yours by jamming along with it in your own way. Third, not to be a dick, but if you can't catch the original tune in any of AE's works, you've got a horrible, HORRIBLE ear for music. And finally, if electronica doesn't work for Mega Man, what would... POLKA??? (Don't even think about it, McV... I don't wanna get hooked on a polka song. :lol: ) Mega Man's a robot. Electronica's what's been playing in Mega Man games since day one. What you said makes NO SENSE.
- GlockMonkey on November 13, 2002
