ReMix: Super R-Type 'Solitary Flight 2002'
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- Game: Super R-Type (Irem, 1991, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Beatdrop
- Composer(s): Charlie Y.K., Hiroshi Kimura, Takushi Hiyamuta
- Song(s): 'Solo Sortie'
- Posted: 2002-03-01, evaluated by djpretzel
I love the R-Type series. From the original, to the SNES incarnation, and also R-Type Delta, I've always felt it offered a really unique and classic approach to 2d side-scrolling shooters. Got the same vibe the first time I played Thunderforce II on the Sega Genesis. This series definitely needed coverage, and it looks like Beatdrop was the man to do it.
Discussion: Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the Well, I'm not going to take any fades into consideration, but I
will try and listen carefully and make judgement.
The real problem is, like a fair chunk of Beatdrop's mixes back then, the bass tends to sit really awkwardly; for me it tends to be doing way too much even for what can be considered an electronica song, and even then the arrangement stays really close to the source material and is riddled with off-time percussion writing (particularly at 2:15). I would've even preferred a different instrument for the melodic section other than pizzicatos as well as it just comes off as unrealistic and doesn't fit in with the rest of the instrumentation.
To be fair, the only good thing I can see that's going for it is in regards to some of the synth processing; it's minimal, true, but at least the sustains involved in them helped to give the track a form of life.
Suffice to say, I couldn't find much to enjoy about this one; felt really sloppy to me, even outside the "quick fadeout" that most of these guys were saying. But I have seen that Beatdrop has come a long way since then and has really shown his true colors as an arranger, so something good managed to come out of it. I'm hoping he'll come back to OCR soon especially considering his quick growth :)
- Rexy on December 30, 2011
The real problem is, like a fair chunk of Beatdrop's mixes back then, the bass tends to sit really awkwardly; for me it tends to be doing way too much even for what can be considered an electronica song, and even then the arrangement stays really close to the source material and is riddled with off-time percussion writing (particularly at 2:15). I would've even preferred a different instrument for the melodic section other than pizzicatos as well as it just comes off as unrealistic and doesn't fit in with the rest of the instrumentation.
To be fair, the only good thing I can see that's going for it is in regards to some of the synth processing; it's minimal, true, but at least the sustains involved in them helped to give the track a form of life.
Suffice to say, I couldn't find much to enjoy about this one; felt really sloppy to me, even outside the "quick fadeout" that most of these guys were saying. But I have seen that Beatdrop has come a long way since then and has really shown his true colors as an arranger, so something good managed to come out of it. I'm hoping he'll come back to OCR soon especially considering his quick growth :)
- Rexy on December 30, 2011
All this harping on fadeouts here. "OMG, U CAN"T DOO THAT!" That's
such an overblown criticism. /shakes fist
The pizz strings were definitely the money shot here (awesome writing, and I loved the delay effect on 'em), but this was another mix I ended up enjoying a lot back in 2002 as I went through the entire OCR collection from A to Z to not miss out on any cool mixes. I didn't know Super R-Type's soundtrack, but once I heard the original "Solo Sortie," I loved it. An amazingly catch source tune.
The instrumental choices did kind of take some of the groove and emotion out of this compared to the original, but there's no rule against that when the aim is to present something interpretive and different. I thought Beatdrop pulled off a more desperate-sounding take that gave off the imagery of a chase scene in a futuristic space shooter game. The approach works just fine for me. Nice work!
- Liontamer on December 2, 2011
The pizz strings were definitely the money shot here (awesome writing, and I loved the delay effect on 'em), but this was another mix I ended up enjoying a lot back in 2002 as I went through the entire OCR collection from A to Z to not miss out on any cool mixes. I didn't know Super R-Type's soundtrack, but once I heard the original "Solo Sortie," I loved it. An amazingly catch source tune.
The instrumental choices did kind of take some of the groove and emotion out of this compared to the original, but there's no rule against that when the aim is to present something interpretive and different. I thought Beatdrop pulled off a more desperate-sounding take that gave off the imagery of a chase scene in a futuristic space shooter game. The approach works just fine for me. Nice work!
- Liontamer on December 2, 2011
So I wasn't sure what to think of the mix after a few listens, but
one thing I noticed was the middle portion of song was pretty
muted. In addition, the fade out ending is just ugh - there
definitely was room to expand on it or to find a different way to
execute it.
But man...he definitely came a long way since this mix though.
- Bahamut on September 13, 2009
But man...he definitely came a long way since this mix though.
- Bahamut on September 13, 2009
I actually dislike this track, which is wierd because beatdrop is
one of my favourite dudes to listen to mixes from.
The instrumentation does it from me. The lead (for the first couple mins) just sounds grating whether I listen to it on speakers or headphones, and I just want to turn it off. I'm sorry dude. You have some great stuff happening in the background, but I just can't be brought to separate the elements in my head to listen to them.
- Master_Yoshi on December 30, 2008
The instrumentation does it from me. The lead (for the first couple mins) just sounds grating whether I listen to it on speakers or headphones, and I just want to turn it off. I'm sorry dude. You have some great stuff happening in the background, but I just can't be brought to separate the elements in my head to listen to them.
- Master_Yoshi on December 30, 2008
I thought this track was actually fairly cool. A bit more variation
on the lead sound in the first part wouldn't have hurted, and some
drum sounds (is that a clap..) are quite weak. The beat and bass
are interesting however, there are some very nice atmospheric pads
in the background, there is variation in the structure, a nice,
subdued solo towards the end..
It definitely sounds as old as it is. The fadeout is more like a cop-out, and the piece feels like it was just composed from the start to finish without huge concern for the overall structure. But I enjoyed listening and will do so again!
--Eino
- evktalo on December 11, 2008
It definitely sounds as old as it is. The fadeout is more like a cop-out, and the piece feels like it was just composed from the start to finish without huge concern for the overall structure. But I enjoyed listening and will do so again!
--Eino
- evktalo on December 11, 2008
Standard mix fare. Nothing really sticks out aside from the pizz.
at the end. I don't know the source, so the mix is overall just
kind of lost on me. Sorry.
- DragonAvenger on August 21, 2008
- DragonAvenger on August 21, 2008
Pretty standard for most of the track, though the pizzicato strings
at the end were pretty awesome. I'd like to hear more of that. The
ending fade out was really bad, cheap and cheesy. You just start up
the melody to fade it out? Sorry, but no thanks.
:-| <--- this is my disappointed face
- OA on April 25, 2007
:-| <--- this is my disappointed face
- OA on April 25, 2007
holy crap! the klaxon that intros the mix is in AvP Gold... man
that's funny...
anyway, that aside, i'm really diggin this mix, while i haven't heard the original, this is definatly well put together. the lead is excellent, tho i think it would have been fun to have it pan around a bit... the fade out ending is rather disapointing. i hate to end on a bad note, so... this mix has stood the test of time remarkably well, and is very much [i]good stuff[/i]
9/10 definatly worth getting
- Kulaman on February 20, 2006
anyway, that aside, i'm really diggin this mix, while i haven't heard the original, this is definatly well put together. the lead is excellent, tho i think it would have been fun to have it pan around a bit... the fade out ending is rather disapointing. i hate to end on a bad note, so... this mix has stood the test of time remarkably well, and is very much [i]good stuff[/i]
9/10 definatly worth getting
- Kulaman on February 20, 2006
This is actually my current fav. by beatdrop. It's very well done
and full of plenty of energy. I really dug the intro and the
pizzicato strings. The pacing of the song was done excellently as
well. My only qualm would have to be the very soft bass. It's not
too noticible with headphones but you can really tell the lack of
punch in the car. Still though this is one of my favs. It's good
stuff.
- Pip is uh..... on August 27, 2005
- Pip is uh..... on August 27, 2005
You got the siren in the beginning from AVP gold edition (the game)
didn't you? It isn't like it was hard because they just stuck it in
a friggen sound folder so you could just rip it out and stick it on
the internet. Heck, it was even in [u]MP3[/u] format. Anyway this
is a pretty good mix. I wouldn't stick it on a CD but it is nice to
have and listen to every once and awhile.
- Bladewind on March 21, 2005
- Bladewind on March 21, 2005
This is a great remix as it captures the mood of Super R-Type
perfectly!
I actually loved the music from Super R-Type, and I must admit to listening to one of the tunes in the game (from Level 7) over and over!
This remix, taken from Level 1, is a good example of how to make a good R-Type Remix. Well done! 9/10
- JFM on January 28, 2005
I actually loved the music from Super R-Type, and I must admit to listening to one of the tunes in the game (from Level 7) over and over!
This remix, taken from Level 1, is a good example of how to make a good R-Type Remix. Well done! 9/10
- JFM on January 28, 2005
I thoroughly enjoyed the music in Super R-Type (and, consequently
R-Type II) and this piece extends my liking for the soundtrack.
This is the embodiment of my favorite kind of remix, which builds
on the track itself without deviating too far from it.
While I'm not the greatest authority on remixing and music, I feel this mix was executed quite well. The brief sequence at 1'23" and 2'54" is my personal favorite portion of the song; the sudden attack fits quite within the scope of both the original and remixed piece.
It's also awesome (in a sense) that you based this song on the "Extended Remix" version in the sound test...Props. All in all, great stuff.
- Gerk on June 13, 2004
While I'm not the greatest authority on remixing and music, I feel this mix was executed quite well. The brief sequence at 1'23" and 2'54" is my personal favorite portion of the song; the sudden attack fits quite within the scope of both the original and remixed piece.
It's also awesome (in a sense) that you based this song on the "Extended Remix" version in the sound test...Props. All in all, great stuff.
- Gerk on June 13, 2004
Super R-Type 'Solitary Flight 2002'
This remix is catchy, but to be honest, it ain't anything that special. The best part is the pizzicato strings that come in near the end, but other than that I really don't hear anything that makes this really stand out.
- orkybash on May 27, 2002
This remix is catchy, but to be honest, it ain't anything that special. The best part is the pizzicato strings that come in near the end, but other than that I really don't hear anything that makes this really stand out.
- orkybash on May 27, 2002
