ReMix: Secret of Mana 'Whispering Prayers'
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- Game: Secret of Mana (Square, 1993, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Visions of the Future
- Composer(s): Hiroki Kikuta
- Song(s): 'Phantom and...A Rose...'
- Posted: 2002-03-03, evaluated by djpretzel
This is VotF's second ReMix, hot on the heels of his first Valis 3 submission. This one's also rather in the 'short & sweet' category, which is cool by me (savin' da bandwidth! woo!). Nice laid-back 808-ish R&B beat, with creatively rhythmic use of sound effects, sticking close to Kikuta's original vibe but spicing up the sounds, with a great cross-panned flute, echoing sleigh bell, and the very serene harp that forms the foundation of the track. A straightforward, peaceful mix that doesn't surprise or excite, but chills out in a good, musical way.
Discussion: Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the It's hard to deal with one of the more beautiful tracks in the
Secret of Mana score in this kind of fashion, but I guess it does
kind of fit for something slightly more uptempo.
Though, in spite of it being in the short-and-sweet category, it to me feels somewhat rough. It's almost entirely a straight cover, give or take the sound effect intro, the translation of the second-to-last phrase to a standard 4/4 as opposed to the original's 7/4 and the booming piano. And even then the production feels a little weak, with grainy sound effects placed in (which I give credit for sounding somewhat appropriate) and levels being somewhat unattended to, notably with the strange loudness of the SFX and string parts.
So I have to say this is somewhat pale for a 2002 mix. But if you're looking for something that maintains its faithfulness to the source, you've got it, but don't expect to be completely wowed over :|
- Rexy on December 10, 2011
Though, in spite of it being in the short-and-sweet category, it to me feels somewhat rough. It's almost entirely a straight cover, give or take the sound effect intro, the translation of the second-to-last phrase to a standard 4/4 as opposed to the original's 7/4 and the booming piano. And even then the production feels a little weak, with grainy sound effects placed in (which I give credit for sounding somewhat appropriate) and levels being somewhat unattended to, notably with the strange loudness of the SFX and string parts.
So I have to say this is somewhat pale for a 2002 mix. But if you're looking for something that maintains its faithfulness to the source, you've got it, but don't expect to be completely wowed over :|
- Rexy on December 10, 2011
I really don't understand how the heavy slow beat meshes well with
those forest sounds and such a weighty theme sped up like this.
There's too many clashes with the underlying elements here, and
resulting in what is a piss poor song. It even ends without a loop!
- Bahamut on October 9, 2009
- Bahamut on October 9, 2009
It seems to me that this mix went off in a weird direction.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just doesn't really make it.
It's too short, too repetitive, and doesn't really go with the nature sounds in the intro, imo.
- 42 on January 19, 2009
I really wanted to like this one, but it just doesn't really make it.
It's too short, too repetitive, and doesn't really go with the nature sounds in the intro, imo.
- 42 on January 19, 2009
I like the sound effects in the background, really help to
establish the nature theme which is so important in the game. The
theme carries into the mix, which is serene and cool, if brief.
- justinj212 on January 10, 2009
- justinj212 on January 10, 2009
The animal sound effects in the beginning are great. The track has
the same quality of tone present in Protricity's DKII mix, Forest
Birdcussion. There seems to be little actually happening in the way
of actual music but the feel of the slow percussion and the animal
effects gives the mix a great feel, very enjoyable.
- Evil_Cronos on December 7, 2008
- Evil_Cronos on December 7, 2008
I like this mix, because while it remains pretty true to the
original, it has a subtle shift in tone that I enjoy in it. It's
nothing special, but it's still enjoyable to listen to.
Sound effects at the beginning are an interesting touch. The screaming monkey's a little weird in my book, though.
An ubrupt ending, but not as terribly bad as the other reviews make it seem. I don't have too much of a problem with it.
- DragonAvenger on December 6, 2007
Sound effects at the beginning are an interesting touch. The screaming monkey's a little weird in my book, though.
An ubrupt ending, but not as terribly bad as the other reviews make it seem. I don't have too much of a problem with it.
- DragonAvenger on December 6, 2007
Source is definitely Kikuta, and this remix is a decent remix of
it. Seeing how old it is, I'm pleasantly surprised. It's still
listenable. :D A number of sound effects make it pretty
atmospheric. The drums cheapen it a bit, at least in the intro, and
I feel the end could have used those two minutes it'd take to set
the notes to fade out rather than just pop off. But overall, it's
not much worse than what's being approved today, at least not when
listening through laptop speakers.
- Rozovian on December 6, 2007
- Rozovian on December 6, 2007
Pretty decent, that monkey sounds pissed!
Not terribly deviant from the original as far as additional sections, but there is a cool shift in tone for the song overall.
I like the piano in this, it is very evocative and mysterious.
The ending, however is really bad. It gets cut off so abruptly, i thought the mp3 was corrupted. :-(
- OA on June 21, 2007
Not terribly deviant from the original as far as additional sections, but there is a cool shift in tone for the song overall.
I like the piano in this, it is very evocative and mysterious.
The ending, however is really bad. It gets cut off so abruptly, i thought the mp3 was corrupted. :-(
- OA on June 21, 2007
Yeah I was def expected a very sad and emotional piece. This is
somewhat chillout style. It's done out very nicely, good job on the
recomposition and lil ambient additions.
I just wish it was done today with some of the sounds that are available today that weren't available back then. But still this a sweet song. The sounds that are used fit the piece well, kudos on the sound design. The lead synth for the melody still sounds pretty sweet and matches the emotion being displayed.
- avaris on December 29, 2006
I just wish it was done today with some of the sounds that are available today that weren't available back then. But still this a sweet song. The sounds that are used fit the piece well, kudos on the sound design. The lead synth for the melody still sounds pretty sweet and matches the emotion being displayed.
- avaris on December 29, 2006
miltren wrote: Secret of mana music can be twisted practically into anything. Great stuff.
Indeed, this is originally a very sad track, but VotF have turned it into something more happier and mysterious. The arrangement itself is pretty good, but it sounds like if the intruments that's being used has been taken directly from the game, since they have the same SNES-ish feeling.
But I still like it, with some bells and flutes and some strings to make it more relaxing and smooth. The sounds of birds and monkeys screaming adds some natural effect to it. :lol:
A very nice arrangement.
- Bummerdude on April 27, 2006
Pretty cool stuff. Nice, laid back, just a good mix. I loved the
sound effects near the beginning and end. So short though =\
- MrNemo on August 23, 2004
- MrNemo on August 23, 2004
Secret of mana music can be twisted practically into anything.
Great stuff.
- miltren on July 26, 2003
- miltren on July 26, 2003
Secret of Mana 'Whispering Prayers'
This one is much improved from VitF's first remix in that, though it's still short, it doesn't feel so, and seems more like a complete remix than the intro to one. Though there's nothing outstanding here, what there is is good enough that this remix is very enjoyable. Recommended.
- orkybash on May 26, 2002
This one is much improved from VitF's first remix in that, though it's still short, it doesn't feel so, and seems more like a complete remix than the intro to one. Though there's nothing outstanding here, what there is is good enough that this remix is very enjoyable. Recommended.
- orkybash on May 26, 2002
