ReMix: The Longest Journey 'Beginnings'
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- Game: The Longest Journey (Funcom Oslo A, 1999, WIN)
- ReMixer(s): Deimos
- Composer(s): Bjørn Arve Lagim, Tor Linløkken
- Song(s): 'Prologue', 'The House of All Worlds'
- Posted: 2002-06-07, evaluated by the judges
I remember reading positive reviews of this amazing-looking adventure game for PC when it was originally released. There's so few great adventure games being made any more, and at the time many credited this game with at least a partial revival of the genre. Like so many things, I never got around to playing it, but deim0s' latest mix at least lets me enjoy a bit o' the soundtrack. Moody piano, strings, and choir make up this melancholy instrumental arrangement, with a definite emphasis as far as the strings go on the low end - always my preference, personally, as cellos are such amazing instruments. This is the type of arrangement that to me wouldn't work at all without high-quality sounds (which it has, by the way) but succeeds not simply because of them, but because they're well-blended and form a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Those who like brooding, dramatic shtuff (count me in) should dig it. Unique, excellent game choice as well :)
Discussion: Latest 14 comments/reviews; view the This thread would notable just for orkybash being a first poster -
I remember his mixes, his Ultima one is still on my playlist. This
game's music didn't actually stand out to me - but I do have the
tracks that play in April's room when you use her music player.
Here's a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLB6Q6PaIlY
Even years and years afterwards, The Longest Journey is game with a great storyline. Any adventure gamer who hasn't should definitely play it, and its sequel, Dreamfall.
- WesternZypher on December 23, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLB6Q6PaIlY
Even years and years afterwards, The Longest Journey is game with a great storyline. Any adventure gamer who hasn't should definitely play it, and its sequel, Dreamfall.
- WesternZypher on December 23, 2010
I used to listen to this quite a bit back in the day, but
unfortunately it just got put on the sidelines in my storage folder
and forgotten. :\ What's different about this is I'm not familiar
with the source tune or the source *at all*. And usually when
that's the case, I don't listen to a remix. There's a lot on OCR so
I generally stick to what I know. I dunno what prompted me to
listen to this back in the day, but I remember liking it a lot.
Listening to it now? I still like it.
Deim0s does that ambient thing here and they do it well. The strings and the piano at the beginning goes together really well and helps set up the somber, and dare I say, gloomy mood of this piece. I like the choir-y voices that come in later too. Overall it comes together very well and makes a beautiful piece.
Given the heavy mood, it's not something I feel I can listen to all the time (it's raining here now so it's really meshing with me now) but once in a while? Oh yeses. People who dig ambiance should definitely check this one out.
- Otakatt on December 2, 2009
Deim0s does that ambient thing here and they do it well. The strings and the piano at the beginning goes together really well and helps set up the somber, and dare I say, gloomy mood of this piece. I like the choir-y voices that come in later too. Overall it comes together very well and makes a beautiful piece.
Given the heavy mood, it's not something I feel I can listen to all the time (it's raining here now so it's really meshing with me now) but once in a while? Oh yeses. People who dig ambiance should definitely check this one out.
- Otakatt on December 2, 2009
I'm liking this. I'd love to hear it updated with some better
sounds overall, it has potential of being very pretty.
I would have loved a bit more dynamic variation in the beginning, especially if it could have created a better blend between the instruments. Right now it feels like things are working on their own rather than (duh) together. Strings feel a little harsh, and the low piano line gets a bit repetative. Overall if those things were updated I would be quite happy with this, but as is it's a nice track that I enjoy.
- DragonAvenger on October 21, 2009
I would have loved a bit more dynamic variation in the beginning, especially if it could have created a better blend between the instruments. Right now it feels like things are working on their own rather than (duh) together. Strings feel a little harsh, and the low piano line gets a bit repetative. Overall if those things were updated I would be quite happy with this, but as is it's a nice track that I enjoy.
- DragonAvenger on October 21, 2009
Very moody and cool, but not as melodic as I would prefer.
The samples are pretty good, and the piano and cello meld well.
A little too moody to be relaxing, but not exciting enough to be energizing.
It's nice work, but not quite what I am in the mood for right now.
- OA on April 3, 2007
The samples are pretty good, and the piano and cello meld well.
A little too moody to be relaxing, but not exciting enough to be energizing.
It's nice work, but not quite what I am in the mood for right now.
- OA on April 3, 2007
I first listened to this mix a long time ago, when I was looking
for things related to Longest Journey (it's one of those games that
does that to you). This remix (the 5th one to be reviewed on my
"Review All" list) had a place in what I still consider the best CD
I ever compiled of OC Remixes.
It is a haunting melody, taken from the main theme of the game, that is exentuated by what is either talent with the strings, or good synthesizing (I'm guessing the later). A mysterious piece through and through, it even ends on a note which speaks of things incomplete, left to come.
The only complaint is that the background chords never get more complicated or creative than when they first begin, making this a fairly linear piece. For that reason, it gets 4/5.
- Zipp on November 27, 2005
It is a haunting melody, taken from the main theme of the game, that is exentuated by what is either talent with the strings, or good synthesizing (I'm guessing the later). A mysterious piece through and through, it even ends on a note which speaks of things incomplete, left to come.
The only complaint is that the background chords never get more complicated or creative than when they first begin, making this a fairly linear piece. For that reason, it gets 4/5.
- Zipp on November 27, 2005
A very beautiful, moody piece for a very beautiful game. Around
1'40 is where the true beauty settles in for me, as the song slows
and revolves around the vocals like a wondrous carousel of ear
candy, before setting sail again in the sea of strings. Only truly
beautiful songs make me ramble on incoherently. :wink:
- Ventrex on February 28, 2005
- Ventrex on February 28, 2005
As a great fan of the source game, I would also like to say that
this mix is wonderful work.
- Night10194 on June 23, 2003
- Night10194 on June 23, 2003
Doesn't it strike anyone else how similar the piano notes are to
the moody track in Dungeon Master II? They are practicaly
identical.
Great job, deim0s. A sweet, atomospheric track that will go on loop in Winamp.
- Vagus on May 3, 2003
Great job, deim0s. A sweet, atomospheric track that will go on loop in Winamp.
- Vagus on May 3, 2003
I adore the piano, and the dark imperative cello work. Mwah! I
could listen to this all day.
- ZombieGirlAya on June 10, 2002
- ZombieGirlAya on June 10, 2002
Thanks for the kind words, folks.
And Tappy, the song is an arrangement of a piano theme that's pretty prevalent throughout the soundtrack. The songs in which it's most easily heard are "Prologue" and "The House of All Worlds".
For anyone that doesn't know, The Longest Journey's entire soundtrack is freely available online from this page:
http://www.longestjourney.com/stark/music.html
- deim0s on June 9, 2002
And Tappy, the song is an arrangement of a piano theme that's pretty prevalent throughout the soundtrack. The songs in which it's most easily heard are "Prologue" and "The House of All Worlds".
For anyone that doesn't know, The Longest Journey's entire soundtrack is freely available online from this page:
http://www.longestjourney.com/stark/music.html
- deim0s on June 9, 2002
Good lord, this is absolutely gorgeous. Exceptional work,
deim0s.
Damn you. Cellos play a part in one of my works in progress and now everyone will have something better (yours) to compare them to. :P
-steve
- Legion303 on June 9, 2002
Damn you. Cellos play a part in one of my works in progress and now everyone will have something better (yours) to compare them to. :P
-steve
- Legion303 on June 9, 2002
Its a very moody piece with a beautiful use of piano, chello, pads,
and choir ahhhs. I really liked this song as it contrasted most of
the music on the website and in my collection. I never played the
game but i can imagine it from the music and the screenshot...i
might check it out sometime. The Kreme gives it a 8/10
- krispy on June 9, 2002
- krispy on June 9, 2002
I loved this game, and I love the sound of cellos. Although I can't
quite figure out which piece of music this song is arranging. I
listen to the Longest Journey soundtrack all the time, and this
melody just doesn't ring a bell. The piano is kind of similar to
"Main Titles", but otherwise I can't figure out where in the game
this piece was taken from...
- Tappy on June 9, 2002
- Tappy on June 9, 2002
Longest Journey 'Beginnings'
This is simply beautiful. Samples are good, and there's really no dead spots in the arrangement. I noticed some dischordance, but it's used to good effect here, adds interest, and doesn't seem at all accidental (as was the case when I've criticized that aspect in other mixes). Me likes.
- orkybash on June 7, 2002
This is simply beautiful. Samples are good, and there's really no dead spots in the arrangement. I noticed some dischordance, but it's used to good effect here, adds interest, and doesn't seem at all accidental (as was the case when I've criticized that aspect in other mixes). Me likes.
- orkybash on June 7, 2002
