ReMix:Xenogears "Taming of the Skies" 2:20

By Evan Pattison

Arranging the music of one song...

"Wings"

Primary Game: Xenogears (Square , 1998, PS1), music by Yasunori Mitsuda

Posted 2002-09-22, evaluated by the judges panel


The Judges were unanimous in their approval of Starblaze's first submission to OCR, a stirring Xenogears arrangement that would make Mitsuda proud (well, that's a guess, but I think a safe one). With strong orchestral percussion including a running snare and some excellent chimes, ensemble strings and winds, I suppose my only complaint would be the brevity - I could have seen this developing into a longer work, with a Russell Cox-style cadenza perhaps. However, it's always nice to have a few short-but-sweet pieces close within reach when you need a ReMix fix but are running short on time. I especially liked how certain elements, including the almighty bassoon, are still cleary audible within the rich, full mix that Starblaze has concocted, and the merging of chromatic percussion and piano with choral and symphonic extended chords works very well. A soaring but brief initial ReMix from Starblaze that comes recommended.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Marmiduke
on 2010-04-28 05:26:25

It's amiable listening today, but I can very much imagine that this would have been a much bigger deal when it first hit way back when. The samples are actually still pleasant to listen to, but they have dropped out of the 'realism' category long ago. The arrangement, whilst being reasonably flexible and delivers some nice touches, doesn't really say enough about the source that I haven't heard before.

It's a great source, and indeed, I think this mix does it justice. However, with what's here and at the length that it is, I just can't get enthusiastic about it. Yeah, it's more than a midi cover with a drumline (and a great drumline, I might add), but this still feels like it wasn't fleshed out to meet its full purpose.

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42
on 2009-12-20 18:32:37

This mix has the same mood as the Hidden Palace zone from Sonic and Knuckles. That plus the driving percussion equals pretty cool overall general feel to this mix. Short yet grand, this definitely feels like the theme for the beginning of some great quest. At the least, it's really worth a listen.

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Bahamut
on 2009-10-01 17:45:09

I was never really a fan of this track because I felt that it didn't really add much to the original, which I would much rather prefer to listen to over this.

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Evil_Cronos
on 2009-01-05 12:54:06

Not much I can say about this song; great production, smooth sound, interesting, and different from the source. The source did not stand out to me as anything special in comparison with the rest of the soundtrack and this remix echoes that feeling. Good remix, but it makes little impression because of the less than impressionable source.

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Rozovian
on 2008-12-04 02:33:13

This is one of those tracks that you can put it in a playlist, not pay much attention to what's playing, and still notice this one for simply being pleasant. Although repetitive, it's very enjoyable. Being so short, the repetition isn't much of a problem anyway.

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DragonAvenger
on 2008-08-31 16:20:02

Good, epic feel to the mix. While the sounds aren't terribly realistic, they don't really pull down my opinion of the mix. Nice snare work; they help keep the mix going. Ending is sudden, but I don't mind it as it is. Overall, a nice song worth keeping.

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OA
on 2007-05-04 10:11:47

One of my favorite original source songs from a fantastic soundtrack, this mix is pretty well done, with a good deal of interpretation. The percussion is probably my favorite part of this one, with some nice rolls an some beautiful chimes. The ending is a point of contention, as it just seems to run out of gas..not a good thing to do when you are a flight theme. You'd want a nice safe landing i'd think.

Still good enough to have had a home on my playlist for several years now. :-)

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Liontamer
on 2006-05-01 15:52:27

Yeah, this being from Xenogears, I'm rather suprised at the lack of reviews. Brief, but solid stuff for its time from Evan. Doesn't sound very realistic, but at the same time the samples were used well. Ending felt too sudden.

The arrangement of course has a good amount of personalization and creativity, but I was disappointed that it didn't play off of the source melody more, as "Wings" is actually pretty good. A shame Evan's no longer a regular in the community.

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Ceracryst
on 2003-04-17 01:44:20

I haven't heard the song in a long time~ but I do remember liking it a lot lot lot. ^^;

It's just makes you feel like you're soaring free... oO; which~ I guess is the whole point of the song. ^^;

But yeah, I like it mucho- it reminds me of David Holsinger's "To Tame the Perilous Skies". Both are awesome compositions~ ^^;

Kuu~uudos!

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Starblaze
on 2003-04-16 23:42:49

wow. there are like NO reviews of this song =P

lol

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Hamu-Sumo
on 2002-09-30 10:32:45

Huh? :o So little comments? 8O

I must say it is good! But too short. If it would be larger then I would say it is one of the best remixes in the last time. Good work, Starblaze!

8/10 (1=worst; 10=best)

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RedXIII
on 2002-09-24 19:47:50

just 2 words: best ever

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orkybash
on 2002-09-24 00:04:31

Xenogears 'Taming of the Skies'

Well, i'm finally getting around to getting the reviews started for these latest songs. This definitely does justice to the original from Xenogears (God, i swear that game has the best flight music!) I've been hearing grumbling about the quality of recent remixes, but folks, if the rule is becoming that the overall quality is less-than-good, then this is clearly an exception. Highly recommended.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Xenogears (Square , 1998, PS1)
Music by Yasunori Mitsuda
Songs:
"Wings"

Tags (9)


Genre:
Mood:
Epic
Instrumentation:
Brass,Choir,Chromatic Percussion,Orchestral,Piano,Strings
Additional:
Time > 4/4 Time Signature
Time > Duration: Short

File Information


Name:
Xenogears_Taming_of_the_Skies_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
2,880,043 bytes
MD5:
6cea859fcb31e5e20f03e4d8a9e44b59
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
2:20

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