ReMix: Ninja Gaiden 'SuddenLoss'

Star Ocean: The Second Story 'Ocean of Tears' prev   list all   next Mega Man X4 'ZeroTheUltimateWarrior'
download Download MP3
4,216,442 bytes, 3:31, 160kbps
Stream/preview on YouTube Play Preview
Streaming preview on YouTube
eStarland.com
Ninja Gaiden

This ReMix from goat represents one of the few, but extremely cool from my perspective, instances where a track was submitted, turned down, revised, improved for the better, and accepted. This doesn't happen all that often, nor should it necessarily - often it's best to just move on if a particular mix isn't working out, rather than try to fix it come hell or high water. I've abandoned more mixes than I've finished, though admittedly in the earlier stages, however the point is the same - resubmitting a mix isn't always the best path. However, our judges usually indicate when a mix is right there on the edge, and whether or not a couple concrete modifications could make the difference, and in this case, they did. Opening with well-imaged acoustic guitar and shakuhachi, goat takes this melodramatic theme from the classic 2D ninja scroller Ninja Gaiden (about to see new life on the XBOX - fingers crossed) and imbues it with his own guitar sensibilities. Some rock drums, guitar chords, strings, way left-panned harp, and - very great entrance on this fella - a nice synth. The monoglide synth here really balances out the track - glad it wasn't a reintroduction of the shaku, which I was expecting. We then get some very cool oscillator-sync synth effects on top of that, and a counter-melody to boot. Definitely, this is a mix that gradually gets better and better. Well, until the ending, which is dramatically abrupt and reveals a lack of reverb, which one of the judges noted this mix could actually have used more of (often the opposite is the case). Overall, I dig the arrangement and particularly the second half, with the dueling synths, that sit well in the mix. Groovy.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
This is pretty weaksauce compared to other Goatly tracks, held back by poor samples that are poorly used.
The arrangement itself is really hot, and if it had some feeling behind it, it could really shine. Scaredsim or Sixto both have reputations for taking good arrangements and making them really come alive. Maybe they should collab and save this one. :-) Or better yet, even Goat himself could update this one.
Bottom line: great arrangement poorly done.

- OA on March 16, 2009
Definitely carried by the arrangement here, as most of the samples were really rigidly sequenced and exposed. It all significantly limits the very tangible emotion of the writing. Chris could get this one sounding twice as good nowadays, and I don't even mean just by having a real guitar. Just based off this one though, I can't wait to see goat eventually tackle more from the Ninja Gaiden series.

- Liontamer on May 14, 2007
The main melody reminds me a lot of the 1968 Romeo and Juliet scene where Romeo and Juliet meet. It feels different from goats other works, obviously, but it still works very well for his style. Nothing to complain about here.

- jordanclock on June 17, 2004
Most of the second half of this mix makes me think of the Terran music from Starcraft. I like it.

- Red Shadow on April 25, 2004
Here's a more complex theme of the Ninja Gaiden Father's Death theme! Well, it's good in a bad way! I mean to say this is for death, when you have a brother or sister that just died in the family like my brother's friend's friend. Well, that's all I can say for this song!

- Mahjong No OujiSama Yoshi on November 18, 2003
this is an amazing piece. goat took a pretty mediocre song and turned it into an amazing one. goat continutes to make awesome remixes.

- last man standing on July 8, 2003
Ryan8bit wrote:
They talked about that in the review thread for Russell's version. Actually, more like argued. Anyways, it was from the end of the game. If you made it past all the nail-biting and hair pulling of having to start over on the three segments of the last board if you died against Ken Hayabusa or the Jacquio or that Alien thing, then you would hear this music. Not exactly an easy task.

hellya! i think only twice in my lifetime have i ever made it passed all these parts without getting sent back!!! The tough part is when u beat the possessed Ken and then u fight the superJaquio, but they take away whatever special weapon you had after beating Ken.... Anyways, this tune is exactly from the cinema where Ken dies after blocking a shot intended for Ryu, then he dies in Ryu's arm's. Still one of the best stories ever in a video game series, part 2 is good too :)
onto the mix, this is a totally cool take on the theme. it's super hard not to compare to the other mix of the same tune called "Death of a Legend" by Russell is it? (sorry if i got the name wrong...). but for me, i just see it as rock version vs. classical version. both evoke different emotions. Although there is a part in Goat's version that seems to be made up....after the thunder sfx? Anyways, glad u kept workin on this mix so that it'd see the light of day on OCR! way2go!

- Streets of Rage bum on March 3, 2003
Not bad...yet again, goat makes a damn good mix. Although it wasn't nearly as guitar-oriented as most of his stuff is (And as anyone who knows me at all knows, I'm a HUGE fan of guitar-oriented ReMixes), it was still pretty fucking cool. And I've been wanting another Ninja Gaiden ReMix for a while. Actually...I might just get around to that black metal Ninja Gaiden II remix I've had in the back of my mind for a while...

- Emperor Nakoo Hiryuu on February 28, 2003
the first 1'01 of the song sounds remarkably like the theme from john woo's 'the killer'. don't know if this was intentional... but it definitely has that cheesy '80s chinese-pop feel to it. which isn't entirely out of place...
it isn't the worst thing i've ever heard on OC, and it's a welcome change from the thrubba-thrubba house mixes...
kudos on tackling a classic.

- coyote on February 27, 2003
I think I remember hearing this in the WIP forums long ago? I don't go there anymore, but I used to and I remember you and Russell talking about the "Sudden Loss" from Ninja Gaiden. I think your take may be more accurate towards what they were going for in the game (rock). I still like Russell's sort as well though.
But yea, interesting song. Not my favorite amongst your others, but it shows a good progression. I too once submitted remixes more like this onee but then turned to the guitar.
Vortex RuneCutter wrote: This is a great, GREAT powerful song!
I just wish I remembered when it plays exactly in the game...

They talked about that in the review thread for Russell's version. Actually, more like argued. Anyways, it was from the end of the game. If you made it past all the nail-biting and hair pulling of having to start over on the three segments of the last board if you died against Ken Hayabusa or the Jacquio or that Alien thing, then you would hear this music. Not exactly an easy task.
Vigilante wrote: The intro reminds me of the lve theme from romeo+juliet.

Yes, the two are quite the same. You often have to wonder if the composer of Ninja Gaiden borrowed it or honestly thought of it himself (because of course there is some variation). But then again, it sort of is a love song about Ryu and Irene, so take it as you may.

- Ryan8bit on February 27, 2003
I agree with Metasquares..
Samples take a FARRR backseat in comparison to composition in my opinion.. I felt the piece was pretty darn nice, I dug the whole thing..

- Homo Pocket on February 26, 2003
I like the melody itself and the really nice way it was harmonized somewhere around 2:00. I can care less if you have cheesy sounding samples... I STILL listen to MIDI files and enjoy them :)

- Metasquares on February 26, 2003
I'm liking this. Sure the sample quality in parts could be a bit better, but it doesn't ruin the overall enjoyment of the song for me. Plus its not at all what I expected to hear when downloading a song by goat. :D

- reelmojo on February 26, 2003
I was initially surprised when I saw this song of mine pop up on the judge's list, because I had asked for one of those heavy guitar ones on here to be judged in place of it (which happened, but then this one came through too). I'm glad though because the constructive criticism here tends to be excellent.
I'd appreciate any feedback on how to incorporate samples that are external to one's built in synth samples (I'll go check one of the forums), because I did feel a bit limited when choosing instruments for this. To people expecting crunchy guitar...sorry, this was made before the guitar ones (before I sponged the mold off my axe), and I won't leave real guitar out again (unless I raise my sample/sample-mixing level to kick-@ss).

- goat on February 26, 2003
This is a great, GREAT powerful song!
I just wish I remembered when it plays exactly in the game...

- Vortex RuneCutter on February 26, 2003

Content Policy
(Submission Agreement and Terms of Use)

Page generated Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:00:49 -0500 in 0.0423 seconds

All compositions, arrangements, images, and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Original content is copyright OverClocked ReMix, LLC. For information on RSS and JavaScript news feeds, linking to us, etc. please refer to resources for webmasters. Please refer to the Info section of the site and the FAQ available there for information about the site's history, features, and policies. Contact David W. Lloyd (djpretzel), webmaster, with feedback or questions not answered there.

top of page