ReMix: Marble Madness 'Marble Dancefloor'
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- Game: Marble Madness (Milton Bradley, 1988, NES)
- ReMixer(s): Palpable
- Composer(s): Brad Fuller, David Wise, Hal Canon
- Song(s): 'Beginner Race (Level 2)'
- Posted: 2004-01-14, evaluated by the judges
Our second Marble Madness ReMix is the first submission from Palpable, who gives us a techno/disco arrangement of the innovative classic's intermediate stage music. Digital Coma sorta summed things up well:
"Ok, I'm up to 1:10 and everything is rocking; good layer-ups, introduction to beat, sexy rhythm. Gotta love the rowdy drums and bassline. A little original section comes next and is quickly replaced again by source melody. I keep listening for these little alterations (harmony, counterpoint) snuck in here and there like complimentary vanilla wafers, and I say to myself, "hey, the NES tune is like six measures long and this guy's managed to expand upon it to make beautifully simple electro pop within four minutes."
There's a slight Daft Punk feel, though anything disco/house could probably said to have such a likeness due to that act's common association with the sound. The octave bassline and heavy kick / snare downbeat are the tell-tale ingredients, but there's also some good percussive accoutrements (with nice panning) and an overall attention to keeping things both funky and interesting. Interesting volume gating on the lead towards the middle and drum dropout/break towards the end - there's still some inevitable repetition, but it's totally appropriate both for the genre and considering the relative size of the original. Good stuff from Palpable, very accessible and a distinct style of electronica that's not so common as well.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Swaying. Circling. Punching the air. Finger tapping. Irregular head
bobbing. These are some of the many colorful ways I dance to this
indulgence called Marble Dancefloor. It all starts with a playfully
note-descending lead that makes me picture a marble bouncing down a
flight of stairs (nifty little hook), and then it slips right into
a pimpin' rendition of Level 2. Quite simply, the electronica's a
feast, coming in chewy, crunchy, and meaty flavors. And it does a
body good.
- Polo on December 7, 2009
- Polo on December 7, 2009
Nice synth treatment, and though it's heavily subdivided into
straight sections, it's still pretty interesting. I think a little
bit of additional syncopation in the rhythm section would have been
welcome, but the leads do enough to keep it interesting. It's fun
and peppy, and good upbeat synthy BG music.
- OA on November 27, 2009
- OA on November 27, 2009
Nifty synthpop that most definately does not reinvent any wheels
but has a good time regardless. There is some musical fatigue that
sets in after the main melody line continues to repeat with gradual
variations, but as far as repetition goes, the problem is
minimal.
I think the best thing about this is that you can feel the game in it. As others have mentioned, you don't just think of Marble Madness when you hear this. You think of a whole slew of puzzle-based retro games with soundtracks that channel this sort of vibe. I appreciate it a whole lot and geniunely think think that puzzle games with determined, yet repetitive soundtracks are some of the best the industry has ever produced.
This mix is a love letter to those immortal tunes, for me. Cool stuff indeed.
- Marmiduke on July 7, 2009
I think the best thing about this is that you can feel the game in it. As others have mentioned, you don't just think of Marble Madness when you hear this. You think of a whole slew of puzzle-based retro games with soundtracks that channel this sort of vibe. I appreciate it a whole lot and geniunely think think that puzzle games with determined, yet repetitive soundtracks are some of the best the industry has ever produced.
This mix is a love letter to those immortal tunes, for me. Cool stuff indeed.
- Marmiduke on July 7, 2009
Thought I'd give this another closer listen, after playing the
arcade version of Marble Madness last weekend at Katsucon ('til my
hands were red--slight aside, the NES version is [i]much[/i]
easier, though not as much fun sans the trackball).
Anyway... Honestly, it's a bit repetitive, especially the 10-20 seconds before it gets into the main theme. The bassline is pretty good, though, and it's at least as catchy (if not more so) than the original theme. Overall, it's an okay piece.
I should say, though, that Palpable has a really great and unique style that I enjoy. You can hear early elements of it in this remix, and everything hereafter by him has just been getting better and better. KF
- Kizyr on February 18, 2009
Anyway... Honestly, it's a bit repetitive, especially the 10-20 seconds before it gets into the main theme. The bassline is pretty good, though, and it's at least as catchy (if not more so) than the original theme. Overall, it's an okay piece.
I should say, though, that Palpable has a really great and unique style that I enjoy. You can hear early elements of it in this remix, and everything hereafter by him has just been getting better and better. KF
- Kizyr on February 18, 2009
The comparison to Daft Punk isn't off at all to me - this is both
stiff and groovy which definitely reminds me of them! The track
doesn't need a comparison to Daft Punk, it's great anyway. =)
Dancing!
--Eino
btw, I remember Supaplex too!
- evktalo on February 14, 2009
--Eino
btw, I remember Supaplex too!
- evktalo on February 14, 2009
I feel like I've been transported into a Freezepop song. I can hear
the vocoder already...
That's a good thing, by the way.
- Dhsu on October 2, 2008
That's a good thing, by the way.
- Dhsu on October 2, 2008
Contrary to KogeJoe, I thought this was a very fun and challenging
game. I remember playing it when I was little and never being able
to beat the 4th? level, i think it was. I'm not sure, but it's the
one that you think is impossible. If you've ever beaten that game,
you know there's no better feeling. I've always liked the music,
but I figured no one would ever even THINK of remixing it. I
constantly listen to this mix when i need a little pick-me-up.
- Bozlifyme on February 9, 2008
- Bozlifyme on February 9, 2008
I've got to say, this was the WORST buy. A waste of my money.
However, I've got to say, the music was pretty cool for a game in
which you maneuver marbles in a physically impossible way...
GREAT elaboration on good music to a BAD game...
- KogeJoe on January 24, 2007
GREAT elaboration on good music to a BAD game...
- KogeJoe on January 24, 2007
When i heard this remix for the first time it made me think of a
commercial of Rimmel London :P.
Maybe that's wat inspired Palpable?
Nice remix, though.
- Katmaï on April 28, 2005
Maybe that's wat inspired Palpable?
Nice remix, though.
- Katmaï on April 28, 2005
Basically a combination of disco/electro/funk. While some people
will love this, others won't care for it.
As for myself, when this was posted a looong way back, I didn't like it initially. But when I listened to it more, it grew on me a lot, and I'm just now writing a review of it. I see the judges were also split on it. Good stuff though.
- Corporal Eschebone on February 19, 2005
As for myself, when this was posted a looong way back, I didn't like it initially. But when I listened to it more, it grew on me a lot, and I'm just now writing a review of it. I see the judges were also split on it. Good stuff though.
- Corporal Eschebone on February 19, 2005
HA! I go to be honest with you, djpretzel. When I listened this mix
in my headphone, in 02:44, I thought that my home phone ringed:
[i]Trrim-trrim[/i]. But was this mix! This mix deceived me!
:P
Okay, I think that this is the second Stage from [i]Marble Madness[/i]. Nostalgic game! I liked the electronic/exotic style of this mix. This deserves a compliment...good work!
- Txai on February 16, 2005
Okay, I think that this is the second Stage from [i]Marble Madness[/i]. Nostalgic game! I liked the electronic/exotic style of this mix. This deserves a compliment...good work!
- Txai on February 16, 2005
I love it. Brings back that oldschool feel with the standard 4/4
beat. Nice work.
- The Orichalcon on October 31, 2004
- The Orichalcon on October 31, 2004
Funky is one word to describe this remix. Original also comes to
mind. Repetitive? Yes, but joyfully so. This remix hits me with a
fresh, sound, a modern mix of of techno sounds and good ol' fashion
groove. The break at about 2:20 was unexpected..but builds back
into the main groove and theme in such a fun way that I can't hold
it against the remix as a whole. Sometime I play this bad boy
several times in a row..increasing the volume everytime. One day
neighbors and co-renters will murder me in my sleep because of
it...but it will have been worth it.
- esden9 on October 26, 2004
- esden9 on October 26, 2004
