ReMix: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker 'Pirates of Dragon Roost Isle'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo, 2003, GCN)
- ReMixer(s): Tyler Heath
- Composer(s): Hajime Wakai, Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi
- Song(s): 'Dragon Roost Island'
- Posted: 2004-02-19, evaluated by the judges
Phew. I just spent the last 48 hours without net access, having a little customer service SNAFU with my ISP, who insisted on shutting down my connection, not telling me why, and instructing me to call a phone number that was busy all the time for more info. Grrrrr. All good now though, so it's back to business. First off, a thanks to the recent props from Penny Arcade - if you've been living in a cave and are somehow unaware of PA, get over there pronto. From Unknown comes our second Wind Waker mix, an interesting arrangement with some really nice touches - flute flares, a good sense of flow, and some unorthodox but excellent percussive decisions that really make it. Things get VERY cinematic with string stabs, brass stabs, multiple orchestral hits, and a running momentum, full of kinetic energy. GrayLightning really liked this one and had quite a bit to say:
"Beautiful. This is definitely one of the most enjoyable mixes I have heard on the panel recently.
Starting off with richly layered strings and what sounds like very nice overblown flute staccs. You don't hear those too often. It changes gears as soon as the bodharn percussion enters. It adds a very nice driving force to the orchestral sections. Brass that comes later in adds a nice texture to the space also. Articulations are used sparingly, but wisely. Like the string trills. I didn't feel this was empty at all. Really good usage of orchestral percussion provides good accenting rather than a rhythm. The chromatic bell/musicbox later on is a nice touch.
Very solid arrangement, orchestration and production values overall. I would have liked a touch more reverb, maybe a nice medium hall reverb.
I was surprised to hear this was done with FruityLoops and free soundfonts. Who says you can't do great mixes outside techno and trance with FL? This is one of those great examples that illustrates it's not what you have, but how you use the tools available to you. Sublime and an easy yes from me."
This is an arrangement that gets progressively more compelling and interesting as it goes - tuning out early is a big mistake, and pretty difficult to do when Unknown keeps things this varied, with numerous changeups, breaks, and additions and subtractions to the instrumentation. This is at once epic and also exciting rather than expansive and grandiose, although you could describe it that way, too. Great stuff from Unknown, with high replayability, good production values, and a memorable energy.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - mstie3k on March 22, 2013
This mix sits in an interesting area. The arrangement itself is fine, but it does seem to shed a little of the grandiose sound that the original has. It does have some of its own charm to it, but not as much as the great grand feel that the original has. It is a good example of a reinterpretation though, and I'm glad that this mix is around. The song does sound a little on the thin side though - I do wish there was some more instrumentation to it.
- Bahamut on December 8, 2011
- champ the hippie on August 13, 2011
Very strong work, I enjoy it a lot. :-)
- OA on August 16, 2010
- Lucentas on October 18, 2009
- rj42492 on July 1, 2009
this remix i recommend to anyone who hasen't heard it >w<
- GreyMage on November 16, 2007
- lady zelda on January 8, 2006
- maestermatt on December 18, 2005
You've done outstanding work here; I thank you for all your hard work and encourage you to continue on in such a wonderful fashion.
- Zera on December 15, 2005
Final Grade: 8.5 out of 10
- Magnum_Thunder on October 3, 2005
- Gate Jumper on August 10, 2005
- pilusvol on July 30, 2005
