ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 'Strip Mine'
- Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega, 1992, GEN)
- ReMixer(s): Beatdrop
- Composer(s): Masato Nakamura
- Song(s): 'Mystic Cave Zone'
- Posted: 2004-07-13, evaluated by the judges
Beatdrop has the unique honor of being perhaps the most intuitively-named ReMixer on the site. True to form, in every mix of his that comes to mind, the beat does indeed drop, hence the conjoined noun-verb moniker seems appropriate and one of those rare examples of truth in advertising. This Sonic 2 mix is Dain's trademark unsubtle, hard-edged techno, with plenty of sharp corners on the smorgasbord of synths offered up to cut, slit, or otherwise maim yourself on. At just over three minutes, this is shorter work for BD, but it's got a lot of verve with its somewhat carnivalesque melody and jumpin' downbeat. Mr. Olsen (no relation to those scandalous twins) explains his motives:
"I wanted to accomplish a number of things with this remix. First of all, I wanted it to sound massive, so I created multiple layers of drums. Secondly, I really wanted to include a bit of the sound of classic industrial music, thus the saws and drills used as instruments. And lastly, I wanted it to sound dank and gritty, thus the title: it has a sleazy sound that you might hear in a strip club, yet it also has a mechanical sound, reminescent of a mine being carved into the side of a mountain. Took some inspiration from Benny Benassi with one of the synths, too. It's a dirty bass synth with heavy reverb on it, which is masked with overcompression to give it a breathing sound. "
Good stuff, as the panel concisely noted, with a stronger emphasis in the sonic realm than in the composition/arrangement arena, but with enough mojo there to sufficiently amplify the aural textures in a workable symbiotic relationship. Whether you personally strip to it, you play it while watching someone else strip, or no stripping at all is involved whatsoever, it's solid, high-energy mixage.
- GTAHater836 on October 7, 2012
The high-frequencies in this I think trigger some sort of fight-or-flight type response in me that results in increased heart rate and adrenaline, and make me more alert and prone to dancing. Probably why Emunator likes to kick ass on Smash Bros to this tune as well. As such, I think this polarises the listeners into 2 groups, those who want to fight/dance to it, and those who would rather run away and never listen again.
- DarkSim on December 15, 2010
- MechaFone on May 28, 2010
I dig the track, but can't listen to it a second time.
- OA on March 29, 2010
It feels like it was composed of different tones of white noise to me. >.<
Meh...
All in all this is waaaaaaayyy too grating on my ears for me to like.
Still, the arrangement of the source is very nice, distinctive, and unique, but this just isn't the mix for me.
- 42 on December 14, 2009
- Nutritious on December 14, 2009
You really tore it up here, Beatdrop... fantastic stuff!
- Emunator on October 12, 2009
It may not be the friendliest mix, what with the squinking synths, multiple layers of percussion and a source tune I've always found quite unlikable, but there is a tonnage of enjoyment tightly packed in here if your ears are calloused and ready. Recommended for people who don't require their mixes clean and soft-spoken. This is how to make a lame tune awesome and then some.
- Marmiduke on October 10, 2009
- Desert Guru on October 9, 2009
Very well done.
- metalsnakejuice on September 20, 2009
- mew2king on July 21, 2009
There's a lot of stuff going on in this song and it all works perfectly. It sounds great played really loud and the instruments/samples chosen for this remix perfectly fit the setting.
- thealexfish on December 1, 2006
- Dark Vagabond on October 5, 2005

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the