ReMix: Descent II 'Revelation'

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Descent II

What's this? A non-Final Doom Dj Redlight ReMix? Not that Ashley's three FD mixes to date haven't been consistently fantastic, and not that another one would have been in any way unappreciated, but I'm also stoked he decided to vary his diet a bit and give OCR its first Descent mix, from the game's sequel. The ReMixer writes:

"I've just finished this mix, shock horror its not final doom =P It's from descent 2, incidentally the first pc game I ever owned and still one of my faves. The original track was from the closing credits of the game. However the game had two soundtracks, an industrial/metal CD soundtrack and a midi soundtrack, both of which were completely different. I always preferred the latter and hence its the midi version of the credits that I remixed."

I played Descent (DOS, baby), Descent 2, and to a lesser extent Freespace, and found the degree of mobility liberating. I'm still a little surprised the FPS genre has remained largely grounded, as this series proved very early on that true three-dimensional mobility was quite doable, even if you did get a little dizzy at times (I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.) I didn't particularly recall the music from Descent 2, but it's been a pretty dern long time, so that's not saying all that much. At any rate, Redlight gets the green light on this mix, as he's taken a strong melody, not unlike the type of guitar-led theme you'd hear set to a gritty 80's-era crime drama as the credits roll over a vast cityscape, and technified it with verb-drenched, slightly crunchy synth leads, cleaner, bubbling, underlying cross-panned synth patterns, and an appropriate electro-drum track with a thick kick that syncs up w/ the bass. The whole thing ends up sounding a little like Yuzo Koshiro's slower stuff from the Streets of Rage series, in particular the opener from the very first game. Larry writes:

"Great arrangement compared to the original in that it's not hugely interpretive on the surface, but subtely evolving much like Shna pointed out. On that point, sections like the one starting at 2:39 really showcased that understated evolution.

Up until 1:40, I was somewhat worried that you just had generally original passages on top of some motifs from the original, but that wasn't the case here at all. If chill bias is wrong, I don't wanna be right. But in all seriousness, this definitely had the goods and genuinely had a great deal of expansiveness and creativity. The remix was appreciated much more after comparing it with the source material."

I just got done watching the very first episode of the original Bubblegum Crisis OVA, and can't help but think how well this would fit some of the interludes; it really has a deliberate, floating, urban atmosphere... Ashley, you don't have to turn on the Redlight. Sorry, just too tempted to throw that in there. I really love the breaks at 1'36" and the like - these are the type of textural and melodic additions that similarly pattern-oriented mixes neglect and end up sounding repetitive due to lacking. At any rate, I've spent more time describing the tone and overall atmosphere here than describing the particulars, but I'm fine with that - if you know the ReMixer's work, you'll have a feel for the competent production and general slickitude. As a downbeat electronic groove with a strong melodic core, Ashley's first deviation from Final Doom, and OCR's first ReMix from the Descent series, Revelation is great work.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
I do not remember the midi version since I always listened to the CDDA.
Anyone care to tackle some of the redbook audio?
This def fits as ending credits music.

- AmanO on October 14, 2009
I get a strong Blade Runner vibe from this, which is perhaps not surprising, seeings as grungy futuristic opuses go hand in hand with Blade Runner. Needless to say, I loved this mix.
It's almost calming in its pacing, but also quite ominous. I get imagery of decaying industrial complexes lit by neon. Maybe I'm a little too big a fan of Descent.
Very strong mix from a very strong score. Keep up the restrained, melodic electronica.

- Marmiduke on January 15, 2009
I love Descent, gameplay and music.
I must say that I'm more of a fan of the redbook but this remix blew me away.
Maybe all the midis need is some modern technology and a few tweaks to be great.
Hopefully the soundtrack from descent 1 will make their way to us in new bodies soon.

- MD1032 on July 17, 2008
Ahh, Descent 1 and 2. I remember playing them back in the day on our 486. Awesome games. I can only vaguely remember the music, so I don't really remember what the source tune for this mix was like. Regardless, I like this mix a lot. It's got a certain ambience/ance/whatever to it that makes it great to listen to when you're trying to relax. For me, anyways. It's a great postlude to a hectic day for some reason.
Love it, keep up the good work.

- ph0sphorousgobu on December 25, 2006
Does anyone actually have a mp3 of the Descent title screen music? I love that song, but I can't seem to find it and my Descent no longer runs on Windows 2k Pro or XP. (I even tried installing the Mac version by converting the DMP into an ISO but it ended up not being able to detect the sound card.) ><
If you have it, send it to me at <SemperVigilus@GMail.com> please. If you'd like, I can send you the title from the Definitive Collection's Redbook Audio CD. ^^

- Taishaku on November 12, 2006
Less Ashamed Of Self wrote: Very sexy bends on those synths. It's really agreeing with me... a welcome addition.

Also one of those tracks you're glad to re-visit/re-discover later. Hello again old friend.
The lead is so sexy... it doesn't get old.

- Less Ashamed Of Self on October 25, 2006
Descent is my oldest and most favorite of all video games. I own Descent II and 3, and I will never sell them.
More depth would be welcome, but overall it's fantastic.

- Zantor on July 4, 2006
Oh... my... god.
Finally a Descent remix surfaces, and it's awesome. You took the perfect style for this song. This song's gonna be looping for sometime on my playlist!
I love you!

- RatoN on December 4, 2005
Part of me digs this, part of me is slightly disappointed. I love the original tune dearly and remember tweaking/mixing wavetables way-back-when for no other reason than to make [i]this[/i] track sound as great as possible. With that in mind, this is a fitting mix that serves as a nice mostly-technical update.
But that's also what's wrong with it. I would have been overjoyed to hear more depth, variation and freshness (or a nice thick conspicuously overproduced film soundtrack-esque take on the original tune... hint-hint). The original track deserves a little more.

- Vesh on November 5, 2005
I'm a chill-out fan so I won't even try to be impartial to the awesome tune. ;)
But I'm trying to figure out what it reminds me most of. Maybe it was Psychic Force 2012 Arrange (which has a few songs with similar smooth, aching synths), but I don't really think so. I'm probably forgetting something obvious. Anyone remember remixes in this style off the top of their head?

- foxyshadis on November 2, 2005
Descent II was such a great game...a good ways ahead of its time technologically, sounds were nice, CD audio was mostly superb, and MIDI was not as good as the original but mostly good, especially this track.
This remix was way too repetitive and was too midi-ish in not taking enough liberties with the original song, but the extra stuff it did have further added to the somber undertones the original midi already had. B+

- DukeNukem007 on October 31, 2005
Very sexy bends on those synths. It's really agreeing with me... a welcome addition.

- Less Ashamed Of Self on October 28, 2005
I really enjoyed that mix, although I've never been a fan of Descent. The ReMix somehow reminds of old 60's or 70's Science-Fiction-series-music, with a little bit Jean Michel Jarre in it.

- Martin Penwald on October 14, 2005
I'm pretty surprised you guys know descent. i used to play it on my old Mac, but it was such a long time ago. Pretty cool everyone's up on the oldest games. Awesome stuff. Oh ya, nice remix, I didn't think the oST could be remixed because it was already really good, but obviously you have. Nice work.

- Robotaki on October 13, 2005
This is nothing short of pure velvety goodness. There is so much going on, I want to take all of it in at once. To be limited by time and space to the present is simply a crime. It's like inhaling the most decadent chocolate bar in one mouthful ... it's that damn good.
And yes, to the disappointment of many listeners, Ashley is a guy. Don't let that stop you from experiencing the can of whoopass that is Dj Redlight. Props.

- MrBogus on October 13, 2005

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