ReMix: Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle 'The Great Tentacle Pianist'
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- Game: Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle (LucasArts, 1993, DOS)
- ReMixer(s): Mazedude
- Composer(s): Clint Bajakian, Michael Land, Peter McConnell
- Song(s): 'Opening Credits'
- Posted: 2006-09-24, evaluated by the judges
More from Mazedude's American Album project, this time from the LucasArts cult hit Day of the Tentacle, a sequel of sorts to the more widely-known Maniac Mansion. Intrepid cosplayers dressed as tentacles from this very game actually attended our panel at Otakon this year, one of whom won our impromptu contest to whistle three themes from Zelda 64 and thus got to hug judge and VGDJ co-host pixietricks. Chris writes:
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I've released a "Special Edition" of my American Album. New tracks, new artwork, and other bonus features. In celebration, I hereby release my personal favorite of the new music to Overclocked Remix. The first "Day of the Tentacle" remix to grace the site, and Mazedude's first solo piano remix. I love the mental imagery of a tentacle playing the piano. :)"
Very Seussian imagery, imo. Getman's Special Edition of his American Album is well worth checking out - the original was excellent in both concept and execution, and in this case "Special Edition" doesn't mean adding in Jar-Jar Binks and making Han shoot second, but rather throwing in some tasty new tracks, artwork, and other bonuses. Perhaps more important than this being our first track from AA:SE, or even from DotT, this is indeed Chris's first solo piano mix. Mazedude's been mixing awhile, so it's great to see him still breaking new personal ground many years later. Andy writes:
"I can easily imagine that evil purple tentacle banging himself against the piano keys. It's just loads of fun, and needless to say, a great arrangement. Like your Earthbound "Battling Organs" mix, this might not appeal to everyone because some of the notes and rhythms seem off. However, I see that as a creative choice that works well - not a problem at all. Great stuff."
"Off" in this case translates to dissonance, which there's quite a bit of. Not sure if there's too much rhythmic anomaly going on, at least that I could detect, although it's certainly not a consistent, toe-tappable tempo. At just under two and a half minutes, it comes off as more of a soundtrack/sketch piece - the type of piece that would accompany the introduction of a quirky character in a Tim Burton film - than a full-fledged overture, but it's still substantive enough to say something, and develop while doing so. I don't usually harp on piano samples, but in this case something with a markedly different multisample on lower velocities would have helped, as the softer notes just sound like louder notes with the volume turned down; it's fairly loud playing throughout, so it would have been nice to get more contrast with the few quieter bits. Still, for a first stab at solo piano arrangement, it's original, memorable, it's from a previously unarranged game with a fanatically rabid cult fanbase, and it lives up to the high standard Chris has set with his previous efforts, so it's solid stuff with character to spare, any way you cut it.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the I know what people mean when they mention the mix's dissonance, though I wouldn't describe it that way. There's an element of not travelling down expected avenues, which can frustrate some, and it does ultimately confuse the feeling of the mix. It seems caught within the philosophies of Mazedude-wackiness and Shnababula-improv art without hitting the mark of either.
Technically, I love this mix. But the concept could have been honed a tad.
- Marmiduke on May 4, 2013
- Magellanic on December 6, 2011
And yes, it would be awesome if the purple tentacle belted out tunes like this in the game (although he'd still need fingers :P).
- Polo on April 26, 2011
- fredkemp on December 18, 2009
But really, I can't help but find this mix a little on the comedic side. I could just imagine Purple Tentacle pounding out this tune on the piano and getting the keys all wrong. Even though the piano was a little on the mechanical side, I still found this mix enjoyable.
Nice work. :nicework:
- Sir_Downunder on December 16, 2009
- WesternZypher on December 7, 2008
Piano is one of my favorite things, however thid one sounds out of tune, but maybe its the heavy use of the extreme high and low keys that throws me off still the man can play and that counts for a lot.
Score 5/10 "Average"
- FlamingTP on April 28, 2008
It's well done, but for whatever reason I can't really get into this one. I'm not exactly sure why, but it just feels extra mechanical to me. Sorry dude. :-(
- OA on April 10, 2008
I do wish for more though .. there are many games like this that dont get remixes at all although their music, as zany as they were, been imprinted in my mind forever ^__^
as a PC gamer in my childhood I heard more of those than I did for sonic, mario or final fantasy.
MORE DOTT remixes :D :D :D :D
- JustinShaltout on October 9, 2006
This piano song is a funny remix, still there are in my opinion too many wrong notes in the beginning of the song... much better from the middle of this remix to the end!
- PurpleTentacle on September 28, 2006
Hooray for dual-booting Macs! I can still play it!
- gregfrost on September 27, 2006
This is awesome.
- Zarla on September 27, 2006
I think you know what my verdict will be on this one.
Once you get past the fact that there will in fact be a lot of dissonance, this is quite a treat for the ears. There certainly is a lot going on this mix. It really does give an impression that some times a large tentacle is banging itself against the piano.
The end is quite anti-climactic, but a nice tease instead of a cop out.
- Chickenwarlord on September 26, 2006
- Pink on September 26, 2006
- Amayirot Akago on September 26, 2006
