ReMix: Live A Live 'Giant Robot Bonanza'

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Live A Live

I never really knew how to pronounce "Live A Live," - do both "lives" rhyme with "jive," or "give"? What does it all MEAN!?! This awkwardness is compounded by the game's box art and title screen both having the second live printed backwards, where it looks more like "evil". I think it's one of those things that makes more sense if you're Japanese, but what's easy to understand AND appreciate is how good this game's music is: Yoko Shimomura's score is unambiguously great. Mr. de Bruin has provided OCR with its first ReMix of said score:

"This one probably won't need a source breakdown but it's cutting it really close in terms of the 50% because there's a lot of original material and soloing going on. I personally counted 1:11 of source and 1:10 of original material so it SHOULD be fine ;)

Anyway, this was my first DoD submission and has been made in only 2 days, so there's a few minor playing mistakes I haven't been able to fix because this mix was made before I fragmented my hard disc. I went for a high energy, iron maiden-esque power metal arrangement with quite a lot of J-rock influences, and was even debating adding vocals at some point, but maybe it's for the best that I didn't.

The reason I picked a relatively obscure game like Live-a-Live to remix is because it's a very underrated and underrepresented game (no OCR remixes yet), but for me personally it's hands down the best square RPG (which is saying a lot, obviously) with a soundtrack that might even make mr. Nobuo jealous (I'm actually thinking of starting a remixing project of it one of these days ;) ) So anyway, I hope you all enjoy it."

I certainly did; great to see this game finally arranged, and fantastic energy & motion from Joren. Vinnie writes:

"Your arrangements tend to be bursting from the seams with energy, Joren. I love that. You could probably make things a little cleaner, but I can hear everything fine. The arrangement handles the source nicely, balancing more conservative sections with good original stuff. Some crazy-ass soloing towards the end too, absolutely wild. Great dynamics in all instruments, and just solidly put together."

I've gotta start preparing for our panel at Otakon tomorrow, and everything that goes along with that, so I've got to cut this writeup a bit short, but check the judges decision and please, BY ALL MEANS, even if you've never played or *heard* of Live A Live, check this mix out - you won't be disappointed.

djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
This one doesn't feel as intensely loud as Polar Star Overdrive but it matches it in pure energy. The guitar solo is hit or miss at parts, but when it's a hit, it's REALLY good!
This one's short as hell but I think you get the point across nicely in 2 and a half minutes ;-) Absolutely no filler here!

- Emunator on December 22, 2009
Render this remix to MIDI format and replace
it with the original track in the game. Very nice
job. Kudos.

- Pachi Risu on November 17, 2009
Cool mix.
I haven't played the game, but I've heard the OST and it's pretty good. (Mainly because of Shimomura) I don't really have much to say, since I've never been good at picking up patterns with a guitar...

- Roihu on October 24, 2009
This is just bloody AWSOME!!! Great Job Joren de Bruin

- yosefu on August 17, 2009
Definetly got the Iron Maiden feel

AWSOME!!

a solid mix IMO

- Mtlbro on August 12, 2009
Just what I expected when I read Joren de Bruin on the front page: a hard-rocking good time.
Though I have to admit; I do kinda miss the synth-solos that were in JdB's Cave Story remix, since they brought in some element that wasn't guitar shredding.

- Martin Penwald on August 6, 2009
Nice gallops and though some of the harmonized leads aren't as rhythmically tight as I think they should be, this is definitely rocking out. Transitions and fills are nice, and production is clean.
In your face drums and live bass make this track extra driving. Good stuff, nice work dude. :-)

- OA on July 29, 2009
Plenty of energy, and due to comments I can't get the "Megaman" feeling out of my head. Nice work, Tensei!

- DragonAvenger on July 28, 2009
loved this the first time i heard it - lots of emotion coming from this one
been waiting to see this get up here for awhile - great job tensei-chan!

- audio fidelity on July 23, 2009
Thanks a lot for the ReMix, I've been waiting for a Live-A-Live ReMix since I got to know this site (not much time, unfortunately). I couldn't believe when I saw that no one had ReMixed it before, it have such a great soundtrack.
Hoping to see a LaL ReMixing project.

- moonra on July 20, 2009
I have been waiting YEARS for a remix of a song from this game. I almost burned out my snes listening to music from this game non-stop. I hope this is the first of many!!!!

- VARDOCK on July 18, 2009
Based on the kana of the Japanese title, it seems safe to say it's pronounced like "jive" in both cases. :P Great to finally see a mix of this game, keep them coming!

- zeeroid on July 18, 2009
I agree with the poster who said it sounds like Mega Man (that is a good thing). I think if you said it was from some MM game that I've never played I'd believe you.
Great work, this is an excellent rock mix.

- cromar on July 18, 2009
This is awesome. PLEASE do organize a Live-A-Live remixing project.

- Straybow on July 18, 2009
Something sound a little like Mega Man, dunno if it's the arrangement, the melodies, or just that I'm associating this kind of music with MM. Kind'a short, but better too short than too long. 1:58 is probably my fav part of it. Just what happened at 0:50?
I'd say this is your best so far, at least my favorite... so far. It's got loads of energy and drive, a great non-stop rocking remix. Awesome work, dude.

- Rozovian on July 18, 2009