ReMix: Pokémon Crystal Version '14.5 West Coast Radio (EXPN Card Required)'

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Pokémon Crystal Version

I'm writing this from my brand new PC running Windows 7 x64 with 12GB of RAM on a Core i7-950 with an 80GB Intel X25-M SSD and 2TB of HDD storage... and I'm a happy dude. So is Blake Troise, aka ProtoDome (at least one hopes), since his Pokémon Crystal mix (our first) got approved by the panel. He writes:

"The other day, when faced with the age-old question of "what's your favorite music", I decided I'd go with the Pokémon chiptunes. After a dose of ridicule I suddenly felt that warm, "I wanna listen to that stuff again" feeling. So I did. Yeah, okay, it's simplistic stuff, (chord sequences consisting of mighty C's, G's, F's and a few Aminors) but it's fun and catchy. I decided I'd honour it much. Starting off with one of my favorites, Olivine City, it felt like I just needed more than a simple, predictable tune running through it. Kinda like a normal Poké-track but with (alien to most of the original songs) an addition of variation and spontaneity.

To list all the extra tracks I've included... Urm, let me see...
0:51- Gym Theme
0:56- Pokémon Center jingle
1:22- Hypnosis/Sing jingle
1:46- R/S Pokémon Center
2:20- R/B Battle intro
2:24- Route 10
2:30- G/S Item Get
...Along with computer and "item use" sound effects. Okay! I hope that's alright then! I think I'm done here! Hope you enjoy it."

Chirpy, happy, downright euphoric tunage, but damn if there isn't a lot going on; filtered, phased drums mixed in w/ plenty of FX, including in-game, and hell, Blake even threw in some orchestra hits. Normally those trigger a strong gag reflex for me (side note: we once had a mix submitted that featured an actual orchestra hit "solo"... for real), but in this instance they're well-integrated and in keeping with the arrangement's very playful nature. Synth lead is saccharin mono-glide sweetness, through and through, and the bass is a simple waveform as well, so it all sorta mashes together in a style that's chiptuneish and flamboyant. Vinnie says:

"Very fun arrangement, reminiscent of halcyon. I like the slight queasiness you get from the samples used, it keeps this manic and edgy instead of safe. Fadeout seemed like a copout, but that's pretty much the only negative I had, and isn't a big enough deal to make it a NO. Don't do that next time. Welcome aboard, Blake!"

My thoughts exactly; while the main synth is mixed a little loud given the higher frequencies (like I'm one to talk, right?), the only real issue here is the ending; it's not just that the fadeout feels insufficient, it's also executed with haste. Blake should be able to do better next time, and here's hoping he does, but in the meantime we can all enjoy some fine Pokémon mixage, as ProtoDome joins Tweek and TO as only the third artist to get a pokémix posted.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
This was the first song I heard on the site. It was disappointing to know this was one of the only Pokemon mixes at the time, but it was also better than anything you could find on Youtube, so I couldn't complain.
Congratulations mister ProtoDome, with this song alone you had created another chiptune fanatic! The melody writing here is absolutely perfect. In fact, there's not really anything in this song that doesn't sound great IMO. It's catchy and cute - take my money!
The fadeout didn't bother me that much either. It makes me laugh now because it seemed like your song wanted to go on longer, but it had to conform to the ProtoDome standards.

- urdailywater on February 25, 2013
The beepz around 0:50 sound like the world's cutest bus honking its horn. Beep beep! ;o
I loooove this mix, and it typifies PROTODOME's remixing tendencies perfectly in that it is both awesome and a Pokemon remix.

- ectogemia on October 10, 2011
(late lol)
I listened to this seven times. The creativity in this mix is just superb! I'm also a big fan of that percussion throughout, and the little hits at the beginning and at later parts.
This pumps me up for the Missingno Tracks so much :XX

- TheGuitahHeroe on February 25, 2011
An Awesome mix, I hope to see more work, because this was amazing! 10/10

- Gamerboy114 on May 19, 2010
This is way too catchy! Pressing play one more time...

- eyecreate on March 9, 2010
Proto, you are a BAMF! The synth mangling, the retro-sounding orchestra hits (and the rest of the sounds used, too) and the way all the pieces of music were linked together with sound effects and clever transitions make this one of the most FUN remixes I've heard in a long time.
You seem like a genuinely talented dude with a lot of passion for music, so please keep bringing it to the table like this Proto :-D I'm so stoked for all of your Pokémon mixes!
By the way, I liked the fadeout actually, though I think it could have lasted a little bit longer. No complaints from me on that count ;-)

- Emunator on December 21, 2009
decent mix, i'm not so fond of some things that tend to have dB issues, but i can't really tell unless i get better speakers.
and, for the lulz:
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm55/panda142/0ca240bf8039eb1aaf8dba2656b205c6.png

- Platonist on October 11, 2009
Inexplicably, while listening to this song for the first time, I got that tingly feeling in my nose that I get when I'm just about to cry. If you were trying to trigger my nostalgia, consider yourself successful. I've always loved Pokemon music and it never seems to get the remixes it deserves. Hearing the GSC generation represented here made me so happy. This is a wonderful medley; all of the tunes blend together excellently, never overpowering one another. It's full of energy and rhythm, while still keeping true to the original. It reminds me a bit of the Japanese remixer hapi⇒'s remixes, if you're familiar with him at all. (His Kirby and Pokemon ones tend to provoke the same 'about to cry from rush of happy memories' feeling from me.)
My only wish is that there was more of it! I'd love to hear you take on some of the other tunes from the game.

- Carrie-san on October 10, 2009
As said, there are too few Pokemon remixes, and this is a good reason for why there should be more.

- martinstatic on October 1, 2009
Hey guys, this is how to do a medley right. ;-)
Very nice syncopated rhythm keeping it moving forward, and a great melody really makes this a class track. The percussion is interesting and varied, and the counterpoint is excellent.
Well done, you've earned your badge.
Viva la synth revolution!

- OA on September 24, 2009
The first ~30 seconds have a distinct 90's electronica feel to them. The word I'd use to describe this remix would probably be "playful". The chiptunish sound of it, the variety of themes used; it all just works so well.
Nice job.

- Martin Penwald on September 23, 2009
I love this mix (Aside from the ending, which I disliked very much).
It's so fun, contains so many memories, and expertly remixed.
Really, Pokemon music seems to be among the toughest tracks to remix. No one can seem to get the tracks right. Once in a blue moon, people get them right. In my opinion, this is the only Pokemon song on OC that gets it perfect, with the others getting 'em okay. Most Pokemon remixes crash and burn, though, so to be able to remix 'em is a great feat. (I'm not counting arrangements, which for some reason, also tend to crash and burn just as often as remixes.)
I also love how you added the PC noises and made them fit perfectly. <3

- Roihu on September 13, 2009
I really love the crazy lead synth of this tune.
Great job!
And Thanks.

- Coucou on September 10, 2009
The phrase "retro chip trip" comes to mind. This is a great little mix, really nostalgic. The bleepy-bloopy feel keeps it nicely energetic without being OOT, and it was fun to pick out the individual tracks mixed into it, which all worked really well together. Addition of the PC and item noises is a cute bonus.
But I have to agree with everyone else: the fade is pretty bad. It may have been better even just to have made it more gradual, because it's simply too quick. Still, it's far from bad enough to ruin the mix, so no major worries.

- Sorceror Nobody on September 7, 2009
Protodome's on my project. Just saying. ;-)
It's an odd, slightly wild mix of a few different parts of the game's music, but it's like a poppy, zippy little run through the melody.

- The Damned on September 2, 2009