ReMix: Panzer Dragoon II Zwei 'Lagi's Takeoff'

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Panzer Dragoon II Zwei

In 2002, the much-feared and seldom-respected JUDGES PANEL was created, we got covered in EGM, the Fat Man submitted our first mix from a game composer, ormgas was launched, and we posted 367 mixes!

That's more than one a day. I still don't know how I even did that. Needless to say, I was NOT dating at the time. For those keeping score at home, that's the most mixes ever posted in a single year. 2002 laid the foundation for a more organized, formal review process and really defined the path forward for the years to come.

No ten-year anniversary flood would be complete without a first mix from a new game; this is actually MattInc's debut mix, too, though I enjoyed his submission to our Reset Generation contest back in June. He writes:

"Hey all! I recently got into the Panzer Dragoon series. Upon playing the first game, I just HAD to buy the second one. I started playing, and by the time I hit the second level, I fell in love with the music. Sure, it was completely synthetic, but the compositions themselves were unlike anything I have heard in a game before. Upon beating the game, I decided to arrange my favorite track, "The Great Ravine."

Throughout this year, I have worked on this piece off and on. Just recently, I picked it up again and decided to add a lot of changes. I can say I am very satisfied with the final product and the changes I have made to it. If you have listened to a lot of my original pieces, you'll notice many familiar elements in this piece. In this, I tried to make the melody itself more prominent, as well as evoke more of a tribal sound. All in all, I hope you will enjoy this piece, and thank you for listening to it!"

As a side story, on a cross-country trip in 1998 I actually found a copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga for $40 in Louisiana. I later sold it (blasphemy, I know) for like $120, but it's worth even more now... great game. I'm a huge fan of the series and its music, and really loved what SGX/MC did with their Orta ReMix, in particular. Matt's done a bang-up job capturing the ethno-electronica vibe; the clappish percussion in the beginning actually reminds me of Santa Esmerelda, enhanced by the later addition of a nice lead trumpet line, but that's where any disco similarities end. I love the varied instrumentation and juxtaposition of meandering, chromatic piano motifs against a strong, throbbing electronica accompaniment. Vinnie agrees:

"Great sound here, atmospheric yet powerful. Cinematic, let's say. This clearly plays homage to the original because of the source melodies being present most of the time, but the underlying chords and new background parts give it a completely different character. I second that the brass attacks are a weak spot, but there's so much goodness to make up for it."

Andy adds:

"The original is really neat. I haven't heard much of the Panzer Dragoon series music but I'm impressed. Anyway, this remix is an excellent take on the source! I'm a sucker for blends of electronic, acoustic and world instruments so I really enjoyed listening to this."

I really wish Sega would do a next-gen Panzer RPG... or maybe just a remake of the original for the PSP. Anything, really. Also, a console port of Planet Harriers, dammit. But I digress; until we get anything of the sort, I'll be happily listening to MattInc's awesome mix and envisioning the glory that could and should be. Great debut; looking forward to posting more!

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
It's refreshing to hear something so percussion based and for it not soar into bombastic regions. I find that pretty rare with orchestral styled mixes. And to top it off, there's an electronica influenced weaved through it.
The very mannered inclusion of vocals is a real treat; never overbearing and always elusive enough to drive home that message of mysticism and otherwordly ethnicity. The piano and brass helped keep things moving into newer territories, while also sounding very welcome amongst everything else.
Terrific debut and an exciting advancement on a genre that I thought I had worked out. It's not all there yet, but this specific blend of sounds is one that I really dig. Gets some very enthusiastic approval from me.

- Marmiduke on April 20, 2010
Wowzers, I feel like I'm hang gliding as I listen to this. I can feel the wind in my hair, see far in every direction, and even smell the smoke from cooking fires. Sizzling textures, pulsing bass and drum synergy, a brass that denotes daybreak... the aural experience is simply enveloping.
A tantalizing treat for the senses.

- Polo on January 13, 2010
Quite short, but what's there is absolutely awesome. The relaxed atmosphere of the song is superb, the tribal beats are great, and the chanting in the background adds a certain something.
Great debut mix; hope to hear more from you.

- Martin Penwald on December 25, 2009
The laid back feel of this mix is perhaps what I enjoy the most. The occasional use of vocals is a nice touch, too. Keep the good mixes coming :)

- jintoreedwine on December 17, 2009
So one thing that immediately jumped to me is the length - this is a pretty short song. It does a nice job as a role song to build up to something else, although what that is, I can't say.
Pretty good job for what it does!

- Bahamut on December 15, 2009
It is a great travesty that it took 10 years for a Panzer Dragoon Zwei ReMix to be posted. But I am glad that it has finally happened. This one is of much better quality than I expected, considering that it's a mix of one of my least favorite songs on the soundtrack. Very good debut for this mixer.
Of course, it's way too short, but you can't have everything all at once, can you?

- Upthorn on December 15, 2009
Simply beautiful work. Bring me more plz.

- yosefu on December 15, 2009
With this mix's mesh of pulsing drums, brash brass, and dancing synths, Halo and Mass Effect come to mind. I hope the push for unifying "ambient techno" and "modern classical horns", with "tribal beats" keeps going, it makes for outstanding cinematic OSTs.
Awesomely done.

- Pander on December 14, 2009
The tribal feel is really good on this, and for a first mix this is some solid work. The vocals used really added some nice character, I would have liked more of that brought back stronger later on in the mix.
The trumpet is a little weak, and there was one part (1:38) where I felt it clashed not very well with the other instruments going on, but that moment is brief. There are plenty of other good things to make up for some tiny flaws. Nice work, and welcome!

- DragonAvenger on December 13, 2009
Really cool, mysterious sound to it. Transitions could be more accentuated, they feel a little boxy now, but that's a minor gripe, as is that it feels a little like it feels a bit monotonous in its chord writing. Not detractively so, and it may well be contributing to the mysterious feel. Overall, nice work.

- Rozovian on December 13, 2009
The feel of this is incredible. The style reminds me of LastUnicron style which i dig. I hope to see more from you.



- metalsnakejuice on December 12, 2009
As I listen to this, I keep thinking of the Forerunners from Halo, this feels so... so... forgotten, ancient, misunderstood, the direness of waging an uphill battle, fear in a handful of dust.
I can feel the tension stretched through this mix like a tight skinned drum.
Wow, the more I listen to this, the more it grows on me.
Hmm... they say that if you want to be heard, you don't have to shout and be loud to make your point.
I feel this mix was very well played out.

- 42 on December 11, 2009
Wow, thanks guys! Glad you all like it! I'm still surprised this made it past the judge panel though.

- MattInc on December 11, 2009
I was just talking with halc a few seconds before I listened to this mix about how I was kind of getting a bit bored with straight orchestral mixes and how the genre was growing stale for me. When I downloaded this and listened to it, it felt like karma was rewarding me for complaining or something :-P This is fresh, atmospheric, and really surprised me! Great debut mix! My only complaint is the ending, though... wtf happened there? o_O

- Emunator on December 11, 2009
I think one of the best things about this remix is that it still sounds like video game music; you can stick this right back into a Panzer Dragoon game, and it'd work great. To me, that is an incredible bonus in a ReMix.

- Nobbynob Littlun on December 11, 2009