ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 'Atmosphere'
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- Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega, 1992, GEN)
- ReMixer(s): halc
- Composer(s): Masato Nakamura
- Song(s): 'Sky Chase Zone'
- Posted: 2010-03-15, evaluated by djpretzel
Mr. Wheeler writes:
"My attempt at a more trance-structured mix, and as you can probably guess it's been infused with some chiptune stuff. Ended up with a sorta chippy-dance-disco sounding mix, and hopefully you will all think it's 'cute', as usual (since everybody seems to think my mixes are cute). Have fun."
I can't tell if he's bitter about the whole "cute" thing, indifferent, or embraces it fully; there are certainly worse adjectives one could be associated with, and I think major-key electronica with chirpy, chippy textures is definitely gonna get labeled as such, in a positive sense. It's not a word I personally like to use too often, simply because it can run the risk of sounding a little diminishing... while halc's mixes are upbeat and seem light and at times effortless, it's pretty darn clear there's a lot of attention to detail and skill at work in each track, so it's not like he's a soft & furry puppy that magically poops out adorable and odorless chiptunish electronica. Try getting THAT mental image out of your head for the rest of the day ;)
No, cute or not, each of halc's mixes has depth & texture, and this arrangement of 'Sky Chase Zone' from Sonic 2 is no exception. This mix has the afforementioned trance structure, but still employs lighter, chippier textures, especially with some of the percussion, and also makes excellent musical use of the ubiquitous Sonic "ring" sound effect. Synth leads are simpler but have modulation & gating that give them more character, and the percolating drums and simple, undulating bass let them shine. Since Sonic 2 is far from obscure in the world of VGM, it's kinda surprising that this is our first arrangement of the source in almost nine years, since Kaijin's take on it, and it's good to see the theme getting some love. Classic halc, classic source, gotta love it.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Crulex on May 24, 2011
OA;655617 wrote: Simple and clean is the way halc is making me feel tonight
Hah, no kidding. This mix is really pristine and not overly-busy or crazy at all. Great for chillout music with a bit of a kick to it (pun intended) and though it doesn't really get as crazy with processing, sfx, or arrangement as I've come to expect from Drew, this is still a really quaint arrangement that'll pop up every once and a while on my playlist and put a nice smile on my face.
- Emunator on December 14, 2010
- halc on December 14, 2010
- Skinner3D on October 15, 2010
- Oni865 on April 8, 2010
OA;655617 wrote: Simple and clean is the way halc is making me feel tonight
I see what you did there.
"Cute" is the word that immediately came to mind when I first listened to this remix, and reading through the comments, I'm obviously not the only one to think that, as is the case with "airy". Also, nice use of sfx from the game.
Good stuff.
- Martin Penwald on April 4, 2010
Wish I'd gotten to this one sooner, 'cause this is just awesome. It's airy, light, and gives me the impression that I'm really floating on a plane that won't let me fall no matter how much I want to fall off.
Awesome remix here, don't miss this.
- MechaFone on March 30, 2010
Anyway, love the mix. One of my favorite stages from any Sonic game. This definitely does the source material justice.
- Epsilonia on March 17, 2010
- ChaosPlayer on March 17, 2010
also..
K.B.;655973 wrote: Head-bopping. Head. Bopping. Cute my hiney. Unless [URL="http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/kewlguy715/Thiskidisadorable.jpg"]this[/URL] is halc. In which case ok.
HOW ON EARTH DlD YOU FIND ME??
- halc on March 16, 2010
The reason I like halc's stuff so much is not just because it's awesome; it's also because his mixes have a certain... ambiance... that few songs, let alone artists, are able to so perfectly capture. Yes, they're fun. Yes, they're bright. But more than that they're uplifting. There's an emotional depth conveyed in each of his works that provides meaning... grounding behind the lightheartedness. You can hear the care put into each note, and the end result is rejuvenating to the listener. I can honestly say that whenever I feel like putting on some good - and I mean quality - feel-good music, halc's stuff is always a first choice.
Or at least that's what I get out of it. And who am I but a simple, right-brained listener with my own set of tastes.
As far as this remix, halc takes it to new... what? I've already exhausted my pun allotment? But I intentionally avoided using the descriptor "airy" before! Bah, fine.
Never cared for the source. Loved every second of this. Ace. Simply ace.
- K.B. on March 16, 2010
Nice one :)
- jintoreedwine on March 16, 2010
Very nice. And sorry halc, but "cute" describes this pretty well.
- Geoffrey Taucer on March 16, 2010
well okay, not really. i embrace it ever-so-happily, but i can make non-cute things too. there's just not any on here yet :P
- halc on March 16, 2010
