ReMix: Metroid Prime 'Parasite X'
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- Game: Metroid Prime (Nintendo, 2002, GCN)
- ReMixer(s): Mazedude
- Composer(s): Kenji Yamamoto (I), Koichi Kyuma
- Song(s): 'VS. Parasite Queen'
- Posted: 2011-10-24, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on Harmony of a Hunter
Mazedude sums it all up:
"Ya know, I never really had the opportunity to play through much of Metroid Prime... but, I do love the soundtrack. And, ever since I first heard it, I've been contemplating arranging the "Vs. Parasite Queen" theme. And, since it was actually a part of the game I did get to play, there's a touch of mini-nostalgia there as well. Bring it all together with a request from Shinesparkers to contribute to the Harmony of a Hunter album, and it finally came to life.
The genre, I admit, is a bit of a departure from the original; I took a hard hitting boss theme and turned it into swingin' ambient funk, I guess you could call it. Chippy, groovy, and chromatic (like the original). I did get stuck on this one half-way through for a while, before coming back to it and bringing it back to life with some even crazier funkiness - as you may notice - but regardless, had a ton of fun making it and really enjoyed lending my voice to the Metroid Prime music."
Offhand, I wouldn't necessarily have thought that Mazedude's quirky, intricate, layered sound would apply itself as well to Metroid Prime's music, but this definitely works. He didn't dilute his style one iota, but rather found a way to symbiotically attach it onto the head of the source material. Palpitating synth bass intros as the undulating pulse of the mix, before a groovy mix of acoustic & electric drums come in, with scientifically sharp synth leads and gurgling pads/fx combining into an odd laboratory of textures. In a different world, one could imagine this as a very successful arrangement of 'Devil's Lab' - it's got that factory feel of peculiar, automated components all working together in a funky, discombobulated-yet-functional accord. It's sinister, and yet it also sounds like it might be making Pee-Wee's breakfast, before his big adventure starts. It takes a unique artist to make all of that work, but that's definitely Chris, as his contribution adds his eccentric, crafted sound to the album; great stuff.
Discussion: Latest 11 comments/reviews; view the It's frighteningly weird. It's like something out of a horror story.
Most Metroid music goes willingly in one of two directions. Metal. or Synthy Horror Abstractness.
This is the latter. Of which I am glad.
This mix is great for Halloween. 'Nuff said.
- Tuberz McGee on December 25, 2011
- Crulex on December 3, 2011
This mix exhibits an interesting take on the original for sure. While the original is more ominous & lacks a melodic pattern that you'd notice, this one has more of a groove to it and a defined melody to get hooked on provided courtesy of the synth. Something feels like it's missing here though - maybe the bass needed to be more prominent? The arrangement certainly is there, especially if you compare it to the original, and once you do that it's not too hard to appreciate.
- Bahamut on December 2, 2011
In spite of this, it manages to keep with the source origins really well and goes into some very smooth creative melodic movements past the 1:10 mark. Gotta say that the percussion somehow felt a little minimalist to me for the first half of the song, but by the time it starts thickening up at 1:50 it starts to really dive into Mazedude's potential (which i'm assuming is where you started working on it again) and shows some writing skills kinda reminiscent to what you'd expect from the Earthbound score. It may take a few listens to get used to the whole thing, but once you do the purpose of the track starts to feel more understood.
To sum this up, it's quirky, it takes a more ambient track in a fresh direction, and I really dig this, so nice work for the Shinesparkers crew :)
- Rexy on November 30, 2011
- AMKalmar on October 25, 2011
- DominusVita on October 25, 2011
I don't have much else to say, I enjoy this track as much as the rest of Mazedude's awesome mixes. Another addition to my Mazedude mixdown list for my car.
- The Orichalcon on October 25, 2011
Anyways, very different, and groovy piece. I dig.
- JadeAuto on October 24, 2011
- champ the hippie on October 24, 2011
- GreyDefender on October 24, 2011
