Great point by Chimpazilla on the percussion intensity being static and boring after a while; the core pattern was mixed too loudly, which exacerbated the problem, IMO. It's definitely a ding against it, because it undermined the dynamics of the piece, but I didn't think it was a dealbreaker. I can get past it, but the way this was mixed was needlessly cluttered. Emu mentioned not being able to isolate what was causing it, but maybe someone else can. Anyway, no dealbreakers here, just issues I would rather not have heard.
The theme's handled creatively in terms of the chiptune and guitar treatment of the source tune, and the chorusing of the two parts first done at :58 sounded pretty sweet, IMO. At 1:36 when the extra padding dropped out to clear up the soundscape, things sounded better until 1:55. And even though the soundscape was then loud & cramped again, I could distinguish the various parts easily. As I like to say, on the seesaw of what works vs. what doesn't work, this is tilted enough towards what does work. I think Emu makes a good case, but for me the good arrangement and OK-though-not-ideal production should be a pass.
YES