orkybash Posted August 5, 2002 Share Posted August 5, 2002 Crystalis 'Calming the Angry Sea' Though I never played Crystalis, I *do* know that it is probably the most requested game (except, of course, Terranigma), and this remix should appease those requesting it, at least for a while. It's simple - guitars and seagulls - but it works well. I do have some beefs with it - Coulda used more reverb, for example. But overall it's well arranged, and well worth a download. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emjay Posted August 5, 2002 Share Posted August 5, 2002 The fact that this remix is composed entirely of the guitar, paired with the seagulls and ocean waves, brings a sort of a reminiscence to the feel of the song. I've never played Crystalis, but I did like the song. It's simple but enjoyable, and definately worth the download, especially to fans of the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted August 5, 2002 Share Posted August 5, 2002 All you non-Crystalis players should be ashamed of yourselves! Err, but anyways...a very nice song, composed of, well, guitars and seagulls, as said in the other reviews. This song is much slower than the original which makes it cool. Not much else to comment on...well arranged and recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 The confused/stuttering guitar playing got on my nerves, but the idea behind the mix is pretty phat. If the guitarist practices more often he might make some cool tunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherv Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 I found Ryan8Bit's remix to be very well arranged. I especially enjoyed the fact that it has been slowed down considerably as compared to the original tune; this changes the frenetic pace of the this part in the game (your character is riding on a dolphin, fighting off octupi and mermen) into a much more relaxed and laid back mood. The use of nature sounds (seagulls and waves) helps set the mood as well, yet they are not used excessively and thus do not detract from the music. I know I'll be listening to this remix every day when I come home from work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan8bit Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 Thanks for some of the complements, guys. I thought a general slowing down seemed to fit water better, although you are riding off into battle on the dolphin. The original tune is quite spastic, so I wanted to calm the angry sea, so to speak. The confused/stuttering guitar playing got on my nerves, but the idea behind the mix is pretty phat. If the guitarist practices more often he might make some cool tunes. Is there one part specifically where you noticed this? At 2 minutes the backup guitar goes off on a varied strumming them with offbeat triplets and such, is that what you mean? I've been playing guitar for ten years, so I have a pretty good grasp on things, but I'm interested in your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion303 Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 Damn fine remix. I get the feeling Roger hasn't heard much classical guitar music. Nice flamenco feel to this. In fact, the only thing that could improve it would be nylon strings, but I'm picky. -steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted August 7, 2002 Share Posted August 7, 2002 *cracks knuckles* hmm, okay Before going into any details, I just want to lay across my basic points - I don't feel a consistent tempo in this piece (leads and rythym tracks will slightly wander, etc) and there's just no consistent tone in the guitar playing either. Embellishments/trills/etc will either be barely audible or sound very fret fartish. While this isn't going on 100% of the time, it's going enough enough to make a glaring difference to me. First, at :05. String/fret noise during arpeggiating. Not sure if it's not holding down the fret enough or right handed muting gone bad, but either way it don't sound purty. Again, you hear it at :09. The note doesn't end naturally, and sounds very strained/amateur. Whenever you change positions (I can tell by the fret slides), the tempo stutters a bit and loses its place slightly. In terms of the part with the lead - the timing's pretty much okay, but there's more of a problem with tone now. I get a little nervous listening to it, since a lot of the notes will just sound like they're not played with confidence. I can write a lot more if you want me to later on, but I have a cold and it's hard to sit up and think coherently write now (have a nasty flu of some kind). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan8bit Posted August 8, 2002 Share Posted August 8, 2002 Thanks, I appreciate the input. I actually did have a metronome going so I wouldn't lose the beat, and when I posted this in the WIP forum, no one seemed to think there should've been drums or anything (which probably would've given it more of that confident feel). As for the opening, it's hard to hold out those last notes before you move on to the next one. Sometimes sliding is a sacrifice of the game. I've heard worse on some professional acoustic guitar CD's. But thanks, I'll try and keep that confidence thing in mind while I work on my next mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluefoxIcy Posted August 9, 2002 Share Posted August 9, 2002 This is an awesome mix. If you've heard the original and played the game, you know this is an awe-commanding movement by Ryan8bit. If not, though, or if you're a little short in the imagination and philosophy side, I'll explain. (Note: these are my views and do not necessarilyreflect the mind of the remixer) In the game Crystalis, the Angry Sea is a sea with an alter in the center of the western half. There is a HUGE waterfall, and ther are monsters and whirlpools everywhere. The Gold Statue was taken from the alter, and so of course "the gods are angry," as the saying goes. When you place the gold statue on the alter (you gotta find and fix it first), the whirlpool blocking any travelers' way is removed. Thus the sea is calmed. The original music ( http://www.zophar.net/nsf Track 4 of the NSF unfortunately it cuts at the end of the loop) was intense (as much as it gets on the NES) and sounded angry. This remix compliments that mood, replacing it with total and complete serenity. Indeed, one may well expect "the gods" to go out of their way to ensure safe passage to all travelers. The instruments are great, and the extramusical idea of calming is excellently portrayed. That, and it reminds me that the original Crytstalis had GREAT MUSIC (a true masterpiece), and the Gameboy version should be burned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Red Posted August 10, 2002 Share Posted August 10, 2002 This is one of my very favorite remixes. Brilliantly arranged and executed. It's appearing in my playlist quite a bit, too. Ryan8bit- love it. would love to hear more like it. The lack of drums doesn't detract from the "feeling of confidence." It's actually really nice to find a piece where the remixer was confident enough not to add a drum track. I detect no lack of confidence here. It is as great as it aspires to be, and achieves the mood it aspires to as well. As to the ending- on the first listen, it did sound a bit abrupt, but after a few repeat listenings, it really does sound like it fits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWired Posted August 11, 2002 Share Posted August 11, 2002 Ryan8bit throws in some very gorgeous effects over on this song. The well played guitar and bass make it sound just natural, and give it this good feel. Although i cant really comment on how faithfull it remains to the game, im going to say that im sure this remix was indeed was well done. Although the sound is a little bit low quality, and tends to get a little bit on my nerves, this still remains a very good piece, a good download and worth its time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaleph Posted August 14, 2002 Share Posted August 14, 2002 I found this to be a great remix, especially after I started playing the game =D. It's amazing how the liking of a song can increase when you know where it's from Anyways, I usually grade according to appropriate rhythm, appropriate soundfonts, overall effect... you can see how this song would create a problem with those grading types... I think that he kept the tempo pretty stable, especially for playing guitar without any backing beat. I think he did an incredible job, the song definately gives a soothing effect (which I presume he intended), and I think that hey definately put a lot of effort into this piece. I don't know if it was particularly difficult to play or not, but I think he did a good job. ~dj carbunk1e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goat Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 The guitar arrangement is soothing...at the start, probably not intentionally, you duplicated the 'tone' of the non-distorted guitars in that duet that Ozzy Osbourne did with Lita Ford in the 80's...."Close your eyes forever" or something..must be a chorus/reverb setting? -it's on the first guitar heard in the song:) At :52 there's a pleasant dual guitar harmony going that fits in perfectly and continues...reminded me of the style used in the opening/closing shots of that Clint Eastwood movie "Unforgiven." Unfortunately the harmonied tremolo picking (single string at a time per guitar, I don't think it's 'strumming' across multiple strings but correct me if I'm wrong ...the higher note is more centered in the mix), that comes in later wasn't as impressive and was slightly distracting: I felt it should have been a slightly stronger, more consistent strumming (controlling the volume of a stronger strumming at mixdown as opposed to doing it partly via a weak strumming)...guitars tend to lose their tone when you strum too softly (and it's harder to keep a consistent rhythm). The piece has a consistent feel overall and made me want to try the game which I'll surely do. I wish there was more 'real instrument' stuff like this on overclocked...I enjoyed listening to this soothing piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAlone Posted August 23, 2002 Share Posted August 23, 2002 I thought that this mix was very fitting to the name "Calming" The angry Seas, because this is a very soothing mix. Nice and soft, just makes you want to relax. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhyrock Posted April 18, 2003 Share Posted April 18, 2003 The first time I listened to the song I thought how wonderful it was, and how refreshing. The fact that it's not techno, house, or whatever with bunch of drums and stuff going on makes it original and cool. It's absolutely beautiful. Does everything have to be complicated to be good? I think not. After reading all of the reviews I was really surprised at the level of criticism for such a beautiful song. I began to question myself and my original take on the tune. I just played it again, and again I find it wonderful. Maybe everyone is just too into faster music to appreciate the art of this song. Even my wife, who knows jack about games, really likes the song. I wouldn't change a thing about it. To Ryan8Bit I would say don't let a little criticism shake your artistic vision. Listening to it makes me want to break out my NES and pick up a copy of Crystalis on Ebay. It was always one of my favorite games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapuran Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Ryan, I love it. I'm a huge Crystalis fan, and this song just swept me up in memories of the game. You really hit home with this one, so keep up the good work, and bring us some more Crystalis power! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kejardon Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I have to wonder why I really like this song. The sound quality doesn't seem that great, the melody doesn't appeal to me (don't like the original tune either), and it's a bit minimalist, which I usually don't like. For some reason, though, I can't help but download this song and put it on my playlist. O_o? Collectively, it just sounds right somehow. Although I don't like the seagulls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thórel Eladan Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Once.. I was looking for the soundfiles of crystalis. I couldn't find any until I got this web site. I don't know why I choose this song for my first try. Wow!.. I was really amuse of the complete different point of view from the original song I quickly recall in my mind. I found it very nostalgyc.. and even.. (yes.. pretty silly..) I cried with the song. I even write a poetry-like thing in my msn space, inspired on this version. (is in Spanish). I think It's an excellent remix. not matter what other people would think. Thanks a lot for made it Ryan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amaranth Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 This song would be amazing if the production didn't hurt my ears so much. It may just be my speakers though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maelkashishi Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 the song has considerable technical issues (as in instrument handling) that have been pointed out here before. I needed not mind, but actually, the composition is rather thin. While the ambient sea sounds fit the piece well, the melodic development is not really interesting enough to carry through the mere 2:30 for which the remix lasts (harmonically its quite straightforward as well). The ending is the weakest point with the guitars abrubtly stopping, which does not work for me since we're quite in the middle of something, expecting 'verse' or outro but not the performers just dropping dead by a heart failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceansAndrew Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I know Ryan could really spruce this one up nowadays, as there are some technical issues hampering the mix, but the arrangement idea is so good, it's been a favorite of mine for years despite them. My main concern is some intonation, and some tone choices, but I still love the idea of this one. Very charming, it has become dear to me. <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zewkin Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 It is a rendition such as this that makes you realize just how great the music in the game was. When I hear an interpretation such as this I imagine what it would have been like in the original game. It also makes me wonder just how the music could have sounded if the original artists didn't have the technological limits and could have done exactly the piece they had in their minds. Good job on this piece, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imfiru Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I really like your job!!! hey check mi own version of crystalis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternZypher Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 The sea's not the only thing this calmed. I especially like the wave and gulls effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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