ReMix:Ninja Gaiden "Sudden Loss" 3:30

By goat

Arranging the music of one song...

"Requiem"

Primary Game: Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo , 1988, NES), music by Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Nitta

Posted 2003-02-26, evaluated by the judges panel


This ReMix from goat represents one of the few, but extremely cool from my perspective, instances where a track was submitted, turned down, revised, improved for the better, and accepted. This doesn't happen all that often, nor should it necessarily - often it's best to just move on if a particular mix isn't working out, rather than try to fix it come hell or high water. I've abandoned more mixes than I've finished, though admittedly in the earlier stages, however the point is the same - resubmitting a mix isn't always the best path. However, our judges usually indicate when a mix is right there on the edge, and whether or not a couple concrete modifications could make the difference, and in this case, they did. Opening with well-imaged acoustic guitar and shakuhachi, goat takes this melodramatic theme from the classic 2D ninja scroller Ninja Gaiden (about to see new life on the XBOX - fingers crossed) and imbues it with his own guitar sensibilities. Some rock drums, guitar chords, strings, way left-panned harp, and - very great entrance on this fella - a nice synth. The monoglide synth here really balances out the track - glad it wasn't a reintroduction of the shaku, which I was expecting. We then get some very cool oscillator-sync synth effects on top of that, and a counter-melody to boot. Definitely, this is a mix that gradually gets better and better. Well, until the ending, which is dramatically abrupt and reveals a lack of reverb, which one of the judges noted this mix could actually have used more of (often the opposite is the case). Overall, I dig the arrangement and particularly the second half, with the dueling synths, that sit well in the mix. Groovy.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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WesternZypher
on 2010-10-27 11:33:17

I don't think my ears are keen enough to notice all but the most heinous of poor quality samples used, especially when it comes to submissions from the site's early years. Held to the standards of then (as opposed to now, I like this. Alot of what was posted in those days reminds me not so much of professional, polished video game music remixed, but...like, video game music enhanced. This qualifies, and still deserves its space on the server :D

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tweex
on 2010-09-14 20:19:44

Interesting intro here. I'm not feeling the midi sounds here. The piano is very mechanical. The strings are much nicer in comparison. The introduction of the rock elements definitely helps. The strings sound better when they're not so exposed. I like to hear goat trying to expand his style a bit, and I'm a sucker for orchestral fusion with rock, so I love the effort! This track would be EPIC with a modern production flair to it. The drums, while they sound better than the previous mixes, just feel out of place. Throw some reverb on those bad boys to make it sound like they're being played with the orchestra. There is some bad clipping in the low end with the kick drum. All in all, not the best from goat, but I love to hear him stepping out of his comfort zone and I hope he tries this again!

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OA
on 2009-03-16 11:32:17

This is pretty weaksauce compared to other Goatly tracks, held back by poor samples that are poorly used.

The arrangement itself is really hot, and if it had some feeling behind it, it could really shine. Scaredsim or Sixto both have reputations for taking good arrangements and making them really come alive. Maybe they should collab and save this one. :-) Or better yet, even Goat himself could update this one.

Bottom line: great arrangement poorly done.

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Liontamer
on 2007-05-14 01:51:21

Definitely carried by the arrangement here, as most of the samples were really rigidly sequenced and exposed. It all significantly limits the very tangible emotion of the writing. Chris could get this one sounding twice as good nowadays, and I don't even mean just by having a real guitar. Just based off this one though, I can't wait to see goat eventually tackle more from the Ninja Gaiden series.

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jordanclock
on 2004-06-17 23:53:31

The main melody reminds me a lot of the 1968 Romeo and Juliet scene where Romeo and Juliet meet. It feels different from goats other works, obviously, but it still works very well for his style. Nothing to complain about here.

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Red Shadow
on 2004-04-25 01:13:48

Most of the second half of this mix makes me think of the Terran music from Starcraft. I like it.

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Mahjong No OujiSama Yoshi
on 2003-11-18 13:17:37

Here's a more complex theme of the Ninja Gaiden Father's Death theme! Well, it's good in a bad way! I mean to say this is for death, when you have a brother or sister that just died in the family like my brother's friend's friend. Well, that's all I can say for this song!

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last man standing
on 2003-07-08 17:58:43

this is an amazing piece. goat took a pretty mediocre song and turned it into an amazing one. goat continutes to make awesome remixes.

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Streets of Rage bum
on 2003-03-03 21:24:15

They talked about that in the review thread for Russell's version. Actually, more like argued. Anyways, it was from the end of the game. If you made it past all the nail-biting and hair pulling of having to start over on the three segments of the last board if you died against Ken Hayabusa or the Jacquio or that Alien thing, then you would hear this music. Not exactly an easy task.

hellya! i think only twice in my lifetime have i ever made it passed all these parts without getting sent back!!! The tough part is when u beat the possessed Ken and then u fight the superJaquio, but they take away whatever special weapon you had after beating Ken.... Anyways, this tune is exactly from the cinema where Ken dies after blocking a shot intended for Ryu, then he dies in Ryu's arm's. Still one of the best stories ever in a video game series, part 2 is good too :)

onto the mix, this is a totally cool take on the theme. it's super hard not to compare to the other mix of the same tune called "Death of a Legend" by Russell is it? (sorry if i got the name wrong...). but for me, i just see it as rock version vs. classical version. both evoke different emotions. Although there is a part in Goat's version that seems to be made up....after the thunder sfx? Anyways, glad u kept workin on this mix so that it'd see the light of day on OCR! way2go!

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The Hiryuu
on 2003-02-28 15:04:33

Not bad...yet again, goat makes a damn good mix. Although it wasn't nearly as guitar-oriented as most of his stuff is (And as anyone who knows me at all knows, I'm a HUGE fan of guitar-oriented ReMixes), it was still pretty fucking cool. And I've been wanting another Ninja Gaiden ReMix for a while. Actually...I might just get around to that black metal Ninja Gaiden II remix I've had in the back of my mind for a while...

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coyote
on 2003-02-27 16:18:52

the first 1'01 of the song sounds remarkably like the theme from john woo's 'the killer'. don't know if this was intentional... but it definitely has that cheesy '80s chinese-pop feel to it. which isn't entirely out of place...

it isn't the worst thing i've ever heard on OC, and it's a welcome change from the thrubba-thrubba house mixes...

kudos on tackling a classic.

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Ryan8bit
on 2003-02-27 01:49:10

I think I remember hearing this in the WIP forums long ago? I don't go there anymore, but I used to and I remember you and Russell talking about the "Sudden Loss" from Ninja Gaiden. I think your take may be more accurate towards what they were going for in the game (rock). I still like Russell's sort as well though.

But yea, interesting song. Not my favorite amongst your others, but it shows a good progression. I too once submitted remixes more like this onee but then turned to the guitar.

This is a great, GREAT powerful song!

I just wish I remembered when it plays exactly in the game...

They talked about that in the review thread for Russell's version. Actually, more like argued. Anyways, it was from the end of the game. If you made it past all the nail-biting and hair pulling of having to start over on the three segments of the last board if you died against Ken Hayabusa or the Jacquio or that Alien thing, then you would hear this music. Not exactly an easy task.

The intro reminds me of the lve theme from romeo+juliet.

Yes, the two are quite the same. You often have to wonder if the composer of Ninja Gaiden borrowed it or honestly thought of it himself (because of course there is some variation). But then again, it sort of is a love song about Ryu and Irene, so take it as you may.

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Homo Pocket
on 2003-02-26 20:45:26

I agree with Metasquares..

Samples take a FARRR backseat in comparison to composition in my opinion.. I felt the piece was pretty darn nice, I dug the whole thing..

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Metasquares
on 2003-02-26 16:25:27

I like the melody itself and the really nice way it was harmonized somewhere around 2:00. I can care less if you have cheesy sounding samples... I STILL listen to MIDI files and enjoy them :)

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reelmojo
on 2003-02-26 13:12:53

I'm liking this. Sure the sample quality in parts could be a bit better, but it doesn't ruin the overall enjoyment of the song for me. Plus its not at all what I expected to hear when downloading a song by goat. :D

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo , 1988, NES)
Music by Keiji Yamagishi,Ryuichi Nitta
Songs:
"Requiem"

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File Information


Name:
Ninja_Gaiden_Sudden_Loss_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
4,279,074 bytes
MD5:
4982e90d435ae037ec52cbae97a7a8f8
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
3:30

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