ReMix:Mega Man Zero 2 "Stranger in the Desert" 5:34

By DarkeSword

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Departure", "For Endless Fight II"

Primary Game: Mega Man Zero 2 (Capcom , 2003, GBA), music by Chicken Mob, Ippo Yamada, Luna Umegaki, Masaki Suzuki, Tsutomu Kurihara

Posted 2005-02-20, evaluated by djpretzel


Shariq gives us our first mix from the Mega Man Zero series; I'm eventually gonna get either a GBA or DS so I can play some of these older GBA titles on the go, as they seem pretty damn cool. The melody here has intervals that remind me of the main MGS2 theme, but the tone is less militant and more ambient/explorative. There's a rising cross-panned piano arpeggio that conjures Aquatic Ambience, and the progression at 2'23" is fairly James Bondish, but the piano melody on top, the dramatic choral textures, and the myriad electronic textures that bubble underneath all give this a sound uniquely its own. If you just listened to pieces of this mix, you'd swear it was an ambient track, but DarkeSword's mixed in mixed-volume industrial percussion and even some subtle jazz elements, so it comes off as more a "soundtrack" sort of piece - difficult to pin down, mutating, with a common feel but many variations/permutations of expressing that feel. The wind/synth hybrid lead that carries the whole mix is perhaps a tad loud but pitch bends quite a bit; I think more varied dynamics on this particular patch would have worked hand in hand with the pitch bends and made it even more expressive, but I like it how trades space with the piano for melodic dominance. I'd never have guessed this was a Mega Man mix if I heard it without any additional information; sounds more like something from Perfect Dark or the more ambient depths of DKC. Either way, it's a subtler, less structured direction for Shariq, but one that works and works well. Equal parts suspense and relaxation, interesting and textured stuff from Mr. Ansari.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Necrox
on 2015-12-06 17:22:12

How I never got around to reviewing this masterpiece is beyond me. Probably one of my favorite mixes on the site; the mood and evolution is stellar. The tempo shift is great and when the beat comes alive... gorgeous. The flute is perfect. No complaints, an amazing remix.

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WesternZypher
on 2013-04-29 11:32:19

Another fantastic mix I can't believe has as few reviews as it does! I've had this on my player for a while but could never remember the name afterwards. Great mix for getting through tough times.

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TillyFun
on 2012-08-11 18:27:45

This is beautiful. Such pain that comes along with this... I love listening to it... I just can't handle this too often. -_- Zero's pain is open bare for all to see. I know this remix is for Zero and not X, but I can almost feel X's sorrow as well.

... erm, maybe I'm getting a bit too emotional feely here :P

Darkesword did a tremendous job with this mix. :D I only hope listening to it time after time with tweak didn't make him sad, as it would me. ;)

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OA
on 2010-04-26 18:25:22

The first half is very subdued but determined, and then it starts to pick up and get even more determined. The piano left hand started out a little out of character for what the song ended up being, but overall I really enjoyed this one.

A single promise... A decisive battle... And time is running out...

Beautiful work. :-)

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Crulex
on 2010-02-19 11:48:40

Ooohhhh.....yes. Just yes. This is beautiful in the beginning to 2:15 with the piano and the wind instrument together. I have a soft spot for those wind instruments, and more so when played like this. Then it gets into the faster sounding beat and I can really see how others could compare this to soundtrack/anime/intrumental CD's. Right after that it seems to be slow and calm again, but with more of a purpose. Oh yeah, this could work in a soundtrack or anime really well. Darn, good work, man.

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Inserio
on 2009-03-11 21:20:44

I finally figured out what the quicker part in the middle (around 2:50-3:14) reminds me of: some of the soundtrack by Kawai Kenji to the anime Fate/stay Night.

The melody is rather similar sounding, though it's been so long since I've played megaman--I don't remember most of the themes; so, it could just be that the composers wrote similar material.

Either way, it is just so catchy (especially those 32nd notes on the piano) and is definitely one of my favorites.

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Duo
on 2007-05-03 15:26:01

Everything about this piece is so good I don't know what to say. I got MMZ2 when it first came out and these two themes were clearly the best of the game (only a couple others are memorable...) and just love the entire feel and execution of the games intro. This takes it to an entire new level and although there are only 2 MMZ remixes, a song like this completely makes up for the lack of others. In a way, it fully encompasses what the Zero series is about, to me.

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zilver
on 2006-09-30 18:27:24

This piece gives me shivers every time I listen to it.

Maybe I like it so much just because I've played the game and feel the emotional impact of the song, I don't know :roll:

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Bummer
on 2006-01-07 08:12:03

My first thought was that it sounded like the underwater theme in DKC. But then again, it was only a slight piano prelude, but it didn't make me think of a desert anyway.

But let's get back to the subject, I'm a complete loser for piano remixes, this one must be one of the most beautiful I've ever heard. It isn't two-handed, but those bright tunes just make me melt, like a scorching desert. HEY, I can make the connection now! Then there's also a lovely flute (which I happen to also to be a loser for, but not completely), and it puts that lonely mark on this remix. This is about a stranger, nowhere to go with only his cape and a bottle of water as company. The flute puts the dot above the i, making this a definite download for all those who has a keen ear for piano and flute arrangements. What can I say? DarkeSword has done it once again.

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MonkeyHead79
on 2005-03-28 23:43:27

Very nice, especially for the first remix of the MM Zero series. Emotional yet relaxing, and I love the brief energetic part around 2:50. What frustrated me was that this is one of those tunes that you should be able to completely lose yourself in if you close your eyes, but it seems like most of the times the tune really seems to be building to something, it suddenly goes all quiet again.

Still, while it could have used some improvements here and there, it was quite enjoyable in the end. Thumbs up.

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meccaneer
on 2005-03-06 09:42:17

It's got a nice Michiru Yamane feel...

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TCK
on 2005-03-04 19:19:43
i tried in lime wire and kazaa lite ,torrent storm and many more but most of the are urs?Although i like urs a lot,but i would like to listen to the original one.Plz and tq.

This isn't really a request board. Also, don't search for Stranger in the Desert; search for Departure from Rockman Zero 2.

That's enough posting about where you can get the original, okay? Thank you.

GSF Central - Megaman Zero 2 soundtrack

I originally thought the track you were covering was Awakening World, but you're more or less right, it is Departure (Intro Stage), either works.

As for the mix itself, one of the best mixes in recent memory for me, and my favourite Darkesword mix.

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Zipp
on 2005-03-04 12:45:18

Darke, I'm a big fan. I have to say this one of my favorites from you. I hear a lot of different pieces in here, including, as Pretz pointed out, Metal Gear Solid and Aquatic Ambience. But the piano is all you, and it's beatiful. THANK YOU SO MUCH for staying low on the drums, I was afraid that they might come in heavy at some point and disrupt the flow.

Not much in terms of suggestion. There are two ways that I know once I've listened to something that it has reached perfection in my ears (cause does it ever reach perfection in the artist's ears?). One is that I will need at once to go play the piano and do an improvised remix. Another is that I suddenly feel I have to go play the game again. Your piece did both. Listening to it as I write this, and still loving it.

Zipp

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DarkeSword
on 2005-03-04 12:24:19
i tried in lime wire and kazaa lite ,torrent storm and many more but most of the are urs?Although i like urs a lot,but i would like to listen to the original one.Plz and tq.

This isn't really a request board. Also, don't search for Stranger in the Desert; search for Departure from Rockman Zero 2.

That's enough posting about where you can get the original, okay? Thank you.

avatar
Zerokiller02
on 2005-03-04 06:58:43

i tried in lime wire and kazaa lite ,torrent storm and many more but most of the are urs?Although i like urs a lot,but i would like to listen to the original one.Plz and tq.

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
Mega Man Zero 2 (Capcom , 2003, GBA)
Music by Chicken Mob,Ippo Yamada,Luna Umegaki,Masaki Suzuki,Tsutomu Kurihara
Songs:
"Departure"
"For Endless Fight II"

Tags (5)


Genre:
Cinematic
Mood:
Chill
Instrumentation:
Piano,Synth,Woodwinds
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Mega_Man_Zero_2_Stranger_in_the_Desert_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,961,851 bytes
MD5:
f816dd0b468251db9765a0451628bcae
Bitrate:
164Kbps
Duration:
5:34

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