Posted 2005-07-19, evaluated by the judges panel


Here it is folks, the first submission from the beloved Unreal series to see the light of day, from the initial installment in what is in my opinion the reigning champ of Deathmatch, UT. Coincidentally, I was just play 2k4 on Saturday, laying down the big hurt with my boomstick (actually fairly average, but you still gotta talk smack), so the timing's just right for Epic's franchise to get some lovin', courtesy of Big Giant Circles. Might as well start out by mentioning that Alexander Brandon himself gave Jimmy props on this mix:

"Damn... this is a good song. You've no idea how rarely I say that. I seriously hope you win whatever contest you've entered it in. Congratulations on such a fine piece."

Hopefully Mr. Brandon doesn't mind being quoted, but I don't think his comments would reflect negatively on him in any way, given the mix. Also hope Big Giant Circles doesn't get a Big Giant Ego, what with the direct-from-the-composer-himself positive feedback - remember the little people! BGC (I always think Bubblegum Crisis when I acronymize that) also wants you, the viewers at home, to know about the previous version of this mix, just in case you're curious as to what he changed around a bit for the OCR release. I'm gonna quote the entirety of what Mr. Burnett, who refers to himself in Karl Malone-style third person, had to say, as he sounds like the panel's biggest resident UT fanboy to me:

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunstoppable.

Interesting sidenote, Wingless has just about every Unreal (Unreal, Unreal Tournament, Unreal Tournament 2003, Unreal Tournament 2004, Unreal Championship 2) except for Unreal Championship 1 and Unreal II, which as we U fans all know, roundly sucks.

I can't remember (and/or probably never heard) the original submission, but this is very nice. You've got a nice, complicated texture, but things are so tightly compact that everything negiotiates in your ear *perfectly*, it's deep, without sounding cluttered.

Normally, I ain't down with voice clips in-media, but it doesn't detract from the song, and the outro from the clip is very nice.

All in all, very very nice. Fanboi'sm comes alive in this song!"

There you have it, folks, the panel's own Wingless, layin' it all out there for the world to see. Jimmy coaxes a VERY polished sound from FruityLoops, serving as one of a growing number of artists who handily dispel any notions that it is not as serious a musical tool as Reason or other comparable packages. I'll skip the play-by-play in this instance - you've essentially got a rock solid groove, layered synths with just the right amount of edge, pleasant mastering that's not too aggressive and spreads the sound out across a wide field, and a well-integrated utilization of the intro narrative. Shnabub says almost the same thing, in different words:

"Everthing fits together like jigsaw music! It's important to modify the groove every now and again like at 1:26. Nobody outstays their welcome in this here ReMix. 2:22 section's extreme redundancy is rectified by the guest lecturer who shows up there."

Excellent point about variety, etc., which is one of the mixer's strengths in a genre that often bears it as a weakness. Altogether, this is an excellent debut for the Unreal series here on the site, and another standout electronica track from BGC, and that's pretty much all there is to it. Jimmy's been extra busy with wedding prep, too, it would seem, so kudos + congratulations on multiple levels are due.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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ArmadonRK
on 2010-01-21 08:07:08

So, I've been listening to this remix since pretty much the day it was released on OCR, and I've been listening to Hyperblast Redux since I first pulled it from my UT2004 installation 6 years ago. Only today did I realize Club Showdown was a mix of Go Down...

This is easily one of my favorite video game tracks ever, yet, somehow, I never made the connection. I always knew there was something, listening to the two pieces, but I never did quite realize it. I suppose my brain just stopped working every time I listened to them, they're such immersive tracks both. It might have helped if I'd read the remix description 5 years ago, I don't know. But I just had to say this is an outstanding mix of an outstanding track that I'm still listening to today, however slow I may be.

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Gabriel
on 2009-09-12 10:53:02

Wonderful mix! I'm a big fan of the music from the original UT, so I'll admit I was disappointed when I searched the site and found only one remix, but I was very glad that this only one was top-notch. Listening to this brings back memories. Love how you included the voice from the intro. When I heard that, I thought, "Oh, yeah! I remember this!" Liandri corporation... hundreds of billions... etc. Personally, I think this dance/club style you've got going is particularly well-suited to the UT music. Maybe this soundtrack hasn't been remixed much because it's already so electronic and remix-y sounding. (Sorry - not being a remixer myself, I can't always find the right words to describe what I'm trying to say. I hope you can figure out what I mean.) Anyway, I love it. This one's going on the iPod. If you ever feel like remixing another original UT track, I humbly request "Mechanism Eight". :smile:

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OA
on 2009-06-09 14:03:11

Nice work on this one; it doesn't have the crazy cool tricks that later BGC tracks have, but there are plenty of twists and turns, and even the vocal clip worked out pretty well. Great layering, cool rhythms, and solid transitions.

Recommended.

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Mimo
on 2009-01-14 14:47:05

Being a big fan of Unreal and Unreal Tournament's soundtrack and Alexander Brandon's/Michiel van den Bos' work in general I'm glad one UT remix made it to the site. Was blown away by it when I heard it a few years back and it's still fresh. I think especially the ending from 3:48 onwards stands out, with continuing the main synth over a different chord, and introducing the piano as a new element even though you're on fade-out. Gives it a sense of mystique as it leaves you wondering how it might continue. Bloody well done :-o

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big giant circles
on 2008-10-30 01:24:42

no offense taken (despite the fact that I have no freaking clue what you just said).

Besides:

Alex Brandon's opinion Your opinion :)

also, thanks, insomniac :)

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vr_jadison
on 2008-10-28 08:56:12

Too long.

1. The song is not so cool enough to play such a long time. There are no special scenes in it; and I would recognize them even if I didn't like them.

2. I don't know, but I have the feeling it is just boring and has not enough character, which I - like mentioned above - would recognize as well even if it wasn't my favorite style...

So: Why don't you concentrate on the main statements (there are some hidden ones) in the song and present them more compact and purestrain?

Please do not feel offended too much - only a bit. =D

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Insomniac64
on 2008-10-24 16:48:41

I've been a UT addict since it first came out and your remix was awesome. great job.

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big giant circles
on 2006-06-27 22:37:28
Honestly speaking, I didn't care much for this as a remix. It's a pretty nice piece of music by itself

I'm not sure I understand what you mean there, but I appreciate the compliment :)

but it's certainly no "Hyperblast Redux"

well, I've not played UT2004, so I googled it and took a listen. Pretty cool stuff. A little different stylistically than what I was shooting for... More electronic while mine is more of, well, club beat, of course. It was a cool style, with the fast and furious strings and orchestration. I think one weakness of the Redux mix was it's lack of accentuation for the most climatic (to me anyway) riff of the song. But it was enjoyable, at any rate.

It reminds me a lot of some of the music from the Turok series. You'd probably enjoy the Port of Adia Drum Remix... something you might want to check out, if you haven't already.

Anyway, sorry to disappoint in any way, but thanks for the input and compliments!

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Joseph Collins
on 2006-06-26 08:02:11

Honestly speaking, I didn't care much for this as a remix. It's a pretty nice piece of music by itself, and I think it does improve upon the original "Go Down" by Alexander Brandon, but it's certainly no "Hyperblast Redux".(Unreal Tournament 2004.) Not by a long, long shot. But as I said, it's a fairly decent piece by itself. I think I liked it a lot more back before I read it was a remix of "Go Down" and/or heard the Unreal Tournament 2004 arrangement.(Which still makes my pulse quicken and palms sweat to this day.)

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jorgandar
on 2005-12-05 22:30:08

Wow... BGC never fails to impress. Just dont get a BGE (Big Giant Ego) :)

This stuff sets a new standard, every bit as good as anthem of a metroid hunter. (which is one of my fav's, all time.)

All this using only FL? I cant seem to make stuff sound this good with FL. lots to learn i guess..

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Gatecrasher
on 2005-11-13 15:52:18
I put this into my UT2k4 music and mp3 player immediately after i listened to it dawg!! Awesome and btw we need more UT music more plz more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im starving !!!!!!!

Fix'd for meeeee. Even though I don't like playing w/ music this is an exception.

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Pikeman332
on 2005-11-13 15:23:38

I put this into my UT2k4 music immediately after i listened to it dawg!! Awesome and btw we need more UT music more plz more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im starving !!!!!!!

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Kiyobi
on 2005-08-06 00:17:42

I never played Unreal before, so this would sound rather original to me. I like though!

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Cherater
on 2005-08-04 17:29:52

yeah pretty cool

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big giant circles
on 2005-08-04 15:32:03
I didn´t like this ReMix. There has been absolutely nothing brought to my attention. The guitar sounds very very very fake and cheap. FL Slayer sucks forever. The piano on end didn´t did justice. The majority of the synth sections are boring. I tried to enjoy the drums, but they are very weak. Maybe the female voice can do some good thing. But basically, the ReMix is very bad in a whole. I´m sorry.

sorry you didn't like it. when i utilize FL Slayer, most of the time I'm not going for a "realistic guitar" sound, but rather, I think of it more as a distorted synth. but whatever. i guess you can't please everyone.

thanks everyone else for the encouraging comments. i hope to be able to get back to remixing soon--marriage brings about a change in priorities :)

take it easy,

BGC

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Unreal Tournament (GT Interactive , 1999, WIN)
Music by Alexander Brandon,Andrew Sega,Dan Gardopée,Kai-Eerik Komppa,Michiel van den Bos,Peter Hajba,Tero Kostermaa
Songs:
"Go Down"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Electronic,Synth
Additional:
Origin > Resubmission

File Information


Name:
Unreal_Tournament_Club_Showdown_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,208,225 bytes
MD5:
fb2e91da51566347c266e68955a901bb
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
4:16

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