ReMix:Mega Man 2 "The Fifth Season" 4:19

By GaMeBoX

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Ending", "Staff Roll"

Primary Game: Mega Man 2 (Capcom , 1988, NES), music by Manami Matsumae, Takashi Tateishi

Posted 2005-10-20, evaluated by the judges panel


Very distinct, different sound from OCR newcomer GaMeBoX, a.k.a Steve Olofsson, who takes a melody that's usually immediately recognizable and makes it... less recognizable. A down-tempo synth-jazz/funk groove with a plethora of playful retro percussive action sets the initial stage. Electric Piano, acoustic and electric guitar, and later even banjo(!) add some non-electronic presence to the otherwise robo-instrumentation. The arrangement actually covers both the ending theme and the title theme (also played at the credits), in that order, so it's like the reversed bookends of the OST in that sense, though both are merged seamlessly enough that it seems quite natural. In addition to varying things up and possessing a generally unique presentation, I think the specific strength of this arrangement is its use of layering - percussion especially, but also the lead melody at 1'14", where a shaky (but cool) guitar pairs up with a vibrato-heavy lead synth. The transition at 2'09" is surprisingly good - one of my favorite aspects is how the mix morphs almost undetectably from theme to theme, and then Steve brings in the banjo for the final minute, which is a rather unorthodox instrumentation choice, but again, oddly enough, works. I side with TO's take on the 'jo, and also agree that a subtractionist ending would have been preferable to the fade that's employed:

"The arrangement is, well, minimalist. There's not a lot there outside the punchy drums. But what is there is enjoyable to listen to. I'm the opposite of Larry in the sense that I feel the banjo is what ended up saving the mix. When the credits music comes in at 0:55, it's quiet but it works as a minimalist groove. Not sure what that twittering sound is in the background from 1:13, but it's strange and unique. I like it. The fadeout at the end of the mix wasn't what I was hoping for. Taking the groove out and perhaps letting the banjo or one of the other instruments take the mix to the end might have worked better."

This mix is just... a little peculiar. It's got a certain charm to it; I do think you need to pump the volume up a bit to hear both the melody and some of the details the ReMixer's thrown in, but overall the four-plus minutes go by fairly quickly, and at a very deliberate tempo no less, as the instrumentation and layering keep things interesting, and the transition halfway through anchors the piece and adds a lot of resonance that wouldn't have been there had things stayed on the same track throughout. An odd but attractive first mix from GaMeBoX that brings something new to the Mega Man 2 compendium and adds a few novel touches to a solid arrangement.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Skyline Drop
on 2010-07-14 10:48:31

This one's got a nice, chill, sort of minimal soundscape to it. I feel like it would fit really nicely as background music to some sort of Mega Man themed puzzle game, or something.

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evktalo
on 2009-09-17 10:22:06

Nice and chill, this mix was in VGDJ's Russian Remix Roulette section in ep#069, but I've heard and liked this before as well. The sound feels kind of muffled, but it's a very complete and balanced piece, nice and soothing.

--Eino

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OA
on 2009-03-17 12:06:35

This combination has been mixed a lot, but usually in similar styles, so it's refreshing to hear such a unique style on such a classic. Honestly, I didn't recognize the intro at all the first time I listened, and the title screen, while more recognizable, still had a huge shift in rhythm and phrasing.

It's classy and cool, but also really quirky, and I think this is one of the few cases where the very popular source improves the track as a whole. Going as interpretive as this is on a lesser-known source would probably just end up sounding like an original track. The feel of this is really casual and futuristic, while being really clean as well. I could imagine this being played for an IKEA commercial or something in 20 years. :

The instruments are well chosen, and I like the flow. Overall a really good mix, but definitely something no one would expect. :-)

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Michaelinnotts
on 2007-06-11 18:28:35

Wonderful remix, beautiful composition.

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leilock
on 2007-04-18 13:19:41

I'm a huge fan of that tune from Mega Man, and I really like this treatment. I always skip to this song when i wanna hear a good Mega Man tune :) One of the things that this song does well is blend the original 8-bit samples in a really smooth way, so much so that it feels very comfortable in the chill pace of the song, never breaking the grove with jarring volume or tone.

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Antipode
on 2006-10-01 23:52:01

Thanks for an excellent remix, GaMeBoX. This is one of my very favorites, and it think it can be underappreciated at times. I love the arrangement and you've created something that's very unique and catchy. I would be just fine with some extended mix lasting a minute or two longer!

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Xiedo
on 2006-01-17 13:10:08

This is the best OC remix I've heard in a while. I barely know anything technicial about music, but the song seems to always be flowing and it never drags. The beats are catchy and there's enough variation that the 4-odd minutes just fly by.

IMHO, there are too many OCremixes that are very complex and catchy (a good thing) but they just don't vary their original material enough. The result is I'm always waiting for the song to transition into the next section which eventually leads me to boredom and then I stop listening to the song at all.

I definitely do not have the above compliant with this song. It just moves.

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Memorex
on 2005-11-30 22:11:45

Ah I love this tune. It's my favorite out of ALOT. Just has that flavor to it I like. I love the megaman leap-down bleep sample hehehe makes the song IMO and then the part at 2:10+ is sweeeeet. Atmospheric. Ah man GameboX keep doing stuff this good!!! hehe

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Less Ashamed Of Self
on 2005-11-08 03:29:35

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet; it's just got so much character, I love it.

It's minimalist for sure but it's very moody, very fluid, and very sexy. I absolutely adore it's unique electronic-lounge flavour and would not be adverse to hundreds like it.

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jorgandar
on 2005-10-31 18:44:38

Wow.. this really gives an amazing atmosphere - cleverly done in the mimialist of ways. This is a great example of when less is more. Each sound is very deliberate and well placed.

Very enjoyable...and im a picky bitch. :)

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Tnadz
on 2005-10-24 13:51:37

I really like the light ambient background layers put in here. The panning is kind of nice too. The effects processing is exquisite as well, really keen to help produce the transition you were going for. Some of the instruments though are real layed back to the point of almost not being heard aka the guitar around 2:45 or so. I guess you do just have to turn it up. That guitar sound though, at 3:05, nice. The fade out isn't bad but it seems just unsuited considering all of the elegant transitions you gave us in the previous sections. It just feels like that smooth energy should peak somewhere instead of drift away.

Very unique and well assembled. The synths are interesting as well.

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RimFrost the Tourianist
on 2005-10-21 20:40:30

Charming and constructive little tune. I liked it alot.

Something to hear while sipping down a glass of fine cognac in the evening 8)

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Crazyonr1
on 2005-10-21 00:19:13
Now that's some fun electronica.

Agreed, I haven't played MM2 in years, but both themes came right back to me.... maybe thats the game, or your style, I don't know

In any case, awesome, mellow first mix :D

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k u n g f u c h i c k e n
on 2005-10-20 18:20:38

This is too much hotness, I've had this track for months, so you know what I think of it :)

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ILLiterate
on 2005-10-20 16:29:17

Strolling past OCR and new mix and whats this? GaMeBoX! Everyone I know is getting onto OCR but me D:

Anyways it's a fun song to just kick back too. The from game samples are used nicely and the pads really give the mix a flooooooow. And mabye it's just me but, his is something that's going to be playing in the background of the MMORPG's I play

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
Mega Man 2 (Capcom , 1988, NES)
Music by Manami Matsumae,Takashi Tateishi
Songs:
"Ending"
"Staff Roll"

Tags (4)


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

File Information


Name:
Mega_Man_2_The_Fifth_Season_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,261,764 bytes
MD5:
f68d478e776c4606c26425df672376b7
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
4:19

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