ReMix:Pokémon Scarlet "The Art of Zoning Out" 3:40

Always a pleasure to hear from timaeus222, the only person more meticulous with source usage timestamping than I am (which is always very appreciated, thanks!). :-) Now, I might be zoning out just a tad, because I admittedly dunno jack about Pokémon games, but timaeus has a luxurious version of "Artazon & Zapapico" from Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, and he's got some OPINIONS on this latest mainline game. We've got quite the history of using these ReMix writeups like blogs, so it's only fair... let's let the man have the floor:

"So, a new Pokémon game came out recently! Scarlet & Violet take place in the Paldea region, and were released globally on the Switch on Nov. 18, 2022. I can honestly say, even though there were some major changes compared to the previous generations that I did play (Ultra Sun, Shining Pearl, and Black & White 1 are 3 of those), and it took time to get used to it, I did enjoy this game for multiple reasons. Hopefully, this helps you guys decide whether you want to buy this game or not!

From my scattered experience in Pokémon, it seemed to have adapted the character customization, overworld/battling mechanics, and Raid Battles of Sword & Shield (but drops Dynamax); the notorious Exp. Share mechanic of X & Y; and the art style of Let's Go! Pikachu/Eevee.

Other notable features (good or bad) for me:

• 1. Even though TMs are once again single-use for some reason, I like that you can craft them using materials that you obtain from defeating Pokémon of particular species.
• 2. There's no more Day Care Center (sad!). Instead, you breed Pokémon by having a picnic and making a sandwich that boosts the chances of having an egg (in this case, you don't gain EVs).
• 3. You can instantly transfer Egg Moves from 1 Pokémon to another, REGARDLESS of matching Egg Groups, just by having a picnic and having the one who wants the egg move hold the Mirror Herb with 1 empty move slot. This saves SO MUCH TIME!
• 4. Now, I can find berries scattered on the ground or in Raid Battles, but... I can't plant them anymore?! Excuse me? HUH?
• 5. The Pokédex is interestingly vague when it describes each Pokémon's location - perhaps realistic to what a kid might write, I suppose, but a tad frustrating.

There weren't a TON of bugs, although I posted a ton of Twitter posts chronicling my playthrough, including one where I jumped inside a building à la Super Mario 64 where I didn't use the door and could only escape by flying out... Nonetheless, I'll have to say that the post-game story involving the protagonist's friend and his father was particularly incredible and my favorite part of the game."

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that timaeus's Pokeyman bona fides are established. :-) I didn't understand one iota of that info (I think you feed the Pokeymanz egg sandwiches now...), *but* I was listening to this charmingly pleasant track while reading it, and was indeed chillin', so the title is exactly as advertised! Well, what about the actual arrangement, timaeus???

"As for this ReMix, I really liked the theme from the towns of Artazon & Zapapico. The original had a travel-friendly vibe, but seemed to quickly move on from certain musical ideas, despite having some surprising chord progressions that I would have liked to have a proper treatment. (Although, now that I think about it, I guess it's appropriate for the game as a result to achieve that travel-friendly vibe.)

I wanted to expand on the melodies I heard, really fleshing them out into fuller ideas. It became a 5/4-6/4 tropical/highland arrangement featuring some sounds such as Impact Soundworks' Highland Harps and Modern Harpejji, my own bell sounds from u-he's Zebra2, and Spectrasonics Omnisphere's pads. Initial inspiration came during a shower and I just found myself humming the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 1 intro theme on top of what I already had written, because I felt it gave the piece direction and paired surprisingly well with the atmosphere I was going for.

But what was really cool is I had found this video, which analyzed the various leitmotifs in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers series and how they were repurposed in multiple themes throughout the game. Even though I was already aware of such a strategy in that series' music, I found that video particularly inspiring, and I actually went back to this ReMix after "finishing" it, and I reworked the breakdown section in the middle to incorporate the "Time Gear" motif.

It was about 11 hours of total work time from mid-Nov. 2022 into mid-Jan. 2023 to finish this, so I'd say I finished it faster than on average! It's also quite a change from my usual arrangements because, this time, my idea of a breakdown section was a lot more delicateness instead of fanciness, and I've kept harmonic complexity instead of production antics at the forefront.

Anyways, I think I've rambled on enough, I hope you enjoy what came of this experience!"

Nice incorporation of the PMD themes to add a little extra flavor in there. The way timaeus combines multiple themes in his arrangements is always so seamless. I can't even recall a time where timaeus's writing didn't allow multiple themes to flow and transition in a way that sounded completely natural and effortless. Judge Chimpazilla got hooked by the opening, just like I did, and shouted out the intriguing and unusual time sigs carried over from the source tune:

"I love the djembe-groove opening. [...] Cute little arrangement, lots of variation in sounds and unique writing. I love mixed time signature arrangements and this one is done really well. Fun listen!"

All of us on the judges panel were on board with the sounds, with the percussion and strings just two major highlights amidst so much other ear candy dancing around the soundfield. (Big love to zircon and Impact Soundworks as well for their incredible sample packs.) Judge prophetik music appreciated the nuance, reserve, and relaxation in timaeus's presentation; he undoubtedly felt the arrangement was in the zone:

"haven't listened to this OST much, but it's real nice.

nice 5/4 groove to start it off. the hand percs are very clear and bright, and it's a nice vibe. the time changes when the percs drop for the initial presentation of the melodic material, and when they come back in we're still in 4/4. the lead at 1:11 is great - just a touch of vibrato, nice and understated. the plectral-heavy background fits that kind of lead well.

there's a...break? can it be a break if the track is so chill already? at 1:33 that is very calming as well. this slowly builds back into a full band sound in 5/4 at 2:14. this is a great transition and the melody works well in a 5/4 time signature. there's another dropoff at 2:49, and a smooth outro with a nice ritard into the final notes. [...]

the arrangement is novel, the influences are clear, the instrumentation is beautifully done, the mixing and mastering are excellent as expected. this is a great track."

Brilliant as ever from the 222; everything was clean, clear, and lush. The time sig switches were smooth, and this had a mature and expanded sound palette, while still wielding some bright sounds that felt authentic to the energy and imagery of Pokémon. Let's (Pokémon) GO! :-)