Star Fox 64 "Into Darkness" 1:59

We just had a quick one with Seth Skoda's Sonic & Knuckles debut (it's a trap!), and now we've got ANOTHER brief yet impactful debut as Mark van Mechelen breaks through with a dynamic cinematic cue specifically re-scoring the intro of Star Fox 64! Conceptualized for a game dev showcase, van Mechelen's rendition of Koji Kondo's classic theme is a majestic welcome for players to the cast of Star Fox:

"I re-scored the Star Fox 64 opening cinematic -- the one where Fox & team receive General Pepper's distress call, run down the corridor to their Arwing hangar, and blast off to save Corneria. I tried to make it as cinematic as I could, as if scored for full orchestra. One thing that always stood out to me about the original was the corridor running sequence -- I felt this amazing cast of characters didn't quite get the warm welcome I was looking for. Their close-ups are so iconic -- was there an opportunity to musically personify them one-by-one as they are introduced? I tried my best to address that.

The original cutscene music ("Opening" followed immediately by "Title") forms the structural framework for the arrangement, and I weave in material from "Mission Accomplished", essentially the Star Fox team's main theme, to provide that thematic movie score feeling.

On the use of reference material:

• Although I approach the star-dusted opening sequence differently (scoring the lens flare and N logo with string glissandi and brass swells), keep your ear out for the "Opening" theme's ominous, rising four-16th-notes ostinato, highlighted in the strings.
• When the Great Fox appears, you will recognize the familiar "Opening" theme, which I first pare down in the horns and woodwinds (the tuba's round-like response reharmonizing it) and then orchestrate in grander fashion as General Pepper reveals's war.
• As we cut to the corridor running sequence, I turn to the team's "main theme". You will know it when you hear it – it is an 8-note motif (the "do-so-laa" one) that is heard in various parts of the soundtrack (notably "Title"), but in Kondo's "Mission Accomplished" he fleshes it out across six phrases. The first phrase, re-orchestrated and re-harmonized, forms the basis of the shot of the whole team together. As we move through the individual close-ups, I move away from this material, giving each character his own phrase -- Slippy's surprisal, Peppy's staid approach, and Falco's antagonism -- which sets up a triumphant return right back to "Mission Accomplished" for Fox's close-up.
• The final phrase of "Mission Accomplished" with its repeated 16th-16th-dotted quarter figure forms the basis for the next several shots, from the melodically ascending transition away from the corridor, to the march-like section accompanying our initial views of the hangar, and finally to a melodic variation that rises through the orchestra as the Arwings fire up and blast off.
• Finally, I arrange "Title" for the title splash. As the music fades, the flutes quietly reference the intro to "Mission Accomplished".

If you're curious, the re-scored cinematic exists (over here), but this one's for the film score fans.

Thanks in advance, I really appreciate your consideration & feedback! Hope you enjoy!"

Trite as it may seem to say, van Mechelen's adventuresome energy does bring to mind a certain magical movie musician, so judge Chimpazilla wasn't wrong to namedrop 'em:

"This is excellent, it sounds to me like John Williams himself put this together. I am beyond impressed with this. [...]

The production here is unbelievable; someone really knows how to get the most out of samples! What sample library is this? It sounds really super good to me, really competently crafted piece."

Yeah, why'd we go "into darkness" on what gear was involved, Mark?!? Where are our VST super-sleuths out there? You've got the judges wanting to know how this was sounding so strong. :-D Fellow panelist prophetik music was actually the first vote to invoke Williams by way of Star Wars, certainly apropo for the thrills, chills, steely resolve, and derring-do all effectively conveyed by van Mechelen:

"i liked the different feels that you were able to represent in such a short period of time. the trumpet fanfare, running string patterns, and later ascending lines at 1:22 all were very A New Hope-esque. a triumphant theme is announced, and then we're into the falling action.

i am normally so against extra-short remixes, but this accomplishes so much in such a short period of time. this is dynamite [...]! what a great reimagining of the original. excellent work."

Film score vibes at their finest, and, by being so dynamic, Mark said a lot musically without even breaking beyond two minutes! Would you skip checking this out? "Can't let you do that, Star Fox!" You may not have 119 minutes handy, but you really don't have 119 seconds available to vicariously hop in your Arwing and prepare to save the day?? When the day's cloaked in darkness, that's when heroes are needed most. :-) Even if there's no air in space, you'll feel like you're moving forward with a rocket on your back with Mark van Mechelen's faithful, film (AND next-gen-game)-worthy spec work! Heck of a way to make a debut -- don't forget to watch Mark's arrangement adapted to Star Fox 64's opening for the complete experience!