ReMix: Final Fantasy VI 'DeathontheSnowfield'

This is a pretty incredible song for me - I've never played Final Fantasy VI, and yet I get a nostalgic feel from this song all the same. I think that I've listened to this mix so many times (it was one of the first that I discovered on the site) that it's become nostalgic in its own respect. I can't say that for very many remixes here.
It's so simple, but the instrument samples are great and the arrangement is pure and heartfelt, it feels exactly like the remix title implies; sorrowful, somber, and cold - the pining song sung by a hero's heart as he witnesses a comrade fall in the midst of a wintry battlefield, pensive and mellow, yet transcendantly powerful at the same time.
I'm rambling here, but I think this is one of the most emotive remixes on the site, and to me, it conveys exactly what the title leads you to expect. I've never played the game this song is from, so I don't know the context it's used in, but this piece practically creates its own context simply through the music and title.
Beautiful stuff.

- Emunator on May 2, 2009

AmIEvil's best remix IMO.
Simply stunning.

- Willrock on October 14, 2008

This is one of the most visually evocative pieces on OCReMix. I can see the gently swirling snow under the grey sky. I can see the dead lying in pools of blood staining the perfect white, their shattered armor glinting dimly in the hazy, pale sun. I can see the dying clinging to their last frozen breaths, while the living crouch to hear their last words or give them the mercy stroke. I can see the victors standing solemnly, unable to celebrate the victory that came at such a high cost. I can hear the grim, metallic reality of the section that begins at 2:22. I can feel the hope (around 3:12) that comes from such devastation--the promise of better future that tragically had to be borne of fighting. I can hear the hope in the hearts of the victors that perhaps they will never have to give birth to such a future in this way again--that maybe next time, instead of a place stained with blood and broken with shattered metal, there will be merely a beautiful, undisturbed snowfield.

- Arwen on August 31, 2008

This mix is one of the most powerful mixes on this site. AmIEvil was always ahead of the curve - I feel like the quality of all the works I've heard go head to head with some of the latest mixes, and like djp has mentioned, they really have a powerful cinematic vibe about them. When I close my eyes, his music plays a movie in my head that he wants me to see.
The beauty of this track is in it's simplicity, conjuring up images of a lonely wanderer, journeying away from home, already missing all that and those he holds dear, facing the prospect of never seeing anyone again, of dying alone, of becoming one insignificant tragedy that no one will care to remember... he turns his head around, now facing the camera, eyes emptily searching for any last chance of redemption - the screen cuts to a view of the city from his perspective: happy, content, alive, together, mothers and fathers wrapped up in warm blankets with their children bundled up, enjoying warm cups of hot cocoa, all gathered 'round the open fire, ..but distant; then cutting again to the lonely wanderer - before giving up, dropping his head onto his chest, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets... slowly and solemnly walking away and becoming part of the distance, part of the ice, the snow-covered trees, the ephemeral purple-whispered black night sky...
At least that's what I get. I never played FFVI so there are no memories or sentiments attached to this song for me.

- SoulinEther on August 8, 2008

This is actually the first OverClocked mix I ever heard. Obviously, it left quite the impression on me; I'm still frequenting the site 5 years later.

- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on June 4, 2007

This is a great atmosphere piece. Just absolutely brilliant.

- Chickenwarlord on August 19, 2006

all i got to say is this is by far top 5 mix for me. What I love about it, is how it is so simple but yeah offers so much feeling and depth, this is truly something difficult to accomplish. Sure like to have AmiEvil come back and do another mix like this sometime.

- avaris on August 16, 2006

Beautiful orchestration. One of the best Terra remixes, although i prefer Terra in Black, this is damn good!

- PJ on July 15, 2006

Normally I wouldn't be interested in something so many people like, but I know how ciritcal gamers are, if this many Ubro critical fanboys, and girls love it, its obviously good. 11/10!!!

- Soapy on June 30, 2006

Wow. Just wow! The guitar is amazing and I love the smooth transition from this period of tranquility to that section around 2:15 where this haunting feeling just blankets mix while maintaining the utter beauty from the very beginning. And then it beautifully finishes off by getting back into the original guitar motif ending with a long triad, which leaves you with this subtle suspense for a couple seconds though it feels like so much longer, just to make sure it leaves a lasting effect on you. This is the best mix of yours I've heard, AmIEvil! True musical genius.

- lady zelda on June 11, 2006

The biggest compliment I can give this song is making it the first song on my all time greatest video game remix cd. And yep that's what I did. Thanks AmIEvil, and no I don't think you really are. You're just misunderstood.
For those curious, my "all time greatest video game remix cd" track list is as follows:
[[b]MOD EDIT:[/b] Favorites list buhleeted/discouraged. Go get ALL the ReMixes instead. They're worth it.]
Look at all that free music. If you don't have some of that, go get it! It's all top quality jams for you and your jammies. Ya heard me?
EDIT: Hmm, I guess y'all didn't hear me.
well, good job, AmIEvil, once again. I guess I'll have to secretely post good reviews for everybody who made my "all time greatest video game remix cd" instead, secrete spy ninja style.
So, those in the know can just check out all the reviews and look for ole double J to find his easter eggs. I guess that's what everyone does...
Dang, I was all proud of my cd too. Well, it's worth a little extra work to spread the word.

- juggalojaf on December 28, 2005

Hmm..... I like the opening... And the instrument whatever it is that is playing is nice for the tune... but some parts just don't sound like like Terra.
Overall: 7/10

- SakakiAzu on November 12, 2005

Personally, I really love the intro to this song. He does a great job setting the mood.

- SerBarristantheOld on October 5, 2005

This reminds me of "Clubbed to Death" from Matrix,
some calm piano that touches you, then...FOOM! In comes
the seriously part with boompobidombombompodidom that makes you jump. Good choice to pick the guitar for the Terra melody, that was really swell.
Well meet again, mr AmIEvil.

- Bummerdude on September 19, 2005

I'm going to share a lovely story with you all. It's how I got to play FF6. My friend came back from Japan with FF6 and a Super Famicom...yes, the real thing. But I can't read Japanese, and so I stole his SNES and English FF3. First thing...can you imagine how hard the opera scene would be in Japanese? Yeowch. Not that Celes' synth voice is that pretty anyways...but Kefka's laughter made me giggle.
Mind you, I'd played VII through X, and I'll leave my opinions on each aside. But of all of them, the only one that's really ruined with a spoiler is VII. And yes, it was ruined for me before I played the game (though I still cried when Jessie died. Jessie > Aerith. Kthxbi). No one told me what would happen in VI. No, I didn't know about the secret plot, and how one vial can kill a castle's population in 30 seconds. But...wow. Talk about epic. It's like "what would happen in FFVII if Meteor hit." The reality check was necessary and moving.
That brings me to this piece. Hi. Your world is gone. You don't know if anyone's alive. As far as you know, you're the last person on earth, and you have no way of confirming this suspicion. It happened to the guys in Robotech, too. World devestation isn't a pretty thing. It affects everyone dramatically, and you have to be a brave author to throw it in your story. In 99% of those cases, you can't go back to the way things were before. I'd imagine the mood would be something like the one inspired by this song.
The people before me talk about the beauty in minimalism. Let's talk about that. When you hear Indiana Jones themes, they try to replicate explosions and armies and loud cacophanous voices with all the chaos of an action movie. Marching bands focus on joining cliques of instruments into a symphony, much like the school environment that the band students come from. By taking the minimalist approach, this song seems to have every desire to illustrate what the title deems "Death on the Snowfield". And illustrate it does, very well.
You can have your opinions on the song...it's slow, it's boring, it doesn't have a lot of "oomph!" But when it comes down to it, is that really the point? Take a look at Terra when you first see her after the gigamondo collapse. She is more alone than anyone else in the world. Isolation is the best word. There's no civilization where she is, just death and desolation. What is more desolated than a tundra or a desert? Knowing where you first see Terra, the tundra is probably more appropriate for her, but this song could probably be called "Death on the Wasteland" or something vaguely similar, and it would still work.
I favor the minimalist approach. I think, knowing where Terra is, what she's feeling in response to the world, her heritage, and her duty, that this song couldn't have hit a better mark. Yes, I'll admit that it doesn't always work with all of the times that Terra appears, but it works for a lot of them, because she's generally an angsty character (everyone in FFVI is; that's why they have to band together to fight Kefka! Save the world from supreme happiness by filling the world with angst!). This song works like a thought process; survey the scene. Review your feelings. A good memory? A hope? ...but there's still that thing dragging you down. Listen again, see what I mean?
I'm all for this song. It works for me, and gets my thumbs up.

- Babylon Skyscraper on September 14, 2005