ReMix: Mega Man 2 'The Fifth Season'
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- Game: Mega Man 2 (Capcom, 1988, NES)
- ReMixer(s): GaMeBoX
- Composer(s): Manami Matsumae, Ogeretsu Kun, Yoshihiro Sakaguchi
- Song(s): Staff Roll, Title
- Posted: 2005-10-20, evaluated by the judges
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.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the 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. :-)
- OA on March 17, 2009
- leilock on April 18, 2007
- Antipode on October 1, 2006
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.
- Xiedo on January 17, 2006
- Memorex on November 30, 2005
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.
- Less Ashamed Of Self on November 8, 2005
Very enjoyable...and im a picky bitch. :)
- jorgandar on October 31, 2005
Very unique and well assembled. The synths are interesting as well.
- Tnadz on October 24, 2005
Something to hear while sipping down a glass of fine cognac in the evening 8)
- RimFrost the Tourianist on October 21, 2005
Pander wrote: 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
- Crazyonr1 on October 21, 2005
- k u n g f u c h i c k e n on October 20, 2005
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
- ILLiterate on October 20, 2005
- swampbug on October 20, 2005
- PlastikBag on October 20, 2005
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