ReMix: Mega Man 3 'Blue Balls'
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- Game: Mega Man 3 (Capcom, 1990, NES)
- ReMixer(s): Sukotto42
- Composer(s): Yasuaki Fujita
- Song(s): Boss, Ending, Protoman, Shadowman Stage, Snakeman Stage, Title
- Posted: 2006-10-08, evaluated by the judges
Newcomer Scott Hannay, alias Sukotto42, writes:
"...it's a medley from Mega Man 3 for the NES. It goes first from the title screen into Shadow Man, into Snake man, then the boss battle. After that, it goes to the 2nd half of the credits music to close it out. Oh yeah, and it's all crunchy prog-rock."
It is indeed... although from my experiences with prog rock, I'd say this is crunchier than it is progressive. I was honestly surprised when I looked over at the length of this mix, just shy of seven minutes, given the file size - while it's encoded @ 112Kbps, which can often sound noticeably lossy, audio quality wasn't much of an issue. JJT does some work in a similar vein, so let's see what he thinks:
"yeah, this'll do nicely. good arranging. though it's a tad on the conservative side, there's enough personal touches and flourishes to render it as your own. the drums samples are really cheesy. you could find a much better set for free on the net without too much effort. other than that, my rawk fist is raised in tribute to your guitar kwakery/prowess. good day."
I'd say it's more than a "tad" on the conservative side; Jesse was the primary voice of dissent in noting that most of what's qualifying as melodic arrangement here is the performance and instrumentation, and that's a valid point. I think he was correct to raise strong concerns, as this is definitely a mix that teeters on the threshold of minimal arrangement. In this case, the same reasoning that's held true for similarly liminal mixes in the past applies, however: if the production and performance are there, and there's enough interpretation on the latter to qualify as arrangement, coupled with instrumentation changes, then things can fly. Plus, it's always keen to have a nice euphemistic mix title - doesn't sway the judges, but makes wordsmiths like myself happy. Guitar is clearly the focus and is the strongest element - drums are solidly sequenced, but the samples sound a little cardboard at times, and the bass is loud enough to create a midrange EQ gap at times. Last but not least, part of whether this mix is going to resonate with you depends on your feelings about medleys; I've always preferred a single song being focused on, or two songs being merged, to a series of pieces that are mature enough to stand on their own being concatenated. Transitions can and do mitigate this, but it's ultimately a matter of personal preference - you'll dig this a bit more if you dig the medley thing. Good, accessible stuff from Scott which may not take a lot of risks, but compensates with fun + energy.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Some of the playing is sloppy, especially the intro (I kindof
raised an eyebrow, though I'm not able to raise just one
physically, so it was both), but even as a medley it has plenty of
original material in the form of counterpoint, harmony, or original
sections, which make great segues in between other tracks. Tone is
good once things get going, but overall production is lacking a
little polish.
Good stuff, but not mind blowing. :-)
- OA on March 24, 2009
Good stuff, but not mind blowing. :-)
- OA on March 24, 2009
When I was first introduced to OCR, I decided to look the game that
got me interested in Video games and never let go, and still stands
as one of my favorite games of all time - Mega Man III. I sifted
through a couple intro theme remixes that seemed unastounding to me
and then I saw "Blue Balls". Something about that told me to
listen.
This song has got to be one of my favorite remixes if not one of my favorite songs of all time. The intro is slow at first but makes for a great lead in to the adrenaline rush that follows, and every listen after the first has me full of anticipation until it explodes at 35 seconds. Speaking of the 35 second mark, I love how you threw in a bunch of SFX from the game for a 2nd that are hard to catch at first.
Then that guitar breaks in and rips it up. I love the energy and performance here that remains consistent throughout the piece. If anything, the electric guitar is the sole best part of this piece bar none and the reason I seek out remixes with predominant electric guitar parts like this. Everything sets up great for the lead into Shadowmans theme, which also owns hard. I don't believe I've ever heard another remix of the song, but it doesn't need to be after hearing this. I especially love what you do with the guitar and keyboard from 1;50 until 2:00, and the part right after works great too.
The Protoman theme whistle and the lead into Snake's theme provides a nice cool down intermission kind of feel and though some complain about the transitions, I actually think this worked really well, especially when it kicks into high gear again at 3:18. The sudden stop and re-explosion (is that a word?) at 3:57 makes me gigglious. That just gives me a rush for some reason, almost as much as the utterly kickass leadin and performance of the Boss theme. I can't even begin to describe what part or why but the entire boss them is just so awesome and epic that it stands as my favorite part of the medley. MM3's boss theme has always been the best MM boss theme of any game in my mind and this does it justice for the feel I've wanted to get from it for years.
The "explosion" at the end and lead into the ending theme is nice, and the final song makes kind've a nice cool down for the rest of the song and wraps it all up very well. I appreciate how you picked some lesser-remixed songs and even a couple more common ones and brought it all together so nicely. It'd be great to hear more medleys of this style from you for this game or really any other. My jaw would hit the floor to hear you do this with some MM2 tracks.
Taking into consideration the criticism of drum samples, I will say they hold ground - but it's hardly noticeable when you get into the style of the song and let yourself get lost in it. The guitar also makes up for any lack in the drums by 100fold. I imagine this whole thing took a crapload of work so I appreciate that as well. I also dropped by your myspace and checked out the other tunes you've done - it's all really good stuff that suits my tastes very well. I wish you the best of luck in the music industry, I love what you're doing and I shall forever love this song.
- Duo on May 3, 2007
This song has got to be one of my favorite remixes if not one of my favorite songs of all time. The intro is slow at first but makes for a great lead in to the adrenaline rush that follows, and every listen after the first has me full of anticipation until it explodes at 35 seconds. Speaking of the 35 second mark, I love how you threw in a bunch of SFX from the game for a 2nd that are hard to catch at first.
Then that guitar breaks in and rips it up. I love the energy and performance here that remains consistent throughout the piece. If anything, the electric guitar is the sole best part of this piece bar none and the reason I seek out remixes with predominant electric guitar parts like this. Everything sets up great for the lead into Shadowmans theme, which also owns hard. I don't believe I've ever heard another remix of the song, but it doesn't need to be after hearing this. I especially love what you do with the guitar and keyboard from 1;50 until 2:00, and the part right after works great too.
The Protoman theme whistle and the lead into Snake's theme provides a nice cool down intermission kind of feel and though some complain about the transitions, I actually think this worked really well, especially when it kicks into high gear again at 3:18. The sudden stop and re-explosion (is that a word?) at 3:57 makes me gigglious. That just gives me a rush for some reason, almost as much as the utterly kickass leadin and performance of the Boss theme. I can't even begin to describe what part or why but the entire boss them is just so awesome and epic that it stands as my favorite part of the medley. MM3's boss theme has always been the best MM boss theme of any game in my mind and this does it justice for the feel I've wanted to get from it for years.
The "explosion" at the end and lead into the ending theme is nice, and the final song makes kind've a nice cool down for the rest of the song and wraps it all up very well. I appreciate how you picked some lesser-remixed songs and even a couple more common ones and brought it all together so nicely. It'd be great to hear more medleys of this style from you for this game or really any other. My jaw would hit the floor to hear you do this with some MM2 tracks.
Taking into consideration the criticism of drum samples, I will say they hold ground - but it's hardly noticeable when you get into the style of the song and let yourself get lost in it. The guitar also makes up for any lack in the drums by 100fold. I imagine this whole thing took a crapload of work so I appreciate that as well. I also dropped by your myspace and checked out the other tunes you've done - it's all really good stuff that suits my tastes very well. I wish you the best of luck in the music industry, I love what you're doing and I shall forever love this song.
- Duo on May 3, 2007
You got me, dude. I don't usually like rock or medleys or long
songs. I must be in a good mood or I'm just a sucka for MM3. The
guitars sound crisp and there's some nice use of the ever underused
stereo soundfield. The drum programming is pretty impressive -
there could be some more velocity variation in there, but the
sequencing otherwise is solid. And, yeah, Shadowman needs some
remixes.
- meccaneer on January 21, 2007
- meccaneer on January 21, 2007
I dont post often. This was amazing, and quite possibly the best
done Mega Man Mix I have heard. Thank you. Please, post more when
you are able.
- usmc2hard4u on January 9, 2007
- usmc2hard4u on January 9, 2007
Had to reply to this one. Unlike some of the other posters, medleys
are my favorite form of song.
It sounds a bit shaky in the beginning, and the drum sound is not the best (Not just the crash, the toms distort horribly as well), but the transitions somehow fall perfectly into place, and having Shadow Man's stage and the ending themes are a nice touch. Those two need to be ReMixed more often. This song is seriously made of win, even with its flaws.
- hellion0 on December 14, 2006
It sounds a bit shaky in the beginning, and the drum sound is not the best (Not just the crash, the toms distort horribly as well), but the transitions somehow fall perfectly into place, and having Shadow Man's stage and the ending themes are a nice touch. Those two need to be ReMixed more often. This song is seriously made of win, even with its flaws.
- hellion0 on December 14, 2006
A truly amazing remix. I enjoyed this chain of songs a lot, and how
they meshed together really worked... Not much to say, really.
:P
Oh, I would like to note that on my first listen through I missed the boss theme, but that could be due to me not hearing MM3's boss theme in a while.
|GX
- Goten X on December 3, 2006
Oh, I would like to note that on my first listen through I missed the boss theme, but that could be due to me not hearing MM3's boss theme in a while.
|GX
- Goten X on December 3, 2006
Well I'll start by saying i dont know anything about music on the
technical level, but I do know games, and I have to say I really
enjoy this remix. I find myself bumping it to the front of my music
list quite often. Btw sneaking in Protoman's theme was a really
great touch, nobody ever really gives that little tune enough
credit (short tho it may be).
- MysteriousMrGlenn on November 13, 2006
- MysteriousMrGlenn on November 13, 2006
Contrary to what others say, transitions aren't really issue for me
in this ReMix. Mind-blowing transitions are overrated in medleys..
The fact that Sukotto ReMixed the component originals effectively
is really all that matters in the long run for overall enjoyment.
Naturally, some of the samples could have been better. Drummer of 6
years, my only real beef with the drums is the cymbal crash sample
used, as it is unusually white-noisy. All the other drum samples
sound just fine. Nothing really out of the dorm for sequenced
drums..
All the other instrumentation sounds more than great, and there's a plethora of creative deviations from the originals. Each original is given equal opportunity to strut their stuff.. I love medleys, and this one no less! 8)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Mega Man or prog-rock fans!
- DarkCecil13 on November 2, 2006
All the other instrumentation sounds more than great, and there's a plethora of creative deviations from the originals. Each original is given equal opportunity to strut their stuff.. I love medleys, and this one no less! 8)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Mega Man or prog-rock fans!
- DarkCecil13 on November 2, 2006
This just doesn't work for me. There is a lot of potential for
great remixes in there, but the medley ruins it for me. Some of the
transitions really bother me, and I think that it's simply too
long.
It's really sad, considering that this could have been a bunch of awesome songs.
- Martin Penwald on October 29, 2006
It's really sad, considering that this could have been a bunch of awesome songs.
- Martin Penwald on October 29, 2006
Yeah, I was a HUGE fan of this remix. I believe it's one of my
favorite remixes on the site. I love the transitions in the
song.
Good job. Two thumbs up.
- MegamanX14 on October 16, 2006
Good job. Two thumbs up.
- MegamanX14 on October 16, 2006
I have to say I like this mix alot. Even though the background
really is very, well, background, the transitions that were made
reminded me of "SNES Battle Medly."
I found sticky fluid in my jeans at the transition into Boss Music, and when the main chords of Snake Man came in (one of my favorite Mega Man songs). That was stylish.
- Mirai Gen on October 14, 2006
I found sticky fluid in my jeans at the transition into Boss Music, and when the main chords of Snake Man came in (one of my favorite Mega Man songs). That was stylish.
- Mirai Gen on October 14, 2006
To say this isn't "coherent", I think, would be incorrect. The
songs aren't just pasted together. There is intelligent writing of
harmony parts and transitions that were simply not there in the
originals. We don't let cover songs or cover medleys pass, and this
is no exception. We checked it compared to the originals and it had
a lot material that they didn't.
To say it's not compelling or interesting is a different story, but the interpretation factor IS there.
- zircon on October 11, 2006
To say it's not compelling or interesting is a different story, but the interpretation factor IS there.
- zircon on October 11, 2006
Meh...I don't see anything interesting or progressive about this
piece. A lot of people have a tendency to call a rock song over
five minutes long with keyboards "prog rock," but progressive rock
is about a lot more than keyboards and longer songs. This is just
cheese rock.
I can't get into this song at all. It is neither dramatic and compelling nor fun and exciting. It's just there, like a grey blob. I can get past lousy samples, as I listen to videogame music and used to use Cakewalk Express all the time, but more attention needs to be paid to arranging the songs into something compelling and coherent instead of slapping them together, which is what this song sounds like to me.
- TheAmazingSPAMBoy on October 11, 2006
I can't get into this song at all. It is neither dramatic and compelling nor fun and exciting. It's just there, like a grey blob. I can get past lousy samples, as I listen to videogame music and used to use Cakewalk Express all the time, but more attention needs to be paid to arranging the songs into something compelling and coherent instead of slapping them together, which is what this song sounds like to me.
- TheAmazingSPAMBoy on October 11, 2006
After reading the write up, I was expecting something a LOT more
close to the original tracks; expecting something nearly note for
note, for instance. This definitely isn't that. There's a lot of
playing around with pauses, rhythms... there's some replaced notes
here and there, and of course the harmony is a lot more indepth
than the original, with quite a bit of ornementation.
A couple of the transitions were a little jarring to me, but mostly everything flowed. Pretty cool. I definitely enjoyed this... a little past the five minute mark, the musical rendition of the death sound was particularly interesting. I wouldn't have thought you could make that sound effect sound so good.
Not generally a rock listener here, so I can't really compare it to the genre, but over all, I give this a thumbs up. Not two thumbs up... it does start sounding a little homogenous after a while, and of course, I'm not really a medly fan either, but a solid thumbs up anyway.
- Fieari on October 10, 2006
A couple of the transitions were a little jarring to me, but mostly everything flowed. Pretty cool. I definitely enjoyed this... a little past the five minute mark, the musical rendition of the death sound was particularly interesting. I wouldn't have thought you could make that sound effect sound so good.
Not generally a rock listener here, so I can't really compare it to the genre, but over all, I give this a thumbs up. Not two thumbs up... it does start sounding a little homogenous after a while, and of course, I'm not really a medly fan either, but a solid thumbs up anyway.
- Fieari on October 10, 2006
Hmm... even being a fan of rock, I don't much like the intro to
this remix. It sounds unclean and messy. Probably could've used a
bit more refinement.
I actually played Mega Man 3 on my long bus ride yesterday... so all these source tunes are fresh in my head. I must say the remixing of Shadow Man's stage is quite welcomed. Such a cool theme, but so neglected. Top Man's theme being another neglected one... but it's not in this mix.
The transition into Snake Man's theme was another slightly shakey spot for me, it probably could've been done in a better way, but it's still alright nontheless.
The remix does a good job of keeping a consistent style and energy level, constantly trying to keep the listener on their toes for any sudden changes.
The last thing I can think of that kinda bugged me was the very beginning of the credits music. There was this wah effect that simply sounded like a mess in comparison with the rest.
Despite a lot of shakiness though, the remix is quite above average, and although there's less arrangement than a lot of remixing out there, it is still a solid remix and deserves a listen. Two listens actually... I find the remix tends to get a bad impression on the first listen, and then is much more pleasing the second time around (probably because of the intro).
My recommendation on it... fans of rock, don't be too harsh the first listen, and give it a second listen just to make sure you can catch all the good stuff. People who aren't fans of rock... this remix is "slightly" different from most rock songs on this site, so it may be worth your attention.
- Pink on October 10, 2006
I actually played Mega Man 3 on my long bus ride yesterday... so all these source tunes are fresh in my head. I must say the remixing of Shadow Man's stage is quite welcomed. Such a cool theme, but so neglected. Top Man's theme being another neglected one... but it's not in this mix.
The transition into Snake Man's theme was another slightly shakey spot for me, it probably could've been done in a better way, but it's still alright nontheless.
The remix does a good job of keeping a consistent style and energy level, constantly trying to keep the listener on their toes for any sudden changes.
The last thing I can think of that kinda bugged me was the very beginning of the credits music. There was this wah effect that simply sounded like a mess in comparison with the rest.
Despite a lot of shakiness though, the remix is quite above average, and although there's less arrangement than a lot of remixing out there, it is still a solid remix and deserves a listen. Two listens actually... I find the remix tends to get a bad impression on the first listen, and then is much more pleasing the second time around (probably because of the intro).
My recommendation on it... fans of rock, don't be too harsh the first listen, and give it a second listen just to make sure you can catch all the good stuff. People who aren't fans of rock... this remix is "slightly" different from most rock songs on this site, so it may be worth your attention.
- Pink on October 10, 2006
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