9376
Fan Creations / Re: borockman's fun fun art thread!
« on: June 04, 2010, 08:40:08 AM »
You mean you've never been to that forest? The birds all have laser vision! He's screwed! 
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9377
Fan Creations / Re: Dr. Wily II's attempts at sprites and stuff (KOBUN MADNESS!)
« on: June 04, 2010, 08:33:56 AM »
If it weren't for Wily here, I wouldn't have WombatMan. Nor would I have had a basis that I use to create my (one other) robot masters.. ^_^
9378
Gaming / Re: New Super Mario Bros. Galaxy 2 Wii Turbo Edition
« on: June 04, 2010, 08:26:35 AM »
Tears in a rage way until you beat it and then tears in a manly tears "[tornado fang]ing yes" kind of way.
9379
Roleplay / Re: RPMVania
« on: June 04, 2010, 07:30:19 AM »
[I think Jestah would be your best bet on that one...]
9380
Zero / Re: Rockman Zero Collection Thread
« on: June 04, 2010, 07:21:00 AM »
Yeah, I was wrong on that. My bad. I do realize the difference. The point remains: it's not as bad as Thanatos makes it sound, and the example he used was a remix, not a straight conversion as in MM&B and SMW.
9381
Fan Creations / Re: The Gonzo has art.
« on: June 04, 2010, 07:14:52 AM »
GENDERBEND! ^_^ *swipes* YAAY!
Great work!
Great work!
9382
Gaming / Re: New Super Mario Bros. Galaxy 2 Wii Turbo Edition
« on: June 04, 2010, 06:49:23 AM »
I've warned people about that.
9383
Roleplay / Re: RPMVania
« on: June 04, 2010, 06:46:47 AM »
"My... my date? Who could that be?" Mirby asked, a bit stunned...
[You know, this would be ripe for some sort of surprise return of Sedo in some form...]
[You know, this would be ripe for some sort of surprise return of Sedo in some form...]
9384
Gaming / Re: Fire Emblem discussion
« on: June 04, 2010, 06:42:00 AM »
Ah, but none of them have been confirmed! There's a chance (albeit slim) that reclassing is still out!
9385
Forum Games / Re: "This or That" Game...
« on: June 04, 2010, 06:32:40 AM »
Chocolate truffles.
METAL OR FLASH?
METAL OR FLASH?
9386
Off The Wall / Re: Mirby's Articles
« on: June 04, 2010, 06:01:38 AM »
Rockman 10 Image Soundtrack Review Written Whilst Listening
1. One and Only - Toru Itoga, Shinpei Yashiro, Hirofumi Miyake, Norihiro GACHARO Okumura 3:36
Starts out nice. Japanese lyrics... Nice guitar in the background. English pops in at about 1:10. Switches back to Japanese at about 1:20. Panning at about 2:00. Bridge begins at about 2:15. Chorus returns at 2:25 or so and repeats at about 2:55. English returns at 3:07, and swaps between both languages to about 3:20, when it's instrumentation to the end.
2. Introduction - Takeshi Aono, Shozo Iidzuka, Ippo Yamada 3:37
Happy tune! YAY! Suspiciously happy... not like Axl's Command Misson theme, but still. Second part of the intro story comes in at 0:49. Wily's saucer? Intensity! Drama! Horror! It's a buildup! Words at 1:27, in Japanese. People reading the intro story, I think. Wily enters at about 2:07. He's angry. Light's voice returns at about 2:50, heralding the start of the third part of the intro. This continues until the end.
3. Title - Ryo Kawakami 0:23
Short but sweet. Much like the Rockman 9 AST, this one is a quick rock-based cover of the title theme, suitable for the name Rockman.
4. King of Blades (BLADE MAN STAGE) - Akari Kaida 4:22
The first stage theme. Intro from start to about 0:15. Main theme comes in at about 0:25. It builds up with the basic rhythm, and gets more intense at about 0:42. Additional instrumentation comes in from here on out. The main track begins at 1:10. Really well-done mix of the source. Highly faithful, naturally. Slows down at 1:50 or so, and progressively builds back up into more of the source. More intensity until about 2:58, additional instrumentation therein. Really shows off the beauty of the source from then until about 3:25 or so, when it gets back into more faithful coverage. Cool guitar-like sounds from about 4:00 on. Starts fading at about 4:10.
5. Polluted Pump (PUMP MAN STAGE) - Yuko Takehara, Ryo Kawakami 3:45
Volume phasing right off the bat; works well. Main track comes in at 0:15. Has a bit of a spooky quality to it at times. Gives the term haunting melody a whole new meaning! I kid, I kid. Horn sounds at about 1:22 add to the atmosphere. Running water at about 1:50... basic beat from here until 2:04, when another line of the source comes in. Continues to 2:17, when another horn-like sound comes in, and solos. More rhythm at 2:30; water sound ceases. Back to the source here. Barebones coverage here to to 3:12, when more comes in. Intro phasing from 3:30 to end.
6. Desert Commando (COMMANDO MAN STAGE) - Saori Utsumi 3:44
I hear wind! Ethnic instrumentation; fits it. Guitar and sitar-thing; works beautifully. More beautiful combination at 0:40 or so. Source is highly prevalent, of course. Ethnic sound takes precedence at about 1:16. Wind instrument at abput 1:40; carries the melody a bit further. Sounds Middle Eastern; I love it. The balancing on this track is excellent. More guitar at about 2:27. Higher speed at about 2:39. Basic rhythm at about 3:06, continues to about 3:16, when guitar returns yet again. Explosion at 3:32. Wind to end.
7. Absolute Chill (CHILL MAN STAGE) - Shusaku Uchiyama 2:45
DANGER! Fast-paced beat; frigid sound. Very basic instrumentation here; suits the source. Comes in with more at 0:32 or so. Nice echo-y sound at about 1:05. More prevalent instruments at about 1:10. Calms down at 1:25 or so. Builds back up at 1:40 or so. More trance-ish rhythms at 1:52 or so. Retro sounds at 2:00 or so. It starts building to the finale at 2:14 or so. And the source returns for one last hurrah at about 2:28.
8. Boss - Hiroki Isogai 2:45
WARNING! Fitting style for the boss theme; sounds like dangerous stuff is going on. Strong base beat, and strong source coverage throughout. Calms down and does its own thing at about 1:20. Still fits the track. Returns to source at 1:50 or so. Continues to end. Intro riffs at 2:27 or so, repeat four times, end.
9. Cybersheep's Dream (SHEEP MAN STAGE) - Tsutomu Kurihara, Mari Yamguchi 3:37
Sounds techno, cyber even. Mystical and dreamy, with sweet guitar. More chippiness at 0:37 or so. The chippiness really adds to the feel of the track. Sounds almost like something out of Network Transmission... Orchestral sound at about 1:20. Chippiness continues throughout. Solo at 1:38 or so. Sweet dream right here; filled with epic music. Source returns at 2:04. Guitar at 2:20 add to the track's feel. Guitar carries the track starting at 2:38 or so. Basic chip rhythms from about 3:08 with guitar to end.
10. Fireball Strike (STRIKE MAN STAGE) - Makoto Tomozawa, Risarisa 3:22
HOME RUN! Track begins at 0:10. who knew America's pasttime was also Japan's? I did, but still. Very authentic Rockman sound here; fits right in with the classic track. More applause at about 0:48. Ballpark sound at about 0:58, complete with crowd sounds. Comes back in at 1:17 or so. The audience loves this song! More cheering at 1:37. Intense part at about 1:47. Saxy (yes, saxophone-like and sexy as well) solo 2:00 or so. Awesome at 2:20 or so to about 2:33. More applause. 2:45 brings back the ballpark source chunk. Homerun again at 3:10 or so. The crowd goes wild!
11. Nitro Rider (NITRO MAN STAGE) - Manami Matsumae 3:19
Ethereal sound to start out with; good choice. Comes in with rhythm at 0:10. Really begins at about 0:19 with rockin' style; the main source starts at about 0:29. Nice huitar at about 0:49. Cool mix part starts at about 1:32. More guitar at 1:52. Constant slowdowns and speedups create the feel of a race or something. Higher pitched version begin at about 2:30. Basic rhythm repeat from about 2:50 to end. Triumphant sound right here!
12. Solar Inferno (SOLAR MAN STAGE) - Yasuaki BUNBUN Fujita 4:32
Ah, yes. BUNBUN. A true Rockman music master. Sounds intense right away. Heavy sound at 0:12. He's not messing around. Some serious stuff's going down. Percussion adds to the intensity. Nice solo at about 1:32; brief though. The source is covered nicely. Percussion continues to add to the feel. This track keeps you on your toes. Slowdown at 2:39. Nice effects right here with the source. It keeps building more and more intense and solos at 3:09; much better than that tease, yet all the better for it at the same time. Pretty epic sound right here. Source resumes 3:40, with an explosion. You can tell the end is near at 4:09; makes it even better. Explosion at 4:22 signals the end.
13. Dr. Wily Manifesto - Takeshi Aono, Ryo Kawakami 1:42
Creepy sound right here; Wily reveals his plans? Sinister sound even... Especially at about 0:31. Wily's voice from Introduction starts at about 0:48. He really is insane. TRANSMISSION END at 1:38.
14. For You - Yuko Tokushima, Hiroki Isogai 3:51
A slow sad track, fitting of the scene the source plays during. This really is Roll's theme. The music even portrays the sibling bond Roll shares with Rock, which explains why she does what she does in the scene. More beautiful coverage at 1:18 or so. Even more loveliness at 1:48 or so, with what sounds like a violin. Piano chimes in at about the two minute mark for even more sweet sounds. More violin at about 2:30, with the piano accompanying. All comes back together at 2:55. Flute joins in at 3:20 or so. All told, three of the most beautiful instruments. Well done.
15. Abandoned Memory - Tsutomu Kurihara, Hiroki Isogai 3:35
How creepy... I'm getting shivers listening. The ambient sound is creepy as well. Slowly fades away until 0:45, when the main melody breaks in. And now it's epic sounding. The guitar really helps. A bit of a solo starting at about 2:30. Nice rhythm at 3:10. Fades from 3:20 on.
16. Against The Pressure - Masaki Suzuki, Ryo Kawakami 3:06
Epic sounding! Chimes help add to the atmosphere here. You can tell that this might be one of the final Wily Castles, just by the sound. Nice source coverage at about 0:45. Guitar solo at about 1:08. Nice synth sound at 1:27 or so. Back to the start at 1:50 or so. The source coverage is rockin' in this track. Has a highly final feel to it. It truly sounds like you're fighting against the pressure of... I don't know, failure? Death? Something, but the feel is there.
17. No Turning Back - Seiko Kobuchi 3:21
Basic sound, nice beat, goes strong. Gets a bit more intense at about 0:28. Quiets down at about 0:55, slowly building back up. Resumes at 1:08. Still a bit of a simplistic feel, but it works. It does portray a feel of only moving forward, because turning back is not an option. Quiets down at about 2:00; cool solo at about 2:12. Even takes on source duty at about 2:27. Very quiet sound at 3:02 to the end.
18. Dr. Wily Stage Boss - Ippo Yamada 2:50
Yes, it's definitely a fortress boss. A bit of a distant sound. But the source is there. Nice source mixing at about 0:46. Slows down at 1:09 or so. Bits and pieces of the source play throughout the next part of the track, slowly getting longer until 1:44, when it all returns. Ethereal sound adds to this. Main track ends at 2:39, basic beat to 2:46.
19. Close To The End - Masato Kouda 4:35
What a very spacey feel. Not like Galaxy Fantasy, but still. Main rhythm at 0:20, more rhythm at 0:32, and more at 0:46 or so. The pattern continues until about 1:23, when a new chunk of source rhythm is added in. More epic rhythm at 1:48 or so. Quiets down, direct source rip at about 2:01, more source at 2:12 or so. Same bit, different instrumentation. Repeat. Nice jazzy feel at 3:16 or so. Another source chunk at about 3:40. I think by now, it's close to the end. Guitar at 4:08 to the end.
20. Nemesisphere - Yoshino Aoki 3:32
Techno sound... more at 0:09. And more rhythm at 0:18. This must be the last stage... More parts keep coming in, giving a feeling of building tension. Especially when it switches up at about 1:05. I think this is the Wily Machine theme. Has a bit of an ultimate sound to it. Finality, if you will. Slows down at about 2:00. Resumes at 2:12. With some guitar riffage. Defeat the old German crazy, for EVERLASTING PEACE! Or not, considering the number of installments to come. Slows down at about 3:00, and continues to quiet down until the end.
21. Last Exit - Toru Itoga, Tsutomu Kurihara, Ryo Kawakami, Ippo Yamada 5:00
This must be the ending/credits montage. Very triumphant sounding. Japanese lyrics come in 0:26, and switch to English and back frequently. At 1:04 is the chorus, half in English, half in Japanese. Well balanced. At 1:42 is a bit of a guitar solo. Even more at 2:06! Sexcellent! Singing resumes at 2:44. The chorus begins again at 3:21. TO THE LAST E.T. COME WITH ME! I don't know... nicely written though. Final lyrics at 4:30. A nice topper to this great album!
Conclusion
This is the first album I've reviewed that was commissioned and sold by the developers of the original game. And they got the right people to do it. The source material is highly prevalent in all tracks. And yet, each track still manages to retain its own unique feel, and it still matches the source that way. Maybe with the ability for more instrumentation came the means to give even more individuality to each track. Desert Commando sounds Middle Eastern, Absolute Chill sounds Arctic, Polluted Pump sounds like some sort of haunted sewer, King of Blades sounds like an old castle... I could go on and on here. All in all, a great effort and well done! If you want to hear it for yourself, please order a copy. You can find it at places such as CD Japan and Inti Create's site [THIS SITE IS IN JAPANESE, BE WARNED!], although I'm sure there are other places to find it. As for what article comes next, I can't say. It's not that I won't tell you, it's that I just don't know. Until next time, game on!
[I'm not hitting double posts; if I do, then I won't be able to edit this, as the new merged post will exceed the max character count. Therefore, please don't merge this with the previous post, in case I need to edit a future article that will be merged with this post. Thank you.]
Posted on: May 18, 2010, 11:46:46 PM
Justin Jones, aka Nekofrog, can rock higher than anyone else, or will be able to soon, maybe... Having just completed boot camp with the Air Force and taking time out of his "do nothing" AFI time to let me interview him, I found it fun. He has the final boss remix track on Serious Monkey Business (which I reviewed earlier), and five tracks posted on the site. They're all pretty awesome too! Anyways, here are the results of our interview.
Mirby: What started your interest in video game music?
nekofrog: That dates back to when I was about 4 or 5 playing Ultima: Exodus on the NES with my dad. While the soundtrack is nothing special, it got me into a habit to where I would load up a game just to listen to music on it. Specially the theme for Ambrosia. It continued on from there when I got a little older and a tape recorder, which, at that point, I started taping the music right next to the TV to listen to.
M: Nice. Why didn't I ever think of that? What started your interest in remixing?
n: I discovered OCR in about 2000, and was active on the forums in 2001 under a username I can't even begin to remember. Then in 2003 I turned ubertroll and spent the next 4 years doing nothing but trolling the living crap out of the forums, to the point where I had been banned about 8 or 9 times. Eventually lost interest in the site as a whole until I managed to get the right combination of recording gear and knowledge of audio engineering going, and it prettty much gelled from there. Before that, my experience had been what a lot of beginners had been> taking midis and just layering soundfonts over them.
M: Sounds like a good place to start... heh. Are there any tracks you've done that you're more proud of than the others? Or that you like more?
n: Actually, I've pretty much screwed up every submission that's ever been posted, usually by posting a link to the wrong version of the song. In the case of my last mix, Omen of Jenova, I linked an old version that was missing an entire lead part and a harmony section, so I wasn't too proud of that. In the case of my first mix, Mechanical God, they actually posted the original version that got REJECTED instead of the new version that got ACCEPTED, so I'm not too proud of the way the original version sounds (it's really bad; the correct version is available on my youtube channel). As far as what I am MOST proud of, well, that stuff hasn't been posted yet. Ever since "Fight For Our Future", my mixes have all bypassed the judge's panel and gone straight to the direct post queue, and in there I have about 3 or 4 mixes; one of which is from Lufia 1 and 2 called "The Very End". It's nothing like anything I've done before or since; it's a mellow symphonic rock piece that to this day is still my favorite.
M: Can't wait to hear it. Are there any remixers you haven't collaborated with in the past that you'd like to collaborate with in the future?
n: Lots. In fact, I'm set to collab with a few of them already. Dave (djpretzel) and I will be doing a piece together for the Lufia project. Sixto and I were supposed to do a Megaman 9 track for that project, but his internet disappearence for 3 months combined with my leaving for the Air Force put the kibosh on that. Maybe we'll try again somewhere down the line. I wouldn't mind doing something with Sole Signal again, as we have collabed on other non-OCR related stuff since Malevolent Mansion. Protricity and I are definitely going to get something going, as well.
M: That one should be pretty awesome! Any tracks you'd like to remix in the future?
n: Several. Right now, something from Sunset Riders is on the top of my list. Phoenix Wright 3 has some tunes that are very proggish and could be adapted to my style easily, and I keep feeling this nag nag nagging urge to revisit Lufia many more times. I'll also be releasing a Final Fantasy remix album pulling 1-2 songs from each mainline FF game. That'll probably be released not under my name, but under the name "Black Materia", "Meteor", or "AVALANCHE". I haven't decided yet.
M: Heh. That FF album should be sweet! Do you have a favorite track from a game?
n: Nothing that I could name off-hand, but it would probably be something from one of the first two Lufia games, or Turtles in Time.
M: Do you have a favorite video-game composer?
n: I have the-big-four that rotate in and out as my favorites. Yasunori Mitsuda for Xenogears alone, Akira Yamaoka for his tremendous work on the Silent Hill series (seriously, huge fan -- and he plays a 7 string guitar like me). Yoko Shimomura for amazing soundtracks such as Parasite Eve, Mario RPG, Street Fighter 2, Breath of Fire, and the Mario & Luigi series. The Follin Brothers are gods to me, everything they've ever done I have absolutely loved (Spiderman & X-Men, PLOK!, and Commodore 64 works).
M: Nice. Lastly, what do you enjoy most about remixing video game music?
n: It's not so much what I enjoy about remixing video game music, but what's come from it that I enjoy. I've engaged and connected with a great community of musicians who are just as passionate about something as I am. I especially enjoy the gatherings and hangouts that we have. When djpretzel randomly pulls you out of the crowd at MAGfest and says "hey, I love your [parasitic bomb]! I have whiskey upstairs, let's go drink!", it's a very cool thing. I hadn't really realized until then the kind of figure I'd become in the community (wow that sounds pretty full of myself).
M: That is pretty awesome. And cool of djp, too! I don't think he'll invite me for a drink... Thanks for the interview!
n: No problem.
You can his page on OCR here: Artist: Nekofrog (Justin Jones). Keep checking back for more articles! Until next time, game on!
1. One and Only - Toru Itoga, Shinpei Yashiro, Hirofumi Miyake, Norihiro GACHARO Okumura 3:36
Starts out nice. Japanese lyrics... Nice guitar in the background. English pops in at about 1:10. Switches back to Japanese at about 1:20. Panning at about 2:00. Bridge begins at about 2:15. Chorus returns at 2:25 or so and repeats at about 2:55. English returns at 3:07, and swaps between both languages to about 3:20, when it's instrumentation to the end.
2. Introduction - Takeshi Aono, Shozo Iidzuka, Ippo Yamada 3:37
Happy tune! YAY! Suspiciously happy... not like Axl's Command Misson theme, but still. Second part of the intro story comes in at 0:49. Wily's saucer? Intensity! Drama! Horror! It's a buildup! Words at 1:27, in Japanese. People reading the intro story, I think. Wily enters at about 2:07. He's angry. Light's voice returns at about 2:50, heralding the start of the third part of the intro. This continues until the end.
3. Title - Ryo Kawakami 0:23
Short but sweet. Much like the Rockman 9 AST, this one is a quick rock-based cover of the title theme, suitable for the name Rockman.
4. King of Blades (BLADE MAN STAGE) - Akari Kaida 4:22
The first stage theme. Intro from start to about 0:15. Main theme comes in at about 0:25. It builds up with the basic rhythm, and gets more intense at about 0:42. Additional instrumentation comes in from here on out. The main track begins at 1:10. Really well-done mix of the source. Highly faithful, naturally. Slows down at 1:50 or so, and progressively builds back up into more of the source. More intensity until about 2:58, additional instrumentation therein. Really shows off the beauty of the source from then until about 3:25 or so, when it gets back into more faithful coverage. Cool guitar-like sounds from about 4:00 on. Starts fading at about 4:10.
5. Polluted Pump (PUMP MAN STAGE) - Yuko Takehara, Ryo Kawakami 3:45
Volume phasing right off the bat; works well. Main track comes in at 0:15. Has a bit of a spooky quality to it at times. Gives the term haunting melody a whole new meaning! I kid, I kid. Horn sounds at about 1:22 add to the atmosphere. Running water at about 1:50... basic beat from here until 2:04, when another line of the source comes in. Continues to 2:17, when another horn-like sound comes in, and solos. More rhythm at 2:30; water sound ceases. Back to the source here. Barebones coverage here to to 3:12, when more comes in. Intro phasing from 3:30 to end.
6. Desert Commando (COMMANDO MAN STAGE) - Saori Utsumi 3:44
I hear wind! Ethnic instrumentation; fits it. Guitar and sitar-thing; works beautifully. More beautiful combination at 0:40 or so. Source is highly prevalent, of course. Ethnic sound takes precedence at about 1:16. Wind instrument at abput 1:40; carries the melody a bit further. Sounds Middle Eastern; I love it. The balancing on this track is excellent. More guitar at about 2:27. Higher speed at about 2:39. Basic rhythm at about 3:06, continues to about 3:16, when guitar returns yet again. Explosion at 3:32. Wind to end.
7. Absolute Chill (CHILL MAN STAGE) - Shusaku Uchiyama 2:45
DANGER! Fast-paced beat; frigid sound. Very basic instrumentation here; suits the source. Comes in with more at 0:32 or so. Nice echo-y sound at about 1:05. More prevalent instruments at about 1:10. Calms down at 1:25 or so. Builds back up at 1:40 or so. More trance-ish rhythms at 1:52 or so. Retro sounds at 2:00 or so. It starts building to the finale at 2:14 or so. And the source returns for one last hurrah at about 2:28.
8. Boss - Hiroki Isogai 2:45
WARNING! Fitting style for the boss theme; sounds like dangerous stuff is going on. Strong base beat, and strong source coverage throughout. Calms down and does its own thing at about 1:20. Still fits the track. Returns to source at 1:50 or so. Continues to end. Intro riffs at 2:27 or so, repeat four times, end.
9. Cybersheep's Dream (SHEEP MAN STAGE) - Tsutomu Kurihara, Mari Yamguchi 3:37
Sounds techno, cyber even. Mystical and dreamy, with sweet guitar. More chippiness at 0:37 or so. The chippiness really adds to the feel of the track. Sounds almost like something out of Network Transmission... Orchestral sound at about 1:20. Chippiness continues throughout. Solo at 1:38 or so. Sweet dream right here; filled with epic music. Source returns at 2:04. Guitar at 2:20 add to the track's feel. Guitar carries the track starting at 2:38 or so. Basic chip rhythms from about 3:08 with guitar to end.
10. Fireball Strike (STRIKE MAN STAGE) - Makoto Tomozawa, Risarisa 3:22
HOME RUN! Track begins at 0:10. who knew America's pasttime was also Japan's? I did, but still. Very authentic Rockman sound here; fits right in with the classic track. More applause at about 0:48. Ballpark sound at about 0:58, complete with crowd sounds. Comes back in at 1:17 or so. The audience loves this song! More cheering at 1:37. Intense part at about 1:47. Saxy (yes, saxophone-like and sexy as well) solo 2:00 or so. Awesome at 2:20 or so to about 2:33. More applause. 2:45 brings back the ballpark source chunk. Homerun again at 3:10 or so. The crowd goes wild!
11. Nitro Rider (NITRO MAN STAGE) - Manami Matsumae 3:19
Ethereal sound to start out with; good choice. Comes in with rhythm at 0:10. Really begins at about 0:19 with rockin' style; the main source starts at about 0:29. Nice huitar at about 0:49. Cool mix part starts at about 1:32. More guitar at 1:52. Constant slowdowns and speedups create the feel of a race or something. Higher pitched version begin at about 2:30. Basic rhythm repeat from about 2:50 to end. Triumphant sound right here!
12. Solar Inferno (SOLAR MAN STAGE) - Yasuaki BUNBUN Fujita 4:32
Ah, yes. BUNBUN. A true Rockman music master. Sounds intense right away. Heavy sound at 0:12. He's not messing around. Some serious stuff's going down. Percussion adds to the intensity. Nice solo at about 1:32; brief though. The source is covered nicely. Percussion continues to add to the feel. This track keeps you on your toes. Slowdown at 2:39. Nice effects right here with the source. It keeps building more and more intense and solos at 3:09; much better than that tease, yet all the better for it at the same time. Pretty epic sound right here. Source resumes 3:40, with an explosion. You can tell the end is near at 4:09; makes it even better. Explosion at 4:22 signals the end.
13. Dr. Wily Manifesto - Takeshi Aono, Ryo Kawakami 1:42
Creepy sound right here; Wily reveals his plans? Sinister sound even... Especially at about 0:31. Wily's voice from Introduction starts at about 0:48. He really is insane. TRANSMISSION END at 1:38.
14. For You - Yuko Tokushima, Hiroki Isogai 3:51
A slow sad track, fitting of the scene the source plays during. This really is Roll's theme. The music even portrays the sibling bond Roll shares with Rock, which explains why she does what she does in the scene. More beautiful coverage at 1:18 or so. Even more loveliness at 1:48 or so, with what sounds like a violin. Piano chimes in at about the two minute mark for even more sweet sounds. More violin at about 2:30, with the piano accompanying. All comes back together at 2:55. Flute joins in at 3:20 or so. All told, three of the most beautiful instruments. Well done.
15. Abandoned Memory - Tsutomu Kurihara, Hiroki Isogai 3:35
How creepy... I'm getting shivers listening. The ambient sound is creepy as well. Slowly fades away until 0:45, when the main melody breaks in. And now it's epic sounding. The guitar really helps. A bit of a solo starting at about 2:30. Nice rhythm at 3:10. Fades from 3:20 on.
16. Against The Pressure - Masaki Suzuki, Ryo Kawakami 3:06
Epic sounding! Chimes help add to the atmosphere here. You can tell that this might be one of the final Wily Castles, just by the sound. Nice source coverage at about 0:45. Guitar solo at about 1:08. Nice synth sound at 1:27 or so. Back to the start at 1:50 or so. The source coverage is rockin' in this track. Has a highly final feel to it. It truly sounds like you're fighting against the pressure of... I don't know, failure? Death? Something, but the feel is there.
17. No Turning Back - Seiko Kobuchi 3:21
Basic sound, nice beat, goes strong. Gets a bit more intense at about 0:28. Quiets down at about 0:55, slowly building back up. Resumes at 1:08. Still a bit of a simplistic feel, but it works. It does portray a feel of only moving forward, because turning back is not an option. Quiets down at about 2:00; cool solo at about 2:12. Even takes on source duty at about 2:27. Very quiet sound at 3:02 to the end.
18. Dr. Wily Stage Boss - Ippo Yamada 2:50
Yes, it's definitely a fortress boss. A bit of a distant sound. But the source is there. Nice source mixing at about 0:46. Slows down at 1:09 or so. Bits and pieces of the source play throughout the next part of the track, slowly getting longer until 1:44, when it all returns. Ethereal sound adds to this. Main track ends at 2:39, basic beat to 2:46.
19. Close To The End - Masato Kouda 4:35
What a very spacey feel. Not like Galaxy Fantasy, but still. Main rhythm at 0:20, more rhythm at 0:32, and more at 0:46 or so. The pattern continues until about 1:23, when a new chunk of source rhythm is added in. More epic rhythm at 1:48 or so. Quiets down, direct source rip at about 2:01, more source at 2:12 or so. Same bit, different instrumentation. Repeat. Nice jazzy feel at 3:16 or so. Another source chunk at about 3:40. I think by now, it's close to the end. Guitar at 4:08 to the end.
20. Nemesisphere - Yoshino Aoki 3:32
Techno sound... more at 0:09. And more rhythm at 0:18. This must be the last stage... More parts keep coming in, giving a feeling of building tension. Especially when it switches up at about 1:05. I think this is the Wily Machine theme. Has a bit of an ultimate sound to it. Finality, if you will. Slows down at about 2:00. Resumes at 2:12. With some guitar riffage. Defeat the old German crazy, for EVERLASTING PEACE! Or not, considering the number of installments to come. Slows down at about 3:00, and continues to quiet down until the end.
21. Last Exit - Toru Itoga, Tsutomu Kurihara, Ryo Kawakami, Ippo Yamada 5:00
This must be the ending/credits montage. Very triumphant sounding. Japanese lyrics come in 0:26, and switch to English and back frequently. At 1:04 is the chorus, half in English, half in Japanese. Well balanced. At 1:42 is a bit of a guitar solo. Even more at 2:06! Sexcellent! Singing resumes at 2:44. The chorus begins again at 3:21. TO THE LAST E.T. COME WITH ME! I don't know... nicely written though. Final lyrics at 4:30. A nice topper to this great album!
Conclusion
This is the first album I've reviewed that was commissioned and sold by the developers of the original game. And they got the right people to do it. The source material is highly prevalent in all tracks. And yet, each track still manages to retain its own unique feel, and it still matches the source that way. Maybe with the ability for more instrumentation came the means to give even more individuality to each track. Desert Commando sounds Middle Eastern, Absolute Chill sounds Arctic, Polluted Pump sounds like some sort of haunted sewer, King of Blades sounds like an old castle... I could go on and on here. All in all, a great effort and well done! If you want to hear it for yourself, please order a copy. You can find it at places such as CD Japan and Inti Create's site [THIS SITE IS IN JAPANESE, BE WARNED!], although I'm sure there are other places to find it. As for what article comes next, I can't say. It's not that I won't tell you, it's that I just don't know. Until next time, game on!
[I'm not hitting double posts; if I do, then I won't be able to edit this, as the new merged post will exceed the max character count. Therefore, please don't merge this with the previous post, in case I need to edit a future article that will be merged with this post. Thank you.]
Posted on: May 18, 2010, 11:46:46 PM
Justin Jones, aka Nekofrog, can rock higher than anyone else, or will be able to soon, maybe... Having just completed boot camp with the Air Force and taking time out of his "do nothing" AFI time to let me interview him, I found it fun. He has the final boss remix track on Serious Monkey Business (which I reviewed earlier), and five tracks posted on the site. They're all pretty awesome too! Anyways, here are the results of our interview.
Mirby: What started your interest in video game music?
nekofrog: That dates back to when I was about 4 or 5 playing Ultima: Exodus on the NES with my dad. While the soundtrack is nothing special, it got me into a habit to where I would load up a game just to listen to music on it. Specially the theme for Ambrosia. It continued on from there when I got a little older and a tape recorder, which, at that point, I started taping the music right next to the TV to listen to.
M: Nice. Why didn't I ever think of that? What started your interest in remixing?
n: I discovered OCR in about 2000, and was active on the forums in 2001 under a username I can't even begin to remember. Then in 2003 I turned ubertroll and spent the next 4 years doing nothing but trolling the living crap out of the forums, to the point where I had been banned about 8 or 9 times. Eventually lost interest in the site as a whole until I managed to get the right combination of recording gear and knowledge of audio engineering going, and it prettty much gelled from there. Before that, my experience had been what a lot of beginners had been> taking midis and just layering soundfonts over them.
M: Sounds like a good place to start... heh. Are there any tracks you've done that you're more proud of than the others? Or that you like more?
n: Actually, I've pretty much screwed up every submission that's ever been posted, usually by posting a link to the wrong version of the song. In the case of my last mix, Omen of Jenova, I linked an old version that was missing an entire lead part and a harmony section, so I wasn't too proud of that. In the case of my first mix, Mechanical God, they actually posted the original version that got REJECTED instead of the new version that got ACCEPTED, so I'm not too proud of the way the original version sounds (it's really bad; the correct version is available on my youtube channel). As far as what I am MOST proud of, well, that stuff hasn't been posted yet. Ever since "Fight For Our Future", my mixes have all bypassed the judge's panel and gone straight to the direct post queue, and in there I have about 3 or 4 mixes; one of which is from Lufia 1 and 2 called "The Very End". It's nothing like anything I've done before or since; it's a mellow symphonic rock piece that to this day is still my favorite.
M: Can't wait to hear it. Are there any remixers you haven't collaborated with in the past that you'd like to collaborate with in the future?
n: Lots. In fact, I'm set to collab with a few of them already. Dave (djpretzel) and I will be doing a piece together for the Lufia project. Sixto and I were supposed to do a Megaman 9 track for that project, but his internet disappearence for 3 months combined with my leaving for the Air Force put the kibosh on that. Maybe we'll try again somewhere down the line. I wouldn't mind doing something with Sole Signal again, as we have collabed on other non-OCR related stuff since Malevolent Mansion. Protricity and I are definitely going to get something going, as well.
M: That one should be pretty awesome! Any tracks you'd like to remix in the future?
n: Several. Right now, something from Sunset Riders is on the top of my list. Phoenix Wright 3 has some tunes that are very proggish and could be adapted to my style easily, and I keep feeling this nag nag nagging urge to revisit Lufia many more times. I'll also be releasing a Final Fantasy remix album pulling 1-2 songs from each mainline FF game. That'll probably be released not under my name, but under the name "Black Materia", "Meteor", or "AVALANCHE". I haven't decided yet.
M: Heh. That FF album should be sweet! Do you have a favorite track from a game?
n: Nothing that I could name off-hand, but it would probably be something from one of the first two Lufia games, or Turtles in Time.
M: Do you have a favorite video-game composer?
n: I have the-big-four that rotate in and out as my favorites. Yasunori Mitsuda for Xenogears alone, Akira Yamaoka for his tremendous work on the Silent Hill series (seriously, huge fan -- and he plays a 7 string guitar like me). Yoko Shimomura for amazing soundtracks such as Parasite Eve, Mario RPG, Street Fighter 2, Breath of Fire, and the Mario & Luigi series. The Follin Brothers are gods to me, everything they've ever done I have absolutely loved (Spiderman & X-Men, PLOK!, and Commodore 64 works).
M: Nice. Lastly, what do you enjoy most about remixing video game music?
n: It's not so much what I enjoy about remixing video game music, but what's come from it that I enjoy. I've engaged and connected with a great community of musicians who are just as passionate about something as I am. I especially enjoy the gatherings and hangouts that we have. When djpretzel randomly pulls you out of the crowd at MAGfest and says "hey, I love your [parasitic bomb]! I have whiskey upstairs, let's go drink!", it's a very cool thing. I hadn't really realized until then the kind of figure I'd become in the community (wow that sounds pretty full of myself).
M: That is pretty awesome. And cool of djp, too! I don't think he'll invite me for a drink... Thanks for the interview!
n: No problem.
You can his page on OCR here: Artist: Nekofrog (Justin Jones). Keep checking back for more articles! Until next time, game on!
9387
Roleplay / Re: The Digital World of RPM
« on: June 04, 2010, 05:55:57 AM »
The dust cleared... and all that remained where the tattered remains of a WombatMan-shaped dummy. "That AntiDmg came in handy!" Taylor said. "Battle Chip, Slot In! StepSwrd!" Out of nowhere, WombatMan came tunneling out of the ground with the force of a freight train at ChainsawMan. "Battle Chip, Slot In! Area Steal!" Taylor proceeded to slot in several Area Steals, and each time WombatMan slashed at his foe. "Battle Chip, Slot In! Meteors!" Meteors appeared in the sky, and WombatMan burrowed underground. "Battle Chip, Slot In!"
9388
Forum Games / Re: "This or That" Game...
« on: June 04, 2010, 05:37:28 AM »
Mass transit. A lot more seats! ^_^
Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi?
Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi?
9389
Forum Games / Re: Comment on the Previous Signature.
« on: June 04, 2010, 05:35:46 AM »
READY? LET'S GO!
[I don't think I can ever top my previous one. ]
[I don't think I can ever top my previous one.
]
9390
Forum Games / Re: "This or That" Game...
« on: June 04, 2010, 05:29:38 AM »
Gunstar Heroes.
Shoes or sandals?
Shoes or sandals?
9391
Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)
« on: June 04, 2010, 05:25:55 AM »
They should totally do something like that. You know, except without the shitacular emulation present in Classic Collection.
9392
Forum Games / Re: Comment on the Previous Signature.
« on: June 04, 2010, 05:18:16 AM »
PREPARE FOR TROUBLE!
MAKE IT DOUBLE!
TO PROTECT MY FACTORY FROM DEVASTATION!
TO UNITE ALL ROBOTS WITHIN OUR NATION!
TO DENOUNCE THE EVILS OF LIGHT AND LOVE!
TO EXTEND OUR REACH TO THE STARS ABOVE!
METAL!
FLASH!
ROBOT MASTERS, BLAST OFF AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT!
SURRENDER, MEGA, OR PREPARE TO FIGHT!
REGGAE! THAT'S RIGHT!
MAKE IT DOUBLE!
TO PROTECT MY FACTORY FROM DEVASTATION!
TO UNITE ALL ROBOTS WITHIN OUR NATION!
TO DENOUNCE THE EVILS OF LIGHT AND LOVE!
TO EXTEND OUR REACH TO THE STARS ABOVE!
METAL!
FLASH!
ROBOT MASTERS, BLAST OFF AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT!
SURRENDER, MEGA, OR PREPARE TO FIGHT!
REGGAE! THAT'S RIGHT!
9393
Gaming / Re: Fire Emblem discussion
« on: June 04, 2010, 04:58:44 AM »
I am too. I liked that feature from Rekka no Ken.
9394
Gaming / Re: Fire Emblem discussion
« on: June 04, 2010, 04:54:34 AM »
That makes sense. Thanks!
Hey, I did pretty good with what I got though...
Hey, I did pretty good with what I got though...
9395
Gaming / Re: Fire Emblem discussion
« on: June 04, 2010, 04:35:02 AM »
yeah. Can anyone help me out an translate that thing I mentioned though?
9396
Roleplay / Re: RPMVania
« on: June 04, 2010, 04:23:24 AM »
Mirby continued to home in on the pendant... it was just around the next corner. As she turned to finally retrieve it, a mysterious force slammed her against the wall. Her eyes rolled for a second, and she had lost the True Sight ability for the time being. She didn't need it. She could sense the pendant in the hands of the foe ahead of her... but it was strange... she seemed to be able to sense several instances of the pendant. And then, from the floor, rose several grotesque mockeries of herself. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by these doppelgangers...
9397
Gaming / Re: The Official Pokémon Black & White Discussion Thread
« on: June 04, 2010, 03:10:47 AM »
I think his foot was bigger than the guy's house...
9398
Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)
« on: June 04, 2010, 01:38:27 AM »
They really should take a page from SA2 then. They won't, but they should.
9399
Gaming / Re: I say bad things about your favorite games!
« on: June 04, 2010, 01:28:46 AM »
- IT'S THE RAGIN' CAJUN! IT'S THE RAGIN' CAJUN! IT'S THE....
9400
Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)
« on: June 04, 2010, 01:27:26 AM »
I hope not.
Personally, I feel it should be for some actual cool stuff, like extra stages, characters, etc. Not just HEY PLAY THROUGH THE ENTIRE GAME AGAIN, BUT NOW IT'S HARDER! Sure my idea for characters may be the same, but if they pull if off right...
Mainly I just want a new DS Sonic sidescroller with playable Knuckles.
Personally, I feel it should be for some actual cool stuff, like extra stages, characters, etc. Not just HEY PLAY THROUGH THE ENTIRE GAME AGAIN, BUT NOW IT'S HARDER! Sure my idea for characters may be the same, but if they pull if off right...
Mainly I just want a new DS Sonic sidescroller with playable Knuckles.