Kotaku 
Enter your username and password.
Denver, 5:34 PM
Fri Nov 27
35 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip us:
Editor-In-Chief:
Brian Crecente
| AIM | Twitter
Deputy Editor:
Stephen Totilo
| AIM | Twitter
Senior Editor:
Michael McWhertor
| AIM | Twitter
Senior Contributing Editor, Japan:
Brian Ashcraft
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, East Coast:
Michael Fahey
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, Oceania:
Luke Plunkett
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, Weekends:
Owen Good
| AIM | Twitter
Correspondent, San Francisco:
AJ Glasser
| AIM | Twitter
Columnist:
Leigh Alexander
Columnist:
Tim Rogers
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
07/22/09
And for me, there's no difference between being a senseless fan, and a senseless hater, so even though the music has been overused here and there, it hasn't lost it's meaning to me.
But my favorite one is Final Fantasy III... and since it's an orchestral thing, they always relegate Final Fantasy III music to some mixed medley... so I can't really bother going to a Distant Worlds show.
I'd enjoy like a couple of music, and spend the rest of the concert thinking how great it would've been if they also played this or that music...
07/22/09
I do agree with other folks though OWA is a bit over-played. He has so many other awesome sound tracks.
07/22/09
It's overplayed sure, but thats only due to the rabid FF7 fanboys, my favorite is To Zanarkand.
07/22/09
07/22/09
That being said, Arnie Roth is a pops conductor. Don't go to Distant Worlds expecting what you would get at any other traditional orchestral concert. I am not necessarily saying that Arnie is not a good conductor, as that simply is not true, but rather he is unsuited to some of the groups he performs with. In the case of the Baltimore Symphony, he opened for applause and forced the orchestra to stand about a dozen times, with the orchestra looking more and more annoyed by the second. As he did this, he more often than not talked and talked in some self-centered drivel rather than allowing the music to speak for itself.
Yes, I am being unnecessarily harsh, as it truly was an excellent evening. Nonetheless, if anyone wanting to go to Distant Worlds is expecting a traditional orchestral concert (visual media aside) they should know that it isn't exactly that.
07/22/09
07/22/09
First, it's good to see that symphony's in general are beginning to gain popularity again and are once again sustainable. There was a time during the last decade that symphony's across the country were losing funding, and many cities would get rid of their concerts all together, when the time for budget cuts drew near.
Second, ten to fifteen years ago, it would have been unheard of to see so many young people going out of their way to see a live orchestra, and in such a enthusiastic way, I might add. One of the highlights of this video was the loud cheers of the crowd when they began to play. It's certainly good to see.
Finally, this opens up the possibility of more people getting involved in an art that has for the most part, been ignored for quite some time. If some twenty-something goes to this concert, and walks away thinking, "Wow, that was great. I wonder what other music is available like that." , it opens up the possibility that he or she will begin to search for music like classical music. To be able to be introduced to important musicians like Bach or Chopin is certainly a benefit to all.
When I was growing up as a young child in the 80's, music class was a daily event. Going on field trips to the local symphony was a yearly event. The arts in general was treated much differently than it is today. With such constraints on school budgets today, there are too many children that aren't able to experience such wonderful forms of art and entertainment. Things like this are always such an excellent way to get people involved in something that they might not have ever had the opportunity to experience before.
So when I see things like this, or articles about Wii Music being introduced in our schools, it only benefits everyone involved, and that is a positive thing.
07/20/09
07/19/09
07/19/09
http://doom2.ocremix.org/
The Orichalcon and Evil Horde in particular make for some stunning tracks.
07/19/09
Oftentimes they're put out by folks who - like in this case - are very technically capable, but don't seem to know crap about music, thematically or even just what sounds good. The ritualistic butchering of the last battle theme in this particular package, I think, illustrates this pretty well.
When they're good, they're very good, but that by and large comes from having good source material in the first place, and none of that can be attributed to these "remix" authors.
I do always enjoy checking them out though.
07/19/09
To me, they nailed the pacing perfectly, I remember playing through for the first time and it was like water flowing from a tap, not once did the water slow down too much or move too fast, it just kept flowing at a consistently comfortable pace, with an amazing cast of characters who you could relate to on that personal level.
Admitedly, it was the first time I had ever literally cried at a piece of fiction, never mind a video game before, one scene comes to mind when I think of this, when Golbez is leaving to slumber on the Moon, he turns to walk away as Cecil seemingly refuses to accept the fact that they were brothers, when he turns, at the moment you actually thought "Jesus, he's not even going to say anything to his own brother", he turns and calls out to Golbez, I can't quite remember the words, but it was his way of telling Golbez that he accepts him as his brother, and he forgives him. Amongst all the various "death" scenes, and other sad moments in the game, and Hell any game since, this may seem so simple and silly, and some may argue it's childish and not effective, but it really got to me, and I'll always remember it for that.
I couldn't possibly think of a more enjoyable way to spend a Sunday evening than to doze off to sleep while letting this beautiful soundtrack play through.
07/19/09
07/19/09
07/19/09
However an undertaking like this leaves me a little wary. Any soundtrack is going to have some weak pieces, do we really want to listen to all of FFIV?
I really can't pick a favourite remix or two, there's just so many good ones.
As for my favourite OC Remixer, to start how about- AmIEvil, DarkeSword and McVaffe. Download a couple of songs from these guys, I promise you won't regret it.
07/19/09
But their FF7 project, which they attempted to do 2 disc and every song they could fell a little flat cause of the number of weaker tracks. Im still willing to give this one a chance though.
Of course the ultimate video game music remix is still the Robo Rick Roll theme song! *duck and covers*
07/19/09
Do you remember the high quality of mixes released in the first few years, when djpretzel still made emulation comics? That isn't to say that the new mixes all suck, but rather that there's so much coming out of the site that you have to stay dedicated to listening to posted songs to weed out the bad ones.
And when I say "high quality", I mean Alexander Prievert, McVaffe, Mutagene, Scott Peeples, ailsean, AmIEvil, etc.
Hell, McVaffe, AmIEvil, and ailsean have what are probably the most well-known remixes on the site, with AmIEvil's and ailsean's Terra remixes being the pinnacle of Final Fantasy mixes, and McVaffe is just generally awesome.
Incidentally, the OC albums that have come out in recent years haven't been that good, with the best one being the Super Turbo HD Remix soundtrack, which was good, but not great.
07/19/09
07/19/09
i know, i know slightly unrelated but i'm not waiting for TAY to load again..
There was a petition i signed it, has anyone heard of any statement from SEGA, regarding the issue of releasing it here? (europe) come on SEGA.. i'll take a subs/menu patch.. i'll import.. i'll pay double..I don't even need the box..
sob..
07/19/09
I'd recommend taking a look at those other two projects as well if your going to check out this final fantasy collection.
07/19/09
Now I wanna listen to it again, which'll make me wanna play Super Metroid again. What a vicious cycle.
07/19/09
07/19/09
"A rock opera is a musical work that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative."
07/19/09
07/19/09
A rock opera loosely based on Mega Man and its characters. It's truly a classic.