Terra in Black
July 5, 2002
Many of you may be aware of my penchant for <a href="http://remix.overclocked.org">video game remixes</a> and the <a href="http://www.vgmix.com">web page design</a> associated with them. However, since there are so many tracks available on the two most popular sites, casual readers probably have not had a chance to sample some of the better works in this genre. Lucky for them, I am aware of this problem, and have undertaken the burden of providing a small sampling of what I consider the best video game remixes out there to date.
<p><a href="Ailsean_-_Terra_in_Black_(remastered)_(Final_Fantasy_6).mp3">Ailsean: <i>Terra in Black</i></a>: Ailsean is sort of a legend in the vgmix scene, mostly because of this piece. I'm not really sure how to compare it to more well-known works, but I'll give it my best attempt. <i>Terra in Black</i> is sort of a progressive rock cover of Nobuo Uematsu's classic "Terra Theme" from Final Fantasy 6 (3 in the US). I've already expressed my affection for Final Fantasy 6 as the best in the series, and the music is a good part of that. Ailsean's rendition, however, is quite good, even without the nostalgia it induces.
<p><a href="Bart Klepka - Deus Ex (Happy Planet Mix) [Deus Ex].mp3">Bart Klepka: <i>Happy Planet Mix</i></a>: Bart himself decribed this piece as "the world the people of Deus Ex wished to live in." It takes the main Deus Ex theme, livens it up with a piano, and puts it into a major key. Instead of the dark, ominous sounds portending a world-wide conspiracy of oppression, you get a lighter, happier place of peace and happy endings. Imagine Deus Ex instead as a film by Steven Spielberg. This piece would fit nicely into the soundtrack for the closing credits.
<p>I hope to make these highlights and reviews a regular feature of mattbelcher.com. Let me know what you thought of these two selections in the comments.