ReMix: Final Fantasy III 'The Dark World (Crystal Abyss Mix)'
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- Game: Final Fantasy III (Square, 1990, NES)
- ReMixer(s): Ubik
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'The Dark Crystals'
- Posted: 2003-06-13, evaluated by djpretzel
This is one that gets progressively better as you listen - from newcomer Ubik comes a techno ReMix from FF3 that features some interesting sounds that aren't your everyday FruityLoops presets and nice choral harmony work as well. Introing with a distant, watery harp and bringing in respectable choir samples, at about seven minutes there are some issues with mp3 compression, but the arrangement is very pleasant, and the introduction of cellos rounds things out until a very mean, processed, heavy synth riff takes over - this is a good, different, raw sound that's a fresh change from ubiquitous detuned trance saws and portamento mono-square leads. A beat enters, along with some nice rhythmic synth backup, and the original arrangement from the intro sort of sits on top. We then get a short break, and go back in with a nicely animated harp doing some backing triplets - not sure if this alone was enough of a change to warrant a reiteration of the refrain, but it does switch to halftime at portions to mix things up. There's then a dropout, where we segue into a funky synth+drums breakdown - well done, and deserves to be blasted very loudly with reckless abandon for neighbors and/or family members. Things end as one would expect, with more of the main refrain with all techno elements going full steam, then a subtler outro where the strings carry more weight than other pads. There's an absence of a strong bassline, though the afforementioned processed synth riff has some lowend to it, that gives the piece an open feel to it. I think the strength of this mix lies in the initial arrangement, and the way Ubik turns that into a techno piece using some less common sounds & styles, avoiding the cookie-cutter techno stamp with a bit of individuality. FF electronica fans should definitely check out this strong first sub from Ubik.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Can't believe I didn't comment on this. I could see why someone
wouldn't like the synths here, but I've always been a big fan of
this track. There's nothing else like it on OCR. It makes great
running music.
- Liontamer on September 21, 2010
- Liontamer on September 21, 2010
It took awhile to get through that super extended intro, and so I
can see what people mean by getting bored. Once it picks up it's
better, but the high end synth sounds pasted onto the soundscape,
rather than living in it, and the choir sample is pretty
weak.
Pretty decent textures, and the source is a nice melody, but the production issues and overly-extended intro make it sound more like a decent work in progress rather than a polished, finished work.
The breakdown was pretty cool with the super-compressed drums, and then back to the same chord-chord-chord legato progression. Not really my style; sorry dude.
- OA on February 11, 2008
Pretty decent textures, and the source is a nice melody, but the production issues and overly-extended intro make it sound more like a decent work in progress rather than a polished, finished work.
The breakdown was pretty cool with the super-compressed drums, and then back to the same chord-chord-chord legato progression. Not really my style; sorry dude.
- OA on February 11, 2008
FF3 is the only game I never have completed, plus FF8 but my bro
completed that one for me so I know how the end is. ANYWAY, I
recognize this song, and yes, it does has some lovely trance sounds
to it. It´s one of the better ones on this site, some cool synths
with beats and techno stuff making their sounds in the background,
it´s techno alright, and for those who adore that style, no need to
hesitate for them, this one is solid.
- Bummerdude on October 3, 2005
- Bummerdude on October 3, 2005
Oh yes, a definite hit on my err.. rather small trance list.
This is like the second or third trance I have that isn't from starfox, that seems to be all everybody wants to trancify.
Nice job.
- redchlorine on May 12, 2005
This is like the second or third trance I have that isn't from starfox, that seems to be all everybody wants to trancify.
Nice job.
- redchlorine on May 12, 2005
I love this remix - except for the soundfonts. If Ubik used better
sounds on this (as in a better vocal samplings, for example) but I
love his style. I'm a fan of the mellow drum cuts he's got in here,
and definately like Ubik's style - keep it up!
:twisted:
- prophetik music on April 21, 2004
:twisted:
- prophetik music on April 21, 2004
I find this remix emotional, there's a unique nostalgic touch to
it, even though I've never played ff3. It's even sad. Which is
good.
- HumpteeFree on February 27, 2004
- HumpteeFree on February 27, 2004
i really like ff3j's soundtrack, and it's nice to see it getting
some well-deserved attention.
unfortunately i don't really enjoy this track. frankly, it bores me. it's all done fairly well, there's nothing to complain about; i just find it generally uninteresting. after the first few minutes, it's pretty obvious where the song's going to go, and it doesn't really deviate from that. which is not a crime in itself i suppose, but it's just ...'not enough' for me. there's nothing in the track that makes me want to listen to it; it just takes up seven minutes of my life, during which time i find the track to be too flat/weak for it to make me get up and dance, and too obvious for me to sit there nodding wistfully and going 'oh yeahhh.' ;)
respectable effort, however. aside from 'hooks', it's not really missing anything major, so it's not an uncomfortable listen. just a long one, and not one i want to repeat many times.
i've listened a few times, and tried to get into it, but for me it's not a keeper.
- Gwilym on June 30, 2003
unfortunately i don't really enjoy this track. frankly, it bores me. it's all done fairly well, there's nothing to complain about; i just find it generally uninteresting. after the first few minutes, it's pretty obvious where the song's going to go, and it doesn't really deviate from that. which is not a crime in itself i suppose, but it's just ...'not enough' for me. there's nothing in the track that makes me want to listen to it; it just takes up seven minutes of my life, during which time i find the track to be too flat/weak for it to make me get up and dance, and too obvious for me to sit there nodding wistfully and going 'oh yeahhh.' ;)
respectable effort, however. aside from 'hooks', it's not really missing anything major, so it's not an uncomfortable listen. just a long one, and not one i want to repeat many times.
i've listened a few times, and tried to get into it, but for me it's not a keeper.
- Gwilym on June 30, 2003
Great work on a great song! I was totally taken aback by the smooth
transitions..it starts out calm, then progresses to something that
got my toes a tappin. Definately locked into the playlist!
- Akai Suisen on June 20, 2003
- Akai Suisen on June 20, 2003
Very nice remix.
FFIII needs alot more remixes.This an excellent take on the "Dark World" theme.Every part of the song hits at the right time.
Plus it goes to show that the recent FF titles have a ton to learn from their past.
- Kadosho on June 20, 2003
FFIII needs alot more remixes.This an excellent take on the "Dark World" theme.Every part of the song hits at the right time.
Plus it goes to show that the recent FF titles have a ton to learn from their past.
- Kadosho on June 20, 2003
I played FF3j a long time ago, right after the NeoDemiforce patch
came out for it and there were only a few songs that really stood
out for me...this remix, however, is phenomenal! Incredibly mellow
but with a driving beat, the tune starts out soft then begins to
swell around 2:00; it never gets overwhelming, and the choice of
instrument/voice is very fitting.
Great job man, this is a remix that's gonna stay in WinAmp for a long time!
- Sherv on June 19, 2003
Great job man, this is a remix that's gonna stay in WinAmp for a long time!
- Sherv on June 19, 2003
This is a fantastic song. Goes from a soft little diddy to a
full-blown rockin' tune. Granted, SGX is right in that that first
synth (sounds phased) doesn't really do anything too amazing, but I
think it gives the song more movement. The harp also helps in this
area. The synths overall are well used and not bad by any stretch.
The drums do their job well and REALLY get goin at 4:25, with those
Bass Drum Hits of Doom. DJP's right in that there's no strong
bassline. Occasionally I hear some low end noise, but I can't even
tell the notes. Good ending though. Overall, this song knows what
it's doing, and never really lets down, making for a good
listen.
Kudos to you, Ubik. :nicework:
- Kamikaze Noodle on June 14, 2003
Kudos to you, Ubik. :nicework:
- Kamikaze Noodle on June 14, 2003
I hate to brag, but I was the one on GameFAQ's to plead with Ubik
to submit this mix here. I found it a while back on vgmix.com and
was surprised not to find it here.
I'm glad he finally submitted it. It's premium stuff and djp sums it up quite well.
It's also the second FF3J remix on this site. A game, IMHO that deserves MUCH more recognition.
- Cyber on June 13, 2003
I'm glad he finally submitted it. It's premium stuff and djp sums it up quite well.
It's also the second FF3J remix on this site. A game, IMHO that deserves MUCH more recognition.
- Cyber on June 13, 2003
very mellow...kinda churchy at first bout 1:07 it picks up but
still isnt interesting. I actually feel like skipping through to
see if it gets better. It gets catchy but repetitive. Ill keep it
in my playlist a lil while.
3 order eye rolls outta 5 :roll: :roll: :roll:
- order on June 13, 2003
3 order eye rolls outta 5 :roll: :roll: :roll:
- order on June 13, 2003
This is pretty cool. The arrangement sounds nice and the song
structure is good. I'm not sure if I like that synth that is moving
around during the whole song. It kinda doesn't serve much purpose
other than to fill up that required "fast-moving wierd distorted
synth pattern" that trance usually has. While it fills that gap,
its not that super or interesting to me. My other gripe is that all
of the other sounds are pretty much just long chords. There aren't
any interesting note or gating patterns or anything. Just mostly
the an arangment of the original (I'm assuming, never heard the
original) in the same style but with drums and that synth. Nothing
is moving around quickly keeping the intensity up except for that
synth I'm not so hot on. It is enjoyable however, just not rockin
my world. I do like the drums that start at 4:25. Very cool there.
Overall, I dig it.
- sgx on June 13, 2003
- sgx on June 13, 2003
Starts out with a nice singular instrument playing, then abruptly
adds a voice, which was kind of unexpected in a bad way. Strings
come in to compliment the voices. Seems ok, kind of slow at start.
The synth coming in isn't that cliche, but I'm not one to really
flinch at synths unless they don't sound right with the mix, and
would let someone else decide for the subject of cliche anyway.
Soon after the synth does its little thing, drums present, 4/4
beat, but definitely not overpowering, and with other drums going
on to blend it together into a nice flowing piece with a harmonic
melody. I like it. Nothing is annoying, and all the holes are
filled.
It seems like there's two parts to this mix even though the harmonic melody just comes back after the short break, which invites all those variation junkies to come for a visit. It is definitely an improvement upon the 8-bit wonder sounds and is a fresh song that I've never heard before and don't think has been mixed. I would so no reasons why this wouldn't be on OC.
Oh yeah, I have some of other Ubik mixes from VGmix 1.0, and they are also great and would gladly like to see every mix he has done =)
- AnotherOneBitesTheDust on June 13, 2003
It seems like there's two parts to this mix even though the harmonic melody just comes back after the short break, which invites all those variation junkies to come for a visit. It is definitely an improvement upon the 8-bit wonder sounds and is a fresh song that I've never heard before and don't think has been mixed. I would so no reasons why this wouldn't be on OC.
Oh yeah, I have some of other Ubik mixes from VGmix 1.0, and they are also great and would gladly like to see every mix he has done =)
- AnotherOneBitesTheDust on June 13, 2003
