ReMix: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 'Routine of War'
- Game: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Konami, 2008, PS3)
- ReMixer(s): The Dual Dragons
- Composer(s): Akihiro Honda, Harry Gregson-Williams, Kazuma Jinnouchi, Nobuko Toda, Norihiko Hibino, Shuichi Kobori, Sota Fujimori, Takahiro Izutani, Yoshitaka Suzuki
- Song(s): 'Laughing Octopus'
- Posted: 2011-12-06, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on BadAss: Boss Themes
Dual Dragons! MGS4!
That's enough for me, right there, but perhaps we can say a bit more... this is the fourth posted mix from the Brothers Johansen, who also have a Shadow Hearts: Covenant mix on the album. So basically, BadAss has... DOUBLE DUAL DRAGONS. That's like four dragons, people - if that's not badass, I don't know what is. I've never seen an octopus laugh, but I'm open-minded. So is Album Director The Joker:
"This track almost didn't make it to the project thanks to my old crappy headphones. Soundtrack to my life, if my life was as hardcore as my more aggressive dreams... which sadly they're not. Alas, we can live vicariously through the Dual Dragons' awesome music. "Laughing Octopus" is a track I wouldn't have thought could make a good remix, but they done gone and did it! What was once a simple, almost ambient electronic tune has now become death, as well as metal masterpiece!"
Heavy, heavy, heavy... this is specifically the type of dark energy my mind conjures when I think of most boss encounters, and DD have as mentioned done a great job in turning a background, situational theme into more of a foreground, in-your-face wall of shred, with plenty of guitar divebombs & beefy chugs to go around. They've maintained some of the organic/inorganic synth textures & squelches that gave the original an unsettling vibe, but turned everything else up to 11, and it sounds, well... badass. With not one but TWO dragons, these guys can take on any octopus at parity, limb-for-limb, and they've done so and come out on top; epic stuff.
- ryankeeton on December 28, 2011
The mix between the orchestra instruments and the rock band (drums, guitars) is very nice and the whole song is well executed.
A very good surprise. We need more TDD remixes!
- Chernabogue on December 10, 2011
WE NEED MORE METAL GEAR REMIXES!
- KnightOfTheRound on December 10, 2011
- Bahamut on December 7, 2011
- Crulex on December 7, 2011
I do feel the ending was a bit weak, but the rest of the track was really nice.
- OA on December 7, 2011
But the Dual Dragons made it work with a more riff-driven dose of rock and giving it a similar melodic punch over those riffs. I can't deny their presentation style (especially those guitar/synth tones) and way of arrangement for such a limited source; for the most part it managed to hit a huge sweet spot by this execution.
There's something that DOES needs being stressed over though - string realisation. While the transitions to them were good, they somehow felt really mechanical with the constant velocities/attacks to them, so maybe some ways of changing them up could've helped add some life to them; after all, they're mostly staccato notes being used here, so not a right lot should've been attended to for something like that.
Hence we got one of the more unusual tracks to come forth from BadAss; it wasn't meant to work, but somehow it DID, and under the hands of two skillful brothers. I'm going to keep looking out for you :D
- Rexy on December 6, 2011
This track completely changes that. It fries the idea, soaks it in the fiery flames of hell, then subjects it to a real, live octopus, who just so happens to look like its laughing. Then it gets eaten by two very hungry dragons.
Bravo, guys. I am now quaking in fear of the awesome. 8O
- HitoriJaNai on December 6, 2011