ReMix: Shinobi 'Dark Tortoise'

download Download MP3
3,549,184 bytes, 3:37, 128kbps
Stream/preview on YouTube Play Preview
Streaming preview on YouTube
eStarland.com

Cool, classic Shinobi. I love this theme, in all its pentatonic, cheesy Yuzo Koshiro ninja goodness. In general, Shinobi was a game that captured a lot of what was cool about ninjas, and while most gamers of the day grew up with larger helpings of Ryu Hayabusa than Joe Musashi, I still know in my heart of hearts that Joe could kick his posterior in a one-on-one. You see, it's all about the ninja magic, my friends.... Okay, before I start some sort of a fanboy schism war pitting Shinobi against Ninja Gaiden, let me get to the music. Newcomer moonove gives us a very cool, semi-ambient electronica reworking of the Black Turtle theme. The chord progression here really works to his choice of genre's advantage, as it's mysterious and tentative and floaty to begin with, which is further brought out by the myriad synth textures used. Things intro with warm pads and a synth gurgling, very low, and then the familiar (to some, I hope) belltone melody makes it entrance, with some chimes and well-timed pad swells. At 1'04 the beat and bass come in, along with a similarly gurgling synth percussion effect that's panned hard left and hard right for a super-stereo effect. There's some FM7 "Exciting" type synth chord stabs, and at 1'54" some rising, delayed analog arpeggios - all very cool and traded off skillfully so that the whole thing is smooth and seamless. This is a great example of a minimalist piece taken and elaborated upon not by messing around extensively with the main melody (which is also legit in my book and works well in addition) but by adding a half-dozen auxiliary parts that weren't in the original and change the tone and style substantially. Good, classic nostalgonica (yes, I can invent words at will. Being webmaster has to have SOME fringe benefits).

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Definitively would've loved to hear more. Is this how ninjutsu reptiles groove during slow moons?

- WesternZypher on February 22, 2012
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuper chillaxed. The dynamics are subtle, but I've always enjoyed the mood of this one.

- Liontamer on December 2, 2011
Great remix here. Textures and chords give it kind of a mysterious feel which I really dig. The hard panned percs are a bit weird, but I can live with 'em. Pad and bell lead are both gorgeous. Simplistic, but interesting throughout.
moonpie;32824 wrote: Thank you all for your support.
I'm gonna do some other remixes soon. Asap i find some time. Work Work Work !

Shame this wasn't the case, I would've loved to hear more.

- Nutritious on November 5, 2008
A bit on the repetitive side, but it is a really nice chillin' mix. The sounds used fit well together and, and though the super wet claps are strange, they give the mix character.
The melody threw me off at first because of the accidentals at the end, but after a few listens, i've grown to really like it. The pads are really nice, an d the textures are quirky but they work. I have to say that even though it's just the same melody with different backing, it somehow stays really fresh throughout. I'm still kind of baffled how you did it, but there you go.
Nice remix.

- OA on April 10, 2008
This is the Bonus Stage Theme from Shinobi. Alex Kidd in Shinobi World has a similar soundtrack because it is a parody of the Sega game Shinobi.
Certainly an amazing track. The bass, the beats, the pads...I love it all. There is an awesome feeling going on this song, which is the main reason I can loop it several times and never getting tired of the music, besides it being meditative and very, very chill.
If you like this one, be sure to check out his originals at http://www.moonove.com/, in addition to some other Shinobi arrangements available.

- Txai on March 8, 2008
This is a great track. Very subtle and laid back, excellent to chill to. Interestingly enough, Shinobi is not where I have heard this melody before.
There was another game out for the Sega Master System called "Alex Kidd in Shinobi World". I don't know if the same composer did music for both, but the track remixed here is the same as the inbetween level music for that game.
Upon further research, many tracks are the same from both games. Including the boss theme, beating a level theme, and the dying theme.

- D'Sparil on February 17, 2006
Anyone else hear Level 42?

- Less Ashamed Of Self on July 29, 2005
This was one of the best songs in shinobi. I'm really surprised it took this long for someone to actually remix it.
Great job.

- Burnov on January 25, 2005
Thank you all for your support.
I'm gonna do some other remixes soon. Asap i find some time. Work Work Work !
Who made the first musics of Shinobi ?? Isn't it Kushiro ??
moonove

- moonpie on August 12, 2004
I am in love with this remix. It is so simple yet so amazing. Deffinitly one of the best in my books. :D

- Snells on June 15, 2004
Excellent stuff, very nostalgic tones.
I agree with CouCou; those hard pans are a bit much on headphones, but otherwise a great tune to listen to! Atmospheric++ :D

- Bob_E on June 9, 2004
Has been on repeat on my WinAmp since it's release.
Yeah, I love it THAT much.

- endblink on June 8, 2004
The vibe created on this mix is sweet! Excellent arrangement! :D

- duck king on June 8, 2004
This has got to me my new favorite song off this website. It's so cool and laid back, and the riff used is just so damn catchy. Please keep making mixes for this website, there are too many bad remixers and it's people like you that give me hope music is still good.

- phantomINTELLECT on June 8, 2004
My opinion: the pad, the bass, the bell sound and the arpeggiator are excellent.
But I can not bear (stand) [*] those the too hard panned percs in my headphone. For me, they ruin the whole mix; can we have a version without ? :wink:
[*]once again, sorry for my horrible english speaking and writing.

- Coucou on June 8, 2004