ReMix: Awesome 'Game Over (Cheeze Mix)'
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Once upon a time a company named Psygnosis made a wide range of innovative, beautiful, and well-scored games for the C64, Amiga, and Atari ST. In those days, the PC wasn't really a player in the computer game arena, and for awhile, the Amiga offered the best gaming platform for both graphics and sound, relative to console competition. Though Lemmings easily eclipsed their earlier titles in terms of popularity, they'd released quite a few excellent games in quite a few genres prior, always with a distinct European flavor to the overall aesthetic and somewhat prohibitive difficulty levels. 'Awesome' is a shooter I never played and which is apparently rather rare and obscure even to diehard Amigans, but which newcomer Erik Sundström provides an elaborate, enjoyable hybrid arrangement of. Though he titled this a "Cheeze Mix", it's quite mature and not exactly what I would call cheesy; there's tightly woven orchestral elements that blend against a 70's style acoustic rock kit, and synths on top of that. Things intro with a military snare and strings that might signal pure orchestral, but gradually a kick fades in along with synths and pizzicato; check the subtle pitch bend downwards at 0'27" - interesting arrangement decision, and definitively states that this won't be a strictly realistic affair. Vigilante's been having some medical goings-on for awhile, and writes about some of the "non-cohesive cohesiveness" employed:
"Entering day 3 of oxycodone-fueled post-surgery limbo, I feel like this track is aptly comparable to my state of consciousness: it makes very little sense, but it's really quite enjoyable. I don't think it's just the drugs talking. The parts jump around wildly, but everything is bound together in a wonderfully ethereal cerebro-aquatic goo."
Gray wasn't too keen on the original source material, at least in terms of production, and appreciated what Erik S was able to do with it:
"The composition and arrangement in this is great, especially when you compare it to the shallow original. This is what remixing is about to me. You brought in so much personalization and style - your synths are fun and interesting - it's a kaleidoscope of absorbing textures."
Kaleidoscopic indeed; definitely a distinct, different sound going on with this mix that sets it apart and gives it a unique flavor. The extended synth solo at 2'10", which approaches a prog rock vibe, is probably my favorite section; might not have panned it so hard left, but it's a great solo nonetheless. Groovy phased drum fill at 3'03", too. Great, utterly distinct first mix from Erik S that lives up to the name of the game it's from.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the It's not on my list of favorites or anything, but still an enjoyable track to listen to.
- Nutritious on April 29, 2011
I can't say I've ever played or heard anything from the source, but my interest is now peaked. Here's hoping Youtube has the goods. If it is half as inventive and cereberal as this mix, I have some nice listening ahead. If not, I still have the Cheeze Mix.
- Marmiduke on May 13, 2009
While there were a lot of really good sections, there were a few that I don't really think fit thematically, and that pause seemed way out of place. The transitions seemed a little weak to me as well.
While it may sound like i am really railing on this one, I can see that there is a lot of really good stuff here; i'm just disappointed that it wasn't put together tighter. I bet if Eric took a look at this track today it'd be amazing.
A really good and creative but flawed mix. :-(
- OA on October 2, 2008
--Eino
- evktalo on December 11, 2007
I made this track simply because Awesome (together with the "Shadow of the beast"-series were all games I deliberately died in just to hear the game over tunes.
The original Awesome game had a certain eire-ness to it that I couldn't quite capture. And all in all I might have wanted this remix to be less reverbed and pretentious. But still, I'm quite happy with it, and is thrilled to see other people enjoying it.
/Erik
- El_Guapo on August 25, 2006
- Karrde on August 1, 2006
*edit*
Actually, considering that slow synth you were using throughout the song, I'd really love to see you do something ambient with that. Maybe Mario Kart's "Rainbow Road" or FF7's "Mako Reactor". I could see you doing something really wicked with a hard core synth song.
- Karrde on July 31, 2006
But the arrangment makes up for it. I think it's worth a download.
- Chickenwarlord on July 26, 2006
Overall, I like the general laid-back-ness of the mix. I'm not familiar with the source tune (or so I think), but the ReMix really got me.
- Martin Penwald on July 25, 2006
Edit: After listening to this 30 or so times, I have to say that my original opinion was wrong. It took me forever to ease into this piece, as the beginning section up until the synth solo reminds me too much of the theme from that Unsolved Mysteries TV show which freaked the shit out of me when I was a kid. Anyway, upon further inspection, Liontamer was right in applauding the arrangement and composition of this remix. It's simply spectacular. The buildup to the synth solo is magnificent. And of course, the solo still kicks hefty ass.
- MrBogus on July 7, 2006
PlastikBag wrote: This sounds a lot like something from Phantasy Star Online. Instant awesome (no pun intended, I swear).Yes. It also sounds like some of the music from science fiction/animated films during the 80s. Neat.
- Nec5 on July 6, 2006
- PlastikBag on July 6, 2006
- Amayirot Akago on July 6, 2006
