Remember KaZaA? Yeah you do.
Back when Peer-To-Peer File Sharing was all the rage it was my primary source for video game music. And as I mentioned in a previous article, I’m a huge fan of Sonic the Hedgehog. So one fateful evening I went on a download binge and acquired as many megabytes of Sonic music as I could find. It was mostly stuff I’d heard before, but one new and unique gem stood out amongst the fodder: a song entitled Her Azure Eyes.
The melody was familiar, but this definitely wasn’t lifted directly from the score of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. And it was a far cry from the typical techno and hip-hop remixes I was used to finding online. This song was clever and talented. It was fresh and fascinating. It was sexy. But where did it come from? It took the totality of my keen detective skills to uncover its origins.
Right Click > Properties. The album title was a URL: http://remix.overclocked.org/
The site had since been renamed http://ocremix.org, but the premise was still the same. OverClocked ReMix was a website where music composers can post their fan ReMixes of video game music. And as I mentioned before, these aren’t the typical ‘drop a bass and drum break beat behind a ripped video game melody’ remixes. These are professional grade arrangements, based off of music from video games, but reinterpreted into a new piece with a style and genre all its own.
It’s less like dipping a nutritious apple in viscous caramel, and more like turning it a delicious apple cobbler. It may require a lot more talent and patience, but the results are well worth it.
The range of OverClocked ReMix’s library is mind blowing, featuring songs drawn from a wide variety of games being converted into an assortment of genres, from electronica to hip hop to classical orchestra. Since their inception, they have evolved from only collecting individually submitted tracks to concentrated efforts to create full length albums.
And have I mentioned they provide all this music do this all for free!? I can’t say enough about how much I love these songs. Warm and familiar, yet new and exciting. It’s something you need to hear for yourself, so here are a few tracks from my favorite albums to binge on. Enjoy!
The well known music of Street Fighter II Turbo, creatively reworked in this album: Blood on the Asphalt.
The quality of that album was so impressive that Capcom contacted OCRemix to compose the official soundtrack to the Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix game they released for Xbox Live Arcade.
The soundtrack of a classic RPG, as performed by a classical orchestra in Chrono Trigger: Chrono Symphonic
Here’s a high speed thrillogy of albums inspired by the Sonic games from the Sega Genesis era.
Sonic the Hedgehog: The Sound of Speed – StH2: Hedgehog Heaven – S3&K: Project Chaos
Another favorites games series from the 16-bit era, two albums based off of the Donkey Kong Country games.
Donkey Kong Country: Kong in Concert – Donkey Kong Country 2: Serious Monkey Business
And lastly, but certaintly not least, OCReMix’s latest and most legendary release: 25YEARLEGEND
Not everyone’s taste in music in the same, but every album has the same range and depth as the site itself. If you love video game music, you’ll love this site. And at the low low price of absolutely nothing, you can afford to give it a shot.
Cheers,
—JD
