ReMix:The Longest Journey "Beginnings" 2:45

By Deimos

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Prologue", "The House of All Worlds"

Primary Game: The Longest Journey (Funcom Oslo A , 1999, WIN), music by Bjørn Arve Lagim, Tor Linløkken

Posted 2002-06-07, evaluated by the judges panel


I remember reading positive reviews of this amazing-looking adventure game for PC when it was originally released. There's so few great adventure games being made any more, and at the time many credited this game with at least a partial revival of the genre. Like so many things, I never got around to playing it, but deim0s' latest mix at least lets me enjoy a bit o' the soundtrack. Moody piano, strings, and choir make up this melancholy instrumental arrangement, with a definite emphasis as far as the strings go on the low end - always my preference, personally, as cellos are such amazing instruments. This is the type of arrangement that to me wouldn't work at all without high-quality sounds (which it has, by the way) but succeeds not simply because of them, but because they're well-blended and form a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Those who like brooding, dramatic shtuff (count me in) should dig it. Unique, excellent game choice as well :)

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 14 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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WesternZypher
on 2010-12-23 11:36:17

This thread would notable just for orkybash being a first poster - I remember his mixes, his Ultima one is still on my playlist. This game's music didn't actually stand out to me - but I do have the tracks that play in April's room when you use her music player. Here's a sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLB6Q6PaIlY

Even years and years afterwards, The Longest Journey is game with a great storyline. Any adventure gamer who hasn't should definitely play it, and its sequel, Dreamfall.

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Otakatt
on 2009-12-02 11:26:49

I used to listen to this quite a bit back in the day, but unfortunately it just got put on the sidelines in my storage folder and forgotten. :\ What's different about this is I'm not familiar with the source tune or the source *at all*. And usually when that's the case, I don't listen to a remix. There's a lot on OCR so I generally stick to what I know. I dunno what prompted me to listen to this back in the day, but I remember liking it a lot. Listening to it now? I still like it.

Deim0s does that ambient thing here and they do it well. The strings and the piano at the beginning goes together really well and helps set up the somber, and dare I say, gloomy mood of this piece. I like the choir-y voices that come in later too. Overall it comes together very well and makes a beautiful piece.

Given the heavy mood, it's not something I feel I can listen to all the time (it's raining here now so it's really meshing with me now) but once in a while? Oh yeses. People who dig ambiance should definitely check this one out.

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DragonAvenger
on 2009-10-21 20:55:12

I'm liking this. I'd love to hear it updated with some better sounds overall, it has potential of being very pretty.

I would have loved a bit more dynamic variation in the beginning, especially if it could have created a better blend between the instruments. Right now it feels like things are working on their own rather than (duh) together. Strings feel a little harsh, and the low piano line gets a bit repetative. Overall if those things were updated I would be quite happy with this, but as is it's a nice track that I enjoy.

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OA
on 2007-04-03 12:50:25

Very moody and cool, but not as melodic as I would prefer.

The samples are pretty good, and the piano and cello meld well.

A little too moody to be relaxing, but not exciting enough to be energizing.

It's nice work, but not quite what I am in the mood for right now.

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Zipp
on 2005-11-27 17:29:45

I first listened to this mix a long time ago, when I was looking for things related to Longest Journey (it's one of those games that does that to you). This remix (the 5th one to be reviewed on my "Review All" list) had a place in what I still consider the best CD I ever compiled of OC Remixes.

It is a haunting melody, taken from the main theme of the game, that is exentuated by what is either talent with the strings, or good synthesizing (I'm guessing the later). A mysterious piece through and through, it even ends on a note which speaks of things incomplete, left to come.

The only complaint is that the background chords never get more complicated or creative than when they first begin, making this a fairly linear piece. For that reason, it gets 4/5.

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Ventrex
on 2005-02-28 23:03:09

A very beautiful, moody piece for a very beautiful game. Around 1'40 is where the true beauty settles in for me, as the song slows and revolves around the vocals like a wondrous carousel of ear candy, before setting sail again in the sea of strings. Only truly beautiful songs make me ramble on incoherently. :wink:

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Night10194
on 2003-06-23 21:23:16

As a great fan of the source game, I would also like to say that this mix is wonderful work.

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Vagus
on 2003-05-03 11:50:40

Doesn't it strike anyone else how similar the piano notes are to the moody track in Dungeon Master II? They are practicaly identical.

Great job, deim0s. A sweet, atomospheric track that will go on loop in Winamp.

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ZombieGirlAya
on 2002-06-10 13:20:05

I adore the piano, and the dark imperative cello work. Mwah! I could listen to this all day.

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deim0s
on 2002-06-09 06:04:03

Thanks for the kind words, folks.

And Tappy, the song is an arrangement of a piano theme that's pretty prevalent throughout the soundtrack. The songs in which it's most easily heard are "Prologue" and "The House of All Worlds".

For anyone that doesn't know, The Longest Journey's entire soundtrack is freely available online from this page:

http://www.longestjourney.com/stark/music.html

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Legion303
on 2002-06-09 03:48:37

Good lord, this is absolutely gorgeous. Exceptional work, deim0s.

Damn you. Cellos play a part in one of my works in progress and now everyone will have something better (yours) to compare them to. :P

-steve

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krispy
on 2002-06-09 03:22:55

Its a very moody piece with a beautiful use of piano, chello, pads, and choir ahhhs. I really liked this song as it contrasted most of the music on the website and in my collection. I never played the game but i can imagine it from the music and the screenshot...i might check it out sometime. The Kreme gives it a 8/10

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Tappy
on 2002-06-09 03:03:33

I loved this game, and I love the sound of cellos. Although I can't quite figure out which piece of music this song is arranging. I listen to the Longest Journey soundtrack all the time, and this melody just doesn't ring a bell. The piano is kind of similar to "Main Titles", but otherwise I can't figure out where in the game this piece was taken from...

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orkybash
on 2002-06-07 22:10:15

Longest Journey 'Beginnings'

This is simply beautiful. Samples are good, and there's really no dead spots in the arrangement. I noticed some discordance, but it's used to good effect here, adds interest, and doesn't seem at all accidental (as was the case when I've criticized that aspect in other mixes). Me likes.

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
The Longest Journey (Funcom Oslo A , 1999, WIN)
Music by Bjørn Arve Lagim,Tor Linløkken
Songs:
"Prologue"
"The House of All Worlds"

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File Information


Name:
Longest_Journey_Beginnings_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
3,395,241 bytes
MD5:
1f2c739b563807682a875cf09c465019
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
2:45

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