ReMix:The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker "Pirates of Dragon Roost Isle" 3:37

By Tyler Heath

Arranging the music of one song...

"Dragon Roost Island"

Primary Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo , 2003, GCN), music by Hajime Wakai, Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi

Posted 2004-02-19, evaluated by the judges panel


Phew. I just spent the last 48 hours without net access, having a little customer service SNAFU with my ISP, who insisted on shutting down my connection, not telling me why, and instructing me to call a phone number that was busy all the time for more info. Grrrrr. All good now though, so it's back to business. First off, a thanks to the recent props from Penny Arcade - if you've been living in a cave and are somehow unaware of PA, get over there pronto. From Unknown comes our second Wind Waker mix, an interesting arrangement with some really nice touches - flute flares, a good sense of flow, and some unorthodox but excellent percussive decisions that really make it. Things get VERY cinematic with string stabs, brass stabs, multiple orchestral hits, and a running momentum, full of kinetic energy. GrayLightning really liked this one and had quite a bit to say:

"Beautiful. This is definitely one of the most enjoyable mixes I have heard on the panel recently.

Starting off with richly layered strings and what sounds like very nice overblown flute staccs. You don't hear those too often. It changes gears as soon as the bodharn percussion enters. It adds a very nice driving force to the orchestral sections. Brass that comes later in adds a nice texture to the space also. Articulations are used sparingly, but wisely. Like the string trills. I didn't feel this was empty at all. Really good usage of orchestral percussion provides good accenting rather than a rhythm. The chromatic bell/musicbox later on is a nice touch.

Very solid arrangement, orchestration and production values overall. I would have liked a touch more reverb, maybe a nice medium hall reverb.

I was surprised to hear this was done with FruityLoops and free soundfonts. Who says you can't do great mixes outside techno and trance with FL? This is one of those great examples that illustrates it's not what you have, but how you use the tools available to you. Sublime and an easy yes from me."

This is an arrangement that gets progressively more compelling and interesting as it goes - tuning out early is a big mistake, and pretty difficult to do when Unknown keeps things this varied, with numerous changeups, breaks, and additions and subtractions to the instrumentation. This is at once epic and also exciting rather than expansive and grandiose, although you could describe it that way, too. Great stuff from Unknown, with high replayability, good production values, and a memorable energy.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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mstie3k
on 2013-03-22 01:49:05

Before I even bought "The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker", I've listened to this song. It's an awesome remix. In fact one of my favorites. I love the grand feeling to the song as well as how it sounds using the orchestra feeling. I could easily see this as being on the open seas, preparing for adventure. Wonderful work.

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Bahamut
on 2011-12-08 23:15:15

I never commented on this mix? Strange.

This mix sits in an interesting area. The arrangement itself is fine, but it does seem to shed a little of the grandiose sound that the original has. It does have some of its own charm to it, but not as much as the great grand feel that the original has. It is a good example of a reinterpretation though, and I'm glad that this mix is around. The song does sound a little on the thin side though - I do wish there was some more instrumentation to it.

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champ the hippie
on 2011-08-13 10:40:43

splendid work. this is to me just like the original, only moreso. therefore, being that the original is one of my favorite vg songs to date, this mix is excellent. apropos to the game but perfectly capable of standing on its own, this is one mix i shall certainly be visiting repeatedly. well done

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OA
on 2010-08-16 13:47:43

Pretty exciting stuff, great arrangement, and some really nice passages keep this interesting throughout. The great dynamics are the icing on this delicious cupcake, and though the samples are mind blowing, they are very well used, and the emotion of the track is pretty clear.

Very strong work, I enjoy it a lot. :-)

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Lucentas
on 2009-10-18 00:37:43

Beautiful work. This is one of my absolute favorite tracks from the game, and to hear it given the orchestral treatment is just thrilling.

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rj42492
on 2009-07-01 13:24:27

For some reason, the mp3 I got from the torrent calls this "Pirates of Dragon Rost Isle". I would think that this could be fixed for further releases. A great remix!

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GreyMage
on 2007-11-16 23:31:54

pirety, dark, symphonic, dragon roosty, great epic and dreaming feeling.

this remix i recommend to anyone who hasen't heard it w

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Incronaut
on 2007-04-08 01:59:00

I'm so motivated to use FL now!!!! Great job, that's all i can say.

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lady zelda
on 2006-01-08 00:57:56

Can someone please call the New York Philharmonic?! Somehow, you get a perfect picture any sight you can imagine at the sea, whether it be a valiant royal fleet or the uber-cute cel-shaded Link all alone in the blue. All sections of the orchestra fit together perfectly, it's amazing! Just like the symphonies of the classical greats!

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maestermatt
on 2005-12-18 20:47:53

This remix is one of those ones, that don't go really far off like some remixs on here. This song is one of my favs in wind waker so i was really happy to hear this remix of it.

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Zera
on 2005-12-15 19:27:34

The way this is composed brings just one word to my mind: Epic. It is like sailing over the vast sea, scaling the great windswept Dragon Roost Mountain, and, as stated before, a prelude to a great siege. I could see this song playing as warriors dig into the ground of the island, prepared for the onslaught of darkness that had overcome Hyrule - no matter how terrible the odds or how dark the day. Yes...the forces of darkness approaching across the sea, prepared to claim the island and it's power...truly magnificent.

You've done outstanding work here; I thank you for all your hard work and encourage you to continue on in such a wonderful fashion.

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Magnum_Thunder
on 2005-10-03 00:02:50

Hm, this was a mix that made me think hard about what if this had actually happened in the game. It sounded exactly like what you would hear for an in-game cetimatic about a war between the dark forces of Ganon, versus the resistance on Dragon Roost Island. The whole thing is practically a battle scene cut into different parts. I could easily hear the main melody throughout the mix, and gave a sort of feeling between a fought battle and a fled battle.

Final Grade: 8.5 out of 10

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Magical Ninja
on 2005-08-19 00:37:11

Not the best, but still awesome. 7.5/10

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Gate Jumper
on 2005-08-10 17:10:33

Holy CRAP! this is sooooooooooo awsome its not even funny! :lmassoff: (mabie just a little)

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pilusvol
on 2005-07-30 13:20:26

this music is great :D. She's can be used for much games or films about sea

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo , 2003, GCN)
Music by Hajime Wakai,Kenta Nagata,Koji Kondo,Toru Minegishi
Songs:
"Dragon Roost Island"

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File Information


Name:
Legend_of_Zelda_The_Wind_Waker_Pirates_of_Dragon_Roost_Isle_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
3,567,224 bytes
MD5:
d89c644e6a1527a88fb2ce690cfb1748
Bitrate:
128Kbps
Duration:
3:37

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