Yeah, I know this site was covered by Dale (I think) before, but I wanted to take the time to give the awesome video game audio remix site Overclocked ReMix another pop, and give them the due they so deserve.

Overclocked ReMix--aka, OCRemix--is one of the best examples of the Web 2.0 concept put towards the video game community. Hundreds upon hundreds of musicians with a love of video games submit and share their pride and joy on this site, and it shows--unlike Youtube, which is swamped with thousands of useless videos, every song on OCRemix is something special.

Let's waste no more time and highlight some of my favorites, shall we?

First up is a remix from Donkey Kong Country 2 titled Assembly Line Apparitions, and currently my most recent gem discovery on OCRemix. It's an awesome industrial/prog rock rendition of the old tune "Haunted Chase" from DKC2, and is one of the most rocking tracks I've found so far. In fact, it's so industrial and different from the source track, it sounds perfect in something such as a mecha anime, like Gundam (interestingly enough, the staff at OCRemix felt the same, as evident in their write-up).

Next we have On the Day the World Changed, a medley of several beautiful themes from the cult classic Secret of Mana (including the memorable "Angel's Fear/Fear of the Heavens"). It's a beautiful prog rock rendition of the themes with a touch of symphonic feel, and I think is a very beautiful piece. From the first notes it makes its stand, and it simply oozes out creativity and eccentricity in the way perhaps only progressive music can.

Battling Organs, a battle theme rendition from EarthBound, is shorter in length than the previous two remixes, but despite being half as long it still manages to hold its own in terms of personality. It's a very odd, almost psychadelic piece that's an absolutely perfect juxtaposition with the oddity that is Mother, and gets my nod for its good execution and composition.

Now we move onto one of my favorites: Yellow Valkyrie. "Yellow Valkyrie" is mainly a remix of the title theme from Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and I honestly think it is of such superb quality that it's better than most of the music on the game's actual OST. It has a techno/synth feel that the Metroid Prime explored throughout the first two games, but what was ultimately replaced by a (in my opinion, failed) attempt at a symphonic, orchestral score that was obviously inspired by Halo. "Yellow Valkyrie" takes the beautiful composition for the MP3:C main title, and 'Metroidifies' it into something a bit more befitting to the series.

One of the more rocking remixes I've come across, SNES Battle Medley lives up to its namesake as a medley of FF IV and FF VI's battle themes, presented in an almost old-school live rock fashion. Very classy electric guitar work here reminiscent of '70s virtuosos.

Battle on a New Continent is a medley of several insidious, villainous themes from FF VI. Very dark and moody track, and it totally nails the wicked, alien, twisted themes. I really can't capture its magic in words, so I'll just leave it at calling it a splendid piece of heavy metal.

And saving the best for last, we have Terra by Jeremy Soule. Yes, you read that correctly: the Jeremy Soule. Jeremy created this track as a token of appreciation for both Nobuo Uematsu and OverClocked ReMix, and it truly stands out as a priceless gift. Feeling like it was taken straight out of The Elder Scrolls, this moving remix shows how Mr. Soule is one of the most promising Western composers out there. Simply viewtiful.

I also want to take this time to give a shout out to Grant "Stemage" over at Metroid Metal. Grant's a really cool guy and he's got some phenomenal work over at his site, with some totally balls-to-the-wall progressive metal remixes of classic Metroid tunes. Give it a shot if you like metal or Metroid--or, if you're like me and like both. =)