What began as a spin-off site of overclocked.org – a comic about the emulation community – is now the largest and most successful video game remixing website. That may sound like something similar to “best specific thing of a very particular category” because it is, but believe me, OverClocked ReMix is kind of a big deal.
OverClocked ReMix is a website dedicated to remixing (or rearranging, as they prefer to call it) video game music. For anyone who grew up gaming, it’s a truly nostalgic trip. Old classics like Chrono Cross, Super Metroid and various Mega Man are among the hundreds of games chosen by artists to musically reinvent. The qualifications for having a remix published are very strict, allowing maybe 15% of all submissions to pass, and ensuring that the website consists entirely of top quality tracks. Of course there are a few remixes some won’t enjoy, as is true with all other types of music, but the overwhelming amount of fantastic songs available to download for free is almost daunting.
David Lloyd started the website back in 1999, and it wasn’t easy on the eyes. After a few redesigns, the ocremix.org you see now was created. The site itself is incredibly well structured. There are about twelve billion ways to get from the home page to your favorite remix – good if you’re familiar with the site, and even better if you’re not. And for those who want to skip the site altogether and grab all the tracks in one fell swoop, your (dis)interest is supported by two torrents with over 1500 songs. For those more curious about the website itself, its minimalist graphics and basic color scheme make browsing remixes and exploring pages a pleasure as opposed to the chore it used to be. As soon as you hit the home page, you’re greeted with a list of the latest remixes, recent community discussion topics, remix reviews, and links to tons of other cool features, my favorite being the randomized video game character at the top right of each page.
Apart from providing fresh perspective on old game tunes, OC ReMix has built a huge community of music aficionados, some of whom have become judges on the panel that accepts/rejects remix submissions. A few of those same people happen to be among the best remixers on the website, although the community tends to frown upon arguing favorites or debating whether or not Protricity is indeed human. (He is.) The community members can always look forward to a few surprises, too, such as the introduction of remix soundtracks way back when, or the more recent and less expected interview with Rare’s music man Grant Kirkhope. Remember Donkey Kong? How about Perfect Dark? Viva Piñata or Banjo Kazooie, anyone? At the very least, I know you remember Goldeneye 007, and yes, he scored that too. (TIP: There are six songs by Kirkhope that have been remixed, two of which are by Daniel Baranowsky, who is up there with the greats of OCR. Definitely check those tracks out.)
The absolute best part of OC ReMix is that it actually exists. Brand new music redefined from old favorites and submitted regularly so that you can download high quality MP3s for free – what more could you ask for? You could be in the mood for something intense, like a furious Gaiaries remix, or something tranquil and serene like Forrest Birdcussion. It doesn’t matter what you’re after, because OC ReMix has something for everyone. OverClocked ReMix is a website with clear intentions and a mission that sees success day in and day out. Solid design, a regular influx of new music, a massive community that’s constantly growing and at least one bad ass DJ are only a few reasons you should give OCR a once over.
