The New Gamer

Gamer Remix Review #6: McVaffe - Tetris [McVaffeQuasi Ultimix] Gamer Remix Reviews
By G. Turner
Posted September 28, 2003

I'm a big fan of video games. I'm also a huge music fan, especially of the electronic variety. Merging the two is one of life's more delicious inventions, like peanut butter & jelly or computers and a musty basement. Unfortunately, it appears that all too many people have not been exposed to this niche genre of music so in order to illuminate and thwart our current update policy, every Tuesday I'll take a short look at one of many fine video game remixes.

This week's remix: McVaffe - Tetris [McVaffeQuasi Ultimix]

This week we go for a bit of the familiar - the Tetris theme song (no, not Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies). McVaffe has scrapped together two Tetris mixes but this effort certainly makes it the king of the mountain. Most mixes prey on the listeners ability to recognize the background melody, which both of McVaffe's remixes do in spades - but this mix not only starts with the opening GameBoy 'ding!' but after a somewhat routine techno remix of the main theme the song pauses

for a

bit

good old Tetris gameplay.

Anyone that has played Tetris recognizes not only the background music, but the sound effects as well. It's a brilliant break that takes you off-guard and then eases you back into the upbeat swing of things with a graceful piano soliloquy of the oh-so-memorable theme. The mix builds and becomes recursive, chewing on it's opening tail with a few nice drum effects along the way.

While there are plenty of Tetris remixes out there, this one by far captures the spirit of the game more than any other out there - the addictive quality, the repetative but building puzzle energy and the immersive nature of the game is bundled into a tightly refined three and a quarter minute piece. Take my word for it and just download the mix - it's well worth your time, and after you listen to it this review will click. Trust me.

Download McVaffe's Tetris McVaffeQuasi Ultimix

Also, head on over to McVaffe's site for more fantastic mixes!

Want more video game remixes? Visit these fine sites:

VGMix.com Forum - New! - What used to be a staple remix site is now mostly a message board (well, they say the site is coming back). There are some good works in progress to be found here though.

Remix.kwed.org - Reinterpretations of classic Commodore 64 tunes. Outstanding quality mixes.

Overclocked Remix - Remixes for most every system.

Remix64 - Comprehensive coverage of the c64 remix scene.

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