So I was meandering about the internets this morning and I visited one of my favorite websites. OCRemix. Some of you know it, some of you don't. Those of you that don't are about to.

And there's why.

Arguably, the Flashman theme is one of the most re-interpreted pieces of music found in, not only the Megaman games themselves, but in pretty much ALL of videogame audio. The only ones that top it for 'oh my god how many more ways can it get done' are Dr. Wily's first stage in MM2, the Legend of Zelda Theme, the original Super Mario Bros world 1-1 (and 1-2), the basic Final Fantasy chord progression, oh, and Dr. Wily's first stage in MM2.

I mention Dr. Wily's famous stage twice because it has, in fact, been done to death, reincarnation, death again, and into some sort of psuedo-musical god-like pantheon all of it's own.

This particular piece is... well, screw it, it's awesome. I listened to it over twenty times today alone, and I will probably listen to it some more in the futue, all the while entertaining the mental image of a break-dancing, strobe-lighting Flashman.

Zero, Cut, Guts, Elec, Flash, Quick, Heat, Metal, Spark, Snake, and Top are really some of the most remixed Megaman themes in existence, with notable ribbons also being awarded to MM2's Title theme, MM3's Title Screen and Boss Battle themes, Woodman, and a special, kickass exception made for Flameman (see OCRemix's Master of Flame). Your favorite master not on the list? No worries! Aside from OCRemix, there's literally dozens of independant bands, not to mention official Capcom material, that remixs and recreates pretty much RM EVER.

Except Hardman, who only has one semi-okay Remix to his name, but that's my own nuerosis and nobody else needs to worry about it.

Anyway, I just felt it needed to be brought up. By all means, use this as an oportunity to discuss the music of Megaman, any series, and any remix that might have resulted thereof.

I really like Project X's dance/techno interpretation of Hard Man, but that's my prerogative I guess.

You seem to have scoured the realm of Mega Man remix much more than I have. Maybe we should make a thread for contributing links of particularly good bands/remixes in the Mega Man domain, for those of us who are maybe less educated on the matter? I'd certainly endorse such a thread.

And amen to there being WAAAAY too many remixes of Dr. Wily's first stage in MM2. Evidently that's the only song on the planet, it's been done so often.

The Master of Flame mix was, by far, one of the most addicting songs for Flameman I've heard. DJ MettaZero's worth a listen, too. AmIEvil's mixes are really good as well. A personal favorite being the "Let There be Light" mix of RM 4. I want to see more Slashman and Shademan remixes. There's a couple I've heard, but I'd like to see something new.

This is pretty much the only Shademan Remix you ever need, really. Seriously, it not only has Shade's theme, which is done very well, but also his alt. theme from Ghosts and Goblins. How does THAT not kick ass?

My current all Megaman Playlist sits at 150 songs and reads as follows... (Unless otherwise noted, the tracks listed are the original version that appeared in the game they're listed with.)

[001] Prologue (MM2)
[002] Title Theme (MM2)
[003] Green Grass Gradiation 8Bit (Rockman a, MMZXA)
[004] PHOENIX - Stage Select (MM1)
[005] Bombman (MM1)
[006] Gutsman (MM1)
[007] Gutsman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[008] PHOENIX - Gutsman (MM1)
[009] Cutman (MM1)
[010] Cutman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[011] Elecman (MM1)
[012] Elecman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[013] OCREMIX - Circuit Breaker (Elecman, MM1)
[014] Iceman (MM1)
[015] Fireman (MM1)
[016] IWAO - Wily Boss (MM1)
[017] Flashman (MM2)
[018] OCREMIX - Nuclear Flash (Flashman, MM2)
[019] Quickman (MM2)
[020] OCREMIX - With The Quickness (Quickman, MM2)
[021] Metalman (MM2)
[022] PHOENIX - Metalman (MM2)
[023] Bubbleman (MM2)
[024] Bubbleman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[025] Heatman (MM2)
[026] Heatman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[027] Woodman (MM2)
[028] OCREMIX - Wily and the Deep Forest (Woodman/Wily Stage 1, MM2)
[029] Airman (MM2)
[030] Airman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[031] Crashman (MM2)
[032] Plantman Battle/Crashman Stage Music (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[033] PHOENIX - Crashman (MM2)
[034] Quickman Battle/MM2 Boss Battle Music (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[035] Mecha Dragon Battle (Megaman 2: Poer Fighters)
[036] OCREMIX - Blue Balls (Title/Shadowman/Snakeman/Boss Battle, MM3)
[037] Magnetman (MM3)
[038] OCREMIX - Magnetman Goes West (Magnetman, MM3)
[039] Hardman (MM3)
[040] PROJECT X - Hardman (MM3)
[041] Topman (MM3)
[042] PHOENIX - Topman (MM3)
[043] Shadowman (MM3)
[044] Shadowman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[045] Sparkman (MM3)
[046] PHOENIX - Sparkman (MM3)
[047] Snakeman (MM3)
[048] Geminiman (MM3)
[049] Geminiman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[050] OCREMIX - Crystal Potion (Geminiman, MM3)
[051] Needleman (MM3)
[052] Rockin' On 8Bit (Rockman a Boss Battle, MMZXA)
[053] PHOENIX - Boss Battle Remix (MM3)
[054] PHOENIX - Boss Battle (MM3)
[055] OCREMIX - Its Boss Time (Boss Battle, MM3)
[056] Protoman Whistle Concert (MM3)
[057] OCREMIX - Break The Beat In Half (Wily Stage, Megaman: Wily Wars)
[058] Toadman (MM4)
[059] Brightman (MM4)
[060] Pharaohman (MM4)
[061] Pharaohman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[062] Ringman (MM4)
[063] Dustman (MM4)
[064] Skullman (MM4)
[065] PHOENIX - Skullman (MM4)
[066] Diveman (MM4)
[067] Diveman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[068] Drillman (MM4)
[069] Stoneman (MM5)
[070] Stoneman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[071] Chargeman (MM5)
[072] Waveman (MM5)
[073] Starman (MM5)
[074] Gravityman (MM5)
[075] Gyroman (MM5)
[076] Gyroman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[077] Crystalman (MM5)
[078] Napalmman (MM5)
[079] Napalmman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[080] Dr. Wily Final Battle (MM5)
[081] PHOENIX - Stage Select (MM6)
[082] Flameman (MM6)
[083] OCREMIX - Master of Flame (Flameman, MM6)
[084] Blizzardman (MM6)
[085] Plantman (MM6)
[086] Tomahawkman (MM6)
[087] Yamatoman (MM6)
[088] Knightman (MM6)
[089] Centaurman (MM6)
[090] Windman (MM6)
[091] Ending (MM6)
[092] Credits (MM6)
[093] 6 Months Later... (MM7)
[094] Mad Grinder (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[095] Burstman (MM7)
[096] Cloudman (MM7)
[097] Junkman (MM7)
[098] Centaurman Battle/ Junkman Stage (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[099] Freezeman (MM7)
[100] The Robot Museum (MM7)
[101] Slashman (MM7)
[102] Slashman (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[103] Springman (MM7)
[104] Shademan (MM7)
[105] Ghosts and Goblins/Shademan Alt. Theme (MM7)
[106] Shademan (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[107] OCREMIX - Bombing Shade of Blue (Shademan/Shademan Alt. Theme, MM7)
[108] Turboman (MM7)
[109] Bass/Forte (MM7)
[110] Yellow Devil (Megaman 2: Power Fighters)
[111] Boss Battle (MM7)
[112] Surge of Power! (RMEXE6)
[113] Ending (MM7)
[114] IWAO - Opening (Title/Theme, MM2)
[115] ZXA Tunes - Rockman a Remix (MMZXA)
[116] Area A (MMZX)
[117] ZX Tunes - Brilliant Show Window (MMZX)
[118] Zero (MMZ)
[119] Prometheus & Pandora (MMZX)
[120] Guardian (MMZX)
[121] Departure (MMZ2)
[122] Area I (MMZX)
[123] Boss Battle (MMZX)
[124] ZX Tunes - Ogre Claw (MMZX)
[125] ZX Tunes - High-Press energy (MMZX)
[126] Boss Battle (MMZXA)
[127] ZX Tunes - Doomsday Device (MMZX)
[128] ZX Tunes - Black Burn (MMZX)
[129] ZX Tunes - Pallida Mors (MMZX)
[130] ZX Tunes - Green Grass Gradiation (MMZX)
[131] ZX Tunes - Sky High - Grand Nuage (MMZX)
[132] ZX Tunes - Misty Rain (MMZX)
[133] Cannon Ball (MMZ3)
[134] ZX Tunes - Dance Macabre (MMZX)
[135] ZXA Tunes - Dance Macabre - Second Act (MMZXA)
[136] Trap Factory II (MMZXA)
[137] Versus Albert (MMZXA)
[138] Versus Albert II (MMZXA)
[139] Final Fall of Ragnorok (MMZ4)
[140] ZXA Tunes - Through the Lightning (MMZXA)
[141] ZXA Tunes - Path to the Truth (MMZXA)
[142] ZXA Tunes - Target Chaser (MMZXA)
[143] ZX Tunes - Rockin' On (MMZX)
[144] ZXA Tunes - Slam Down (MMZXA)
[145] PHOENIX - Dr. Doppler Stage 1 & 2 (MMX3)
[146] ZX Tunes - Trap Factory (MMZX)
[147] ZXA Tunes - Trap Phantasm (MMZXA)
[148] ZXA Tunes - Soul Ablaze (MMZXA)
[149] ZXA Tunes - Divine Hammer (MMZXA)
[150] ZX Tunes - Cannon Ball - Hard Revenge (MMZX)

I'll add to approbation of Master of Flame ("Turn the flame highya!"), and Let There be Light. While I have a lot of OCR stuff in my mp3 collection, compartively little of it is MM related, which is a shame. I've listened to all the MM mixes on OCR, but most of it doesn't appeal to me too much.

The other MM OCR tunes I care enough for to keep on my playlist are MMX3's House Hornet, MM&B's Hyperrock Fortissimo, MM8's Frosty Delight ("you haven't lost yer touch"), MM3's Cataclysmic Clash ("Enter Annihilation...no turning back" - part of me loves it just for the free advertising :P), MMX's Light in the Fortress, MM2's Opening Distraught, MMX's Brainsick Metal, MM6's Flurry of Frozen Fury, and of course the very awesome Magnetman Goes West.

I'd say my favourite remixer on the site is bLiNd, who did G-Storm, my favourite OCR remix to date, along with a lot of other awesome trance stuff. No MM stuff from him though.

I have a lot more MM remixes MMN though. Iwao-Ni's Heatman mix has been a longtime favourite of mine. The recent additions in the Fan Music section have some real gems too. Yuu, U-Gen, and Shachinobu all have good collections, as do Rocklove and R.O.C.K.M.A.N. However the "Rockman Best Collection Vol. 1" is titled completely ironically and should be avoided at all costs. Godawful.

I got an iPod Touch for my birthday last month, so a good chunk of my recent free time has gone to organizing my music collection and dumping it on there. It's also got me digging around for artwork to attach to each tune. The music I listen to almost always brings certain images to mind, and it's nice to have those images pop up on your mp3 player's screen at the same time. There are 475 tunes on board at the moment (476, now that I'm adding Nuclear Flash, thank you) and I think about 50 have artwork. It's a job that'll likely never be finished (particularly for the wav files which seem to be unable to take artwork for some reason), but the search has been somewhat fun. A lot of the MM artwork was conveniently lifted from my own art, my friends' art, and even more from that Napo guy. There are some holes that I need to fill though, and it's making me want to draw what I have in mind myself rather than keep trawling DevArt and Google Image Search.

I ought to upload the pic I threw together for Magnetman Goes West, you'll understand what's going through my mind.
Edit: Here it is. Five minutes in Photoshop: Magnetman Goes West. Yes, I'm insane.

One thing I did for the new player was put together a massive EXE playlist that I've had planned forever. Every single navi character in the series has its own theme music in my mind, even the ones that Capcom didn't give ones to. Some of the music is straight from the GBA games, some straight from equivalent MM games (eg. MM8 Aquaman for Aquaman.exe, perfect representation) or better yet, a suitable remix (Shachinobu's Drillman remix for Drillman.exe), and sometimes I just have to get creative (I've attributed "Surge of Power!" and the introductory "Distortion" themes from EXE6 to Circusman, mostly based on that one scene where he awakens the Cybeasts, Medi's theme is just EXE5's Internet theme, which fits her personality to a certain extent), others are remixes existing only in my head for the moment. One of these days I'm going to learn how to remix myself so I can bring them out. Until then I have substitutes on hand that just remind me of what I want.

Now we're talking my lingo! Nuclear Flash is definately a welcome addition to the Flashman franchise. Some other OCR Megaman classics for me are Brainsick Metal, Stainless Steel, Wily Metal, Needleman by Night, Code Red, and Wily Haunts Flashman. Bubbleman gets funked up, Teardrinker, Magnetman goes West, House Hornet, Cataclysmic Clash, and Snakeman get down get some honorable mentions. And you better believe I've been tapping Iwao, Phoenix, the 20th Anniversary Rock Collection, Rockman Zero 4, Physi albums.

Favorite VGMix Megaman tunes...are much more far and few in between. To me, VGMix tunes seem to be...lower quality. A few of the tunes just seem to be some guy who picked up a guitar and played a riff from some video game, possibly out of boredom, then submitted it. OCRemix, on the other hand, seem to have a more professional. I know that the folks at OCR are a bit more selective with which tunes they get, so that's got something to do with it. But OCR tunes also got more staying power. Lots of those OCRemix tunes I rattled off have been with me since my freshman year of college six years ago.

As for Dr. Wily's first stage, yeah, everyone in their grandmother has tapped that. What's sorta scary to me, is that I've heard described as 'Beethoven's Fifth' of video game tunes. Sure, it's catchy when it's done right, and I've got a few remixes of it on my MP3 player, but 'Beethoven's Fifth' a pretty big stretch if you ask me. Whoever said that hasn't listened to enough Castlevania to get his head straight.

And on a random note, Robotic Demise. A unique tune if you ask me, since it's a Mega Man X2 tune, which you don't see whole lot of (or at least I haven't). And even more unique since it's a decent one. Well, I guess it's actually pretty standard for a heavy metal remix, but its heart is in the right place. Have fun.

Hey, Hardy has more than one semi-okay remix. Housethegrate did a semi-okay heavy metal rendition of the big guy. Some guy named Disco Dan's done a much more impressive techno version of it too. So yeah, Dr. Wily Stage 1, eat your heart out. :P

Oh, you suck. I'm still waiting for a Megaman 4 tune to say, "Got problems? Need help? Got some money you're willing to spend? We'll do anything for cash! Offer valid anywhere in the world!!!!" :P

Disco Dan is also the Magnetman Goes West guy, so it's a good bet.

Yeah...good point... >.>

Anyhoo, here's a grabbag of Mega Man III tunes I gave to Jade a while back. That Hardman remix I was talking about's in there. It should be called "Hard Knuckle", or something like that. It's the longest out of all the Hardman tunes I've got.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GOQLZYJY

Aside from the four that sound suspiciously like midis, that's a good collection. I like the use of Mech names in a couple of the titles. That "Topman - Playtime is Over" sounds good, but it's too bad it was recorded with a mic or something. There's more background noise than music. The first Topman file and Needlegal's themes are the best, I think.

Yeah, I think I know which four you're talking about. Those ones were actually home-brewed by a fan who was disappointed that the Complete Works versions of Mega Man I-III didn't have as many original remixes as IV-VI had, so he took matters into his own hands. But yeah, I've had hell and gone better. The only reason why I gave them to Jade was that he was asked me for all Needlegal, Hardman, Topman, and Fortress Battle remixes I had, and I wanted the list to be complete.

And funny you should mention "Playtime's Over", because I did record it with a mic. It was done by some cat named Seifer, and the only place I ever heard it was in a "Beating Topman" video. I couldn't find a downloadable copy of that tune, so all I could do was hold the speakers to the mic and record away. If I can get my hands on that video again, I could record a much higher quality version now. But now I'm more inspired to hunt for it on Youtube, on the off chance it migrated there. And for the record, "Playtime's Over" was the name I gave it.

And one more thing about Disco Dan was that the man churned out a shitload more Mega Man III tunes than any remixer I know. He's tackled all the RMs, the title theme, the get weapon theme, the last two stages of Dr. Wily's castle, and maybe Protoman's theme. All of them are just as good as, if not better than, Magnetman Goes West.