Last Ninja 2 - Guitar Remix

[THIS REALLY KICKS IN AT 27s!] Here is my version of the classic C64 tune Last Ninja 2 - Central Park.
This was crying out to be beefed up with some guitars, drums and whatever else I had handy, but I also kept the SID sounds in there to give it that classic C64 feel.
I used QuadraSid (a VST plugin that emulates the sound of the C64 SID chip) to copy the original sounds (took ages to get them sounding right), and after adding the guitar I was pretty pleased with the result.
This was great fun to do, so if anyone has any requests for more chip tunes that could do with a bit of guitar treatment then let me know - we can add to the new genre of SID rock!
PLAY THIS LOUD!
Original composed by Matt Gray
Arranged by Richard Braithwaite
www. richbraithwaite.co.uk
EDIT - Been asked what kit I used to do this, so here goes - DAW - Cubase SX 3.1, Quadrasid (for all SID sounds), Guitar Rig 4 (for beefy guitar sounds), Superior Drummer 2 for Drums (simply amazing drum samples, best I've heard), Halion 3 (samples for middle 8 Japanese sounds), Les Paul guitar, Cort 5 string bass, Triton Pro master keyboard, various reverb, chorus and compression plugins, er, and a whole lot of time!

[@ricscott5177]

Not enough people know the context of how good this tune is and how good that game was.

[@stddgv11]

It's those sounds of the c64 that you left in that everybody tries to replace with real instruments when try to remake it, are what brings it all together. You knew exactly what to update and what to leave alone. This is by far the best remake of the song. It's practically perfect.

[@c3tra]

the perfect comment to a perfect remix :)

[@RichBraithwaite108]

UPDATE - Have uploaded the MP3 to remix.kwed.org, search for Last Ninja 2, it's the one titled 'Last Ninja 2 (Central Park Guitar Remix)' arr by Richard Braithwaite Free to download as well!

[@GrahamIsOnTheTube]

Here in 2021 hearing this version for the first time and (after picking my jaw up off the floor) heading to download for playback through my work day tomorrow

[@onurberber]

Can't stop listening, best version ever.

[@MeinenNamenSagIchNicht]

Same here

[@V3ntilator]

I met Matt Gray 2 times in Norway. He who made the orignal. :D First time with Ben Daglish and second time with Rob Hubbard and David Wise.

[@alanreader2009]

If they remade this game for moden gaming systems, this should be put on the remake. :) Totally Love it.

[@robchissy]

10 years on and i can tell you, this is a great tune to drive to

[@V3ntilator]

R.I.P. Ben Daglish. I were lucky to meet him in Norway, 2 years ago with Matt Gray.

[@DaEnemy]

So fucking sad news... listening to all his tunes in a row for hours - just like in the past few weeks when I was repairing Commodore machines... :'(

[@Terbie36]

Just to mention a fact here... Daglish, that great talent, composed The Last Ninja (1) tracks. The Last Ninja 2 tracks (as this one) were composed by Matt Gray.

[@V3ntilator]

@@Terbie36 I always knew Matt Gray made this one.

[@Terbie36]

@@V3ntilator Ok. I just thought that it'd be more appropriate to mention him under The Last Ninja 1 tracks. That would also not cause any confusion for those who don't know which composer composed which game. Cheers.

[@V3ntilator]

@@Terbie36 No problem. :) Cheers.

[@Deetronic]

When I was a kid I imagined this song to sound exactly you played with guitar!!! Great work :)

[@Pierpo84]

EXACTLY as I imagined it 28 years ago. Superb!

[@Pradoceleste]

This version is an absolute masterpiece. Amazing job!

[@seanshepherd1543]

You are literally a music GENIUS, my friend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting! I *love* it! And it brings back good memories of hacking my old Commodore 64/128. I think I was like only 6 or 7 then (it was the late '80s) but wow, this music just proves that with the right talent (i.e., you), you can make the C64 sound but _glorious_! LOL thx :)

[@istvanbally2817]

Wow! This one rocks! How could I have missed it for 10 years? ;)

[@calderarecords]

This is also very well mixed. The panning & the processed square wave, & I love guitars in the middle channel! Always sounds much warmer.

[@keledumara1605]

Of all the versions out there in the Cloud and KZbin! Yours is truly the best one. Thank you for this beautiful remake :)

[@rob0nemusic369]

The perfect version of the song

[@YasserButt]

This is just out of this world!!!! I can listen to this for hours!!! Thank you!

[@sttrife]

I love it! The transition from the into to the heavy guitars is awesome. Also the original sounds mixed with really good quality guitar and drum samples makes this one the best c64 remixes! I also like the more mysterious themes at the end. Well done, great job!!!

[@andrewrumayar3103]

Bravo maestro! Talk about hitting the nail square on the head, everything about this remix is superb 👌

[@Spaceninja_911]

Holy Sh.. - It's like Commodore 64 on steroids. Love this Tune :D

[@themisspultone]

Nice remix. Like the way you'v blended in the retro SID sound

[@mikeberry8883]

Long live last ninja and you.You make my day...i have no words...you back me to my childhood...

[@jawn892]

+mike berry Hi! You should check out the Last Ninja album currently on kickstarter :-D

[@deltaxmultimedia]

Really Man, I'm crying! Wonderful work!!!

[@alperalitandal1185]

Although years passed since I played this game I never forgot the song and keep listening from time to time. I just love it.

[@huguini2893]

It really brings Good Memories to me, and This is one of the Reasons why I got so Stucked with this great Game, its AWESOME MUSIC, Thank you very Much for Posting it.

[@Kazesuna2]

How is it possible that I heard this song from the radio this morning? o.O

[@levimiller5007]

Got a real banger here.

[@CvX21k]

THIS is just gold

[@GTHomer]

May 2019 and still the best remix!!!!!!

[@acidsyndicate355]

try this kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4W5q56cqdyMna8

[@wolrufwolruf]

This is how this music should be. Simply amazing!

[@Splop10]

The awesomeness of this remix is over 9000, and has in fact entered Valhalla. Nice work. :)

[@ZeeboonInc]

I don't even knew this game and I still fell in love with this tune the first time I heard it. Great job!

[@samdemirkol]

Good old memories with a RUSH . Just perfect.

[@wolrufwolruf]

The best version of this tune yet. Still awesome!

[@Scopie33]

This rocks! Great version of my favorite c64 tune EVER!

[@horrormoviemania6667]

Can you put it on Spotify please!!!:) the best version all time!

[@ReBITMAGAZINE]

I'm shivering!!!

[@mrtomlovin]

Oh, wow!

[@jenseriksson5152]

Goosebumps!!! So good!!! A classic!!! Fantastic!

[@williamarthurfenton1496]

Fantastic.

[@OlliLeino_sportstuff]

Great sense of style, professional performance. Honors the classic. Great great great.

[@shizoor]

4:10 supreme.

[@RobUttley]

Wow, this is fabulous. What a remix! Love it, thank you.

[@Siberiansxl]

How cool is this!

[@TotalMK]

Awesome job man! :D

[@RealTaktiker]

So awesome this game for c 64. - And the music -

[@spqninjapl]

2018 and still rollin :D

[@intrinia]

2019 here X-)

[@mark12358]

@@intrinia 2020 passed...2021 here!

[@viktorcselenyi8119]

Pure awsomeness

[@warcult7156]

The Best game music ever

[@Couchfighter4]

I love everything about this. Sick.

[@3adel3li48]

Sweet memories..

[@andreamadaro5839]

Fantastico, ricordo spettacolare!

[@freddievaneyk3071]

Best version of this epic game tune.

[@Spaceinfaders]

Great version, you inspired me to start making remixes of C64 games. This one definitely rocks!

[@anthonychalloner]

This is fantastic very well done sir

[@xHansax]

Just read that there might be a remake of the last ninja by System 3! Then I found this awesome remix! Nicly done Richard! :)

[@gordonmurray5587]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lordzon]

My childhood! So awesome, you are very talented.

[@dassee3793]

RIP!

[@sheylyraloire4422]

just epic

[@Niviuk80]

This is brilliant! I dreamed about modern version of this theme.

[@bztoni]

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS

[@PanacheDom]

BRAVO !

[@renatobalbi7602]

really really great work, you are a master! I have this song in loop! It's the perfect reproduction of original song updated at today quality and instruments! Could you do the same job for the wasteland from last ninja 1? The ones that i havefound around on the web are absolutely wrong arrangements with a completely different result. Again excellent work and thanks

[@Wiz_1974]

Still here 2024!

[@paranoidx9]

Brings back memories. ty

[@phoenix1971]

Awesome. Just...awesome.

[@pbarratt73]

I loved this game....Fantastic work......Simply brilliant.. :-)

[@267boxer]

A++++++++ Awesome!!!

[@frantisekhoncik]

awesome shit!!!

[@Storm8873]

Awesome!

[@RichBraithwaite108]

@8bitfanat Thanks for the comment! No Midi file, I did it all by ear, more fun that way. Took ages getting the SID sounds right, used a plugin called Quadrasid, amazing bit of kit but takes a bit of learning. Will add full equipment list to the description at the top as I know some people wanted to know what I used to do this (one asked if I used a pro-studio, very flattered, but actually used my living room!)

[@jussikeski-ikkala6739]

i loved this song

[@nonickmtf]

Love this! Great work! You should really do a cover/Remake of the zero wing theme (all your base are belong to us) it's no proper metal version off it on KZbin :'(

[@zorlagius]

Extremely good. I love the original soundtrack and you definitely do justice to it here. More please. :)

[@Cujo_Ate_My_Credit_Card]

I like how you preserved the oriental sound of the original theme. Excellent cover! One of my favourite games from the childhood after 20+ years can remember like it was yesterday.

[@LastDrakkar82]

That tune bring to me fucking ol'good times... and the one of the greatest game on C-64!

[@VitezTemplara]

8bit music + Guitar = Fuck Yeah

[@hbeeck]

Hell yeah!

[@PanacheDom]

Super ! ah les bons souvenirs ;)

[@dafimperator]

The best Last Ninja cover ever made ! Are you going to make any SID cover yet ?

[@stunthumb]

Jeeeeeez, make an album of songs like this, I'll buy it!

[@beerdeddi1]

That´s it should sound like!

[@forceinfinity]

wow!!!!! love what you did here

[@Mau1wurf1977]

Wow this one is fantastic! Keeping some of the SID sounds seems to make all the difference. The other remixes just don' sound authentic enough.

[@BloodyCactus]

very cool mate!

[@maxbrandt6]

This remix is friggin' amazing!

[@Fyrirrek]

I Love this man. I listen to this a lot! Thanks so much! Ninja!

[@intrinia]

Goosebumps!

[@stooart2008]

Still Amazing!

[@malacoke]

Awesome! Great job, one of my fav c64 tunes. You must do the que-dex loader, another Matt gray tune.

[@c3tra]

HOW IN THE FUCK OF FOREVER, can there be dislikes... apart from the people who wish they could be this aweome?...seriously??????

[@svelepfk]

+c3tra thats why i want bring back concetration camps for retards who dislikes something like this

[@onurberber]

AWESOME!

[@Amokvaesenet]

*effing loving this!! Thank you!

[@arbayer2]

OH God... so badass. Thank you, man. Incredible. ^__^

[@JanVaran]

WOW

[@luistwin]

my thoughts exactly! this is brilliant!!!

[@leandroribeirocorrea4]

Awsome work.

[@elrincondeverdant6662]

OMFG!!!!! ORGASMICO! Qué recuerdos!!!! Muy buen Remix, te felicito

[@RichBraithwaite108]

@ChudFapper Thanks, that's the reason I did it actually, cos I couldn't find any proper covers out there! Not sure which one I'll do next, real life is getting in the way of my retro music plans at the mo, wish it would go away!