Some years ago, but not too many, I spent a fanciful day with my good friend Greg, rooting through discount Nintendo and Sega bins at EB Games. This was back in the day when it was possible to find such things without having to resort to the terrors of the internet or the dangerous meanderings of the garage sail path. While I dug through Astyanax and Sonic The Hedgehog cartridges, praying for a revelation in the shape of River City Ransom, Greg had a different agenda on his mind. His frail Chinese hands clutched around a stray copy of Legend of the Mystical Ninja emblazoned with a $12.99 price tag. A rush of memory flooded back to him, days hidden in his room with his younger brother, trying to maneuver Kid Ying and Dr. Yang through their treacherous journey, nights up past his bedtime, trying to avoid both the Shinto ghosts and his mother's watchful eye. Now we're past the shoddy localization of Super Nintendo times, we know them as Goemon and Ebisumaru, but in Greg's heart they would always abide by their Mystical Ninja monikers.

Djpretzel is a much more stalwart individual than I am. In past articles we've discussed his flair for drama, his effusive writing style, and his adept nature with both the fly ladies and the smooth beats. Without a doubt he's something of a 21st century superman, plying the tools of his trade in a fashion not always able to be comprehended by the common man. When he says 'pentatonic' I said 'what?', but the results are nonetheless spectacular.

The song, especially in its opening chords, does not seem like one I would hand pick for this column. In fact, the first twenty seconds are positively slow and somber. This is a far cry from the fast beats and heavy bass I usually emphasize! But... but what's this? Before long the atmosphere is suffused with a severe back beat and we can begin the song in full. And soon after that the familiar, haunting melody of Oedo town returns, now supported with a bassline that firmly encroaches into our consciousness. Memories of dodging basket-wearing monks and losing hundreds of dollars while accidentally killing innocent geishas on the street. We recall dodging fish and collecting cats to comprise the ultimate weapon, a yo-yo or party favor depending on your choice of character. Around 1'35 the synth just goes crazy, and I'm pretty sure we can pinpoint 1'40 as the exact moment that Djpretzel loses his mind.

Well, can you blame him? Listen to the tricks he's pulling out there! And I'll admit a certain fondness to the chime-y notes of 1'51 or so. A subtle little break for just a few seconds before the melody is back in full force, for what I would say is quite the wonderful close. By this part we are quite sure that Djpretzel is legitimately insane. He has locked himself away in some ill kept asylum, realizing the wonder he has unleashed is just too much for this world to contain.

Some time later, earlier this year, I used this song in my magnum opus, a faked documentary about the "sport" of Basketeering. I thought it'd be a silly, peppy bop with enough Asian flair to highlight the ridiculousness of Greg's faux-Chinese gibberish. Back when he first reacquired that game, two years ago, was the same summer we filmed that third outing of Basketeering. We would sit in front of the TV at the old apartment and composed FAQs on the game's Concentration gambling schemes. It was a delightful time, an enchanted summer. Full of happiness and love, just like this song might inspire.

But with not nearly as much bass.

But Could I Drive To This?: I don't imagine this song is necessarily conducive to driving. However, strong nostalgia ties it in with that fateful night when we recorded our Basketeering affairs. I imagine that this kind of thing would suit me just find during the pre- or post-Basketeering rush. Though, if precedent is to be believed, I am generally in very little state to talk, much less listen, after a round or two with the sweaty Philadelphian asphalt.