Note: This review is for the re-issue of this album, as the original had sound quality that left much to be desired, and the weaker songs on it were re-worked on the re-issue.

Anyway, for those of you that aren't familiar with the video game remixing community, OneUp Studios is a collaboration of various artists and remixer's from vgmix and OverClocked Remix, led mostly by Mustin and Dale North, and this is the first album that they produced.  This album came out right after Project Majestic Mix's Tribute to Nobuo Uematsu(which also had many of the people in OUS involved in it as well).  PMM's album, though, while good and containing some very memorable pieces, was very uneven.  This album is nothing like that, and OUS's efforts have produced a solid, cohesive record that has something in it for everybody.

A Tribute to Yasunori Mitsuda is split into two sides, the larger one, Time, consisting of the first 12 tracks and containing rearrangements from Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, and the other side, Space, consisting of the final 6 tracks and containing rearrangements from Xenogears.

The album begins with Scars Left By Time, the opening theme of Chrono Cross.  This is actually a fairly straightforward rearrangement of Scars Of Time, with the tempo slowed a bit, and the electric guitar given the lead part instead of the flute, and a much more pronounced rhythm section.  Great opener.

Then comes Star Stealing Girl, a rearrangement of a song with the same name from Chrono Cross.  This is a lounge style, very jazzy rendition of the song with guests vocals from Miss Sara Broome.  The original version of this piece in the game was very dramatic and conveyed a lot of emotion in the parts where it played, and this version successfully does the same thing, except with a much more laid back feel.

A Hero's Judgment, originally The Hidden Truth from Chrono Trigger, comes next.  This is a really creative arrangement that uses electric guitar and a distorted synthesizer to convey the urgency that the Trial scene had.

Track 4 is Parallelism (The Frozen Flame), originally Frozen Flame from Chrono Cross.  This is a really laid-back rendition, with the oboe, guitar, and piano all switching off at intervals on the lead melody.  A really great arrangement, and it really contrasts with the slightly more depressing original.

Track 5 is kind of a mixed bag..  it's a rearrangement of Frog's Theme, Guardian of Time.  While this rendition does capture the environment and the time period that this piece plays in the game(in the Middle Ages), it doesn't sound anywhere near as cinematic and as epic(since Frog is supposed to be an honorable knight and all) as the original did.  With that said though, this is still a very enjoyable piece with some great flute and xylophone playing.

Then comes The Boy Feared By Time, a remix of the famous Magus's Theme.  This is probably the most creative track on the album.  Who woulda thought that the dramatic and epic Magus's Theme would work as a rock piece, with Spanish influence?  I sure didn't, but it does, and this track comes across perfectly.

Track 7 is The Girl Forgotten By Time, a remix of Schala's Theme from Chrono Trigger, also known as the most frequently arranged piece in the video game community(don't ask me why).  This is absolutely one of the best tracks on the album.  It starts with a bass guitar lead, and then flows into a beautiful and mysterious Asian flavored rendition of the theme.  Required listening for anyone that has played the game.

Next is Wings of Time, a fairly straightforward rendition of the Epoch's Theme from Chrono Trigger.  This is a really jazzy, but slightly laid back arrangement, with some truly wonderful saxophone soloing and piano playing.

Then comes Good to be Home, originally Voyage ~Home World~ from Chrono Cross, one of the best pieces from the game.  This one's a real pleasure to listen to, even though I don't think it quite lives up to the original, since it doesn't really convey the feeling of being out on the sea like the original does.  Great arrangement though, and I love how the electric guitar and flute switch off back and forth on the main melody.

Dream Of Another Time comes next, which is actually a mix of two pieces, Dream of the Shore Bordering Another World from Chrono Cross and Wind Scene from Chrono Trigger.  I don't know if it was like this for anyone else, but my copy always makes this little blip on the first second of paying this track.  Anyway, this is a really creative jazzy medley that makes for some great easy listening.

Next is Fields Of Time, from Chrono Cross.  This is one of the best tracks on the album, another jazzy piece with its amazing bass lines(mellogear really likes to use those in his mixes), tasteful rhythm guitar, and great lead sax.

Then comes To Good Friends, originally Far Off Promise from Chrono Trigger.  This is probably the only track that I would say is out of place on the album.  After the mostly jazzed up renditions of the Chrono Trigger songs, you get a power ballad version of Crono & Marle's theme, complete with piano starting the main melody, and then switching off to oboe.  The drumming, especially, I think makes this piece sound way too forced.  It's still a good effort, though, and infinitely better than the original cut of this piece on the first pressing of Time and Space.

That ends Side 1, and Side 2, Space, kicks it off with The Fighting Priest, originally Ship Of Regret And Sleep from Xenogears.  This is the most straightforward rearrangement on this album, a flat out rock 'n roll version of Billy's theme, and it does not disappointment.  Great drumming abound.  If you ever tell someone that you listen to video game music, and they look at you strangely, this is the song to play for them.

Next up is June Mermaid, which was one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces in Xenogears.  This is probably the only piece on this album that I feel where OUS actually outshined Mitsuda, as the use of a lead piano flowing into the oboe and orchestra is much more effective than just a piano.

Track 15 is Navigation is Key!, which is probably the only joke track on the album.  The repeated "Heave!  Ho!" 's are pretty funny, but they don't really last after the first time you hear this.  I usually end up skipping this one.

Then comes Gentle Wind, a fantastic power ballad version of the song with the same name from Xenogears.  Great, great, great, song.  It's actually done very similar to how To Good Friends was done, but it manages to escape the cheesiness of that track.  The addition of the lead electric guitar probably contributed to that.

Next up is one of the more creative arrangements on the album, Star Of Hope, originally Flight.  While the original conveyed a sense of urgency and great adventure, this one is much more laid back, with the lead melody played on piano first, and then repeated with the flute.

Finally, the last track is Shake the Heavens, the grand track to close them all.  This is definitely the best track on the album, and by far the most epic, a medley of Omen, Awakening, and One Who Bares Fangs At God.  I don't really know how to describe this track, other than that it begins with the instantly recognizable piano/harp melody from Omen, then flips back and forth between the mysterious final boss theme and the dramatic Awakening, then on to the fiery conclusion.  A killer track to end the album on.

So all in all, this is a must-have album for anybody that's a fan of video game music, or jazz music, really.