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Fallen Below the Stars's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Impression | #1 | 4.607 | 4.607 |
| Quality | #2 | 4.643 | 4.643 |
| Overall | #3 | 4.479 | 4.479 |
| Creativity | #5 | 4.286 | 4.286 |
| Composition | #7 | 4.500 | 4.500 |
| Correlation to theme | #11 | 4.357 | 4.357 |
Ranked from 28 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
I composed these tracks in Logic Pro using libraries by Orchestral Tools, Cinesamples, and Spitfire Audio. I also tried to use real live instruments when possible, I recorded some live violin (wish I got more), a rainmaker, a guitar, and a recorder. For synthesizers I used Vital and Phase Plant. There are three boss themes, one downtime/"hub" area theme, and the last track is intended for the final cutscene when your wish is being granted.
When a star falls it signifies the rejection of a god from the halls of their realm. It is believed that the stars are in fact the gods themselves, and once fallen to Earth, they would grant any wish in hopes of being worshiped again. This is a great power that the gods managed to convince the people to think is just an old legend in order to prevent the possible upheaval of their rule and might. You play as a character who brought on the wrath of the gods by daring to see if the stories you've been told are true.
Track 1 - The Herald: Upon beginning your journey you are greeted by a tall figure wrapped in dark cloth that flowed in the wind as if it were water. They wore an ornate golden helmet which covered their eyes. When they spoke, your heard their voice in your head before they opened their mouth, it filled your body with its weight and clogged your senses. The voice was all you could feel. This was the messenger god. It was ordered to warn you about your journey and to kill you if if you refused to turn back. If the gods were willing to go so far as to show one of themselves to you, the legends were true. This journey was worth the world and you won't back down. Can you kill a god?
Track 2 - The Forest Spirits: You continue on your journey by sea. Your best option is to search as many islands as you can for signs of a fallen star. You come across an island covered in forest. While searching it you begin to see flickers of blue light in the corner of your eye. You have gone into forest spirit territory. They are fox-like in appearance but could almost be mistaken for human children. Forest spirits are adept at using magic to trick you. Luckily you've only come across two, but they work great as a team.
Track 3 - Seaside Respite: Before and after exploring an island, you like to take in the ocean atmosphere and relax. The waves calm you and provide you with peace during a time when the gods all want your head.
Track 4 - Gluttonous Miasma: You encounter a castle on the next island. Upon entering it you find yourself in your own house exactly as you left it after you went on your journey. You go to reach for the door handle but it turns to sand in your hands. The whole house begins to shudder and crumble away. You're now back in the castle in what appears to be a dining hall. The room begins to fill with an unknown mist. You can faintly see a hulking figure in the room. All you can do right now is blindly fight.
Track 5 - All You Can Wish For: You found the fallen star in a small house on a rocky island. They look younger and more delicate than you expected. They smile and welcome you in, offering you a seat next to the fireplace. They listen to the stories of your journey with great interest and except your request to be granted a wish. You could have everything, what do you wish for?
Theme:
How does it fit the theme?
The character is going on a seafaring journey from island to island in order to get his wish granted by a fallen star.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoZq5D0TNLrBYW5EhPS6pNF0QYgSP8zIv
Bandcamp: https://twitchywhalez.bandcamp.com/album/fallen-below-the-stars
Soundtrack use permission
Any non-commercial project
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Comments
The Herald: Starting with that cello and reverberated piano is so beautiful and also haunting at the same time. After reading your description of this track, it makes a lot of sense that you added in the gravelly bass to signify the intensity of the ensuing battle. I think it was very creative of you to write your game story in such a way to allow you to write the music that you are so talented at and have made a name for yourself with. I do, however, really appreciate the orchestral elements and think you also have a talent for this genre as well.
The Forest Spirits: The warbly synths give such an otherworldly effect, and the percussion makes this feel exotic, giving an added sense of strangeness and newness. The main battle loop that starts at 1:10 feels quite cinematic, but also very suitable for a battle scene, much like the music from Fire Emblem (the most recent one I played was Three Houses). The ambient noises work really well especially with the softer marimba and guitar (with excellent performance quality I might add). The string quartet at the end conveys a sense of sadness and loss that I think is a very beautiful way to end this piece.
Seaside Respite: I love peaceful and ambient piano tracks like this and I think the tie to the ambient beach sounds enhances that effect. The chords you used were reflective and warmly colorful, further increasing the relaxation factor.
Gluttonous Miasma: The story-telling through the music and with your text description is very well-done. I like the hint at the main theme as if this place is sort of familiar to the main character, but not quite. This track in particular shows off your sound design chops - I love how you can fit so many different sounds into a moment of music without it feeling too over-the-top.
All You Could Wish For: Your story idea for stars being represented as humanoid beings is really creative and this entire soundtrack has been a fun story to follow along with. I hear the hints at the Seaside Respite theme with the darker twist. Some of the left hand low notes were a little forceful, yet the beauty remained. I hear a sense of relief but also pity in this piece which are complex emotions to portray musically - great job! Overall this is probably my favorite of all your OST jam submissions and I think you did a great job even if you were trying new things. As always, thank you for putting so much care and thought into the music you create and thank you for sharing!
What an amazing listening experience! The mix of harmonies, the blend of menacing yet calming and soothing, the sound design immersing you in the univers you depicted. This is truly a work of art.
Yet again we can clearly see your inspiration (I see a lot of Disasterpeace especially in the piano composition and mix), but you completely make it your own and create something totally unique. I can safely say I've never heard anything like "The Forest Spirit" and it's my favorite of the album. The blend of acoustic instruments, sample libraries, synths and tribal percs was achieved masterfully.
Absolutely stellar job!
Thank you! Disasterpeace was definitely an inspiration for those piano parts. The Forest Spirits was a fun challenge, it went through a really bad ugly phase while I was working on it so I'm glad it turned out well!
This is amazing!! The boss tracks are all so incredibly energetic and intimidating. I've loved your past music in the OST Jam and you've continued to do great work on this one as well.
Thank you!