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True Light's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Creativity | #58 | 4.029 | 4.029 |
| Composition | #62 | 4.048 | 4.048 |
| Overall | #82 | 3.913 | 3.913 |
| Impression | #102 | 3.837 | 3.837 |
| Quality | #136 | 3.827 | 3.827 |
| Correlation to theme | #148 | 3.827 | 3.827 |
Ranked from 104 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Judge feedback
Judge feedback is anonymous.
- From the get-go, I was delighted to hear multiple independent lines in your writing-- it is a perfect example of how great production really begins with great, multi-layered writing. The samples used here are obviously limited, but *it doesn't matter* when the material in those lines is strong-- this is the secret to that older RPG sound, which 100% had to rely on great musical material to elevate the music beyond its technical limitations. If you are whistling the melody to yourself later, the music was successful irrespective of the technical sophistication of the samples or MIDI banks used. Listening to this, I think you definitely understand that. I wanted to start with that because I think the approach of constructing a tapestry of beautiful independent lines here is uniquely impressive, so I don't want the following critique to overshadow that or "scare you away" from continuing it in the future: I did sometimes feel that polyphonic sections were a bit too dense to follow on the first listen-- I think thinning these out a little bit might help with the "aural legibility" overall, especially on the first track. Given that we are working in a limited genre (games), legibility is really important, especially considering our music is often having to accompany a dense soundscape of FX and gameplay. I loved how you used pizz strings and harp to keep the textures varied and interesting throughout. The track "Real" had a tremendously haunting quality that I thought showcased your skills quite nicely. Beautiful work, keep writing!
Description
Submission of the OST Composition Jam #7
Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi0-gPNpRb63mNVNhrtP-wuB5kFKCJx93
Runtime: 6:56 / Software: Reaper
[True light] is inspired by indie horror JRPGs (rpgmaker styled games) like Ib, Mad father, The witch's house.
I focused on working from the melody. You can find in all the tracks a 5-note melodic entity that starts hidden among other melodic lines and eventually, It has more presence along the whole OST. This is the way I see the "inside my world" theme in music. Although each track is a stage of different moments of the character, you will find consistency in terms of instrumentation, maintaining the same dark color palette.
A doll, a servant in a mansion, only follows the orders of a voice in her head without resisting. A call prompts her to go to the forbidden zone and it's here where we must accompany her to remember her past and recover her will...
This is her story, that of a world that existed, her world, that still lives confined within herself. With each step she will gain strength and this inner world will be the light that will guide her path and escape from an imposed destiny.
Has she always been a doll?
I decided not to be specific about the story since I don't want to influence the listener's experience.
Take this as a quickly wrapped gift (I didn't have enough time to develop the arrangement and mixing a little more)
Thanks to Lone Rabbit for this space that gives us the opportunity to share and grow with others.
Thanks to Agulachin for the inspirational cover art https://www.instagram.com/agulachinart/
Theme
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi0-gPNpRb63mNVNhrtP-wuB5kFKCJx93
Number of tracks5
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
Any project
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Comments
Oh this is a delight to listen to, mysterious and whimsical... thank you and well done!
I liked that you used the word "delight"
Thank you, I appreciate your comment.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said. God this is good! You nailed the atmosphere perfectly, amazing job!
This deservers a game!
Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and for your words.
It would be interesting if it becomes a game haha, but first I have to improve the idea and the concept a lot
My absolute pleasure!
So rich and sombre. Reminds me of Tim Burton movies. Love the eccentric strings in Crossroads! Really great work!
First of all, I need to say: I love Grim Fandango!!!
Now I continue. It's very interesting that you mention Tim Burton (I listened to Danny Elfman a lot a long time ago). Thank you for appreciating "Crossroads", I am very satisfied with that composition.
I think everyones already spoken for me, but good job
Thanks Edward!! any word of recognition gives me strength to continue improving.
And thank you for your yt comment ♥
Loved this horror game-inspired soundtrack. Lights Off is my favorite!
rikuwuru! Thank you very much for taking the time to listen. I appreciate it 😄
Really love how full of character this OST is! It's wonderful how all of the melodies being played by different instruments come together to create the unique vibe of the OST, and the moments where these melodies and instruments go away in tracks like 'Lights Off' and 'Real' are so atmospheric. Great job!
Hi BodoTheSerf! I really enjoyed reading your analysis. Thank you very much for your words.
"Lights off" seems to be one of the most liked, I'm going to explore that kind of atmospheres more often.
I love the cover art! I also really like your writing and composition style, this submission had just the right level of weird and creepy and whimsical. Was a lot of fun to listen to, thanks for sharing! Lights Off was my favorite track
cover art
I really value your comment and I'm glad you had fun listening."Lights off" is definitely a track I want to continue working on, I enjoyed composing it!
Thanks a lot!!!
Cool work! You created beautiful atmosphere here. Nice orchestration, enjoyable experience)
Thanks for your comment especially about the orchestration, every day I try to lvl up my knowledge! There's still a long way to go...
This was super nice to listen to, relaxing but with an added layer of unease, especially in Real! I Love your writing for the strings, you had a lot of creative ideas which made for an overall enjoyable submission. Good job!
That was the idea! "Real" is the final track but not the end of the journey. She discovered that she was human before so now, she has to process that and move on. It's not a happy ending.
It's very nice to read your appreciation about the strings, as a cellist, I really enjoy working on string orchestration
Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed that! The music matched the vibe very well for what is in the image too- The bunny is a funny reference. Well mixed as too! Reminded me of some parts of "It Takes Two" for some reason.
Hi Aedyn! I'm glad you liked it and I appreciate your comment about the mix, It's something I want to continue improving.
I know the game, but I never heard the OST, interesting...I will definitely listen to it! Maybe I can get some ideas from there.
Ps: the bunny is an easter egg haha
Top submission for me! You really transform some simple instruments into something beautiful :D + The artwork is spot on with the music!
You don't know how valuable your comment is to me, I'm smiling. I put a lot of effort into this!
If you appreciate the cover, the artist's IG is in the description.
beautifully done, good orchestration, but I liked Layla - Lights off the most for its rotting atmosphere
Thanks a lot! The idea was to also generate tension and uncertainty I didn't have much time to work on it
I like how classical these tracks feel while still using modern orchestration techniques. Each track is mysterious but has a sense of adventure and discovery to them that makes things interesting. This was a great submission!
I appreciate that you value the orchestration, It's something I try to improve every day because I love it.
Thank you very much for listening to each track and appreciating the different nuances of the music.
ps: I recognize the painting (Wanderer above the Sea of Fog)
The vibes are immaculate here, what an ominous vibe you've managed to capture with your compositions. You use pizzicato strings and atmospheric instruments to such an effective degree, creating a true aura of sneakiness and scariness, perfectly aligning with your cover art. Great job! :D
Wooow I'm surprised by your review and I appreciate the comment about the pizzicato, It's a technique that I really like because I'm a cellist.
Thanks for the comment about the aura and the relationship with the cover art. If you want, you can follow the artist, her ig is in the description.
First of all, the covert art is so cute. It perfectly illustrate the music, and the vibe is on point, clearly the strongest part of your submission. GG
I like it when someone says something nice about the cover art 😄
I agree with you about the strong point of my submission. I worked a lot on that but I'm aware that I need to improve my workflow and audio production among other things.
"Lights off" made me feel like I had spiders crawling on me or something. So well done. Great job keeping a consistent instrumentation like you mentioned, but creating engaging sounds throughout each track. It can be hard to make separate tracks sound different when using the same instruments, but you nailed it. Great job!!
Hi Owenhans! That's a unique and very interesting feeling, cool!
I am very glad for your comment, especially your appreciation about the instrumentation and how I create the sounds.
You've absolutely nailed the vibe for the game concept you described :D Lights Off & Close Your Eyes were my personal favourites! The overall slightly sinister, somewhat märchen atmosphere is quite captivating :3
Hello again xD (I just left you a comment yesterday). I appreciate your observation about the vibe and the concept, I did my best to reflect it in the music, it's something very important to me.
"Close your eyes" is one of my favorites too! I send you a hug!!!
The soundtracks is really beautiful. I like it!
Staging - Good intro!
The singing in Crossroads sets the atmosphere well! But a little disturbing with a slight white noise in the quieter moments
Lights off - nice creepy ambient (Considering I listened to this in total darkness... It's even creepier).
Close your eyes - I listened with my eyes closed)
Real - simultaneously creepy, soothing and... oooh oooo oooo oooh
So... I want to play the game from this cover...
Thank you very much for giving me your perspective on each track. Very generous of you ☺
"Lights off - nice creepy ambient (Considering I listened to this in total darkness... It's even creepier)"
I hope you scared a bit)
This sounds amazing!! The sound quality is top-tier crip and the compositions truly succeed in creating that ribbon horror vibe but almost like Coraline still feel melodic and lovely. Ribbons and Close Your Eyes are especially my favorite.
Qoblin! I'm very happy for your words.
I was very excited to compose music that can evoke the darkness and complexity of the world and at the same time make the protagonist's light shine.
Thank you so much!!
This sounds very professional, and a wide variety of moods / scenes, feels like a real game! Great work!
Hi Lubita! Thank you and yes, exactly! I wanted to evoke different moments of the character.