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There And Back Again's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Correlation to theme | #18 | 3.963 | 3.963 |
| Overall | #24 | 3.778 | 3.778 |
| Impression | #26 | 3.667 | 3.667 |
| Creativity | #32 | 3.741 | 3.741 |
| Quality | #32 | 3.741 | 3.741 |
Ranked from 27 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
Track Listing:
0:00 The World Awaits
0:38 Preparations / The Ropes
1:15 Leaving Home
1:46 The Adversary Awaits
2:13 Do or Die
3:06 "Goodbye, Dear Friends"
While "The World Awaits," your character is taking in the landscape; the roads, the forests, the paths that await. In order to prepare and learn the ropes, your character goes through some basic training with some remedial weapons--just to be safe before heading out into the world.
In "Leaving Home," you're caught up in the excitement and hesitant to go all at once: maybe we're not ready or meant to leave. But it doesn't look like we have much of a choice: as you journey, you find that the true adversary among the pesky monsters awaits you. All you have is the experience you gained and whatever weapons you could find for a foe you don't even know by sight or folktale; all you know is there is something behind that door. And all you have to do is open it, and battle. Do, or die.
For the farewell, I leave that up to you.
Message from the artist:
This four-minute track is jam-packed with six vignettes that could serve a game not yet made! "A journey to remember" isn't complete without some preparation and adversaries, and the pixel art included in the theme set out the perfect canvas for a display of 8-bit inspired synthesizers.
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
These six sewn-together vignettes paint a miniature version of a much longer adventure. "A journey to remember" isn't complete without some preparation and adversaries, and the pixel art included in the theme set out the perfect canvas for a display of 8-bit inspired synthesizers.
Link to streaming services
https://tinythanos.itch.io/there-and-back-again
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Comments
It has a wonderful sound and the song is great.
Really excited to see how much you incorporated the theme into your work! The plot synopsis to go with each track really helped set the mood and clarified your musical decisions.
The transitions between the different sections felt really smooth, too – you did a great-job balancing new and old instruments and melodies, making each section feel like a new step on a bigger journey.
“Do or Die” is probably my favorite section – the shift in color and rhythm really sells the sense of urgency. I would have loved to hear the drums punch through a little more here – maybe some sidechained compression on the synths to really get things pumping!
Overall, really lovely work!
Thank you so much for this, Aran! I so appreciate your thorough feedback, and I think you're absolutely right about some sidechain compression – can't wait to give that a shot! Cheers!
This was a really enjoyable listen. I liked how everything transitioned so smoothly, then that little bit of silence before going into the more melancholy final track. I think my favourite part was the transition into do or die, just a great injection of energy for a big boss battle. I was a little sad when it ended - you really left me wanting more!
Though I'm sorry to have left you wanting, I am admittedly STOKED to hear that!! What a compliment! Thank you so much, and I'm glad you liked it. :)
Really nice stuff throughout- especially the emotional ending!
Well thanks, and same to you!! :) "We Did It!" has all the right feels. Cheers to bittersweet endings!
Very nice sound, Cheerful melodies with nostalgic finale, great job!
Thank you so much!! :)
This music definitely has the vibes! I like the arrangement and the lead synth timbre. But it's really hard to listen to such a loud high pitch lead for so long! I'd suggest making it quieter and changing with other sound now and then. Take care of yours and our ears :)
Thanks for the reminder – trouble of my own sensitive ears, my computer/headphone volume stays so low that I don't always catch issues in the final mix. You're right in that I should keep a better watch out for that!
This is so good! Everything just works well together. Really liked it
Thank you so much! :)
Really liked the sound choises and composition, great job ^^
Thank you so much!! :)
Very beautiful OST. It's just chiptune music but it sounds different from others chiptunes. Great work!!!
Nice update of chiptune vibes into something contemporary and bright! My compositional tendencies attract me to Goodbye, Dear Friends. Really great.
Thank you so much!! After listening to your (super gorgeous!!) track, I’m extra glad you liked the ending! :)
Very well chosen 8-bit sounds, offering a very interesting timbral variation for an OST in homage to the music of past games. Lots of variations in the various parts of this music. The melodies which are linked naturally are nicely put forward by very characteristic high tones, an excellent music version of the pixelised picture of the Jam. Alaterning dynamic, contemplative, sad or happy, this OST depicts all the essential elements that a video game needs. Simple and effective to illustrate a marvelous trip to remember.
Wow, thank you so much for such a thoughtful and detailed write-up! That seriously means a lot, and I’m so glad you got so much out of it. Just listened to yours and had a very similar experience – I really felt like I was on a great adventure to remember! :)
Cool synths, everything is well mixed! Good job :)
Thank you so much!! I liked yours, too! :)
I love how clean your chip sounds are! And how the pieces all seamlessly blend into each other, it's a wonderful little audio adventure.
Thank you so much! I actually made all most the sounds you hear apart from the drums, so that feels extra awesome. Especially with your own detail to theme, I especially appreciate the audio adventure feedback. I’m glad you liked it, and I really liked yours!
Very nice! I liked the 8-bit vibe and the different moods. Some parts kinda reminded me to Celeste. I think you added to much reverb to all the instruments tho, and the sound kinda gets drown because of that. But I like the composition itself. Great job! ^^
Thank you so much!! You are absolutely right, I had a crucial reverb mistake on the bounce—lesson learned. But I really appreciate you taking the time to mention that! :)
I really love the sound pallet your using. It's 8 - bit, but the instruments sound very polished. Great job!
Thank you so much!! I created most of the sounds except for the drums, so that feels extra awesome! :)
very nice. I liked the 'Do or Die' part most.
Thanks a lot! That’s probably my favorite chapter, too. Glad you liked it! :)
Loved this right from the start! Not sure if you've played it, but it reminds me of the OST for Treasure Adventure Game. Nostalgic yet upbeat. Nice work!
Wow, thanks so much!! I wasn’t familiar with that OST, but after listening, that is a huge compliment. Really appreciate it! :)
One thing that this jam has taught me is how much I love melancholic bittersweet endings and sure enough this track had one ;-; Really good work <3
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate that. :)
Nicely done! Do or Die especially has me really pumped.
Thanks so much!! That was probably my favorite chapter. Glad you liked it! :)