itch.io

Super unique! It has a strong Zelda vibe but with a touch of originality. I think it’s the perfect kind of music for exploration background. Great!

Woo, the best I’ve heard all week! Really well-crafted, and it creates an anxious atmosphere that, in some ways, reminds me a bit of Dunkirk.

Thank you! we’re so happy to hear that, truly!

thank u so muchhh🫶🫶🫶

The style is really interesting… you should add more layers of instruments from an orchestration perspective, and I think it would turn into a truly impactful piece. If I may offer some advice, let the strings section play for most of the time as a full ensemble (using violas, violins I and II, and double basses together). Try assigning the marimba to different parts with other pitched percussion instruments, like the celesta or glockenspiel. I think you should keep working on this piece because it has a lot of potential. Well done!

Hey, if you’re interested in someone to handle the music (and sound design), it would be an honor to do it for you. Check out my projects on Itch, and if you’re interested, I can also send you links to other work. I’ve watched some videos of your project, and it really caught my attention—it’s a shame I can’t download it on my Mac (M2 Pro, Apple Silicon)… it doesn’t recognize the file.

Here are my personal links: 

https://linktr.ee/floris.ciarlariello

I really like the idea of the music box; it’s an unusual choice as the main element of a soundtrack, but it has a very creepy sound, and I think it’s perfect for a video game. The only note I’d give is that I might have introduced other instruments as layers to build on it, but the starting point of the piece is truly excellent.

I think it’s one of the best I’ve heard in recent days! Great submission🫡

This is without a doubt the best comment we could have hoped to receive. Honestly, I’m the one replying and I’m really thrilled by your words, I don’t even know how else to say it haha.

Anyway, yes, we will continue working on the soundtrack. We were planning to release an EP later on with all the tracks made for OTTO (I don’t want to spam, but if you’re interested, follow me on the YouTube channel where you’ll definitely find the EP in the coming months or maybe even in the next few weeks, not sure).

I remember hearing your soundtrack and really liking it. I appreciate your compliment even more because of that🙂

thank u so much🙏🏻🫶

Thank you for the compliments, we really appreciate them!🙂

I found the different choices of musical styles between the tracks very interesting, while still maintaining a coherent thematic line throughout the soundtrack. The leads might have been that thematic line. I noticed elements of R&B in the tracks, with great-sounding electronic drums and breakbeats… Despite this, everything had a very recognizable chiptune tone. Great submission! The only aspect I feel I should point out is the excessive repetitiveness of some tracks. Of course, the time for production was really limited, and we also couldn’t refine everything in detail, but in the end, it’s part of the challenge.😉😉

The composition is very well done! It would be nice if you could describe the story you had in mind behind the music… I imagined it almost like one of the old Zelda games. You definitely hit the mark with me, as I was able to envision a world without you explaining it in words, just through the use of music.

i left a comment on youtube, great job!🫡😉

Thank you so much, I’m really super happy to hear that!🫶🫶

thank u so much, we appreciate it🙏🏻🫶

Thank you for the review, we really appreciate it! 🙏🏻

The palindromic element is not very easy to spot, but it is the main melody (the one played by the piano at the beginning): it has a melodic line and a bass line that are exactly the same notes but played in reverse. We’ve attached a screenshot to make it clearer 🙏🏻🙂

Thank you so much for your kind and sincere words! I noticed that you started following me on SoundCloud, and I really appreciate it. It shows that you genuinely mean what you say, and that makes me really happy! Thanks again 🙏🏻.

Thank you so much for your detailed and genuinely interested comment! I'll try to respond to a few points in order. In the "main theme," the tremolo-style arpeggio is played on two kennel (an Estonian instrument similar to a harp). And "aleatoric" is indeed the right term to describe these particular string movements—look it up on YouTube; it's a unique technique, especially for building tension, in my opinion (I love it in certain parts of *The Lord of the Rings*... if I'm not mistaken, it's used when the fellowship is standing before the entrance to the Mines of Moria. That whole scene features aleatoric music).

For the choir library, I used EastWest's "Diamonds." I highly recommend it, especially because you can write custom words or phrases. In general, EastWest libraries are very good for choirs; there's also a newer one by Native Instruments that looks intriguing, though I haven't tried it yet.

Lastly, I really appreciate the compliments on the tracks and the soundtrack as a whole, and I'm glad to have been able to inspire you! Thanks again.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your comment because, out of all the soundtracks I've listened to, I think yours is by far one of the best, if not the best! So thanks again. I'm glad you liked my submission 🙏🏻

thank you so much!!☺️🙏🏻

thank u so much!!🙏🏻 

I wanted to explain the story in detail because I wrote it before composing the game's music. I wanted to make sure the thought process behind the soundtrack was clear... I hope that came across well.

It makes me emotional to read such things about my soundtrack; I really appreciate it, thank you so much! I'll be happy to listen to yours later on.

Compliments! You can hear some jazz sounds mixed with the prevailing orchestra. For puzzle solving, I think it’s perfect. It has a distinct theme but also the delicacy to remain a pleasant and non-intrusive background. Really great work, well composed and orchestrated... perhaps the only drawback is that I would have made a few more tracks for different levels. That said, excellent job!!

thank u so much 🙏🏻🙏🏻☺️

Thank you so much for the compliments! I really appreciated your analysis 🙂

Beautiful harmonic progression, each chord evokes a different feeling: initially it seems melancholic, the second chord strengthens the sadness, then there's a seventh (or ninth) that lightens it, and the fourth chord gives a sense of hope. This pattern repeats and is also reflected in the various themes within the piece. From a narrative perspective, it might have been more impactful if you had developed each moment with a different track. However, the movements with the strings are very well done, especially when combined with the flutes at the end; I might have experimented a bit more with the percussion in the middle section. That said, it's a good submission, and best of luck with the contest!

Beautiful transitions of mood and how you've written the evolutions of the tracks. I think you've paid an incredible amount of attention to the timbral choices of each sound. I can perceive the uniqueness of each sound you used: they are all quite unconventional for a platform soundtrack, in my opinion, but it works incredibly well, truly excellent work! The electronic percussion in the second track is stunning (great sound design skills). Even though it moves rhythmically so much, it manages to maintain the right spaces and pauses thanks to the calm reverse pads. All these elements perfectly describe the concept of the two worlds you intended to convey in the story. Definitely one of the best productions I've heard these days (I don't think I have any points to criticize or advise you on because you clearly know what you're doing); certainly one of the best constructed in terms of sound design and timbral awareness. Exceptional work!!

As you mentioned in the description, it really reminds me of the relaxed music from ABZU, but with a different arrangement: sometimes more synthetic, sometimes more orchestral. It's a good mix between an ABZU and a platform game with more chiptune music. If you truly composed this only with stock plugins, you did a great job because it sounds good. The changes in mood are also interesting: from more relaxed to really "intense" parts like "Abyssal Nightmare," which has a very unique rhythmic progression due to the timbral choice. Many of the percussive sounds are reminiscent of some underground productions. They are interesting, but I might have blended them a bit with some more typical orchestral low percussion for more punch. Overall, great work 👍🏼 🙂

I think the last track is my favorite: the spaciousness is beautiful, it breathes a lot, and musically, it sounds really good.

Thank you so much for the kind words🙏🏻

Yes, I know, unfortunately, "Gates of Thalassia" is the track I managed to edit the least due to lack of time😔

(Scrivo in inglese per sicurezza ma penso tu sia italiano😬)

Great job! Your compositions are beautiful and musically well-executed: both in terms of writing and mockup. Keep studying music because you have a talent for melodies and know how to write them. Keep up the good work. The three tracks are very coherent with each other. The intro is very nice, featuring both slower moments and more dynamic ones, especially with the rhythm made by pizzicatos: it reminds me a lot of a film score structure, but it fits well for an intro theme. Perhaps I would have included a more tense moment in the game for an even more dynamic piece, but otherwise, excellent work, well done!

The sound of the Korg at the beginning is magnificent, and the transition from the initial chill moment to a darker, more distorted one, culminating in the entry of all instruments, is very well done! A truly beautiful intro. It seems like you created several short tracks and grouped them into one piece; it would be interesting if you could develop and separate them into different tracks, contextualizing their significance within the game. Excellent writing and sound design overall!

The story idea is strange, but I love it! The music fits perfectly for a game like this. The retro sound translates the website concept very well. Well-composed, great sound design, and properly mixed. A great submission in my opinion!

I love these sounds that blend retro and minimal styles. The melodic construction gives the impression of an infinite scale of sounds, and the continuous addition of elements, one after another without ever leaving, contributes to the concept's depth. Personally, I would have added even more background elements, like arpeggios and other electronic noises. It works well with the chosen artwork. Personally, I think you've done a great job; it's dreamy and relaxing!

thank you so much, i appreciate it!

thank u so much!!☺️🙏🏻

The choir library I used is hollywood choirs from EastWest Sounds

Thank you! Seeing the taikos in "Gates of Thalassia" as someone knocking on the door is an interesting interpretation. I hadn't thought of that, but it's a great representation.

Thank you so much, coming from you, it means even more 🙏🏻

Thank you so much for the feedback! Of course, I need to create more, as the game is still incomplete. Given only a week, I preferred to focus on fewer pieces but with more attention to detail, aiming to represent the key moments of the game for now. Naturally, for the game to be complete, it will need 15-20 tracks.