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Beneath the Ocean, Within the Soul's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Correlation to theme | #62 | 4.048 | 4.048 |
| Overall | #143 | 3.745 | 3.745 |
| Composition | #158 | 3.774 | 3.774 |
| Impression | #171 | 3.645 | 3.645 |
| Quality | #223 | 3.645 | 3.645 |
| Creativity | #238 | 3.613 | 3.613 |
Ranked from 62 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
Sana, a magical girl who lives in a bubble house underwater, has gotten bored of life closer to the surface.
She feels something is missing within herself and wishes to see if rumors of treasure deep below are true. She ventures deeper and deeper, entering "uncharted" territory and fighting against mechanized fish (where did those even come from?)
She reaches the lowest part of a trench, but finds most of the treasure has been taken. Perhaps the depths weren't so uncharted after all. However, the long adventure has made her stronger willed as well as more appreciative of the peaceful nature of the upper waters. Perhaps the real treasure was the (insert cliche line)!
Prologue (Introspection): Prologue, and Sana's theme.
Subaquatic Saunter: This serves as an overworld theme when traversing the ocean. Written in 5/4 to give the idea of swimming rather than a more typical walking rhythm.
Subaquatic Saunter (Action): Dynamic variation of Subaquatic Saunter for when doing puzzles or fighting enemies.
Within a Bubble: Save room theme. Take a break!
Mechacanthine Foreboding: Transitional theme when approaching boss areas (the depths). This track with the tonal shift marks the shift towards the depths of the ocean.
Mechacanthine Chaos: Boss theme that might play when you fight a mechanized coelacanth. Ends with a short boss defeated jingle.
Epilogue (Within the Soul): Epilogue, and variation of Introspection, as Sana realizes what she was missing.
Message from the artist
I had a great time making this one. Thanks for listening!
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
I primarily used synths that I felt had a sort of water sound to them (particularly electric piano/rhodes and Mellotron winds) as well as extensive use of leitmotif throughout the OST.
I took the picture theme for an overall water themed OST, and the text theme (Inside my World) to reflect Sana's discovery within herself.
I primarily used the Dorian mode in the first half of the OST and Phrygian Dominant in the second half. This was a means of further showing a "two worlds" interpretation of the text theme, with the more lighthearted upper ocean and the depths filled with mechanized and heavily armed sealife.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM6jJ1Ve8aIdV1LV3bLW-zumd__hIXnfd
Number of tracks7
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
For game jams only
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Comments
I enjoyed the 5/4 in the "Subaquatic Saunter", that was a rare surprise! Great fun soundtrack, and really cool how you've taken care over each track's applications and what's actually happening. Really great work!
Thank you!
I love how you thought about how these tracks might actually be used in game, for example with the "action" version of the overworld theme and the save room theme. The save room theme in particular shows off your fantastic composition skills, the chords are really stylish (and it reminds me a bit of one of my favourite songs from the Majora's Mask soundtrack, the Milk Bar theme). I also love the tonal shift for Mechacanthine Chaos, I always appreciate a good breakbeat.
Excellent work!
Thank you! Great ear, the chord progression is similar to that of Milk Bar at some parts. Glad you liked it!
Really liked the 5/4 rhythm in "Subaquatic Saunter (Action), it worked really well! All tracks are well thought, good submission!
Thank you!
Your songs really have an interesting drive and rhythm that is quite catching. Quite variable roster you've presented here with also some very interesting ideas. Really liked Subaquatic Saunter.
Thank you!
such a bright and dynamic! i love your use of lietmotifs and variations when moving through different areas of your game. adaptive OSTs are always a favorite of mine, because it gives each location so much personality and makes the game feel more interwoven. you've achieved that well.
i also like your musical attention to detail. your switch between modes to represent different worlds is really creative and not something i would have thought of.
overall, great job!! keep it up!
Thank you!
This is a great soundtrack. Dynamic music that changes based on the environment is always very cool. I also like the multiple blend of themes, such as underwater and mechanical, that still keep well thematically. There is a good variety of feelings - safeness, foreboding, mystery, intensity, etc. I think it is very cohesive.
Someone mentioned "sounding midi", I don't think that is a bad thing. Unless if you are going for realism, it can be a great tool to use midi sounding instruments to achieve a game feel.
Overall, this was a nice listen, Great work!
Thank you! Yeah some of my main inspirations come from SNES games so the midi feel can be a part of my style at times.
Solid entry!
Feedback: I think some of the instruments are still a little midi sounding, and some of the legato on the strings kind of doesn't quite go. But that is also a tool limitation, not everyone has access to thousands of dollars of libraries.
Overall though, it passes the vibe check. It creates a nice atmosphere.
Yeah particularly on Within The Soul and Within A Bubble, given more time I would have humanized instruments more. Though I still have a lot to learn in terms of making virtual instruments sound more natural. Thanks for the feedback!
LOVE THE USE OF THE AMPLE METAL HELLRAZER MY BELOVED
All thanks to your suggestion! :)
Amazing, bla bla bla, have a cookie!
Thanks! Your submission was very nice as well :)
Your soundtrack is intriguing and caleidoscopic. It's refreshing to hear some proggy stuff, now and then! Bravo
Thanks! I'm glad you noticed prog influence, I'm a huge prog fan!
Nice work on these tracks! They're really well composed and executed, matching the game's scenarios just right. I particularly liked the bassline for some of the tracks, specially Subaquatic Saunter. But my favorite track is Within a Bubble, the chords are stanking real nice there. Now my least favorite was Mechacanthine Chaos, I think the use of amem break here is not as interesting as having a drumline with more variation. And it also draws too much attention to it as well, making the other instruments a bit muffled.
Overall I enjoyed the OST so great job!
Yeah I originally tried a more unique drumline but I didn't like how it turned out, so I went with the more chaotic combo with the amen break. Thanks for the feedback!!
Very pleasant and bouncy tracks! I enjoyed the variety of genres used. My favorite one is "Mechacanthine Chaos".
Thanks!
Great work on this! Arrangements are nice and varied, and I love the use of the various rhodes and epianos throughout. No issues with production on my end, everything seems to fit where it needs to in the mix.
Really like the lead-work in this, whether its on a synth, guitar or a flute. Thoughtful choice of melodies throughout and a nice variety of genres beneath - can't say I had breakbeats on my bingo card for this one!
All in all this was a fun listen with a lot of different elements and genres explored, kudos for going all out. Great execution of the theme, too. Good work, and best of luck! :)
Thanks for the detailed feedback!
Love the addition of some adaptive music for Subaquatic Saunter and I especially love that you had some killer guitar work in there with all the digital elements. Very unique take on a soundtrack that otherwise took me back to being a kid again, especially with that aspect ratio of the videos!
Nice job!
Thanks!!
Nice, you also went for some interactive music, first one besides me that I saw going this way for the jam. Within a Bubble is bar far your best, mix is nice well balanced, composition is great, super chill. Well done !
Thanks!!
This soundtrack is great! It’s one of the first soundtracks I’ve seen so far to have a clear motif across all of its songs, which really ties the soundtrack together and gives it extra points from me! It sounds like something by Toby Fox, in the best way possible. Great OST, and I can’t wait to see what you make next!
Thanks! Toby Fox is a big inspiration of mine so that means a lot to me!
I really liked to hear 2 versions of Subaquatic! Both versions works well for their purpose :)
Great Ost with a clear identity all along, the guitars were a fun touch! Well done !
Thanks!
Portraying a wide range of diverse yet cohesive sounds. From the Zelda-like opening flute tunes, to more electronic and funky tunes, to almost santana inspired guitar work, I feel you captured a wide range of underwater moods and sounds.
Thanks! Zelda OSTs are a big inspiration of mine!
I like the transition from something mellow to snappy and a electric guitar edge. Thoughtful thing for a game! Carrying those themes is also pretty good once the listener gets into them.
Thanks!
Great use of motif! Each track the used a motif worked it in seamlessly.
Love the contrast in instruments between Prologue and Epilogue; A more laid back timbre for the first and a more confident string one for the last track.
Bravo!
Favorite: Mechacanthine Chaos (loved the DnB elements)
Thanks! That's exactly what I was going for with Prologue and Epilogue!