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One Summer Night's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Storytelling | #160 | 3.127 | 3.643 |
| Composition | #188 | 3.127 | 3.643 |
| Overall | #203 | 2.992 | 3.486 |
| Impression | #216 | 2.943 | 3.429 |
| Quality | #221 | 2.943 | 3.429 |
| Creativity | #240 | 2.820 | 3.286 |
Ranked from 14 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
What caught my attention in the theme picture was its vibe - it's a bit off.
Not really a summer beach fiesta, but rather solemn, retrospective loneliness.
And so my brain started brewing things in this direction.
I see the game being more story focused than gameplay heavy - some laid back RPG or maybe even a visual novel.
We start pretty chill, as the Main Character goes for the summer trip.
The Bliss Theme establishes the mood here.
There's a lot of fun and games and other shenanigans going on, and our Main Character meets the Special Person there. Who is that? A lover? Family member? Friend? Teacher? For the sake of storytelling I'll let listener's heart to decide on that. What's important is that it's special for us. And let's also say that some strong memories were made on this wharf in the picture.
But it cannot last forever.
We are now supported by Anxiety Theme (which consists of three levels of intensity, to be utilized as needed).
Because of The Event, our Main Character looses the Special Person. Was it an accident? Kidnapping? Murder? Cheesy trope of a childhood friend changing cities? I'll let the listener to decide. But the Special Person is gone, and our Main Character is now alone.
Here's where the Ending Theme comes in.
Now, it might be same year or next summer, but the Main Character is back at the seashore and starts reminiscing about the Special Person, trying to come to terms with their loss. At one point (preferably when the strings come in at ~1:28), remembering some Important Words, the Main Character starts running towards the wharf, having flashbacks of the time spend with the Special Person. Then they arrive at the wharf, finally understanding that life will go on and they still have their memories to cherish.
Forever.
The End, everyone cries, roll the credits.
Theme
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/pica-mechanicus/sets/one-summer-night
Number of tracks3
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
For game jams only
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Comments
I really liked the acoustic guitar in this! you captured the fun-in-the-sun seaside vibes of summer really well! Good work!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
First entry I've heard with this much acoustic guitar focus! I enjoyed it a lot. Everything sounds clean. The bliss theme is super catchy. Real summer pop vibes.
I like the increasing intensity levels on the anxiety theme, though I feel like the chord progression alone is pretty intense even with just the guitar, and I wonder what it would sound like with more room for the emotion to ramp up - maybe starting off with some slightly less spicy chords, getting more dissonant as the additional layers come in.
I feel like the guitar parts are very nicely written, and they generally sound good, but maybe a little stiff on the single-note lines. A little more dynamic variation and maybe some legato embellishments could give it some extra texture. Going by your description I'm assuming it's a Kontakt library, though if it is, the strumming and the muted strokes make it feel more organic and physical than most virtual acoustic stuff I've heard.
really cool submission overall!
Thanks!
I thought that some simple acoustic guitar would be a nice change of pace, as most stuff on jams is often electronic or full symphony.
I agree that Anxiety could use a bit of build-up before going full dissonant - if it was a song on an album. I was thinking much more utilitarian, just turn it on the really intense moment. Inspired quite a bit with Zawazawa Suru from Spice and Wolf (which is OST I absolutely adore), just a lot worse xD
I am indeed using Kontakt samples here. I composed the thing on the actual guitar, but because of technical issues I wasn't able to record in time, so I went with VSTi. And as I know how it would be played IRL it was much easier to program and make it sound less robotic. Not perfect, but oh well.
Anyways, glad you liked it and thanks again for the feedback :)
Awesome submission, I loved the guitar :)
Thank you!
The anxiety theme is really neat! It kind of reminded me of the dangerous themes in something like Mario RPG or similar games.
Thanks!
Great to hear that it works :)
Anxiety theme made me lol with the immediate devil's triad.
The anxiety track had some really neat stuff in there that was a little like Shostakovich which I always like.
Agreed with Fox on the vibe being accurate to what you're describing. Great work! :)
Thanks, it's great that I've passed the vibe check :D
Anxiety was mostly composed on a guitar by ear, after which I went back to write it down.
When the reverse chord finder told me that those are maj7sus4add#11 chords (most probably in this context), I was already sure that some people are gonna find it the best xD
This is a really fun and memorable album, that acoustic guitar is a great choice and you do a lot of great stuff with it! The melodies in Bliss and Ending are super calm and peaceful, very evocative of the exact emotions they're going for and I love all the cool chord movements in both. I really, really like Anxiety though, it's all the best parts of the other two turned up to 11 and fits right into the story the songs are telling. Awesome stuff! :D
Thank you!
I tried to focus especially on telling the story. Invoking proper emotions is probably the most important job music can make in media :)
Glad you enjoyed it :)
That is the most accurate title on each track. Anxiety is absolutely great I love all the weird vibe and chords you used on this one, my favourite, mix is really nice too, great work !
Thanks!
I tried to have something for every taste/ear, while telling the story :)
A nice change of pace, more organic-sounding than some of the others.
Bliss really does capture that summer pop vibe - like it was the "unplugged" version of a pop dance number. The chord progression really sounds familiar.
Anxiety does a real number on you. I like the extra elements brought in partway through.
I can practically see the credits rolling while Ending plays.
Thanks, great to know that my music worked as I wanted it to :)
Your music conveyed exactly the tones you were going for! Nice job!
Thanks!
Yeah! felt like a nice journey, loved the simplicity and how songs slowly built up, love bliss theme.
Thank you!
This was really great to listen to mechpie, each piece is so well orchestrated and fulfills exactly the vibe you set out to achieve. Everything was clear in the mix too, it just felt great, well done!
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Bliss Theme is catchy and does remind me of some nice summer pop numbers.
Anxiety Theme's tonality does convey the anxiety well, and those spicc strings are the star of the show. Initially I wasn't quite sure the guitar got my hair standing on end. The strings and piano certainly do it for me though -- a tension in the air, a tension I can almost grasp.
The ending theme does sound like you're looking back fondly on something.
All in all, a pleasant listen, and you should be proud. Well done!
Thanks!
That's definitely some of my more developed works, and it makes me double as happy that it strikes peoples emotions in the way I intended :)