Play soundtrack
Selkione 🎵 - Soul of Ghost's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Correlation to theme | #1 | 4.556 | 4.556 |
| Quality | #2 | 4.667 | 4.667 |
| Composition | #3 | 4.333 | 4.333 |
| Overall | #3 | 4.389 | 4.389 |
| Creativity | #9 | 4.000 | 4.000 |
Ranked from 9 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Theme
Correlation to theme
There are several phases to this enemy. I used a 7/4 signature for the slightly jerky movement of its wooden body. Lots of chromaticism (and little classical harmonic progression) because that seemed most appropriate for the spongy, unstable nature of mushrooms.
The instruments are mostly wood-based (flute, xylophone, guiro, clave) to illustrate this.
I tried sounds like breaths with phaser to give the impression that it's sending out spores.
Once again, I used a lot of instruments to give the encounter a grandiose feel. Considering how hard I struggled to put the three phases and instruments together in a coherent way, I can say that I learned a lot from this jam!
Streaming service
https://youtu.be/ZoUrn4zCApE
Leave a comment
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
Comments
Oh yes!! I was severely hoping you would use an odd time signature after your 'Cola Verde' left a lasting impression on me (I mean, single measures of 5/4, 6/4, 5/4 and 4/4 is just genius!).
You also make the 7/4 very easy to follow, following similar principles as I tried to do. You start each measure with a common instrument and repetitive theme and end it with another instrument and theme. This repetitiveness and clear start and end makes it very easy to follow and nice on the ear.
Let's see if I noticed all your time shifts:
I see you're shifting to 4/4 at 0:39. Classic move, to be able to include a more easy-to-follow melodic progression. And then you go back to 7/4 at 1:06. And at 1:18 a single measure of 8/4 before going back to 7/4 - haha, why not! I see both Blue Lava, you, and me incorporating odd time signatures in our works, which I find so enjoyable given that you two are my biggest inspirations from these jams!
Cool instruments. You use similar instruments as me: a lot of xylophone and strings, some flutes, some cool guiro (which I regrettingly chose not to use!). And this droplet-like instrument, what's it called? Love it! It all fits the forest theme very well!
From 0:39 onwards, the song doesn't feel too fast-paced, which is an interesting choice compared to all other songs I've heard so far. And the chords become... uplifting, hopeful, explorative. This section feels like it fits in some overworld theme. I find it less fitting than the start of the song, as I have slight trouble to imagine a boss phase where this fits well. But I also read that you "struggled to put the three phases and instruments together in a coherent way". Given this struggle, I find that you did a very good job, as the transitions are definitely smooth.
I just noticed your video. Did you draw all of those yourself?? If so, I didn't know you were multi-talented! They all look great!
As usual, very great job :D. I was very excited to hear your song given the awesomeness of your past bosses (heck, I even used Giant Slimy Dragon as inspiration for my giant phase!). And you didn't disappoint, as you never do. Can't wait to hear what you make for the third round!
I love reading your comments, firstly because they are complimentary and that's good for the ego, but mainly because you don't hesitate to be honest.
The second part is indeed more joyful, and that's a bias I have. Thanks to your comment, I thought about it and asked myself why I imagine a joyful part in boss music. The answer is “Nobuo Uematsu” and his boss music from Final Fantasy. I've listened to his OSTs so much that I've become completely immersed in them. In all of his boss compositions, there's a more uplifting passage, which is a way of representing the heroes' hope in the face of the boss. The boss theme is mixed with the hope that the player will defeat him.
On the contrary, in Koji Kondo's music (which I've listened to a lot), there are no cheerful or hopeful parts.
So there are two types of boss music:
Thank you for making me realize that!
Aah, thanks for your explanation! I totally know what you mean - I also remember songs trying to incorporate an uplifting, hopeful section, like 'Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Dialga/Palkia theme' or 'Zelda Spirit Tracks, Fighting Cole and Malladus'. Not sure if these sections actually use major chords, but they feel hopeful rather than hopeless. It's mostly final bosses that seem to do this in my experience. I'm down to try this sometime, it seems quite interesting! :D
Just WOW. This is professional. The balance between all of these instruments is incredible. I really love the lightness of it, like this is an early boss in a game set in a foresty area. The combination of flute, violin, and French horn at 0:53 give a heroic and epic sound that reminds me of tracks from Super Smash Bros., like the Fountain of Dreams track from Melee or the World of Light overworld theme from Ultimate (I have no idea if they used similar instruments, it just feels the same based on my memory of those tracks). Your percussion is quite fitting, especially with the guiro and clave, but also the various chirping noises in addition to the snare and gran cassa.
Once again I am blown away by your ability to create music that fits the theme so well that I wouldn’t even need to know the theme to know exactly what is being conveyed in the track. Also shoutout to the re-drawings of the character and the high quality youtube video! Marvelous work with this one and thank you for sharing!
Solid composition with so much variety while feeling consistent and polished all the way through. The arrangement, the chords, harmonies and melodies, all put together like someone who knows their theory, without a single note out of place, which makes me remember you from last jam :) But this set of pieces has so much more going on, and I'm amazed at how fast you got this not only written but produced at such quality.
I liked the different phases in the second track, and my ears especially like the detail of how you mix up the order of the notes in the section with the arpeggiated triads. The final stage had such a nice feeling of being the big climax boss battle. My very favorite part was 39s-1m, especially how you chose to put the IV chord in 2nd inversion the second time (putting E in the bass line, instead of the root C again). It set things up to make us feel the Eb flat six chord more truly, as the root of a M7 chord that contains those same violin melody notes we heard with the I chord. Really solid instincts.
The only thing I'd change is that I found myself craving a sharper attack on the instruments, especially in the parts where sharp percussion is paired with relatively lazy brass and woodwinds that take agonizing milliseconds to come to volume. I know it's likely a limitation of the virtual instruments you have available, or an accommodation for what sounds less artificial. I hope you find the opportunity to get your hands on a live orchestra.
Wow! Thank you for listening so attentively.
You managed to hear the C/E inversion, you have an incredible ear (perfect pitch?).
It's great to have your analysis. It's very informative.
You're absolutely right about the sharpness of the attacks. As an aside, the second section was weak because of the lack of attack on the strings. It took me a while to realize that I shouldn't play louder, but shorter and sharper. I corrected part of it, but I didn't have time to do it properly everywhere.
I'm really impressed by the accuracy of your feedback. Thank you again for taking the time to listen and, above all, to comment.
sounds great! fits the theme perfectly
Thank you for your comment :)
Lots of reasons for the song to fit the enemy which is great! I liked the middle the best when the winds took the lead.
Your quality of sound is apparent once again as it sounds very professional!
On behalf of the winner of the previous round and official “rival,” I am very honored :)