MIDI Week Singles: "In Case of Trouble" - Bastion (PC)

"In case of trouble" from Bastion (PC)

Bastion Original Soundtrack

Composer: Darren Korb

Game Developer: Supergiant games

Choosing a single can be tricky business.  For example, albums are often front-loaded with the catchiest songs coming first.  However, if you stop there, you may miss the best stuff on the album.  Still, that said, I'm going to go with track 2 from the Bastion soundtrack.  I'm just a sucker for jangly acoustic guitars,  and I like how this song isn't in a hurry, waiting a full minute before the larger arrangement kicks in.  As with much of the soundtrack, Darren Korb does a great job mixing melody and ambiance.  

I have been toying with the idea of doing a song from the Bastion soundtrack for some time.  But it was last weeks single from the 'Gun' soundtrack that tipped me over.  Bastion is heavily influenced by western sounds, but uses them in a different way from Gun, mixing in electronic sensibilities and what sounds like the 'arabic scale' at times.  Bastion is another score from one of those fantastic Humble Indie Bundles.

-D

MIDI Week Singles: "Dark Flute" - Super Brothers: Sword and Sworcery EP (PC) (Android)

"Dark Flute" from Sword and Sworcery EP (PC)(Android)

Publisher: SuperBrothers and Jim Guthrie

Composer: Jim Guthrie

Developer: SuperBrothers

I chose this song because it has been my ringtone for over a year.  Truly, there are many excellent songs from Sword and Sworcery EP, and I may want to do a Game Scores feature to cast a light on the whole, beautiful soundtrack.  I got this game as part of a Humble Indie Bundle, and fortunately, I was able to get a copy of the soundtrack to Sword and Sworcery EP and several other games as part of this bundle.  This soundtrack and others made their rounds on my phone during work.

I'm very happy to be sharing a song from this soundtrack, as it is one of my favorite soundtracks and favorite games of the last three years.  Dark, and haunting, with sweeping rises in volume and intensity, Jim Guthrie's composition style is very atmospheric while also exciting.  

-D

MIDI Week Singles: "Where Are You" - thomas was alone (PC)

For my last post of 2014, I wanted to cover a song that was the first song I thought of as far as gaming in 2014.  "Where Are You" by David Housden from thomas was alone was that one song.

"Where Are You" from Thomas Was Alone on PC (2012)

thomas was alone Original Soundtrack

Record Label: Digital Self Release

Composer: David Housden

Game Developer: Mike Bithell

I'm afraid of calling "Where Are You" a beautifully simplistic piano and ambient piece of video game music, but that's the easiest explanation of the song.  For me, not only is the music itself beautiful, but it also is about as nostalgic as something can be with less than a year gone by.

So goodbye 2014, and we'll see you in all your glory tomorrow in 2015.



JWfW/JDub/Jaconian
The Sounds of the World Driving By.

First Impressions: Starseed Pilgrim

Starseed Pilgrim just ate two hours of my day.  I knew I had been at it a while, but I was surprised to read the total.  I'd been saying 'just one more game' to myself for the last ten games or so.  The first half of the time was spent figuring out what is going on.  And then when I started to figure it out, I've tried to determine how to build skill.   I'm definitely getting better at it, but I feel like there's still more to learn.

This game taps into a sense of creativity, of mystery, of exploration and of expertise.  And Harmony, don't forget harmony.  The visual and audio design is already invading my dreams.  Starseed Pilgrim is another in a very exciting trend in gaming which uses sound effects in a musical and atmospheric way.  Every action produces a tone, and they combine in a musical soundscape of the game.  Similar uses of music include Everyday Shooter, Bit.Trip.Runner and Proteus.

Starseed Pilgrim is one of those games that I want to take care not to share too much.  Part of the fun and excitement has been just figuring out how to play.  I recommend mapping a gamepad using JoyToKey, and then having a good time.

That's all I'll say for now.  I'll write a full review after this game lets go of my brain.  It will be full of spoilers.

-D

P.S.  I suppose I should mention one more thing:  this game is TOUGH.

First Impressions: LIMBO

On Friday I got sick, and by Saturday evening, I had played through and beaten LIMBO.  Here are some notes on my gaming experience:

1. I cheated twice.  I looked up solutions on the internet to two puzzles.  I am not ashamed.
2. When I got to the end, I said "I'm definitely playing through this game again."  Without cheating.  
3. The Atmosphere of this game is fantastic.  I give the game maximum score for graphics and sound.
4. I recommend everyone play this game for one hour.  If you're not hooked by then, you're not going to be. 
5. The spider is so awesome!
6. My only gripe is with the gameplay is around the controls and a couple of the puzzles.  On the one hand, the limited agility and ability of the player adds to the atmosphere.  On the other hand:   Sometimes it takes away from the atmosphere when I just keep dying over and over again.   The feeble little jumps just aren't satisfying and sometimes I feel like the button response could be just a little tighter.  Maybe it's my PC.   Also: Why does this kid drown in three feet of water?!  Can't he just dog paddle or something?  
7. No, I don't have any suggestions for solutions to the problems in #6.  Puzzle games are bound to stump  you some of the time.  And everyone who plays it will have a different experience.  I breezed through some puzzles, struggled and was rewarded by feeling smart when I finished other puzzles.  And then some of the puzzles I flipped-off the game and looked it up on the internet.