Eino Keskitalo

Working on a resub based on the panel feedback. Done a bunch of smoothing out the mix, plus a bunch of work on the structure. Not quite sure if it's quite there yet. Some sanity checking of background elements and harmony also left. WIP 2015/03/23

All right, I'm looking forward to that tune already I can vouch for Jesse, he did a great job & was great to work with on the Shovel Knight compo tune.

Checking this out is definitely on my TODO list.. very interested in the ZX Spectrum (along with other 80s microcomputers.. ZX seems to have a lively homebrew scene). Just checked out the YamaYama tracks on OCR, pretty damn inspiring.

NINJA DOG.. that's what we were, apparently.

I didn't know the story! I know Uematsu did some tracks for the OST and I recalled this might have been one of them. And yeah, I too thought that the themes have similarities when I got to work with the Kuja theme in Final Fantasy Crystal Clash compo. I might do a bonus track if I feel crazy enough, I got some ideas already.

Love the sound. The Penelo source is working beautifully. Now, I wish you'd just dropped the Edward material, since (a) the writing is awkward both harmonically and structurally and ( I could only really recognize two or three seconds on a casual listen anyway, despite being a huge fan of the FF4 soundtrack. I'm under the impression you took a lot of the awkwardness out between the compo version and the resubbed version, and I recall this is a markedly better version. The main Edward section is still unharmonical and also pretty aimless, which I can't help but think reflects the struggle you had trying to combine the sources. The piece is also quite short, not criminally so but definitely leaving room for expansion. You have interesting switches between major and minor modality in the treatment of Penelo's theme, that would be interesting to hear with a more deliberate pacing. And man, taking a listen to the original source really makes me appreciate the stylistic re-treatment you gave it!

I have Dragon Sword for DS. I played Ninja Gaiden Sigma (alternating with a friend) and definitely dug it, but the touch screen controls didn't quite grab me I think.. though I didn't give it much time, so I'll put it next on my play list, give it another chance and let you know. By all means it wasn't horrible and felt similar enough to NGS.

Ooh, but! Consider that in SotN, you get experience points when killing monsters and gain levels that way, while in a typical metroidvania you build up strength and capabilities by finding items. So, SotN is an "RPG" while Metroid is not. I know, it's silly. There's a good question in addition to the one in the topic: "WHY to define what games are RPGs", answer to which affects also the answer to the "how" question. For instance, in the blog I linked to, the blogger has that quest to play them all and explore the history of CRPGs along the way. He has action RPGs in there as well, and generally the marginally RPG stuff results in pretty interesting posts.

Thanks! That sounds pretty spot-on and valid both mixing & arrangement-wise, exactly what I was needing! The transitions, or lack of thereof, are indeed pretty steep. That's something that I hadn't considered before, and the rest confirms what I was suspecting. Again, many thanks!

Yeehaw! Thanks for the competition! Thanks for the nice comments too. I used some really cheap samples (if "tracker metal" means anything to you, you'll know what I'm talking about), it'd be fun to redo this track with better sound quality & real guitar. I have a source in mind for next round already.

Here's the source breakdown. The long intro: 0:00-0:07 no source anywhere 0:07-0:24 The descending pizzicato from Lulu's theme (from the start) is there on the violin to the right, adjusted to major key.. if you'll accept that 0:24-0:41 Pizzicato continues; Lenna's bells from 0:00-0:10 on the chippy synth to the left 0:41-0:50 Pizzicato First "verse" 0:51-1:24 Lenna's bells + melody (on the fake guitar, different rhythm) from 0:06-0:28. Second "verse": 1:25-2:00 Bits of Lenna's bells (1:25-1:27, 1:34-1:36, 1:43-1:44, 1:52-1:53) Bits of Lenna's melody (1:25-1:27 from 0:30-0:31, 1:28-1:38 from 0:30-0:38 (as if a lower harmony), 1:44-1:47 (0:18-0:20), 1:48-1:51 (0:21-0:24), 1:52-1:55 and 1:56-2:00 are derived from 0:24-0:30 but different, I guess. From Lulu, the melloflute melody 0:14-0:25 adjusted to key (& rhythm) at 1:27-1:32 & 1:43-1:49, (0:19-0:25) at 1:37-1:40 and (a further adjusted 0:14-0:19) at 1:56-2:00. These on the organ + chippy synth. I think I need to include that bass thing from Lenna's @ 0:39-0:42! 2:00-2:03 A little break First "chorus": 2:03-2:07 The lead sounds like a hybrid of both bells in Lenna's 0:55-1:01.. I might adjust that to fit the source better. Sounds a bit hyperactive, the source is very pretty and it would give a nice contrast in the piece perhaps? 2:07-2:11 Lulu's melloflute from 0:14-0:19 2:12-2:20 2:12-2:14 and 2:16-2:20 you can hear the higher bell from Lenna's at 0:55-0:58 in the background. 2:21-2:25 The descending pizzicato from Lulu's plays @ 2:21. Third "verse": 2:25-2:59 The Lulu's B-part melody from 1:09-1:34 plays twice I believe. Lenna-bells from 0:06-0:28 on the chippy synth. 3:00-3:01 a little break Second "chorus": 3:02-3:10 The lower bell from Lenna's 0:55-1:06. 3:10-3:36 Variations of the previous bit; the original melody is there in the background. 3:36-3:49 a wind-down.

I'm working on my final round arrangement, and already submitted my second round tune (and I'm feeling keen to work on my 3rd round mix as well), so I'd definitely be up for the album.

Faultless electronica take of a tune from a pretty important milestone in my personal gaming history. I can't say I'm blown away by it, but I am nodding along with a big smile on my face.

Actually, I'm under the impression that D&D originally (like, in the 70s) was much more about trying to get your character to survive (and improve) through whatever fiendish testing grounds the dungeon master was capable of devising. Emphasis on story-telling comes much later, 90s even. Both console and computer role playing games (if you want to distinguish between them) start their evolution before that.

My favourite blog is called The CRPG Addict, where the blogger is playing through all the single-player computer role-playing games released for home computers (so console games are excluded from this particular endeavor). The blog uses the following criteria to define an RPG: Here's some more discussion on the topic; I'm pretty sure there's a later post when the blog had matured a bit, but of course I couldn't find it..

WIP 2015/03/13 I've lessened the clutter a bit in the arrangement, especially purging/varying a little bit of the drumming. Nothing drastic.

Nice drive in this one! I like the way the arrangement comes back to the main theme or "head" in the middle and in the end, giving the piece a good structure. The first two times the theme is played very affirmatively, the last time it's gentler. Strong bass riff gives a good backbone for the two more melodic cellos to start dancing around each ofter after the main theme. After the second one, they're more together in playing a haunting melody. The last iteration of the main theme is more soft, before the ending, which is both strong and left hanging in the air.

Probably my favourite arrangement off the album, thanks to the aching melodies that dig deeper and deeper. I love the stretch where it stays at a single root note. Good point about breathing, LuigiFan, I like the sounds too. It's good that the "noise" wasn't edited out.

A seamless collab! I'm happy to see long-time collab partner Tuberz finally posted (sorry it wasn't one of ours ), and ditto for the PRC veteran Chickenwarlord. If I had to critisize something, there's a bit of unclear harmony writing between the guitar and piano around 0:50 and 0:56. That's just one spot, on the whole the tune is a very crafty and enjoyable blend between the acoustic guitar and chiptune aesthetic. Nice percussion too! Is there a cajon in there, or is it a regular drumkit?

This is fun and upbeat, all right! Great to hear more Taucer-guitar. I like how this sounds very natural to the source material, and is superficially pretty straightforward, but there's a lot of little differences with the rhythm of the melody et cetera. Well done, and sounds very effortless, very pleasant and easy to listen to!

Been a fan of illusen since that first Ecco the Dolphin post on the workshop. This is another case of smart, deliberately employed electronica, and still the organic elements - voice and guitar - end up being the highlights. I like the style of the guitaring, nice to hear this sort of stuff on OCR. Structure is good as well. The vocal harmony in the middle breakdown reminds me of something I used to listen to, quite pleasantly.. I feel like I need to go back to that. The EQ is a bit harsh/bright for my ears, esp. on guitar and vocals. I keep checking the ending if my file download ended prematurely, but that's not a crit, it works.

I have trouble connecting with this piece. The strings are playing super loud almost constantly, which feels like it was forcing the emotion down your throat (with very much the sensibility of blockbuster epicality). The arrangement is otherwise good, well paced and emotive, and I love the gentleness and tone of the piano.

Ah, good to know. Thanks for the reply!

Final Summoning has in-game audio sampled into it, I think this is verboten by Square-Enix? (I feel bad for pointing this out). Zillion source tunes seem to originate from the anime - although the airing of the anime & the release of the first video game are only about a month apart. "Outside Planet" is the closing theme in the anime ("Pure Stone"), and "Inside Planet" appears on a Zillion anime OST as "Break a trap for yourself", though I have no idea if it appears in the anime.

Nice and varied, a bit muddy old school sound, certainly reminds me of trackers and 90s and stuff. Also reminds me of Terraria's soundtrack. Maybe goes on a touch long, but is all moody and groovy, much appreciated.