Once again, I don't really have much at all to say. This short review is your punishment for writing a track that's just too good to really criticise without going super in depth, and even then it would be very difficult.
So...
TL;DR:
Amazing job, dude! :D
Punishment for writing it too short, you mean. :P
I'm pretty sure you could pick any chord progression in the world, with any melody, and still make it beautiful, using nothing else that the dynamic and expression in you playing style. I actually improvised for one and a half hour on a real piano today, and I noticed I was playing very silimarly to this. I understand precisely why you would choose such a way to let your emotions flow. Rather than having a simple and clearly defined melody that you repeat with intelligent chord progressions, you can actually show just as much emotion by just playing in a certain way (not saying there's no melody or good chord progression here though). At least for improvisations. That said, I usually like the combination of the two the most. Which is perfect for the original version of the track (well, I guess that in one sence, this probably is just as much the original version).
The arpeggios are nice, so it's good to hear them. I like how you kept some silent backing strings in there as well, as they don't really take anything away.
I think that's it for this review really. I like the track, but I'd rather just listen to it today, than engage in an in-depth analysis. Thank you for sharing :)
You are always generous with your words, but I don't mean that to sound that I think you're being unauthentic in the words that you use for I really do take them to heart. It really was just using dynamics to express the beauty of music really. Perhaps a little bit of hesitation (rubato) between notes here and there too. I don't know.. this is a weird piece in terms of listening but not being able to necessary know what to hold on to. I understand the chord progressions of what I'm doing obviously but my brain really doesn't follow it chord by chord, but rather the overall structure and sound of it. Just showing that I get what you mean.
For being just a thing, this is pretty awesome :)
Simplicity is sometimes very effective. It's a shame that the piece cuts off at the end though. You will keep doing this to us, won't you? I guess it's time to just start accepting it... OR WILL I?
It's a shame you didn't make it to Ludum Dare or NGADM, but this piece makes up for it ;)
I have no shame. I'll keep doing it to my death. I plan to die in the middle of a sentence.
Man! The sounds design for this is amazing o.O
The melodies and chords are cool too. And I can once again hear your signature in this, hehhe XD
If I was in a nitpicky mood, I probably could find something small to complain about here. But right now, at the end of a long day, this is great to just lie down, and relax to while listening. So 5 stars from me ;)
Great job :3
Thanksfor the kind words Lucid :). Really glad you liked it. I've started to use Zebra 2 for sound design lately, and I'm more than satisfied with it. It's probably the most powerful synthesizer I've used, even better than massive in my opinion :D.
Alright. I actually have surprisingly little to say about this track, at least in way of criticism. I think that it's pretty much just awesome!
Especially as 0:57 comes into the picture. The beginning before that builds up at a good pace. The mixing is great, or at least it sounds great to me. I like the intrument choices. I love the atmosphere as well.
The percussion does its thing. I especially like the transition at 1:55 because of that reason. There are many other great parts, like some of the choir additions, and less noticable intruments (unless you listen for them that is, examplewise the cowbell at 2:23 [I am the jokester]).
I guess if I were to give any criticism, it's that I think you could've used more different chords in general. That is, while you keep the mood consistent and all, I think that you overdo the chord repetition at a few points, at least to a small extent.
1:50 (as well as a few other spots; this would work for most of the parts in the middle section of the track), for example (after the E minor with a G as the top note, unless I'm mistaken), would've been a great place to replace the current chord with a C Major 7 (B as the top note), after which you could either have used a B minor 7, or a D7 with an A as the top note (or something similar), and went on from there in any direction you wanted to. But that may just be my taste in chords anyway, and it's not really the greatest of criticisms XD
Just something to think about in the future.
There were some other things I noticed that I especially liked, or things that I personally would've done slightly differently. But those are just a matter of taste, and not really a matter of reviewing, as this track is amazing :D
The ending is perfect too!
Great job, dude! Added to my favorites ;)
Your such a gem. Haha and your questionable criticism has been noted! This one was just personal choice of simplicity. But that really is no excuse to keep a song flowing in different feels and directions. (Guess I was lazy and didn't notice. Haha) that cowbell..is a synth pluck haha. But like all audiophiles say.."NEEDS MORE COWBELL!!"
And thanks for the extra boost ;) and sorry I've been idle for so long!
I'm leaving a review for this one, as it's my favorite out of the pieces from the game. Probably because I am biased, as I love that flute-ish instrument (I don't know exactly what it's called). As I mentioned earlier, I like the way you were inspired by the Ōkami soundtrack (I actually own a copy the OST). It really fits the game well, in my opinion. But even on their own, they are pretty cool tracks to listen to! Very atmospheric stuff, and I am a fan of this atmosphere :p
Either way... Please tell me what the intrument is, so I will know in the future, meep! :3
The instrument in question is a shakuhachi. Now there are a few kinds of shakuhachi samples -- the first is one without any slides, and the second... well, is the one with loads of slides. The shakuhachi I used here slides a lot, and I thought I'd put it to use somehow. ^_^
Alright. So I usually never download anything that's available online, just because I mostly listen to music when I'm already on my computer. But this album has been so good, and this song especially has convinced me that I should definitely make an exception for this one, while it's currently so readily available. This track is right up my alley. The atmosphere is brilliant, with all the snares and strings, but especially because of the harmonies and progressions you're using. The mixing is great, but what I love most of all, are those horns. The are wonderful!
I see that the name is "Castle Theme", but while I definitely get the Dark Castle vibe, I also feel that this is a very climatic track (while the tempo isn't necessarily fast), which would fit well in a boss battle of some kind, or at least a more dramatic scene, rather than casual background music. But maybe that's what you had in mind as well :)
Either way, this is a great track, so good job ;)
Hey thanks :) Glad that you liked this track in particular. Most people have said that it's their least favorite! The horns are also my favorite part, this track probably went through the most changes and versions out of all of the tracks in the album. I wanted to put more chiptune influence in this track in particular, but it wasn't very easy so it didn't make it in. Thanks for listening and I'm glad you enjoy the album :)
-Ryan
This is beautiful! o.O
It's very much my style of game music to listen to while playing. Wonderful job ;)
That's good :) Glad you like it
I exist. That'd pretty much be it. Pictures made on Paint.NET (getpaint.net) and Apophysis 7X.
Age 29, Male
A bit of everything
As a teacher
Finland
Joined on 12/23/13
Mission 01 
Hope (Piano) 
New Horizon 
Through Time 
Kimyouna Yoru (奇妙な夜) 
Castle Theme - Across the Worlds 
Leap of Faith (Infinite Realms) 
Endless Ocean - Across the Worlds 
