Her own theme (a piano solo) complements her surrounding areas. Having started with the hunter, H’aanit, I was able to experience her moments in The Woodlands with slow percussion with strings to reflect the backdrop of her adventures. Specific themes for areas create a more memorable experience and offer opportunities for world building. With each character having a main theme, it’s no surprise that each area of the map also has its own sound. An enthralling orchestra serves multiple purposes here as Olberic has suffered loss players can hear and see. Throughout the game, character themes correspond beautifully with the drama playing out before players’ eyes. The juxtaposition of harsh trumpets with melodic strings give way to heartbreak and give richer detail to his story. His theme reminds us that with great power, there is also great hardship. He is in hiding after having given his life to the sword. Having taken up residence by the coasts, we can feel that Olberic does not want to be reminded of his warrior past. Strong trumpets and percussion accompanied by soulful strings give us the impression that Olberic has seen hardship and that his is a never-ending journey. In stark contrast, Olberic the Warrior has a battle-hardened theme. By creating a dual purpose for these themes, players can associate specific areas with each character, thus giving characters richer personalities and stories. While playing the game, space is given new purpose by gentle harps as snow falls softly to the ground.
The gentle rise and fall of flutes at a tempo lento help give new life to the Cathedral space by defining it as a place of rest and safety. Her theme transcends her character, however, as we meet Ophelia in the backdrop of a Cathedral in the snowy mountains.
She is a caretaker and her theme reflects her nature. Gentle flutes accompanied by a harp and strings help define Ophelia as an optimistic and gentle soul and create emotional moments during cutscenes. Her musical theme reflects the kind of person Ophelia is and even her home of origin. She is a kind role model for others and her true goal is to help those around her. She is close with her family and has theocratic duties to her people. Whoever players decide to begin with, they’ll be greeted with unique music for each character. While the Main Theme made use of various instruments like trumpets, cellos and strings, each character has a musical theme comprised of select instruments. Having looked forward to the game for awhile, sitting at the main menu while this theme played in the background created a new sense of adventure and excitement. The necessity of an opening theme that inspires players cannot be understated. There truly is a journey awaiting us as the rise and fall of violins and trumpets announce our travels through fields and woodlands. The uplifting tempo and light, airy theme prepare us for adventure. Immediately the Main Theme pulls players into the world of Octopath with light cellos and the accompaniment of the traditional Shakuhachi (Japanese Bamboo Flute). Having played about twenty hours of the game, I was able to see early on how beautifully the soundtrack elevated the gameplay, and how it develops with the plot. From the main theme to battle and cutscene music, I strove for clear melodies and powerful yet not overly complex songs that would rise to the level of the evolved HD-2D graphics.” It can be said that Nishiki did accomplish this feat, as major themes of adventure, travel and even companionship can be felt throughout the entirety of the soundtrack. In a note written about the game, Nishiki-san states that, “ my goal was to create a soundtrack with memorable melodies and lavish soundscapes that incorporated live orchestral performances. With a fully-orchestrated soundtrack, Square Enix pulls out all the stops to create a labor of love for long-time fans of the Golden Age of RPGs.Ĭomposer Yasunori Nishiki truly wanted to create a memorable experience for fans, utilizing similar themes we might have heard in classic RPGs. And while each character has a different melody, common themes found throughout the soundtrack unify these characters and their experiences. With each character having a unique story with specialized job classes, it makes sense that each of them would have their own musical themes as well. Reminiscent of games like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, Octopath has players controlling detailed sprite characters in a HD world. Octopath Traveler brings eight different stories with eight unique characters to an old-school inspired JRPG. Checking the Score is a feature about video game music, composers, musicians and tools of the trade.
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