Taming Dreams!! I like Taming Dreams. Did I ever mention that I like Taming Dreams? I LIKE TAMING DREAMS.
Even though TD was a thing you made in 2015, I already feel nostalgic for it. Actually, that's 6 years ago, which means it's further away from today than TD's release is away from when I joined Fig Hunter. How time flies...
I do hope you can get it to PC at some point, I know you had a PC beta branch of episodes 1 and 2 at some point, so I assume it should be possible! I still fondly recall beta testing Taming Dreams, to this day it's my favourite of your works in terms of characters, plot, themes, visuals, gameplay and of course music!
I know you always put a lot of effort into music and appreciate it when people appreciate that effort, so I'll also talk a bit about tracks that stand out to me!
1. Theme
The first time the Rohoph leitmotif appears, I fondly remember this track from the title screen. It's also a good leitmotif!!
3. D4: Dreams Drive us to Divine Discoveries
I remember this one from giving feedback on the iterations of the tutorial dungeon!
4. Dream Nexus
I never actually listened to the full unused Nexus track from AF:C, but it's actually really pretty! I wish it was in AF:C so I could use it!
5. Tame Thyself
I really like this as the standard boss battle track. Memories of fighting the Mad God and Sharxiety.
6. Sunset
Not the most ostentatious track, but it sets the mood really well. I remember this being a sort of prelude to the end of each episode, as the sun is setting and you return home.
9. Rohoph
I like how this one sounds very light and merciful, but also clearly ominous and worrying. It suits Rohoph very well.
11. Meraeaeaeadyth
This theme always added to the scenes with Meraeadyth in episodes 2 and 3. I think aging her down and making her be a part of the core cast was a big improvement over the original version of her character.
13. World Map
The leitmotif again. I like the adventurousness of this track, it really sells the feeling of going on an adventure. I wonder whether later episodes would have a more ominous track play instead as Rohoph's influence changes Mardek to be less whimsical and more grave?
14. Forest
Forest themes are a staple in your games, but this one is my favourite! Really takes me back to testing episode 2, it does.
15. Miasmon!
Memories of messing around with the agitation engine. I really liked the mechanics of agitations, I'm glad AD takes big inspiration from it, with some quality of life improvements to make it easier to understand.
17. Atonae
My favourite of the leitmotif variations, the Atonae scenes are what I most vividly and fondly recall from testing TD. Poring over every Atonae's dialogue to find hidden clues and secrets. Deciphering Maka's messages to realise she might have been the Atonae who best understood what the game's themes would be. Makes me look forward to what DD's version of the GdM will be!
20. Still Ruins
Episode 2 has Forest, episode 3 has Still Ruins. Another really fitting theme that perfectly captures the mood of the area it's for.
22. Faith
The scene with Ola... To this day I'm not quite sure what Rohoph did to Ola! It was really hard to tell what was going on, and I assume we might've gotten more info on it in later chapters if Rohoph would guide more people to the afterlife.
23. Mardek
I really like the way this theme conveys Rohoph's influence on Mardek. His theme is encroaching on Mardek's slowly but surely. An ominous prelude to Rohoph steadily exerting more and more control over Mardek?
24. Longing & Be Now
The best track on the OST! Having a unique theme and a whole episode's worth of build-up made the Misfitucant really feel like a proper boss battle, like everything with Meraeadyth so far was leading up to this. It really nails the "dramatic battle" concept very well.
28. Reason's Mental Metal (Unused)
I really like this one, it feels like it could be a theme for a happier and more well-adjusted Meraeadyth? It feels more organic and emotional than her usual theme.
30. D4 (Unused)
I like this as a neat intro to the tutorial dungeon if the game had a more MARDEK-like intro, though of course the actual intro you went with wouldn't have a jaunty tune like this!
Even though TD was a thing you made in 2015, I already feel nostalgic for it. Actually, that's 6 years ago, which means it's further away from today than TD's release is away from when I joined Fig Hunter. How time flies...
I do hope you can get it to PC at some point, I know you had a PC beta branch of episodes 1 and 2 at some point, so I assume it should be possible! I still fondly recall beta testing Taming Dreams, to this day it's my favourite of your works in terms of characters, plot, themes, visuals, gameplay and of course music!
I know you always put a lot of effort into music and appreciate it when people appreciate that effort, so I'll also talk a bit about tracks that stand out to me!
1. Theme
The first time the Rohoph leitmotif appears, I fondly remember this track from the title screen. It's also a good leitmotif!!
3. D4: Dreams Drive us to Divine Discoveries
I remember this one from giving feedback on the iterations of the tutorial dungeon!
4. Dream Nexus
I never actually listened to the full unused Nexus track from AF:C, but it's actually really pretty! I wish it was in AF:C so I could use it!
5. Tame Thyself
I really like this as the standard boss battle track. Memories of fighting the Mad God and Sharxiety.
6. Sunset
Not the most ostentatious track, but it sets the mood really well. I remember this being a sort of prelude to the end of each episode, as the sun is setting and you return home.
9. Rohoph
I like how this one sounds very light and merciful, but also clearly ominous and worrying. It suits Rohoph very well.
11. Meraeaeaeadyth
This theme always added to the scenes with Meraeadyth in episodes 2 and 3. I think aging her down and making her be a part of the core cast was a big improvement over the original version of her character.
13. World Map
The leitmotif again. I like the adventurousness of this track, it really sells the feeling of going on an adventure. I wonder whether later episodes would have a more ominous track play instead as Rohoph's influence changes Mardek to be less whimsical and more grave?
14. Forest
Forest themes are a staple in your games, but this one is my favourite! Really takes me back to testing episode 2, it does.
15. Miasmon!
Memories of messing around with the agitation engine. I really liked the mechanics of agitations, I'm glad AD takes big inspiration from it, with some quality of life improvements to make it easier to understand.
17. Atonae
My favourite of the leitmotif variations, the Atonae scenes are what I most vividly and fondly recall from testing TD. Poring over every Atonae's dialogue to find hidden clues and secrets. Deciphering Maka's messages to realise she might have been the Atonae who best understood what the game's themes would be. Makes me look forward to what DD's version of the GdM will be!
20. Still Ruins
Episode 2 has Forest, episode 3 has Still Ruins. Another really fitting theme that perfectly captures the mood of the area it's for.
22. Faith
The scene with Ola... To this day I'm not quite sure what Rohoph did to Ola! It was really hard to tell what was going on, and I assume we might've gotten more info on it in later chapters if Rohoph would guide more people to the afterlife.
23. Mardek
I really like the way this theme conveys Rohoph's influence on Mardek. His theme is encroaching on Mardek's slowly but surely. An ominous prelude to Rohoph steadily exerting more and more control over Mardek?
24. Longing & Be Now
The best track on the OST! Having a unique theme and a whole episode's worth of build-up made the Misfitucant really feel like a proper boss battle, like everything with Meraeadyth so far was leading up to this. It really nails the "dramatic battle" concept very well.
28. Reason's Mental Metal (Unused)
I really like this one, it feels like it could be a theme for a happier and more well-adjusted Meraeadyth? It feels more organic and emotional than her usual theme.
30. D4 (Unused)
I like this as a neat intro to the tutorial dungeon if the game had a more MARDEK-like intro, though of course the actual intro you went with wouldn't have a jaunty tune like this!
I wonder what albums are left now?