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RPGFan Music
RPGFan Music of the Year 2024 Editors’ Favorites: Mark Roddison
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Favorite Soundtrack of 2024: SKALD: Against the Black Priory Original Soundtrack Vol. I
Retro, synthwave soundtracks have made a comeback in recent games, such is the appetite for retro-gaming and nostalgia, but SKALD‘s score really does take it to another level. There’s a real earnestness and sincerity in the instrument tones and melody lines. The opening track, triggered at the point of the title splash screen, is an excellent example of this composition, The strident 16-bar melody worms its way into your head and sets out its stall as a game of epic, yet horrifying, proportions. Other tracks, such as “Dawn of Mist” and “Tunnels”, focus more on the ability to mix different sounds and chords to create eerie walls of audio. Overall, just as the game is excellent, this is a heck of a soundtrack for an indie release.
Highlighted Track: “Against the Black Priory”
Fallout: London (Original Soundtrack)
For those who loved the recent Fallout games, Fallout: London, a fan-made mod built on the bones of Fallout 4, is an outstanding example of what an open approach to game creation can produce. The level of professionalism throughout is commendable, and the soundtrack is no exception. “’Ol Blighty” is an excellent starting point, manifesting the bells of London before entering a simple melody, soon taken up by swirling strings. In many ways, the soundtrack provides a fitting accompaniment to the misty, dirty, and run-down streets of London that feels inherently British, in much the same way the mainline Fallout series echoes its Americana. There can be no higher praise.
Highlighted Track: “The Blighty Bop”
A Traveler’s Respite – Piano Tribute to the Octopath Series
As a trained pianist, I’ve always been partial to piano-led music, and this arrangement collection of the Octopath Traveler series is a wonderful set of musicians (see the full credits on VGMdb) offering their takes and approaches. Throughout, we’re reminded that the underlying score is dependent on mood, theme, and feeling: you won’t find many presto-tempo interludes here, or a semi-quaver-filled run of keyboard dexterity (Well, other than when “Those Who Deny The Dawn” gets going. Wowsers!). But you will find mostly wistful tunes, touchingly played. There’s always space for this type of co-operative approach to our shared love, and VGM Pianists should be commended for bringing together such talented performers.
Highlighted Track: “Soliloquy” performed by Animalisa Keys
