| 01 | Title - 'Ebb' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 8.15 MB | 4'01" | |
| When I think of RPG title themes, my mind goes to places like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. A soft, lilting opener, a crescendo, ending with a looped main theme. It's main purpose is to gradually engage you into the virtual world of the game, leaving you humming some kind of melody while the game loads. | |||
| 02 | Prologue - 'Jellyfish' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 8.48 MB | 4'12" | |
| Now that you've sat and listened to the title screen and started the game, the story can begin. The world is initially unveiled to the player at this point, their faculties becoming sharp and focused on what it is this game is all about for the first time. Equal parts curiosity and awe are mixed into the presentation. | |||
| 03 | Character (Olos) - 'Adamant' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 5.72 MB | 3'07" | |
| Meet Olos. He's a saxophonist. He's currently unemployed, and he's seen better days. Living in a run-down (is there really any other kind?) shack off a major thoroughfare, largely wasting the days away, his macabre sense of self-worth is yet still more deflated than even a popped balloon. No one wants a solo saxophonist at their wedding, bris, or funeral anymore. Female prospects have dried up more than a pool on the sun. Times...they are tough. Sure, since you're playing an RPG, and he's the main character, things are bound to get supernaturally crazy or else this game would be fairly pointless, but for now...the theme connotates a plaintive malaise. | |||
| 04 | Character (Claire) - 'Starebeam' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 5.28 MB | 2'50" | |
| Meet Claire. She's a starry-eyed, twenty-something destined for greatness. Or so she thinks. A quiet feeling of dread permeates her soul, however. Despite the high bounds of her optimism she knows it could all be a lie. Left for dead by parents massacred in a great war two decades ago, Claire has found her moral and ethical compass composed of the world aroud her. Scrappy, yet kind, she's sure opportunity is out there somewhere, as long as she keeps looking for it. | |||
| 05 | Character (Senegal) - 'Chirrum' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 5.57 MB | 2'57" | |
| Meet Senegal. Well, it may be hard to actually meet him, as he's the shadowy, odd one of the bunch. A mix of the feral Gau and mysterious Shadow from Final Fantasy VI, Senegal's not from around here. In fact, his homeland, known only as 'Chirrum,' disappeared from the face of the earth centuries ago. No one really knows his lineage or nationality, but his long, unkempt hair, battle scars, and prowess with just about any kind of weapon definitely pegs him as a combatant. His motivations are unclear and his desire to help fluctuates with the passing of time. He's a crazy fellow, yo. | |||
| 06 | Overworld - 'Hero King' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 5.10 MB | 2'41" | |
| The quintessential theme of any RPG that requires transportation on foot is that of the Overworld's. You'll be hearing this one even more than the battle theme unless the enemy random encounter algorithm is ridiculously overbearing, so it's gotta be jaunty; a theme that gets you moving and has a cute little melody on top of it. | |||
| 07 | Battle - 'The Hunter' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 3.96 MB | 2'07" | |
| An enemy approaches! Start the battle theme! Whip the heroes into a lather! All good RPGs have that ritualistic conflict known as battle, and while the swords and spells are being wielded to take out the enemies, an onslaught of music fills the voids between menu clicks and fight animations. | |||
| 08 | Town - 'Riveria' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 5.13 MB | 2'44" | |
| After all that adventuring through the land of Ebben Flow, it's nice to be able to duck into a town for some much needed respite from all the randomly encountered enemies plaguing the dangerous lands that abound. Another idea heavily-borrowed from my adventures with old-school RPGs, 'Riveria' hails from the Dragon Warrior-style of composition with a thick layer of modern pop sensibilities. | |||
| 09 | Rest - 'Laissez Affaire' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 435 KB | 0'13" | |
| When your party has had an exhausting day of monster-slaying, gold-acquiring, and treasure-hunting, they need a theme that not only puts them to sleep, but also celebrates their accomplishments. 'Laissez Affaire' is a short theme that doesn't overstay its welcome, but brings with it enough fanfare to champion the night's precedents. | |||
| 10 | Dungeon - 'Hole of Borgon' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 4.28 MB | 2'18" | |
| It appears you've stumbled into a dungeon, cave, evil temple, demon tower, vortex of chaos, or other foul-tempered den of iniquity. Cue the moody interior music! | |||
| 11 | Flight - 'New Sea' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 4.13 MB | 2'13" | |
| No longer forced to walk on foot, an airship/airplane/spaceship/helicopter/flying contraption of some construction has been found and it's time to take to the skies (a.k.a. the 'New Sea') on your recently-acquired steel/wooden/polycarbonite/fleshy steed. | |||
| 12 | Underwater - 'Sieve' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 6.84 MB | 3'36" | |
| The game is called Ebben Flow, so you'd expect to go underwater at some point, right? Good guess, because once you've figured out a way to plumb the murky reaches of the sea this theme will become your new friend. | |||
| 13 | Sadness - 'Trickle' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 5.03 MB | 2'44" | |
| Not all of life is considered happy. The opposite of happiness is sadness, and it wouldn't be a good RPG if it had no sadness/death theme. When the chips are down and things look bleak, or there's just a quiet serenity needing to be reached, look to 'Trickle.' | |||
| 14 | Last Boss - 'Gnostis' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 8.70 MB | 4'39" | |
| This is it. It's the final clash between good and evil. Both sides have prepared for this encounter since the beginning of the game and all bets are now off. It's on. Who or what is 'Gnostis'? If only the game existed, you could find out. Instead, you'll have to imagine the epic war waged presented by this theme. | |||
| 15 | Epilogue - 'Flow' | ||
| 2008-07-08 | 14.28 MB | 7'44" | |
| The final story unfolds as our plucky protagonists finally find out the secrets behind the world of Ebben Flow. Created to play over the end cutscene as well as the credits, it all comes down to this. Strings, percussion, bass, guitar, marimba, and several woodwinds are all used to saturate your ears with melodic and rhythmic bliss. RPGs were created solely for themes like this to exist. | |||
Music a.k.a. Audio a.k.a. Lifeblood
Ebben Flow (2008)
15 tracks / 48'06"
Since the age of 4, I've been playing video games and since 16, I've been making music. The crossover potential finally made enough sense to make a video game soundtrack. Fifteen tracks of adventure, fantasy, and aqueous delinquency await you.All content © 2010 Muzwick, Inc.