Moment by moment musical synopsis8/6/2023 Instead, A Musical Story uses visuals, musical motifs, and the occasional vocal moment to express an important moment or pivotal scene. Rhythm games aren’t traditionally known for their storytelling prowess - there aren’t many places to insert dialogue and exposition outside of song lyrics, and it’s all too easy to tune those out when trying to accomplish a tricky combo. These explorations also helped define the core narrative of the game for Bardin and the team: What if its mechanics could play into the story? “We thought: Let’s dive into a character who’s trying to remember something,” he says. The simplified controls helped players focus on the music, rather than placement of their hands or physical patterns they needed to remember. With that in mind, the team began prototyping scenes where the player would play short sequences of music using an intuitive two-button system. Meet the band: From left, art director Alexandre Ray, developer Maxime Constantinian, composer Valentin Ducloux, and developer and composer Charles Bardin. I wanted a game that really relied on listening.” “I love that, but it’s also something you can play without any sound. “In most rhythm games, the notes come down on the screen and you play them when they arrive,” Bardin says. ![]() Just three years later, the two began exploring a different partnership - the as-yet-untitled project that would become A Musical Story.Īs longtime fans of rhythm games, the team knew their strengths - but wanted to explore a project that put more emphasis on the music itself. In 2014, he launched a YouTube series called After Bit, in which he and his longtime friend and collaborator Ducloux interviewed prominent video game music composers about their craft and catalogs. Listen to the soundtrack to A Musical Story You can have electronic music with Japanese instruments and African drums,” he says. After studying at the Conservatoire de Musique de Lyon, he spent more than a decade creating (and covering) music for games. While A Musical Story was Bardin’s first time designing a game, he’s had a lot of experience with the genre. There are scenes that defy comprehension (at one point, cackling cartoon birds make an appearance). ![]() It’s easy to spot the spirit of the ‘70s in the story’s dreamlike visuals: There are vintage guitars, fashion, and hairstyles aplenty, painted vividly in neon-splashed excess and washed-out color. The rhythm game explores the primal, powerful connection between music and memory, following the protagonist as he reflects on moments from his past. Those initial notes of inspiration led to the harmonious mix of music, narrative, art, and novel gameplay present in A Musical Story. That ‘70s game: A Musical Story’s outfits and hairstyles were inspired by the “freedom” of the decade.
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