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A jam submission

HylophobiaView project page

Submitted by punkrockglock — 2 days, 12 hours before the deadline
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Play soundtrack

Hylophobia's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Creativity#314.0004.000
Quality#683.7653.765
Overall#783.6473.647
Correlation to theme#813.6473.647
Impression#1023.4123.412
Composition#1103.4123.412

Ranked from 17 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Description
Hylophobia is a short (imagined) RPG in which you play as a runaway changeling.

https://on.soundcloud.com/avL8w

Since being abducted by a Fey one year ago, you have spent most of your time doing chores. Lots of chores. After realizing that the door you are cleaning was left unlocked, you make your escape and try to find your way through the unyielding Hedge—the only way home.

Upon returning, you realize that everyone has forgotten you; not only were you stolen, but so were the memories of you.

You can learn more about the concept at https://punkrockglock.itch.io/hylophobia.

1. "The Monotony of Endless Toil" serves as the music during the game's introduction. You learn simple controls and complete a few tasks.

--> You've been here for a year. Maybe two years? It's hard to tell. All the clocks tick, but they always seem... wrong. Time crawls when you're doing chores. Lots of chores. Endless chores.
--> Today's list of tasks includes polishing the glass doors "until they sparkle" and trimming every decorative hedge in the garden. You're pretty sure the doors are still sparkling from yesterday, but you know better than to argue.

--> Well, better get to work.

2. "Opportunity Get Going!" is a slow-paced run-and-hide type level. the goal is to avoid being seen.

--> As you toil, your Keeper leaves you for a moment, allowing you to notice that the glass door you were ordered to clean has somehow been left unlocked. This opportunity is all you need. You run as fast as you can.

3. "Maze of Thorns" is, understandably, music for a maze.

--> Stumbling through the wicked underbrush, you desperately rush through hedgerows in search of freedom.
--> As you race into uncertainty, however, you must remember that the footsteps of the Huntsman are never far behind…

4. "Didn't You Miss Me?" plays during interactions with other characters that do not remember you.

--> Upon returning, you realize that everyone has forgotten you; not only were you stolen, but so were the memories of you.

5. Certainly the most optimistic selection from the soundtrack, "The True Self" could be music for an outro cutscene, or perhaps just credits.

--> Okay, so nobody remembers you. Their memories were stolen, so what now?
--> Who will you be, now that you have your freedom? Sometimes leaving the past behind is the only path to self-realization. Or maybe you'll never find another home. Let's try to be optimistic, though.

6. The title for "You're Going Back (Game Over)" says it all.

--> The Hunstman caught you. You're back with your wretched Fey keeper. And there are a LOT of chores to do.

Message from the artist:
I hope you enjoy the story and music! This brought me out of a very big and very frustrating creative block, so I'm excited to share this short soundtrack.

Theme:

Runaway
Picture theme

How does it fit the theme?
In this RPG, you play as a runaway servant who was abducted by Fey a year ago. The only way home is through the Hedge—an otherworldly and quite dangerous forest.

Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://on.soundcloud.com/avL8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k1VahPHhnY&list=PLsVd2ro_JGcQ1RQZArrTUq-BcI9XyEFbS&index=1

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Comments

Submitted( 1)

Great sense of urgency coming out from your tracks, an uneasiness coming through the low end that prepares you for the run. All of that comes to a great payoff to first the melancholy of 'Didnht you miss me' and then the realisation and decisiveness of 'The True Self'.

Great tracks overall, with 'Opportunity' being my favourite.

Submitted( 1)

Maze of Thorns is my favourite track. I really like the drums on that track.

 Overall, I like the contrast between a sort of dark fairytale ambiance and the more energetic, riff-y moments created by the use of guitar, bass and drums on certain tracks. I also like the use of the crunchy, computerized bell sounds to tie several of the tracks together.

Well done!

Submitted( 1)

Monotony - Oh I like the use of foley here. Love how you made an ominous rhythm out of a clock, some knocking and some other assorted sounds. This is a very moody track. I'd definitely be on my guard if this were playing.

Opportunity - Nice riff and drums. I like how the electronic glitches from the first track seem to make an appearance again. Makes it feel like the world is coming apart a bit.

Didn't You Miss me? - I like the piano and strings in this. I also quite like the ambient wash of sound that resides behind it all. It provides a nice backdrop for everything that's happening.

The True Self - I dig the drums in this one. I always like it when there are a lot of nice fills.

You're Going Back - Ooh, this one is great. I love how wide this one sounds and that bass drop it opened with. It's also creepy in a lovely way.

Great stuff! My favourites are definitely Monotony (the foley and suspension build up here in great) and the game over theme.

Submitted( 1)

Nice! Each OST really corresponds with the story/imaginary game "lore" that you made! I really felt the emotion from Didn't You Miss Me? as everybody lost some memories of the main character.

Submitted

Game Over theme was my favorite. Very creepy!

Submitted( 1)

Creative tracks all around, especially The Monotony of Endless Toil, with all the cool SFX. My overall favorite would be Didn't You Miss Me, powerful composition. And back to the cool sound design with You're Going Back! Definitely an unsettling game over theme.

Submitted( 1)

Your minimalism combined with awesome riffage really got me. The music is a lot of fun, and rich precisely where it counts.

Submitted( 1)

Really enjoyed this - I love how tender Didn't you Miss Me is compared to the rest of the album.


Really cool sound design on You're going back (game over)

Submitted( 1)

Really liked this! Such a great sound. The mix of the industrial sound into "The Monotony of Endless Toil," and Maze of Thorns and "You're Going Back" was well executed. So easy to make that random - you weaved it really well.

Really liked hearing a drum set with a kick bass going. (No points off for the absence) I really was waiting for something to rock the f--- out.

Thank you!

Developer

Thank you! Really glad to hear that (a) it worked and (b) that you enjoyed it—and yeah, it took a lot of self-control to not start rocking out in the first track!😂 I tried to keep it thematic, y'know?

Submitted( 1)

Fantastic soundtrack! I loved your use of distorted samples and bells, especially in "The Monotony of Endless Toil".

Developer( 1)

Thanks so much! I forgot to mention this in the entry page, but bells and chimes are commonly used to signal the presence of Fey. Getting that sweet sweet distortion felt like a good way to show their sinister side. 

Again, thanks!

Submitted

Very nice touch ! I really like all the effects of glitching and distortion