Qoseph Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 There was a great theme going on in the early part of the game before the Obsidia and Jasper Ward songs were changed. The tune that starts at the Opal Ward became darker and heavier the further you progress through Reborn City (Opal -> Obsidia -> Jasper -> Beryl -> Beryl Cemetery). Anyone else notice and miss this? The wards got progressively more depressing, and the music portrayed it. The Opal Ward, which is the least troubled, is merely polluted. Then you reach the Obsidia Ward, which has earthquake and plant damage with many victims, dead or alive. The Opal Ward tune is played on the piano in a more seriously. Next is the Jasper Ward, which is almost completely abandoned due to how horrible the damage is. This is where the music starts getting unpleasantly dark. The same tune, from what I remember, is taken again and gets heavier and more low pitched. After that is the Beryl Ward, and we all know who why it's such a dreary place. The music here is a much heavier version of the same tune, backed up by the playing of an organ. [Now I know that the Beryl Ward music hasn't changed with the updates, but the buildup to this song was part of what made the theme so powerful, IMO at least.] Last off, in very the back of Reborn City, is ultimately the most grim version of the tune that defines Reborn City. The two new songs for the Obsidia and Jasper Wards also take the beginning tune and change it, but with different tones. They break off from the theme of slow and sad, instead being either quick and sad, or quick and urgent. The consistency of the original set of songs is gone. Now we have many different styles of songs. Each ward has its own separate song, unrelated to one another. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just that the theme from before of each song getting progressively more depressing was artistic and memorable, at least in my opinion. No longer do the songs reflect how each ward you come across is more depressing than the last. That's something I'll miss. Thanks for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkhi Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 If I remember correctly, a lot of people thought Obsidia was repetitive but they're weird. I thought the themes were great. Then again, now that we've escaped the wards and city as a whole, there seems to be more freedom and, through that, an uplifting new mood. All of this, of course, is only metaphorical symbolism and likely has no relevance to the changed themes. Now, our character is on the offensive, being used to going after Team Meteor and knowing we can stop them, so there's hope there, too.There's less plants and damage, and more teleporting objects and shenanigans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noivy Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 My personal preference for music are the Beryl Ward mixes, one is lighter on the bass and had a very powerful flute in it, the one you mentioned is heavy on the bass and has the organ playing. The new Onyx Ward comes close behind. I can't quite put a finger as to why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mashonem Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 If I remember correctly, a lot of people thought Obsidia was repetitive but they're weird. I thought the themes were great. Then again, now that we've escaped the wards and city as a whole, there seems to be more freedom and, through that, an uplifting new mood. All of this, of course, is only metaphorical symbolism and likely has no relevance to the changed themes. Now, our character is on the offensive, being used to going after Team Meteor and knowing we can stop them, so there's hope there, too. There's less plants and damage, and more teleporting objects and shenanigans. I don't think there's a time where this is more apparent than when you first leave the Underground Railnet and step into Chrysolia Forest. Maybe the Apophyll Beach theme, but the opening 25 seconds feel somewhat sobering after KiKi get Garchomp'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamy Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 This is actually really intriguing to me. I hope Amethyst pops in and offers her input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Amethyst Posted June 25, 2014 Administrators Share Posted June 25, 2014 Well, here's an interesting thing. You mentioned the song getting darker between Obsidia and Jasper, but for a very long time Jasper just borrowed Beryl's theme. The piano version of the city theme was used in Obsidia and Onyx for a long time, but Onyx is hardly dark... Also, there was only a single variation of that theme-- I never slowed it down or made it darker or anything. If it felt that way, it was just the game's atmosphere. ^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qoseph Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 (edited) Surely it's the same melody over and over right? Beryl really sounds like a heavy version of Opal, and the cemetery an even heavier version. Even Jasper, or borrowed Beryl I guess, sounds like a twisted version of Opal. If they really weren't variations, then that must have been quite the powerful atmosphere back in the day. Although honestly, and this might destroy my argument completely, I think that the the old songs for Obsidia and Jasper were much better in general. The new ones are kind of childish, but please don't kill me for saying that. Edited June 25, 2014 by Qoseph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamy Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Personally, I like the new themes. They help to give each ward its own unique identity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Amethyst Posted June 26, 2014 Administrators Share Posted June 26, 2014 Surely it's the same melody over and over right? Beryl really sounds like a heavy version of Opal, and the cemetery an even heavier version. Even Jasper, or borrowed Beryl I guess, sounds like a twisted version of Opal. If they really weren't variations, then that must have been quite the powerful atmosphere back in the day. Although honestly, and this might destroy my argument completely, I think that the the old songs for Obsidia and Jasper were much better in general. The new ones are kind of childish, but please don't kill me for saying that. The cemetary has the same song as the rest of Beryl does. The reason Opal and Beryl sound similar is because Opal was made as a direct digitalization of the piano theme you were referring to. Beryl was made as a remix by another user from Pokecommunity from the same piano theme, whereas the other wards actually have new base melodies, just sticking to the same key and themes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dban1 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Is there a source where I can find these "older" version music? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamy Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Is there a source where I can find these "older" version music? I think they're under the "Custom" option of the Jukebox in the Pokégear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRockGhost72 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 All the music is powerful anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Squad Felicity Posted June 26, 2014 Support Squad Share Posted June 26, 2014 The battle themes in particular i like, as well as Rhodochrine Jungle and Iolia Valley. I also look forward to the E4 and Champion Themes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qoseph Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 What made you re-do the city music anyways Ame? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Amethyst Posted June 27, 2014 Administrators Share Posted June 27, 2014 The piano theme was only ever temporary in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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