Back home today – 6 week travel marathon complete!
- Day 5: Hub/Overworld Music
- Game: ActRaiser (SNES)
- Track: Birth of the People
ActRaiser is a game I downloaded and played in my late teens specifically after hearing its music. Rather than “chiptuney,” it’s more of a traditional orchestral soundtrack. It draws from 18th century European music and 20th century movie soundtracks.
ActRaiser alternates between two game modes: city-building, and platforming. While city-building, you’re an angel who delivers civilization (and their crops) from evil. While platforming, you’re a demon-slaying swordguy imbued with holy might. Birth of the People is what you hear for most of the city-building. In other words, it repeats for a good 25% of the game (but it never gets old!)
I actually adapted this song to clarinet quartet and piano. I can play the clarinet version (but only 1/4 voices at at time :/), and can kinda-but-not-really play the piano version. It’s one of those things that I pick up every 6 months and never really get better at. But I still enjoy it!