P-Vock's Music Box: Land of Frost
Hello and welcome back to P-Vock's Music Box. A new year is upon us, which means new opportunities for me to ignore other people and play stupid video games. There are tons of exciting games coming up this year and I can't wait to not have time for all of them!
One particular game I am stoked for is Octopath Traveler 2. The mere announcement had me excited. To later find out that the devs have actually commented on how they'll improve the game and specifically mentioned what I would say were grievances with the first game has me extremely hyped.
While it did have a couple of problems, I loved Octopath Traveler so much. One aspect of it that was never a problem for me was the music. So, to honour this dope sequel, I want to return to one of my all-time favourite soundtracks with a nice chilly flare.
The Frostlands is a name that screams generic and simple, however, the music is anything but. I've mentioned that I like when my winter music doesn't default to Christmas sound-alikes but still captures the vibes of winter, and this may honestly be the perfect example of what I mean by that. It's simple and I would almost say hollow at first. It's cold and lonely, but never depressing. Winter can be a depressing time for many and I understand that, but I find it beautiful. I find it calm and relaxing. I think this composition captures that mood and really does stand as an example of why winter is my favourite season.
A calm town on a still winter's night is truly a sight to behold, and that's exactly what you get when you cross the Frostlands and eventually stop in Flamesgrace. For a location called The Guiding Light, it certainly has a hopeful theme. Without losing the calm and solitary vibes of the Frostlands theme, Flamesgrace manages to create an atmosphere of relaxation and peace within me whenever I hear it.
In most RPGs, towns are not just areas in which you get story moments and meet characters. They also double as havens and places you can recover from battles and prepare for when you do set out again. Flamesgrace really does sound like a safe theme. It gives a comforting and relaxing vibe as if delivering a nice message to the player. "Take your time and recover. Stock up. Prepare. Head out when you're ready." I think this track could not deliver those vibes any better.
Alright, I don't have much more to say. I hope the first week and a bit of this year have been great for you so far. If 2023 hasn't been so kind, I hope this music gives you a sense of calm and helps carry you into what should be a relaxing and refreshing weekend.
Thank you for checking out my content and I hope to catch you back here next week with another suggestion from my Music Box.
Stay Brutal!
PS. Yeah, one of my favourite artists of all time covered the Frostlands theme, so here you go.