Phronemophobia's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Passion]

It's alright. The static melody in the background for the first minute was boring, especially since it wasn't supporting much up front. Having things come together from 1:06 onward was far more enjoyable. Still, that was a lot of build-up. If I were label it as "A" for the first half and "B" for the second, I wonder if shortening A and having it alternate with B into an A-B-A-B (but the second B has a little more razzle dazzle tossed in) would help keep this from becoming stale midway into it. I know you're new to this, and I'm no musician, so take my suggestion with a grain of salt... or ignore it outright. I'd ignore me.

ScottySee responds:

Nah that's fair! I might take your critique into consideration. I could update it and make 'A' the build up a little shorter and more interesting. I knew it sounded somewhat empty. I appreciate the feedback, it's important so I can improve in the future. Cheers

[(t)rain]

Thanks for reminding me of all those old train stories about people falling asleep and getting off at the wrong stop only to end up at some empty, dilapidated station meant for the deceased. Definitely the sort of music I'd expect in some small horror game.

MoeAnguish responds:

No problem, man. It's a memory that should always be preserved.

[Graylag Crag | 2025]

I'm probably going to be the only person who was listening to this and had a "DiCaprio pointing at the TV" meme moment when I heard Outlaw Frontier weaved into it.

Bertn1991 responds:

Yes! You win the Bertn Person of the Year Award for noticing <3

[The Minor Works Vol. XVI | 2024]

I wonder... if I start this before heading off to work and it continues to play until I return, will it fill my home with the complex aroma of freshly-baked piano?

Bertn1991 responds:

Filling your vacant home with background music would be an honor <(＿　＿)>

[Bonfire of Spirits | 2024]

Been so long since I played Secret of Mana that I wouldn't remember if this was similar or not. Aside from the adorable dragon and rough gameplay, there wasn't a lot to SoM that I found to be all that memorable.

My mind isn't really able to link the music to the thumbnail (or the general concept of it). It certain sounds like bertn work, but it also seems too, uh... man, this is gonna sound like BS... it's too focused. Minimized in its scope, I guess? It's difficult to explain. See, I can picture one, but you got me trying to imagine a multitude of spirits from this bonfire and this song doesn't really delivery on that. If there was more going on in the background (maybe a strong echoing effect of some kind), it would still have that overall effect of pertaining to a particular ghost (presumably the one we would choose to fixate upon if we ever came across such an event), but also reminding the listener that they're surrounded by several others flying about. Right now, this is more like what I'd expect to hear in a film about a person seeing their loved one's soul pass on to the other side and nothing else around them really matters at that moment.

Bertn1991 responds:

I hear ya. I suppose the scope is a bit...smol, and maybe the pictures in your head don't match the title, but that's okay. With a generous four stars, it would seem it was still a pleasant experience. Sincerely, thanks for stopping by. You're one of the good ones.

[Shrine of Opus]

It's simple, sure, but it works so well. Hope ya don't mind if I take it and put it on reserve to maybe play at the start of a stream or something. Add to ambiance while I make sure everything is working before I begin.

VELA-VE responds:

Sure thing!

[Purple Glow Safe Room]

Makes me think about the Darkwing Duck video game on the NES. I never played it so why are you making me think of that? What kind of magic is this, Scott?

ScottySee responds:

It's simple my friend: DARKWING MAGIC

[Elevator Madness VIP [Girlfriend Records]]

Man, I love adding this sort of stuff to my Halloween playlist. It's all the fun aspects of the holiday's music rolled into one.

[Galactic Garden Dreaming]

I will agree to the "nostalgic" and I'm sure many will view this as "relaxing" but I can't imagine "magical garden" at all with this piece. The whole thing sounds like the background music for those VHS-quality science specials I was made to watch in grade/middle school. This is something I'd expect to hear in between moments of a stereotypical British know-it-all talking about the life cycle of bugs or how humans interact with one another in bustling cities.

It's an interesting little piece and an oddly specific childhood memory to trigger for me. Thank you.

[[Poke The Bear] "The Cave Of The Cowboy Bear Duel" (Original Work)]

"I hate to 'bruin' your fun, but this here bear cave ain't big enough fer the both of us, pardner!" ~ bear, probably.

On the first listen, I was a little put off from 0:32 to 1:04. No particular reason. It just sounded weird compared to the rest of the piece which gradually increases in its intensity. Thought, "WTF does this have to do with jabbing sleeping animals with a stick?" After reading the description, I gave this a second listen, and could hear that sort-of country guitar in the segment I initially disliked being warped by the sounds we are introduced to in the first portion of the track. From then on, it turns into the initial credits theme of some campy horror film from the eighties (like a Full Moon Features-level of horror flick) and that guitar returns to help wrap things up. For something as comical as a cowboy's showdown with a bear, having this create the atmosphere for it would be a little unnerving. Good stuff, HoboKa!