Phronemophobia's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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.

[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!

[Jungle Falls (Diddy Kong Racing cover)]

I guess I know what I'm going to be playing when I get my N64 unpacked. Oddly enough, I always forget about how good the music is in that game. Maybe it's because there needs to be more covers and remixes to act as reminders for my aging memory.

[Camel Star On-Line - Office Procedures | 2024]

This sounds slightly eerie with its soulless, mechanical tune and DallE3's visual is a little unnerving, but the tune is also kind of a bop. I especially love the first 26 seconds that returns at the 00:53 mark.

Bertn1991 responds:

Why thank you. I think that's a great description. I suppose all the Camel Star tracks are a bit unnerving, but still pleasant, I hope. Anyways, thanks again. More bops to come~

[Propulsion]

The quality in your music was definitely worth the "almot" two-year wait.

Welcome back, Babas.

Babasmas responds:

Thanks !

I hope you're excited for what's coming then !

[Apple Soda | 2024]

I can clearly remember James Pond in Babes in Toyland (he was pretty much the star of the entire film) but Pond was also on the Super Nintendo? *checks online* Well now! On the Switch, too, it seems. Guess I'll wishlist that and hope it goes on sale. You provided me with a revelation alongside the tune. That's whatcha call "trapping two fish in one barrel" or something like that. I don't know. I'm not a barrel specialist... a barrelist.

Bertn1991 responds:

That must have been the original theatrical release of Babes in Toyland and not these "special editions." Give us the original cut already. It's good to know I'm not the only one who remembers James Pond. Super James Pond is not a particularly outstanding game, but I love it. I'm sure James Pond and Plok are probably great pals.