Elemental Explorers

Elemental Explorers is a two-person virtual reality game, set in a post-apocalyptic future. A catastrophic event has occurred, and humans have been driven from Earth by mutant trees and plants. Built-up areas have become derelict and been reclaimed by nature. A team has returned to Earth to eradicate the mutant nature and make the planet safe to inhabit again.

The brief was to produce a coherent musical track, which could then be reconfigured into shorter loops, to be triggered as the game play develops. Musically, the developers were looking for a dynamic soundtrack which would capture the energy and adventure of the race, whilst providing a sense of immersion as they explore the city. They wanted a hybrid score, mixing electronic & orchestral instruments.

Typically, a dystopian setting would require a fairly dark and forbidding atmosphere. In this case, the brief was to focus mostly on building excitement, so there was a delicate balancing act to subtly reflect the decay, without making the score too menacing. The electronic element uses a variety of rhythmic patterns using Moog basses combined with arpeggiated pluck sounds, as well a variety of pads and other sounds. The percussion was provided by a mix of ethnic and rock drums, and the overall sound is energetic and edgy.

The orchestral component is melodic, giving a slightly heroic flavour, but also reflecting the dystopia. This main theme is developed and varied across the brass and strings, with an dramatic build in the energy towards the final race to build excitement and tension.