Since we've been making more use of videos lately, we've decided to start sharing music from the first Bijoux Red Prologue with everyone via Youtube. We're going to be uploading all of the Bijoux Red music on Youtube piece by piece, starting with these four tracks, which will all be featured in the first few hours of gameplay.
Don't Look Back! Player Mission Theme - The newest soundtrack offering, this piece is heard when the player takes their turn during mission sequences.
A Secret, The Searing Wind, Tall Grass Freegrove Theme - This is the theme of Freegrove, a desolate field of tall grass and unyielding sun. This is the first area players will explore in Bijoux Red.
Red Fox Underneath The Blazing Sun (Ander's Theme) Ander's Theme - The first world map theme, and Ander's theme.
Show Me How! Tutorial Theme - This theme plays while the player learns how to fight and how to control units during missions.
We're going to start taking a more active interest in uploading videos by sharing work-in-progress footage of the Prototype Combat system. Of course, everything we post is subject to change until the game is actually made available, but we figured it would be more exciting to actually see the game in action!
What's the point? Maybe I'll find out if I just keep moving. -Ander
Using the idea of 'leitmotif' to represent our characters through music, we've managed to create an extensive soundtrack featuring various arrangements on numerous themes. This allows us to help the player experience an environment, such as exploring King City from the World Map, in two very different ways! For example, early in the game, we introduce King City through a World Map Arrangement of Ander's Theme. Later, as the player begins to move between districts and the conflicts and characters evolve, we introduce a World Map Arrangement of Visha's Theme, which is more reflective and vast in nature and tone.
Both themes portray a larger King City but the individual flavours of each character will hopefully help the player to experience King City in different ways as they progress through the game.
Bijoux Red OST Preview Red Fox Underneath the Blazing Sun (Ander's Theme) - World Map Arrangement
Even the broadest reach of blinding sunlight fails to penetrate the deepest recesses of King City's shady past. And yet here we are; nothing more than silly, bored people, without a past. -Bella Strange
Whenever I begin writing a track for Bijoux Red, I often start with what I call a simple 'Guitar Sketch'. This helps me to envision the structure of the song, and to imagine what sort of accompaniment I'd like to hear.
I don't always do this when writing music, but something about the exotic King City made me want to try to write as much of the music as I could on guitar first. There's something about that acoustic flavour illustrating this world that I'm really hoping to convey!
Attached underneath, I've included both the 'Sketchbook' version and the 'Original Soundtrack' version of a song introduced early in the first episode called 'Hidden From The Sun' - just to sort of emphasize the benefits of this working method.
Music Sketchbook Beneath the World, Hidden from the Sun - Underground Theme
Bijoux Red OST Preview Hidden From The Sun - Beldan Woods Arrangement
In King City, Gangsters live by a code called the Law of Dogs. Though the decrees of this criminal covenant are few and brief, they justly define the character and conflict of the Gang War that has engulfed the city.
Of these Laws, the fourth is considered by some to be the most important one, and the Law that will prove the true worth of a soul in King City. That Law is read as such - PROTECT YOUR OWN - and is a reminder to Gangsters to be true to their allies.
In King City, understanding your units and their capabilities is the key to staying alive. By visiting a unit's profile, you can view their stats and outfit them for combat!
From inside the Unit Profile, you will be able to access the Command List. Each unit learns their own commands, which can be equipped for use in combat. Be mindful however of the Power and SP Cost of these commands! Units will exhaust quickly in combat if their commands are too draining!
Given the opportunity, allow your units to rest regularly by accessing Rest from the Profile Window. This will allow them to restore their strength and morale. Units can also spend their Experience Points while resting, allowing them to become stronger!
Units can spend Experience Points to raise their attributes. Depending on which attributes you choose to raise, your units may learn new commands!
As expected, any new commands can be equipped from the Command List after a unit has learned it. If you take the time to get to know your units, and to experiment with their attributes, then combat will be a breeze!
The forgotten gangster world of King City, located ominously along the great Inveighlannes sea, is yours to explore in Bijoux Red! Beware, however, on embarking on this adventure alone! Word is that no one can survive King City without a Gang to back them up... so you'd better move quickly and find a Gang that will take you!
Once you join a gang, you can start managing your units and preparing them for battle! From the World Map, hitting the Units icon on the Command Menu opens the Units Window.
Opening the Units Window will show you all of the units currently fighting for your Gang! As long as you have these guys, you'll be safe... probably.
Double-click, or 'Inspect', a unit to view their Unit Profile. Visha's looking pretty good. Bosses, and other unique units, like Visha and Ander, tend to be stronger than the common Gangster!
Having a hard time defending your territory? Every turn, new units will appear in the Recruit Window! Don't hesitate to build your ranks!
But be mindful of your numbers. There is only a limited amount of room in each Gang! If you have too many units, you may not be able to recruit new ones!
Retire units that you no longer need and make room for the ones you want. Or increase your Gang Rank to raise the total amount of units you can recruit!
Maintaining a wide variety of skilled units is the backbone of a strong Gang. Treat them well and maybe you'll have a chance at staying alive in King City!
