Notes on Creative Direction

My goal with the sound design was to imbue the scene with a sense of "chaotic energy and surprising calm" through means both overt and subtle.

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From the beginning, the train implores you to enter into the city with a digital, disembodied voice. In many regards, "digital" is an important aesthetic for this sound design. The turnstile welcomes the player with a static cheer and even the doors have a digital edge. Personally, my favorite touch is the sound of the digital water and gentle chords emanating from the 3D fish sculpture as the player exits the station.

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It was also important for me to give a proper sense of pacing to the scene. At first, I wanted the player to feel the weight of the city above them through the use of darker ambiences. As the player moves through the station, the general ambience gets lighter and lighter until, upon reaching the top of the stairs, there is only the echo of their footsteps. This acts as a palette cleanser so that, once the station doors open, the player is hit with the energy of the city they are called to explore.