Belgian graphic artist and game developer Martin Georis, known online as Mortis Ghost, recently unveiled plans for a remaster of his 2009 RPG OFF. The indie classic gained a large following in the years since its first fan-made English translation in 2011, inspiring many popular video games today.
When the composer of the original soundtrack, Alias Conrad Coldwood, was approached about the possibility of a remaster, he was nervous about signing contracts and declined, prompting Mortis Ghost to recruit new composers. As of now, six tracks from the remake have been released, from three new composers: Toby Fox, Yann van der Cruyssen (Morusque), and Casey Gu (Nightmargin). Fans were unsure how a replacement soundtrack could possibly match the quality of Coldwood’s original, but the new team is already well underway.
In an interview, Toby Fox mentioned that “trying to replace those songs feels like breaking into somebody’s house and pasting your face into their family photo album.” The original soundtrack is well-known among indie fans, especially for its ambiance and off-putting atmosphere, bringing life to the game’s simple designs and hand-drawn art. Famous tracks like Pepper Steak have an industrial quality by adding heavy percussion to sampled jazz tunes, and other tracks like Rainy Day (and Meat) create discomfort in other ways, like sampling actual sizzling meat. Such ambience and discomfort should however not overshadow Coldwood’s melodic talent, with many tracks having haunting melodies, like The Meaning of his Tears.
Two of Toby Fox’s tracks were the first to be published — the Trailer and White Meat. Both take heavy inspiration from Coldwood’s Pepper Steak, and White Meat will serve as one of the battle themes, as did Pepper Steak. To achieve a similar sound, Fox listened to many 1920s jazz tunes and collaborated with electronic musician Camellia. The result is much more casual, and lacks the in-your-face aspect of the original. However, with the possibility of multiple arrangements of the tune in-game, I am excited to see how Fox’s contributions will develop. Trailer had the same industrial punch as Pepper Steak, so I am confident Fox is a capable composer for the team.
Morusque’s contributions perfectly complement Coldwood’s ambient music. In No Precipitation, sparse, overarching melodies with resonant bell-like timbres amidst rippling synths capture the same feeling of existential wonder as the original. An arrangement, Shallow Broth, was also released, removing much melodic material. Such a change does not affect the impact of the track, though I am unsure where it will play in-game. Clocks Work also provides a worthy complement to its predecessor, by adding welcome variety to the original’s clock ticks and incorporating groovy rhythms.
Although only one of Nightmargin’s tracks has been released, she proves to be a welcome addition to the team. Paranoia Shelter uses similar instrumentation to the track it replaces, most notably incorporating the iconic choir synths in a similar melody. What makes it more uneasy is its heavily detuned piano mixed with the percussive elements of breakcore.
The tough situation of having to replace the original music was felt by the composers and fans alike. However, OFF and its original 2009 soundtrack have greatly inspired the new team of composers, even before its remaster was planned. Seeing them work on the new version is a “full circle” moment, and there is no doubt they will succeed in writing a fitting replacement.
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