
NEW: Two exclusive tracks by Prof. Sakamoto!
Two exclusive tracks by Prof. Sakamoto — Japan's iconic chiptune performer, famous for playing with a Famicom on his head and a long-running opening act of BitSummit, Japan's biggest indie game festival! "Michi to no Kaikou" is the encounter jingle for Kanikama-sensei, who has slipped into this world from another dimension, and "Kakusei Kanikama Battle" is a blazing original battle theme. Don't miss these one-of-a-kind tracks, available only here!
Magical Girl Yusya-chan and the Labyrinth of Lust Original Soundtrack - Liner Notes
I’m Ara, the composer behind the music.
When this project first came my way and I heard it was a roguelike RPG, I accepted almost instantly. Opportunities to compose for an RPG don’t just manifest through a musician's effort alone. I was incredibly grateful and replied on the spot: "I’d love to do it!"
Now, to figure out what kind of music would fit, I took a close, thorough look at Yusya-chan. Hmm, she’s quite cute. And, if I may be so bold, she seems to have a few screws loose. While she definitely has the makings of a hero, she also appears helpless against temptation. I see, I see...
Alright, let’s make sure the music doesn't get too serious. But what about the gameplay feel?
When I actually jumped into the playtest, it turned out to be surprisingly hardcore. Contrary to its playful appearance, it's a true roguelike that demands sharp, tactical maneuvering.
Right around that time, I had just released an 8-bit sound album. The Director had listened to it, which led to a slip of my tongue:
"Should we go with FM synthesis?"
Game music production is, quite literally, a full-game-sized "adventure."
FM synthesis is an ancient technology, a beautiful aesthetic that has long been lost to time. While I’ve worked with it a few times in my career, it had been so long that it took me a good two months just to get my groove back. I even ended up rewriting all the tracks I’d already finished, turning the production process into quite the grand adventure itself.
While it doesn't strictly follow actual hardware limitations, the configuration is inspired by the classic PC-88: 6 FM channels + 3 SSG channels. Since I didn't need to account for sound effects this time, I designed the concept around maxing out all 9 channels simultaneously.
The verdict? It was an absolute blast.
FM sound chips have a distinct "gaming vibe." It’s a strange thing, but just listening to them instantly makes you feel, "Yeah, I’m playing a video game!" Game music nowadays is universally gorgeous, but there are certain nutrients you can only absorb through FM synthesis.
Working on this project made me realize that all over again.
Track Commentary
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Title theme
This was the very first melody that came to me when I started composing, and it became the main theme throughout the game. It’s less of a theme for Yusya-chan and more the "Labyrinth Theme." Using a flute-like tone, it flows into a gentle waltz. Elegant yet nostalgic—that’s the main theme for you.
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OP
A track that kicks off with a spirited fanfare, only to immediately devolve into total klutziness. It properly integrates the main theme, and if I had kept building it seriously, it probably would’ve turned into a fine, grand piece—but hey, this is Yusya-chan we're talking about.
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Forest 01
The theme for the first dungeon players will likely dive into. I decided early on that all the dungeon tracks had to sound cool, since in a roguelike, you spend the most time listening to them. I composed this with the image of a forest that isn't too dark. Upbeat, so you can breeze through.
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Forest 02
Captures the vibe of stepping deeper into the woods as things grow darker. The melody deliberately feels a bit like it's getting lost.
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Home
This is the actual "Yusya-chan's Theme." And boy, is it carefree (laughs). No matter what awful things happen to her, she never loses heart. That is truly her heroic talent.
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Puzzle
The p