 | Album Title: Super Bit Bash Soundtrack |
| Record Label: Bandcamp | |
| Catalog No.: N/A | |
| Release Date: February 4, 2012 | |
| Purchase: Download at Bandcamp |
Overview
You’d expect the soundtrack for a retro platformer about a constantly running, caped hero to be one sustained rush of adrenaline. Portuguese composer Miguel Cintra has something else in mind for the Super Bit Bash soundtrack, though…
Body
Another soundtrack that mixes 8-bit and contemporary electronics, Super Bit Bash wins over listeners straight away with its first track. “Lone Runner (bonus track)” impresses with its careful, intricate build-up, in which the cue juxtaposes several cheery, light chiptune melodies against an upbeat, busy rhythmic undergrowth.
The album contains extended versions of the tracks present in the game, resulting in sometimes quite long tracks, for example “D Coder (scores)”, “One Life (menu)”, or the unused track “Boss Trials (bonus track)”. That said, Super Bit Bash never loses this ability to confidently develop and sustain its material.
Throughout, Cintra incorporates more recent electronic influences into the chiptune template with absolute ease. From “One Life (menu)” onwards, the album begins to clearly display its trance inspiration, as the gentle but catchy melodic leads float on expertly crafted beats and arpeggios. The result is something that manages to sound both relaxed and energetic – and always enticing.
Summary
The Super Bit Bash soundtrack is available on a name-your-price basis through Bandcamp now. While dubbed ‘volume one’, no follow-up has been released more than three years later. Regardless, this release is quite a substantial album despite its 25-minute playtime.
