Very different from your other songs but Iove it!!

WOOOHOOO that atmosphere!!

Really enjoying the story basis and the song title! The samples are beautiful and the textural changes, along with a strong theme keep the piece worth listening to until the end.

The segment between 4:00-4:29 felt like it could use a little more dynamic change, in terms of volume and intensity; it seemed like it was part that was supposed to build up as it continued, but it got a bit stagnant for the melody and the feeling it was trying to sustain, and the transition into the epicness at 4:33 felt a little weak. In comparison, the transition at 1:58 was really nice, but I think those four notes leading immediately prior could have benefited from a dramatic increase in level (low to high) to introduce that strong performance afterward. The transitions at 3:01 and 3:59 are amazing, and I listened to them twice over just because.

Also, I'm a big fan of recurring themes in people's work, so that got me excited to see the earlier main theme reprise at 5:16! That sustained nicely, until the abrupt ending, which seemed uninspired. Imo, an extra ten seconds to wind it down while still retaining its epicness wouldn't hurt, or maybe it could retain its abruptness by offering a little more finality to the ending (the final notes with the ending cymbal came off weak).

Overall, this is a really great job for your first orchestral piece! The title is esp cool and I enjoyed this a lot. Story pieces are something I can especially appreciate!

everyone gangsta till the tree pulls out a shotgun

UPDATE:

Thank you for clarifying.

Your submission makes a lot more sense having the information you provided in your response to my review. The scale of the percussion and orchestral arrangement reflects the scale of the battle you described as, in my mind, like the battle between the mechanized forces and the indigenous people of Pandora from the movie Avatar; the vibe you communicate is incredibly vast and epic.

The thing is, knowing the information you just provided, I recommend changing the title from "Once Upon a Time" to something that better summarizes the story that was in your head; something that reflects battle, rebellion, reclaiming land, forest, and/or other elements of the story. To me, "Once Upon a Time" is a compelling title, but it ultimately does your story, therefore your song, a disservice because it doesn't provide enough information about what your song represents.

I hope you find my additional feedback helpful. :)

Original 3 1/2 Star Review:

"You really nailed the vibe of a forest-like environment in the very beginning. The sound effects and the calm atmospheric strings set the mood really well to the point where I feel like I've entered that world. Unfortunately. that goes away at around 0:29 into the piece.

I think the orchestral instruments gain steam too quickly and as a result it changes the mood to be more epic. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with that, except that you are making a song with a forest theme. As I see it, forests symbolize peace and ambiance more than an epic-battle vibe.

I'd like to hear more detail from you about the musical decisions you made and why you made them. It would help me put into perspective what you were going for, and it would allow me to judge based on how well I thought your intent came across rather than just by my own taste. It could affect my rating and improve my feedback as well.

I will say that, from what I can tell, the thumbnail artwork really fits the piece quite well. I'm curious about the title. Why did you name the piece "Once Upon a Time"? I could guess, but I want to hear it from you.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806"