RAVE: Chris Christodoulou

 Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to give my guy, Chris Christodoulou (or as I call him CC for short) his flowers. This RAVE will be about the gifted composer of 'Risk of Rain', 'Risk of Rain 2', 'Deadbolt' and the upcoming 'Risk of Rain Returns'.

Chris Christodoulou as drawn by BlueRogue

Like a lot of us, I found about CC through the amazing Hopoo games he has made soundtracks for. During my 'Risk of Rain 2' RAVE I mentioned frequently how his song 'The Rain Formerly Known as Purple' was one of many reasons why I was interested in 'RoR 2'. I would listen to it even when I did not own the game simply because the song is amazing. I have never had a video game OST got me so in my feels that when I eventually heard it, it really was a moment for me. However as time has gone on I've discovered he is really no one hit wonder. No, Chris Chris has many amazing songs to his credit and this RAVE we will discuss a couple of them and the impact that they have had on me. I will also try not to link to his song I have previously used in previous blogs so expect some different songs other then the ones I have spoken about ad-nauseum.

Kicking off with some of his more recent works, from the 'Risk of Rain 2' Survivors of the Void OST we have the melancholic masterpiece that is 'Once in a Lullaby'. Kicking off with an almost 16 bit soundscape backed by a masterful oboe and english horn played by Christos Tsogias-Razakov. This song accompanies one of few stages in 'RoR 2' the  Aphelian Sanctuary that I am not a big fan of, the enemies in this area are some of the more annoying ones especially the Blind Pests and Clay Templar mini-gun wielding asses BUT and this is a big but too, the soundtrack is so amazing that when I do ended up their I can grit my teeth and bare it so I can take it all in. From 5:28 onwards will just leave tears in your eyes and you would not believe a video game soundtrack can make you experience so much. 'Once in a Lullaby' is easily in my top 5 CC songs so it make sense to start here.

'The Dehydration of Risk of Rain 2' should be familiar to anyone who has played 'RoR 2'. As the introduction song and the sound you hear in the menus, you will become intimately familiar with it. This almost 'Daft Punk'/ Tron-esque tune prepares you for the madness you are about to experience. It has some of the hallmarks of CC's production on 'RoR 2' as well, this almost alien sound mixed with a sci-fi feel. Also this version builds and builds to a crescendo which the menu version does not and it just an audio treat for the ears.

For 'Deadbolt' our most recently completed Hopoo game, I actually had a hard time picking a song. Even through, Chris Christodoulou became popular in gaming circles due to 'Risk of Rain 2' I feel he was able to really express himself and his unique approach to music with this project. 'Reaper (and) Blues' come in early in the game and one of the cool things about 'Deadbolt' is the game has three main factions, the zombies, the vampires and the demons. Each faction has their own audio soundtrack and the zombies and all their songs have an R'n'B/ Hip-Hop sound to them. Previously we have also discussed the pulsating dance beats in 'Blood on the Dancefloor' for the vampires and the moody folk rock of the 'Proverbial Dust Biters' for the demons so it make sense to give the zombies get some love as well. Also it is really felt in 'Deadbolt' is CC's ability to weave a audio motif into his songs from the same game. For example, 'Reaper (and) Blues' uses the reapers' motif' riff from 3:07 onwards which is apart of a lot of songs on the 'Deadbolt' OST. Just another amazing way he awards careful listeners.

Bringing it back to where we it all began, we actually choose one of the last song in the 'Risk of Rain' OST. 'Coalescence' also plays well into CC's naming of his songs too, one being the literally meaning of 2 droplets of rain forming into one but also sounds a lot like condolences which fits because the song is filled with memories and a feeling of regret over what we ,the survivors in 'Risk of Rain' have done to get to the end, all the lives we took and the landscape we destroyed with missiles, lasers glaives and more. I can honesty say even through I've not played the original 'Risk of Rain' (as mentioned previously I am waiting for the remake instead) I still listen to the soundtrack and it has all the hallmarks of a great CC production. 'Coalscence' is also a great Segway too

It's 'Risk of Rain 2' brother in spirit. '...con lentitud poderosa' Like how 'Coalescence' was the finale for 'Risk of Rain' and it really painted the gravity of what we have done '...con lentitud poderosa' really make us give in to the sinking feeling of doubt and how even the heaviest of rain would not wash away the blood on our hands. Even the English translation of the song title 'it rained with powerful slowness' really is perfect for the final stage in 'RoR 2' and the song itself, it just gives you the feeling you have really reach the end. The instruments are especially fine tuned to bring out emotions you have held in and the guitar literally weeps with you. I kid you not, after all you have done and what you are about to do, nothing prepares you for the first time you hear '...con lentitud poderosa' in-game when you arrive at 'Commencement'. Even people who have not played 'Risk of Rain' can relate that this song and 'The Rain Formerly known as Purple' truly shows CC is in a league of his own when it comes to music composition.

On that note; I and many other Chris Christodoulou fans await his next soundtrack. According to him, he is working on some new tracks and even some re-made tracks for 'Risk of Rain Returns' and I am salivating at this fact. CC has made me have such high expectations for video game soundtracks that now when I play any video games I hope I'll find new songs like the ones above and countless other that permeated my day to day life. Truly a master of his craft and one of the many reasons he deserves this RAVE.

AV