Cautious Optimism

[Keepe]

Full disclosure, I’ll likely end up pre-ordering the physical game (and possibly a Judge Plush). I want to say that up front. The announcement that Off is getting a new and physical release was the first bit of earnest excitement I’ve had for a game in a long time.

I played Off through multiple translations of the game. I’m in the camp of enjoying v2 for it’s harshness (specifically for Dedan) and esoteric nature, but largely preferring v3’s more polished and direct translation.

There’s all kinds of ways this can go wrong. Off has a very specific feel to it that I am one hundred percent certain that is almost impossible to recapture. The composer, to my knowledge, has dropped off the internet and was unable to be reached for this project. Imagine if Undertale were remade for, say, PS6 in the future, but it couldn’t use any music by Toby Fox. The Music was a key piece in making Off feel like Off. As an anecdote, I streamed a play-through of Off for friends, and at the top of the list of things they loved was Pepersteak.

I do not blame Mortis Ghost or Fangamer if this is the case, in being unable to reach out to ACC for such things. I understand that legally speaking it could be problematic to implement the original OST, hence why they were quick to highlight that they have no intentions of changing the music of the game’s original release.

New areas and bosses, I am concerned it will change the feel of the game. No one is the same person they were 16 years ago. Styles, minds, thoughts change. I hear there’s even a prequel comic, Of, involved in the physical deluxe edition. As Star Wars has shown us, nothing can go wrong there.

… I’m concerned. I’m cautious. But I hope for the absolute best. Y’all has a person who is as jaded as they come hoping and giddy like a kid at Christmas (topical at the time of posting). I trust the Mort and Fangamer to do the best they can with what the fans love dearly.

There's no real point in posting this. I just wanted to put my thoughts down somewhere. Just one old idgit’s musings on a game that found me at the right time a long long time ago. So, with all that being said-

Once again, let us take our phantasmagorical being and venture out on the quest of righteous purification.

PS: … I think I’ll need to change my Avatar soon. Been using it for ages but now. Just feels a bit awkward.

[TIBdOBtheGLOB]

Undertale without Toby Fox would be a blessing I think lol.

Regardless when it personally comes to thoughts about the rerelease I can at least live with it. It is absolutely ♥♥♥♥♥♥ how the old OST is gone but it's not like he would betray the word of an old friend (if he even managed to get a message flung back at him from ACC knowing how much of a hermit he is). Yes people have changed but I respect Mortis as a creative and him carving his own path instead of caving into just doing what other people want of him (ironic since we're talking about something the fans probably have wanted for ages now, but we'll just see how the new stuff integrates). Dr Cataclysm was nice in hindsight, I should finish reading it. And you'd be surprised to see how many people go ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ when they see his modern art after all lol. Also, Mortis is completely fine with the older versions still being out there lying about for free and for people to modify those as how they please too. So we still have that.

I don't think any of the new areas or content will really detract from the original experience, it all seems optional after all and unlike an Atlus rerelease or hell Star Wars (what an odd comparison to make) it doesn't seem to be that massively in your face with it from what we've seen. Then again he might just be keeping quiet on that part to generate hype. (personally judging from that zodiac card set I'm guessing there's gonna be like, six new areas with six new bosses, hope the fanart will be cool though!)

OFF in the first place was just him throwing a bunch of stuff together which he thought was cool, the random fan theorizing was just an after effect which only really happened since people like doing that kinda thing. Bonus points for the new content if it fleshes out any personal views Mortis has on the behind the scenes worldbuilding that really wasn't stated at all in the original game, but has been in various niche IRC chats and forums and art made during the concept phase and after the game's release which don't get that much attention. Although I'm not holding my breath on this, especially since it can cause worse mental turmoil for some people in the fanbase if it is affirmed. Easily more anguish than what you've been saying here. I guess I think it's just neat that there's gonna be more OFF now in OFF.

Overall I'm just excited to beat OFF again.

[XDmemeMaster]

dude, youve had the judge as your pfp for how long?

[Peridoxide]

le juge

[Wes]

I'm still hopeful for this version of this game. although it may not be the same as v3 or v2, it still appears to be good. even with the ost changes affecting the atmosphere there's still the chance that the new ost will be as good as the older ost. but still chances are they won't be as good, But either way i'm still buying it to support Mortis Ghost.

But still. I am kinda sad that the credits track is being changed. alas it had to be changed since it was copyrighted.

[Keepe]

Originally posted by XDmemeMaster:

dude, youve had the judge as your pfp for how long?

... A loooong time. Tried changing it to something else after posting. Just felt awkward.

Originally posted by Wes:

I'm still hopeful for this version of this game. although it may not be the same as v3 or v2, it still appears to be good. even with the ost changes affecting the atmosphere there's still the chance that the new ost will be as good as the older ost. but still chances are they won't be as good, But either way i'm still buying it to support Mortis Ghost.

But still. I am kinda sad that the credits track is being changed. alas it had to be changed since it was copyrighted.

Yep! Pretty much summed up my thoughts there. The game's changes may or may not be good, but with how much I love the game, I have nothing against supporting them! Whether the changes are to my taste or not, I will shamelessly give into capitalist consumerism and claim that stoobid cat plush. Also the game.

[Xx_inspectorbrungergaming_xX]

honestly im pretty exicted, i know that we dont really know what the music is gonna be aside from white meat and the trailer theme but toby fox and camella can pull it off and im exicted for the alternative take on OFF's ost

[Keepe]

Originally posted by Xx_inspectorbrungergaming_xX:

honestly im pretty exicted, i know that we dont really know what the music is gonna be aside from white meat and the trailer theme but toby fox and camella can pull it off and im exicted for the alternative take on OFF's ost

I am withholding my judgement until we get to have the whole OST available for hearing. As of right now, only a single released track has given me Off Vibes, and that gives me more hope than none. :)

So far, the revealed Toby Fox tracks feel a bit too... Clinical. Clean. And completely lacking a- what's the word... Drop? But that's to me. Tastes in music, like tastes in all things, are highly subjective!

[1337Walrus]

Originally posted by Keepe:

Originally posted by Xx_inspectorbrungergaming_xX:

honestly im pretty exicted, i know that we dont really know what the music is gonna be aside from white meat and the trailer theme but toby fox and camella can pull it off and im exicted for the alternative take on OFF's ost

I am withholding my judgement until we get to have the whole OST available for hearing. As of right now, only a single released track has given me Off Vibes, and that gives me more hope than none. :)

So far, the revealed Toby Fox tracks feel a bit too... Clinical. Clean. And completely lacking a- what's the word... Drop? But that's to me. Tastes in music, like tastes in all things, are highly subjective!

Well, we're only hearing the Zone 1 tracks so far - remember that we still have two more Zones and The Room for the soundtrack to get as trippy as Coldwood's.

[Keepe]

Originally posted by 1337Walrus:

Well, we're only hearing the Zone 1 tracks so far - remember that we still have two more Zones and The Room for the soundtrack to get as trippy as Coldwood's.

Yup! That's why I said I'm withholding judgement until the whole OST is available. I can comment on what I've heard so far, but until the whole OST is there, it wouldn't be fair to really judge. I'm personally holding out hope that the OST gets more unhinged as it goes for Spoilery Reasons that I won't deprive new players of discovering on their own.