Echoes of a Dream

Echoes of a Dream is a fictional game conceived for Lone Rabbit's OST Composing Jam #7, delving into the subjectivity of reality and the paradox of the dream state. Inspired by Chuang Tzu's philosophical query—whether he was dreaming of the butterfly or the butterfly was dreaming of him—the game blurs the line between reality and imagination, offering a dual gameplay experience that continuously questions the nature of existence.

In alternating gameplay modes, you step into the world of a young girl dreaming she is a butterfly, and into the dreams of a butterfly imagining itself as a young girl. As the girl, navigate through her unique and emotional journey, spanning multiple years of her life. As the butterfly, explore a vibrant, ever-changing world, collecting fragments of memory and wisdom that help you better understand the girl's life, offering profound reflections on reality. Each mode presents its own rhythm, soundtrack, emotions, and story, intertwining in a seamless dance between dream and reality.

Your journey will leave you pondering: is it the girl dreaming of the butterfly, or the butterfly dreaming of the girl? Embrace the ambiguity and dive into Echoes of a Dream, where every moment brings you closer to understanding the elusive nature of consciousness.

The Tracks

I envisioned the Main Theme as a loopable track, designed to play in the game's main menu, during the exposition scene at the beginning, or during the end credits.

The Awakening, featured in the first part of the game, plays as the young girl wakes up, confused by a strange dream and unsure if she is still dreaming. This track sets the tone as she starts her day and introduces the player to the game.

Dream of a Butterfly is another loopable track that plays during the butterfly's gameplay phase. As the player collects memories and follows colours and shapes through a dreamy landscape, this track helps convey the girl's past and the nature of reality.

Dozing Off is played at the end of the young girl's final gameplay phase, as she slowly falls asleep, realizing that her life might just be a dream. Her reality begins to transform and take on different colours, signaling to the player that the game is transitioning to the butterfly's gameplay phase.

Lastly, Dream of a Girl is a loopable song that plays during the girl's gameplay phase, accompanying her emotional journey. I included a break in the loop, which can be configured to trigger during more emotional or significant events in the gameplay. 

The Inspiration

artwork by @kawaakar

The core of the game is to explore the ambiguity of the dream state and the subjectivity of what we call reality. At the end of the day, we each live and grow within our own worlds, shaped by our perceptions and experiences. In my world, I am both the individual and the entirety of that world; I am defined by it as much as it defines me. My inspirations for this theme include the philosophical concept of the husserlian monad, Chuang Tzu's dream, and the Metaphysical Meditations of Descartes.

The imagery of the young girl and the dreamlike shapes and colors have strongly influenced my creative process, guiding the visuals, narrative, sounds, and composition.