This is my submission for the NGUAC KO round. This is my first ever contest that I joined since I began my journey as a composer; as such, I made this song as unique and over the top as possible.

A Bit of backstory on doing this track. I was already burnt out on brainstorming ideas on the first few days of the contest. At the same time, I was resting to avoid passing out from the stress. I played MapleStory for four days (It's my way of destressing myself), and listening to its soundtrack immediately sparked a massive amount of inspiration. I realized then that the OST of MapleStory has a sort of retro feel, like that music you heard in the late 1990s - synth instruments, guitar, and over-the-top melody that made it so nostalgic and memorable. And from here on, I tried to recreate such a vibe in my entry for the NGAUC to make it unique among the entries, and I hope it captured what I intended.

While creating this track, I imagined myself playing a PS2 game in the late 2000s. This music would sort of like the soundtrack for the game's Main Theme. Since this is like the entry gate for the new players, I made the melody memorable and groovy, making it timely and unforgettable like the main theme music of Super Mario or Legend of Zelda Ocarina Of Time OST.

Software Used:
GameX VST (For the intro)
PG-8X - For Piano Synths (Further modification from me to make it more retro)
The main instrument is an Ocarina using the Samsara Cycle Audio Plugin
Dub Turbo DrumTROOP (For the percussions)
One Track orchestra (For the backing track violins)
I handcraft all Special Effects (using Audacity)
DVS Guitar for the electric guitar
DSK BassZ for the subtle bass throughout the music.

Hardware Used:
Korg Microkey Air 37 Bluetooth
Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT Single-Cut