It is early days, however 2023 already appears to have a defining breakout indie hit: Pizza Tower (opens in new tab), a breakneck platformer that mixes among the greatest components of Wario Land and 2D Sonic with an artwork fashion like an alternate-timeline’s ’90s Nickelodeon cartoon. It additionally sounds unimaginable (opens in new tab), like a 2D platformer soundtrack has no proper to go this difficult, however Ronan “Mr. Sauceman” de Castel and ClascyJitto (opens in new tab) (additionally credited as Frostix) made it occur.
Take the opening observe, Time For A Smackdown (opens in new tab)—it begins all funky and lowkey, after which simply launches into this guitar line I have never been in a position to get out of my head for the previous few weeks. Ditto for It is Pizza Time! (opens in new tab), the theme of the sport’s end-of-level escape sprints, which builds right into a frantic jam because the clock ticks down.
It is simply so arduous to get stuff on the market, such as you’re type of ashamed of what you make, it sounds so unhealthy!”
Ronan de Castel
Actual banger hours proceed with The Loss of life That I Deservioli (opens in new tab), a theme for the spherical two escape that I’ve by no means been good on the recreation or daring sufficient to aim, and visitor composer PostElvis (opens in new tab)‘ foremost menu theme Pizza Deluxe (opens in new tab) is a pleasant, chill comedown (that includes what I am fairly positive are audio samples of Wario hollering). For a last curated sampling of the OST, Celsius Troubles (opens in new tab) might be my favourite contribution from ClascyJitto, the proper ice stage music with an actual dancy twist midway via. That is music I can elevate weights to, the very best honor in my energy to confer.
First-time composer, all-time sound
I caught up with de Castel, one of many recreation’s two foremost composers, to search out out what it takes to make a 73-track assortment of bangers like this, and was stunned to search out out that that is his first actual printed work as a musician. De Castel had loved enjoying the piano for years, however by no means taken formal classes, and described his first forays into digital composition as “principally a interest that I’ve taken fairly late in my life.”
“It was simply horrible at first, as for everyone, however I made a whole bunch and a whole bunch of music tracks for private tasks that may by no means see the sunshine of day,” de Castel informed me, describing a state of affairs acquainted to many artists and writers. “It is simply so arduous to get stuff on the market, such as you’re type of ashamed of what you make, it sounds so unhealthy!”
It is not usually {that a} composer pitches the sport’s developer about working collectively, normally it really works the opposite manner. “I used to be simply fully captivated by the clips I used to be seeing on Twitter, simply pondering ‘Wow, that appears superb,'” de Castel informed me of first coming in touch with Pizza Tower. “And it was on the time I used to be simply beginning out and taking music significantly.”
De Castel mocked up a form of demo/introductory observe to ship to Pizza Tower’s lead developer, McPig, whereas not anticipating a lot from it. No matter tough state it was in, that observe was a really early model of that aforementioned dinger, It is Pizza Time!, and it received de Castel a task as one of many recreation’s major composers.
Its success has been overwhelming in some ways. Nevertheless it’s additionally superior as a result of we have been listening to lots of covers, remixes, and mashups.”
Ronan de Castel
“That was the primary ever track I made for the sport,” de Castel explains of It is Pizza Time! “That was really the observe that I despatched in my e mail to McPig. , “Here is a observe, in case you prefer it, cool! I am type of questioning, ‘What offered him?’ As a result of the track itself was simply horrible sounding again then, earlier than I made some enhancements to it.”
“I bought an e mail again and was simply fully shocked. McPig stated one thing like ‘Yeah, I like the music, we’re taking you in.’ I used to be simply fully stunned by it!”
De Castel’s collaborators, co-composer ClascyJitto and foremost menu theme creator PostElvis had been equally sourced from Pizza Tower’s early followers. Whereas I am extra of a Celsius Troubles man, de Castel singles out ClascyJitto’s observe Wudpecker as a favourite from his collaborator.
By way of music from videogames, de Castel cites some inspirations according to Pizza Tower’s gameplay lineage: the Wario Land collection, significantly the fourth recreation on the Sport Boy Advance, and Sonic CD, which like Pizza Tower is a recreation you hearken to and marvel simply why they made a 2D platformer sound this good (opens in new tab). Outdoors video games, de Castel factors to funk, home, and digital music extra broadly as what he needed to emulate in Pizza Tower’s OST, pointing to artists just like the Chick Corea (opens in new tab), Daft Punk, Mr. Oizo (opens in new tab), and Justice (opens in new tab). “That is been the baseline for all of the music within the recreation. It is simply very funky stuff.”
The Way forward for Pizza
“It is identical to this fully new territory for us that we’re not prepared but,” de Castel informed me of the sport’s newfound recognition. “Its success has been overwhelming in some ways. Nevertheless it’s additionally superior as a result of we have been listening to lots of covers, remixes, and mashups.”
“All people enjoying the sport and streaming, it is only a blast to observe that stuff. One thing such as you’ve labored on for practically 5 years lastly being proven merely makes us very proud.”
In the mean time, Tour de Pizza is basking within the success, however de Castel additionally has a private mission within the works: Mud Riser (opens in new tab), a rendercore RPG that guarantees a surreal aesthetic and extra of de Castel’s standout music. The mission’s quiet in the intervening time, however the composer indicated that we will anticipate to listen to extra about Mud Riser as 2023 goes on. ClascyJitto, for his or her half, appears to have plenty of tasks within the works, together with a brand new album, HI-SPEED EXPLOSION DEVICE [GOLD] (opens in new tab) dropping Might 8.
