LUCID composer David Wise discusses the project in a video interview

A pretty Wise guy

29 September 2025 by rawmeatcowboy 0

Legendary composer David Wise (Donkey Kong Country, Battletoads, Star Fox Adventures, Yooka-Laylee) joins solo developer Eric Manahan of The Matte Black Studio to discuss his musical contribution to LUCID, the upcoming crystalpunk action-platformer published by Apogee Entertainment.

In this interview, Wise and Manahan explore the emotional intent behind LUCID’s soundtrack, particularly David’s original track for the haunting and beautiful Welltown biome. They also dive into how music shapes worldbuilding, the meditative quality of video game scores, and how composing for modern indie games compares to his SNES classics.

LUCID is a 2D action-platformer inspired by Hollow Knight, Celeste, Metroid, and Donkey Kong Country, featuring fast-paced traversal, handcrafted pixel art, and an emotional story about hope and resilience. The game will be coming to Switch at some point in the future.

The Great Fall has sent the world of Aeydn into a state of dissonance. The Celestial Serpent, Troika has unexpectedly struck the towering Crystal Giant, shattering its heart into shards strewn across the land. Rebuild the Giant’s heart and restore harmony as Oenn in a pixel art precision platforming love letter to the 16-bit era that is as fresh as it is nostalgic, with an original soundtrack featuring multiple tracks by the legendary composer David Wise (Donkey Kong Country, Super Smash Bros. Melee).

Traverse an interconnected open world bursting with color. Uncover mysteries across the glimmering Crystal Caverns, descend into the depths of Welltown, and forge a path through the snow-covered Onyx Ridge. Jump, dash and slash through obstacles, and chain together maneuvers to reach hidden pathways between worlds full of treasures and secrets.

Enter a flow-state with tight controls, fluid movement mechanics, and Crystal Arts that both enhance combat and extend movement. Unleash the Crystal Axe for heavy-hitting attacks, or close the gap against far away enemies with an aerial-dash. Focus on a pair of abilities, or hot-swap Crystal Arts on the fly to open up Oenn’s full arsenal.

Craft a custom playstyle by equipping stat-altering Talismans, and upgrade abilities across an expansive skill tree for the perfect bespoke build. Transform special moves into full-blown superpowers by anointing Oenn’s abilities with bonus effects, and utilize every skill gained against epic beasts in skill-testing boss battles.

Encounter a vibrant cast of characters who seek Oenn’s aid. Speak to local villagers for guidance, bond with the last remaining Sentinels in the Petrified Forest, and restore hope to the downtrodden folk of Beacon City.

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