Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a retro-inspired Metroidvania developed by LABS Works and published by DANGEN Entertainment, and its soundtrack is a masterclass in modern chiptune composition that channels the spirit of classic NES and Game Boy titles.
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The album cleverly includes both standard and "Safe" versions of many area themes, reflecting the game's mechanic where reaching a save room transforms the music into a calmer, more reassuring arrangement. Tracks like "This Cursed Tower" and its Safe counterpart demonstrate this beautifully, the danger melting away into relief with each variation.
The naming convention tells a dark, mythologically-tinged story all on its own. "Epimetheus" references the Titan of Greek myth known for his hindsight, while "Poisoned World" and "Blight Of Mankind" establish the post-apocalyptic desperation that drives the game's three heroes into the titular tower.
Boss themes like "Puppetmasters" and "Grasp Of The Adversary" deliver the kind of pulse-pounding intensity that makes you grip the controller tighter, and "Bloodstained Glass" evokes the eerie, sacred atmosphere of the tower's more unsettling chambers.
"Threads Of Fate" and "The Tower Awakens" mark the late-game escalation where the stakes become truly cosmic, building toward "Requital Of The Fallen" and the revelatory "Elucidation." The inclusion of "Hollow" in both its "Hate" and "Safe" variants is a particularly evocative touch, capturing the emotional duality at the heart of the game's narrative about sacrifice and redemption.
This is one of those indie soundtracks that absolutely deserves wider recognition.