When Fox released Deltarune in 2018, it wasn’t just the spiritual successor to Undertale that caught players’ attention – it was the remarkable evolution of his signature audio design. Building upon the foundations laid in Undertale, Deltarune presents a more sophisticated and nuanced approach to game audio that deserves kudos.

Deltarune stands as a testament to the importance of thoughtful audio design in gaming, demonstrating how sound can be used not just as accompaniment, but as an integral part of storytelling, character development, and player experience.

In all honesty, I prefer the music in Undertale, the backbone of which lies in its intricate web of leitmotifs – recurring musical themes that connect characters, locations, and concepts. However, regardless of my personal tastes, Deltarune does represent a noticeable leap forward in developer Toby Fox’s instrumentalism.

Musical Evolution

Deltarune‘s soundtrack is noticeably more complex and has higher production quality than it’s predecessor. Where Undertale relied heavily on chiptune-style arrangements, Deltarune expands its musical palette considerably. The soundtrack employs more sophisticated mixing techniques, broader instrumentation, and more intricate arrangements while maintaining the distinctive charm that made Undertale‘s music so memorable.

Key tracks showcase this evolution:

• “Field of Hopes and Dreams” serves as an early testament to the game’s enhanced production values, featuring layered instrumentation and dynamic mixing that sets the tone for the adventure.
• “THE WORLD REVOLVING” demonstrates Fox’s ability to create character through music, with its carnival-inspired melodies and chaotic arrangements perfectly capturing the secret boss Jevil’s manic nature.
• “BIG SHOT” is perhaps Fox’s most ambitious composition, blending advertising jingles, distorted samples, and unsettling progressions into a memorable boss theme that tells a story through sound alone.

Leitmotifs and Musical Storytelling

One of Fox’s greatest strengths remains his use of leitmotifs – recurring musical themes that connect characters, places, and concepts. In Deltarune, these musical callbacks serve multiple purposes:

1. Creating emotional connections between scenes and characters.
2. Hinting at deeper story implications through musical similarities.
3. Rewarding attentive players with musical “Easter eggs.”
4. Building a cohesive sound world that ties the game together.

Sound Design and Character Building

The game’s sound design extends well beyond its music. Character-specific sound effects for dialogue help establish personality traits – from Ralsei’s gentle, soft-spoken sounds to Susie’s rougher, more aggressive tones. These audio cues work in concert with the writing and visuals to create more fully realized characters.

Environmental audio also plays a crucial role in world-building. Each area features distinct ambient sounds that help establish atmosphere and place, while battle sound effects provide clear feedback for player actions while maintaining thematic consistency.

Musical Jokes

Riddled with glitch effects, awkward pauses, and intentionally cheesy 80s theme song style guitar solos, a big part of what makes Deltarune‘s comedy land is Fox’s use of over-the-top audio design.

Area Themes

• Save points play a brief but memorable jingle
• Cyber Field includes midi-style versions of traditional RPG music
• Mansion areas have exaggerated “fancy” sound effects
• Dark World transitions have dramatic but slightly silly whoosh sounds

Battle Themes

• Berdly’s theme includes “smart” sounding instruments used ironically
• Sweet Cap’n Cakes use intentionally chaotic mixing
• Spamton’s music incorporates sales jingles and glitchy effects
• Queen’s battle music includes random computer sounds

Technical Improvements

As absurd as the music is, it’s also technically proficient. From a purely technical standpoint, Deltarune represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor. These advancements include:

• Higher quality sound samples
• More sophisticated mixing and mastering
• Improved dynamic range
• Greater variety in instrumentation
• Better integration of audio elements

These improvements aren’t merely technical showboating – they serve the game’s narrative and emotional goals by allowing for more nuanced audio storytelling.

Thematic Integration

Perhaps most importantly, Deltarune‘s sound design is thoroughly integrated with its themes and narrative. The game’s central ideas about choice, destiny, and identity are reflected in its audio approach:

• It’s music shifts dynamically based on player choices and story events
• Character themes evolve to reflect development and changing relationships
• Sound design reinforces the game’s darker themes through subtle audio cues
• Battle themes incorporate elements of character personality and motivation

While Undertale‘s music is more atmospheric, switching off between haunting acoustics, gentle synth pads, and energetic industrial soundscapes, Deltarune‘s sound design represents a mature evolution of Toby Fox’s audio aesthetic. While maintaining the charm and creativity that made Undertale‘s soundtrack so beloved, it pushes forward with more sophisticated production, deeper thematic integration, and more nuanced character building through its odd hodgepodge of musical influences. As the remaining chapters of Deltarune release, it will be fascinating to see how Fox continues to develop his distinctive audio style.