Composer David Wise Talks Creating Music With Humor in Nikoderiko: The Magical World

Composer David Wise Talks Creating Music With Humor in Nikoderiko: The Magical World

As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Nikoderiko: The Magical World has managed to capture the essence of the retro platforming games I grew up with while infusing it with a modern twist. The game’s humor, particularly emphasized by David Wise’s music, is nothing short of brilliant. It’s like listening to Tom and Jerry’s soundtrack or watching Laurel and Hardy’s slapstick antics, but in a way that makes you want to jump, run, and collect treasures alongside Niko and Luna.


As a gamer, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been invited to step back into the glory days of platform gaming with Nikoderiko: The Magical World! In this adventure, you’ll join Niko and Luna, two treasure-hunting buddies, on their journey. This game offers a single-player mode, but here’s the twist – it also supports local couch co-op! That means you can embark on this quest alone as Niko in single-player or team up with Luna for some cooperative play.

In a recent chat with Game Rant, composer Wise shared insights on how he infuses fun and humor into the music of Nikoderiko: The Magical World. Essentially, he aims to contribute something distinctive to the game through its musical elements.

David Wise’s Inspirations And Creating The Music For Nikoderiko: The Magical World

Since approximately 2019, Wise has been part of the Nikoderiko team, where they have drawn inspiration for the music from numerous sources. These shifts in direction were shaped by Wise’s emotional state at the time or external factors like movies and TV shows. Notably, Wise referenced iconic characters such as Indiana Jones and Robin Hood, expressing a wish to produce something that was both superhero-esque and entertaining without being overly dramatic.

When asked about his method for creating all the music in the series Nikoderiko, Wise emphasized the significance of developing a theme. He further clarified that this involved experimenting with fun and humor, noting that the comedy element is present throughout “The Magical World.” As he worked on the project, he found the humor became increasingly noticeable to him. Regarding his favorite part of the project, Wise mentioned that composing the cutscenes for Nikoderiko stood out because the music amplifies the humor between its animal protagonists. According to Wise, it typically takes several years to pick a favorite in a project, but working on the cutscenes for Nikoderiko was an exception due to its comedic aspects.

As a dedicated fan, crafting cutscenes has undeniably brought me immense joy. It’s all about that unique humor – watching the characters banter and bounce off each other. In truth, extending that humor beyond just creating cutscenes has been an absolute blast for me. To be honest, I take pleasure in every aspect of it, but those moments really stood out to me as particularly special.

How David Wise Emphasized Nikoderiko: The Magical World’s Humor With Its Music

Composer David Wise Talks Creating Music With Humor in Nikoderiko: The Magical World

In a fitting comparison, Wise labeled Nikoderiko‘s humor as reminiscent of “slapstick” and akin to the humor found in Saturday morning cartoons such as Tom and Jerry or Laurel and Hardy. To underscore the humor, Wise opted against conventional 90s cartoon sound effects like whistles but employed similar tactics to capture the same level of attention. Praise was heaped upon Niko and Luna’s comedic performances in the game, with a special mention given to their human-like reactions, a feat that Wise noted is particularly challenging.

I find the primary characters quite appealing. They seem to complement each other exceptionally well, adding an enjoyable dynamic to the storyline. Their interactions truly enrich the overall gaming experience.

Read More

2024-10-21 18:26