Welcome to HyperLydian, a top-down 2D space shooter that goes beyond the ordinary
gaming experience by blending multidirectional shooter gameplay with dynamic music
creation. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey where your actions as a
player shape the very fabric of the soundtrack.
gaming experience by blending multidirectional shooter gameplay with dynamic music
creation. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey where your actions as a
player shape the very fabric of the soundtrack.
Overview
HyperLydian is a Digital Instrument disguised as a top-down 2D space-shooter. Every action the player takes has an influence on changing the game's soundtrack: such as adding rests or notes, changing the tempo, scale, and key, modulating the parameters of various effects (e.g. reverb or delay), and much more.
Explore different play styles to see how the music evolves: shoot enemies from up close or at a distance, swap between different weapons, focus on movement or rotation, constantly shoot or time your shots carefully. Different play styles will reward unique musical findings, so exploration is key in HyperLydian.
Gameplay-wise it is heavily inspired by the bullet hell genre in which the player is bombarded by projectiles and has to deal with an overload of visual information. Musically it takes inspiration from generative music and Eurorack principles, particularly the idea of experiencing a unique piece of music on each iteration and the feeling of limitless exploration.
Explore different play styles to see how the music evolves: shoot enemies from up close or at a distance, swap between different weapons, focus on movement or rotation, constantly shoot or time your shots carefully. Different play styles will reward unique musical findings, so exploration is key in HyperLydian.
Gameplay-wise it is heavily inspired by the bullet hell genre in which the player is bombarded by projectiles and has to deal with an overload of visual information. Musically it takes inspiration from generative music and Eurorack principles, particularly the idea of experiencing a unique piece of music on each iteration and the feeling of limitless exploration.
Design Philosophy
The basics of HyperLydian can be understood fairly quickly and the player receives immediate feedback on the core mechanics, but the player is encouraged to continue exploring in order to fully realize all of the game's capabilities. There is a motivation to try different strategies and play styles, both to increase the game score and to hear the effect on the music.
A beginner might focus purely on surviving, but an experienced player may learn when to "play poorly" in specific moments—taking damage, leaving more enemies on screen, or focusing on dodges instead of kills—just as a guitar player might occasionally play the "wrong" note, intentionally add feedback, or pick muted strings. My favorite games, Eurorack modules, and pieces of software all have this in common: easy to pick up, near-endless exploration, and always something new to experience.
A beginner might focus purely on surviving, but an experienced player may learn when to "play poorly" in specific moments—taking damage, leaving more enemies on screen, or focusing on dodges instead of kills—just as a guitar player might occasionally play the "wrong" note, intentionally add feedback, or pick muted strings. My favorite games, Eurorack modules, and pieces of software all have this in common: easy to pick up, near-endless exploration, and always something new to experience.
Download the Application
The above video showcases in-depth gameplay from HyperLydian, providing an overview of the main menu and three separate runs. This highlights just a small sample of the unique musical variations and core gameplay mechanics that can be experienced.
The music that is heard in the video is recorded as-is from playing the game and has not been edited in any way.
The music that is heard in the video is recorded as-is from playing the game and has not been edited in any way.
Read About the Technical Details
Music Programming Design
To learn more about the details of both the Python and Max/MSP programming, please read the HyperLydian Technical Details document shown above. Additional details can be found as comments in each Python file and Max patch.