Designing Symphonia’s Features for Speedrunners

Summary

Symphonia hit the Xbox Series X|S on December 5, 2024, with its unique blend of custom level design, precision platforming, and features tailored for speedrunning enthusiasts. This article delves into the speedrunning elements, explores players’ insights, and shares useful tips for those keen to zip through this engaging world.

From the outset, Symphonia was crafted to reward players who excel in control and timing. While it began as a venture to introduce classical music to a broader audience, the game’s fluid mechanics and expansive level design quickly charmed the speedrunning community. Countless hours were devoted to refining character controls, aiming to ensure the game delivered satisfaction, whether enjoyed casually or competitively. For players who love a challenge, Symphonia offers layers of complexity that beckon exploration.

In Symphonia, several elements intensify the challenge for those who relish it. You play as Philemon, a violinist on a quest to awaken the world of Symphonia by reuniting the virtuosos of its orchestral sections. His trusty violin bow serves as a versatile tool—acting as a pogo stick, catapult, or grappling hook. Mastering the art of soaring through levels with perfect timing is tricky but immensely rewarding. Precision timing allows every pixel to matter, aligning perfectly with the speedrunning ethos of nudging ever closer to perfection, frame by frame.

Some of our team members have a rich history with speedrunning, stretching from enthusiastic spectatorship to completing runs of games like Celeste and Katana Zero. Even back in 2020, when Symphonia was a mere student project, the team would eagerly race through the game, comparing times and occasionally concealing glitches for personal gain. This passion wasn’t limited to us; after launching a free demo online, the response was phenomenal, drawing in 500,000 downloads and sparking submissions on speedrun.net. Recognizing the project’s potential, we decided post-university to form a studio and fully realize our game vision. Four years later, the game finally launched.

Speedrunners weren’t just drawn in by the precise platforming. We incorporated the spirit of speedrunning into new features and level designs. Shifting a block or collider by a mere few pixels can open up fresh paths through creative problem-solving. Collectible musical notes, located in hard-to-reach spots, encourage risk-taking, experimentation, and unlocking new areas. These are reminiscent of Celeste’s strawberries. Completing a playthrough unveils Shadow Philemon, a character mirroring your path with a slight delay, poised to catch any missteps. Alongside, players can experiment with unlockable abilities like double jumping, surface transformations, and altering game speed. Initially designed for accessibility, these upgrades also invite players to devise fresh challenges.

Upon its December launch, we were thrilled to see a steady interest from speedrunners. To support and engage this community, we established a dedicated channel on our Discord for lively discussions and idea sharing.

The speedrunning phenomenon has evolved remarkably, growing from a niche hobby to a worldwide sensation over two decades. Its influence now spans genres as varied as first-person shooters, role-playing, and even strategy games. The rise of Twitch and YouTube has democratized access, captivating millions and facilitating events like Games Done Quick (GDQ) that raise substantial funds for charity. GDQ regularly hosts major charity events and weekly Hotfix episodes to keep the community lively.

Discussing the passion for speedrunning, I reached out to Queuety, GDQ’s showrunner. To him, speedrunning transforms any game into both a competitive event and a puzzle, which continually draws him back.

Our publisher’s enthusiasm, especially the CEO Dieter Schoeller—a former speedrunner of Quake 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog—has been significant. Dieter appreciates speedrunning for its introspective challenge: "the person to beat is no one but yourself." This shared enthusiasm helped facilitate a collaboration with GDQ, leading to our participation in a GDQ Hotfix episode. It’s been a memorable and rewarding experience, with our community running the game live while I provided commentary. The episode is available here for anyone interested.

If this article has sparked your interest in speedrunning, the community is still expanding, and there’s room for contribution. Whether by trying it out or engaging with fellow runners and developers, your involvement is valued. We’d love to see you try a run of Symphonia and join our Discord to dive deeper into speedrunning discussions.

Whether you’re a speedrunner or not, we hope you’ll explore the enchanting world of Symphonia in your unique style.

Game Details

In Symphonia, music is the essence of life. With the founders missing and their orchestra disbanded, the once harmonious world is falling silent. The mysterious musician Philemon is on a quest to reignite hope by gathering a new orchestra. You play as this enigmatic violinist, revived in a world on the brink. Your violin is both an instrument and a tool of exploration, propelling you through levels filled with captivating challenges, all while reactivating the world’s mechanical heart.

Venture into a musical landscape inspired by symphonic orchestras, alive with vibrant characters. Each area in Symphonia offers a unique atmosphere. Here, you’ll encounter remarkable musicians, each urging you to coax them back into the orchestra.

The soundtrack mirrors the Romantic era, exquisitely crafted by Olivier Esman, featuring the Scoring Orchestra Paris. This musical masterpiece enriches Symphonia with stirring performances dedicated to strings, brass, and woodwinds.

Explore your surroundings, hone your platforming skills, play the violin to energize the realm, and rally musicians to return music and vitality to Symphonia.

Key Features:

• Tackle exhilarating platforming challenges with Philemon’s diverse abilities.
• Discover dynamic environments that blend music and machinery.
• Use the violin to activate crucial level components, restoring life to the realm.
• Gather musical prodigies and perform awe-inspiring concerts, resurrecting the vibrancy of Symphonia.