Achieving the Impossible

May 2020... the Flat.io platform was gifted a spectacle.

"A New Realm", of sorts.
https://flat.io/score/5e9f7de62cf8410ea50006b6-a-new-realm

Handcrafted by Flat.io user @finesden, he utilized every available technique on the platform, forming a beautifully crafted cinematic, upbeat piece. I absolutely adored "A New Realm". I even shed a tear in the end. I wanted to be like *him*. I wanted to make something **like him**. I wanted to be popular ***like him.***

He was my idol. I. Wanted. To. Be. Like. Him.

However, my mind meandered away from Finesden, focusing on the style you know and love. Suddenly, in May 2021, I wanted to make a "sequel" of the piece. Let's just say my motivation was spent elsewhere. A few weeks later, @flat.io_earther began hosting the 2nd "annual" Flat.io Imitation Competition. With my skills developed over the past year, I was *determined* to make my "idol" proud.

Allow me to be clear up front: I don't write fast or upbeat scores!

For this piece however, I sifted through "A New Realm" like a science, learning and adapting key techniques that made Finesden's piece... Finesden. It was not easy, and I often referred to the "secret" server where feedback can be given to imitation pieces without Flat.io Earther seeing. Then - lucky me - a week ago Finesden came back from his hiatus, and gave me his fair share of feedback to polish this piece to near-perfection.

For this, I wish to give a bottom-of-my-heart "Thank You" to Finesden for inspiring me to push further beyond my style. I will be using some of the techniques I learned here to push my cinematics to the absolute limit for the future.

:: Feedback ::
@andymillikan
@aa66ff
@finesden
@groovy
@joshua_holmberg
@mckenzie_ehlers
@quantumjoss
@the_letter_h

:: Special Thanks ::
@flat.io_earther - Hosting this competition :D
Everyone who competed in this competition! Regardless who won (Joss), everyone was amazing! Check them out using this tag :: flatio-earther

Also I got 3rd. Coolio!