For the survival horror game Primal Omen, I was tasked with composing a fully dynamic soundtrack and providing additional sound design to heighten the game’s tense, atmospheric experience. Set on a remote tropical island overrun by intelligent, deadly dinosaurs, the game draws inspiration from classics like Resident Evil and Dino Crisis – demanding an audio approach that amplifies suspense, danger, and immersion at every turn.

Dynamic Music System: The soundtrack was designed with multiple interactive layers, allowing the intensity and complexity of the music to adapt in real-time to the player’s actions and environment. As players explore the island, the music broods with dark, evolving drones and aleatoric stings, subtly increasing tension as threats loom unseen.

During encounters with dinosaurs, the score shifts dramatically: abstract orchestral elements surge, with discordant hits and aggressive textures that mirror the chaos and unpredictability of combat. This dynamic escalation ensures that every confrontation feels urgent and visceral.

Each stage and location on the island features its own musical identity, from dense jungles to abandoned research facilities. The music supports narrative progression, using evolving motifs and instrumentation to reflect the player’s journey from cautious investigation to desperate survival.

Additional Sound Design: Ambient Layers: Carefully crafted environmental sounds—rustling foliage, distant dinosaur calls, tropical weather—immerse the player in the island’s hostile ecosystem, reinforcing the need to listen and remain alert.

Tension Building: Aleatoric sound design elements and subtle audio cues are woven throughout the soundtrack, heightening suspense and keeping players on edge even during quieter moments.

Implementation & Collaboration: Worked closely with the game’s dev team to ensure seamless integration of the dynamic music system, allowing the soundtrack to respond instantly to gameplay triggers and player choices.

Delivered stems and modular audio assets for flexible use across different gameplay scenarios and narrative beats.

Impact: The result is a soundtrack that not only supports but actively shapes the player’s emotional journey – swelling with dread, erupting into chaos, and receding into uneasy calm as the story unfolds. The audio design for Primal Omen aims to give players every reason to tread carefully, listen closely, and feel the constant threat lurking in the shadows.