Sea of Stars (2023)

Sometimes versatility demands a certain measure of virtuosity and a healthy dose of cheese

Sea of Stars
by Sabotage Studio
Released on Nintendo Switch in August 2023

One thing I forget about chosen one narratives is that destiny rarely imbues the hero with greatness from the start. Rather, it affirms potential. Before they’re ready to face the big bad, the hero—like anyone else—must study, train, apprentice, fail, and recalibrate. They have to put in the work before they do the work. 

I’m one of those elder millennials who was told as a child they were special, gifted as both a budding writer and musician. It was my parents’ well-meaning way of encouraging me to press on and develop my talents. But it kind of fucked me up. I had a bit of a superiority complex, sure, but I mostly got discouraged whenever I didn’t live up to what I thought was expected of me. That continues to this day. Rejection letter for a poem? I’m an abject failure. Botching a tricky part of a song during a performance? Time to quit music. 

Greatness, like any concept that privileges the individual, is fraught and largely contextual, defined and policed by the dominant culture. Now that I quit my day job, it’s imperative for me to be great at guitar in order to get work. But what does mastery of the instrument look like? Despite being a good reader with above average chops, I’m not a strong improviser, nor do I have a bevy of jazz standards or classic rock solos under my fingers. That’s the problem with having largely focused on my own music over the years: I can play my shit just fine. But I also have to play other people’s shit. 

I’ve been emailing with my friend Dan, another guitar player, who recently started taking on wedding gigs. He and I both feel like we’re largely judged by non-musicians (and sometimes fellow musicians) based on how well we can shred. And neither of us went that route when we got serious about guitar. By a lot of metrics, I’m a solid player, but there’s this missing piece that keeps me from being great.

I don’t want my technical limitations to prevent me from getting a gig or expressing myself musically. The best way that I know of to get a better hang on solos is to learn other solos. So my dudes: following Dan’s example, I’m starting to teach myself Journey and AC/DC songs because, in certain contexts, I’m required to sound like that. Sometimes versatility demands a certain measure of virtuosity and a healthy dose of cheese.

Early in Sea of Stars, the plucky and ever-optimistic Garl joins his best friends, Valere and Zane, as they explore the Forbidden Cave. Garl is a humble cook, while Valere and Zane, chosen at birth, are both in training to become Solstice Warriors. But the three are just kids and easily outmatched in combat by a monster. Garl loses an eye; Valere and Zane’s teacher has to come to the rescue. 

Far from feckless, Garl rejoins his friends several years later after they complete their training. The Elder Mist, ethereal arbiter of the Solstice Warriors, recognizes Garl’s dedication and encourages him to join Valere and Zane on their heroes’ quest. Garl proves to be an invaluable asset—a melee fighter with strong defensive stats and the ability to heal the party with his nourishing food. 

Everyone loves Garl. He’s unconcerned with his limitations and instead revels in his strengths. I wish I had that luxury. I’m still trying to figure out how to spend my days, how much time to devote to practicing, writing, and art. Today I’ve avoided going into my studio, batteries drained, dreading the steady tick of my metronome app as I shed the solo for “Separate Ways.” Maybe I need a day of rest. One won’t derail my progress, right?