Before the Story by Toby Fox is an intricate tapestry of sound that weaves together mystery, nostalgia, and the ineffable pull of the unknown. Acting as a prelude to Deltarune, the track is like a dreamscape, luring the player into a world suspended in time—where each note feels laden with secrets that seem just out of reach, ready to be uncovered yet draped in a veil of ambiguity. From its very first notes, Before the Story sweeps players into a haunting, otherworldly atmosphere, one that both beckons and warns, whispering of things long past and destinies yet to unfold. The melody itself is delicately restrained, marked by soft, echoing piano notes that resonate like ripples in a still pond, each note leaving an imprint that quietly fades only to be followed by another, as if gently summoning memories from a time before memory. These initial notes are soon accompanied by subtle layers of ambient chords and swelling orchestral undertones, hinting at something grand, maybe even mythic, lurking beneath the surface. Each swell of sound feels like a curtain lifting, gradually revealing fragments of a story that feels eerily familiar and yet entirely foreign, as though tapping into the archetypal landscapes of dreams. The composition is more than just background music; it’s an emotional overture that captures the essence of the game's narrative complexity. It suggests a sense of beginning, but not just any beginning—a beginning that feels deeply rooted in something cyclical, as if this is but one chapter in a recurring legend. There’s a sensation of inevitability within the track, as if it’s carrying the weight of untold lifetimes and ancient promises, prophecies waiting to be fulfilled. Fans have speculated that the track represents a sort of narrative recursion, where past and present stories are woven together in a mythic tapestry, each note reinforcing the idea that the journey about to unfold is one that has been waiting for the player all along, across countless timelines and possibilities. Fox’s arrangement is masterful in its simplicity; he conjures depth and atmosphere through restraint, creating an almost ethereal space for the listener. It feels like standing on the edge of a precipice, with the future stretching out beyond sight and the past lingering like shadows just out of reach. Before the Story doesn’t merely foreshadow the events to come; it establishes an emotional baseline for Deltarune, inviting players to question not just the path ahead but the origin of the journey itself, the purpose behind the adventure, and the hidden threads binding it all together. It’s a track that lingers, haunting players even after they leave the game, a fitting reminder of the enigmas left to unravel in Toby Fox's mysterious, cyclical world.