Arknights - Lone Trail: Control’s Wishes || MUSIC REACTION

The payoff here was so amazing. The space setting here is wonderful and it's so awesome how we use certain instrumentation to illicit a setting and paint an emotion.
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/ marcomeatball
#music
| Who am I? |
Hi, I'm Marco Meatball, a former pro opera singer, turned voice actor, turned KZbinr. I grew up loving video games and video game music after first discovering them when I was 7 years old. Since then, I have lived and breathed all things video games. This channel is all about video game music and the beauty of modern composition, how it allows us to connect more deeply with the games we love, and how we can better learn to understand ourselves through it and the experiences it provides.
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Games you will find in the channel:
Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, League of Legends, Genshin Impact, Devil May Cry (DMC), Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Ultrakill, Terraria, Undertale, World of Warcraft, Monster Hunter, Warhammer, Honkai Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Bloodborne, Ace Combat, Doom, Warframe, Arknights, Nier, Guilty Gear, Risk of Rain, Armored Core, Destiny and much, much more!

[@k_a4685]

Fun fact : the stage for this music timed perfectly to make the boss appear right after the " we have a lift off " lyric. really cinematic.

[@rikurish8261]

only after you clear the stage because it distrupted by some pauses

[@jo-ri-oh8950]

It's funny cause my auto deploy makes me defeat Kristen during the "we have a lift off"

[@jrschannel7]

@@jo-ri-oh8950 mine was when the second wave of enemies start appearing after Kristen gone. I believe she was defeated when the countdown reach 6 xD

[@niklassjvar1635]

​@@jo-ri-oh8950lmao i did that on purpose

[@celibel5686]

mine's exactly when she touches the down switch i think, though wish it was on the up to really sell it

[@zin6196]

Imagine losing your parents, hailed as geniuses, at a young age just as they were about to bring humanity to space for the first time but instead found a wall concealing the true sky. Then dedicating your entire life to finding out the truth behind the matter and leading the world at the forefront of technology, and finally through your efforts, breaking through that wall into the final frontier. That's the story that this song illustrates.

[@darkpast2177]

AND while being chased by the country itself to try and stop her while other organizations are after her and in the end she was successfully did it while the army was hot on her tail with her charm and charisma she was able to pull so many allies thanks that help her achieve her goal in the end and did not collapse under the pressure of an info dump I can't say no more cause it might spoil some things

[@andrewmakarov2753]

​@@darkpast2177 For me, this track and the lobby theme (AND the change of event lobby background) hits even harder after you find out that she didn't, ironically, achieve her goal. Because that emphasizes just how much of a trailblazer she ends up being: she failed small-scale AND at the same time showed Terra what to focus on to succeed and keep moving forward. Kristen's story is, for me, the perfect example of "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Which is another +1 to the overall space theme/references/parallels of the event.

[@urSinKhal]

oh Gotta read the event

[@Hakkar6993]

God, Lone Trail was so peak.

[@DragonKnight90001]

And I’m just gonna add …. On Reddit somebody posted and showed that a comment from One of the writers for baldurs gate 3 and Divinity: Original sin 2 praised the lone trail event. Now that’s amazing.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Woah!

[@pikaxechu6370]

YOOO WHATTT????

[@ngolung8924]

My guy please give me the sauce, I want to see that glorious comment

[@beefystu559]

I think they garnered some hate for those comments. I saw their account locked.

[@orz.4805]

Sauce pls

[@blackfangex6813]

"If, in a century or a millennium, our descendants walk among the stars, the masses will sing her praises" Krinsten Wright (Control) her Character and Story is fill with a lot nods to Nasa and the Space Race, Her Family name is a nod to the Wright Brothers, also with in lore her Parents were the creator of the First Aircraft in Terra, they died trying to Reach Space but they Crashed with the barrier surrounding Terra. In her Theme Song Control's Wishes The countdown is the Same as the one from VOYAGER 1 Launch in 1977. Krinsten's Race is Perro (dog) she herself is a reference to Laika, the First dog to be sent into Space by the Soviet Union and As Laika Krinsten never Return from Space. Krinsten is a character focus in accomplish her Parents dream, when the Time to reach her dream comes, The Columbia Goverment and Many other Characters try to Stop her beliving that she has Gone mad and created a Super weapon, the Truth was she Created a Space Ship planing to reach the Stars, people belive she still mad because they belive that the barrier is impossible to break, at the end of all Krinsten is Succesful, she break the Barrier leaving everyone she care behind because she knew this was one way trip. At the End of All because Krinsten's success the barrier is Broken and is Visible in the night Sky all over Terra, for the First Time everyone in Terra could See the Twin Moons and the Stars so clearly, this event shocked terra as a whole Creating a New Age. Now Krinsten alone in Space, she is preparing to sleep in her suspended animation capsule, she is not sure how long it will last a few years? maybe a Century? or a Millennium?, she say her Goodbyes looking at Terra and the Universe. "Goodnight Terra, Goodnight Universe" Goodnight Krinsten, See you in Endfield Space dog

[@PlayerSlotAvailable]

Why did I cry just reading your comment 😭😭

[@mercce6750]

Oh good, I really thought she died from that.

[@davidm4171]

​@@mercce6750 if you read the story, it mentioned Sarcophagus... A coffin like thing used by the doctor's hibernation and got amnesia, so that's why she say "good night Terra, good night Universe" because she just gonna fell asleep for like... Centuries maybe?

[@josuad6890]

judging from the investigation result, the last image of her has a quote "Let us meet again in the true skies", we can pretty much guess that she'll appear in Endfield.

[@jonnevitu4979]

Sorry but Kristen*

[@dullahaut329]

Fun fact: the countdown sequence used in Control's Wishes was taken directly from a recording of the launch of Voyager 1, which is awesome because Voyager 1 and it status as the first man-made object to leave the Solar System is hugely thematically appropriate for Kristen Wright's (Control's) story.

[@sou8063]

Fun fact, the words are a direct sampling of the audio of Voyager 1's launch! In all i think it'd be nice if you saw yourself, no need to react, to the event trailer because the initial buildup is given so much justice by the space age iconography and then the altitude signage As you said, such a simple melody all in all, but keeps you hooked with that pull behind your chest to reach the end, to continue and go onwards. Thanks a lot for reacting marco! ❤

[@hyperactive371]

had to check it out as soon as I read this. Makes this already incredible event that's kept me fucked up for weeks even moreso. Absolutely stunning work

[@LNgKhoi]

Out of all the launches, they picked Voyager 1. It can't be more poetic than this.

[@VrpalnRIsr]

I still remember when Under Tides came on. The absolute awe of the whole fanbase. Stultifera Navis almost reached the same amount of hype. But I can absolutely be sure that Lonetrail is, and probably will forever be the best event we'll ever get. Going to space, entwined with the personal struggles of the people working on the project. This event is an hommage to the Apollo missions and every people involved. A true masterpiece.

[@Jukantos]

Literally blows the lore and world of Arknights wide open, resolving some of the oldest and biggest mysteries (where did the the infectious, magic enabling rocks that cause unnatural catastrophies come from?) and sets up an EVEN BIGGER one, the whole planet being enclosed in a machine of a race that came before, a machine Kristen was determined to sacrifice herself to BUST out of.

[@olodesu]

I started to play Arknights because of the Under Tides soundtrack. I just listened to it on youtube. Again and again. Checked the characters. They looked cool, Bloodborne Victorian aesthetics. Abyssal hunters, which is really close to Bloodborne theme too. Not the first time I play a game because I enjoyed the soundtrack that I listened to first. Still play it. I'm still very impressed how much the developers love their own game, their own product. Compared to the many other games that are so uninspiring, bland, unremarkable. Even if they have a gigantic budget. Arknights, despite being a gacha, offers some nice gameplay with a big variety of modifications, new ideas, new difficulties, enemies, bosses, etc. And, of course, the music. Easily one of the best games I've ever played, not even recently but overall in ~20 years.

[@HyuseS4]

For me i don't think this beats Stultifera Navis,mainly because i am not fond of most characters on Rhine Lab other than Saria and Ifrit at most.and Silence being more of the 'protagonist' of this event kinda kills it hard for me sadly,but i really love the whole Space theme.

[@faya5280]

i got goosebumbs watching Under Tides trailer when it first came, the OST just so good

[@moth7579]

I still find it funny what silence emotional background is literally the hardest obstacle on Saria's way all the time. Girl can literally fall from the space but still can't figure out right way to speak with unstable bird@@HyuseS4

[@narius_jaden215]

Man the story of this event was just so glorious. and the context behind this song only adds to the emotional weight and depth it holds. For all my arknights fans, Good night Terra, and Good Night Kirsten.

[@Hakkar6993]

This event was an insane bombshell of lore on several different subjects, but it also managed to wrap all of that up in such an emotional and glorious storyline. What an amazing event.

[@Archangels_righthandboi]

“Goodnight Terra, you will be missed” -Kristian maybe

[@Jukantos]

I was genuinely angry at her. What a selfish way to kill herself ☹

[@martonkolcsei4322]

​@@JukantosWell she didn't kill herself. She put herself into hibernation. Makes me hopeful we find her or at least her recorded Message in Endfield eventually

[@sushiman645]

@@Hakkar6993 and endfield alpha release is make it even more epic

[@shiromiyaalexander3332]

2:57 At this exact moment is where everyone (including Marco) become awed by the sheer emotion of this music. No commentary, no remarks, only silence to show respect to the one who pioneered the future, Kirsten Wright. Emotions can change a person, even those who have grown accustomed to such emotion. This is the beauty of music.

[@EmuachPuff]

I really love this bgm, makes me wanna cry every time :'' The neat part is, when you farming mats on the boss stage on 1x speed, at the end of count down the boss will appear. Thank you for reacting music as always, marco! I love your content

[@MoaoAyt]

For me on Double Time, it’s when Kristen steps on the Gravity Panel. Give or take that T-alter had a play in this.

[@luminary69revision2]

I've grown up loving everything to do with space, fiction or not. I tend to gain and lose interest in all sorts of different topics fairly often thanks to ADHD and hyperfixation, but all my life space has been just about the one thing that never fails to catch my attention. I have this one super old US space program documentary on a DVD somewhere that I've watched at least a dozen times in my childhood. Listening to this song for the first time while watching the PV for the event on a livestream, I had flashbacks to that documentary and how I always felt watching it. I'm fairly certain that's the one and only time I've had flashbacks of any kind. The PV in question is one of the regular event PVs (i.e. animated graphics as opposed to full-blown 2d or 3d anime style stuff) but even the somewhat minimalistic designs in conjunction with the music make it hit so much harder than it already does without the video. This song alone completely broke me for a week or two at least, and most of the other soundtrack from the event isn't far behind in terms of emotional weight. If I'm not focused on anything else, it's very much impossible for me to not have goosebumps for just about the whole duration of the song, even after as many times as I've heard it. I like to joke sometimes that Lone Trail was made for me specifically. I almost think your silence after the countdown speaks more to the emotional impact of the song than your words do lmao, maybe that's just me Couple fun facts someone already mentioned this in another comment but Kristen Wright, the event's final boss, enters the stage as the countdown ends (if you let the stage play uninterrupted at 1x speed) the composer, Steven Grove, sampled actual launch countdown audio for that part (so I've been told anyway) *serious* Goodnight, Terra. Goodnight, universe. *unserious* kristen literally fought the sky and won yeah that's the unserious take but it's also genuinely what happened

[@ic4192]

As a fellow ADHD kid with a fixation on space this comment resonated with me so hard

[@MaiZora]

Control’s Wishes is definitely one of the most beautiful ost of Arknights

[@DylanoRevs]

I would not be surprised if someone makes a video regarding space and sci-fi stuff in games or movies, and they would use this music for the background. It is such a perfect music for that kind of genre

[@luminary69revision2]

my chinese friend has apparently seen a chinese space program documentary that used it as background music lmfao

[@LithNeo]

Arknights continues to be one of the best mobile games. When this event was announced in the CN live stream and I was watching it, my wife asked what movie trailer I was watching and sounded very interested because of all the CN voice lines for the new operators. Then I broke the news it is just for Arknights and she just went "Oh, nvm."

[@LithNeo]

@please_be_an_operator_soon Not at all, I thought it was funny when it happened too. My wife has stopped asking because she isn't sure if it's music for a movie/show or Arknights music haha.

[@ImpassiveCanine]

Egotist. Betrayer. Seeker. Loner. Pioneer. Goodnight, Terra.

[@user-mb5pg4uz4u]

It's a fun fact that boss(Kristen) appears when the count down finished.

[@ramahikari1014]

No she's not, already tried it, you have to timed it perfectly with both 2x and 1x speed

[@exwanderer]

Definitely one of the best Arknights event in terms of lorewise

[@VladDascaliuc]

This song is all the more powerful with the visuals of all the different heights reached by the people within the world of Terra. Seeing all the progress made up until you get the drop where you see Kristen Wright going beyond the highest point reached by her parents before their deaths is fantastic. This event as a whole is top notch.

[@VCE4]

After the countdown started off, you went silent, with no more pausing and commenting on the fly, till the very end of the song. Face expression sometimes tells no less than an actual words. Thank you, Marco. For reacting to my notion and for appreciating this music piece. Thank you.

[@arcanafool9738]

'... What do they inevitably mean, and what is it, that life ultimately seeks? ' 'The Future'

[@Darkwings01]

Control's Wishes genuinely brings a tear to my eye as someone who formerly pursued a degree in Astronomy. It gives a reminder that people are genuinely pursuing the final frontier the a great passion! I can't help but thank Hypergryph for their arrangement of this soundtrack!

[@chaos_aurelius]

honestly man, only after finishing the story did I ever understand why the event is named "Lone Trail"

[@TrollBishbaalkin]

The main event menu changing was such an eye opener, i literally paused for a minute thinking that.

[@lemonlord1594]

​@@TrollBishbaalkinusually I skip the story and speed run it. But after hearing the ost and see how the second screen, I froze and was in awe. This is the first time after a long time that the game intruiges me to read the story

[@intenseavarice34]

A road paved by Rhine lab, but walked alone by Control. A lonetrail

[@alvianekka80]

She knew it's a one way trip, so she has prepared escape pods for her guards and staffs. And for Saria, maybe just drop her back to Terra.

[@colorx6030]

Ah, it was this music that contributed to like 80% of why I recalled my childhood fascination of space. Amazing.

[@wanabid98]

This actually the only arknight song that make me tear, not awe not excitement but emotional flood that events surprise me. Space and aviation have being me and my father dream and seeing what is beginning of space travel in arknight and the new frontier that its open just like how its happen to us is deserves all amount of respect, good night Kristen Wright.

[@baconmandanthe3rd944]

fun fact: one of the writers of Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 praised Lone Trail for it's writing! i completely agree, this is event is now my favorite tied with il siracusano, arknights has amazing writing, lore and music! I wish more people would get into it or at least recognize it, i truly believe it fits the bill as "underrated"

[@Siverron]

Yo, where can I read more about this fun fact

[@luisf.delcanto3167]

@@Siverron r/arknights/comments/17rpss1/one_of_the_writers_of_critically_acclaimed_games/

[@derp4581]

Is there any event I should read before reading Lone Trail? I'm also half excited half scared cause the word count for the event is basically a full length novel

[@kitamuratsuyoshi164]

@@derp4581 previous event before Lone Trail is Dorothy's Vision, all about Rhine Lab site 359 tragedy explained there, which uplift Kristen ambition starting there

[@randomscroller01]

Lone Trail is anything but underrated, everyone talks about it as far events are concerned. I think its rated fairly

[@Daark_Karma]

Honestly really love the music in this event! Quickly one of my favs so far

[@lloleolom]

"Control’s Wishes" and "Ad Astra" - I think it's the best OST that HG has ever done. "Good night, Terra." "Good night, Universe." "Good night, Kristen."

[@rasarr1611]

Fun fact: if you play the stage at normal speed, the countdown ends exactly when the boss enters the arena.

[@selloryebir]

As someone who used to study astrophysics but ended up abandoning my ideals for practical reasons, every time I hear this tune I feel like I've found my love for astrophysics. Thinking, if I continue to study it, will I also be able to see the wonderful view of the universe that Kristen sees in her eyes. For me, it's like a movie in my head when I hear this tune. The music at the beginning is nebulous, like a free camera taking you floating in Kristen's aircraft, walking through every compartment, giving you a sense of the enormity of this structure, which will be in the universe later. Then, there is a scale that descends repeatedly and remains unchanged, which refers to Kristen talking to herself as she prepares for liftoff. Suddenly, the tempo becomes tense, and another similar descending scale appears, represented by Saria running in. The two sections appear interactively, showing that Saria is talking to Kristen when counting down. Saria persuades Kristen not to do it, while Kristen stands firm and calm. That's why one side of the scale gradually becomes increasingly impatient while the other barely changes. Then the craft lifts off, and it's all too late. After that, the melody is passionate and generous, representing Kristen and Saria's view of their surroundings as the craft lifts off. This final section of the song has three iterative crescendos, representing the gradual separation of the three boost stages. Finally, the music thins out. Saria jumps out of the craft, moving further and further away from Kristen, who is gradually seeing the picture outside Terra.

[@Salim-RS]

Neat tidbit that the composer for Control Wishes is the very same composer for Under Tides's Boss theme as well, it's obvious if you hear the first few beats from both back to back

[@JullOxW]

I would strongly recommend you watch the Arknights LoneTrail trailer (not the 3D animated one) when you can, even if not on youtube. Control's Wishes is both the boss theme for this event and the music used in the trailer, which with the visual is amplified further with its payoff. First time watching it and hearing "We have a lift off" was simply amazing as a fan of the game. For a bit more context (tho others already said it in the comments). Control's Wishes is the theme for the boss fight against Kristen Wright, a great scientist and basically CEO of the biggest scientific/tech group in Columbia (Arknights equivalent of USA). Her dream was always to reach the sky/space of Terra and she quite literally tricked the whole country to do so. Modifying a weapon project into a rocket to reach further than anyone has ever, opening a new era. The fight itself time the music with her entrance, and the whole build-up around it makes it even more emotional (since you don't win anyway). Overall a beautiful piece which by itself is as you explained, but with the game and the story behind it, is simply even more beautiful. _And since Ik I've got poor writing skills in English, sorry if that's difficult to read/understand xD Hope I got my point accross._

[@darkunykorn404]

This event is AMAZING. So well written, I actually got emotional more than once (Rosmontis and Ifrit deserve the world). And for someone who loves science fiction and the awe and wonder of space, the soundtrack is just... ugh it's glorious. Good night, Terra.

[@MrPeanut624]

This is not just about going to space. It's about finding out what space really is.

[@TheOnlyRinzy]

This song honestly evokes so much just.. raw emotion. I've never felt so... proud? Listening to a song.

[@hdes330]

Ngl everytime i hear this ost, i feel like i'm floating in space. what a amazing song.

[@96kami31]

You got to hear the lobby theme of Lone Trail man, its called "Ad Astra". Its a track that makes me feel that there is a secret waiting to be unveiled beyond the fake sky of Terra and questions the meaning of life itself.

[@SoulWhiteAngel]

5:45 you breaking down exactly what the events story is supposed to be in such a short section, is so cool you caught all that just from the song. This is why i love AK music. Thanks for the breakdown :).

[@Kalaku]

That is a masterpiece

[@valk5041]

Hearing 2:45 in game was a surreal experience even though I got folded during Kristen's second phase

[@kazuma2814]

Just use Teler, Ntr, Yalter, Surtr, Chalter, Mlynar hahahahaha

[@niklassjvar1635]

Are you by any chance new? If yes then this is a perfect event to try and push further since its more forgiving, kinda like ideal city

[@valk5041]

@@niklassjvar1635 ye I'm pretty new

[@intenseavarice34]

​@kazuma2814 Meta slave detected. Also Ling can solo the boss if you need that many ops then you actually have a skill issue

[@kazuma2814]

@@intenseavarice34 why should I waste my time when I can clear shit faster?

[@UnholyShite]

This song is up there with Under Tides. Ocean Voyage and Space Exploration

[@JullOxW]

Waking up and there's a new marco video on one of your most favorite Arknights event music. Love to see it

[@MarcoMeatball]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Infinite_Star]

I knew you'd get to this! Imo, one of the best pieces.

[@ralz7]

for me Lonetrail is the best event in Arknight! Everything in this event just perfecto 👌

[@widyasl]

this music will hits different after you finish to read the story too truly the pinnacle of arknights universe, I would fall for it over and over again

[@ariqerr4472]

As for now I watching this at midnight, Gooodnight, Marco

[@facto3exsito352]

all the low percussion rumbling feels like "nervous heartbeat" to me, there is different tempo to it before and after the countdown but the essence "im nervous, but this has to be done" is still there this music really captures the feels of the event, there is a lot of bitterness and hardship but this step have to be taken. Good night Kristen, wait for us, one day we will be there~

[@TheLastQuazar]

This OST is perfect fit for a movie like Interstellar and music like Hans Zimmer

[@luiscosta1899]

This event is legit one of the best reading experiences i had in a while, not far behind from Ill Siracusano. AK writers at their peak with actually great eng translation.

[@darkpast2177]

I just finished reading the story after 6 hours i can't help but cry in the end the way it closed off the story and all the emotions pouring out

[@brakthalas]

So so so so happy you are covering this, even though it was inevitable you would. Everything about this song screams "I dream of knowing space and I will make my dream a reality."

[@ShakeyMac18]

Man Marco, you always just fucking nail it. Especially the "shedding of baggage" line you said at the end. That is literally what the character this song is about - Kristen Wright - does as her "final act." She leaves behind her entire world, all of her friends who she cares for and loves, all to pursue her dream, the dream of her parents, to breach the seal of the sky and see what's beyond. In the last moments that we, the player, witness her in the story, she's going throughout the various areas of her "spacecraft" (a generous term, as it has no self-propulsion that we know of, so this is a 1-way trip), powering down each of the areas until she's left in the Vivarium, surrounded by samples of hundreds of terrestrial plants taken with her for data collection purposes. She makes one final log entry, tackling some existential questions about the possibility of other life out in space. She knows, and accepts, that her craft was not built to survive interstellar travel, and that her only hope - such as it is - resides in the life pod. She has no idea how long she'll last. But she leaves this final log as evidence of all that she has done. I'm tearing up thinking about it all over again. Shedding baggage indeed. What an absolute legend.

[@RratRemi]

Finished the story to this (unfortunately 12 hour work shifts makes it hard for me to play arknights) and i gotta say, the music really does push your emotions with context... Kirsten, you fucking did it. Hope to see you in endfield in some way

[@user-je5mb9yy8n]

Thank you so much for doing this. This is all I've ever wanted you to take a look at. This tune did blow me away when it first was released, so all I knew is that I wanted you to see this.

[@fogheta]

Man I love this theme so much, glad you're covering it!

[@strawberrymilkshake4576]

This event is just.. Spectacular!! From the story, characters, and of course these music oh my god!

[@agdtkry]

Even without the context of the story, the song manages to convey the feeling of gravity and hope wrapped in melancholy. With context? This song is a masterpiece, following Control's true wishes, Kristen's wishes Goodnight, Kristen

[@hazarulsutoto5374]

Everytime!!! Every fricking TIME!!! I always see the Altimeter goes high and beyond after that "We have a lift off"

[@Blazuchan]

YES! I listen to this like... six month ago? or three? before the event come out, it filled me with sense of exploration, discovery, and advancement of humanity in uncovering the sky above us, makes me teary too. And i said, _Man, i can't wait Marco listen to this greatness._

[@Kaltsit-]

The only problem with this song that I have is that I’m vibing so much that I’ve failed finishing this stage way too many times.

[@AndoaintheMartyr]

Regarding Lone Trail's story, it's considered by the comunity as Arknights peak fiction, even i heard one of the Baldur's Gate 3 storywriter really praises the story...

[@CyclingNeko]

This side story is almost like a main episodes of Arknights. There are a lot of important information being revealed here. I kinda confused why Control really want to go to space and firing the laser, when when they revealed, I was like... oooh! So that's why...! Then the blank screen with text explaining more about Terra and Talos, and what Talos can do to Terra, I was like.... holyshit...!

[@Hakkar6993]

​@@CyclingNeko Yeah, turns out when they were speaking of hitting a "barrier" in the sky, they meant an actual, literal, physical barrier. lmao

[@CyclingNeko]

@@Hakkar6993 Yeah, the story is remind me of one old anime called Scrapped Princess. Basicaly, a properchy is given to this princess that she will destroy the world by the time she's reaching the age of 16. So she is being abandoned. The princess is rescued and protected by a family of warrior and wizard from their Gods and worshipper who always tried to kill the Princess. It turn out, humanity are living in a sealed floating continent that being managed by these gods. They are surpresed into living in medieval era and unable to resist their gods. These gods will destroy any human/nation that predicted to start developing their ability surpassing medieval era technology and culture. These gods are basically a zoo keeper for mankind. They don't want human to go out from their cage because these gods are programmed to prevent humanity from extinction (because of war against an alien race). While the princess does not have any combat ability, she have the ability to resist gods will. She is also capable to activate other human ability to resist too. The princess also capable to turn off the seal and land the continent back on earth surface. But this decision also come with a consequence, humanity might destroy them self or went extinction by the alien race (the gods are making a peace treaty with the alien). Basically, Kristen is the Princess. The only different is Kristen know what happen exactly and have power to do it by herself with the consequence she's willing to accept.

[@xZeke97]

This is my favorite of all the events in Arknights. The story, the stages, the theme, the characters, the lore, its so good.

[@barbarossa2166]

A New Age Is Upon Us! -Lone Trail

[@yang8271]

My favorite thing about this event is that it captures the existential greatness of space and knowledge. It shivers down your spine while reading and playing, it's such a magnificent piece of writing and building. One of the best, if not the best event I ever read in this game

[@olodesu]

I listened to the OST of this event many times. It's breathtaking. Creates so many emotions and associations, thematically and personally. The music is so brilliant, I can feel a lump in the throat due to the strong emotional feedback.

[@dajoey2198]

IIRC, someone said that the countdown was taken from real Apollo launch countdown by NASA, but idk which one

[@mengeryen2856]

I absolutely adore it when Marco is mesmerized by the drop 🔥

[@saskiaichida5620]

I Love arknights and its music this was by far one of the more saddening stories in the arknights lore

[@memesrdreams4854]

The feeling of being "floating" is fitting, given the event's gameplay mechanic is gravity and switching its tilt. You can even see the surroundings of the lab the stage is inside of moving whenever you swap the direction.

[@thewinterprince1731]

I just finished this event today, and it's one of my favorite stories I've ever seen in a video game. The sheer amount of SOUL and PASSION put into it is downright intense, and it even got meta at one point, calling out the Doctor in a manner that was clearly calling us out as players.

[@mercce6750]

Man I was hoping you would do an analysis on this one, considering how it is the boss theme of the current Anniversary event. This one is probably my favourite so far of the CN anniversary event themes (probably even more so than Under Tides and SN). Also the fact that in the boss stage, if you play at x1 speed (there are x1 and x2 speed options), the boss appear at the countdown drop is just amazing tbh.

[@cuup.]

the lobby theme from lone trail is quite great aswell imo

[@jorgetoledo427]

Good night, Terra

[@VtuberHotelVKing]

I really feel complex emotion at the last... This music is for a boss character.. And the boss finally success to be... alone. TT

[@user-px4dx7yi3x]

This video was so heartwarming, thank you.

[@MarcoMeatball]

You’re welcome!!!!

[@HeliPotter2000]

Goodnight Terra... Goodnight Universe... -Kristen Wright

[@sinteleon]

Trivia: if you play the stage at 1x speed, Kristen (Control) appears on the drop after the countdown.

[@fahrurrozy9901]

What a great review! Still waiting for Ad Astra one

[@trash.st4r]

Idk how you manage to cover every one of my obsessions but you do😭 thank you🙏

[@MarcoMeatball]

You're welcome 😊

[@sibericusthefrosty9950]

Oh Marco, I wish you could read Lonetrail, the story is so beautiful.

[@Frostburnphoenix]

I may have skipped most of the story for Lone Trail when i was first doing the event, but i had to pause when first hearing this. The amount of raw feeling of the music after the countdown left me speechless

[@brachycrab]

This event made me cry. This song and Ad Astra make me tear up every time. Everything about it - the soundtrack, the art, the story - is just so beautiful Good night Terra, good night universe, good night Kristen Wright

[@olli-mattiheilio4554]

Lone Trail, in regards to all the music surrounding it, trailers, character songs etc is, as a whole, IMO the best Arknights offering thus far.

[@josuad6890]

It's one of those songs you can... "see". From the very obvious cue that it's a rocket taking off, the melody that just goes up and up and up like said rocket, the sense of finality in the music, like the one inside the rocket thinks that "this is it".

[@hermanwillem7057]

peak AK fr fr. what would i give to erase my memory of everything about Lone Trail and experience it again.

[@hermanwillem7057]

@@please_be_an_operator_soon oh that's me too. before lone trail i rank both WiR and UT as the peak for AK as both achieved the perfect atmosphere for each theme. but Lone Trail peak them both

[@bakutie]

the countdown is from voyager 1s launch

[@wellaalessa9331]

Goodnight, Terra

[@artemi7]

I don't think it's crazy to say that this is the biggest, most ambitious, most beautiful story in all of Arknights. This isn't about a person, or a people, or even really an idea. It's about... everything. All of us.

[@morianomordekhai]

This event has so much parallel with the Apollo 11 mission, not just the music but the audio and visual too, it is really aesthetically pleasing. Also the story, man the story is one of the best,.

[@rebirthluminary]

Heya, Marco, thanks for picking this up! You should've checked the trailer for Lone Trail; this song fits the trailer to a T. It's probably my favorite Arknights trailer (and song!) so far.

[@Rizaru99]

Ofc it sounds pretty basic but for those who knows the context and the lore, it hits you fcking hard like a ton of originium bricks...

[@dashima5879]

WE HAVE A LIFT OFF

[@aereonexapprentice7205]

Wanted to say something in the comments here, but honestly the music is just so encaptivating that i quite got nothing. Also funny you say the lack of melody at the start makes you feel like we're not going to battle, as in-game the moment this song comes, it's not really a feeling of battle but rather an encounter, remarkably conveyed by the OST and the general atmosphere.

[@luisf.delcanto3167]

SPOILERS AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . This event is important about one of the biggest lore pieces in Arknights: The sky and stars are fake, it's a barrier, that makes it impossible to leave... or enter. Kristen Wright, in-universe Elon Musk (jk, but she's the co-owner of the biggest scientic development company in in-universe US), makes a plan to go in a rocket and pierce the barrier. By the end of the event, Kristen succeeds, but comms are lost with her. We just need to hope that she didn't condemn us all.

[@matasa7463]

The Observers always watches. *They* are coming.

[@Razor4884]

"A new age is upon us"

[@abduhzuhdi8391]

finally Marco react to this kino trail!!!

[@rialokita1295]

After hearing this song, i realized how small i am in this vast universe

[@akitamatsu4467]

A few seconds in Okay We're in space 😂

[@draknusdesderdus7506]

the only thing I'd add to your analysis is the feeling of uncertainty right after liftoff, like you aren't sure if you'll make it, or if you've made the right choice.

[@kpyorz760]

When I read about Kristen's race being Perro, she reminds me of a dog named Laika, died in Sputnik 2. Probably unrelated though.

[@velvetra29]

Lone Trail is just an amazing story from Arknights. Great analysis! Good night, Terra.