This is what I tend to do, except I start with stock audio loops. Then as I get a feel for the sound I’m going for, I build up my own loops from scratch and replace the stock ones.
The useful thing about doing it this way is that if you end up with a bit of the original left in, nobody’s going to sue you for infringement; it will just sound slightly derivative.
The trick would be to reverse engineer the formula.
What are the elements of the songs that make your recognize it as belonging to that game?
Do they use a similar beat, “instruments”, or chord progression? Try to use as many of these traits on an original melody.
I just thought of a way to practice!
Don’t use your own melody yet. Rip off a melody from another game, and try to make it sound like it belongs in the game you’re trying to mimic.
For example, take one of the Super Mario themes, and try to make it sound like it came from Donkey Kong Country.
That way you’re focusing on WHAT gives the vibes without worrying about actually composing anything yet.
This is what I tend to do, except I start with stock audio loops. Then as I get a feel for the sound I’m going for, I build up my own loops from scratch and replace the stock ones.
The useful thing about doing it this way is that if you end up with a bit of the original left in, nobody’s going to sue you for infringement; it will just sound slightly derivative.