4 those who see(k) the art in games
Music
Civilization music
0I have to give a shout out for this brilliant music, it’s been in my head for the last couple of days and i finally remembered where it was from. Also from Civ 3 I’d recommend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb-30whUbaI&feature=related and the Civ 4 opening song is quite unique & memorable too http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Baba+Yetu/5301o
PS: oh, definitely this one from Civ 3: very romantic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyAnyqYmjdo&feature=related
Kingdom Hearts Piano Recording
0I wonder if they were really writing sheet music at that moment or if it was a intended moment. Kewl insight either way!
Assassin’s Creed II music
0While the concept of variety certainly does attract me the mention of the romance and contrast to the dark first game (which btw i don’t think was dark at all) brings to mind the second star wars movie in the new trilogy which I think i was very dissapointed with and just made me put my last hopes in for the 3rd.
Back to the topic on hand though: seems like some pretty high quality music. Too bad i’m not into chorals, but alwasys makes me happy to see such nice productions.
PS: is it just me or do the locations look too much the same?
Interstate ’76, the atmosphere, the muzaaak
2I’m partial to car games in the sense that I’m quite not not enjoying them. Maybe it’s the fact that I never wanted to have a car and never got the excitement… so it happens that though i have tried several and indeed respect a lot the production values of many of them and could totally see why somebody would enjoy them very much I can only think of a couple that are closer to my heart (Carmageddon, I76, Burnout…), and they tend to be of the non-realistic type… this is about one of them:
Interstate 76 totally captured me with it’s story and most importantly it’s atmosphere. From radio chatter to vigilante attitudes & histories, and last but certainly not least: it’s groovy funky music… which is why I actually started writign this post and remembered I76: apparently there’s still a website/community surviving for this game, and that’s where I found a full downloadable mp3 soundtrack :D how cool is that?
http://www.interstate76.com/download/i76audio.htm
As for the game: if you can endure it’s super low polygon graphics (which you might say adds a very interesting style) and you are curious about a vigilante car game where a group of car enthusiasts do their own police-ing… give it a try. I remember when i was playing it I was impressed with the mission variety, from shooting out your window to mounting stuff in the garage & missions ranging from hunting to running away and everything in between… but yes, that was like more than 10 years ago, so think by those standards. Either way, worth mentioning the music which doesn’t age like that. (btw, I hope slowly games will slow their rapid aging process… though since even photoperfect movies do I doubt it will ever stop…)
PS: i kept searching for the install mp3 (i remember I saved it for years after playing it), it’s a fun mix with switching radio stations until it i think settles on the song that starts around minute 1 on this youtube clip
30 Seconds to Mars debuts single in Dragon Age
0[comments after reading this Kotaku article: http://kotaku.com/5396934/new-30-seconds-to-mars-single-debuts-in-dragon-age ]
I have huge love for this band… but like with many TV series… it’s the first album(s) that have it… and this new stuffs seems (to me) to have lost the magic that made them rise, which kinda makes sense… when you’re unknown it’s easier to be “tormented” enough to create stuff like they did… BUT one thing i do recall always listening to their music is my respect for them having lyrics that really spark my imagination, stuff that I often wondered how come they dared write about, when it’s much more mass-market to write about love/relationship stuff… and yet they did write these songs which to me sounded like lyrics for some sci fi novel soundtrack or something… anways, back on topic: maybe i didn’t drift off topic that far because it seems they (or others?) have too realized this and mixed a song with a game… as for it’s newness: hurrayyy for games!!!!! It says something that a big band like that would debut a song on a game.
World of Goo Soundtrack
0
Let’s say you missed my rants on how fabulous WoG is as an experience, or it’s delightful graphics and ingenious ideas, don’t miss at least the release of it’s soundtrack (free! imagine that!)… though, again… it’s 300% more powerful in context (imagine you just did the impossible tower and you’re rewarded with cloud angel songs of glory in ironic pseudo hollywood lipstick jungles)
PS: seriously though, if you know how to use a mouse, give yourself a treat and at least download the demo (windows, mac, linux, you pick!) and get a taste of it’s delightfully cute glory
(more…)
Killzone 2 GT Preview
0I tried to focus on his voice, honest i did but that background music got my adrenaline going… could this be the first shooter after Quake 2 to feature a adrenaline pumping instrumental soundtrack that i’m going to love? :D the environments seem very dark, which may turn out to be moody… i guess. I’m not very impressed with the artwork, or story… but one can only hope.
Rock Revolution [GT Review]
0Lolz… an interesting debate to be had here on how important originality is vs mass reach/refinement… to think they started it. Still… wow, quite high standards tell me the music genre is biiiiig :D
PS: took me quite a while to figure out where i know the starting song from so well :P
Golden Axe: Beast Rider – sound
0
Not thrilled about the music I hear, the voice acting seems pretty nice (though probably ultra linear, thereby reducing my chances of ever going back to it like they say they aim). As for the level artwork: not thrilled with it’s look or polish but based on the concepts it might be at least an okay artwork. Still, if it’s just going to involve killing a kazillion monsters my fingers hurt just thinking about it. Also, as they seem to be aware themselves, this is a new team and i wouldn’t be surprised if their second title showed a much improved workflow. I dare hope this game will have the potential of Drakan… but it may turn out to be yet another kill-everything bland thing too: still, it’s set in a fantasy world so I’ll probably one day give it a try, but so far they haven’t really made me drool.
(more…)
Fable 2, music & sound
0That’s pretty cool. The idea i find most fascinating is painting the ambient music on the maps… like say you have a forrest and it’s scarry but then you reach a sunny clearing with a magical tree (anybody else played Quest for Glory 2 ? :P ) and gradually the music fades from scary into calm and peaceful.