Customer Reviews

Heart Of Darkness: Original Soundtrack Recording

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

first , the Score is amazing ! harmonics, rythms etc...
The Symphonia Of London played it with grace, and power...
definitly a CD you must have ;o)

After a waiting for years, Intrada does it. Heart Of Darkness is a sensationnal symphonic score for a videogame. Bruce Broughton (composer of Silverado, Tombstone, Lost In Space, etc...) composed a magical music which combined talent and genius. You can follow the adventures of Andy because the music shows you the way. You can buy it now.

Just a forewarning - as Bruce Broughton said himself, and as is true with most any video game or film score, the soundtrack losses some of its magic without having played the game first. With that out of the way, it shouldn't be surprising that this is a very good score, even without the game. Broughton uses a number of unique themes, from the ominous Master of Darkness theme that opens the score to the lighthearted and sometimes comical themes representing Andy and his exploits. The game itself jumps between more lighthearted moments and conversely dark and dramatic moments, and the various moods in the game are excellently reflected on the score.

Anyone reading this should already know that the soundtrack comes from the computer game Heart of Darkness, but it should also be noted that it was perhaps the first fully orchestrated soundtrack produced for the CD-ROM format in the United States. There are only a couple minor reasons that this doesn't get a 5 - first, the soundtrack does lose a little something outside the context of the game. It's gripping music to be sure, but the visuals help immeasurably. Secondly, the Master of Darkness theme, while appropriately dark and memorable, is just a couple steps away from being one of the most gripping themes of its kind. Still, this is an excellent soundtrack that anyone who loved the game should enjoy.