Medal of Honor: Underground (2000 Video Game) [Soundtrack]

Michael Giacchino | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 12, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• ASIN: B000055X9W
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,387 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. May 10th, 1940 (Main Theme)

2. The Streets of Paris

3. Amongst the Dead

4. Fleeing the Catacombs

5. Panzer Blockade

6. The Road to Tobruk

7. Escape From Casablanca

8. Passage to Iraklion

9. Labyrinth of the Minotaur

10. Ascent to the Castle

11. Last Rites

12. The Battle of Monte Cassino

13. The Motorcycle Chase

14. Returning to Paris

15. Beneath the City

16. Each Night He Comes Home to Me

17. May 10th, 1940 (Alternate Version)

18. Er ldsst mich niemals allein (OSS Radio Broadcast)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Michael Giacchino's follow-up to the first Medal of Honor video game soundtrack is slightly less intense, but just as beautiful as the original. The composer once again melds symphonic elements (played by the Northwest Sinfonia) with a choir to create a stunning score, but the themes are different here, slightly less epic and more subtle. The video game's story line follows a woman (Manon) in the French Resistance during World War II and so, instead of numerous John Williams-inspired combat themes, we get dramatic cuts such as "Panzer Blockade" and "Labyrinth of the Minotaur," where quick tempos and spiky rhythms prove more effective than big crescendos loaded with percussion. On "Returning to Paris," you can virtually hear all the obstacles that come across Manon's field of vision. Like its predecessor, this disc ranks with Hollywood's best dramatic soundtracks, and Giacchino proves again he's a composer to watch. Maybe not the most original music you've heard, but certainly an effective and well-played sonic match to the video game. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The original was amazing, the sequal beyond incredible!, January 7, 2001

By 

Joseph Payne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medal of Honor: Underground (2000 Video Game) (Audio CD)

For every person I know who owned the original "Medal of Honor" soundtrack, not one of them said a negative word about it. Of course, for all of the Giacchino fans, we all wanted to hear a sequel to "Medal of Honor", and sure enough, guess who got the job. With all the experience he had gained for composing the original "Medal of Honor" soundtrack, Giacchino took the score for the sequel above and beyond that of the original. It is not very often that you find a sequel better then an original, but when it comes to music, Underground in particular, that is not the case. For every minute you spend listening to this score, you will never doubt all the time and effort Giacchino put into composing it... --- Like Giacchino said before the release of Underground, the musical style was to be much different then its predecessor. In many cases, this is true, but you always know a Giacchino score when you hear one. If you're like me, you always looked forward to the "German theme" that was spread about in "Medal of Honor", and to my surprise, it is used periodically in Underground. As a matter of fact, the opening main theme begins with thick piano chords thundering in the background, immediately followed by the German theme. (Yes, it makes you say: "They're back!") This is followed by a soft rhythm for the strings brass, and sometimes even an accordion! Since Underground is based on the French Resistance forces who menaced German occupation during World War II, the accordion really takes the music into shape, even if it does sound rather funny at first. --- Although every track for Underground has it's different themes and styles, none are as good as "Escape from Casablanca". Just as "Taking Out the Railgun" was the big hit in "Medal of Honor", Casablanca gets the fame for Underground. Here Giacchino combines a swift rhythm, bold brass, and the ever-so-fearsome German theme to make a king of all the tracks. "Escape from Casablanca" is definitely one of the main attractions for this score. --- So, "should I get it" you say? For me, the answer is a little obvious. Get it now!!! Especially for those of you who own the original MOH. Underground is twice, or even more, better. It's another one of those scores that becomes addictive after awhile. (and there aren't many soundtracks like that) As always, you can here all the interesting techniques that John Williams uses in his music throughout Underground, so if you're big on Williams, this couldn't better. Give this one a try. A definite must-buy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you liked "Medal of Honor"...., December 16, 2000

By 

Rachel Roberts (Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medal of Honor: Underground (2000 Video Game) (Audio CD)

You'll LOVE "Medal of Honor: Underground"! When my best friend let me borrow his CD, I didn't think that I would like it.... ha ha ha, he sure showed me. Thanks, Joe. : ) Anyway, I listened to it non-stop. It is a really good soundtrack to get if you like intense music, because believe me, it'll get you pumped. Michael Giacchino certainly knows how to make breath-taking music, and I believe that he is up on the charts with John Williams. The Orchestration is fantastic and one of the best I've heard... This one is definitely worth every cent.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Soundtrack for a video game, July 21, 2004

By 

K. Pascual - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medal of Honor: Underground (2000 Video Game) (Audio CD)

The Medal of Honor games have the best composed music because it does not use keyboard or techno music, it actually uses carefully orchestrated music. Giacchino does an excellent job composing. The music itself enhances gameplay many times, its suspenseful and adds a sense of victory when levels are accomplished especially during Mission 6 of of third medal of honor which encorporates the same music but is reprised with more instruments and added note. Giacchino also does very well with the new WWII game that was released last fall which was Call of Duty. Overall, the soundtrack for the Medal of Honor series is material that are equal to other great composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams.