Command & Conquer: Generals (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Video Game scores need to be carefully reviewed and examined. In context it has to support a game as a score does a movie but in many cases budget, or simply the composer plays a serious difference in the end result. You have brilliant composers like Michael Giacchino who could compose movies like that, simply because he is that good. And then you have composers who have got the skill but are so far stuck in the game business (with or without their approval) and Richard Jacques or Lennie Moore are people who shocked us once before in the recent time with amazing game scores rivaling movie scores with their sheer amazement in complexity. And then you have the functional game scores underscoring strategic games such as Command & Conquer, Dune and more. Dune 2000 was acceptable in and out context and Emperor: Battle for Dune promised a bit more diversity with pleasing and disappointing results. Command & Conquer: Generals offers even more then those two, with diversity and with pleasing results. This actually because the score sounds partly Media Ventures like in tone. But don't think bad thoughts immediately because it doesn't have to be, its not the bombast and not the same as always heard drill. No, its actually quite normal in bombast and it has got themes that listen so good, who cares if its for a game or a score. Composers Bill Brown (who wrote additional music for Ali) and Mikael Sandgren made of this score a very interesting mix between the synthesizers who sound cool and fresh and the Chinese / Japanese percussion and flutes which give this score a touch of exotic flair. Together, a working relationship.

I can't quite put my finger on it, of which score of MV it does resemble but take it from me, you'll know what I mean when you hear it. There are great score cues, like the main theme appearing coolness in 'Battle Preparations' and 'Dead in Their Tracks' which brings exotic flutes in a brilliant mix of threatening underscore, this especially sounds cool when it almost sounds practically Beyond Rangoon like or sometimes Black Rain. There are also examples of music with not even a minute on their track time, they promise great score, such as 'USA Victory' which promises some American patriotism while drums leads 'USA Defeat' in tone, 'A Peaceful Ending' shows even some fanfares ala Stargate to send things off quite nicely. And more is waiting for you around the corner, people will love the exotic Chinese rhythm in 'Scorched Earth' with great synthesizer sub themes and 'Operation: Desperate Union' is cool enough not to mention once, with playful theme variations of the main theme of track 5 in almost Pirates of the Caribbean like tone, especially here "MV" stamps the signal more then once. Other examples vary between the exotic (Chinese or even Arabic like tones in track 13) and the only use of choir is for the begin track 'War of Words' with in the middle supporting the brief main theme statements before electric guitar takes over as it began the score. Together, there is actually a lot to like of Generals, a very entertaining score with various ideas, themes and presentations and overall a quality which will surprise the players and listeners, because they will not expect such theme developing and careful insertions of exotic ideas. Partly because people still think of midi tones for VG. And that is far from the truth. In fact this score ranks with the better (not orchestral) Video Game scores and is therefore the pride owner of the rating below, because it promises and brings much more then the Dune scores, how good the moments were in those. No, Command & Conquer: Generals brings even ideas which will make die hard movie score fans think twice, and that's what I was referring to all the time in this review.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. War Of Words (3.14)

2. Broken Alliances (3.10)

3. Operation: Final Justice (3.23)

4. Red Dragon Awakes (3.22)

5. Battle Preparations (3.16) Excellent Track

6. Fighting It Out (2.48)

7. Operation: Desperate Union (3.13) Excellent Track

8. USA Victory (0.43)

9. Hong Kong Crisis (3.07)

10. Operation: Stormbringer (3.07)

11. Nuclear Winter (1.34)

12. Operation: Blue Eagle (3.19)

13. The Global Liberation Army (3.11)

14. Scorched Earth (3.17)

15. Revenge Is Sweet (3.17)

16. USA Defeat (0.54)

17. Dead In Their Tracks (3.23) Excellent Track

18. Operation: Last Call (3.12)

19. A Peaceful Ending (0.45)

Total Length: 52.24

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Sites: Bill Brown & Mikael Sandgren ===