Small Soldiers (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Which one was written first is still to be questioned, but Small Soldiers and The Lost World (the video games) were the first orchestral game scores to battle upon the almighty wings today Medal of Honor stands for. Why is because all were written by Michael Giacchino, the up and coming composer who became famous for conjuring all up this wonderful material. But the difference between the Medal of Honors and Small Soldiers is just like The Lost World still wholly noticeable. Just like The Lost World, Small Soldiers has a distinct other sound, and fall together well in tone as in movement. But it sounds different, and one could say it doesn't capture that much color as now the music of Giacchino sounds like. The voice of Giacchino sounded different and especially Small Soldiers lacks that color when of course you start comparing it with Goldsmith's most over colorful movie version score. Then indeed the video game release falls flat down with its moody score. But when separated in just movie as video game version, there is something to make of it, and which of course makes the quest more noble to start with. 'Track 1' starts with African vocals and what could sound like a Russian choir with occasional fanfares, its the distinct returning aspects of the African instruments and tone and the Russian sounding choir which makes the score notably different from all the rest. But of course that is like the nature of the game itself. A theme that crops up more then enough is first heard in 'Track 2', and its kinda a theme like Medal of Honor, especially when its played noble on horns like in 3. Yet again that choir gives it a Latin Omen like chant almost for a brief while. Again, this is to be taken for the game and not the movie score by Goldsmith.

Some Lost World and jungle like effects are more clear in 'Track 4' and 'Track 5' with its moody ethnic instrumentals and rhythm. However, more tracks create a better impact with the choir then anything else, and 'Track 3' has that Russian feel again, while variating a bit with the theme. Of course from Russian it moves to African vocals like that, with 'Track 6' making the theme notably African like, it however makes the theme more presentable too. 'Track 7' has drums and almost a Russian song like hymn, with of course the main theme returning to greet us. Moody is 'Track 8', with barely a wonderful moment. Choir stating the theme in 8, main Russian song in 10 and percussion rhythm almost more alive with the trumpet ala Krull in 'Track 11', it always feels different in each track. The main theme with choir and drums in 'Track 12' does sound closer to the best performances of the theme while Terminator growls end African drums in 'Track 13'. Again, its unfair to even base Small Soldiers now with the Medal of Honor scores, and especially his best video game moments. Giacchino surely developed immensely from that point on and Small Soldiers stands as a cool testament with snippets of that voice not breaking through yet. But the theme is catchy and the African style more then surprising. Its of course not Small Soldiers of Jerry Goldsmith and in a way you miss that creative color. So you can state there will a kind of disappointment in a way when hearing this version. But when all is said and done, Small Soldiers on its own will surely speak to you, because its different and again a sign Giacchino had a good reason to venture further in the Video Game franchise, because it only took him to play with the Big Soldiers now!

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Track 1 (3.20)

2. Track 2 (3.48)

3. Track 3 (3.47)

4. Track 4 (4.22)

5. Track 5 (3.14)

6. Track 6 (4.44)

7. Track 7 (3.12)

8. Track 8 (3.44)

9. Track 9 (3.17)

10. Track 10 (3.57)

11. Track 11 (3.32)

12. Track 12 (4.13)

13. Track 13 (2.07)

Total Length: 47.48

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Michael Giacchino ===