Outcast
Lennie Moore
" An outstanding game receives a film score beauty "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Without question, without me ever thinking twice, if one single person is searching for game music that can match and eclipse film music, then Outcast is the title to look for. It is just as good as Medal of Honor. At the time of the game's release, orchestral scores for games were uncommon and Lennie Moore's score was heralded quickly as "top notch" by anyone who ever played the game. And since this is a Belgian game production I am so proud to point out that Outcast is one of the best adventure games ever to come out.
Sure, it had its faults but its goddamn interesting game play and its sole inventive adventure source makes us only wonder why not more games cover this territory. And another word, Belgians sure know their musical side when it comes down to film music. And Infogrames picked up one person that could show them that thing. Like Michael Giacchino, Lennie Moore is capable of showing what Williams means by bringing big orchestral music. Outcast easily must be in any fans' collection, if not you are missing out one of the ever best game scores of all time.
I'm simply not kidding, Outcast is performed by a large orchestra and a mesmerizing choir, delivering both the dark strength as the wondrous tones of beauty. And let me tell you, even if some tracks don't deliver the interesting beauty as some of the others, they make a serious impression through their constant large orchestral tone.
From start to finish this score is a beauty. "Opening Title" is short but to the point, brining directly fanfares and choir in a brilliant mix. "A New World" is Stargate like travel music when you travel from world to world, only here expanded in length. For 3 minutes the pace never stops and Moore throws in a variation of the main theme. This is simply glorious.
Perhaps the only tracks that will not mesmerize listeners are "Okaar - The Forest World" with its ethnic percussion a la Jurassic Park and "Okasankaar - The Swamp World". "Motazaar - The Mountain World" is for Star Wars geeks a must have, considering it uses mysterious strings a la John Williams' legendary score, complete with low sounding tuba's and horns.
Futhermore, there are 3 action tracks (if we can call them that) that you must have heard. They are brilliant examples of choral and orchestral perfection. They are so cool to hear during the game, it actually effects your gaming methods. Whenever you get close to enemy soldiers during the game this tune starts to play. I liked them all so much that I simply went to every soldier and started to fight with him, simply to hear this suspenseful and threatening score becoming breathless through the chorus. "Rising Tension" surely is the best of them all.
Yet there is so much more. Some Egyptian drums, the duduk and some swelling brilliance enlightens "Talanzaar - City in the Desert", while true choral and orchestral fanfares show the beauty and wonder of two worlds collided. "Shamazaar - The Temple World" is simply beautiful and "The Discovery of Adelpha" has these fanfares a la Stargate with both the choir and orchestra bringing what I call "music that eclipses everything you know".
Yet, it simply doesn't stop from there. A compilation from either the fanfares, wonder or travel music is heard for two exhilarating minutes in "The Decisive Battle" before without question true film magic arrives. "Marion's Death / Going Home" is one of the few musical pieces used during cut scenes (with other words, music that has to accompany the scene without being free from boundaries). And here a climatic emotional eclipse is reached! The choir flies through the speakers with an unfelt emotional brilliance, bringing you music that soars.
This is all and more what Outcast delivers. Never mind what you think of game music, simply forget that there are indeed midi musical shit tunes coming from the console. This and the Medal of Honor scores are living proof that orchestral music, even for games ridicules 80% of what we hear during films these days. Who doesn't love an adventure score with thematic outbursts of themes (and there are several even if I didn't say anything about a main theme), performed through a massive and excellent orchestra and choir. Simply put, Outcast is a must have and without it, your collection is missing one of the best game soundtracks ever composed.
You can find the score on the 2nd CD of the game. This is a slightly shortened version of the 18 track CD version, brining in my honesty the best possible presentation at all.
Tracklisting
1. Opening Title (1.04) Excellent track
2. A New World (3.08) Excellent track
3. Motazaar - The Mountain World (3.43)
4. On Dangerous Ground (6.50) Excellent track
5. Talanzaar - City in the Desert (7.05)
6. The Soldiers Attack (3.03)
7. Okaar - The Forest World (7.12)
8. Shamazaar - The Temple World (6.58) Excellent track
9. Rising Tension (4.17) Excellent track
10. The Discovery of Adelpha (7.41) Excellent track
11. Okasankaar - The Swamp World (6.23)
12. The Decisive Battle (2.11) Excellent track
13. Marion's Death / Going Home (5.03) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.10
Sure, it had its faults but its goddamn interesting game play and its sole inventive adventure source makes us only wonder why not more games cover this territory. And another word, Belgians sure know their musical side when it comes down to film music. And Infogrames picked up one person that could show them that thing. Like Michael Giacchino, Lennie Moore is capable of showing what Williams means by bringing big orchestral music. Outcast easily must be in any fans' collection, if not you are missing out one of the ever best game scores of all time.
I'm simply not kidding, Outcast is performed by a large orchestra and a mesmerizing choir, delivering both the dark strength as the wondrous tones of beauty. And let me tell you, even if some tracks don't deliver the interesting beauty as some of the others, they make a serious impression through their constant large orchestral tone.
From start to finish this score is a beauty. "Opening Title" is short but to the point, brining directly fanfares and choir in a brilliant mix. "A New World" is Stargate like travel music when you travel from world to world, only here expanded in length. For 3 minutes the pace never stops and Moore throws in a variation of the main theme. This is simply glorious.
Perhaps the only tracks that will not mesmerize listeners are "Okaar - The Forest World" with its ethnic percussion a la Jurassic Park and "Okasankaar - The Swamp World". "Motazaar - The Mountain World" is for Star Wars geeks a must have, considering it uses mysterious strings a la John Williams' legendary score, complete with low sounding tuba's and horns.
Futhermore, there are 3 action tracks (if we can call them that) that you must have heard. They are brilliant examples of choral and orchestral perfection. They are so cool to hear during the game, it actually effects your gaming methods. Whenever you get close to enemy soldiers during the game this tune starts to play. I liked them all so much that I simply went to every soldier and started to fight with him, simply to hear this suspenseful and threatening score becoming breathless through the chorus. "Rising Tension" surely is the best of them all.
Yet there is so much more. Some Egyptian drums, the duduk and some swelling brilliance enlightens "Talanzaar - City in the Desert", while true choral and orchestral fanfares show the beauty and wonder of two worlds collided. "Shamazaar - The Temple World" is simply beautiful and "The Discovery of Adelpha" has these fanfares a la Stargate with both the choir and orchestra bringing what I call "music that eclipses everything you know".
Yet, it simply doesn't stop from there. A compilation from either the fanfares, wonder or travel music is heard for two exhilarating minutes in "The Decisive Battle" before without question true film magic arrives. "Marion's Death / Going Home" is one of the few musical pieces used during cut scenes (with other words, music that has to accompany the scene without being free from boundaries). And here a climatic emotional eclipse is reached! The choir flies through the speakers with an unfelt emotional brilliance, bringing you music that soars.
This is all and more what Outcast delivers. Never mind what you think of game music, simply forget that there are indeed midi musical shit tunes coming from the console. This and the Medal of Honor scores are living proof that orchestral music, even for games ridicules 80% of what we hear during films these days. Who doesn't love an adventure score with thematic outbursts of themes (and there are several even if I didn't say anything about a main theme), performed through a massive and excellent orchestra and choir. Simply put, Outcast is a must have and without it, your collection is missing one of the best game soundtracks ever composed.
You can find the score on the 2nd CD of the game. This is a slightly shortened version of the 18 track CD version, brining in my honesty the best possible presentation at all.
Tracklisting
1. Opening Title (1.04) Excellent track
2. A New World (3.08) Excellent track
3. Motazaar - The Mountain World (3.43)
4. On Dangerous Ground (6.50) Excellent track
5. Talanzaar - City in the Desert (7.05)
6. The Soldiers Attack (3.03)
7. Okaar - The Forest World (7.12)
8. Shamazaar - The Temple World (6.58) Excellent track
9. Rising Tension (4.17) Excellent track
10. The Discovery of Adelpha (7.41) Excellent track
11. Okasankaar - The Swamp World (6.23)
12. The Decisive Battle (2.11) Excellent track
13. Marion's Death / Going Home (5.03) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.10