After listening through some of the soundtrack (the entire one including the cinematic and combat themes, not just the few pieces on iTunes), I have to say that I am very impressed with the work of Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu from Dynamedion. Several parts stayed in my mind after playing through the campaign for the first time, which is always a sign of a good score. It really supported the dramaturgy of the game and underlined epic vistas such as the buildings collapsing or the protagonist standing in front of a huge hole in the ground.

Now what makes me somewhat upset is the fact that they had to get Hans Zimmer on board - for one single theme! Now Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe did the track "Insertion" and the derived epilogue - very loosely based off a segment in "New York Theme" from Borislav Slavov.

Apparently, I feel that Balfe's theme is pretty much the weakest in the entire Crysis 2 score. Slavov's New York theme is the thing that carries out so many of the key moments in the game with several interesting iterations and frankly, should've become the main theme. Now, the game soundtrack is labeled "Hans Zimmer" up front, while the real good stuff comes from the workhorses who basically did the entire soundtrack.
All seems like a marketing decision to me, but imho that really plays down the awesome work done by Borislav Slavov and Dynamedion. Listen for yourself: Isn't the New York theme much more characteristic and epic than the random guitar tune in "Insertion"? I would've rather liked to see the names of the people up front who did most of the work. Imho it's always sad to see such good work being pushed into the background by a big name.

I most certainly agree. The worst thing is, most of the gaming press just ignorantly believes that the whole score is done by Hans Zimmer! That's just terrible. They deserve more recognition, since they created most of the music present in-game.

Well, the gaming press pretty much has the same problem as the print press: They're consuming press releases en masse and are often caught by a catchline without reflecting the content much. So once they read "Hans Zimmer", there isn't any more research done for short news. I agree, the other artists deserve a higher recognition, especially in the gaming press.

I gotta agree, not that I don't like tracks of Zimmerman, but I feel like Slavov did a much better job.

Zimmer got more press because he's more photogenic than Slavov.

"absolutely agreed. shame on PR for diminishing the the real creators of the score. the announcements that the PR is making are very misleading."

THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD!!!!! even when i turned the volume down to 5 it was still blaring so i just have it turned off

Yeah, those tracks are brilliant and I remember hearing them sporadically throughout the campaign and wishing they'd play more often.

Zimmer's Insertion (lol) is cool, but like you said, the apocalypse -> post-apocalypse tone is really captured in the tracks you linked. The Insertion guitar feels more like a final boss fight moment (which Crysis2 doesn't even have, funnily enough)

dude, im not that deep into crysis video game music (although i love vgm in generel, especially certain SNES titles ) i can say one phrase;
if a certain name caught blaze, the press will set it on fire even if the real heat comes from another one
sad but true. but as long as there are people like you that closely listen to the work and looking for the real persons that earn credits they will go on

I most certainly agree. The worst thing is, most of the gaming press just ignorantly believes that the whole score is done by Hans Zimmer! That's just terrible. They deserve more recognition, since they created most of the music present in-game.

The "gaming press" are by and large corporate shills nowadays. Remember the days when a game got an honest review, regardless of who produced it? Yeah, that was before the gaming industry was a mult-billion dollar affair. As if Gamespot or IGN writers are going to do any real research before slapping an A+ on a flagship title like Crysis2...

Agree with OP. Although it was probably done to boost sales, it diminishes the credit to the main contributors.

Personally I hate the main menu music, I could only listen to it so many times before having to set the music volume to 0%. I wish that the user could select the main menu music track from the 'Extras' menu instead of having the same depressing piece playing over and over.

Isn't the New York theme much more characteristic and epic than the random guitar tune in "Insertion"?


First of all there is no any guitar in "Insertion", please clean your ears.

Second, each track have his own purpose in game, "Insertion" is more toned, "dark" and work very well with game menu design, also because of that track whole game have more mysterious style. New York Theme have very common melodic line, which we can find in 99% of "epic war movies", also if we put this track into game menu we will get very trashy overall effect, more common in low budget games, where team which create game lack taste, creativity and want cover bad game with loud music.

Third, like i said those track have purpose, so you can't just compare two tracks and say "hey this work better here", only judging one track on a time have sense.

Four, you are measuring how good track is by how loud it is or shall i say, how epic it sounds, which doesn't have anything to do with technical aspects, like melodic line, composition, etc. which you should include at first place.


Edit:

Now, the game soundtrack is labeled "Hans Zimmer" up front, while the real good stuff comes from the workhorses who basically did the entire soundtrack.


Cover is labeled "Featuring music by Hans Zimmer" not "Hans Zimmer" itself which can give wrong impression that Zimmer did whole score. Please stop posting incorrect information, and fooling people who can't read with basic understanding.

...

Speaking of scores. Did anyone else expect a revision of the score "Stricklands March" to be in the game cause of Tara Strickland?
And was I not the only one who was reminded of Doctor Who at 1:24-1:50? Just fit the Doctors personality imo.
One more thing was anyone else expecting revised scores from Crysis and Warhead appearing in Crysis 2?

Isn't the New York theme much more characteristic and epic than the random guitar tune in "Insertion"?


First of all there is no any guitar in "Insertion", please clean your ears.

Second, each track have his own purpose in game, "Insertion" is more toned, "dark" and work very well with game menu design, also because of that track whole game have more mysterious style. New York Theme have very common melodic line, which we can find in 99% of "epic war movies", also if we put this track into game menu we will get very trashy overall effect, more common in low budget games, where team which create game lack taste, creativity and want cover bad game with loud music.

Third, like i said those track have purpose, so you can't just compare two tracks and say "hey this work better here", only judging one track on a time have sense.

Four, you are measuring how good track is by how loud it is or shall i say, how epic it sounds, which doesn't have anything to do with technical aspects, like melodic line, composition, etc. which you should include at first place.


Edit:

Now, the game soundtrack is labeled "Hans Zimmer" up front, while the real good stuff comes from the workhorses who basically did the entire soundtrack.


Cover is labeled "Featuring music by Hans Zimmer" not "Hans Zimmer" itself which can give wrong impression that Zimmer did whole score. Please stop posting incorrect information, and fooling people who can't read with basic understanding.

you come off as a huge douche with this post

you come off as a huge douche with this post

If you want to insult some one an/or show his stupidity first post valid arguments and then call some one "douche". Otherwise you are douche here, by insulting other person without any argumentation.

They want to sell copies of the OST, so they will use Zimmer's name. That's business, they do the exact same thing with movies when an unknown director is used but a famous director produces. The producer seems to get all the credit.

SOS New York is the best track on the score.

you come off as a huge douche with this post

If you want to insult some one an/or show his stupidity first post valid arguments and then call some one "douche". Otherwise you are douche here, by insulting other person without any argumentation.

Not surprisingly, you've entirely missed my point. The guy's post is douche-y because he takes every opportunity to insult the OP while making his points, when he could have just made his points without being an a-hole about it.

you come off as a huge douche with this post

If you want to insult some one an/or show his stupidity first post valid arguments and then call some one "douche". Otherwise you are douche here, by insulting other person without any argumentation.

Not surprisingly, you've entirely missed my point. The guy's post is douche-y because he takes every opportunity to insult the OP while making his points, when he could have just made his points without being an a-hole about it.

Quote me part of my post where i am insulting that person. Stating that OP is not posting correct information is not an insult, even if there is slight amount of sarcasm.
Anyway, talking to you doesn't make any sense since you are obviously overreacting.

it was hard to appreciate the music with so much **** going on around the whole game. from what I remember it was very good.