And how to stand out from the huge crowd? A ”conflict over the transfer of consciousness from flesh to machines (that) escalated into a war which has decimated a million worlds.”
RTS titles were exploding with popularity in the 90s, with Command & Conquer, Dune and Warcraft titles all dominating the PC gaming charts to huge success, so Taylor and Cavedog Entertainment’s eagerness to jump into the frenzy was easily understandable. Despite this, the Elder Scrolls soundtracks are still beloved amongst many, and with this in mind I’d like to return to one of Soule’s best works, and my favourite RTS game of all time: Total Annihilation.įor those perhaps not aware, Total Annihilation was the 1997 real-time strategy brainchild of American game designer Chris Taylor, who is probably more commonly known for his work on the Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander series’. With denied allegations making the rounds in August 2019, it’s likely these have been considerably damaging to future endeavours, especially in the wake of the highly controversial #MeToo movement. Praised for his versatility and excellent use of orchestral elements throughout his career, Soule’s track record has been rather consistent, so it is unfortunate that recent months haven’t been kind to the composer’s private life. Oblivion and Skyrim both boast incredible soundtracks, each being wealthy compilations of fantastical music, and spanning nearly five hours combined to perfectly set the tone of Tamriel. One of the industry’s most recognisable composers, those who know the works of Jeremy Soule are very likely familiar with him from one particular place: The Elder Scrolls games.
Review Summary: A spectacular standout release, long before the lands of Cyrodiil.