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Soundtrack Review: Shogun 2: Total War (2011)

Reviewer: JØrn Tillnes

Shogun 2: Total War Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the video game score Shogun 2: Total War by Jeff Van Dyck.

"As a standalone release I struggle with this one personally so I have to be honest with myself and give the score what my personal taste and conscience demand of me."

Shogun 2 is yet another game in the impressive Total War series developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Sega. The strategy game returns to the 16th century Japan setting of the original Shogun: Total War. The country is fractures into rival clans led by local warlords, each fighting for control. You take control as one of these warlords in the fight to rule Japan once and for all. The music is written by Jeff Van Dyck.

Track List

1. Shogun 2: Total War	****
2. Beautiful Blade	***
3. Deception	***
4. Yoisa	****
5. Tsunami	***
6. Beloved Sons	**
7. Hichiriki	***
8. Sakura	**
9. Shouri	***
10. Now and Zen	***
11. Sonaiyo	****
12. Good Death	***
13. Snowflakes	**
14. Know thy Enemy	**
15. Formation	***
16. Oyoiyoi	****
17. Autumn Leaves	****
18. For the Daimyo	***
19. Ona Hei	****
20. Bitter Cold	**
21. Oshima	**
22. Battle of Shinobue	***
23. Metamorphosis	**
24. Taiko Shuffle	***
25. Spring Song	**
26. Heavy Bune	***
27. Aggression	***

Jeff Van Dyck is the composer of the previous Total War games: Rome, Medieval, Medieval 2, Shogun and Spartan so he is pretty much the main composer of the series. His wife Angela Van Dyck is also featured on one track in this score.

Conflict

I have to admit I feel conflicted listening to this score and reviewing it. I have seen the numerous trailer and gameplay videos and I know how fantastic the score is in those. I am reviewing it as a standalone experience so my review and score will reflect that. Furthermore, I am basing this on my personal taste as well.

The music is effective as hell and practically put you in 16th century Japan. This is a fantastic feat by composer Jeff Van Dyck who spares nothing to details. In this respect the score is a clear 10 if you ask me. As a standalone listen however, I find it hard to listen to. Cues like 'Sakura', Snowflakes', 'Know Thy Enemy' and 'Bitter Cold' to name a few conflicts with my personal taste. I need the video game and the visuals to truly enjoy this. Unfortunately I don't have it when listening to the score.

Then there are cues like 'Shogun 2: Total War', 'Autumn Leaves' and 'Yoisa' that works great also as standalone cues. I also love the war cries he has put in cues like 'Ona Hei' and 'Yoisa' to name a couple. It adds to the tension and feels right, just like Zimmer's masterful 'Red Warrior' in "The Last Samurai".

Conclusion

It is with a heavy heart I have to give a low score to this fantastic production by Jeff Van Dyck. He has worked his ass off and done tons of research to create an authentic 16th century Japan experience that works fantastic within the game. As a standalone release I struggle with this one personally so I have to be honest with myself and give the score what my personal taste and conscience demand of me. I honestly don't know how he could have created this score any different and it probably would have been worse if he tried.

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Listen to the Shogun 2: Total War soundtrack by Jeff Van Dyck below:

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