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Before you begin reading this review, I implore you: if you don’t know the name Winifred Phillips, just check her credentials on Wikipedia [2] right now.
Though she has had recent involvement in the game music scene, perhaps the most impressive work of hers is the music she composed and produced for NPR [3]‘s Generation Radio Theater Presents (later retitled Radio Tales). She was a radio actress for this program alongside all the music written here. As a long-time NPR fan, I have to point this out to contextualize Phillips’ past work.
Since familiarizing herself in the world of game music, Phillips worked on God of War earlier this decade, and SimAnimals earlier this year (see our coverage here [4]). Now, she’s moved on to Spore Hero, the Wii-exclusive side game to the innovative “create-your-own-species Sim” Spore, which received mixed reaction last year despite much early hype. Spore Hero for Wii was released very recently (first week of October 2009 in North America and Europe), and Phillips’ score went on sale, digitally, through EA’s record label EARS in the same timeframe.
For our review of the Spore Hero Original Videogame Score, follow the jump. And don’t let the cover art fool you: this is really, really good stuff.
What’s this? A tracklist?! Why yes, yes it is.
01 Spore Hero Main Theme
02 Home World
03 Haven
04 Sporable
05 Sporaging
06 SporeZone
07 Monster Mayhem
08 Sporexlpore
09 Beast Brawl
10 Wanderment
11 Sporeward
12 Creepy Things
13 Evolvable
14 Sporabilities
15 Nemesis
16 Critters
17 Spore War
18 Hero Theme
Disregarding the abundant use of “Spore” puns, that’s quite a nice tracklist. Only two tracks of the full set fall under two minutes, and many go to four minutes and beyond. All told, the album is well beyond the “full-length” 40 minute marker. So if you’re worried about quantity, rest assured, we’re covered on that front.
Now, as for quality. Regarding what this album aims to achieve, it passes with flying colors. But there’s no question that only a certain segment of music lovers will appreciate this score. It is masterful indeed, but it is also whimsical. Much of it might be described as “children’s music,” like Yasunori Mitsuda’s Hako no Niwa. But, if that is the case, it is some of the best children’s music I’ve ever heard. Keep in mind that the great composers of centuries past (Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Bach, Bartok) would write music that was targeted for young listeners, and those works are often exquisite as well. They’re also quite playful, and that can turn off some adult listeners.
The first three tracks are a powerhouse of memorable themes. The “Spore Hero Main Theme” is a very catchy, rhythmic romp of a track. The percussion instruments, both primary and auxiliary, do a great job of making me shake and squirm, whether sitting or standing. The melodic patterns exist within a predominantly major key, with some delving into modal scales (via changes in chord progression and tonics over the same scale as the major). I love compositions like these, and Phillips really knocks it out of the park with this one!
“Home World” and “Haven” make full use of a symphony orchestra: brass, woodwind, string ensembles, percussion (including orchestra bells), even piano and harp. And they don’t just make nominal use of them; each section seems to exist as a tool, like different sized and shaped paintbrushes, to mark out different ideas on a musical canvas. It’s all very pretty, and very cute, and extremely impressive. Again, I detect a lot of modal scales, particular Lydian mode (for you pianists, that’s all white keys from F to F; for music theory kids, that’s a sharp four in the scale). It’s a great scale to use when you’re feeling extra lively. Hitoshi Sakimoto uses it a lot in his happier compositions, particularly in Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. In the context of Spore Hero, while it may be less memorable for someone like myself who only has a passing interest in the actual game, the musical prowess is just through the roof. It’s not often a game gets a score quite this good.
If this is all a little too sugar-sweet-happy for you, note track titles “Monster Mayhem,” “Beast Brawl,” and “Nemesis” (among others). These are the battle themes. And while they still have their moments of whimsy, they demonstrate a level of intensity that one might not expect based on hearing the first few tracks of the album. I love Phillips’ use of trumpet, flute, and especially xylophone on “Beast Brawl.” Phillips also strays from traditional orchestral territory by including instruments like uillean pipes [5] (bagpipes with much less bag, a Celtic favorite) and tinwhistles throughout her score.
And what soundtrack described as “whimsical” can avoid inevitable comparisons to Danny Elfman? If you want that Elfman sound (found in Edward Scissorhands, Batman, and others), you’ll find it here, on occasion, in tracks like “Creepy Things.”
All in all, this is one fine soundtrack. Let me be honest: I wasn’t expecting a lot out of Spore Hero‘s soundtrack. But that’s because I was judging the book by its cover, and not by its author. Had I known Ms. Phillips was in charge, and had I known her full background in music ahead of time, I would’ve been excited far sooner. It’s been quite a journey of discovery for me, and this particular soundtrack helped illuminate the path.
Audiophiles, get in line! The full soundtrack is sold digitally for under $10 via Amazon [6]. More game soundtracks need to hold to this high quality standard. Winifred Phillips, I applaud you on yet another job well done!
Comments Disabled To "Renaissance Woman Winifred Phillips’ Latest Work: Spore Hero Original Videogame Score (Review)"
#1 Comment By So On October 21, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
A quick question. Do you like every song you hear all the time always? Or do you just review music you like? Cause I think I’d be hard pressed to find a review on this site talking about how bad the music is.
#2 Comment By Patrick Gann On October 21, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
Wow. How thoroughly accusatory, “So”…
but to answer your question: no. There are plenty of songs I don’t like, and plenty of full albums I don’t like. If you think this particular review is too full with positive adjectives and other forms of praise, please understand that my initial impressions of the game itself and its concept (a side project from the underwhelming “Spore”) left me with low expectations. Phillips’ score set me straight, and so I had a lot to gush about.
If your complaint is towards my reviews, or this site’s reviews, as a whole, I’d say your statement is somewhat well-warranted. Finding a review here talking about just “how bad” a game or anime soundtrack is, and really digging into it, would be difficult. Reason being? We cover what we want, and we generally cover things we enjoy. I have occasionally reviewed an album that I didn’t enjoy, and been honest about it. Example:
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But with something like music, in our day and age, most production is handled with the utmost care, and most composers are rather talented at their craft. It’s true, I do enjoy *most* music I listen to. Just don’t think I, or we, are pandering to publishers. If we heard music that we thought sucked, we’d come right out and say so. It just doesn’t happen that often.
Care to share with us some game or anime soundtracks that you think suck, and maybe we’ll give some special consideration to your (s)hit list? 😛
#3 Comment By Jayson Napolitano On October 21, 2009 @ 8:43 pm
Agreed. We generally talk about stuff we like, so it makes sense that we’d have positive things to say about them. I too, however, have written some negative ones, including the recently published SaGa 2 remake and DJMAX Trilogy reviews that went up in the last month.
#4 Pingback By Simprograms » Original Sound Version: Spore Hero OST review On October 22, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
[…] on the internet for Winifred Phillip’s Spore Hero Original Soundtrack, brought to you by Original Sound Version! All in all, this is one fine soundtrack. Let me be honest: I wasn’t expecting a lot out of Spore […]
#5 Comment By So On October 23, 2009 @ 6:44 am
Sorry if I was sounding accusatory, I really didn’t mean to come off like that. It was just something I noticed about the site and wanted to know more. It’s just that I’m used to seeing review sites have both positive and negative reviews. Seeing a blog that only reviews good (subjective, I know) things is kind of new to me. Just for the record I really like the blog, if I didn’t I wouldn’t even bother coming here.
As for bad soundtracks…at the risk of potentially sounding hypocritical, I can’t think of any. I don’t really listen to many anime OSTs and I tend to know what I’m going to like as far as game OSTs go so I don’t really listen to anything I’d consider bad too often. If I had to say something though, I could easily pick out a handful of games from older systems. Though I mostly blame hardware limitations and a new medium for the amount of bad music for that time.
Once again, sorry if I came off a little harsh. Also I apologize if this post is a little hard to read, I just woke up so I’m not on my A game. I just wanted to you guys to know I wasn’t trying to be negative at all.
#6 Comment By Patrick Gann On October 23, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
thanks for the clarification “So.” Just so you understand why we took the initial comment seriously, we don’t want anyone to think that our goal in life is to paint a rosy picture of everything we review. we’re doing our best to be honest. 🙂
#7 Comment By Andrei On November 15, 2017 @ 11:12 am
Well, uhm, what to say… she is a genious!
In fact, with this soundtrack, most times just close your eyes and imagine ancientness while making you transported by melodies seeking each other in a fun and heartwarming game: you see all those fun and yet calm and pacific creatures roaming around you, battling you and socialising with you.
Especially the battle themes, in which your body will warm up and your brain is all absorbed in all these tribal melodies.
So, even before playing, you see the SporeWard: a masterpiece of calm and yet heavy melodies that can transport you in the ancientness of the universe, from which you don’t want to go away ever more.
After that let thyself be transported by the heroic and yet serene Hero Theme!
Feel the power of tribal force and the destiny awaits you in this still pristine planet.
So, you begin your journey: initally, you’ll see the synopsis, accompanied by the Home World; and what’s fun is that this track follows so well what the cutscene is showing us, underlining the events without being too invasive and with a definitely beginning note a la The Land Before Time, going then to a more dark them when your nemesis appear, and then, oh well…
Just one thing: Mejee: the tone is so fit with him, cheerful and yet a bit dumb, taking you safe with his new acquired powers.
Then it’s the turn of a good Sporable theme, though, I have to say, a so long them for just breaking your egg maybe it was not so fit.
But, if you enjoy staying in your egg, be prepared to be transported into a good scape of the planet’s Mushroom Valley by a delicate run-up of primitive sounds.
So, you finally break your egg, and you are hit by all those marvellous colours of the Valley and, of course, by the music: a mix of Asian and African notes, all, as usual, seeking for each other in a very fun game.
While you Sporexplore, the special guest for me are the flutes: the fit greatly and add that Asian touch never too invasively.
So, while roaming about, you’ll fell like all those creatures are playing a fun game with you and yourself is having a great time in the Valley, while at the same time staring at the beautiful landscape and, why not, having a fruit snack, eh eh.
But, soon, you’ll have to learn how to combat: now! It’s showtime for your claws with an awesome Beats Brawl!
Espee won’t stand a chance against your claws and your biting mouth young hero!
But, of course, he won’t be only one: so be prepared to warm you up often with this theme, while dodging perilous bombing shells or hatred charging.
Then there’s the Haven: though dwelled by that “old coockie”, which is the Sage, you the same feel the ancientness (yeah, ancientness: this soundtrack is for ancientness addicted) of the Ancient Grounds calmly but reflective (maybe because of the presence of the Idol), roaming so tranquil in this so green grass and swimming in beautiful water pools.
After this, you’ll hear a bit of a Spore Zone, but your opponent wants you beaten up: it’ time for your Nemesis to close with you.
But you don’t give up: during this battle, you begin to understand his strategy and begin also to strike him back for good! But he is resistant, and so you go on, while feeling he can be a truly menace for a while, when he wants you really dead: dodging, biting, charging, jumping and kicking is all what both he and you can do.
At the end, though, you are more determined and defeat him.
So, here again the Spore Zone, which begins with a pretty said note, but soon it becomes a bit mysterious and sad tone, while after a bit becoming more adventurous: you walk in these ancient (I suppose) Moonlite Stoneway grounds with other nice water pools and giant spaces, while after a bit again becoming more calm but pressing for a while, letting you being absorbed by the pretty obscure but awesome caves, obviously with that little touching Asian accent.
But in the caves lure the Tubertongue Plants: it’s time to get past them all with a pressing and pumped Sporaging: you avoid their tongues heroically but hardly.
Then you can reach, after other adventures, the Moonlit Caverns, with another mysterious and pressing theme: Creepy Things are happening there, and you’re about to stop them all.
Phew, you’re almost done, but before you have to face other combats: now we are talking about a Monster Mayhem, the best theme when battling “common” (eh, they still are whimsical and kind after all) creatures: here your body really gets into the mayhem: with all those spouting and kicking, you’re having hard time with them, but this track will make you believe in yourself more and make you feel you are really in the arena with your opponent.
After that, you have to help a cute king in the Mushroom Grove with a bit Oriental Wanderment, in which you can feel the atmosphere seen in the Grove with a nice feeling of freshness, calm and quietness all together, all while exploring this fantastic Grove surrounded by so many trees you can actually picnic in it.
So, technically you’re done, but if you are so addicted to secondary missions, why not helping Boldyrok, a Kazamiope tribe member with his trouble?
So, be prepared to some Evolvable action!
Dodge perilous bright stones (I suppose) while almost “racing” to save a cute ugly monster from a red crystal: the action is both heard and seen, and oh boy if it’s heard so well, feeling like a race for saving in general, like in those American films in which a potential hero must save the day.
So, going further, the action and the sounds go further too, going more and more pressing.
But while doing all of this, do not forget to get better your Sporabilities young hero: this time, the theme is the most Asiatic ever heard in the game, feeling like you have to think of your hero but at the same time it makes you relaxed about what to do next.
Also, while destroying the red crystals, you’ll meet the infamous little (and cute, I have to say) Critters: little demons ready to bite you without stopping.
But you won’t see them initially: a bit of mystery and then, BOOM, all the sudden they pop in front of you: be ready to kick these tiny beasts for good!
Phew, young hero, after the Creature Beach, you face him: Zarkhator… it’s time… for the Hero Theme! Now the Phillips’ God of War style seem to see the light: in this theme, you hear sacrifice and epic, all packed so greatly, so that your heart pulses and you feel you must accomplish thy duty.
But, it’s not over yet: after managing to keep Zarkhator not so close to the Brain, you must face him once again after the Heart: it’s time to declare him Spore War! Now Kratos would be so proud of you, young hero: here the so epic theme! Feel like the ultimate battle between Ying and Yang, Light and Obscurity, you and Zarkhator, Blue and Red are battling to decide the destiny of a single planet, but at the same of all your friends: the Sage trusts you so much you cannot lose… kick! Spout! Spin-kick! Fly and use all what you learnt from all the inhabitants: after some time, the theme goes so epic you feel not a single planet, but the entire galaxy is to be saved! And be prepared for the very end of it: you’ll nerves will be so tensed.
So, that’s my review: it may seem a bit, eh, sentimental, but I couldn’t do diversely, especially since I think review are to be done by who like or hate the things they are reviewing, so that the thing will be objective but also with the true objectivity.
Hence, I hope you all enjoyed this 🙂