Wolfenstein: The New Order (soundtrack)

Last updated
Wolfenstein: The New Order (Original Game Soundtrack)
Wolfenstein The New Order Original Game Soundtrack.png
Soundtrack album by
Mick Gordon
ReleasedMay 19, 2014
Genre Soundtrack, Industrial rock, Heavy metal
Length51:45
Label Bethesda Softworks

Wolfenstein: The New Order (Original Game Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the video game Wolfenstein: The New Order . The soundtrack was released on 19 May 2014, consisting of an original score featured in the game. [1] Composer Mick Gordon took inspiration from multiple sources while producing the soundtrack, ultimately creating over six hours of music. Critical reception to the soundtrack was positive, as reviewers considered that the music had been appropriated effectively for gameplay.

Contents

Background and recording

Wolfenstein: The New Order makes use of an original score that reflects the alternate universe depicted in the game. "We wanted to identify with different sounds that were kind of iconic, 1960s sounds, and then do our own twist on them to make a sound authentic enough that it felt realistic," said Pete Hines, Vice President of PR and Marketing for publisher Bethesda Softworks. [2] Developer MachineGames placed a high importance on the game's music, and aimed for a high standard. During the game's development, composer Mick Gordon travelled to Sweden to meet with MachineGames, and spotted the game over three days, partly collaborating with both Fredrik Thordendal [3] and Richard Devine. Gordon expressed the difference in composing the soundtrack for Wolfenstein: The New Order compared to other games; "usually you sign onto a project and then you're given a list of 150 battle cues to do," he said. [4]

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"The New Order"
"The New Order", the game's main theme, was composed by Mick Gordon.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

When searching for a genre in which the soundtrack would be based upon, the development team initially sought inspiration from the music of Richard Wagner, who was posthumously admired by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler; the game is set in an alternate history in a world where the Nazis won the Second World War. After studying Wagner's work, the team discovered that it didn't necessarily fit with the game's tone. The team then looked for a style of music that would suit the Nazis, ultimately selecting distortion. "There's lots of analogue distortion types, there's all sorts of different pedals and valves and things that are really breaking up," said Gordon. The team also took inspiration from 1960s music, using analogue equipment such as tape machines and reel-to-reel machines. Gordon has said that the soundtrack is "a tribute to all things guitar". In collaboration with each other, the team of musicians composed over six hours of music which scores the game. [5] Jens Matthies, creative director of the game, said "A lot of the score features odd time signatures yet it's all very groovy." [6]

Critical reception

In the context of the game, Wolfenstein: The New Order Original Game Soundtrack was well received. Brian Skahan of GameSkinny considered the game's soundtrack "phenomenal" and "gripping", stating that is adds realism to the depiction of the game's alternate history setting. [7] John Galbo of GeekNation called the soundtrack "amazing", likening parts of it to the music of Wolfenstein 3D . [8] Dennis Scimeca of Ars Technica considered the score an appropriate choice during gameplay, [9] and Chris Thursten of PC Gamer agreed that the music is "far more than you might expect". [10] Tim Blevins of MusicReview felt that the soundtrack was "outstanding", praising Fredrik Thordendal's contribution to the soundtrack. [11] Conversely, Matt Bertz of Game Informer felt that the "chugging, unimaginative guitar riffs get old quickly". [12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mick Gordon

No.TitleLength
1."Deathshead"1:40
2."Adrift"1:46
3."The New Order"3:43
4."14 Years"1:21
5."Frau Engel"2:26
6."Papers, Please"2:10
7."Kill Everyone"2:18
8."Concrete for Miles"1:51
9."Zellenblock B-2"2:09
10."The Kreisau Circle"1:23
11."London Nautica"2:49
12."Konzentrationslager"3:07
13."Herr Faust" (with Fredrik Thordendal)2:55
14."Der Mond"5:03
15."Kybernetik" (with Richard Devine)2:06
16."Ransacked"5:04
17."Prototype"3:44
18."Ende"6:10
Total length:51:45

Related Research Articles

id Software American video game developer

id Software LLC is an American video game developer based in Richardson, Texas. It was founded on February 1, 1991, by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack.

<i>Return to Castle Wolfenstein</i> 2001 video game

Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a first-person shooter video game published by Activision, released on November 20, 2001, for Microsoft Windows and subsequently for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Linux and Macintosh. The game serves as a reboot of the Wolfenstein series. It was developed by Gray Matter Studios and Nerve Software developed its multiplayer mode. id Software, the creators of Wolfenstein 3D, oversaw the development and were credited as executive producers. The multiplayer side eventually became the most popular part of the game, and was influential in the genre. Splash Damage created some of the maps for the Game of the Year edition. A sequel, titled Wolfenstein, was released on August 18, 2009.

<i>Wolfenstein 3D</i> 1992 video game

Wolfenstein 3D is a first-person shooter video game developed by id Software and published by Apogee Software and FormGen. Originally released on May 5, 1992, for DOS, it was inspired by the 1981 Muse Software video game Castle Wolfenstein, and is the third installment in the Wolfenstein series. In Wolfenstein 3D, the player assumes the role of Allied spy William "B.J." Blazkowicz during World War II as he escapes from the Nazi German prison Castle Wolfenstein and carries out a series of crucial missions against the Nazis. The player traverses each of the game's levels to find an elevator to the next level or kill a final boss, fighting Nazi soldiers, dogs, and other enemies with a knife and a variety of guns.

<i>Star Wars: Force Commander</i> 2000 video game

Star Wars: Force Commander is a real-time strategy video game released for the Microsoft Windows platform in 2000. It was co-developed by Ronin Entertainment and LucasArts, and published by LucasArts. Its plot interweaves between Star Wars: A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, taking place in key battles. Peter McConnell created remixed tracks of John Williams's original score with influences from hard rock and techno music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredrik Thordendal</span> Swedish guitarist

Fredrik Carl Thordendal is a Swedish musician, best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the extreme metal band Meshuggah, of which he is a founding member. Along with Meshuggah's rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, Thordendal was rated No. 35 by Guitar World in the top 100 greatest heavy metal guitarists of all time.

Wolfenstein is a series of World War II video games originally developed by Muse Software. The majority of the games follow William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American Army captain, and his fight against the Axis powers. Earlier titles are centered around Nazis attempting to harness supernatural and occult forces, while later games are set in an alternate history in which Axis powers won World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B.J. Blazkowicz</span> Fictional character in the Wolfenstein series

William Joseph "B.J." Blazkowicz is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Wolfenstein series of alternate history video games starting with 1992's Wolfenstein 3D. An American spy of Polish and Jewish descent, he specializes in one-man missions behind enemy lines. In addition to fighting the regular German army he also frequently encounters bizarre Nazi experiments concerning biomechanical technology and the occult.

<i>Doom</i> (2016 video game) First-person shooter

Doom is a 2016 first-person shooter video game developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is the first major installment in the Doom series since 2004's Doom 3 and was a reboot of the franchise. It was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in May 2016. A port for Nintendo Switch was co-developed with Panic Button and released in November 2017, and a version for Google Stadia was released in August 2020. Players take the role of an unnamed space marine, known as the "Doom Slayer", as he battles demonic forces within an energy-mining facility on Mars and in Hell.

<i>Wolfenstein</i> (2009 video game) 2009 video game

Wolfenstein is a first-person shooter video game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision, part of the Wolfenstein video game series. It serves as a loose sequel to the 2001 entry Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and uses an enhanced version of id Software's id Tech 4. The game was released in August 2009 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

<i>Wolfenstein RPG</i> 2008 video game

Wolfenstein RPG is a first-person shooter and role-playing video game developed by id Software and Fountainhead Entertainment, released in September 2008 for mobile phones and in May 2009 for iOS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MachineGames</span> Swedish video game developer

MachineGames Sweden AB is a Swedish video game developer based in Uppsala. The studio was founded in 2009 by seven former employees of Starbreeze Studios, including founder Magnus Högdahl. After unsuccessfully pitching game ideas to several publishers, MachineGames agreed with Bethesda Softworks to develop an entry in the Wolfenstein series in July 2010 and was acquired by Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, in November. In the Wolfenstein series, MachineGames developed The New Order (2014), The Old Blood (2015), The New Colossus (2017), Youngblood (2019), and Cyberpilot (2019). The studio is developing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024) as well as another Wolfenstein game.

<i>Wolfenstein: The New Order</i> 2014 video game

Wolfenstein: The New Order is a 2014 action-adventure first-person shooter video game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was released on 20 May 2014 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is the seventh main entry in the Wolfenstein series, set in an alternate history 1960s Europe where the Nazis won the Second World War. The story follows war veteran William "B.J." Blazkowicz and his efforts to stop the Nazis from ruling over the world.

<i>Wolfenstein: The Old Blood</i> 2015 video game

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is an action-adventure first-person shooter video game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was released on 5 May 2015 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game is a stand-alone title in the Wolfenstein series and a prequel expansion to 2014's Wolfenstein: The New Order, set in an alternate-history 1946. The single-player story follows war veteran William "B.J." Blazkowicz and his efforts to discover the locations of a Nazi compound. Development began in 2014, soon after the release of The New Order.

Michael John Gordon is an Australian composer, record producer, musician, and sound designer, composing music primarily for video games.

COPILOT Music and Sound LLC is a New York-based music content and strategy company launched in 2008 by partners Jason Menkes and Ravi Krishnaswami. COPILOT provides music production, music composition, music licensing, sonic branding, sound design, and creative consultation services throughout the television, gaming, film, advertising, and interactive industries.

<i>Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus</i> 2017 video game

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a 2017 action-adventure and first-person shooter game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. The eighth main entry in the Wolfenstein series and the sequel to 2014's Wolfenstein: The New Order, the game is set in an alternate history that takes place in 1961, following the Nazi victory in the Second World War. The story follows war veteran William "B.J." Blazkowicz and his efforts to fight against the Nazi regime in the United States. Gameplay mechanics are largely similar to those of The New Order, though the team introduced improvements such as allowing players to dual-wield any combination of weapons in the game. A binary choice in the prologue alters the game's entire storyline; some characters and small plot points are replaced throughout the timelines.

<i>Wolfenstein: Youngblood</i> 2019 video game

Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a 2019 first-person shooter developed by MachineGames and Arkane Lyon and published by Bethesda Softworks. A spin-off of the Wolfenstein series, the game was released for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in July 2019 and Stadia in November 2019 as a launch title. The game received mixed reviews from critics who felt it was a step down from previous installments, although some reviewers praised the combat.

<i>Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot</i> 2019 video game

Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot is a first-person shooter video game developed by Arkane Lyon in conjunction with MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. A spin-off in the Wolfenstein series, Cyberpilot is a virtual reality experience. The game was released for Windows PC and PlayStation 4 in July 2019. It received mixed or average reviews upon release.

Irene Engel, better known as Frau Engel, is a fictional character from the Wolfenstein video game series. She first appears in Wolfenstein: The New Order, a 2014 title developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. A member of the Wolfenstein series' staple enemy faction, a fictional version of the German Reich which won World War II instead of the Allies, Engel is depicted as a cruel and fanatical high-ranking officer of the Nazi German regime who exhibits an extraordinary amount of apathy for the human condition. She is one of the major antagonistic figures of The New Order, and is presented as the main villain of the 2017 sequel Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.

References

  1. ↑ jfinst (May 23, 2014). "Enhance your day-to-day with the music of Wolfenstein: The New Order". Bethesda Softworks . Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  2. ↑ Good, Owen S. (March 27, 2014). "Wolfenstein's bizarre pop music takes a long, strange trip back to the 1960s". Polygon . Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  3. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (May 12, 2014). "Guitarist from Swedish metal band Meshuggah working on Wolfenstein: The New Order". GameSpot . Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  4. ↑ Greening, Chris (April 17, 2014). "Mick Gordon Interview: Rebooting Wolfenstein and Killer Instinct". Game Music Online. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  5. ↑ Elawar, Zac (November 15, 2013). "Interview with Killer Instinct, Wolfenstein: The New Order Composer Mick Gordon". Capsule Computers. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ Matthies, Jens (May 10, 2014). "Interviewly - Jens Matthies May 2014 - reddit AMA". Reddit . Interviewly. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Skahan, Brian (May 22, 2014). "Old Dog, New Tricks--Wolfenstein: The New Order Review". GameSkinny. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ Galbo, John J. (May 20, 2014). "Game Review: Wolfenstein: The New Order". GeekNation . Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ Scimeca, Dennis (May 20, 2014). "Wolfenstein: The New Order review: Satisfying, straightforward Nazi hunting". Ars Technica . Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ Thursten, Chris (May 24, 2014). "Wolfenstein: The New Order review". PC Gamer . Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ Blevins, Tim (June 6, 2014). "Review: Wolfenstein: The New Order". MusicReview. Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bertz, Matt (May 19, 2014). "A New Order Following Old Rules - Wolfenstein: The New Order - Xbox One". Game Informer . Retrieved June 8, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.