In our game, there are many elements that the players will not have seen before, particularly during this experience. In a way, it is like starting from a blank slate, even though we may be familiar with characters and worlds that already exist. I have to look at the story, the characters, the worlds that are presented to me, and then make the right creative and musical choices that will best fit that particular experience. Therefore, whilst one approach may be appropriate for one particular setting, it may not be appropriate for another.
Seeing as you’ve worked on a lot of games that have been part of a larger series in the past, how does a project like this compare to something where you’re starting with a completely blank slate?įirstly, for any composer working on a score that is part of a larger series or universe, I always want to be respectful and faithful to what has come before - and at the same time create a fresh approach to the story that I am supporting. And of course, on top of all that, there are plenty of 1980’s licensed music hits as well as original songs from the Star-Lord band. Whilst the main bulk of the score is orchestral, there are also some featured choral elements, as well as various electronic/synth elements and a few musical surprises that the player will experience along this wild ride. So, for example, when the player is doing well in combat they may hear our main “Guardians Hero Theme,” but if they are not doing so well, the music will be darker and more brooding. I utilized various leitmotifs which represent the story’s main characters and narrative beats. In your opinion, what should people expect from the game and its soundtrack?įirstly, we have a killer main theme for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, providing a sense of heroism and togetherness, but also retaining a sense of fun and teamwork whilst exploring the galaxy. It was indeed an honor and a pleasure from pre-production to completion. This gave me a huge amount of creative freedom where I was able to draw upon the incredibly detailed worlds that the player would visit during the game, as well as some familiar and not-so-familiar characters.
We wanted to create an epic intergalactic score that would be fitting for our Guardians experience, supporting the gameplay and narrative, whilst retaining the tone for the way the Guardians interact with one another. Myself and Steve Szczepkowski shared the same creative vision from the outset. Therefore, when I began composing the score, it was clear that we had the opportunity to create all new themes and musical motifs to accompany the story we wanted to tell.
Richard Jacques: The game’s developer, Eidos-Montréal, worked closely with the team at Marvel Games, taking a deep dive into 50 years of Guardians of the Galaxy history - including comics, movies, animated series and more - in order to create a fresh and unique take on this band of misfits. SPIN: Considering the popularity of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters, what was it like creating a score in a slightly different version of the universe compared to what people are used to? SPIN spoke with Jacques about bringing the Guardians soundtrack to life outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and about his 26 years at the musical helm for some of the biggest names in video game history.
Plus there’s a classic ‘80s-style “space metal band” called Star-Lord (created by developer Eidos-Montréal’s Senior Audio Director Steve Szczepkowski) whose entire album is also featured in the soundtrack.
With tracks ranging from the orchestral to the electronic to the ‘80s tunes you’ve come to expect from Star-Lord and his crew, Richard Jacques ( Mass Effect, Jet Set Radio, numerous Sonic titles) shows why he’s been one of SEGA’s go-to composers dating all the way back to the Sega Saturn days and one of the United Kingdom’s most sought-after musical minds for the past quarter-century. Oh, and of course it has an absolutely incredible soundtrack to go along with it.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy yet, it’s far better than you think it’s going to be.įrom the exciting combat to the gripping narrative and dialogue that’s way more emotionally powerful than pretty much anyone expected, Guardians is pretty much the full package as far as what one could want from an action-packed single-player linear title.