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A selection of published critical reaction to my work. Jump to: Demon Stone | Two Towers | Blood Wake | Pool of Radiance Legend of Alon D'ar | ...archive...
Demon Stone Atari, 2004 (Audio Director, music editing, sound design) Sound and Vision Magazine - Home Theater Standout - Award Nominations: British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Original Music - - Best Audio - “The cinematic-style score is also well suited to the frenzied pacing of the game, and like with the visuals, the sounds of the battlefield use layers upon layers to give a grander sense of bedlam.” -Gamespot “…a soundtrack that ranks right up there with the best of the year…” -IGN “With the game's focus on cinematic action, sound plays a huge role, and Stormfront has put together some impressive work. It's hard to ignore Patrick Stewart as the voice of Blackstaff, or Michael Clarke Duncan as Ygorl. But those responsible for voicing the other major characters do a fine job as well. Additionally, battles are layered with clashing weapons, cries of friend and foe, and many environmental sounds. But the mix has been fine-tuned so that everything is as audible as it needs to be, and players should never miss any cues due to inaudible cries of nearby friends.” -Games Domain “One of Demon Stone's strongest feats is found in the audio presentation. The music is the pulled from the same vein as some AAA movie titles and so are some of the voices. Patrick Stewart and Michael Clarke Duncan lend their vocal chords to some of the game's more influential characters, while a few unknowns make their mark with a stunning show of talent. Throw in a few clanging swords, armored feet stomping down a mountain, and a dragon's death-throws and you can see why we weren't disappointed.” -PSX Nation “In the sound department, it’s all good and then some. The music is just great stuff to listen to from beginning to end, and I’m actually writing this with the game running behind me, it’s that good.” -BonusStage “The sound effects are very nice; from the swish of swords and the clang of a weapon blocking an attack to the squelch of a weapon entering an enemy’s body, they all sound great and of high quality. The voice acting is fantastic… One of the most impressive things about the game is the way your comrades react to situations during gameplay. For example, if one of them is about to die, they’ll call out for help or one of the others will call out for help for them. These smart comments really help to bring the characters to life during gameplay.” -GameBiz “Like any epic put on film or video game for that matter, it rightfully deserves a score that is both grand and dramatically sweeping. Demon Stone not only delivers in this aspect but it also offers wonderful voice acting and some pretty darn amazing sound effects. The score compliments the cut scenes and in-game action beautifully and it gets dramatically intense in all the right moments. Yet it’s the voice acting that really propels the story… There are also some pretty spectacular sound effects, particularly coming from the various monsters you fight or the grand battles you join in early in the game.” -Game Zone “It sounds great too; the orchestral music and ghostly themes that set the scene are perfectly suited to the fantasy world, while great voice acting from recognisable names like Michael Clarke Duncan and Patrick Stewart brings the various characters to life.” -Game Power AU “The sound is quite well done as well. From the clashing steel sound effects, to the sound of footsteps on the brick floors, it all sounds so real. And the voice acting is also of some quality. The epic soundtrack backing some of the war scenes is very called-for, and necessary, and only makes the game that much more of a classic hack n' slash.” -Future Gamez “The music for the game is appropriately orchestral and grandiose throughout the game. It flows with the gameplay and provides the right amount of background to the action on screen. It also predicts the action properly, and doesn't give away a properly suspenseful moment ahead of time. The other half of the sound is the combat sound and voicework. The characters have comments they will make to each other during combat that are just well timed and thought out…notes of, “Hey, that was my kill!” and, “Help me over here,” worded in different ways and tones keep them from getting old and make the characters a seem little more than their basic AI would have you believe.” -Console Gold “The musical score is what you would expect from any large heroic fantasy game. The music at points is so inspirational that you will want to grab an Axe out of the garden shed and purge evil from the planet! (I wouldn’t recommend it however!) The voice acting is also top notch, with big names like Patrick Stewart and Michael Clarke Duncan adding to the atmosphere, it really does create an excellent aural experience.” -In the Mix “The musical score is cinematic and nicely handled, although the true star is the vocal acting. The animosity and sarcastic banter between the three party members is very well acted, and the celebrity talent, voiced by Patrick Stewart and Michael Clark Duncan, gives a great performance.” -Game Over Online “The audio matches suit, with a tense, driving soundtrack that does a good job of setting mood… swords clang, pierce and unsheathe as you'd hope they would with plenty of meatiness, while rocks crumble and break with satisfying density.” -PSX2.com “The sound is just as amazing as the graphics. If nothing else this is where Atari got it right. The game is a visual and audio fairy-tale, weaving a mythical story of the Forgotten Realms world, with thematic music suitable to the D&D era.” -XGP Gaming “Demon Stone's music is suitably pompous, at times bordering on Lord of the Rings-esque, which is a compliment, just in case you didn't know. The tunes can really be that good…" -Honest Gamers
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers EA Games, 2002 (Audio Director, music editing, sound design) Award Nominations: Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences - Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design - International Game Developers Association - Excellence in Audio - Game Audio Network Guild - Best use of Licensed Music - - Sound Design of the Year -
"But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the game's delivery is the sound, which is some of the best ever. In addition to the rousing film score, you'll get plenty of dialogue from the actual actors from the movies - no fake doubles here. You'll also get sound effects that ring true, capturing every clang and clank of steel on steel. Most impressive of all is the moody music that matches the action. As things get crazy, the music swells; as things mellow out, the music does as well." -Game-Revolution "Fantastic audio effects complete the atmosphere…Sound effects feature the ringing of sword against sword and some grisly dying gasps, along with good use of surround sound technology. Play the game on a good home theater setup with the volume cranked and it's almost as if you've been dropped into the middle of a horde of orcs." -Games Domain "The clanging of swords sounds real and the surround speakers were used quite a bit. Overall this is one of the best aural experiences ever." -Console Gold "One area The Two Towers gets absolutely spot on is the audio. Replete with splendid surround sound, a dramatic score, and correctly voiced samples, the developers have done a great job of heightening the atmosphere. If you've got the kit, this game really does deliver in this department." -Eurogamer "The Two Towers features the soundtrack from the Fellowship of the Ring film as well as some tracks that were made for the film but were later cut. The music includes ominous moody melodies that instantly ramp up to full-blown orchestral tracks, taken straight from the action sequences in the film. The sound effects are nearly perfect and fit the action well. The actors from the film voice the game's dialogue, and it all sounds fantastic." -Game Spot "Using the score from the two movies, The Two Towers videogame provides an ominous and impressive soundtrack that is naturally perfectly fit for this game. The arching orchestral themes are dark, heavy and compelling, thanks to the superb movie-quality sound, which is re-created for PS2 for the mono, stereo or Surround sound options. Narrative and voice acting from the movie are used in the game, and many hours of original voice acting are taken from the lead actors in the game…the authentic quality of their voices lends the game a genuine and authoritative feel and sound. The actors that voiced the orcs, goblins, trolls, and other creatures provided great sound effects too. I loved the raw emotive sound of the trolls and especially the Uruk-hai leader in the Amon Hen." -IGN "Sound is no less impressive than graphics... Howard Shore's excellent musical score from Fellowship of the Ring accompanies the proceedings throughout. All the principal actors returned to do the voices for the game, lending an air of authenticity to the characters that could not have been achieved with sound-alikes. Even incidental sounds, such as the clash of blades, screams of orcs, or the snarling of bloodthirsty wargs are of excellent quality." -TechTV "Clips from the films blend right into gameplay via remarkably smooth transitions, and the striking graphics and sounds expertly re-create the world of the movies down to the smallest detail." -GamePro "Also complimenting the outstanding atmosphere created by the in game graphics, the booming soundtrack of the movies is here as well, fully orchestrated, and you'll find yourself immersed both visually and aurally thanks to the top-notch battle sound effects." -Game XC "The soundtrack is taken straight from the Lord of the Rings movie and sounds excellent. Each track perfectly fits the events of the game! There's also a large amount of voice acting in the game, which is also done very well. Some sounds are taken straight from the movie, while others are original to the game...all of them sound superb. My personal favorites were the Ring Wraiths. The short fight with them featured some bone chilling voices, but every fight in the game featured great sound effects." -Just-RPG.com "A lot of work has gone into making The Two Towers sound like the movies. The musical score is compiled from exactly the same tunes used in the movie, which aids in giving the most engrossing atmosphere possible. Voice work is top notch, as you would expect from the actors who portrayed those characters in the film. Sound effects are chilling, from the clash of metal, to the screams of the Uruk-Hai wanting your blood on his blade." -Playstation2AU "Crank up your speakers and get that surround sound hooked up, because this game's soundtrack is going to send chills up and down your spine. There is as much detail in the audio as there is in the visuals. Allies and enemies taunt, scream and shout orders during combat, the arrows and cauldrons mentioned before can be heard as they fly over your head or crash into the scenery around you... The music and voice acting in Two Towers is absolutely stunning." -Cyber Gaming Network "Sound in The Two Towers is definitely a plus factor too. The game soundtrack borrows heavily from Howard Shore's Fellowship Of The Ring score and gives the game that perfect movie-like quality. Dark, ominous moods are conjured up easily by the soundtrack's dramatic and moody melodies that ramp up to full-blown orchestral pieces for full effect. Let's just say that if you're a fan of movie soundtracks as this reviewer is then you'll be happy! All the sound effects are also spot-on as is the voice acting with all the stars of the movies providing voices for the main game characters. Add to this the fact that Surround Sound is supported and those who have some decent audio equipment hooked up to their PS2's will be well-pleased with this game purchase." -Gameplanet "Without a shadow of a doubt, the best thing about the game is the sound. Let me put it this way, all the characters are voice acted by the actors from the film, the music is straight out of the films, the enemies sound great, and if you have a television that allows for surround sound, then you're in for a big treat. I guarantee that nothing on the PS2 sounds as good as this except ICO, and that's high praise indeed." -Gamenikki "Sound effects of the thousands of weapons clashing against one another, locales, creatures and magic spells the player comes across are not only very good, but are as crystal-clear as the DVD format will allow. What would an EA game be without Dolby Surround technology support from the Gods?" -PSX Nation "The audio aspect is also impressive. Everything from the clash of swords to the battle cries of the orcs are reproduced here flawlessly. The accompanying score from the movie is also here throughout the game, making that feeling of playing the movie a lot stronger. Simply stunning and thoroughly enjoyable." -Darkstation "Howard Shore's score is used to amazing effect throughout, and like the many Star Wars games before it, clearly shows how well a game can benefit from a rousing robust score. Decent voice acting and some wondrous effects complement the actual soundtrack, and the end result is an aural and visual experience unlike any other." -GameStyle "Excellent sound and music…" -Electric Playground "Most of the feeling of immersion is handled aurally, though, and it's here that the license has paid off the best - the characters are all voiced by the original actors, the score is intact and highly effective, and in Dolby Digital 5.1 the effect is quite unlike any similar game - through one sense at least, you really do feel you're in the film." -GameStyle (Xbox SKU) "Sounds from the hard clashing of weapons to the blood-curdling cries of the Uru-khai are all reproduced in the game with great authenticity…needless to say, the score helps greatly to invoke the same overwhelming emotions as from the movie experience." -Xbox World Australia (Xbox SKU) "The audio in this game is best described as absolutely riveting. During the cut scene videos, the audio plays triumphantly, and is simply bliss. The voices in the game were all taken from the movie as well, which really helped give it the "cinematic" feel that the developers were hoping to create. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound is featured in this game and rightfully so. I couldn't imagine listening to the powerful music tracks without a surround sound system to take advantage of it." -Team Xbox (Xbox SKU) "The music and sound effects are where the game shines. Hearing Gimli grunt as he cleaves an orc in two, or hearing the twang! of Legolas's bow is great." -Extreme Gamer (Xbox SKU) "Sound design is excellent, and the music -- mostly straight from the movie -- is terrific." -Game Partisan (Xbox SKU) "It is a tall order to surpass the great graphics, but the audio in LOTR:TTT is even more awesome. Having the movie license really pays off if you know how to use it. The music is the unforgettable, beautiful score from the movie. It is used liberally throughout the game, and it really adds tremendous emotion immersion to the game. I get pumped up every time the game loads, and the music keeps me revved up in every stage. Even though the music is not original to the game, it is the best use of soundtrack I have heard in a game. The sound effects are also excellent. You hear the clash of weapons, explosions, and nice ambient sound effects everywhere you go." -Gamer's Pulse (Xbox SKU) "Every hack, slash, thump, and zing of your swords, axes, and arrows sounds just like you'd think it would in real life, and the orcs and goblins do an excellent job of putting fear into you with their guttural growls and shrieks." -Xbox Solution (Xbox SKU) "One of the more outstanding elements of the game is its great overall audio. The music is moody and prominent and helps to capture you and make you feel as if you are engaged in an epic battle of your own. The sound effects, while far less prominent, are equally well done, with the crisp clanging of clashing steel, arrows whistling through the air, and the pounding of footsteps as an army of Orcs charges at you. Everything comes together so well that the game will sound just as magnificent while you play it as it did when you watched the film." -Fun Xbox (Xbox SKU)
Blood Wake Microsoft, 2001 (Audio Director, music composition, sound design) "Blood Wake's soundtrack is similarly strong, with songs focusing on power chords, traditional Asian drums, or a mixture of both." -Game Spot "The music in the game certainly gets you ready to slaughter some pirate scum-buckets. Very well put together rock and roll ballads accompanied by some very well placed techno beats add a ton to the gameplay of Blood Wake." -Xbox Web "The sound effects in Blood Wake are very well done whether it's the thunderous 'American V8' sound of your boat motor running at full throttle, the explosions of boats before they capsize into the water depths, or even the sound of torpedoes fired into the water." -IGN "…hearing your automatic cannons rat-a-tat-tat-ing forward while hot enemy slugs whip past your own ears like mad hornets…" -Game Nation TV "Weapons sound effects, and explosions of enemy vessels are what they should be, and add to the realism of combat…" -Gamer's Pulse "The deep hum of the boats' engines roared out of my Dolby Digital receiver. Chain guns firing, boats exploding, and the high pitch-whine of a vessel with an exposed prop, were delivered perfectly. Pretty cool stuff." -Gamezilla "…the music backing the action fits the cinematically charged gunplay, and the sound effects and audio cues of combat sound are excellent." -TechTV "The soundtrack of Blood Wake is a blend of tribal beats with a hard edge to more refined and subtle elements of rhythm and beats. The music fits nicely with the game's theme." -Team Xbox "…the game does have some incredible sound effects, from the ancient period music, to the damage effects to your boat, the surround sound is used quite nicely in Blood Wake .The sounds are very crisp and show dynamically what a wet and wild ride you would find as a pirate, mate. Impressively the best sounds are when the bullets damage and ricochet off the surface of your boat. This has to be one of the most realistic sound effects I've heard in a video game." -Gaming Age "You get a decent array of musical tracks ranging from rock to techno, all with a decidedly oriental flavour to them. All of them come off sounding very good and add a lot to the game's experience." -Game Addicts "The music is set to a sort of tribal beat sound. It is cool, and goes along well with the pirate theme. Your ears will be pleased with the detail in the sounds of the cannons, torpedoes, and the boats moving through the water." -Gaming Target "The soundtrack is another one of the games strengths. It has a nice Tribal/Asian beat and compliments the game immensely if heard through a good sound system." -The Armchair Empire "The sound is realistically detailed in all it's glory, you'll hear all the beautiful sounds of the sea, like water swaying back and forth, waves caressing the shores, the percussion of rain drops on the ocean, and the violent clamor of thundering clouds during a raging storm. Even the artificial components evoke a sense of immersion, like the cool rumble of your engine, gun's blazing, ships exploding, ah sweet melodies…" -GamingWorldX "Blood Wake supports Dolby Digital 5.1 audio…explosions produce strong bass, while rainstorms and violent waves create pleasing ambiance. Sound effects are solid and the energetic music…fits the mood and theme of the game." -Wired Lounge "The music has subtle Chinese variations in it, and can be very relaxing, and all the other sound effects, especially the big-time explosions, are really well done." -HotGames "The sound effects are great, from the 'thwush' of a launched torpedo to the constant thumping of the hull against the waves." -Xen Gamers "…this game sounds incredibly cool. With Dolby Digital sound, the audio of this game helps suck you in and doesn't let go." -Digital Bits "The actual game play sound effects are wonderfully done, ranging from explosions under water, to large boat engines running over waves, to streamline torpedoes racing through the sea. Just listen to a torpedo exploding into an enemy ship and breaking it in half, or missiles thumping as you launch them into the air at enemies, and you will be in audio heaven. Not to mention how lovely the game sounds to the lucky few who have full Dolby 5.1 support. Imagine a giant propeller boat engine revving over your speakers and you looking around the room in amazement that the boat isn't in your actual house. That is how good these sound effects are." -Maximum Gaming Network "…the sound effects are very well done. Torpedoes moving through water, guns firing, and the low rumble of your engine really come together to help make the game immersive." -Cyber Gaming Network "Heavy drumbeats pulse in the background as you turn your small craft into a one-vehicle wrecking crew. Machine guns rattle and fire, and rockets whoosh into the sky and then land with a resounding "boom"… The sound effects are all solid, and they sound much more impressive with a decent sub-woofer hooked up to your system." -DVD Shrine Xbox "Hall of Fame"
Pool of Radiance: The Ruins of Myth Drannor Ubi Soft, 2001 (Audio Director, music composition, sound design) "Other successful elements include a musical score packed with nuances. Where games of this type tend to favor bombast over subtlety in their music, this one goes in the other direction and blends sweeping tones with minor notes that hint at a sense of humor and wonderment." -Games Domain "Lots of creepy sounds, voices, and effects. It always keeps you wondering." -Game Nation TV "Sound effects are good as well, and the subterranean atmosphere is greatly enhanced by the sounds of distant creatures, or the rattling of bones and armour from an advancing skeleton. Music…really comes to the fore when a fight gets underway. Again, it serves to enhance the atmosphere of these well, creating an air of action and excitement..." -TotalGames.net "The sound is excellent, too. Many characters have digitized speech, but more importantly, most monsters will taunt you or converse before key battles. Books whine before they are burned, armor chinks as you run through passages, and lightning crackles when you cast the spells." -Just-RPG "Why do RPGs seem to attract the best voice actors? PoR is no exception -- just watching and listening to the intro tells you that the effort put forth in the accurate music and timely voice acting is top-notch. Several non-player characters have cut-in voices and of all the ones I met sounded really good. Accents, from guttural to pristine, were done with a real flair. The music that also accompanies the game really sets the tone for high adventure." -Gamezilla "…the musical score in Pool of Radiance is great. I can tell the composers spent a lot of time creating ambiance music that truly fits very well with the game. Classical music and fantasy RPGs have always worked well together, and PoR is no different. If you pick up the collector's edition of PoR, you'll get the soundtrack on an audio CD. -Firing Squad The sound effects work well and simply cry for you to use headphones. In the dungeons, you will frequently hear distant creaks and drips. Outside you'll hear wind and animal sounds that help breathe life into the already attractive artwork. -Ars Technica
The Legend of Alon D'ar Ubi Soft, 2000 (Audio Director, music composition, sound design) "…the sound track really stands out…this percussion-heavy set is unusually well composed, captures the moods of the various realms perfectly, and had me humming for hours afterwards. There's even a good bit of variety with several songs for each area and even a good set of battle songs. Definitely the best aspect of the game, the soundtrack just might be worth hunting down if it's to your tastes." -RPGFan.com "Opening with some haunting and lyrical music with definitely Welsh or Celtic overtones, The Legend of Alon D'ar bursts out of the gates…. When necessary, a few key strains will appear to highlight the cutscenes or certain locales, which makes for a pleasant break from the standard fare in RPGs. Individually, the combat sounds are quite well done… -Adrenaline Vault "The graphics are on par with any PS2 title to date save the CG effects of Final Fantasy X, and none I have played matches the sound." -All RPG "The music is actually a strong point with semi-Celtic, medieval sounding tunes pulsing throughout the game." -The Armchair Empire "It's unfortunate that music isn't everything, because in Alon D'ar, it's actually pretty darn good, and the strongest element of the game." -Gaming Maxx
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