Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Plants vs. Zombies Game Soundtrack Review (Part 2)

Thought I'd finally get around to posting the 2nd part of the Plants vs. Zombies Game Soundtrack Review made by the beautiful and awesomely talented Laura Shigihara - you can find Part 1 and the first 10 tracks reviewed here :)

  • Track 11: Rigor Mormist - This song sends shivers down my spine, as the Zombies now invade your house through the cold and dense 'Fog' levels. The start of Rigor Mormist builds up the suspense as you struggle to build your army of mushroom-like plants before the first Zombie arrives.

    The track then adds another layer of music to it, as the Zombies now appear in force, making it clear they will stop at nothing to get to your house and eat your pink brains. And what's worse than Fog? Creepy, night-time fog. If anything, Rigor Mormist compliments the 'Fog' levels so well, I'm getting another shiver just listening to it!

  • Track 12: Cerebrawl - aka. the Vasebreaker level music. In the Vasebreaker levels, you have to click on one of many vases, and it can contain either a Plant or a Zombie. As the hint in the game goes: 'Don't click on all the Vases at once!' Too many Zombies, and you'll have a hard time defending against so many :)

    Anyway, back to Cerebrawl, I love how this song feels sort of like a lullaby, but deadly at the same time, as if it knows what's in the vases as you click on them.

  • Track 13: Graze The Roof - Ahhh, one of my favourite tracks on the PVZ soundtrack, next to Brainiac Maniac ^_^ It's really hard to describe this track, just it makes me feel all happy, and when the music suddenly changes, my concentration level maxes itself out :D

    As the name suggests, the Zombies (after their failed attempts at invading your front/back yards, Pool, and even through the dense Fog), have now found a way up on to your Roof - clever Zombies, pretty sure that's a first!

    As Graze The Roof starts, I can't help bounce my head up and down in time to the beat, before it picks up, and I can imagine Zombies getting hit by cabbage & corn catapults ^_^

  • Track 14: Brainiac Maniac - For the record (and on a side note), I HATE video game bosses. Enemies that have a billion hit points, with loads of devastating abilities that can 'one-shot' you, or close enough, and plenty of minions to throw against you to sap your strength and patience, while the boss itself sits back and has a cool drink.

    Meet Dr. Edgar Zomboss, the Boss in the last level (he fights you on the Roof too!) of Plants vs. Zombies. This guy has even built a huge metal robot to combat you, complete with all the points I just explained above (minions, abilities and plenty of hit points).

    But to get back to the point, every Boss needs an equally awesome boss-worthy track, and Brainiac Maniac does NOT disappoint. Right from the start, this track (like the boss that accompanies it), skips any pretense of hesitation, and launches everything it's got at you. Nothing more can be said about this track other than its great to listen to outside of the game as well, and is just plain epic ^_^

  • Track 15: Zombies On Your Lawn - How can I possibly 'review' this track? It's impossible! From the 'boppy' nature of this song, to the fact that Laura herself has a hand in singing about not wanting Zombies On Her Lawn (she also does the voice of the Sunflower in the Music Video of the same name - the MV being the End Credits to the PVZ game as well), to the catchy lyrics of warning Zombies that brains are high in cholesterol, this song is just awesome.

    No, sorry, let's try that again... ah... epic?

    Ok, a word hasn't been invented for how awesome it is, but 'Zombies On Your Lawn' just hits all the right spots :) Also, George Fan - one of the developers that worked on PVZ, lent his voice to the Zombies in this track, as well as in the game itself :D

  • Track 16: Zombotany (Unreleased Track) - This one never made it to the final cut of the game, which is a bit sad, seeing as I would of loved listening to it as I battle some Zombies. I'm guessing it was to be the music that accompanied the PVZ mini-game of the same name. This track is pretty light, but has a sense of action in its undertone, which I love :)

  • Track 17: Uraniwa ni Zombies ga! - The Japanese version of 'Zombies On Your Lawn'. Since Laura is fluent in Japanese, she sung the vocals to this version as well, and it doesn't lose it sense of humor, and neither do the Zombies hehe :)

    I have to say, I also love the little DJ turntable sound at the start of this version that wasn't in the English one, makes the track that much better too (I love the little things :)

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    Well, that's the 2nd part of the Plants vs. Zombies Game Soundtrack Review done for now! Though stay tuned for Part 3, coming hopefully soon! ^_^ Thanks for reading! :)

    And remember, Part 1 of the PVZ Soundtrack Review can be found here, and you can buy all of Laura Shigihara's music at her Bandcamp store here as well :D