Overview

Released initially on the PC and more recently the PS3, Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is a horizontal shooter in the vein of the R-Type or Gradius series. The Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Original Video Game Soundtrack, the soundtrack for the PC version of the game, composed by Rafael Dyll, features a futuristic soundscape that chronicles a variety of worlds. How does Dyll's soundtrack compare to some of the more iconic shooter soundtracks from Japan?

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The most logical place to start would be the "Mercenary-X (Main Theme)." It sets the tone of the adventure to come and features a very dramatic soundscape with a variety of synth layering, ominous piano, some spoken word samples, and a very militaristic atmosphere. The melody is also quite moving. The first stage theme, "Soldier Unleashed," is a beautiful electronica theme that showcases a variety of styles. While it is electronically driven, at times, it'll be more techno oriented, where during others, it seems to adopt a more drum and bass style. There are some beautiful melody passages as well, particularly when the piano is involved. The most interesting thing about the stage themes is their interactivity. If you start running low in health and reach critical damage, the stage theme will switch to "Running Mad (Berserker Mode)." In this mode, your damage is increased. The music itself is a very dramatic and gripping electronica piece, complete with synth choir and some awesome synth samples. The boss theme, "Big Trouble," definitely isn't the most menacing of themes, but it does feature an ominous atmosphere due to some distinctive synth samples and an awesome bass line. It's a bit weak on the melody, but it's still a solid piece.

The second stage theme, "Industrial Menace," (as an aside, that stage sucks) is a much more simplistic composition, featuring a driving rhythm and some interesting melody lines. It doesn't offer as solid a melody as some of the other themes on the soundtrack, but there's something about the repetition in the melody that pleases me. The third stage, "Hyper Space Assault," is definitely a favorite of mine. It's a beautiful blend of electronica and more orchestral features. It's got an extremely pleasing rhythm, a melody that is both adventurous and engaging, and some synth string samples that add a bit of tension. This is one of those themes you could listen to while driving down the highway. The fourth stage theme, "War above the Clouds," is easily one of my favorites. It features a much subtler tempo, but to its benefit, it offers a masterful mix of both rhythm and melody. This theme has that "final stage" mentality by providing a very epic, yet energizing, atmosphere and has a slight militaristic nature to it, tying together the dramatic atmosphere of the main theme, without actually using it. The hidden stage theme, "Lurking Evil," is easily my favorite theme and features a very electronic soundscape, but one that is deceptively peaceful at times. Featuring some moving melodies, some quirky synth usage, and has a nice ambient vibe.

There are some narrative pieces as well, such as "The End," but the narration distracts from the music. Fortunately, there is a track entitled "Story BGM (Instrumental)" that showcases these narrative pieces without the narration. "Back to the Roots" is a beautiful credits theme that combines a beautiful piano melody with some more atmospheric synth. There is a piece on this version of the soundtrack, entitled "Beyond the Frontier," that isn't featured on the PS3 version of the soundtrack, Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Complete Edition Original Soundtrack and it's quite awesome. It features some awesome rhythms that change as the piece progresses, some fantastically melodic passages featuring some beautiful crystalline synth, and atmospheres that range from dramatic and ethereal to slightly menacing. It's definitely a highlight of the soundtrack and a shame it's not featured on both.

Summary

I'm not the biggest fan of orchestral Western music, but when it comes to those that focus primarily on electronica, I usually step away impressed. The soundtrack to Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is an impressive one, featuring some fantastic stage themes, some nice dramatic tones, and a wonderful futuristic soundscape. The reliance on a sole boss theme, even for the final boss is one of the few "negatives," but these things are remedied in the PS3 version of the soundtrack, which features a lot more exclusive themes. If you want to get a definitive version, be sure to pick up that one instead, but you will forgo the bonus track, "Beyond the Frontier".