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I've been listening to the Plants vs. Zombies 2 OST lately and it's quite an interesting case. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWFYZb-mcJq2jB9-qWWZBgLWLoCt_gL7E
One of the lesser known aspects of PvZ2's OST is that Laura Shigihara was still working on it for a little while alongside the new composer Peter McConnell.
Laura was responsible for composing the first world's soundtrack, Ancient Egypt.
Laura was responsible for composing the first world's soundtrack, Ancient Egypt.
This world still has Laura's distinct composing style behind it, but she still tried to add that "Egypt" flair as per the level's theme
By the time Pirate Seas was being developed, Shigihara left PopCap; but she DID compose a track for Pirate Seas, which is very much still her style
So only Peter McConnell was left to work on the OST.
I think he was still trying to ape Shigihara's minimalistic style though, if Wild West and Far Future are any indication.
I think he was still trying to ape Shigihara's minimalistic style though, if Wild West and Far Future are any indication.
By the time Dark Ages rolled around, McConnell abandoned any pretense of trying to homage Shigihara's music style and instead started to lean more into fuller compositions, with more eclectic instrument selection.
Frostbite Caves is a good example of this.
imo the choice to use weirder instruments reflects the humorous nature of the game better than PvZ1 did
imo the choice to use weirder instruments reflects the humorous nature of the game better than PvZ1 did
One of my favorite tracks from the game is Lost City.
It's completely unlike anything else in the series; a pastiche of overdramatic, Indiana Jones-esque movie scores.
Too bad it's so low quality, even ingame. Maybe that was intentional?
It's completely unlike anything else in the series; a pastiche of overdramatic, Indiana Jones-esque movie scores.
Too bad it's so low quality, even ingame. Maybe that was intentional?
And then you have Big Wave Beach, which is just like... "bro, just put new wave and surfer rock in the game lol".
Sure it sounds absolutely nothing like anything from PvZ1 but it still bangs
Sure it sounds absolutely nothing like anything from PvZ1 but it still bangs
Of course, McConnell still pays respect to the original Shigihara OST, as the Plants vs. Zombies theme song (Crazy Dave) is still used as a recurring leitmotif throughout.
The OST comes to its peak in the final level, Modern Day, which is a faithful remix of Grasswalk from the original game... but with instruments from every other world!
McConnell's rendition of "Zombies on Your Lawn" is quite good
Unfortunately, the game lacks a proper final boss theme, as "Brainiac Maniac" is already used in game for puzzle/last stand levels. oh well
And then we come to the credits theme.
...it's no Zombies On Your Lawn, but it's still good in its own right
...it's no Zombies On Your Lawn, but it's still good in its own right
All in all the PvZ2 OST is pretty good all things considered. It might be very different to PvZ1's but it has its own qualities that I can appreciate, and it still respects the original too.
I hope it can get a proper OST release someday!
I hope it can get a proper OST release someday!
(and hell, it's 1000x better than PvZ3's music, which just sounds like a shitty lawyer-friendly version of Grasswalk)
