Lakeshore Records release Lorne Balfe's original score for the vide game Beyond: Two Souls. The game is an interactive sci-fi drama action-adventure video game for the PlayStation 3, created by French game developer Quantic Dream and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was originally release in October 2013 and re-released in 2015 for PS4...

Back in 2013 I reviewed Lorne Balfe's score for the video game Beyond: Two Souls (you can read that review here). The soundtrack was only made available to those that bought the Special Edition version of the game (which was available exclusively for the PS3). Normand Corbeil, who scored Quantic Dream's previous game, Hard Rain, was originally brought in to compose the soundtrack, but sadly he died at the start of 2013. Balfe was brought in to replace Corbeil, and in my original review I wrongly attributed the score as a joint venture between the two men. However this was not the case. The entire score, as released here, is the sole work of Balfe.

Corbeil did write some music for the game (the end credits dedicate the game to him as well as list his name under "other music") but none of it is reproduced here.

The music files I had for the original 2013 review I still listen to from time to time, as the music is easily one of the best scores (and not just game scores) I've ever had the pleasure to listen to. Lakeshore Records release is identical to the one issued with the Special Edition of the game.

The game passed me by on its original release. While I was aware of it, I never got around to buying it. I was a huge fan of the developer's previous game, Heavy Rain, and I always intended to pick up Beyond: Two Souls... Then Lakeshore Records sent over a news release that they were going to finally release the score on CD and digital album and that prompted me to finally get around to picking up the game.

The game is another masterpiece and is very emotional (especially in the end sequences) and I'd argue that at one of the biggest reasons for that is Balfe's wonderfully intricate and heartbreakingly beautiful music.

The album contains 16 tracks (43 min, 57 sec). I still feel that tracks like 'Hunted' and 'Treason' have that Corbeil feel to them. The score's closing track 'The Infraworld' reminded me of Balfe's music for the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

This is one score that every lover of beautiful music should add to their collection. I've been listening to it for three years, on and off and I never get tired of it. Reviewing this again, and spending over a week constantly listening to it, made me realise what a genius Balfe is. When he's allowed free reign he can deliver some of the most moving music you'll ever hear.

10

Darren Rea