Detroit: Become Human

 

Detroit: Become Human Review 

Composers : Nima Fakhrara, Philip Sheppard, John Paesano 

https://vgmdb.net/album/76078

May Contain Spoilers!

        Detroit: Become Human is a game about androids trying to survive, make sense of themselves, and rise to freedom. I reviewed the game a little bit down at the very end. In summary, it’s phenomenal, and one to remember for a long long time.

        The soundtrack is divided into three sections for the three protagonists in the game: Connor, Kara and Markus, composed by Nima Fakhrara, Philip Sheppard and John Paesano respectively. There is very little overlap of themes (although it’s not zero!), each has its own character, themes, leitmotifs, atmospheres and emotions.

        The first disc is Connor’s soundtrack. Straight up, this disc is where I cried the least even though the storyline of Connor and Hank does have some poignant and sad moments. This doesn’t say much about its quality, it’s just a fun fact. You will soon know why I mention crying at all. As soon as we enter the game, we are greeted with an android operation that involves the rescue of a human child and it starts off with Hostage. I immediately pinned this as an iconic theme that would become a classic over time – the electronica is bang on, it’s a slow-burn and the tension slowly rises. Nima Fakhara has many action cues here and one that is particularly memorable is Now, another track that is electronica, action strings-heavy. Your Choice, They All Look the Same and Will You Trust Me, I Trust You follow this pattern. Meet Markus and Wake Up are also very good action tracks. Connor Main theme is mashup of several leitmotifs. Connor is an action man through and through, not without emotion and puts trust and loyalty above everything else. It’s just… a question of whom to trust and be loyal to.

        The second Disc is Markus’s soundtrack. Perfectly honest here, this disc is probably the least I could emotionally connect with. It still has fantastic tracks. Markus Main Theme is a sad reminder of what Markus’s life really was, one that longed for peace and freedom. Compared with the rest, it’s the most calming, and it’s extra special that they called it his main theme since tracks like Can We Still Trust Our Machines, We Are People, The Revolution is Starting and We Are Not Afraid are all action-packed and chaotic. Story-wise, everything fits but I have to admit there was something of a disappointment in this section. I feel like there had to be more research on what “revolution” music could be like, if that makes any sense. As in, what people composed in real life, and this could vary from region to region. It could range from The Red Choir to Eimaste Dio. I am not saying one needs to go full ethnic on this or even go down The Beatles route! Ok to the composer’s credit, there is one thing that fits this whim of mine, and that is missing from the soundtrack! It is “Everything Will Be Alright”, the song androids sing at the height of their revolution. Part of me loves it, part of me thinks it’s too…passive. Not to mention repetitive and too melodramatic. Not sure how to pin it but I just couldn’t fully connect here. Despite that, it is a welcome addition and one that I was looking for the entire Markus’s section in the game.

        The third disc is Kara’s soundtrack. I cannot tell you how much I cried to this music, and cannot fathom how much I will cry in the future. It is the most triggering of all the music here and one that I could not help but connect with the most. Kara’s and Alice’s themes may sound overly melodramatic at first, but they never overstay their welcome. Not Just a Machine is beautiful blend of electronica and cello despite being under a minute long. In fact, the composer Philip Sheppard is a cellist himself so cello is a huge part of Kara’s music. Little One is Alice’s theme, piano only. It is so simple, elegant, conjures Alice’s face and struggles perfectly, the latter half is a music-box like melody which speaks to how it’s about a little child trying to survive the evil in the world. Perfect. Dark Night is another hallmark here. I still remember how I gasped at the end of the drastic result of my choice in that scene, which to be fair was a bit too easy to play out. This music is basically one that seals Kara’s fate at the end. Love. Kara and Alice’s journey are laced with many struggles, too familiar to people who had to flee their land, or were persecuted, their family killed or separated. Song of the Lost Girl, Kara’s Main Theme, I am Kara, By Firelight, No Man has Borders, Lost, By the River are all testament to the sad and innocent episodes. It’s not all hopeless or tear jerky though. Run with Me is the perfect escape theme for Kara and Alice, one that I will always remember. It also has secret bits of Connor’s leitmotif. Fly On Foot is the same, another escape theme, perfect for a quartet with crescendos in abundance. There is very little spook and horror/gore in Kara’s soundtrack, save one perfect piece : Zlatko. Zlatko is like the other side of Kara’s theme, the anti-thesis of the goodness Kara represents as if it’s Kara’s theme but recorded backwards. It gives me chills every time and is not a pleasant track, it’s just powerful but in an evil kind of way! However, I think Zlatko is way too overpowered by the innocence and goodness of both Kara and Alice. Carousel has the power to spontaneously, I kid you not, make me cry every time. I have to be careful when I am outside shuffling songs. The turning carousel with the whole scenery lit up by androids who only wish to make a child smile amidst the wreck buried in snow.

       A little Game Review: it’s a Quick Time Event, choices-matter kind of game, not much of a gameplay but wow is it ever effective. Choices matter hugely, sometimes, in my opinion, too much but they all make sense. All the storylines are told beautifully. The performances of the actors are great and believable. The music, well, you know what I think now! The graphics are superb as well, honestly I don’t need more than this in my games! The whole game is one for the books for sure.