Search - Sega Tunes :: Sega Tunes: Marvel Comics X-Men: Clone Wars

Companion album maintains the game's feeling...

Carmen Roman | Yonkers, Westchester County, NY | 08/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When X-Men 2: Clone Wars came out during the last days of the Sega Genesis it proved to be one of the best Marvel games around in terms of gameplay. The Phalanx, A Techno-Organic race of beings bent on assimilating all life have come to Earth. A thin plot in itself but the game featured great gameplay & a surprisingly good soundtrack written by Information Society (Kurt Harland). In August of 1996 this companion album was released to give the soundtrack it's intended feel and sound. Other CD's from Sega's past games were released as well, the worst being ComiX Zone as it just plain sucked. It's a small but fun little disc that might please fans of the game, again this is video game music so don't expect Mozart.Bear in mind that this was made in 1995...Here are the tracks:1. Marvel Comics Presents X-Men 2: The Clone Wars (Title Theme)- Here is the main theme of the game, it's been given life with a lengthy Phalanx sounding intro before getting to the main melody. Sometimes I prefer the in-game version though as it's just as good. All in all, a solid track that's not too short. (**** out of *****)2. Climbing The Temple- Heard during the climb of Apocalypse's temple and the Siberia intro stage to a lesser extent, it's even better on this CD. During the game, depending on what character you chose, the music would be somewhat altered with different instruments in the main melody. For example: Gambit had guitars in the background, while Psylocke had bells, and Magneto a powerful Organ. Here, these elements all come full circle with the added help of sweeping synths and a trademark InSoc (Information Society) rythm. It is easily the best track on the CD, and it gets better to me with every listen. (***** out of *****)3. Brood Queen & Her Claws- Here is an example of a track that was better off left in the game. In gameplay this track pounds with fury and sounds great specifically because the audio for all Sega Genesis games was mono. Here it comes off as weak and tinny-sounding; frankly a mere shadow of it's in-game version. The lack of more than 4 elements in the track fill the stereotype of an early 90's techno song horribly. Towards the end it tries to expand just a bit but it falls short nonetheless. I usually skip this one. (** out of *****)4. "Factory" Floor- This track appears in the game's final levels with the Phalanx spreading rapidly. It has an eerie feel with synths slowly building up into a track that holds it's own. (*** out of *****)5. As fluid rises in the Citadel- Frantic. It's pretty much the only word that can fit this track. It bears a resemblance to the track called Brainchild and clearly gives off a feel of panic. During the flooding of Magneto's Citadel you must reach the top before a volatile liquid gets to you first. It maintains the level's atmoshpere, plus it's one of the best on the CD. (***** out of *****)6. Avalon 3- This track actually never showed up on the Avalon stage but it was intended to. It actually appears on one of the Phalanx's core levels (An assimilated Avalon), it suits it much better anyway. Guitars dominate most of this track, while a subtle yet unnerving melody is present. Very Phalanx. Great track. (**** out of *****) 7. Brainchild- Another highlight of the album. This track can be heard while fighting the villain Exodus on Avalon, it's slightly rearranged version is heard while fighting Brainchild himself later on in the game. On the CD both versions are melded into one for a reverb-soaked sound that just kicks ass. The rythm on this track is what's been referred to as the "InSoc sound". (**** out of *****)8. Sentinel Core Escape- Closing off the CD is this track, after fighting the core of a sentinel you have to escape because of a self-destruct sequence. Again, a fairly boring track missing depth, sounds 3 times better in the game itself. (** out of *****)The CD isn't hard to find online and it's never over [$] bucks. Give it a shot if you're a fan of the X-Men universe."