Gamedec Soundtrack Vinyl Review "Gamedec will fit snugly on your shelf as you dive into cyberspace" 💿 #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

Anshar Studios’ Gamedec was a game that I followed pretty much throughout its development cycle, until its eventual release. An impressive, combat-free cyberpunk adventure that really tried to take a lot on and perhaps overreached its grasp, it is a game that stayed with me long after playing due to its eschewing of fighting/shooting mechanics and absolute focus on narrative and player freedom. As such, it was a pleasure to get the opportunity to cover the vinyl release of the soundtrack, which fully captures a musing mood of mystery and suspense for those dark and stormy evenings.

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The game focuses on the protagonist, a Gamedec (Game Detective) who solves crimes committed in virtual worlds as well as the real world. The game takes you through various genres, and in each one poses situations that need to be overcome using your wit and inventory as opposed to your fists. The cover of the videogame features a male protagonist, whilst this soundtrack cover art instead focuses on a female design, albeit created in the same style – courtesy of Marta Szudyga and Patrycja Chmeilewska – illustrating the titular Gamedec utilising an in-game interface outside a motel, the surrounding fragmented landscapes that are being torn around the figure illustrating the different worlds that can be visited.

It’s an enticing image that comes across as incredibly detailed and evocative of the well-realised game worlds. Flipping the cover over, the reverse image is mostly ensconced in darkness, listing the seventeen tracks – including the timing of each – that makeup this single-sided 180g record. A no-frills release, Gamedec lets the music speak for itself as it comes on black, heavyweight vinyl and is encased in an anti-static sleeve, which should really be an industry standard, but is always massively appreciated! The inner circles of the record contain the cover art in a smaller format, alongside ‘Side A’ and ‘Side B’ respectively.

From the product website:

The unique soundtrack created under the direction of an award-winning composer Marcin Przybylowicz (The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077) together with Magdalena Urbanska, Maciej Dobrowolski and Piotr Musial (Frostpunk) features orchestral, classical music accompanying the noir-themed cyberpunk RPG based on Marcin Przybylek's saga. Features many minutes of the original score. The unique collaboration of the mentioned artists results in a great mix of electronic and EDM sounds, resembling Cyberpunk 2077. The classic approach suggested by other artists adds a new system to the futuristic sounds, combining orchestra records with virtually generated layers. 

Black Vinyl, limited to 300, indie-exclusive:

 Side A: 

1. the Sum of Choices

2. Warsaw City

3. Blue Mistress 

4. In a Dark Alley 

5. The Number 314 

6. Choices and Consequences 

7. Revitalization 

8. Axis Mundi 

Side B:

 01. Midnight Express

02. The High Noon 

03. Potato Gomuin 

04. the Edge of Reality 

05. Twisted & Perverted 

06. Harvest Time 

07. Knights Code

Considering the fact that the theme of the game is travelling between virtual worlds, each with its own style, denizens and vibes, the OST is surprisingly thematically straight, with each track flowing and ebbing into each other in quite a filmic fashion, most of the tracks are around the 2–3-minute mark, and hone in on capturing a sense of tension and mystery through a blend of orchestral and light electronica. It’s a great mood record, and the pristine pressing and production are crisp and give a lot of room to ramp up the volume as you see fit.

This isn’t a record that takes you on a varied journey through genres, flitting from epic boss battle themes through to jaunty ‘adventure tunes’, but instead focuses the listener on getting lost in a general sense of unfolding drama, as such – it works as a casual, spacious listen as well as lending itself to having the volume ramped up to get lost in the orchestral swells and ambient tones.

SUMMARY

An instrumental score that will certainly appeal to those who value cinematic, expressive soundtracks, Gamedec will fit snugly on your shelf as you dive into cyberspace to solve the myriad crimes that litter the digital realm.

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