Purgatorio Sound Interview

IGN’s Neverwinter Vault has published a lengthy interview with the Rogue Dao Studios team members responsible for the sound in Purgatorio, their upcoming Neverwinter Nights 2 module based in the Planescape campaign setting.

Q: Can you describe the “feeling” of some of Purgatorio’s areas in terms of the music used?

MINOMUS: Well, as I described a bit already above. There will be menacing sewer areas with creepy ambient tracks, rainy areas with soundtracks which will make you feel the humidity and heavy air, and just beautiful dreamy areas with a bit more traditional fantasy music. Just to mention a few.

OLDBRIAN: Well, The Slag exterior is essentially a place to avoid, even the music has to tell you that you cannot feel comfortable anywhere in there. So you’ll hear some very disturbing instrumental backing here with strange sound effects, reminding you that this place is more like a wasteland than anything else.

GOPHER: The range of atmospheres varies quite a bit; some of the tracks are quite atmospheric, limited more to ordered sound effects from various instruments, to more traditionally arranged compositions. Personally, my aim has been to try and fit the music to the situation. Exactly how well I’ve done I’m not entirely sure, but in general the other members have been very supportive – that and I haven’t had to re-write anything yet. 😉

JOELS: I can only answer generally, since I have mainly been working on combat music and not the music that sets the feel for various areas. Overall, though, Sigil’s nature lends itself to a dark confluence of exotic sounds. It seems to call out for instruments outside of the western tradition (given the target audience). In some of my own tracks, I’ve incorporated Asian and Indian flavors, and Gopher has done some of that as well. To audiences in the Americas and Europe, such instruments are often associated with mysticism and an otherworldliness that fits Sigil perfectly.

There is also a slight current of maudlin romanticism that runs through much of the music… this can take a very alien setting and fit it emotionally into a context that people can relate to. It also adds to the oppressive, almost gothic steam punk atmosphere that the art team has done an astounding job setting up visually.

Perhaps most remarkably -at least, for fans of Planescape: Torment- a great deal of what has been composed so far picks up on the style that Mark Morgan established with his score for that game. I am told that this is entirely coincidental, as not everyone has even played it. I did (it is one of my favorite games ever) and can say that if you liked the music in that game, you should enjoy the soundtrack for Purgatorio quite a bit. I guess Sigil just has a certain effect on musicians that sends us down similarly dark, twisting paths.