Thank you for your incredible music!! This video is meant to be a celebration of the amazing work you and the other Straylight composers did on this game, so it's pretty mind-blowing that you’re here commenting on it 😅 Also, if you could ever find the time, I’d love to interview you for a future video on Unreal and Unreal Tournament
The soundtrack to the original Deus Ex deserves recognition as one of the greatest of any musical score ever. More than twenty years on, I still hear the tapping notes of Hell's Kitchen in my head as easily as the first few bars of Super Mario Bros.
i wanted to attach the music to the narrative more in this video than i have done previously, bc i feel like some of my other analyses were missing something by not focusing enough on the narrative meaning of the soundtrack, not that you asked for me to ramble lol, but thank you for the comment!!
Yeah, Mark Morgan's Fallout and Alexander Brandon's Deus Ex are basically my two favorite soundtracks ever as well. I'll chime in with Kulman and say, thank you for focusing on the greats.
"When I was a kid, only two things mattered to me. Video games and RUclips videos". This two sentences shattered me a bit. With the first sentence, you took me back to my childhood. The first half of the second sentence confirmed my addiction, but the second half threw a stake in my chest. In my childhood there was no youtube, the internet was a freshly grounded digital space folding out of it's wings. I could have a son as old as you if I hadn't pursued my dreams, but married very young. This realization comes and goes, but somehow, the context made it now extremely real. Thank you for that, and also for the great video. 👍
Thank you for sharing that my friend, I'm very glad that my video could move you in some way. I only briefly remember the pre-RUclips internet, but the digital world has always captured my imagination in a profound way. Thank you again for your kind words, and I wish you the very best 🤟
In regards to your question about the Helios ending, I'll tell you what it evokes for me personally. The Dark Age ending is certainly more upbeat. The callback to the title track (which I love) has an air of determination to it. It's as if JC & Tong know that, despite doing the right thing, the REAL work has only begun. Even though there is uncertainty in the Dark Age ending, it leaves us, the player, with a feeling of confidence & determination. Things are going to be different, but they'll be alright. The dark world we were introduced to back when we first heard the title track is gone, and a new age of hope on the horizon has begun. The Helios Ending's callback conversely doesn't necessarily inspire that same unfettered optimism. Yet, it's not pessimistic or cynical. The militaristic snare gives the track some backbone, as though JC knows this is what he needs to do. There's uncertainty hanging in the air because, unlike Tong's ending which signifies the end of a terrible period, the Helios ending represents the beginning of something new. The world was an awful place, but it was a devil we knew. What will this new age of man & machine bring? This is a bell we can't unring, but ring it we must. The synth-y marimba part in the track sounds a lot like the bleeps & bloops of the computers/servers in the game, as if the humanity of the song is giving way to a new, digital form - and as the track transitions into that ethos, so to does the uncertainty leave the song. We're left with a dramatic swell, but one with purpose - unlike the beginning of the song which still showed some hesitancy. Anyway, thanks for reading my blog. This was a great & hilarious video. I really like your style, and I hope to see more videos from you in the future!
That was fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I found them very illuminating. Maybe you should start a blog! I agree with you very much, and I think the ending tracks in particular are great examples of the effort put into conveying narrative meaning through music. They reflect the philosophical conundrums that come with each ending, which is a seriously difficult feat to achieve through composition
@@SimonZinzovski Majuular does have an amazing RUclips channel where he takes a slower, analytical approach to game reviews very similar to your own! Highly recommend you give him a watch sometime!
The synapse is such a banger of a tune, maybe my favourite or at least one of them, I remember spending ages running around Hong Kong trying to find that egg machine what a great game.
Astonished at the quality of output you have on your channel. Born too late to experience the 70s goth scene, born too early to experience gay space communism, born just in time to watch Simon Zinzovski's videos. Back when I played Deus Ex for the first time I found the club music in Paris to sound eerily similar to something out of Bowie's 90s albums. Funnily enough I found out Reeves Gabrels (who worked on one of Bowie's best albums 1.Outside) was behind all the club music in the game. I agree that the UNATCO tracks are absolutely some of the best in the entire game. I love darker and more eerie types of music myself and the cyberspy feel is so well crafted in those tracks. Something I always thought about when hearing the music of the Illuminati, was this feeling of something from the past creeping back in. Like you were visited by a ghost from the past. The Illuminati ending track felt extremely opressive and I think in a way it reminds us that the older established ideas of governing are coming back with an iron grip. One of my favorite tracks out of the entire game is probably the Conversation theme for the DuClare Chateau. It's such a beautiful and haunting track. I'm not that musically literate (I only play saxophone) but I'll try my best to express how I felt when hearing the track, in relation to the ending itself. There's something about the beginning of it that feels unsure and a bit sad at first, it's like JC is sacrificing himself to helios for mankind's sake. It then turns much more hopeful and uplifting, but still a bit held back. Like he fulfilled a christ-like role when he sacrifices himself and ascends to Godhood. (Another note: you're an absolute chad for using the original system shock footage in the back for a few seconds in the video. That game has some of my favorite video game tracks of all time! There's a nine inch nails industrial techno feel to it that I really dig) I hope to see more from you through out my lifetime! Your thoughts and ways of presenting them are just contagious, makes me want to learn all about any given topic you're discussing. Now I've waxed your balls enough for today... really hope you have the best of days. And to one day meet you in the land down under for that beer.
Heyyy don't count yourself out for the gay space communism just yet, we might get there! But seriously, thanks for the support and the thoughtful message. I really wanted to add the Reeves Gabrels thing somewhere in the video but just couldn't figure out a way to fit it, super interesting connection though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the music, i enjoyed reading through it and I'm sure others will too. This video actually started it's life as a cyberpunk music retrospective, where i was going to go over a bunch of different games including System Shock, so I might have to revisit that idea in the future. Thanks for the support Adam and i too hope we'll meet some day!!
A thirty-ish minute video about the best soundtrack in gaming history?! This is what RUclips is for! I was looking for this exact video when i was doing my yearly playthrough in February.
I would include Jesper Kyd as one of the more famous examples of demo scenes going full pro I'm very glad You didn't skip tracker topic in this, I was worried after watching 3/4th of the video
Extremely good video. Having recently replayed DX and The Nameless Mod I was looking forward to you covering this masterpiece of a soundtrack. And a massive kudos for talking about tracker music and the demoscene. Like you said, it's part of the game's identity and DNA, in fact Unreal's and DX's music led me to learning about the demoscene and other music by the composers. I feel like learning about the tech and craft behind the soundtrack makes you appreciate it even more. Once again, thanks for covering it! I would really love to see a dissection of Unreal's and UT music as well. These two games along with DX make up the holy trinity of tracker soundtrack in my opinion.
Thanks for the support Quaker! I totally agree in terms of learning about the narratives behind artistic works, it adds a richness to your enjoyment of it I think. Plus, its just kinda cool. Unreal and UT are both really good suggestions that i will absolutely have to consider
As a music and Deus Ex nerd, this egg machine of a video is goddamn beautiful. I wasnt expecting literally every damn Deus Ex meme under the sun as well! Thank ye :)
I effing love sound design. I effing love old school video games. I effing love essay style videos of intermediate length. And I'm the editor of Jerma's subtitles. Subscribed. You're not just a hen dropping knowledgeable morning breakfast, you're an honest-to-god egg machine.
The quality of this video, just in terms of the confidence of the editing and delivery is incredible for someone who has basically just started, let alone the actual quality of the analysis.
I still have xmplay installed to this day, only to be able to play back the Deus Ex umx files whenever I feel like it. This video and in fact you other videos create a very good mix of entertainment, nostalgia and education on the topics. Even the man himself, Alex Brandon, showed up in the comments. You sure are doing something right. Thanks for these videos and hopefully there is much more to come!
I discovered your channel because of your Fallout music review. And I am excited that you decided to make a video about Deus Ex. I borned same year with Total Biscuit, and I love Deus Ex. Musics of the game from that era (Fallout 1-2, Planescape: Torment, Deus Ex, Unreal Tournament, Half-Life 1, Diablo 1-2, Quake 2) had very weird and unique style. And these styles still feel very unique in this period of gaming. Most games follow expensive orchestral music, that's why I kind of miss such uniqueness. I am trying to make similar games with similar atmosphere, so your videos are very helpful to me. Thank you for that. I hope to see a Diablo 1 music explained from you.
I think your onto something, the music from the games you mentioned are interesting similar. I wonder what that property is, might be worth investigating. Also, i fucking love Diablo lmao, so i will make something about it at some point no doubt
Im grateful this exists. Imagine an analysis of the Thief seires. Id be blown away. So many underrated video game composers out there other than popular ones like Soule even through he is great and sticks to his symphonic orchestral niche.
The sign of a truly amazing piece of entertainment is: When I watch/hear anyone mention, talk, debate, or play/stream it... I immediately want to install it again and play through for the Nth time. My older brother of 5 years bought it when it first came out. I remember watching him play it and was in awe. The world, the gameplay, the story and dialogue... and the music. I still to this day at the age of 32 hum a LOT of deus ex songs. I am typing this comment as it is installing. Always pick up the GEP gun at the airbase early game!
Legend! So glad to have inspired another playthrough. It must have been amazing to explore when it first came out, because it still truly is a fantastically enjoyable game. Hope you enjoy your playthrough!
Thank you for the long breakdown, I've been listening to this OST for over ten years and it never gets old, this is possibly the best soundtrack in history of gaming.
Great analysis (even if I'm not educated enough in music theory to fully understand it) and excellent delivery. I think the density of jokes (both in the script and visual editing) is just right, which is especially impressive since that's really easy to overdo
Damn, this is such a professionally edited video. Felt like I was watching a channel with a million subs, you got the editing, script, timing etc. down perfectly. Quality stuff my guy. I also love the TotalBiscuit reference, that's exactly how I found the original Deus Ex, too.
Great video, deserves far more exposure. Deus Ex is one of the rare instances of everything going right, a complete piece of art, where every component is perfect and serves a single unifying vision
Thank you for making this! A really fun watch, and full of great insights. Especially concerning the UNATCO theme; the fact that sometimes soundtrack truly takes a leading role, and dictates the atmosphere and the player experience of that particular moment, instead of letting gameplay and everything else dictate them. Love your style, keep it up! 🙏
You're a true scholar of videogame's music ! That's awesome ! Music is often overlooked in videogames by common users and critics alike. I would terribly like to do an exploration of the links between videogames and philosophy as you really well do with music and videogames. Keep it up !
Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it!! You should absolutely do something linking philosophical concepts with video games, I for one would be very interested in that
I learned about music, and the memes are on point. Fantastic video! I remember your post on r/deusex asking us about our favorite tracks, and this was worth the wait.
This is my favourite game of all time, and the helios ending is my favourite one as well. Your analysis is really incredible, and your take on it sounds great! Looking forward to more videos!
I can't believe I missed this, thank you YT for messing up with the bell. Like Starcraft a couple of years earlier and Mask of the Betrayer or the first two STALKER some years later, I've experimented this game during a very dark part of my life and those journeys have been such a relief and in many aspects a genuine lifesaver. I'm so glad I DID receive the notification for your Yu-Gi-Oh video this time. Anyway wonderful journey once again and that red phrygian cap appearance was the cherry on top of the cake if you ask me. cheers
In a short time you've made some of my favorite analysis of several video games. By inspecting the meaning of these games through the lens of music theory/composition and sound design, you've unlocked a unique perspective that has enhanced my enjoyment of these games to a whole new level.
thank you so much! I'm really glad you have enjoyed my work, it means a lot and makes the effort worth it. Thank you also for taking the time to comment something so nice and kind :) ❤️
Friday is gonna be awesome when Simon Zinzovski uploaded! Thanks for a video, very based video, very interesting point of view! Can't wait for the next video!
Outstanding video. Always loved this soundtrack, and always felt it was the perfect accompaniment to the immersive roleplaying. Now, a mere 25 years later, I understand why. Thank you, Simon!
This channel is gold! Great analysis. You put words on things I didn't know, and a few things I kind of knew but couldn't explain (because lacking any kind of music theory).
Holy heck, the second half of deus_ex_type_beat.wav might be some of the most transcended music I've heard in a while. Thank you for this wonderful, wonderful opus.
What better way to learn music concepts than through one of my favourite soundtracks! Great video. I hope it blows up like Gunther did when he heard his killphrase "egg machine" (might have misremembered that)
I've finished Deus Ex for the first time a few days ago and was wondering if there's a video that delves deep into the music of it. I'm so glad I found this, great stuff
Amazing video and channel. I was watching this while on a treadmill and stayed on longer just so i could finish the video. Thats how good it was. Keep it up!
This is an incredible channel man. You explain the concepts and history of music theory beautifully for someone who has zero knowledge in the area, and you relate it to some of my (and many others!) favourite classics. Instant subscribe. Keep it up and you're going to be big!!
Thank you so much! Im especially proud of this Deus Ex video because I probably put about a month of full time work into it 😅 So im really glad you enjoyed it!!
Incredible stuff!! If you haven't already considered it, but a video on the System Shock franchise would be so sick and line up nicely with the recent remake of SS1
Thank god you posted for people to watch, again youtube seems to hide you away. Great Video as always! Also would love to see you talk about the Silent Hill soundscape in the future!
@@SimonZinzovski Well of course! Thanks for the good content, also gotta say your ps2 type beat lives rent free in my head, imo a masterpiece of "ambience" that's right down my alley!
First, Deus Ex is an incredible game and formative for me. Second, great analysis! Third, Chateau was third best song? Finally, excellent delivery - very listenable, and thank you!
Emm.. Wow... it's amazing that each video covers some of my ultimate favorites - Fallout, StarCraft, and now my uber-fav Deus Ex. Good job as always! Keep going! Gonna support that patreon for sure :D My story is similar - I knew Deus Ex existed... And that I have to play it some day, but I bounced off the dated graphics. Chronicling my gaming history, UT99 and Unreal played a huge role. Heard about the composers' other work many years later, I fell for the Deus Ex OST. I already knew the music inside out, when I started the game at last. Noticing the familiar music in the game was really special... Especially how well it clicked with the story, levels and overall design :)
Wow! That's so sick! Coming to the game affffter knowing the music is probably quite a rare experience, but also a super lovely way to experience Deus Ex. Glad to see you back again Druii and thanks for the support 💓
Truly, one of the videos (and OStTs)! Thank you very much for sharing and spreading the love for games and music which will forever deserve it. As for this video, not gonna lie, it felt a bit less impactful, but that might be because of the nature of the game. It is more serene and sinister, with almost no wow-moments in the tracks. Lastly, I wish we would learn more about the connection between Deus Ex, Unreal, and the egg machine ❤
Wow, a Northernlion & Jerma viewer who is into Deus Ex, Half-Life and music production??? I'm looking into a mirror :D love your content so far, subscribed!
Eggsellent video my guy I hope you keep pumping them out like a machine. I'd love to see a video about anything Half-Life and/or Metal Gear Solid, always can do more Fallout too !
My guy! Thanks for another great video. I was a bit delayed in sitting down and watching it since I've gone back to college (I refuse to listen to your videos in the background, your editing is too good). I honestly didn't know much about this game, so I'm happy that you not only went through the music, but the story as well. Love that you never died so you didn't initially know about/didn't get to hear the different death tracks. I love how the songs change as you progress, like the UNATCO one. And that Hong Kong song - The Synapse - it SLAPS. The last ending song sounds kinda sad, but I feel like I might be missing out on some nuance, so hard to interpret. Also I'd love to be a patron, but until I get a job, I can't afford the $18CAD/month, but I'll continue to like and comment on each video to boost engagement!
Star! My friend! It’s very meaningful to me that you are willing to pay so much attention to my videos, so thank you very much for that. Also hope you’re enjoying college, my partner lived on campus for her degree so i know it can be really good annnd really bad sometimes. Btw, absolutely don’t feel bad at all for not joining the Patreon, but does it show up as $18 Canadian per month for you? It should be $3CAD soo i might need to fix something 😵💫😵💫
@@SimonZinzovski of course! Your videos are 100% worth it. College is going well, it's my first time commuting to campus instead of living on campus, so it's a bit different, but not too bad! Oh and yes, the patreon was showing as $18CAD or $13USD last night. As of just now it's showing as 21CAD / 15USD
That's so odd, bc that's roughly what I'm earning per month on patreon lol, the individual cost is set to $2usd on my end. Oh well, maybe it'll fix itself at some point 😅
@@SimonZinzovski y'know what? I just never used patreon before and assumed that the 20/month was the monthly charge, not what you earn 😅 all sorted out now!
I remember getting this game as a little whippersnapper and it has stuck with me since, definitely one of the most memorable games I have ever played. Excellent video as usual and hope to see you cover New Vegas, though I don't think it has much in the way of music as it does everything else.
Thanks for watching Ivan! You're right about New Vegas but i thought it could be an interesting way to explore licensed music in video games, we shall see tho
What an amazing game, and phenominal music. Great video man, although I cant believe we just slid past the versalife theme ;) one of my favourites, although it took awhile to grow on me. Keep it up!
ahaha yeha i had to do a lot of condensing to get the video where i wanted it so i couldn't cover everything, but versalife is such a fun segment of the game
I was just thinking about your videos yesterday, and found out you just uploaded a new one. I really enjoy the media you make, even if sometimes i don't understand the more technical stuff about the music, you still explain it pretty well so i can take part of it in some way. Anyway, thank you for the quality and effort you put on your videos, and looking foward to that VN.
EGG MACHINE EGG MACHINE EGG MACHINE. God, I love how you've presented the material so far, gonna finish this vid. 19:20 Masterful editing work, thank you God, thank you! This is AMAZING work wow!
bro hit me with the 3 piece egg combo 😫 although, i have been told that it is a sign of respect, so i will i take it as such and thank you for your very kind comment 🙏
The absolute smallest correction, but the pic you used for Dan Gardopee (Basehead) is actually one of fellow tracker Andrew Sega (Necros). It's an easy mixup to make since the Unreal Fandom wiki lists the wrong image and is the first search result! I only caught it myself since I recognized that pic as one of Andrew performing for his band Iris. Also: Great job explaining the appeal of tracker music and why it fits so well for Deus Ex!
Amazing visuals! Your videos are so much fun, I'm glad you're enjoying the process because I and loving the results. Maybe I'll actually have to play Deus Ex someday.
Thoroughly enjoyable and informative. I'm glad to know that Deus Ex is being appreciated by people who weren't there to see it released. I don't expect a similar examination of Planescape: Torment, but a man can dream.
@@SimonZinzovski These two titles have, in my opinion, the best writing to ever grace a game. I anticipate good things for your channel; your videos are clearly the result of a great deal of effort, and you are very knowledgeable about your chosen subjects.
much love. great video that's broken down very intelligently. this game is dear to me and the storyline is a chilling reflection of the direction of society today. almost like we're already dealing with UNATCO!
Damn man, such a great great video, love your attitude and professionalism but all in a light-hearted and down to earth manner, and I also love long essay/commentary videos, so must say: subscribed and notifications on, can't wait for you next works :)❤
Yeah.... I miss TB too. I was there Gandalf. I was there 3000 years ago. In fact my uncle had Deus Ex pre-ordered (ironic, I know.... but back then pre-orders had their use - there was physical stock) and gave the disk to me after finishing it. I was 10 at the time. I have no clue why my uncle who was 25 thought "Yeah, great game for a kid" but still am glad he gave me the disk. He also gave me Half Life, Resident Evil and Silent Hill 4 so I guess he was really keen on me growing up well adjusted :D As a result most of the game's complexity went right past my 10 year old brain (also probably why I did not mind Invisible war that much - I saw DE as more of a RP shooter than anything). That intro and menu tracks absolutely nailed the mood. And I believe that Deus Ex was the first game with reactive music to many. Never really paid much attention to UNATCO theme tho and you show me the track in a very new light. Especially the remake once you escape UNATCO. The Hong Kong theme always reminded me of Age of Empires 2 for some reason lol. On a sidenote, I just only really notice that the three endings in DE are really similar to Mass Effect 3's endings. So three different endings are fine, they just have to be handled well I guess. The Helios/JCD ending is really somber musically and thematically, it seems to me because JC basically sacrifices himself for the greater good they wanted to match the mood with matching track. Glad seeing you make longer videos. Very good one again :) I am curios if you'll look into Bethesda games like TES and how the music in them evolved (or in Bethesda's Fallouts) as they hold similar theme but change it making a melodically unified leitmotif. Also completely missed out on the Patreon, so consider yourself patronised.
Sounds like a legendary uncle fr, he supplied you with some seriously iconic games. Making this video has made be interested in exploring more of the Deus Ex franchise because I'm only really familiar with the original and Human Rev, so maybe Invisible War should be on my list. I actually really like how Deus Ex handles player choice, it makes you feel very involved and invested in the story outcomes but still pushes you through a curated experience to ensure a high quality outcome. Having the autonomy to make your choice of ending at the last moment, when you have the most information, is also good i think. I am a known Bethesda game enjoyer so they are absolutely in my sightlines in the future. Thanks for the great comment once again and thank you so much for the support on Patreon !
@@SimonZinzovski Yeah, he sure supplied me with stuff that 10 year old can't and shouldn't get. I mean entertainment wise. Probably partially because it pissed my mom - his sister off. I remember that Matrix was her limit (the stomach probe scene is what made her go "that's it"). Honestly, unless you really want to explore a dead end of a franchise, do not bother with IW. Upon replaying DE as a more matured person and then trying IW, I realised why it is so overlooked, forgotten and hated even. I did not mind it because at the time I did not really pay much attention to stories or mechanics outside of shooting amd it is an ok shooter. CoD and Medal of Honor were like my "best of all time" games back then. Half life was "ok" to me because it took ages for me to get a gun. That's the kind of kid I was. I still do not understand how did original fallout grasp me so hard at like 12 but it changed my complete outlook on games. DE has incredibly nailed mechanics and balance with narration, and that is why TB regarded it so highly. You kill one potential adversary and they are out of the picture. You can approach so many missions invery unique ways. You still go through the motions of the story but it feels like you are doing the grunt work and just kinda going with the flow. I was hoping for Cyberpunk to be this... I do not mind the three endings of DE. It was very well prepared for that. It only really shows that narration has to work with mechanics to make that work. Mass Effect failed at this because the narration was fighting the mechanics. Can't wait for a Bethesda vid, Inon is very interesting and recognisable composer. And no worries, you deserve it.
That's an interesting point you make about Mass Effect, it's not a series I have any experience with beyond a bit of cultural osmosis. I also hoped for something more immersie out of Cyberpunk, but that game does some aweesome stuff with its music that i would really like to discuss in some way
@@SimonZinzovski Cyberpunk's music is just top notch. Genuine good songs and melodies in the game, but then again it's from the people that made Witcher that also had really good music. ME is great if you want to enjoy the journey and not the destination. At least that is my way to cope with the ending. The music of ME is still phenomenal to me.
"[They] use repetitive structures that undulate against a steady pulse, often refusing to give the listener a focal point to latch onto". - This is it! *Now I finally understand what is so strange about the Unatco headquarters theme!* I've been feeling it for 20+ years but never was able to put it into words! Thank you.
Great video, as always! A subtle reference to Noah Gervais’s latest video at 27:52 (which may be a coincidence or an egg machine) was also quite funny :)
The Chateau Conversation track has to be my favoruite, but for me the most impactful is the Airfield Conversation, on your way through the 3rd Mission you barely enagage in conversations at Brooklyn Bridge Station or the old subway tunnels inhabited by the Mole People and they're fairly brief, never granting enough time for the theme to make itself properly heard until the conversation with Paul and afterwards with Navarre and Lebedev, for which the theme comes at you fresh and strong, for me it really helps set in the eerieness and significance of the events for the story and it's characters that occur inside that Hangar.
A super smart way to make me comment on your video, egg machine. I enjoyed this video, I know nothing about music but I always love these analyses - it's an almost non-existent RUclips genre, so thank you for contributing to it! Super interesting! :)
fellow composer here that loves Deus Ex, and not just the music, but the whole game in general. Controversial: I also enjoy HR and MD (although their music isn't as cool). Also the memes on your video are gold.
This has me stunned. I'm so grateful for this kind of analysis 23 years after the release of the original game!
Thank you for your incredible music!! This video is meant to be a celebration of the amazing work you and the other Straylight composers did on this game, so it's pretty mind-blowing that you’re here commenting on it 😅
Also, if you could ever find the time, I’d love to interview you for a future video on Unreal and Unreal Tournament
We're Not Worthy!
We're Not Worthy!
Alex, you are ALWAYS in the comments when a Deus Ex music video is released. Great to see you in the community and making waves still!
The soundtrack to the original Deus Ex deserves recognition as one of the greatest of any musical score ever. More than twenty years on, I still hear the tapping notes of Hell's Kitchen in my head as easily as the first few bars of Super Mario Bros.
Alexander fucking Brandon in the comment section, hell yeah!
I expected a deep dive into Deus Ex's music but somehow this video finally explained the crazy plot of this game in an understandable and clear way.
i wanted to attach the music to the narrative more in this video than i have done previously, bc i feel like some of my other analyses were missing something by not focusing enough on the narrative meaning of the soundtrack, not that you asked for me to ramble lol, but thank you for the comment!!
I think doing both worked well to explain your point and keep things entertaining@@SimonZinzovski
@@SimonZinzovski The largest reason why I LOVE the OT & Prequels soundtrack by John Williams for Star Wars. It focuses on enhancing the narrative!
It's pretty easy to understand.
Deus Ex and Fallout 1/2 are on the very top of my favorite video games ever. Thanks for analyzing my favorite games
Soul read, i gotchu bro
Same here, this was a pleasant surprise after the FO1/2 music videos.
good taste
Yeah, Mark Morgan's Fallout and Alexander Brandon's Deus Ex are basically my two favorite soundtracks ever as well. I'll chime in with Kulman and say, thank you for focusing on the greats.
They happen to be the very best games ever
"When I was a kid, only two things mattered to me. Video games and RUclips videos". This two sentences shattered me a bit. With the first sentence, you took me back to my childhood. The first half of the second sentence confirmed my addiction, but the second half threw a stake in my chest. In my childhood there was no youtube, the internet was a freshly grounded digital space folding out of it's wings. I could have a son as old as you if I hadn't pursued my dreams, but married very young. This realization comes and goes, but somehow, the context made it now extremely real. Thank you for that, and also for the great video. 👍
Thank you for sharing that my friend, I'm very glad that my video could move you in some way. I only briefly remember the pre-RUclips internet, but the digital world has always captured my imagination in a profound way. Thank you again for your kind words, and I wish you the very best 🤟
In regards to your question about the Helios ending, I'll tell you what it evokes for me personally.
The Dark Age ending is certainly more upbeat. The callback to the title track (which I love) has an air of determination to it. It's as if JC & Tong know that, despite doing the right thing, the REAL work has only begun. Even though there is uncertainty in the Dark Age ending, it leaves us, the player, with a feeling of confidence & determination. Things are going to be different, but they'll be alright. The dark world we were introduced to back when we first heard the title track is gone, and a new age of hope on the horizon has begun.
The Helios Ending's callback conversely doesn't necessarily inspire that same unfettered optimism. Yet, it's not pessimistic or cynical. The militaristic snare gives the track some backbone, as though JC knows this is what he needs to do. There's uncertainty hanging in the air because, unlike Tong's ending which signifies the end of a terrible period, the Helios ending represents the beginning of something new. The world was an awful place, but it was a devil we knew. What will this new age of man & machine bring? This is a bell we can't unring, but ring it we must.
The synth-y marimba part in the track sounds a lot like the bleeps & bloops of the computers/servers in the game, as if the humanity of the song is giving way to a new, digital form - and as the track transitions into that ethos, so to does the uncertainty leave the song. We're left with a dramatic swell, but one with purpose - unlike the beginning of the song which still showed some hesitancy.
Anyway, thanks for reading my blog. This was a great & hilarious video. I really like your style, and I hope to see more videos from you in the future!
That was fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I found them very illuminating. Maybe you should start a blog! I agree with you very much, and I think the ending tracks in particular are great examples of the effort put into conveying narrative meaning through music. They reflect the philosophical conundrums that come with each ending, which is a seriously difficult feat to achieve through composition
@@SimonZinzovski Majuular does have an amazing RUclips channel where he takes a slower, analytical approach to game reviews very similar to your own! Highly recommend you give him a watch sometime!
Thank you for this incredible deep dive in the music of a legendary game.
thank you for enjoying it!!
The synapse is such a banger of a tune, maybe my favourite or at least one of them, I remember spending ages running around Hong Kong trying to find that egg machine what a great game.
what? there is an egg machine in hong kong? is this what people are talking about?
It looks like you edited this video with an egg machine. Great work champ
my brother in christ what is an egg machine?
@@SimonZinzovskiExactly...
Astonished at the quality of output you have on your channel. Born too late to experience the 70s goth scene, born too early to experience gay space communism, born just in time to watch Simon Zinzovski's videos.
Back when I played Deus Ex for the first time I found the club music in Paris to sound eerily similar to something out of Bowie's 90s albums. Funnily enough I found out Reeves Gabrels (who worked on one of Bowie's best albums 1.Outside) was behind all the club music in the game.
I agree that the UNATCO tracks are absolutely some of the best in the entire game. I love darker and more eerie types of music myself and the cyberspy feel is so well crafted in those tracks.
Something I always thought about when hearing the music of the Illuminati, was this feeling of something from the past creeping back in. Like you were visited by a ghost from the past.
The Illuminati ending track felt extremely opressive and I think in a way it reminds us that the older established ideas of governing are coming back with an iron grip. One of my favorite tracks out of the entire game is probably the Conversation theme for the DuClare Chateau. It's such a beautiful and haunting track.
I'm not that musically literate (I only play saxophone) but I'll try my best to express how I felt when hearing the track, in relation to the ending itself. There's something about the beginning of it that feels unsure and a bit sad at first, it's like JC is sacrificing himself to helios for mankind's sake. It then turns much more hopeful and uplifting, but still a bit held back. Like he fulfilled a christ-like role when he sacrifices himself and ascends to Godhood.
(Another note: you're an absolute chad for using the original system shock footage in the back for a few seconds in the video. That game has some of my favorite video game tracks of all time! There's a nine inch nails industrial techno feel to it that I really dig)
I hope to see more from you through out my lifetime! Your thoughts and ways of presenting them are just contagious, makes me want to learn all about any given topic you're discussing. Now I've waxed your balls enough for today... really hope you have the best of days. And to one day meet you in the land down under for that beer.
Heyyy don't count yourself out for the gay space communism just yet, we might get there!
But seriously, thanks for the support and the thoughtful message. I really wanted to add the Reeves Gabrels thing somewhere in the video but just couldn't figure out a way to fit it, super interesting connection though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the music, i enjoyed reading through it and I'm sure others will too. This video actually started it's life as a cyberpunk music retrospective, where i was going to go over a bunch of different games including System Shock, so I might have to revisit that idea in the future.
Thanks for the support Adam and i too hope we'll meet some day!!
A thirty-ish minute video about the best soundtrack in gaming history?! This is what RUclips is for!
I was looking for this exact video when i was doing my yearly playthrough in February.
Hell yeah! Glad i could provide the goods. The video will still be here for your yearly playthrough next February 😅
I would include Jesper Kyd as one of the more famous examples of demo scenes going full pro
I'm very glad You didn't skip tracker topic in this, I was worried after watching 3/4th of the video
Absolutely Jesper Kyd is a fantastic musician! I felt that Deus Ex’s tracker origins were relevant so im glad you appreciated my discussion of them 😊
Extremely good video. Having recently replayed DX and The Nameless Mod I was looking forward to you covering this masterpiece of a soundtrack. And a massive kudos for talking about tracker music and the demoscene. Like you said, it's part of the game's identity and DNA, in fact Unreal's and DX's music led me to learning about the demoscene and other music by the composers. I feel like learning about the tech and craft behind the soundtrack makes you appreciate it even more.
Once again, thanks for covering it! I would really love to see a dissection of Unreal's and UT music as well. These two games along with DX make up the holy trinity of tracker soundtrack in my opinion.
Thanks for the support Quaker! I totally agree in terms of learning about the narratives behind artistic works, it adds a richness to your enjoyment of it I think. Plus, its just kinda cool. Unreal and UT are both really good suggestions that i will absolutely have to consider
As a music and Deus Ex nerd, this egg machine of a video is goddamn beautiful. I wasnt expecting literally every damn Deus Ex meme under the sun as well! Thank ye :)
I am a known meme purveyor, this is true
I effing love sound design. I effing love old school video games. I effing love essay style videos of intermediate length. And I'm the editor of Jerma's subtitles. Subscribed. You're not just a hen dropping knowledgeable morning breakfast, you're an honest-to-god egg machine.
Holy smokes, big respect! I love a good subtitle edit, I watch basically ever video with subtitles on so I appreciate the work you do
The quality of this video, just in terms of the confidence of the editing and delivery is incredible for someone who has basically just started, let alone the actual quality of the analysis.
thank you so much! your kind words are very encouraging :))
The love for Deus Ex really shone through this video. Great work.
such a deeply cool game
I still have xmplay installed to this day, only to be able to play back the Deus Ex umx files whenever I feel like it. This video and in fact you other videos create a very good mix of entertainment, nostalgia and education on the topics. Even the man himself, Alex Brandon, showed up in the comments. You sure are doing something right. Thanks for these videos and hopefully there is much more to come!
Thank you dude! Glad to hear you resonate with the music so much, and that you got something out of my analysis 💕
UMX? I used UnreadEd to extract out the original IT files. Still listen to them using XMPlay under WINE.
I discovered your channel because of your Fallout music review. And I am excited that you decided to make a video about Deus Ex. I borned same year with Total Biscuit, and I love Deus Ex.
Musics of the game from that era (Fallout 1-2, Planescape: Torment, Deus Ex, Unreal Tournament, Half-Life 1, Diablo 1-2, Quake 2) had very weird and unique style. And these styles still feel very unique in this period of gaming. Most games follow expensive orchestral music, that's why I kind of miss such uniqueness.
I am trying to make similar games with similar atmosphere, so your videos are very helpful to me. Thank you for that.
I hope to see a Diablo 1 music explained from you.
I think your onto something, the music from the games you mentioned are interesting similar. I wonder what that property is, might be worth investigating. Also, i fucking love Diablo lmao, so i will make something about it at some point no doubt
my (newly purchased ffs..) egg machine just broke down but seeing you upload really helped me cheer up! you go, simon!
Jesus christ, hope find some other way to get in your daily boiled egg
This goes right up my playlist along with Bobin Threadbare's walk-through.🎉
woahh i had to look that up, what a deep cut. an og deus ex enjoyer to be sure
Im grateful this exists. Imagine an analysis of the Thief seires. Id be blown away. So many underrated video game composers out there other than popular ones like Soule even through he is great and sticks to his symphonic orchestral niche.
Yess Thief would be a good series to cover! Thanks for the support annd the suggestion 💕
The sign of a truly amazing piece of entertainment is: When I watch/hear anyone mention, talk, debate, or play/stream it... I immediately want to install it again and play through for the Nth time. My older brother of 5 years bought it when it first came out. I remember watching him play it and was in awe. The world, the gameplay, the story and dialogue... and the music. I still to this day at the age of 32 hum a LOT of deus ex songs. I am typing this comment as it is installing. Always pick up the GEP gun at the airbase early game!
Legend! So glad to have inspired another playthrough. It must have been amazing to explore when it first came out, because it still truly is a fantastically enjoyable game. Hope you enjoy your playthrough!
Thank you for the long breakdown, I've been listening to this OST for over ten years and it never gets old, this is possibly the best soundtrack in history of gaming.
glad you enjoyed it!! it's such a special soundtrack
Literally just playing this and hoping that you’d make a video on this, so thank you.
hell yeah brother, get soul read
Great analysis (even if I'm not educated enough in music theory to fully understand it) and excellent delivery. I think the density of jokes (both in the script and visual editing) is just right, which is especially impressive since that's really easy to overdo
thank you for the feedback! Glad you felt the jokes were spaced well, I have probably overcooked it in some of my other videos 😅
i love your videos man, keep up.
thank you irl harold, glad ur still alive
amazing job, thank you for making and sharing it
Glad you enjoyed it!
Alexander Brandon did a lot of stellar work on Unreal Tournament(99) as well.
Also, top-tier editing, you deserve a lot more subscribers.
Thank you! Glad you liked it :)
The unreal music is great too and i might cover it in detail in the future
@@SimonZinzovski Please do. Unreal is a brilliant game.
@@SimonZinzovski unreal's (1998) music is good, the unreal tournament (1999) music is legendary
Damn, this is such a professionally edited video. Felt like I was watching a channel with a million subs, you got the editing, script, timing etc. down perfectly. Quality stuff my guy.
I also love the TotalBiscuit reference, that's exactly how I found the original Deus Ex, too.
thank you so much! those are some very kind words! Also yeah, i felt like i needed to give some love to the OG, a man who is frankly hard to forget
"professionally edited video" means covered in poorly cut-out and mis-scaled overlays of mostly unrelated images?
Great video, deserves far more exposure.
Deus Ex is one of the rare instances of everything going right, a complete piece of art, where every component is perfect and serves a single unifying vision
^^i totally agree
I find this wonderful egg machine analysis of the music to really answer some questions I've had with the game's soundtrack being so easy to recall.
glad you liked it, you freakin egg 🥚
Honestly there aren't enough analysis on video game music, thanks for contributing to that
thank you blankult 🤝
Thank you for making this! A really fun watch, and full of great insights. Especially concerning the UNATCO theme; the fact that sometimes soundtrack truly takes a leading role, and dictates the atmosphere and the player experience of that particular moment, instead of letting gameplay and everything else dictate them. Love your style, keep it up! 🙏
Thank you dude!! Gordan also thought the unatco analysis was the best part of the vid so you’re in good company 😅
You're a true scholar of videogame's music ! That's awesome ! Music is often overlooked in videogames by common users and critics alike. I would terribly like to do an exploration of the links between videogames and philosophy as you really well do with music and videogames. Keep it up !
Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it!! You should absolutely do something linking philosophical concepts with video games, I for one would be very interested in that
I learned about music, and the memes are on point. Fantastic video! I remember your post on r/deusex asking us about our favorite tracks, and this was worth the wait.
yo! glad to see you come over from the reddit, thanks for supporting the video 😅
Love your videos so much man, been wondering where you have been! This video has given me the push to finally play this classic. Keep it up my boy!
Lewis! Glad to see you again!! Please come back and let me know how you like Deus Ex once you've played a decent chunk 😁
This is my favourite game of all time, and the helios ending is my favourite one as well. Your analysis is really incredible, and your take on it sounds great! Looking forward to more videos!
hell yes! Glad you enjoyed my video and keen to give you more :)))
I can't believe I missed this, thank you YT for messing up with the bell. Like Starcraft a couple of years earlier and Mask of the Betrayer or the first two STALKER some years later, I've experimented this game during a very dark part of my life and those journeys have been such a relief and in many aspects a genuine lifesaver. I'm so glad I DID receive the notification for your Yu-Gi-Oh video this time.
Anyway wonderful journey once again and that red phrygian cap appearance was the cherry on top of the cake if you ask me. cheers
fellow phrygian cap enjoyer!! Really glad you found this one and enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing some of your own story with the game 😊
In a short time you've made some of my favorite analysis of several video games. By inspecting the meaning of these games through the lens of music theory/composition and sound design, you've unlocked a unique perspective that has enhanced my enjoyment of these games to a whole new level.
thank you so much! I'm really glad you have enjoyed my work, it means a lot and makes the effort worth it. Thank you also for taking the time to comment something so nice and kind :) ❤️
You’ve produced a unique and thoughtful long form analysis of deus ex. I gotta give you some engagement for that.
hell yeah thank you boss 🤝
Friday is gonna be awesome when Simon Zinzovski uploaded! Thanks for a video, very based video, very interesting point of view! Can't wait for the next video!
Hell yeah dude! Glad I could brighten your Friday
Thumbs up for not only a great video, but also the Faye Wong reference. You are truly a man of culture.
I found her through Chungking Express (obviously), but she also has fantastic music (as im sure you know)
So much love and care put into this, 11/10
thank you, it was indeed made with love 🥰
Outstanding video. Always loved this soundtrack, and always felt it was the perfect accompaniment to the immersive roleplaying. Now, a mere 25 years later, I understand why. Thank you, Simon!
thank you! really glad you enjoyed it
This channel is gold! Great analysis. You put words on things I didn't know, and a few things I kind of knew but couldn't explain (because lacking any kind of music theory).
heck yeah! glad i could affirm some of your internal thoughts !
Woah, very few views, yet a very quality video! Great job!
yo thank you! We're slowly growing 😅
Holy heck, the second half of deus_ex_type_beat.wav might be some of the most transcended music I've heard in a while. Thank you for this wonderful, wonderful opus.
yo thank you! really glad you enjoyed it! (i agree, the second half is the better half of that track)
It's all fabulous though@@SimonZinzovski
What better way to learn music concepts than through one of my favourite soundtracks! Great video. I hope it blows up like Gunther did when he heard his killphrase "egg machine" (might have misremembered that)
mmmm i think you perhaps misremembered that one... (thanks for the support tho)
I enjoyed every second of this - thank you! I've wanted someone to carry out a proper analysis of the soundtrack to one of the best games ever.
Ahhh thank you ! So kind! Glad you got something out of my analysis :)))
Yet again a great video, I hope one day you do one on like Spyro or Crash games. But no mater what I cannot wait for the next one.
Mmmm that could be a cheeky bit of fun, made me think of the original Harry Potter games too which are a fun vibe
also simpsons hit and run is giving the same energy
one of my favorite aspects of games is the music..it's soo good to have a channel dedicated to that
thank you! I love music and i looove games, so it just made sense
You go man do your thing! I love your style. We need more RUclipsrs like this. Much love!
Another absolute banger of a video my guy.
thank u boss man 🫡
I've finished Deus Ex for the first time a few days ago and was wondering if there's a video that delves deep into the music of it. I'm so glad I found this, great stuff
Yo look at that, great timing huh
Man, this was an experience! The music, editing, narration, everything come together to deliver. Earned a sub. ❤
thank you!!! happy to know that you enjoyed it :)))
Amazing video and channel. I was watching this while on a treadmill and stayed on longer just so i could finish the video. Thats how good it was. Keep it up!
Wow really! That's awesome! The mental image of that actually makes me so pumped, I too love consuming content while on cardio machines
This is an incredible channel man. You explain the concepts and history of music theory beautifully for someone who has zero knowledge in the area, and you relate it to some of my (and many others!) favourite classics. Instant subscribe. Keep it up and you're going to be big!!
Thank you so much! Im especially proud of this Deus Ex video because I probably put about a month of full time work into it 😅
So im really glad you enjoyed it!!
Incredible stuff!! If you haven't already considered it, but a video on the System Shock franchise would be so sick and line up nicely with the recent remake of SS1
The OST of old games like Deus Ex are just so beautiful in a unique way
It's so otherworldly and has such a strong vibe. Just hearing it takes me back in time to that crusty, golden age. Powerful stuff.
Thank god you posted for people to watch, again youtube seems to hide you away. Great Video as always! Also would love to see you talk about the Silent Hill soundscape in the future!
Thanks dude! Really glad to see you again, happy you stuck around 😅. Silent Hill is an S Tier pick for sure, absolutely on my radar
@@SimonZinzovski Well of course! Thanks for the good content, also gotta say your ps2 type beat lives rent free in my head, imo a masterpiece of "ambience" that's right down my alley!
First, Deus Ex is an incredible game and formative for me. Second, great analysis! Third, Chateau was third best song? Finally, excellent delivery - very listenable, and thank you!
I think it's a formative game for a lot of people! Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your support 😅
Emm.. Wow... it's amazing that each video covers some of my ultimate favorites - Fallout, StarCraft, and now my uber-fav Deus Ex.
Good job as always! Keep going!
Gonna support that patreon for sure :D
My story is similar - I knew Deus Ex existed...
And that I have to play it some day, but I bounced off the dated graphics.
Chronicling my gaming history, UT99 and Unreal played a huge role.
Heard about the composers' other work many years later, I fell for the Deus Ex OST.
I already knew the music inside out, when I started the game at last.
Noticing the familiar music in the game was really special...
Especially how well it clicked with the story, levels and overall design :)
Wow! That's so sick! Coming to the game affffter knowing the music is probably quite a rare experience, but also a super lovely way to experience Deus Ex. Glad to see you back again Druii and thanks for the support 💓
Truly, one of the videos (and OStTs)! Thank you very much for sharing and spreading the love for games and music which will forever deserve it.
As for this video, not gonna lie, it felt a bit less impactful, but that might be because of the nature of the game. It is more serene and sinister, with almost no wow-moments in the tracks.
Lastly, I wish we would learn more about the connection between Deus Ex, Unreal, and the egg machine ❤
bruh there is no egg machine connection...
fr tho thank you for your kind words and continued support 💕
Gaming essay + weird hair, I’m sold.
Weird hair? Ight i'll accept that
You have earned a lifetime viewer. I learned things I never knew about my favorite game, thank you!
Wow, a Northernlion & Jerma viewer who is into Deus Ex, Half-Life and music production??? I'm looking into a mirror :D love your content so far, subscribed!
I also love the sopranos AND twin peaks…
Eggsellent video my guy I hope you keep pumping them out like a machine. I'd love to see a video about anything Half-Life and/or Metal Gear Solid, always can do more Fallout too !
fucking hell i'm being trolled, this is terrible
what more half life stuff would you wanna see? the hl2 music?
@@SimonZinzovski Getting to hear you talk more about more half life music won't hurt :D
Thanks for another banger video about a banger videogame.
My guy! Thanks for another great video. I was a bit delayed in sitting down and watching it since I've gone back to college (I refuse to listen to your videos in the background, your editing is too good). I honestly didn't know much about this game, so I'm happy that you not only went through the music, but the story as well. Love that you never died so you didn't initially know about/didn't get to hear the different death tracks. I love how the songs change as you progress, like the UNATCO one. And that Hong Kong song - The Synapse - it SLAPS. The last ending song sounds kinda sad, but I feel like I might be missing out on some nuance, so hard to interpret. Also I'd love to be a patron, but until I get a job, I can't afford the $18CAD/month, but I'll continue to like and comment on each video to boost engagement!
Star! My friend! It’s very meaningful to me that you are willing to pay so much attention to my videos, so thank you very much for that. Also hope you’re enjoying college, my partner lived on campus for her degree so i know it can be really good annnd really bad sometimes. Btw, absolutely don’t feel bad at all for not joining the Patreon, but does it show up as $18 Canadian per month for you? It should be $3CAD soo i might need to fix something 😵💫😵💫
@@SimonZinzovski of course! Your videos are 100% worth it. College is going well, it's my first time commuting to campus instead of living on campus, so it's a bit different, but not too bad! Oh and yes, the patreon was showing as $18CAD or $13USD last night. As of just now it's showing as 21CAD / 15USD
That's so odd, bc that's roughly what I'm earning per month on patreon lol, the individual cost is set to $2usd on my end. Oh well, maybe it'll fix itself at some point 😅
@@SimonZinzovski y'know what? I just never used patreon before and assumed that the 20/month was the monthly charge, not what you earn 😅 all sorted out now!
I remember getting this game as a little whippersnapper and it has stuck with me since, definitely one of the most memorable games I have ever played. Excellent video as usual and hope to see you cover New Vegas, though I don't think it has much in the way of music as it does everything else.
Thanks for watching Ivan! You're right about New Vegas but i thought it could be an interesting way to explore licensed music in video games, we shall see tho
What an amazing game, and phenominal music. Great video man, although I cant believe we just slid past the versalife theme ;) one of my favourites, although it took awhile to grow on me.
Keep it up!
ahaha yeha i had to do a lot of condensing to get the video where i wanted it so i couldn't cover everything, but versalife is such a fun segment of the game
@@SimonZinzovski Understandable! Also thanks for the quick clip of conspiravision, I didnt even know it existed :o What a boon!
i really snuck it in there ahaha, glad you found it because of me !
Great video! You're the man. I don't think there's a point where we can stop discussing Deus Ex.
i want this kind of video for planescape torment next
mmm tempting offer ngl
I never tought I would find Deus Ex so interesting and even more the video essey about its audio. nice vid
thank you lord jelly fish 🙇♂️🪼
You look like you’re straight out of Hackers and made a video about one of my favorite games.
I… I love you. XD
💋
I was just thinking about your videos yesterday, and found out you just uploaded a new one. I really enjoy the media you make, even if sometimes i don't understand the more technical stuff about the music, you still explain it pretty well so i can take part of it in some way. Anyway, thank you for the quality and effort you put on your videos, and looking foward to that VN.
oh wow! Glad i was on your mind ahaha, thanks for sticking around and watching my stuff friend
Beautiful video! I hope we get more of this goodness! Could be awesome if u did other games too or even movies!
Thank you!!! I am absolutely planning on covering some TV and Film content in the future
This ain't a gold mine. This is a 3D printer making pristine diamonds. And the diamonds are Pure Gold.
i don't know what to make of that, but thank you 🙏
EGG MACHINE EGG MACHINE EGG MACHINE. God, I love how you've presented the material so far, gonna finish this vid.
19:20 Masterful editing work, thank you
God, thank you! This is AMAZING work wow!
bro hit me with the 3 piece egg combo 😫
although, i have been told that it is a sign of respect, so i will i take it as such and thank you for your very kind comment 🙏
Great content, as usual. Thank you.
thank you! super glad you stuck around
The absolute smallest correction, but the pic you used for Dan Gardopee (Basehead) is actually one of fellow tracker Andrew Sega (Necros). It's an easy mixup to make since the Unreal Fandom wiki lists the wrong image and is the first search result! I only caught it myself since I recognized that pic as one of Andrew performing for his band Iris.
Also: Great job explaining the appeal of tracker music and why it fits so well for Deus Ex!
Ahhh damn it! I thought that photo looked like Andrew Sega, so I literally checked the Unreal Fandom wiki to make sure 😰😰
Good catch tho dude !
These videos really bring out the small but important details in great games!
I do be a detail oriented person
Good stuff. Deus ex and it's music are important to me as well, and it's been especially relevant to me in the past few years.
It's funny how Deus Ex's influence has seemed to grow over the last 20 years, rather than shrink
The Helios Ending has the feeling of power and finality, with the menacing undertone that another Pandora's Box has just been opened.
Amazing visuals! Your videos are so much fun, I'm glad you're enjoying the process because I and loving the results. Maybe I'll actually have to play Deus Ex someday.
Thanks for the support! You should give it a spin dude, sometimes it goes for as low as $1 on gog so there isn't too much to lose
Love long analysis Dude 👍🏻
Ojh goodness I almost didn't realize this was a video from you, ah hell yeah, here goes the next 30 minutes of my life!
Heheh, i have stolen your minutes and ur not getting them back
Just found your channel, really enjoyed the video, I love the game and it's OST. The music insights you had where awesome.
Thank you for watching! I'm really happy to hear you liked my insights :)))
Thoroughly enjoyable and informative. I'm glad to know that Deus Ex is being appreciated by people who weren't there to see it released. I don't expect a similar examination of Planescape: Torment, but a man can dream.
welll, i am a known Black Isle Studios enjoyer (as evidenced by my fallout video) so I wouldn't rule it out my friend
@@SimonZinzovski These two titles have, in my opinion, the best writing to ever grace a game. I anticipate good things for your channel; your videos are clearly the result of a great deal of effort, and you are very knowledgeable about your chosen subjects.
thank you my friend, i'm glad that you feel my videos provide vale to you 😁
much love. great video that's broken down very intelligently. this game is dear to me and the storyline is a chilling reflection of the direction of society today. almost like we're already dealing with UNATCO!
glad you liked the video! this is the one i'm the most proud of actually, so im really happy that you enjoyed it :)
Damn man, such a great great video, love your attitude and professionalism but all in a light-hearted and down to earth manner, and I also love long essay/commentary videos, so must say: subscribed and notifications on, can't wait for you next works :)❤
thank you so much! the support means a lot, and it really encourages me to keep going 💗
Yeah.... I miss TB too.
I was there Gandalf. I was there 3000 years ago. In fact my uncle had Deus Ex pre-ordered (ironic, I know.... but back then pre-orders had their use - there was physical stock) and gave the disk to me after finishing it. I was 10 at the time. I have no clue why my uncle who was 25 thought "Yeah, great game for a kid" but still am glad he gave me the disk. He also gave me Half Life, Resident Evil and Silent Hill 4 so I guess he was really keen on me growing up well adjusted :D As a result most of the game's complexity went right past my 10 year old brain (also probably why I did not mind Invisible war that much - I saw DE as more of a RP shooter than anything).
That intro and menu tracks absolutely nailed the mood. And I believe that Deus Ex was the first game with reactive music to many. Never really paid much attention to UNATCO theme tho and you show me the track in a very new light. Especially the remake once you escape UNATCO. The Hong Kong theme always reminded me of Age of Empires 2 for some reason lol.
On a sidenote, I just only really notice that the three endings in DE are really similar to Mass Effect 3's endings. So three different endings are fine, they just have to be handled well I guess. The Helios/JCD ending is really somber musically and thematically, it seems to me because JC basically sacrifices himself for the greater good they wanted to match the mood with matching track.
Glad seeing you make longer videos. Very good one again :) I am curios if you'll look into Bethesda games like TES and how the music in them evolved (or in Bethesda's Fallouts) as they hold similar theme but change it making a melodically unified leitmotif.
Also completely missed out on the Patreon, so consider yourself patronised.
Sounds like a legendary uncle fr, he supplied you with some seriously iconic games. Making this video has made be interested in exploring more of the Deus Ex franchise because I'm only really familiar with the original and Human Rev, so maybe Invisible War should be on my list.
I actually really like how Deus Ex handles player choice, it makes you feel very involved and invested in the story outcomes but still pushes you through a curated experience to ensure a high quality outcome. Having the autonomy to make your choice of ending at the last moment, when you have the most information, is also good i think.
I am a known Bethesda game enjoyer so they are absolutely in my sightlines in the future.
Thanks for the great comment once again and thank you so much for the support on Patreon !
@@SimonZinzovski Yeah, he sure supplied me with stuff that 10 year old can't and shouldn't get. I mean entertainment wise. Probably partially because it pissed my mom - his sister off. I remember that Matrix was her limit (the stomach probe scene is what made her go "that's it").
Honestly, unless you really want to explore a dead end of a franchise, do not bother with IW. Upon replaying DE as a more matured person and then trying IW, I realised why it is so overlooked, forgotten and hated even. I did not mind it because at the time I did not really pay much attention to stories or mechanics outside of shooting amd it is an ok shooter. CoD and Medal of Honor were like my "best of all time" games back then. Half life was "ok" to me because it took ages for me to get a gun. That's the kind of kid I was. I still do not understand how did original fallout grasp me so hard at like 12 but it changed my complete outlook on games.
DE has incredibly nailed mechanics and balance with narration, and that is why TB regarded it so highly. You kill one potential adversary and they are out of the picture. You can approach so many missions invery unique ways. You still go through the motions of the story but it feels like you are doing the grunt work and just kinda going with the flow. I was hoping for Cyberpunk to be this...
I do not mind the three endings of DE. It was very well prepared for that. It only really shows that narration has to work with mechanics to make that work. Mass Effect failed at this because the narration was fighting the mechanics.
Can't wait for a Bethesda vid, Inon is very interesting and recognisable composer.
And no worries, you deserve it.
That's an interesting point you make about Mass Effect, it's not a series I have any experience with beyond a bit of cultural osmosis. I also hoped for something more immersie out of Cyberpunk, but that game does some aweesome stuff with its music that i would really like to discuss in some way
@@SimonZinzovski Cyberpunk's music is just top notch. Genuine good songs and melodies in the game, but then again it's from the people that made Witcher that also had really good music.
ME is great if you want to enjoy the journey and not the destination. At least that is my way to cope with the ending. The music of ME is still phenomenal to me.
"[They] use repetitive structures that undulate against a steady pulse, often refusing to give the listener a focal point to latch onto". - This is it! *Now I finally understand what is so strange about the Unatco headquarters theme!* I've been feeling it for 20+ years but never was able to put it into words! Thank you.
Great video, as always!
A subtle reference to Noah Gervais’s latest video at 27:52 (which may be a coincidence or an egg machine) was also quite funny :)
no no no there is no egg or machine in this video, but yeah that is a reference! well spotted fr
Great video for a great game. Thanks, absolutely fantastic.
Thank you for watching it bro !!
Ocean Lab OST kinda makes that area rather spooky to me. It's a pretty nice place ngl.
It would be really lovely to work underwater and be able to watch the fishes and stuff, IF you didn’t get murdered by robots 🤖
I'm watching this for a second time from my egg machine. Truly great work! Love your humor.
The Chateau Conversation track has to be my favoruite, but for me the most impactful is the Airfield Conversation, on your way through the 3rd Mission you barely enagage in conversations at Brooklyn Bridge Station or the old subway tunnels inhabited by the Mole People and they're fairly brief, never granting enough time for the theme to make itself properly heard until the conversation with Paul and afterwards with Navarre and Lebedev, for which the theme comes at you fresh and strong, for me it really helps set in the eerieness and significance of the events for the story and it's characters that occur inside that Hangar.
very true very true, I feel like the events that occur at LaGuardia are the narrative linchpin for the entire story
Love hearing the love for TB. Still miss him to this day
Yeah brother, he is, was, and will always be a legend
Fantastic video by the way. Would definitely be interested in hearing your thoughts on either Vegas or dark souls
A super smart way to make me comment on your video, egg machine.
I enjoyed this video, I know nothing about music but I always love these analyses - it's an almost non-existent RUclips genre, so thank you for contributing to it! Super interesting! :)
thank you for the support fellow egg machine enjoyer
I wonder if you could make a video on hotline miami? That soundtrack conveys such different feelings. And amazing video, keep it up!
hotline miami is on my (long) short list for sure, i played so much of it when it came out
fellow composer here that loves Deus Ex, and not just the music, but the whole game in general. Controversial: I also enjoy HR and MD (although their music isn't as cool). Also the memes on your video are gold.
thank you Lui, appreciate the love. I really might do a deus ex part 2 in the future and cover the modern games, they are v v cooll