You've come to demand excellent sound quality from the movies, and how can anyone blame you? Better sound means a better experience, with more immersion into the story and the feeling that you're right in the middle of the action. So, why should you expect less from your movie-based games?
You shouldn't, and you don't have to, with Indiana Jones® and the Emperor's Tomb™. Not only is this the best Indiana Jones game in the series, featuring hand and weapon combat just like in the movies, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound also makes the gameplay experience that much more realistic. The audio cues help you play better, giving you more accuracy because you can hear where your enemies are coming from, even if you can't see them.
Xbox is the only gaming console with both gameplay and DVD modes in Dolby Digital 5.1, with 256 audio channels (64 of them in 3-D) and full surround sound capability. That means, in a game likeIndiana Jones® and the Emperor's Tomb™, you can hear your enemies creeping up behind you. Does any other game console have this? Nope.
But, more than just adding to your gaming skills, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound gives you a better gaming experience. From the ambient noises of dripping water and birdcalls to eerie echoes in caves, the sound effects place you right in the world of Indiana Jones.
How does it work? Dolby Digital 5.1 provides six channels of crystal-clear, digital surround sound. The left, center, and right channels provide precise, clear positioning of dialogue and forward-facing sound effects. Separate or "discrete" left and right surround-sound channels, on the side and in the rear, immerse you in the film with atmospherics, ambient sounds, and rear-facing sound effects. Add the bass effects channel for an extra punch to action and special effects, and you feel like you're smack dabin the center of the game.
What's more, the music is played dynamically, according to what is going on in the game. In other words, the music reflects the onscreen action. So, if you're in a fight scene, you'll hear romp-'um-stomp-'um music, or if you're approaching a dangerous situation, you'll hear creepy music—just like in the movies.
Fans of the Indiana Jones movies will also be happy to know that the game uses the original soundtrack music as well as new variations on the original score, created just for the game. There's a good deal of voice acting, too, including a very realistic Harrison Ford sound-alike. (They had me fooled).
The music for the game was recorded live by the Northwest Sinfonia in Seattle. You may recognize this group from other video games, such as Medal of Honor, Myst III: Exile, and Total Annihilation. The 65-piece orchestra recorded about 30 minutes of material in a recording session with LucasArts Sound Department at the Bastyr University Chapel, near Seattle.
"It was a fantastic experience all the way around," said Sound Department Manager Jeff Kliment. "Everyone involved did a tremendous job, and the recording sounds terrific."
Clint Bajakian composed the score and said they used a live orchestra because "it was time to bring the magic that only a live orchestra can produce." He continued: "We recognized that the Indiana Jones film scores were great, not only due to the brilliant writing of John Williams, but also due to the dazzling quality of 80 world-class musicians playing their hearts out in an orchestral ensemble."
Clint also worked on Outlaws, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, and Escape from Monkey Island. In working on Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, he says: "The aesthetic goal of the score was to echo the original film scores in style and to introduce original ideas and world music elements in line with the various exotic locations Indy visits throughout the game. Hence, you'll hear Turkish strains in Istanbul, Indian elements in Ceylon, and Chinese modes in Hong Kong, all within the context of a classic film score. The score explores new musical concepts while not straying too far from the musical style defined by John Williams in the films."
But, if that's not enough to put the owners of lesser consoles in their place, get this: Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb is a February release for Xbox. All other console owners have to wait for it to ship later in the year.
