As the ambitious new video game MindsEye navigates a rocky launch, one of its most lauded elements is the powerful and atmospheric score crafted by esteemed electronic musician Rival Consoles, also known as Ryan Lee West. The original soundtrack, released in conjunction with the game via Erased Tapes, offers a compelling sonic journey that stands in stark contrast to the technical woes plaguing the game’s initial reception.
MindsEye the debut title from developer Build A Rocket Boy, a studio led by former “Grand Theft Auto” producer Leslie Benzies, has been met with a wave of criticism from players citing performance issues and bugs. The game, which was released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, currently holds a low user score on Metacritic, with many players expressing frustration over its technical state.
However, the game’s auditory landscape, meticulously designed by West over three years, is a clear highlight. The score is a masterful blend of Rival Consoles’ signature sound – a fusion of ambient textures, driving rhythms, and emotive melodic progressions. The official release from Erased Tapes reveals a 12-track album that delves deep into the game’s narrative themes.
In a statement, West explained his process: “Scoring ‘mindseye’ was a unique opportunity to create a sonic world that evolves with the player’s journey. The goal was to compose a score that was not just background music, but an integral part of the game’s emotional core and narrative arc.”
For fans of Rival Consoles, the MindsEye score is a significant new body of work, showcasing his talent for long-form, thematic composition. It follows a string of critically acclaimed albums and EPs that have solidified his position as one of the most innovative artists in contemporary electronic music. The score is a separate entity from his upcoming studio album, Landscape from Memory, which is slated for a later release and represents a different facet of his artistic output.
While the developers at Build A Rocket Boy are working to address the technical shortcomings of MindsEye, the game’s score by Rival Consoles already stands as a triumph. It is a powerful and evocative listening experience, both within the game and as a standalone album, and a testament to the profound impact that a well-crafted soundtrack can have on a digital world, even one that is struggling to find its footing.