For Your Ears Only: GoldenEye: Source Beta 4 OST

"Seriously, guys! I gotta have more GoldenEye!"

--Bruce Dickinson/Max Zorin

Last month, I ran a review of sorts for the “GoldenEye: Source” OST (Beta 3). Well, it turns out that there’s a version 4 beta. And guess what? More cowbell! Wait, that’s not right. Although the soundtrack could very well have some cowbell mixed in.

The Beta 4 soundtrack is more or less an expansion; it includes every track from the Beta 3 version, with some new tracks and bonus material thrown in. The new tracks are really where it’s at, though. It was nice to see some new material that wasn’t covered in previous releases, like the St. Petersburg streets and Frigate level music.

There are two new artists in Beta 4: Yannick “GoldenZen” Zenhäusern and Sole Signal. Both bring some excellent original work, although Sole Signal (originally credited as “Audix”) remains the most prolific. I was slightly disappointed to get yet another remix of Facility and Caverns. I say slight because even though all versions kick ass, I’d like to see something fresh in its place.

GoldenEye: Source OST Review

For the longest time, I listened to the GoldenEye: Source Original Soundtrack on YouTube. I probably stumbled upon one of the tracks by accident. Anyway, I’ve never played the game, which is a multiplayer deathmatch mod for Half-Life 2. But the basic premise is a reimagining of the Nintendo 64 classic using Valve’s Source game engine.

Like the game itself, the soundtrack is also a reimagining. All the classic tracks from the game are here in one shape or form. In some cases, they sound just as good – if not better – than the original. There are also some new takes on everything from the original movie’s opening music (the hilarious “Golden Pie!”) to the music from the watch menu (a funky “Ghetto Remix”).