The document provides an analysis of the soundtrack from the video game Portal 2. It examines the setting, mood, genre, and narrative established by the soundtrack. Specific production techniques are used to match the changing scenery and mix of emotions. As the laboratories begin to fall apart, crashing metal and beeping sounds convey the sense of failure while the music maintains a panicked and rushed tone.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
Game Title
Portal 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NABJVXOgiA
Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…
Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have
been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting
The scene is set in a laboratories at first but near the end of the clip it changes to
outer space or the moon. Which the sound keeps up with very well because it has to
change scenery so quickly.
Mood
The mood is very panicky, rushed, worried, upset and terrified all at the same time.
The music does really well to keep the tempo so that it matches all of these moods
at the same time even though some of these moods can be very different but in
Portal that is no worries.
Game genre
Puzzle Platform Game
Narrative
You are working together with what was your biggest enemy but now you have a
common goal to take down the evil computer Wheatly. The reason for this is that he
doesn't know how to work the entire place and it is all going to self destruct if you
don't get Glados back attached to the main frame.
At the start the of the scene at 4:40 into the
video the music is already going at full swing
because you are in the middle of a boss fight
when the cut scene happens so the music and
sounds are already set.
At 4:48 you hear the voice of Wheatly and he
can't believe that his plan failed but as the entire
building is falling apart you hear crashing metal
and the occasional beeps to show that everything
is failing.
A massive crack in the ceiling appears and you
just see a full moon through it. ( this is at 4:59 in
the video. As you fire your portal gun you just
hear a ping and then you see a glint on the moon.
This shows that you have successfully fired you
portal onto the moon. After this all hell breaks
loose because space is sucking everything into the
portal and it looks like it is the end for you.
In the nick of time you hear Glados and she is
about to save you when you hear Wheatly
begging for his life as you get dragged back
through the portal and you pass out from lack of
oxygen. The sounds that are used to describe
everything that just happened in the clip are
phenomenal because there is such a wide range
of things happening everything is getting
confusing but the music helps you to stay on track

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
with what is happening in the clip