SpellForce 3: Soul Harvest
Erntedank
Soul Harvest, the first standalone expansion for the fantasy role-playing game from Grimlore Games, was released in 2019. It was very well received by fans and the trade press and, in addition to a new campaign, also features two new factions: the dwarves and the dark elves. Despite screenshots and videos, I'm not sure if I've played the expansion, but my omniscient inventory list says I have. Good thing Alzheimer's isn't hereditary...
Nevertheless, I wouldn't say that the game was forgettable, and the OST is only partially so. The 17 tracks by Bastian Kieslinger focus more on the melancholy and gloomy tones this time. Overall, much of what I positively emphasized in the music of the main game has been reversed here: It's still about a big fantasy world, but due to the story-driven focus on the theme of racism and displacement, often in the minor key version. The resulting variation is not badly done and moving in many places, but it doesn't catch me like the music in the main game.
Awakening, for example, is a sung variation of the main theme Bastion. Homecoming, on the other hand, is a solemn string and piano adaptation of the impressive Greykeep, which is reminiscent of Hush from Anno 1800 in its presentation. This ‘ heavy’ carpet of sound is only broken up now and again, for example with Rerah, which almost approaches the cheerful fantasy of a Trine in its carefree nature.
Conversely, with Overgrown and Divinity exactly the kind of dark ambient anxiety that the SpellForce-series has fortunately lacked until now finds its way into the score. Of course, if you want to provide a suitable background for horror and suspense, you can't avoid this form of music, but I don't need it for my personal well-being. That's why the music in Soul Harvest is once again of a high standard, but it doesn't trigger the enthusiasm factor of the main game for me. It remains a nice variation, instead of a painting, it's more of a look outside the box.
