“I don’t think he is to blame”: Crysis 2 Composer Defended Hans Zimmer From the Most Bizarre Allegation After He Joined the Game

SUMMARY

• Hans Zimmer contributed cinematic themes to Crysis 2, complementing Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu's orchestral and electronic score.
• Despite criticism of Zimmer's style homogenizing scores, Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu praised his innovation and influence on Crysis 2's music.
• Slavov and Sillescu combined orchestral and electronic elements, recording with Budapest Orchestra for a dynamic, immersive game soundtrack.

When Hans Zimmer joined the team behind Crysis 2 in 2011, it was a big deal because of the prestige he carried at the time. Zimmer was renowned for his cinematic scores and was tasked with crafting the game’s main themes, while Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu composed the bulk of the soundtrack.

Hans Zimmer has been one of the industry greats. | Image Credit: Raph_PH, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

But Zimmer’s involvement didn’t come without controversy. There were accusations that his work contributed to the “homogenization” of music in media which prompted Slavov to defend the legendary composer. Reflecting on the collaboration, Slavov talked about Zimmer’s invaluable contribution to the ambitious game.

Crysis 2 had a great score and Hans Zimmer is partly to thank for it

The Crysis franchise was so ahead of its time. Image Credit: Crytek

Hans Zimmer’s involvement with Crysis 2 marked one of the rare occasions he composed for a video game. Released in March 2011, the first-person shooter placed players in a devastated New York City in 2023, blending alien warfare with cutting-edge technology. Zimmer made some of the themes that gave the score a cinematic gravitas. Tracks like “Insertion” and “Epilogue” were some which were made by him.

Crazy to think it's been 11 years and not many games have had as cool of an opening cinematic as Crysis 2 it helps Hans Zimmer did the opening theme. Personally I hope they bring it back for Crysis 4 pic.twitter.com/hIlG7F34Cs

Zimmer himself expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying“I was drawn to Crysis 2 because of Crytek’s passion for the project and the world they created. And I am very happy with the outcome of our collaboration.” His contributions complemented Slavov and Sillescu’s own works perfectly.

Slavov and Sillescu, who handled the in-game soundtrack, focused on creating a score that complemented the game’s sci-fi themes. Working with the Budapest Orchestra, they recorded over 160 minutes of live music, blending it with electronic sampling to capture the game’s tension and scope.

Hans Zimmer’s involvement was no small feat, given his reputation for crafting iconic scores for blockbusters such as Inception and The Dark Knight. Tilman Sillescu mentioned in a 2011 interview how Zimmer approached the project: “I have been told that he listened to every single track that we had composed so far — almost two hours of music — before he started his work.“

Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu came to Hans Zimmer’s defense

Zimmer has scored in other games recently. | Image Credit: BioWare

Despite Zimmer’s accolades, there was some criticism about his scores contributing to a homogenization of music in film and games. During the same interview, Slavov and Sillescu dismissed this notion. Sillescu praised Zimmer’s work saying that his work in The Dark Knight and Sherlock Holmes introduced concepts that others later used.

Slavov added that any repetition in Zimmer’s style is often at the behest of producers, not the composer himself. “He composed many scores with unique concepts that have been copied in many ways later. I don’t think he is to blame when so many producers ask their composers to copy his style.“

The recording sessions in Hungary further added to refining the soundtrack. With guidance from experienced orchestrators and the expert direction of conductor Péter Pejtsik, the team produced a score that matched the game’s high production. Slavov fondly recalled the synergy between team members, stating, “Working together was inspiring and entertaining at the same time.”

Did you play Crysis 2? What did you think of the game’s score? Let us know in the comments!

Written by Daniel Royte

Articles Published: 674

Daniel is a gamer through and through with a passion for gaming in his veins. His current adventures have taken him into the world of Elden Ring, Wuthering Waves, and Genshin Impact, amongst others.