Musical Association with Video Games: What are you Thinking?

Friday the 13th

Do you remember that old word association game, that some people claim is used by psychologists and such on their patients? Well, when you listen to music, with a particular track, there’s usually some sort of thought that comes into your mind, and every time you listen to that track, that’s what pops in your head. Sometimes it’s easy, because the theme of the song pretty much does it all for you- it’s literal. But other times, there’s some inexplicable idea that revolves in your head when you listen to a song, maybe because it can be interpreted in many ways.

Well, I’ve just been thinking about it lately, and I have some examples of video games I think about when listening to some music tracks. I’ve been listening to Megadeth’s latest album, Endgame, since it came out back in September, and there’s a track on there by the same name, “Endgame”, and when I listen to it, I first think about Thief, particularly those Hammerites, and Cragscleft prison in Thief: The Dark Project. This is probably because of the theme of the song. "Endgame" deals with the infamous Guantanamo Bay Facility. As the song progresses however, I start to think about Wolfenstein 3D or Spear of Destiny, especially like a boss level at the end of an episode. Why I think it’s perfect in this sense, is because of the lyrics:

“This is the end of the road; this is the end of the line,
This is the end of your life; this is the end.”

Also, another track that makes me think of Wolf 3D is “To Live is to Die” by Metallica, especially part of the intro riff.

Another example: While listening to "The Unforgiven", by Metallica on their black album, it may be because of James Hetfield’s emphasis on the part of the song which makes me think of Duke Nukem 3D, when you kill those alien troopers and they scream.

"What I've felt,
What I've known..."

Finally, If I listen to "Wherever I May Roam", like a posted about the other day, while listening to the intro, I think about Assassin's Creed, and as the song progresses I get images of Quake II, because parts of the song remind me of the Sonic Mayhem composed track that plays when you're in the factory levels, like the Processing Plant.

Megadeth's "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", and Motörhead's "Assassin" also turn my thoughts to Assassin's Creed.

Weird, you say? Well, you do it too, you know.

Musical Association with Video Games: What are you Thinking?

The Wish Granter: Rise of the Triad 2

Recently I wrote a piece about the plans that 3DR/Apogee has to resurrect Rise of the Triad.

Now, Rise of the Triad, or ROTT, is one of my favourite games of the 90s. It used an enhanced Wolfenstein engine, and not the Build engine that some thought it did, seeing as it was developed just down the hall from where the Duke 3D team, which became known as 3D Realms, was working on Duke Nukem 3D.

Tom Hall, in retrospect, wishes the DIPs, or Developers of Incredible Power, who made ROTT, had used the build engine instead.

So, recently, I've actually been thinking, before I read this interview with Miller, that there should be another ROTT game sometime. But I was plagued by nightmares of what it would be like- probably some title for one of the handheld consoles like the Wii, DS, or PSP, and that it would be utterly rubbish- which I hope isn't the case if it ever sees the light of day. And I'm actually kind of thankful that it will be Apogee LLC and not 3D Realms doing it, because, well you know the whole story of DNF by now...

As bigdownload says, there's no real word yet on what form this game will take, and whether it will come to the more "hardcore", big boy consoles like the PC, 360, and PS3.

When I think back, ROTT was a mix of action with some humour- in a sick sort of sense. In fact, I don't have to think back- I have ROTT on my PC right now, and I've even written an article on my Classic Games Resurrected series about it.

ROTT was supposed to be Wolfenstein: Part II at one point, developed by Apogee, until id shot down the whole idea. The game has a dark atmosphere and all, but there was also the dev's trademark humour which made it into the game as well, a lot of which were inside jokes- you had to be there to understand, and most of us weren't. I always thought it was completely wacky and addictive. Think of the jump pads, and the elevators complete with elevator music or "muzak", the EGADs, (levitating discs) and some of the wicked weapons.

I don't know enough about the game yet, since it's only just been revealed or hinted at by Scott Miller, but I'm not sure what direction would work with the game. ROTT wasn't completely serious, as it had some dark humour in it. True, a lot of the levels were bloody irritating. It was a first person puzzle game that was of course similar to Wolfenstein 3D, with its secret floor plates and push walls, but not overdone like in Spear of Destiny.

Miller said "reboot", and when you think of Doom 3, and how it was a reboot of Doom, I suppose it's logical that ROTT 2, or whatever it will be called, will be inspired by ROTT and not just a remake with fancier graphics- I hope. I'd like to see several things return, like the excessive gore, and the outrageous missile-based weaponry, perhaps with a little more conventional weaponry too like that big machinegun that the Triad Enforcer carries. It'd also be interesting to see how playing as different characters would pan out in this game, and it might be good if you can interact with them and complete missions with their help. It would make for a good co-op type multiplayer.

ROTT was literally DOOMed from the start though, despite all this. It didn't receive as much attention as Doom, or even Wolfenstein 3D, and the year the shareware version was released, Doom II had all ready been out for a while. Then when the full version of ROTT surfaced the next year, in 1995, The Ultimate Doom, with the fourth Episode, Thy Flesh Consumed, which even got a radio advert which I found on John Romero's website, was released shortly afterwards.

ROTT may have been overlooked and forgotten by history, but it did introduce a few features in to the (at that time) blossoming FPS genre, and it would be foolish to skip it and go straight from Doom to Duke Nukem 3D as if it never existed, when taking a look back at the evolution of FPS games.

ROTT did receive a few addons over the years and developed a cult following of El Oscuridos. And it's this cult, of which I am a member, or monk, that's probably thrilled that ROTT might make a comeback after all these years, whether it's Rise of Triad 2 or known by some other name, it's about time.

The Wish Granter: Rise of the Triad 2

Where are the Stars now: B.J. Blazkowicz

B.J. Blazkowicz is the protagonist from Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and is under contract to star in Wolfenstein, the sequel to RTCW.

William Joseph (B.J.) Blazkowicz, of Polish descent, served in the O.S.A. branch of the United States Military during World War II. He was captured and held prisoner in the depths of Castle Wolfenstein in a dark, dank cell, on his own. He managed to break out and made his way through level upon level until he reached the exit and escaped the castle.

He then embarked on a quest afterwards to take down some of the major figures in the Nazi regime and German army, foiling their plans for biological warfare in the Nocturnal Episodes of Wolfenstein 3D. Eventually he ended the dream of the third Reich, eliminating Hitler down in his bunker.

“It was complete balls- not historically accurate- because Hitler killed himself, as anyone will tell you.”

Then id made a prequel to the events, in Spear of Destiny. He had to retake the legendary Spear that pierced the side of Christ; else it would stay in the wrong hands and turn the tide of the war. B.J. made a comment, saying, “It got really bizarre. The things in Spear of Destiny were way different from Wolf 3D, with angels and bats with guns and weird stuff.”

Id then put out what has been referred to as the lost episodes of Spear of Destiny, and B.J. had to go back and finish up with those.

After having waged a lone war against the Nazis for two whole games, B.J. was then forced to star in another game, this time it was Return to Castle Wolfenstein, which was basically a remake with modern technology, but sent B.J. to places that he hadn’t been before, which he claims made a nice change instead of Spear of Destiny, which was basically like Wolfenstein 3D, but with the enemies having a wardrobe change, and new music playing in the background.

B.J. now has orders to star in yet another id game, Wolfenstein, which is the sequel to RTCW.

“You think they would have come up with more original names. Out of all the games, only Spear of Destiny is different. The other three all have 'Wolfenstein' in the title.”

B.J. usually refers to himself as William and hates his nickname for certain reasons. He also doesn’t like to abbreviate Spear of Destiny, as it “spells a rude word”.

“They’re a bunch of sickos, the people who thought up this stuff.” He claims.

He married Julia Marie Peterson after World War II and later had a son. Their son, Arthur Kenneth Blazkowicz, or A.K., became a television talk show host in Milwaukee and later changed his last name to Blaze. His son was named William Blaze or Billy Blaze for short, the protagonist in an earlier Id Software title, Commander Keen.

“To think they made it so I was related to that little pogo pouncing squirt; of all the nerve.”

B.J. lives in a chateau in Germany, where he is currently working with id and Raven Software on Wolfenstein.

Regarding the parodies and references to Wolf 3D in other games, like Telltale Games' Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, where there is a mini-game referred to as "Castle Poopenstein", B.J. says that they have “no respect whatsoever”.

When asked to comment on whether Rise of the Triad should have been part of the Wolfenstein series, he said, “Of course! I was geared up to be in that game, and then they changed their minds, and it ended up starring all these other people instead and things changed. I would have been psyched to star in it.”

When he was asked if it was true that he once had romantic ties to Gretel Grosse from Wolf 3D, he said, “I’d sooner kiss her brother, Hans.”

Where are the Stars now: B.J. Blazkowicz

Apocalypse Then: Wolfenstein 3D

May Day (holiday)

On this day in gaming, in 1992, the legendary Wolfenstein 3D was released.

Wolf 3D is often called the granddad of FPS games, even though Doom helped carry the genre even further. The term “Doom Clone” was used throughout 1993-1997, and was replaced by the current first-person shooter term we use today. Shouldn’t it have been “Wolf Clone”?

The game received a prequel of sorts in September, Spear of Destiny, four months later. Another game in the series is Return to Castle Wolfenstein, released in 2001, and the latest installment, called Wolfenstein, will hopefully be released this year.

Apocalypse Then: Wolfenstein 3D