RIP to an underrated video game music virtuoso.

On 06/02/2015 at 12:07 PM by Machocruz

https://www.facebook.com/LarianStudios/timeline/story?ut=43&wstart=0&wend=1435733999&hash=2380902921883878234&pagefilter=3

Kirill Pokrovsky, composer at Larian Studios, has passed away. Larian is the studio behind the games Divine Divinity, Beyond Divinity, Divinity 2, Dragon Commander, and Divinity: Original Sin, for which Kirill Pokrovsky did all the music.

I've been trying to tell everyone I know who is into games and their music about this guy ever since I played Divine Divinity about 5 years ago, as I thought it a complete shame that a man with his musical gifts shouldn't be as well known as other game music composers. DD's music really blew me away, because it was unexpected,as was the game itself (what was thought to be a Diablo 2 clone was actually a full fledged RPG in the vein of Ultima 7). Transporting, evocative, soulful, made the game world feel bigger, more alive, and deeper than its visuals and narrative could convey. Every bit as good as any fantasy OST or composer you can name, in my opinion.

Some of my personal favorites:

I'm not as familiar with his work on Divinity 2 and Divinity:Original Sin, but I plan on rectifying that.

Godspeed, Kirill.

mothman

06/02/2015 at 05:34 PM

You've reminded me that I have the first couple of games. I should really play them and listen to the music.

Machocruz

06/03/2015 at 02:57 PM

Divine Divinity is one of the best surprises I've ever had in video games. I had played the demo before and thought it had potential and a nice, interesting look to it, but had no idea how good it really is.s The first dungeon is fairly grueling and a few people have bounced off of it, bit I think it's worth sticking with.

06/03/2015 at 03:40 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

06/02/2015 at 05:57 PM

yeah those tracks are nice. The divinity games don't get enough respect, period.

I know it's sad he wasn't a star like some other game composers, but at least he was working, and had a job doing what I imagined he loved. being able to support yourself and work on your art is an amazing thing, and I'm sure he appreciated that.

I guess he died young. sad.

06/03/2015 at 03:14 PM

I think if the games themselves had been more popular, he'd be spoken of in the same respect as Jeremy Soule and Hitoshi Sakamoto. But it is what it is.

KnightDriver

06/03/2015 at 02:58 AM

Those Divinity games look cool. The music is very atmospheric.

06/03/2015 at 03:18 PM

The first game is my favorite because it's the most grounded, visually. Divinity 2 and OS are good games, maybe better mechanically, but they have somewhat over the top armor designs and don't have the same homey, pastoral feel. Hard to explain, DD feels more real I guess, not as "epic."

06/04/2015 at 04:25 PM

They are definitely going on my list to play sometime.

PixlBit