Another stalwart effort from the Creative Assembly scoring team is at hand, this time with, Napoleon: Total War. Led by the ever-reliable Richard Beddow, the composers from this camp have once again indulged us with sophisticated music that delves deep into the heart of their project's game play. For those of you who had experienced the treasures of Empire: Total War, Napoleon maintains the high level established previously and is perhaps even a bit more engrossing.

What struck me about this soundtrack is that it has a manner about it that simply envelops the listener. In way, it lures you in, and the deeper the dive, the more enthralling it becomes. From its initial passages, which includes an ominous theme for Napoleon, a quartet of authentic chamber music cues, and a couple of early battle tracks, the tone is established clearly and with tact. When one expects a certain "type" of music and is given something that trumps the predictable, than you have to tip your cap. We all know that there is only a small window of historical time in which the music can be derived from, but to work within that framework and deliver cue after immersing cue, than it is no wonder that this crew came away with an Ivor Novello Award.

Increasing the scope from Empire, this score also brings forth a choral power to back its presence. Grand stuff, this. If you're smitten by choral elements that isn't simply employed for filler's sake, than hitch your ticket to this campaign. Even when the choral excerpts are brief, the impact is felt.

The meld of modern and historical times is also expertly integrated, musically -- which is natural since this is a PC game, after all. There are times in which the rampaging action cues fuel the adrenaline just as any successful modern action score would, and then there are the counterpoints of Tchaikovsky-inspired points of drama, which effectively conveys a dash of darkness and turmoil. This kind of lays waste to a soundtrack like Black Swan, if you ask me. And not to be remiss, a nice fusion of middle-eastern melodies adds a further layer of scope to this expansive effort.

I've been a big fan of Beddow's work ever since I tuned in to his Vikings score from a couple years back. It thrills me to see that he and his team are receiving their just due for the good work they are doing. But beyond that, and a bit selfishly, I'm simply glad I get a chance to indulge on these musical treks. I'm all over this one.