Original Score Composed and Produced By Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori. Album Produced by Nile Rodgers. Executive Producer Sandy Ting.

The Long Awaited Halo 2 Volume Two!!

Unlike its predecessor, Halo 2, Vol. 1, this sequel doesn¹t offer any tracks by the likes of Breaking Benjamin or Incubus, though guitarist Steve Vai returns for a hilariously histrionic cameo on "Reclaimer" and Sumthing Else label boss (and Chic leader) Nile Rodgers remains on board as producer. Structuring the CD around a narrative-driven series of multi-part suites (though the track listing identifies the suites themselves and you can¹t go directly to a favorite sub-part), composers Martin O¹Donnell and Michael Salvatori show that when it comes to setting a mood, games composers don't have to fear comparisons with their Hollywood brethren. Things, for instance, get appropriately creepy on the "Destroyer's Provocation" part of "Mausoleum Suite." The main problem is that things sometimes sound too cheaply synthetic, as in "Unyielding." But considering we're dealing with a video game, the irony may not be lost on the fans. --Elisabeth Vincentelli