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RIP to an underrated video game music virtuoso.
Published on June 2, 2015 4:07 PM
1 minute read
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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.

Comments
0
Posted on June 2, 2015 9:34 PM

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

Posted on June 3, 2015 6:57 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.

Posted on June 3, 2015 7:40 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out. 

Posted on June 2, 2015 9:57 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.  

Posted on June 3, 2015 7:14 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.

Posted on June 3, 2015 6:58 AM

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

Posted on June 3, 2015 7:18 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."

Posted on June 4, 2015 8:25 PM

They are definitely going on my list to play sometime.