Composer Lionel Gaget talks about how he scored the music for the cel-shaded remake.

Publisher Microids has released a soundtrack trailer (embedded below) for the upcoming first-person shooter XIII, featuring the game’s composer Lionel Gaget.

XIII was originally released back in 2003 and is based on the Belgian comic book series of the same name; this remake follows in its predecessor’s footsteps by employing a cel-shaded art style.

“For this game, XIII, I created a customised sound library to compose the music,” Gaget explained. “It began with a search for instruments: drum kit, basses, snare drum sounds.”

XIII is a thriller game that deals with espionage, which for the composer, evoked a wide range of emotions. “This made it very inspiring to composer for,” he said.

“The music is interactive, so I had to deliver music with various levels of intensity. There are calm moments when the player is strolling around. Then, there are intense action scenes and also intense fighting,” Gaget added.

The composer also expressed his aim to achieve a balance between the dynamic score and what’s being shown on-screen, stating the importance of cohesion.

“It’s like in a film: sometimes the music is a little too present. The music should never get in the way,” he said.

The track “Brighton Beach” is widely available now from major digital platforms so that fans can get a sample of the game’s music.

The XIII soundtrack will be released digitally on 10th November alongside the game which will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. XIII is scheduled for a 2021 release on Nintendo Switch.

Microids and Ubisoft Music have revealed that the XIII soundtrack will also be released on vinyl soon.