Gaming Soundtrack to my Life (or lack thereof…)
Just as with any good film, a good game has an excellent score that moves the soul. Unlike a film however, this score doesn’t get the recognition it truly deserves. Whilst a film score is intended to brand a film, a game score is seemingly intended to add to the atmosphere- or so it would seem. Many developers now realise the importance of the game score, and it’s about time! I’m not saying all old games had terrible music. Hands up who can still sing the Tetris theme songs, because I know I can and it must have been 10+ years since I owned a Gameboy!
Here are some of my favourite gaming soundtracks- in no particular order:
Fallout 3
A truly eerie 50’s soundtrack that blasts you to a simpler time, whilst you mutilate corpses. Turn off this chipper radio chatter and you’ll hear the groans of time shiver you to the core as you explore irradiated buildings and caverns as a former Vault dweller.
FIFA Soundtracks
Giving you the best in popular music for… Well years! I’m not even a football fan and I’ll admit that I’ll happily sit and watch the guys play FIFA, just for the soundtrack!
Portal
You’ll have doubtlessly heard “Still Alive”. If you haven’t you may wish to ask Doc Brown to take you back to where you rightfully belong! You’re possibly even a little sick of it, but you’ll agree (hopefully!) that it’s a wistful and endearing soundtrack that sets you right in the Aperture Science mood. Hands up for some cube bloodloss, please.
Mass Effect 1/2
Epic space opera? Check. Epic space opera soundtrack? Double check. A sweeping orchestral array of classical instruments mixed with electronic overtones makes for a soundtrack so badass it sucks the air out of your room and leaves you in your very own gaming space vacuum. SUBLIME!
BioShock
A delicate mix of musicians such as Billie Holiday take you back to a not so simple era, mixed in with Garry Schyman’s compositions that use bone chilling violins to give you a spook in the night. Never before has “How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?” made you want to wet yourself. Now it will.
Halo
Get ready for Gregorian chanting- Halo style! Iconic, catch, timeless- whatever you want to call it- O’Donnel and Salvatori pushed the boat out on this one! Electro-symphony eat your heart out! An epic soundtrack for an epic game!
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/ Super Mario World
The old school era of Nintendo held some of the best musical scores to date- and you have Koji Kondo to thank for that! Not only did he compose the very passionate Ocarina of Time, he also composed the dateless Super Mario Bros. soundtrack! Both amazing games in their own right, but Kondo adds that “je ne sais quoi” element that brings you back for more and makes you hum whilst you shower… It’ll have you slaying Gorons and jumping in mushroom fields in no time at all!
Tomb Raider Series
A lot of you probably played Tomb Raider for other reasons… But what drew ME in was the atmosphere, partially created by the music which drew from whichever culture Lara was happening to explore. It took you to Africa, Nepal, Peru… And all before tea time!
Katamari Damacy
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA! You get the general gist…
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Not a score in it’s own right, but the gaming soundtrack brought home that 80′s vibe- listening to this soundtrack you really did feel like part of the Miami drug cartel in your pastel coloured high fashion suit. “AND I RAAAAAAN, I RAN SO FAR AWAAAAY…”
Whelp, that’s my compendium of classics I just can’t get enough of! What are your classic gaming soundtracks? Are you geeky like me? Do you dare put them on your iPod?
You are a brilliant reviewer! So glad you started over and your wordpress banner is FAB xxxx
Thankyou very much!
x
You’re a music maestro in your own right so it’s very flattering/scary that you took the time to read this and comment! Especially to say nice things, haha! The banner is… Temporary. Hoping to photoshop my face some more so it’s more stylised- I could be a PIKAGAMER!