Any gamer will tell you that music is a vital part of the overall video game experience. Music enhances the overall atmosphere and depth of a game, and without a decent soundtrack even the most visually stunning games can fall flat. Here are a few outstanding compositions from some games you may recognize.
“Spyro the Dragon”
Who could forget “Spyro the Dragon”? If you owned a PlayStation as a kid, you certainly remember trouncing around Spryo’s brightly colored world, chasing egg thieves and collecting gems with Sparx hovering over your shoulder. Equally memorable is the series’ unique soundtrack, the catchy tracks of which could get stuck in your head for hours at a time. Here’s an interesting factoid: Stewart Copeland, drummer for the rock band The Police, composed the first three (and arguably the best) “Spyro” soundtracks. Copeland’s goal was to compose a score that would be interesting and catchy but at the same time complex so as not to annoy the gamer. Copeland incorporated a variety of percussion instruments in addition to the standard guitar and piano, spontaneously weaving their sounds together. The result is melodic and unusual, and the overlapping rhythms give each level a special depth and atmosphere.
Notable Tracks:
“Spyro 1” — “Dark Passage”
“Spyro 2” — “Magma Cone”
“Spyro 3” — “Fireworks Factory”
“Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland”
The early games in the Tony Hawk series brought late ’90s punk to the virtual world, from the gameplay to the soundtracks. “Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland” (THAW) did an exceptionally good job compiling a 63-song lineup of punk, hip-hop and hardcore-based bands, including 14 covers of punk classics recorded specifically for the game. Players can skateboard through a virtual Beverly Hills and wreak havoc to the tune of bands like the Dead Kennedys, The Doors, Rise Against and Felix Da Housecat. What’s great about this soundtrack is its variety: one minute you’re thrashing along to Mastodon’s “Iron Tusk” and the next you’re caught up in Bloc Party’s somber, atmospheric sound in “Like Eating Glass.” Whether you’re a fan of metal, punk, hardcore, alternative or classic hip-hop, this soundtrack has you covered.
Notable Tracks:
Bobot Adrenaline — “Penalty Box”
Thursday — “Ever Fallen in Love (Buzzcocks Cover)”
Alkaline Trio — “Wash Away (T.S.O.L Cover)”
An Endless Sporadic — “Sun of Pearl”
“Silent Hill” series
“Silent Hill” is a popular survival horror game series known for its surrealistic and disturbingly psychological elements. A major part of what gives these games their terrifying, unique atmosphere is the soundtrack. The installments feature various sound effects layered with silence, in addition to an official score composed by famous Japanese composer Akira Yamaoka. The pieces range from heavy industrial rock to soft piano pieces, all of which intensify the game’s eerie atmosphere. The soundtracks themselves are fantastic on their own, but paired with the gameplay they leave a lasting impression on the player. Think somewhere along the line of Nine Inch Nails blended with classical music and ambient drone. A word of warning: don’t listen to these past 2 a.m.
Notable Tracks:
“Silent Hill 1” — “Summer Snow”
“Silent Hill 2” — “Betrayal”
“Silent Hill 3” — “Dance With Night Wind”
“Jet Set Radio”
“Jet Set Radio” was a groundbreaking game in the realms of both graphics and music. The upbeat soundtrack includes an eclectic array of original and licensed songs combining the musical genres of J-pop, hip-hop, funk, electronic dance music, rock music, acid jazz, trip-hop and metal. Players dash around an eye-popping city on in-line skates, spraying colorful graffiti to re-claim territory from rival gangs while evading gun-happy cops. The concept sounds rather dark, but the bright colors and upbeat, fast-paced music makes the gameplay fun and exciting, plus the catchy soundtrack is fantastic enough to stand on its own.
Notable Tracks:
Guitar Vader — “Magical Girl”
Hideki Naganuma — “Sneakman”
Guitar Vader — “Super Brothers”
“The Legend of Zelda”
From the notorious 8-bit theme from the 1986 release to the most recent game in the franchise, “Skyward Sword,” “The Legend of Zelda” games consistently offer phenomenal soundtracks. Each game offers a soundtrack that is unique to the game itself (take, for example, the creepy-as-hell “Majora’s Mask” OST), but on the whole still identifies itself as a purely “The Legend of Zelda” piece. What players love most about Zelda soundtracks is that they trigger an almost Pavlovian response: when we hear that characteristic riff, we know we’re in for an adventure.
Notable Tracks:
“The Wind Waker” — “Opening Theme”
“Majora’s Mask” — “Clock Tower Day 3”
“Skyward Sword” — “The Sky”
“Link’s Awakening” — “Tal Tal Heights”