I love music. It is essentially tied with video games as my favourite hobby. I love playing and listening to it. So I thought it would be kind of interesting to dig through all the video game soundtracks I've listened to or own. I was about halfway through the Elder Scrolls III soundtrack when I realized I've never actually professed my love of game soundtracks on Marshmallow Fluff!. Oh the horror. So I thought this would be a good way to fix that. However, for a couple different reasons I decided it would be better to narrow my choices to the past ten years or so. I'll probably do a 'best of all time' list at some point, but this is a good jumping off point.
So without further adieu, here are the seven best video game soundtracks of the past ten years.
(Note: I take into account all the songs I can find from each game, not just their physical soundtrack releases. Some of the games don't even have one after all)
Honorable Mention - Fable
It was very hard for me to leave this off the top seven because it's just so good at giving a great musical context for the world your in. Few games soundtracks support their world as strongly as Fables did, though it lacks a true standout piece of music, unlike most of the other soundtracks that made it into the list. The thing the soundtrack does reallywell is distinguish the different areas of Albion that you visit. Oakvale has a very natural sound to it's associated music, while the music in Bowerstone sounds much more city-like. It won't ever win an award for being exceptional, but the Fable soundtrack is a great example of how music can add to the experience of exploring a new world.
Check Out: Summer Fields - A relaxing song that really puts on display the ability Fable's soundtrack has to really set a great backdrop for your journey around the world of Albion
#7. Advent Rising
Advent Rising is one of those games that had a lot of potential, but will likely never be able to show it. Originally supposed to be the first part of a trilogy, Advent Rising has built up quite the cult following. However, the one thing that Advent Rising should never be forgotten for is it's soundtrack. It's not original, it's not without obvious influences, but it makes up for that with impact. The opening track 'Muse' is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music in a game ever, and the rest of the soundtrack does an incredible job of keeping you immersed in gameplay. There are a lot of big budget movies and games that could learn from what Advent Rising does with it's musical score.
Check Out: Muse - Few games boast the kind of standout musical opening that Muse gives Advent Rising.
#6. Halo 3: ODST
It may not be the best Halo game, and it may not be your favourite, but ODST's soundtrack finally gave the complete package for a Halo soundtrack. The Halo series has always had some standout pieces of music, but they've always felt a bit lacking, it never really delivered a whole games worth of epic music. Marty O'Donnell did a masterful job of changing up the soundtrack for the new campaign but also still finding a way to make it sound distinctly like it came from the Halo universe. The thing that places this soundtrack above all the other Halo games is how the whole thing stays with you. Everyone remembers the classic theme from Halo, but not many tracks are memorable outside of that. ODST's entire soundtrack will follow you around long after you've completed the game, something the main series of Halo games has never really done. The soundtrack itself does a masterful job of reflecting the mood of the setting. Walking around New Mumbassa City at night with that music will send shivers up your spine. It reaches out to you in a way none of the other Halo soundtracks have. In fact, this is the soundtrack all the other Halo games wish they had.
Check Out: Deference For Darkness - It might not be the Halo Theme, but it is defiantly on that level.
#5. Radiant Historia
Radiant Historia itself is one of those rare games that snuck under the radar. Once people realized how good it was though, the copies disappeared. Literally almost. They actually had to re-release the game because there are so few copies to be had right now. Among the the many things that Radiant Historia does right is it's soundtrack. Yoko Shimomura absolutely knocked the soundtrack to this game out of the park. While it doesn't quite reach the level of Nobou Uematsu and Yasunori Matsuda's work, it is certainly within reach of it. The various locations are brought to life with the music, and the combat scores are tense and pulse raising. Each track brings something else to the table, and it is really something to hear what Simomura was able to create despite the Nintendo DS' very weak sound system. It puts to shame just about every other DS' game soundtrack. Radiant Historia will likely go down as one of the better JRPG's of all time, and the games incredible soundtrack will be right there with it.
Check Out: An Earnest Desire Of Grey - This track really captures the ability this soundtrack has to raise your pulse a bit and make you feel like your in an epic struggle.
#4. Mass Effect 3
The most recent release to grace this list, Mass Effect 3's soundtrack is one amazing piece of work. It takes the sci-fi elements from the first two Mass Effect titles, but also introduces a more orchestral arrangement to some of the more important tracks. While a few tracks are more ambient or background noise than anything, there are several standout tracks that really drive the emotion level through the roof. There are plenty of moments in Mass Effect 3 that will make feel a gamut of emotions and the soundtrack does a beautiful job at supporting the really big scenes. The final scenes of the game have one of the most incredible musical scores I have heard in a long time. Most missions still have the sci-fi style that Mass Effect usually brings to the table, and they do a great job of setting up combat sections and making you feel like your in the Mass Effect universe. This maybe the most recent Mass Effect game, but it also brings a detailed and strong soundtrack. A few tracks are forgettable, but the number of outstanding pieces of music far outweighs the ones that you'll forget. Also Faunts song "Das Maelfitz" as the end credits track is just a wonderful thing.
Check Out: The Fleets Arrive - This song takes the Mass Effect theme that has evolved through all three titles and turns into the track that you ride into the final battle on.
#3. Kingdom Hearts
From the opening menu theme, Kingdom Hearts soundtrack is a beautiful, mystical, and lighthearted set of music that paints the world of Kingdom Hearts perfectly. In fact, it might be a little too lighthearted. Very few of the tracks ever sound particularly dark, which kind of holds the soundtrack back from realizing it's full potential. That doesn't mean this Kingdom Hearts music is without sad or pulse raising moments. A few of the battle tracks have great power and force behind them. Kingdom Hearts also does a great job of mixing in Disney elements with it's soundtrack when the situation calls for it, something that could have been just as easily ignored or done halfheartedly. Instead it stays true to the source material, and every song that is affected by it benefits from the extra effort, especially Kingdom Hearts take on the Little Mermaid Song "Under The Sea." Ultimately this is one of those soundtracks that fans will remember for a long time, and although it doesn't have quite the variety of some of the other soundtracks on this list, it's superior quality more than makes up for it.
Check Out: Dearly Beloved - One of the most magical and mystical opening themes of all time. It sets the mood well for the entire game.
#2. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls has become known for incredible soundtracks, and Morrowind is a big part of the reason for that. It's incredible what Jeremy Soul has done with Morrowind's soundtrack. Using the usual orchestral instruments, Soul creates a mystical and otherworldly musical experience. Though much of the music is on the ambient side, the opening title music has earned a place as one of gaming histories most iconic themes. Really that might be the only thing holding Morrowind's soundtrack back from true greatness. Sometimes the music is just so perfectly blended into the game, you don't even notice it. It almost becomes a part of Morrowind itself. Although that could also be praise, given that Morrowind is a bit different than the standard fantasy setting. Thats not to say the music is boring though. Prior to Morrowind I had never heard a game with this kind of a soundtrack. Both Oblivion and Skyrim have also provided excellent soundtracks for their games, but Morrowind still holds out as the best in the series because of how different it is from anything before it. Even today, few games have a soundtrack as original as Morrowinds.
Check Out: Morrowind Main Theme - Few games will ever have as epic a piece of theme music as this. Just listing to this will make you want to play the game.
#1. Bastion
Check Out: Apart from the whole thing, Setting Sail, Coming Home is an amazing mash-up of two of the themes from earlier in the game. The result is otherworldly.
That was a nice update I think. Still working with some graphical things here, you'll notice the background for posts is white now. Thought it was easier on the eyes.
As always, comment, share, critique. I like hearing from people, even if I know you already (and I usually do.)
Until next time then!
Image Sources:
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#2. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/6/62830/1633300-fable_ost_super.jpg
#3. http://wallpapers.latestscreens.com/1024x768/adventrising/adventrising-01.jpg
#4. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/2/23286/1148403-halo_3_odst_super.jpg
#5. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/radianthistoria/backcover.jpg
#6. http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0uozuXJrF1r8fltpo1_1331688021_cover.jpg
#7. http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/k-hearts/cover_l.jpg
#8. http://morrowindon.ru/uploads/posts/2010-06/1277866519_1871972.png
#9. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bastion/cover_l.jpg
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