Games have come a long way from just being something you do for fun. We now have the opportunity to play them for the stories they tell us, more like an interactive movie in a sense. And like movies, games have started using everything they have in their disposal to convey the emotions it wants us to feel.
Apart from the cinema-quality cut scenes we’ve been getting treated to over the past few years, gaming companies have been setting aside a big budget in order to snag the best music composers out there to make soundtracks that echo the tone and emotion their games are looking to convey.
We can always find faults in gameplay, plot holes in storylines, flaws in characters and other things that can turn us off. But music has never been something to find fault in.
Halo 3 OST - Never Forget (Martin O’Donnell)
Halo is a favorite for many. And it’s not surprising.
It’s a game that really brought a community together. Friends were made through this, so many of us can remember the nights we’ve spent playing split screen or organizing massive LAN parties for this alone.
We can’t forget Master Chief’s story either. But this particular soundtrack feels more like a love letter to the fans of the series. The nostalgia we get just by listening to this beautiful piece is enough to keep remembering the reasons why Halo will always be up there as one of the greatest FPS’s of our time.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Way to Fall (Starsailor)
This is not a song made specifically for the game, but in no way is it any less fitting.
The Boss was always a pseudo-parent figure to Snake (Big Boss). The ending of the game, the tone it carries is matched perfectly by this song, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle so perfectly that it’s difficult not to think the song was made for this game.
Or if the game was made based on the song.
Assassin’s Creed II: Ezio’s Family (Jesper Kyd)
I count Assassin’s Creed II as the best in the series.
This beautiful piece probably contributes a lot to why I think that. With Ezio’s father and brother’s tragic deaths setting him on the path for revenge, ultimately making the master assassin we know Ezio Auditore da Firenze to be, this melancholic soundtrack manages to capture the emotions perfectly.
Despite the Assassin’s Creed series falling from grace since it’s initial few releases, the soundtracks have always exceeded expectations. For that, here are a few honorable mentions;
Assassin’s Creed III: Aphelion (Jesper Kyd)
Assassin’s Creed IV: The Ends of the Earth (Brian Tyler)
Dishonored: Honor For All (John Licht and Daniel Licht)
This song was written specifically as a reward for players who finished Dishonored.
The heavy emphasis on the violin fits the theme of 19th Century London perfectly, and the overall tone of the piece serves as a fitting representation for Corvo Attano’s journey you undertake throughout the course of this game.
You can ask for no more fitting a reward than this masterpiece.
Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core: The Price of Freedom (Takeharu Ishimoto)
Ah Crisis Core. One of the gems from the PSP age.
This beautiful piece is a fitting send off to Zack Fair, the game’s main protagonist. The title itself is an indicator to the price he paid for wishing to break free of Shinra’s clutches and giving Cloud Strife his freedom.
If you haven’t played this game yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice. More so if you are a fan of Final Fantasy VII. Zack is a character everyone should be familiar with. The price he paid should not be forgotten.
Elder Scrolls Online: Beauty of Dawn (Malukah)
Let’s be honest, Elder Scrolls Online was not as good as everyone thought it would be. But can a song make up for the downsides of a game?
Normally, no. But this piece does a great job in coming close. I prefer to just think of it as something composed for Skyrim instead.
Either way, even if you don’t like ESO, get the soundtrack. You’ll be saving money while getting some of the best, if not the best parts of this game: The soundtracks.
Far Cry 3: I’m Sorry (Brian Tyler)
Did I ever tell you what the definition of insanity is? - Vaas Montenegro
Vaas is one of the most iconic characters to ever grace a video game. As such he deserves something to remember him by. For me, it’s this soundtrack.
That’s it for now! What are your favorite tracks from video games? Share below so we may all experience them!
