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DISCLAIMER: These picks are my opinions alone. Not yours, not Gabriel's next door. Mine. So don't bag on me if I don't pick Duke Nukem Forever or something else you like. Accept that people have opinions.
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How I'll be doing this: I'll give two examples of songs from each game. I will then give my opinions and reasoning behind it. All song names will be clickable with a link to said song so If you're curious go and listen. There'll be 5 games and one special mention. This top 5 list contains NO SPOILERS so don't worry about it. All these games were released in either 2011 or 2012 so if you're looking for an old school list, I'm sure you'll be able to find it somewhere else.
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Special Mention
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Plinky music in all the right places |
There are games that don't make it onto a top 5 list which are still worth mentioning and spreading the word about. Noitu Love 2's soundtrack isn't anything spectacular, but it does its job excellently.
The beautiful Japanese themed track with a great beat - "Petals" just fits perfectly with the aesthetic of the level and really gets you pumping to go. The chiptune helps in keeping the track grounded to the 20th century whilst the plinky sounds and Samurai yells help to set this track apart from the norm of indie games.
"Theme" is catchy as all hell. It's the first thing you here when you load up the game and boy am I glad I did so. This song has a great temp and beat to it and is well worth a listen or ten... or twenty.
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Number 5
| Hello desktop background! |
VVVVVV
Did I mention I really like chiptune music? Got a problem with that? Hmph. VVVVVV's soundtrack consists of uplifting tracks with strong beats. This is a case of the soundtrack helps to shape the game into something spectacular.
"Pressure Cooker" starts as any other chiptune track, with a little melody at the start, light-hearted and relaxed. Then it flips and just starts pounding your ears with a bass that could be put into a night club and everyone would start flailing around like lunatics. Pumping you up for the game is what this track does best.
"Pipe Dream" is in its own way, insane. It's just so insanely relaxing I can't get my head around why they even included this into a game like VVVVVV. I'm not complaining of course. The soothing melodic tones could uplift the heart of any downtrodden friend and foe alike. You know what it reminds me of? It sounds a lot like the Pokémon music that everyone adores. Yeah, that's it. Pokémon...
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Number 4
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
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| Better story than ME3 |
Did I get you? I've not played Pokémon in 6 years haha! But really, if I said VVVVVV's music made the game more enjoyable and worthwhile, I would say BIT.TRIP RUNNER's music made the game whole. This game pretty much revolves around the chiptunes from the astounding Anamanaguchi (they have more music, don't worry) and it just makes the game feel complete.
"Mermaid", much like VVVVVV's "Pressure Cooker" starts out with a calming melody and a slow paced tempo. It quickly escalates into a catchy as all hell tune that I can't stop listening to! It fits the game itself perfectly and my Ipod even perfectly-er (wut?).
"Blackout City" is more of a traditional chiptune. It's a great headbanger and an even greater opening to the game as It's the Main Menu music! What more could you ask for when booting up a brilliant game to be delightfully greeted by the perfect tempo and beat of an Anamanaguchi classic?
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Number 3
Bastion
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| I wish I was the 5th one *sad face* |
"Build That Wall" is so insanely catchy and just generally amazing. It sounds so pure and innocent but it tells an obscure and horrible tale of the fall of an Empire (the wall). How can something so sweet and melodic actually be so dangerous? By using complex metaphors of course! Welcome to Bastion.
"The Mancer's Dilemma" really just hits home after playing this game. The places this song plays and the things you do in it. That piano ostinato... man that just hits my heart in all the right places. Describing Bastion is something I've never been good at. Recommending you to go play it might be better.
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Number 2
The Binding Of Isaac
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What I felt like after playing Katawa Shoujo |
"Sacrificial" has a great build-up to an amazing chorus. It really does make you feel alone and scared just like Isaac does. The high notes give a sense of hope only to be shattered by that blaring sound just before the chorus kicks in. Playing the game with this cranked up to high is my favourite past-time. That and playing ME3 for the endings.
"Repetant" is easily the spookiest. That high tempo'd backing track mixed with the slow, smooth piano before the eerily spooky voice begins to wail. I think this track describes BoI best: slow and smooth, to fast and furious, to spooky and eery. This game is a true example of how music makes the product.
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Number 1
Katawa Shoujo
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Oh Lilly... why did the game have to end? |
You know you can't expect me to praise Katawa Shoujo so much without going into more depth about what makes the Visual Novel so insanely compelling to play, complete and meditate on. The story of one boy finding love in a school full of supposedly social-shut ins only to find his thoughts and views shatter as he spends his days in Yamaku High School for the disabled. This "game" is the definition of why music is so important in our entertainment and probably how much we take it for granted. Before I start, I want to say that I've linked the two songs on youtube without the CG images because I believe that even they are a huge spoiler to see before completing the game. I consider the soundtrack to be a spoiler, too but out of the interest of educating people, I'm going to link my two favourite songs from the best gaming experience I've ever had.
"Concord" is probably what would play in your head every time you're at peace with yourself and the world. My tear ducts just well up whenever I hear this damned song at the joyous memories I've had of interacting with Lilly Satou and that story... that story... God damn, I'm such a puss. This song is too overwhelming for me to listen to anymore, so on to the next one.
"Cold Iron" plays at the time when something fucked up is happening/is being said. I don't know what it is but the track doesn't feel like the scene It's playing in conjunction with is repugnant or remotely distressing. It makes you step back from your thoughts and just...well... think. It's crazy how this game's soundtrack made me feel at times like this. This song just fits perfectly with every sad scene ever made. When I watched the ME3 ending: Cold Iron. When I played CoD: MW3: Cold Iron. When I didn't know how to describe how insanely good this soundtrack is: Cold Iron. Call me overly passionate, call me a puss, call me retarded. Fuck that, this game and soundtrack is astounding, heart-breaking, revolutionary! It made me think, it made me laugh, it made me (almost) cry. It made me see life differently, I shit you not. www.katawa-shoujo.com
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So that's it. Listen to them if you want. You don't have to of course. I suggest not listening to the Katawa Shoujo soundtrack at all. Avoid the mistake I made and plunge into the game completely blind (sorry Lilly). This article's been an emotional roller coaster, mostly with Bastion and of course Katawa Shoujo. I hope I've enlightened some people's minds to the bigger picture of video game soundtracks.
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