Five of the Best… Licensed Soundtracks

A quick clarification – these are not necessarily the five best, just the five I think best represent use of music in a game to add to its atmosphere. If I was going for the best soundtracks without consideration of how it affects the experience, Rock Band and it’s ilk would be included, but they have no place on this list. This is also just for those games which use licensed music, so no Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy or Metal Gear Solid’s need apply. That is all. Let me know which games you think used music particularly well in a comment if you’re so inclined.

Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead is a wonderful exercise in moderation, where less is most definitely more. For the most part either scored, or just filled with the ambience of the open plains, when Red Dead does add a musical interlude it’s all the more potent thanks to the sparse inclusion of noise to that point. As John Marston rides into Mexico for the first time, the gentle guitar playing and vocals Jose Gonzalez paint a poignant image of the hero’s journey to that point. It’s the perfect way to introduce the games second chapter, adding a layer of depth through the use of the musical companion piece to what would otherwise be an unremarkable moment. Rockstar managed to make this part of the game resonate with fans, and it really does make Red Dead feel like a game of epic scope and ambition. It also adds to that layer of maturity which sets Red Dead apart from its contemporaries.

Jet Set Radio

The plot of JSR, an anti-authority tale of rollerbladers reclaiming the streets of a future Tokyo which has become all too clean and sterile, could have led to a bland rock soundtrack very easily, many other games have fallen into that trap. The soundtrack though, like the art design and characters, perfectly fits the joyful and irreverent landscape Smilebit created. ‘Jet Set Radio’ is the name of the pirate radio station run by ‘Professor K’ which provides the soundtrack to the most upbeat and fun acts of vandalism you’ll ever commit. The station plays a range of genres, j-pop, hip-hop, dance and more all appear, and each song is catchier than the last. The music may not be to everyone’s taste, but in the context of the game the funky sounds Professor K plays are the perfect complement to the colourful world and brash gameplay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W-IyVcvQ9E&feature=related

Fallout 3

In terms of adding to a game’s atmosphere, few soundtracks have been more effective than that of Fallout 3. Using songs from the 1940’s makes the mid-20th century Americana styled environment more authentic of course, but there’s more to Fallout’s musical element than that. Upon exiting the Vault at the start of the game, a radio signal becomes available. Like JSR, it’s a radio station with a loudmouthed DJ, but the music gains a certain sinister edge as you wander the wastes of a once-great civilization. The lyrics almost foreshadow the game’s events, thanks to some expertly chosen songs. For example, Danny Kaye sings “They have things like the atom bomb, so I think I’ll stay where I am.” An upbeat song suddenly given a harsh edge by the vast, barren world the player inhabits. Almost all of the game’s songs have this unique lyrical poignancy, as well as being simply great, memorable tunes. This is the perfect example of use of a soundtrack to underscore the atmosphere of the game.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

GTA had to feature on this list, and San Andreas is as good as it gets for the series. The other games had brilliant songs on their soundtracks too, but SA managed to go a step further and capture, through music, the zeitgeist of the early 90’s. Listening to different radio stations hosted by a range of bizarre characters who parody perfectly the cultural landscape of the time is one of the most enjoyable elements of the game. Flicking between the classic hip-hop station, hosted by Chuck D-voiced ‘Forth Right’, to the Gangsta Rap station reflects the changing trends in hip-hop music which dominated the early to mid 90’s. The same can be said of the rock stations, with the alternative rock station, hosted by the brilliantly tongue-in-cheek ‘Sage’ offering some of the best music of the era and a hint of the apathy and nihilism which characterized Generation X and grunge, and a classic rock station hosted by Axl Rose keeping the 70’s rock spirit alive. Each radio station feels right at certain moments, a trip to the San Andreas backwoods isn’t the same without some country music, and there’s something altogether fantastic about cruising around the game’s version of Hollywood as L7’s ‘Pretend We’re Dead’ pours from the speakers.

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse

Set in the 1950’s, Stubbs takes a novel approach – contemporary bands covered some classic 50’s songs for its soundtrack. The result is an excellent selection of music from some well known groups, which sound not too far from the originals to be out of place, but still have that touch of modern sound to them in fuzz-driven guitars and dreamy vocals. Some highlights include The Flaming Lips cover of ‘If Only I Had a Brain’ and Cake’s almost surreal sounding ‘Strangers in the Night’. The likelihood is you’ll recognize most of the songs, and they make the bizarre gameplay – you play as a zombie who can detach limbs at will, all the more fun. The absolute standout in Stubbs though, is a dance battle with the police chief to many of the songs included. It’s absolutely ridiculous, an example of both the clever game design as well as the wonderful choice of music.