A carefully selected musical layer can work wonders, exorbitantly influencing the reception of a given genre. Carefully created compositions intensify the overtones of important scenes, other times they skillfully relieve tension and loosen up during immersive play. Many works have even become a hymn of worship, so it is worth sharing those most noteworthy with other music lovers eager for new experiences.
Austin Wintory – I Was Born for This
Journey
At the beginning, a piece that takes us on a mystical – nomen omen – journey, perfectly harmonizing with the events seen on the screen. His tone is able to move the most tender strings and make you reflect, and Lisbeth Scott’s amazing vocals cause shivers all over the body. I recommend hearing it in peace and quiet.
Berlinist – Gris, Pt. 1
Gris
Fans of the melancholic climate should also be interested in the independent Gris . Although the gameplay itself does not knock you down, the title certainly cannot be denied its unique artistic qualities. The touching soundtrack allows you to feel more deeply into the protagonist’s skin and experience a painful loss with her.
Akira Yamaoka – Theme of Laura
Silent Hill 2
It’s time to introduce a slightly darker atmosphere, which is without a doubt the specialty of Akira Yamaoka – a composer inherently associated with the unforgettable Silent Hill series . I will never dream of the feeling of ubiquitous loneliness and horror accompanying me while walking through the misty streets of a dreamlike town. To this day, I highly recommend checking out the second part of the mentioned survival horror, maybe you will be encouraged by the memorable song from it.
Nobuo Uematsu – To Zanarkand
Final Fantasy X
Nobuo Uematsu doesn’t need to be introduced to any Japanese RPG fan. His contribution to the success of the Final Fantasy brand is invaluable. Can you imagine the iconic seven without Aerith’s Theme ? How about One Winged Angel from FFVII: Advent Children ? My favorite composition is To Zanarkand from the ten. I encourage you to check the version with the orchestra, which you can easily find on YouTube.
Jeremy Soule – Dragonborn
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
We stay with a rolled plot, but in a more Western version. Each installment of The Elder Scrolls is tens (or hundreds) of hours of addictive gameplay enhanced by memorable music. Skyrim delighted players with the pompous main theme in the form of Dragonborn , evolving to this character from TES III: Morrowind . This is definitely one of the most popular songs from the gaming world. Do you also hear those drums? Fus Ro Dah !
Percival Schuttenbach, Marcin Przybyłowicz – The Song of the Sword-Dancer
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt is an amalgam of many cultural tropes, mythology, fairy tales and legends. Such – it would seem – explosive mixture turned out to be extremely attractive for the Western recipient, bored with the clichéd productions, created from the die. In particular, Slavic elements, previously so rarely displayed in pop culture, appealed to lovers of extraordinary stories. The perception of Geralt’s adventures was largely influenced by the music of Przybyłowicz, supported by the Percival band. There is something exotic and familiar about it, and its rhythm is catchy very quickly.
Gustavo Santaolalla, Alan Umstead – All Gone (No Escape)
The Last of Us
The Last of Us was known to players as a narrative masterpiece, and enriching the game with music from Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalli was a bull’s eye. The unobtrusive, harmonious sounds of the guitar perfectly reflect the atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic story about human drama. The calm compositions skillfully correspond to the unique mood of Naughty Dog’s work, adding a rare depth to it.
Philip Sheppard – Kara Main Theme
Detroit: Become Human
Quantic Dream’s specialty is evoking sincere emotions. It would not be possible without adding an appropriate musical layer to their production. I felt it especially while participating in the history of rebel androids. The fate of Kara impressed me the most, so I especially liked the theme that accompanied her struggle with successive adversities.
Bear McCreary – Memories of Mother (feat. Eivør Pálsdóttir)
God of War
Sublime, epic songs are a showcase of the adventures of Kratos. It couldn’t be otherwise in the latest installment of the well-deserved series, bringing some fresh air to both the setting and the gameplay. However, the soundtrack itself was prepared with great reverence – suffice it to say that when I heard these monumental choirs for the first time, I picked my jaw off the floor.
Clint Mansell – Leaving Earth
Mass Effect 3
Probably no fan of film music will pass by Clint Mansell indifferently. However, he also had an affair with the video game industry, the effects of which can be heard in Mass Effect 3. The finale of Shepard’s odyssey deserved an impressive culmination, and such an audio setting certainly contributed to it.
The above suggestions are only my subjective list. It was difficult for me to refrain from further suggestions, but I did not want to extend the text indefinitely. There are a lot of songs from the electronic entertainment industry worth knowing and I count on your creativity in this aspect. Be sure to share your favorite examples in the comment, so we can all benefit from it by enriching our playlists with new gems.