This week on the podcast James and I are diving into video game soundtracks, something I am very passionate about. In doing my research I rekindled my love for video game soundtracks. Although we will be doing a deep dive on the podcast I thought it would be a good idea to put some of it into writing here.
Video game soundtracks have an amazing history that started around the 1980s with Pac-Man. Before that sound in video games was very minimal with only a few bleeps and bloops. Of course Pong in 1972 was the first game to incorporate sound at all. We have come a long way from those few synthesizer, 8-bit sounds to fully orchestrated scores. For me, video game soundtracks are such an immersive genre that was essential in my university studying, long car rides and accompaniment to my ‘in-office’ days.
Music is so essential in games. It tells us when to be scared, what type of environment we are in, helps us to focus and can even be apart of the game. Games like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero or Beat Sabre are centred around the music so much so that playing off the beat will cause you to lose.
One of my first dream jobs was to be a video game composer, a dream that has changed, but the passion remains. So here is my top 10 video game soundtracks to enjoy; in no particular order.
Thomas Was Alone- Hotline Miami- Journey- Bully- Rayman- Tony Hawk American Wasteland- Medal of Honor: Rising Sun- Hitman series- Spiderman- Uncharted.
Hilary