The best soundtracks from little known video games

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve come across some truly extraordinary soundtracks that have left an indelible mark on my auditory memories. These are not your conventional game tunes, but rather, the hidden gems that you stumble upon while waiting for your next turn in a multiplayer game or when taking a breather from the intense action.

Belonging to the Circle of People Who Appreciate Perfect Music While Working, soundtracks are my valuable partners; however, video game soundtracks hold a special place in my heart, often exceeding expectations so much that it leads me to contemplate a crucial query: If I’m drawn to the music, is playing the game even necessary?

Check out our special issue TopMob FM, a week of stories about all the places where music and games connect — retrospectives, interviews, and much more.

Some classic video games have memorable and iconic tunes that perfectly complement their gameplay. For instance, “Simple and Clean” from Kingdom Hearts, “One-Winged Angel” from Final Fantasy 7, the pause music in GoldenEye on N64, and the main themes of franchises like Halo, Zelda, Mario, Chrono Trigger, or Castlevania. Whole soundtracks like those in Shadow of the Colossus, Journey, and Donkey Kong Country also stand out.

It’s not always the case that remarkable video game soundtracks are associated with timeless games. In fact, on occasions, an exceptional soundtrack or musical piece can be found in a game that, despite being good, might not be widely recommended by my friends and acquaintances. Surprisingly, there are instances where a fairly ordinary game boasts a soundtrack that’s nothing short of astonishing.

As a music enthusiast and avid gamer, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing some truly unique games throughout my years. While not all of these titles may be universally appealing due to their gameplay mechanics, I can wholeheartedly recommend the soundtracks they offer. These tunes have become an integral part of my life, providing a soundtrack to countless hours spent navigating virtual worlds and embarking on epic adventures. Today, I’d like to pay tribute to these games that may not be for everyone, but their music is worth exploring for anyone who appreciates the art of composition.

Advent Rising

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=track/5QG0VpoOLReTmqdXYMsfsd

I’ve never experienced “Advent Rising” myself, but my passion for video games ignited at the first PAX East when I witnessed Video Games Live. Their “Advent Rising Suite” creates a dark and captivating musical landscape with powerful percussion and a choir singing Latin psalms. What’s not to enjoy?

Instead of including “Advent Rising” in my game collection, I decided against playing it based on a friend’s advice. Instead, I’ll let my imagination run wild and create stories to go along with the music instead.

Valley

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=track/0RPt0RvDBSCz8yc85etSXO

I’ll often let Spotify choose the music for my playlists, which is how I discovered this cheerful tune with synth flutes, drums, and violins. Unbeknownst to me, it turned out to be part of a full album called “Valley,” featuring tracks heavy on percussion. This album was actually from a 2016 AAA video game by the same name.

Since Valley received a review marginally better than Advent Rising, I doubt I’ll buy it. However, I must acknowledge composer Aakaash Rao for expanding my collection of wonderful music.

Warhammer: Darktide

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=track/3nZ7CNw1UD2qpsE4oBbZIE

In the game “Warhammer 40,000: Darktide”, renowned composer Jesper Kyd, known for his work on “Assassin’s Creed”, “Borderlands”, and “Hitman”, has lent his musical talents.

“TopMob’s Cass Marshall commented, ‘Is it fun to use a bolter in Darktide?’ Yes, it’s enjoyable. However, when the music is pumping and I reload, letting the gunfire sync with the rhythm of this incredible song? It’s more than just fun, it’s a sense of euphoria, like I’m soaring beyond my physical self.”

Will you play it again? Cass described Darktide as “a Pretty Good Game I like OK.”

Shatter

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=track/2Da2aAFP6leGNILvB5d5NV

2009’s “Shatter” focused on destroying blocks, but its soundtrack was filled with energetic, funk-infused tracks that leaned heavily on deep bass, created by the electronic artist Module.

“Could you replay Shatter’s music for me? While I don’t have much experience with the game itself, as TopMob’s deputy managing editor Samit Sarkar suggested it, I didn’t listen to a lot of it because I’m not proficient in those types of games.”

Myst IV: Revelation

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=track/1Mk1kzvPvcwi2M2S0rYjnz

Few individuals are aware that there were follow-ups to the game Myst, beyond its sequel Riven. This is a shame, especially considering the remarkable soundtrack for Myst IV: Revelation by Jack Wall. Words fall short when trying to describe it. The music features female vocals with a distinct tone, horns, plucked violins, jungle rhythms, and recurring elements of Atrus’ main theme from the original Myst. Upon first playing this highly anticipated game, I was left speechless, listening to the entire menu track in awe. This is only a taste of what the game offers.

Shall I give it another go? Definitely! It’s one of my top video games. However, if someone isn’t already deeply invested in the Myst series or puzzle-based adventure games, I wouldn’t suggest it even a thousand times over.

Blood Drive

Chris Plante, editor-in-chief at TopMob, suggested a relaxing, acoustic tune you might find surprising. Originally, it’s the background music for the pause menu in the game ‘Blood Drive’, an action title focused on multiplayer vehicular combat set within a zombie apocalypse.

Plante remarked, “I won’t play ‘Blood Drive’ ever again.” He considers it as a representative example of an era in gaming from Activision that he is content to move past. However, he did record a low-res video of the pause screen years ago and posted it on his personal YouTube channel. Occasionally, he rewatches this clip because he enjoys the tune associated with it.

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2024-08-05 18:22