You know what I love? A nice coffee in the morning. You know what else I love? Great video game soundtracks. I find that as I get older, soundtracks in video games are becoming more and more important to me. The more observant amongst you may have noticed that I gave Shatter an 8/10. While the gameplay is pretty cool, I don’t think that I would have given it that score without its amazing electro soundtrack that I’m still listening to today.

What relevance does this have to this article? Well, considering news is a little slow in the post-Gamescom video game world I thought I’d do a little run down of my top 5 favourite soundtracks of all time. (This list doesn’t include games with licensed music, for example GTA 4, or music games, such as Lumines)

5) Shatter

This game has an incredible, heart-thumping electro soundtrack which perfectly complements the game’s arcadey action. I loved this soundtrack enough to buy it online for more than the price of the actual game.

Highlight: Neon Mines

4) Breath of Fire 3

I may be biased because of nostalgia here, but this game’s upbeat and jolly soundtrack matches the game’s mood perfectly.

Highlight: The Town Loved By The Wind

3) Mirror’s Edge

This game’s trance-y soundtrack really suits the game’s art-style and gameplay well. Also, I generally tend to stay away from the trance/rave sub-section of electro, but this really swayed me.

Highlight: Still Alive

(Note: Matt may or may not have a huge crush on Lisa Miskovsky)

2) Final Fantasy 8

Final Fantasy 8’s music was incredibly necessary in the narrative of the game. Back on the PS1, facial expressions couldn’t be used to show emotion, and there was obviously no speech. As a result of this, Square had to use music to show what the characters were thinking and what the general mood was. This game’s soundtrack is so good that it was performed live in front of sell-out crowds all over the world.

Highlight: Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec

1) Bully

Bully isn’t well known for its music. In fact, it’s not really known at all, forgotten in the dying days of the last console generation. This is unfortunate because it has an astoundingly good soundtrack that ranges from 70s style rock-pop to electro to good old chip-tune. I can’t stress enough how much you need to play this game, even if only for its soundtrack. Bully truly is a modern classic.

Highlight: The Big Game

P.S. Sorry about not posting in a while, had some crazy University business to sort out (I'm going to York :)).

Labels: Breath of Fire 3, Bully, FF8, Matthew Meadows, Mirrors Edge, Shatter

Before E3 started earlier this month, I made a list of ‘dream game’ announcements that I would love to have seen happen. But did any of them happen?

Dream Number 1: New Kojima IP

No. Kojima-san announced that he was working on a new PSP game – Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and a 360/PS3 game based on Raiden’s story – Metal Gear Solid: Rising. Despite a little bit of disappointment that Kojima isn’t trying something new, I am looking forward to seeing more about Peace Walker’s story which is set in 1970s Costa Rica during the height of the Cold War.

Dream Number 2: Final Fantasy 7/8 re-make, or re-release

There wasn’t any hint of a re-make at E3 but I correctly predicted that FF7 would be released on the PS Store during or on the day of Sony’s press conference. This game is sure to sell A LOT on the store, and hopefully will push Square to release more of their PS1 classics.

Dream Number 3: The Elder Scrolls V

Nope. Bethesda is hard at work on Fallout 3 DLC, Fallout: New Vegas, WET, Rouge Warrior and Brink.

Dream Number 4: Mirror’s Edge 2

It’s happening. While strictly not at E3, Mirror’s Edge 2 was announced to be in development a couple of days ago. Hopefully it’ll retain the original’s amazing art style.

Dream Number 5: Bully 2

When Mr. Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment’s CEO, came on stage on the 2^nd of June and announced the PS3 exclusive Agent, he briefly mentioned Bully. Awesome, I thought, he’s going to announce a new Bully! But alas, it was not to be. Still; Agent does sound good.

1.5/5 isn’t that bad…oh well, maybe next year.

Matt

Labels: Bully, E3 2009, FF7, FF8, Matthew, Matthew Meadows, MGS, TES