Last year, I created a section in my 2010 special awards blog post that centered on my five favorite game soundtracks of the year. Music is one of my favorite parts of…well, anything and I always try to reflect on the soundtracks that resonated with me the most. Instead of cramming my favorites into a short section of one blog post, I decided to split it off into its own post to help celebrate what I c0nsider the best soundtracks of the year. There were plenty of great ones, but these are the ones that I remember the most and still listen to pretty frequently.
First up, let’s mention three honorable mentions that just barely missed this list. I could just make this a top eight list, but I like keeping things narrow. These are still worth a brief mention though, so here they are (with some sample tracks):
Child of Eden – Like Rez before it, Child of Eden was built around its soundtrack. This game IS the music, and Child of Eden has plenty of great musical moments that really stick with you. I actually consider it a step above Rez’ score, but only barely.
L.A. Noire – Bringing back the 1940s with some style, L.A. Noire manages to make a composition that is unlike anything you typically hear in games, which is enough to make it stand out. But not only is it crafted straight from that era, fitting in with the game’s atmosphere almost perfectly, it really stands out on its own as well. With this and last year’s Red Dead Redemption, I’m beginning to think that Rockstar’s knack for original scores is continuing to improve with each passing year.
Portal 2 – Portal 2′s soundtrack is great, but it really never stood out to me outside of the game itself. That is, except one song in particular. This one song is quite frankly one of the best I’ve heard in any game in a long time, and for that it belongs as an honorable mention on this list. I’m talking about Cara Mia Addio, the “turret opera” song that happens right at the end of Portal 2. Combine this itself with just how amazing the game’s final moments actually are and you have one song that stands out among a crowded field.
And now for the actual top five! Here are what I consider to be the five best game soundtracks of 2011.
5) Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Composer: Michael McCann
Michael McCann’s electrically-charged score for Deus Ex: Human Revolution is very reminiscent of the score from the original Deus Ex, which is part of the reason why I love it so much. But it does a lot to stand on its own as well, making it the better soundtrack of the two. From the main theme that lays the groundwork for the rest of the soundtrack to some of the quieter, more somber tracks, Human Revolution’s score embraces this carefully crafted world. Through the music, you are immersed into this futuristic world. It’s a score that never misses a beat, and the game benefits greatly from it.
4) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Composer: Mahito Yokota
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the first soundtrack in the series that really branched out on its own and didn’t rely too heavily on those memorable songs that were established 25 years ago. That may be a negative thing for some, but the entire score still has that Zelda feel. There were times when I would go around flying just to hear the music, which is a testament to how strong it really is. Some of the old standbys are there, sure, but they are arranged in such a wonderful way. I’ve always loved the music in the series, but this is the first time I really felt that the folks behind it really understood how to create something new out of something old. While Wind Waker still might be my favorite soundtrack in the series, Skyward Sword is a very close second.
3) Rayman Origins
Composer: Christophe Héral
Like the game itself, Rayman Origins’ score is whimsical and full of plenty of crazy moments. It’s hard to talk about this soundtrack without discussing each individual track simply because it’s all over the place. Some moments it’s slow, calm, relaxing, and others it’s serenading you with the Rayman equivalent of a mariachi band. It’s ridiculous, but in the best ways possible. With each new level, you never knew what to expect, but it was always something fun, catchy, and original; there is never a dull moment.
2) Bastion
Composer: Darren Korb
It seems like Darren Korb’s score for Bastion is the one that has gained the most recognition this year, and deservedly so. I was pretty much ready to call this my favorite soundtrack of the year until a couple of weeks ago. Korb’s composition is, in short, absolutely breathtaking. All of the songs hit their mark, and every emotional moment delivers a real impact because of the right song coming on at the right moment. If you’re reading this now, you’ve probably already experienced Bastion and everything it has to offer, so there’s little I can say here. Just know that it managed to exceed all of my expectations better than I could have imagined.
1) To the Moon
Composers: Kan Gao & Laura Shigihara
If you know me well enough (or just follow me on Twitter) you probably saw this coming. I could spend hours talking about just why everything about To the Moon succeeds as well as it does, but I won’t. Right now I’m here to focus on the music specifically. The best music can make every situation in a game that much stronger. A game without its score is a game without its soul, and no game is a better example of this than To the Moon. The first track that will grab your attention is the simplistic but incredibly memorable song “For River,” which is referenced and played many times through the course of this four hour journey. It proves that, above all else, a single song can really change your outlook on a scene, a character, or a game’s story overall.
On top of that, a lot of the best track’s from this game’s soundtrack all feel very reminiscent of a 16-bit RPG. I got some Final Fantasy VI, Illusion of Gaia, and Chrono Trigger vibes from a lot of these songs. It could just be my mind playing tricks on me, but I guarantee that some of these tracks would fit right into any of those games and not feel out of place in the slightest. Not only does Kan Gao’s amazing score harken back to those bygone days, it also creates something truly original in the process. This is one soundtrack that I will be listening to this time next year as well.
And that does it for my favorite game soundtracks of 2011. Thanks for reading (and listening)! Hopefully this post inspires some of you guys to play these games if you haven’t already *cough*TO THE MOON*cough*. I have two more 2011 reflection posts to go, including my top ten games of the year, so look forward to those over the course of the next week.
