Best Soundtracks ever

The world would be a very boring place without music. Imagine waking up in the morning to the horrible sound of silence, no birds singing, no wind rustling the trees, no bin men shouting at each other. Everything needs music, fact. No more so than games, surprisingly! Much like movies, games benefit hugely with a impeccably crafted soundtrack as the rhythm sways and beats alongside the experience. What would the Psycho shower scene be without the screeching violins? Music adds to the experience and without it, it is not the same. So, to celebrate the beauty of sound, here are my favourite game soundtracks of all time......


God of War series - Gerard K Marino
Not only does the God of War franchise bring epic battles and twisting narratives into the mix, it utilises a grand and majestic soundtrack composed by Gerard K Marino. The sweeping orchestra transcends faultlessly from highs to lows as the player effortlessly controls crazy man Kratos as he rips open someone's skull. The pairing of sight and sound combine to create a truly epic piece of gaming bliss. Whether it is making love to a sexaayyy Greek God or constantly punching your dads face, Mr Marino's soundtrack is always there, intensifying the scenes. A wonderful piece of composing.



SSX On Tour - Various Artist's
A 'soundtrack' doesn't have to consist of layered orchestral monsters, instead, some games simply rely on everyday bands and artists with everyday tunes. Whilst the SSX franchise is normally considered to have one of the best soundtracks of all time, I personally feel that the sub par sequel On Tour is by far the best. The range of artists goes from gangster Jurassic Park to rock gods Iron Maiden, but somehow each song fits perfectly alongside each other. One of my defining memories of gaming would be riding down the mountain listening to Banquet by Bloc Party, the many tunes have stuck with me and are still permanently booming out of my headphones! Bar a later entry, SSX On Tour is my favourite soundtrack of all time, OF ALL TIME!


Mario - Various Artists 
C'mon, seriously? How could I not do a list without the beautifully iconic Mario theme tune? Ding ding ding dinga ding dinga ding. Thats my attempted impression using text, but not even that can do the various songs justice.There are many arguments regarding which Mario them tune is the best, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Kart? All of them are fantastic, but in my eyes, only one stands victorious, that is of course, Super Mario Bro's. The manic Japanese tinks and tanks just simply make you smile with their cheery tunes. So, to conclude, not only is Mario the pinnacle of pure gameplay, but he also houses the greatest collection of theme songs? Truly an iconic tune.


Legend Of Zelda Ocarina of Time - Koji Kondo
What is it with Ninetendo and their tunes? Whether its just the catchy style of exquisite execution, the whole Nintendo library seems to have a pile of great sound tracks, but if I had to pick another one, it would no doubt be Ocarina. As many of you know a full orchestrated recreation of the classic songs were performed at Nintendo's E3 conference. As the only good thing about that conference, the performance is going to go down in history as millions of nerds sat at their computers and cried their eyes out. The songs are pure gaming nostalgia, but don't forgret that they are a major component for arguably the greatest game of all time!



Portal - Kelly Bailey and Mike Morasky
The little darling of gaming stands as having one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and dare I say it, the greatest ending sequence ever. I am struggling to choose between the original or the sequel but I have decided to choose the first. What at first seems like a friendly science lab evolves into a seamlessly evil headquarters for a deranged robot, and as we take this journey, so does the music. Starting off electronic and smooth the sounds change into darker themes, utilising reverb and other crazy synth-y terms, resulting in a haunting experience with tunes that will not get out of your head. But, I hear you ask, what about Still Alive? The best song ever? Well, all I can say about Still Alive is just......... nothing, it is too perfect.


GTA IV - Various Artists
It is rare for a game to owe a lot of its success to its soundtrack, yet alone a whole franchise. That is why the whole Grand Theft Auto series is a masterclass in song choice. So you have a rare franchise which is known for its incredible soundtrack, but much like Mario, which one is best? Although Vice City and San Andreas did have lubbly jubbly soundtracks, I personally believe that the latest instalment just tips the others to the line. The reason for this is the pure range of songs, if you like Latino music, you can listen to it, if you like Classic Rock, you are catered for, the list goes on and on. With over 10 radio stations all beaming out music goodness, whatever you preference, the team at Rockstar made sure your ear buds were satisfied. 


Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2

When EA released Skate in 2007, the Tony Hawks franchise sadly diminished into nothing. The once great franchise had turned to kiddy fun, a turn that made gamers skate away. However, the Tony Hawks series holds many legacies, one being the best sports game of all time, another being some of the most intuitive controls ever, but for me, the biggest memory is its amazing soundtrack. A magical mix of thrash metal, heavy rap, heavy rock, every hardcore music genre was included and somehow managed to be coherent and fantastic. The amount of classic songs was ridiculous; the beats of Bring the Noise and the wow wow of Tom Merrelo's guitar for Guerilla Radio all came together in a nirvana of not just music heaven, but gaming heaven. Likewise, THPS 3 and 4 both had rocking soundtracks, but I believe that number 2 holds the title. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2, in my mind, defeats all classical artsy fartsy songs, and rises to the top. Best soundtrack ever.


Honourable Mentions
Before I leave you I would like to say that I understand that this list may not be to your preference and misses out on a few other great soundtracks, here the ones that didn't make the list........

Why Batman Arkham Asylum is Brilliant

I committed a crime. No, I didn't stab a granny or not recycle a milk carton. I didn't play Batman Arkham Asylum for 2 years since its release. TWO YEARS? I hear you shout from the roof tops of hatred (?). However, after delving into AA and completing it, I can safely admit that I was an idiot. I wasted TWO YEARS playing other crappy titles. when I could have been taking out henchman, well, like Batman. So as you can gather, I like Batman Arkham Asylum and I truly believe that it deserves more credit that it was given, here's why:

Ridiculously detail

Rarely are us gamers treated to such a highly detailed world. The world you walk around breaths and feels just like it has been ripped out of a comic. The sadistic screams, the words scratched into the wall, the remains of a body, the world is chock full of little details that make the game, as a whole, feel entirely alive. The game may be quite linear and simple in places, but the pure breadth of detail is mind blowing.

One for the Fans

Much like the meticulous attention to detail, Rocksteady have rammed Arkham Asylum with nods to Batman's other darkest villains. The references aren't forced upon you, with some requiring a surprising amount of exploration to discover, meaning that Rocksteady are adding these gems in for themselves, not just us, showing their real passion for the material. Whether it be the eerie puppet of Scarface or the dismantled soldiers of Humpty Dumpty, each reference is executed with passion and detail, resulting in a beautifully crafted comic book world.

Simple but Sweet

Much like me, Batman Arkham Asylum is not exactly the most intelligent game out there, but what it does, it does very well indeed. Whilst most comic book games copy and paste God of War's concrete gameplay style, AA is not afraid to be different. It simplify's the combat, but like all good systems, it is easy to learn, but near impossible to master. Consisting of only 3 buttons (and occasionally a fourth) the combat relies heavily on timings. Watching Batman leap around the screen, countering moves and destroying henchmen is a thing of beauty, an experience that makes you feel like you are Batman, not controlling him on screen. It goes to show, a deep combat system does not always mean enjoyment when playing.

Its dark, but funny, cheesy, but serious.

This is a point that only I seem to pick up on, but let me explain myself. The word 'gritty' is thrown about a lot in games, and normally it means that the game is slightly dark and someone dies. However, Batman is very gritty. The setting is dark but still manages to seem alive and colourful whilst Batman's enemies are actually skilled and aren't afraid to feed Bats with lead. But, look past the exterior and AA becomes quite cheesy. The storyline isn't exactly Shakespeare and there is fun to be had in places. Harley Quinn raises a few laughs and if you take you time to listen to guards conversing , some humorous lines to pop up. Once again though, with every joke or witty comment, a Scarecrow meeting or Lunatic scream whips you back into reality. 

Revitalising a whole genre

This is the biggy for me. Batman Arkham Asylum was highly praised for its setting, characters etc, but not many reviews picked up on how Batman made the superhero game suddenly cool again. Yes, many claimed it to be the greatest superhero game of all time, but to be honest, was there much competition? Before AA the comic book genre was abused, acting as money grabbers to screamy movie fanboys. But, now Batman has come along, the comic book game is now cool. Rocksteady showed that if you take time to research your material, make real innovations and think about the world and its place, then you can have a 10/10 hit on your hands, critics and commercial alike. Although not many recent superhero games have bucked the trend by taking full inspiration from Rocksteady, there a few games that are certainly better than before, Captain America for example. Batman Arkham Asylum won many GOTY awards and so it deserves them, but when a game can revitalise a whole genre and style of games, then that it certainly something special.

There we go. I know its late, two years in fact, but I just wanted to express my surprise and amazement at AA. It was a incredible experience and I do believe that it deserves more credit than it was given. Anyway, Batman Arkham City is tantalizing close, so lets wait and see what Rocksteady and deliver second time round, when expectations are shy high.....

Best Game Openings

First Impressions count. That phrase is widely used in every day culture, but is ever so prevalent in gaming. If you start your game with a bang then people will be engrossed and urged to continue, but a 20-hour tutorial will make people flee (Final Fantasy!). So, when an opening literally causes your face to melt, you know that you are in for something pretty special. These are the games with the best openings, like, eva:


Bioshock

Bioshock was an incredible game and is hailed as one of the greats, but it was its memorable opening that really set it apart. After a plane crash your are forced to swim towards a mysterious lighthouse. Things happen and you  plunge to the ocean depths when suddenly the wonderful sight of Rapture bestows your eyes. Partnered with the unnerving commentary from crazed-creator Andrew Ryan, Bioshocks opening scene is one of mystery, intrigue, sadness and terror. Not only did the beginning blow gamers minds, it also acted as a gateway to gamings greatest settings.


Mass Effect 2
All great sci-fi tales have a great opening. Whether it be Star Wars epic space battle or Bladerunners fiery dystopia, the sci-fi genre relies heavily on a strong setting and first impression. Not only did Mass Effect 2 match Star Wars and Bladerunner for story and action, but it beat them with its explosive beginning. Running through your flaming ships corridors attempting to outrun the foreboding flames was an adrenaline shot straight into gamers arms. The death (or is it) of pilot Joker and sudden peace and floatiness in space meant that Mass Effect 2's introduction was a masterclass in action, story and pacing. Just how we like it! 

Final Fantasy VII
The pinnacle of the Final Fantasy franchise and RPG genre was Final Fantasy VII. Whoever thought that a game could be so emotive? FFVII was one of the first games to use music and atmosphere for effectively for its humble introduction. The eerie sounds build as the camera rises over a calm sea when images flash of the future and suddenly FIGHT! No one was expecting to witness such a thing of beauty as FFVII grabbed the gamer and sucked them in, refusing to let them out.  Great game, great intro!

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Yes, yes, yes, my little baby of a game is one this list. Although Uncharted 2 was the GREATEST GAME OF ALL TIME, Naughty Dog still found space to squeeze in every little 'thing' they could. Famed for its set pieces, the Uncharted franchise relies on its epic moments to really get the juices flowing, but straight at the beginning? WoW! Nathan Drake (swoooon) awakes on a hanging train and suddenyl falls, grabbing dramatically onto a coincidentally placed pole. The camera zooms out when suddenly BANG! The train is over hanging a pretty big drop. The size and scale of UC2 opening scene is massive and give a glimpse of what the gamer is likely to expect from this beautiful masterpiece. For the record, this was the moment I fell in love with Drake.....


Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Blah blah blah, I hate Call of Duty, you all know the drill. However, much like the gaming community, I hold my opinion the CoD4 is the best entry in the ever expanding franchise. The story was actually pretty damn good and the gameplay seemed to be less arcadey, that is why we all love it. Whilst its massive sequel Modern Warfare 2 sold millions and millions, gamers were slightly disappointed with its lacklustre story, especially after CoD4's emotionally charged narrative. The opening was universally brilliant. The first person viewpoint of being driven around an incredibly unstable country was amazing, giving insight and willing to go places that little games have done before. However, only at the end do you realise what is happening. You are the one being killed. A wonderfully hidden twist, puts Keyser Soze to shame!


God of War III
This isn't a top whatever list, but if I were to choose the greatest game opening ever, GOWIII would definitely be the top. The GOW franchise prides itself on its massive levels and its ridiculous introductions. Instead of wheening the player in with silly tutorials, the first levels of each God of War literally chuck you straight into the action. Whilst the first two were not exactly dull, numero three utilised the power of the PS3 and delivered an absolutely unforgettable experience. Riding on the back of a titan who is then being attacked by some weird horse crab water thing was only the start. With only 20 minutes of gameplay, Kratos is already destroying a god and jabbing peoples eyeballs all over the place. God of War 3 was simply a fantastic game, but the opening really made it. GOWIII held firmly onto your balls and did not let go until the stupid 'hope' scene. Oh well. It was God of War!!

'Press Start'........um, ok?

So, you've been waiting for a game for ages. Weeks, months, even years. It flops onto your front mat, the wrapping glistening like a newly polished diamond, You scratch away at it, shaking in anticipation. Its open. You run into your living room, slam on console and slide the disk in, revelling in the sound or computerised heaven. It appears on your homescreen and with a quick press of the X button you are indulged in gaming goodness. But wait, whats this? 'Press Start'? Oh it must be something exciting.......no, its the main menu. Barrowman!

Now we all experience this scenario and whilst it can be quite irritating, its not overly annoying. But after playing Bioshock for the first time yesterday it got me thinking, why do we have to 'Press Start'? 20 years ago when it took three weeks for a console to start up, 'Press Start' was probably a very sneaky loading screen, but now, when you can fit huge amounts of data onto a disk, do games still use 'Press Start' as a loading screen? If they do, what do they load, the main menu? Surely that cant require a lot of processing power compared to a spanning vista of the Wild West.

So much mainstream!

Of course I'm looking far to into this, but its a little thing that makes me wonder. Arcades still use 'Press Start' so the game knows when you have entered your money, but after an investment of £40, I expect my game to realise that I have paid for it! Maybe though, this whole thing is just legacy. Its something that every game has done, it has to be there I suppose.

Its just tradition. Everyone has random traditions, look at Christmas day or  that every time I enter Waterloo Station I have to claim 'there are no rotating billboards' (it was a conversation my brother and I had about the Bourne Ultimatum, long story!). Maybe 'Press Start' is a technique that all developers include because everyone else does it, MAINSTREAM URGHHHH!!!

So as games develop, letting us experience new places, new people, new abilities, we will always be haunted by the dreaded 'Press Start' screen that smiles smugly at our faces. We always push developers to change their ways, try new things, but we really should be telling them to take away the little tease of a screen. Some could say that it is a portal into the magical world of gaming, but that's an obvious lie. If you own a PS3, the bloody installing marathon is that portal, so we don't want to be faced with another barrier!
I guess I'm going to have to take a deep breath and close my eyes. It wont change. Ever. Its going to be here forever. Bit like Cheryl Cole. But hey ho, its annoying, but when you properly think about it, the bigger picture is worth it (Cheryl Cole + Teenage Boy= FUN). Lets just accept it, lets let developers continue destroying our true gaming experiences. Looking back at this whole post, I apologise for its extremely cynical view.

But seriously though, how can Matt Damon blow up a whole apartment by putting a magazine into a toaster? LIES I TELL YOU, LIES!

Even the best game ever suffers from the curse :(

EVERYONE READ PLAY MAGAZINE!!

IT IS AMAZING AND THEY ARE ALL REALLY FUNNY! 

Top 7 Game Art Styles

I don't really like art. First, I'm horrendously awful at it and second, I just find it a bit pretentious, trying to make something out of nothing, a bit like Shakespeare. However, some art does catch my eye, this can range from a cow cut in half to giant slides (HOW IS THAT ART???), but the best type of 'art' is of course our beloved gaming art. Before the countdown begins I would like to explain that by 'art style' I mean the games with the best graphical art style, you know, coloured lines 'n' shiz.

7) Borderlands

Cheeky!

If ever a game crossed 5 genres, it was Borderlands. Its an RPGFPSMMO, yeah, pretty mental. However, the thing that Gearbox really established was the beautiful art style that set Borderlands apart from other open world-y games. The vivid black lines, exaggerated characteristics and dull but lively colours, Borderlands is one of those rare games that looks better when witnessed running than in a screenshot. Whilst the game wasn't incredible and suffered from a few niggles, Borderland's unique style has already influenced many future games whether it be Brink or highly anticipated Rage.

6) Super Paper Mario

It is hard to pick one single Mario game that has the best art style. All games featuring the cheery little plumber feature a certain aesthetic, Galaxy is bright, Super Brothers is simple, but to me, the greatest Mario style has to be Paper Mario. Released in 2007, this adorable little franchise once again had innovative platforming that was perfectly paced and the amazing simplicity of Mario games, but lucky for us a new, a unique and stunning art style was lovingly included. The closest thing we have to a Mario comic, Paper Mario jumped out of our screen with its bold colours and detailed layers. However, the art style was also a large part to the actual game as it enabled the player to change perspectives to help complete tricky trips, resulting in an aesthetic, but practical implementation of the art style.

5) Shadow of the Colossus 

Its so deep and meaningful!

La-da-da-da-da, yes yes yes, Shadow of the Colossus is an 'inspirational' game that 'shows gaming as a true art form'. I could write a whole blog post regarding this soulful masterpiece, but to avoid getting my tongue too far up gaming's arse, I will refrain from rambling. Through all the interpretations of the story and revelations of the ending, SotC's visual style is outstanding. Whilst most games on this list contain bright colours that burn your retinas, SotC relies on dank, dull colours. The muted greens and blacks at first seem a little lazy, but as the game develops the colours start to become part of the gaming, mixing with your aim, leading you places that you never need to go. Much like the premises of SotC, the visuals are simple. No fancy technical tricks. Team Ico used the art style to be the experience, not to act as a gimmick. 

4) Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

It may not be the most loved Zelda game and maybe Link has received a better reception, but compared to Ocarina or Twilight Princess, Wind Waker had something that the latter sorely lacked, a truly distinctive style.   Similar to Paper Mario, Wind Waker utilises the bold black lines, but replaces the smooth cuddly edges with more jaggy, harsher corners. This gives the game a more grown up, childish feeling, if that makes any sense at all. The simplicity was welcoming and although it becoming incredibly tedious, travelling across the stunning sea is a wonderful experience and a beautiful moment. The vivid contrasts between the colours makes the screen pop out, but somehow, not intrusive. It is a subtle 'pop', somehow giving the whole experience another  layer under the initial picture. It succeeds in being memorable and it was a risk, but c'mon, its Zelda goddamit, you're going to love it whatever!

3) Bioshock

With our faces sufficiently melted from Bioshock: Infinite's E3 showing, it is quite mind blowing how the Bioshock series has developed. Released as the current gen consoles hit their stride, the original Bioshock shook us all. Never since Half Life 2 had we witnessed story telling so impeccably done in a FPS. One of the reasons why the Bioshock series will forever be cherished though is its incredible style and atmosphere. The first nudge of the left stick as you step out into Andrew Ryan's strange dystopia is an unforgettable experience. It is eerie, but welcoming, it is scary, but intriguing, it is mysterious, but lively. The underwater city of Rapture holds many emotions, all of which are shown through the muted colours. Greens and blues are prevalent, but the sudden shocks of colours give us glimpse of what Rapture may have been in its heyday. Dark and gorgeous, the Bioshock series is a forefront father of atmosphere through graphics, a trait which seems to be continued with the latest Infinite, another world of intrigue and mystery that us gamers can not wait to dive into (or fly).

2) Okami

Okami, sadly, joins the lists of games like Beyond Good and Evil and my beloved Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. These games are all amazing games that took away the guns and grenades, instead opting for a new, unique experience that was a risk. Sadly, in terms of sales, the risk did not pay off, will games failing to sell. Okami is a sad tale. One screenshot of this game fills your heart with joy. Following in the crazy Japanese footsteps of random 'stuff', Okami introduced the technique of painting the surroundings with, well, paint from a wolf's mouth. Pretty Japanese I know! The art style is reminiscent of ancient Chinese art, conjuring the flat, muted colours that somehow bring a simple painting to life, filling it with more noise than possible. I cant really explain why Okami is so good, just look at it. It is incredible. Every single frame is created with such love and care that it makes the game seem like an epicentre of emotions, revelling in colour and exploding out across your screen, urging you to share the experience with everyone. Sadly though, Okami may never return, instead, another dull military shooter or stupid motion based game will fill the void, a void that will always be to large to fill

1) Madworld

AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here it is, the greatest gaming art style ever. This is my view by the way, art is wonderful in that it allows millions of interpretations, maybe Bioshock beats Madworld, or maybe Paper Mario pips the competitiors, but in my mind, 2009's Madworld is the most stunning, beautiful piece of gaming to be created. And why? Well read on, there's still a big chunk of writing to go, go on, READ! I have used the word simple on here a few times, but what is more simple than black, white and red? Well maybe, black and white, or just black, but hey, you get the idea! Platinum games are known for their mental games, look at Vanquish and Bayonetta, but Madworld makes them look like a stroll in the park. Madworld utilises a black and white palette but when you kill someone, which you will do a lot, bright red blood will explode from the screen, covering your character in the gooey fluid. The style is proper 'style', it is edgy, it has attitude, it is a big middle finger to colourful games like Uncharted or Fifa. Madworld is made to be mental, and it doesnt care what you think. The actual design is simply stunning, somehow creating a living setting with the incredibly limited use of two colours. The blood looks gory and gorgeous, whilst also being damn hilarious and disgusting. Just look at it. See, when someone puts their mind to it, art can be interesting!

What goes around comes around

Whether it be planets, a boomerang or swingball, life is one giant vicious circle. The famous saying of 'what comes around goes around' is, sadly, very true. The saying is usually related to life, you know relationships, friends and all that malarkey, however, this trend is becoming ever more prevalent within gaming.

I don't want to cause a fuss here, but 'real' gaming appeared around 1995 (by 'real' gaming I mean the emergence of games that can be linked to the everyday releases of 2011). The stars were Lara Croft, Solid Snake, Rayman etc. All of these were, and in some cases still are, mascots of the platforming era. Back then games were much simpler, there was no fancy online components, there was no stupid motion control, the only thing that the game had was its gameplay, and luckily, it was usually great! But, as time went on games developed and evolved into these new orbs of enjoyment. New features were added; 'full destructibility', '10 million graphics' and 'its better than Call of Duty!' are all slogans that will appear on modern games, tempting in the naive with one dimensional 'innovations'. Anyway, lets stop rambling and get to the point.


After E3 it is becoming ever clearer that the games industry is looking back and using it as a guideline, a concept that is resulting in quality over quantity. Take the newly announced Rayman Origins. Beneath the Bioshock's and Uncharted's, Rayman Origins looked incredible at E3. The beautiful art style and nostalgic gameplay conjured up memories from the 1990's era. Ubisoft seem to have gone back in time, stripping the game down to its basics. Likewise, the recently released Mortal Kombat game makes do with a much smoother, simpler and stream-lined approach.


I recently posted an entry regarding Tony Hawks and how we should look back in time for inspiration, and I take full responsibility for this, game developers seem to be doing it. Simplifying things down. But, it cant all be good can it? Much like 'what goes around comes around', the phrase 'karma's a bitch' is also surprisingly relevant  Two words for this. Duke. Nukem. The 14 year wait has proven to be a bit of a waste as Duke's cockiness and self loving character is simply annoying now, much like his actual game. So the question is, is the past better? There are many examples of games being stream lined and stripped to help create a purely quality game with no fancy features. Pure gameplay is where its at. Take Super Meat Boy for example. It is not at all afraid to be horrible. It is simple, yet addictive due to its 'one more go' attitude and annoyingly difficult levels. Yes a story is sometimes interesting, but what would you prefer, a long detailed story regarding some despressed emo kid who is just trying to carve his own destiny or a 2D game that eats away at your life? Wait, stupid question, but I hope you understand what I am getting at.