Music has been an integral part of the gaming experience and I think we should celebrate and recognize this years contributions. Or at least 3/4th's of it. I haven't played every game released this year, so naturally I'm probably going to miss some obvious selections. Free free to correct (or most likely flame the crap out of) me as you see fit.
The creative direction of Max Payne 3 might have angered many fans of the series, but I frankly loved the direction Rockstar took. This tonal shift also dramatically took place in Max Payne 3's soundtrack, which was scored by the experimental noise rock band HEALTH. The standout track in the game however is the song "TEARS" which blares into the player's psyche during the final level of the game. It's perfect for amping the player for the last leg of Max's blood-soaked nightmare and to kill a shitload of bad guys. Say what you want about the Houser brothers and Rockstar, but they know how to use licensed artists to great effect in their titles. Anyone who played Red Dead Redemption can attest to that and Max Payne 3 continues that tradition.
Lone Survivor wears it's influences on it's sleeve and the game is better for it. Jasper Byrne is an obvious die-heard fan of Silent Hill 2 and the music reflects as such. One of the great examples on how damn important it is for game music to establish a mood and effect the player. It also helps that "Sleep Forever" is goddamn awesome on it's own.
(I couldn't find any of the score to The Walking Dead. Regardless, it's fantastic at establishing the bleak and desperate tone of the series. It's frequently a smarter decision to make a score low-key and just accent the drama of the characters on the screen. If somebody can give me a link, that would be great.)
This list is nowhere close to completion, so chime in whenever you feel like it.
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