Audio Addict Special Edition 2014 #1 Game Addict by Audio Addict

Audio Addict Special Edition

The future is here: Dropping in with a groundbreaking soundtrack

Simology: the top simlish songs The best Radio Stations

South Park: The Review of Truth

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Contents

P.04 The News. All the latest game and music news from Earth to Pluto

P.06 The Front Section: I Choose You! Celebrites Trying to be Pokemon

Editors letter Remember when video games came with nothing more than a few bleeps and bloops as a soundtrack? It’s a testament to human advancement in technology that from the 8-bit sounds of Tetris, games now have luxurious soundtracks both originally scored and licensed songs that are equally as important as the actual gameplay itself. GTA V is one such game – it has a plethora of wide-reaching genre based radio shows presented by actual musicians and has far surpassed the previous expectations of music in video games, which is why we’ve included a review section solely comprised of GTA V radio stations. The immersive, dynamic soundtrack to our cover game Titanfall is so carefully structured from the calm moments flying towards battle through to the earth-shuddering moment of the first Titan’s arrival. Each note and bass hit is meaningfully placed, indicating that as much effort has gone into the soundtrack as it has for the actual game itself.

P.10 Feature: Nathan Butler’s Top 10 Video Game Moments. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed

P.12 Features and interviews! From “Why Hip-Hop sucks in 2014” to “The evolution of Pokemon Music” Interviews from Chris Yeomas and Sound effects engineer Ryan Sim P.26 Reviews: Titian Fall Sound track is fianlly here! As well as soundtrack reviews from The Last of Us, Burnout 2 and Final Fantasy VIII P.21 Downpage Reviews: Our top 3 GTA V radio stations, Skyrim, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and many many more!

The game soundtrack is increasingly breaking new ground and continually providing us moments in games that are tinged with flawlessness; games would be nothing without the epic audio accompaniment, so without further ado, here is the Special Gaming Edition of Audio Addict: Game Addict. All the opinions in this magazine are solely the opinions of each indiviual writer and do not in any way, shape or form reflect the views and opinions of the Audio Addict magazine and team.

Contributors:

Zoe Coxon, Andrew Yates, Kiwi Vincent, Nathan Butler

w 3

N e w s News

My Music returns in super smash bros for WII U It has been confirmed that the new Super Smash Bros. game will contain the feature to choose what music plays within the game. The ‘My Music’ option, which previously featured in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, will be returning in the upcoming instalment for Wii U. ‘My Music’ lets players customise what music plays in the background on stages when playing custom games. Each stage has set tracks that are related to the game the stage is from. Players can

then choose which tracks get played and edit how frequently certain tracks get selected. There has been mixed responses from fans about the feature returning. One fan on Nintendo Word Report (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/) said: “It’s a nice option to have, but how many people actually used this?” The 3DS version of the game will not feature the entire ‘My Music’ feature. However, it has been confirmed that players will have the option to choose between two tracks for each stage. It has not yet been revealed if collectible CDs to unlock new music will be available within the game like in Brawl. The 3DS version of the game is due for release Summer 2014, with the Wii U version arriving in winter. - Andrew Yates

Pokemon Heart gold and Soul Silver now on iTunes and Hardcopy Game music connects returns for a 2nd year Gamefreak have recently released the soundtrack for Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver on iTunes after its release in 2009. The makers of the Pokemon franchise have teamed up with iTunes to let users download the soundtrack straight to their phones, computers and Ipods. The soundtrack consists of a whopping 240 songs at the price of £7.99, and features the work of Jun’ichi Masuda, Morikazu Aoki, Go Ichinose and many more game music producers.

The hard copy of the soundtrack incorporates a booklet containing information, official artwork from the games, screenshots and an indepth track listing with a six page interview with the game’s music and audio team. Part of the soundtrack is also completely based on the GB Sounds feature, bordering it as close to an official release of Pokémon Gold and Silver’s soundtrack as possible. The Pokemon Company have said “soundtracks for Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire, Diamond/Pearl, Black/White and Black 2/White 2 will be released later this year.” - Kayleigh Vincent

Game Music Connect has been confirmed to make a second appearance in September. The videogame music conference was established last year by James Hannigan, writer of soundtracks for ‘Harry Potter’, ‘RuneScape’ and the ‘Command & Conquer’ series, and features workshops and events for composers looking to explore the avenue of writing soundtracks for videogames. John Broomhall returns as the event’s host and two-time BAFTA award-winning composer Jason Graves, Ivor Novello/BAFTA nominated com-

poser Richard Jacques and Hannigan will all be returning to discuss upcoming projects and to take part in the presentations. Several guest speakers including composers Jessica Curry, Olivier Derivière and Garry Schyman and EA’s Worldwide Executive of Music Steve Schnur will also be attending the conference. Hannigan said of the event: “It’s a huge thrill to be back for 2014 and a great honour to have such wonderfully talented, diverse and influential guests join us for the day. As promised last year, we will be covering the innovative indie game music scene this time around, as well as continuing our focus on blockbusters and the challenges of interactive music”. The one day event will take place on 24th September at The Southbank Centre in London. - Nathan Butler

- Kiwi Vincent

Musicans that look like Pokemon! Miley Cyrus - Lickitung A Lickitung’s tongue is connected to its tail, which twitches when the tongue is pulled, giving the perfect conditions to twerk. It’s said that a Lickitung is an evolution of Miley Cyrus.

Simon Neil - Tangela Underneath a mop of sweaty hair and a manly beard lies Simon Neil, sharing the same style with Tangela all the way down to the red shoes.

The Front Section

Iggy azalea - Jynx The resemblance between the two is somewhat uncanny, it’s rumoured Iggy shares styling tips with Jynx, even though Jynx thinks that she is a bitch and her music is shitty.

Snoop Dog - Bellsprout Bellsprout is a skinny little weed that lives in the greenest of grass, sharing the same surroundings as Snoop Dogg, both also grow into better performances when given a leaf stone....

Top 5 ‘Simlish’ Songs Dave Groul - Entei Sporting a handlebar moustache, its hard to tell the difference between the legendary Dave and the legendary Entei.

Hayley Williams - Vulpix Fiesty, small and orange. A fantastic three piece combo that perfectly puts Vulpix and Williams’ together.

in order to make the song rhyme is sheer genius; the only thing funnier than listening to this song is watching Perry sing it herself.

5. Barenaked Ladies – Easy It starts off perfectly harmless, but quickly unravels into a complete farce. Your brain will play the chorus of “make a wheezy” on repeat.

2. My Chemical Romance – Na Na Na Why this track is classified as ‘indie’, no one will know. This one actually sounds relatively close to the original (which is saying something).

4. Lady Antebellum – Need You Now It’s hilarious from the get-go, and it just gets better and better. The pairing of the ‘serious’ music and the incredulous Simlish lyrics make this the funniest track on the list.

1. Fun. – We Are Young The anthemic chorus of “MENNAI/ WE BAH YUU!” will, unfortunately, stick in your head for days.

3. Katy Perry – Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) Don’t worry – the ear-piercing saxophone solo is still there. The creation of words ending in “-oop”

- Zoe Coxon

Billy Corgan - Squirtle Who needs a mirror when these two are around?

Morrissey - Gloom Although not charming, Gloom and Morrissey seem to share the same despair in their eyes. Thank God they do not share the same smell.

Tom Odell - Magikarp Magikarp likes to make a splash and thinks it is important with a gold crown upon its head. Although like Tom Odell, Magikarp is pretty useless and boring...

The St ick of Truth South : Park S ings South Park is often criticised for its vulgarity and The Stick of Truth is no exception, but one thing that detractors overlook is the music of South Park. Creators Matt and Trey are the undisputed kings of parody, a title that has spawned a mountain of hilarious songs. The Stick of Truth features the best of the old, including ‘Vote or Die’ - a sly potshot at mainstream rappers attempting to be political by indelicately combining politics with gangsta rap.

New tracks are just as hilarious - Jimmy’s 20 second-long song is essentially a “your mum” joke, but told as a noble, bardic tale accompanied by lutes and flutes complete with Jimmy’s trademark stutter. Perhaps the greatest moment is ‘Let’s Fighting Love’ – a bash at Japanese anime music, with a hilarious mix of broken English and self-aware Japanese. The last line translates to “This song is a bit stupid, I don’t know its purpose.

English is all fucked up, it’s okay we do it all the time!” These songs, and specifically that last lyric, are a great way of explaining the comedic value of South Park; it’s stupid and literally means nothing, but you’re gonna love it regardless. - Nathan Butler

Top 10 video game moments There

a r e s o m a n y m o m e n t s i n v i d e o ga m e s t h at

c atc h yo u r att e n t i o n .

It’s

a w i d e ly - k n o w n fa c t

t h at t h e b e s t m o m e n t s i n v i d e o ga m e s a r e a lways a c c o m pa n i e d b y m u s i c , s o h e r e i s m y to p t e n .

- Nathan Butler

10. Regenerador RE4 Starting the list off in terrifying fashion is this eerie drone that accompanies the Regeneradors in Chapter 5. The whirring track is horrifying, but the accompanying raspy, incongruous breathing from the Regeneradors is the catalyst for pausing the game and walking out of the room with a continuous “NOPE” coming from your mouth. 9. FFVIII Balamb Garden Well this is a lot nicer! Even though FFVIII often (criminally!) loses out to VII and IX in the debate of best game, it has arguably the best soundtrack of the three. Walking around Balamb Garden is accompanied by a preposterously relaxing tune that makes you wonder how the SeeDs manage to accomplish anything.

7. Halo 3 Last Mission (One Final Effort) The music of Halo has been immortalised because of tracks like this. It’s heroic and awe-inspiring, and if you ever did the Vidmaster Annual Challenge with 3 friends, riding in Ghosts on Legendary diffi-

6. THPS 4 Public Enemy’s… Arizona Some things are just meant to be. Skating around Alcatraz and listening to Public Enemy’s By The Time I Get To Arizona is one of those things. The choral “Oohs” and Chuck D’s reference to overcrowded prisons go hand in hand with sticking it to the man by skating around the most notorious prison in American history. 5. Hitman Contracts: Paul Anka’s Put Your Head on my Shoulder Another really disturbing moment, this time on Hitman: Contracts. Upon entering a blood-spattered abattoir, Agent 47 comes across a butcher nonchalantly chopping up human limbs while listening to a soppy love song from the 60s. The juxtaposition of the macabre and the romantic makes for an unforgettable moment in video game history. 4. Metal Gear 3: Snake Eater Accompanying the opening title sequence is the best James Bond song that isn’t a James Bond song. It’s jazzy, funky, and Cynthia Harrell does such a stellar job singing some questionable lyrics (“someday you’ll feed on a tree-frog” – what

the…) that Nina Simone and Shirley Bassey would have to applaud. 3. RDR: Jose Gonzalez The softly spoken vocals of Jose Gonzalez coarse over a sparsely plucked acoustic guitar to signal John Marston’s arrival in Mexico, and it couldn’t be more befitting of the scenery – an Old West outlaw plodding along a dusty desert road at sundown. The transition is so peaceful, but knowing Marston as the gun slinger he is, it is nothing but the calm before the storm. 2. Lost Woods: OoT You could spend hours roaming the Lost Woods and never get bored, thanks to this incredibly catchy and joyful song. Even people who have never played LoZ:OoT will find themselves whistling the tune as soon as they hear it. 1. Splinter Cell DJ Shadow – Building Steam With a Grain of Salt The number one consummate professional Sam Fisher finds out he’s been played for a fool by people he

trusted. As he learns that his supposed friends faked his daughter’s death for their own gain, the delicate but haunting piano intro from DJ Shadow’s Building Steam With a Grain of Salt plays in the background. Then the drums kick in and Sam uncharacteristically flies off the handle, kicking chairs and destroying com-

Words by Nathan Butler

8. The Song of the Dragonborn – Skyrim DOVAHKIIN, DOVAHKIIN, NAAL OK ZIN LOS VAHRIIN! … Nuff said.

culty without anyone dying makes this even more valiant.

Fe at ur es & In te rv iew s 12

The Future of Music and Games: with Chris Yeomans Its 2014,You’re on stage playing your best rendition of Guns ‘n’ Roses’ ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ in front of a crowd of adoring fans, when actually you’re sat in your underwear (that you’ve probably had on for too long) holding a plastic guitar that has buttons instead of strings.You don’t have to be a musician to be able to play the likes of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Karaoke bestseller SingStar will turn you into Britney Spears and let you sing to your heart’s content from the comfort of your own home, or killing a dragon to Skyrim’s Dovakiin theme will automatically make you think you’re the world’s greatest dragon slayer. Buying some furniture for your Sims? No worries, some subtle sleek music will guide you through the pixellated catalogue. Music is just part of the backbone to a perfect video game. Coinciding side by side they create a formulated origin of endless gaming. Hours upon hours can be spent at the edge of your chair slashing zombies to an spectacularly eerie and well produced soundtrack. Gaming Addict caught up with Chris Yeomans, an expert student studying ‘Sound for Film, Television and Games’ at Southampton Solent University to discuss why music is so important in the world of gaming. “Music is important for games as its one of the things that helps a good game become a work of art.” He says. “A good game soundtrack wraps itself around the storyline and the momentum of a game in some story driven games.

It can make the biggest difference like for example in ‘Gears Of War 3,’ a main character from all three games dies in a large explosion during a fire fight, but instead of rock or dubstep, its Gary Jules’ ‘Mad World’ being played, it really drives home the scene that this is a devastating loss.” A world without music playing a part in games seems somewhat unclear; it would merely seem awkward, compact and boring. “Without music, games would still be regarded as a sideline form of entertainment. I don’t think games have the same impact in media as they do now.” He says. “I would have to say my favourite game soundtracks are the likes of ‘Saint Row IV.’ There nothing quite like flying through a spaceship with ‘What is Love’ (Haddaway) blaring behind you while shooting laser guns. Also Deus Ex Human Revolution just for how fitting the soundtrack is for the setting of the game.” So what for the future of games? We live in a world so advanced that predicting what’s coming next is near impossibility, and matching music to the same ability could prove difficult. “I believe the next thing for music and games would be more story driven games getting closer to massive orchestral deals. Such as blockbuster movies.” Chris explains. “Game soundtracks are getting more and more popular so I think also artists producing and creating music exclusively for games is a possibility.”

Shout Out: Why hiphop sucks in 2014 Video games have been absolutely essential in my own development of musical taste, and I am not ashamed to say so – I was raised by my (deaf) mum, who liked Adam Ant because she thought he was fit, and that’s all I got as far as music goes. 2001 was the genesis of my love affair with hip hop, and the soundtrack for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 had everything to do with it. Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Guerrilla Radio’ and Anthrax’s collab with Chuck D for ‘Bring Tha Noize’ appealed to my noisy sensibilities, but combined the cacophonous with sublime, slick rhymes which made me realise the artistic value of lyrical deliverance in hip hop. THPS4 solidified that love through the amazing instrumentals from ‘By The Time I Get To Arizona’ by Public Enemy and ‘Whenimondamic’ by Lootpack. Ten years later, I’ve written countless reviews and articles on hip hop and formed friendships solely from a mutual love of the genre. So when I come across comments on YouTube music videos that are insanely pretentious, it makes me want to lie down on the M69 dressed head to toe in WuWear to make a barely graspable statement. Here’s a comment from hip hop group Lootpack’s ‘Whenimondamic’ video, a track that featured on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4: “yeah all you assholes that came here after hearing this on THPS aren’t real Loot Pack fans. Everyone knows that music is a race. I don’t even know how you could look yourself in the mirror if you listen to music that’s over 20 years old.You should be ashamed of yourself kids! Just listen to

music in your own time like us REAL Lootpack fans!!!” Regardless of where you first heard an artist, if you and another fan both like them then that should be something to bond over, and not a point of criticism. Some people may not have access to music in the same way that these ‘Real Fans’ do; that they heard the same thing through different means and, more often than not, many years later is a miraculous and wonderful thing. Hip hop is one of the most divided genres due to its unhealthy obsession with authenticity, but as a fan of a genre that has always been about community, I’m happy when people tell me they liked driving around Los Santos in a pimped out sports car blasting A$AP Rocky’s ‘Cali’, or that they have been incessantly listening to Run The Jewels because both El-P and Killer Mike‘s tracks on Saints Row IV were great accompaniments to jumping from building to building and pumping rounds into the chests of aliens. They didn’t hear the artists in the same way that I did and maybe have different views on what those artists represent, but the mutual appreciation is more than enough to accept them into the imagined hip hop community that exists only in my head, because sadly, in real life, the spirit of community is almost non-existent. - Nathan Butler

- Kiwi Vincent

An i n t e rvi e w wi t h Ryan Sim

the evolution of pokemon music Everyone, no matter who you are, no matter how ‘cool’ or how ‘nerdy’ you are, has probably played Pokémon. It doesn’t, matter whether you’re Black or White, Gold or Silver, Red or Blue, we’ve all been there at some point. It is a timeless game series and those of us born in the 90s have grown up alongside it from the very beginning. It’s changed and transformed with age as we have, starting with Red and Green in Japan in 1996 (Red and Blue for the English versions in 1998) and the latest instalments, X and Y, hitting stores worldwide in October 2013. Over those 17 years Pokémon games evolved and learned a few new moves, with each instalment following Red and Green bringing something different to the table, not to mention over 560 new Pokémon along the way. Gold and Silver brought colour to the world and Ruby and Sapphire gave us new battle styles and strategies. Diamond and Pearl saw vastly improved graphics with Black and White bringing our Pokémon pals to life on screen. Then X and Y

went the extra mile and arguably ‘perfected’ Pokémon with graphics similar to Pokémon Coliseum, incredible battle scenes and allowed us to power up our Pokémon with Mega-Evolution. But one of the best developments, one sometimes overlooked, is of course the music. The music in Pokémon is some of the best video game music known to man. Even the 8-bit days of the original Gameboy were kick ass. I still get a rush when walking through the tall grass or locking eyes with another trainer, the screen starts flashing and that unmistakable music declares that shit is about to go down. Thankfully that was never changed, but rather reworked into the updated music styles with each generation. The battle themes all retain the same feeling and iconic motifs pop up over all generations. X and Y even go as far to remix the original music from Red and Green when battling the legendary Pokémon from Gen 1, keeping the intense, rapidly rising and falling 8-bit scales. It’s a beautiful

tribute to the days of old, and I challenge you not to get excited when you hear it. Furthermore, Fire Red/Leaf Green and Heart Gold/Soul Silver (the remakes of Red/Green and Gold/Silver) updated both games with not only the current generation’s graphics and mechanics but amazing reworked editions of the original 8-bit music. The updated tracks sound amazing and give a real sense of sweet nostalgia; the final battle music against Lance/Red in HG/ SS is nothing short of epic. Pokémon’s music will forever be an iconic part of the franchise. Every generation’s music has its own personal charm – who could forget how Gen 3 basically kidnapped an entire brass band and forced them to play for us whilst we surfed across the ocean blue? The music has certainly gotten better with age and with each new game it continues to improve. But, then again, it was already incredible to begin with. - Andrew Yates

It’s pretty safe to say that music is a key part of any video game. Whether it’s an intense action scene, a moment of rising suspense or a scream inducing jump scare, with no music behind it things would be a bit naff. Thankfully, there are heroes in the world. Heroes who bring the gaming world out of the silence with music and sound effects. Jagex employee Ryan Sim is one of those heroes.

FX Booth and has worked on trailers for Insurgency and Contagion. Everybody has played RuneScape. What’s it like working on it? “[RuneScape’s] been out for like 12 years or something,” he chuckles. “There was No fancy hotel bars or London coffee shops here. only two sound people at one time dealing with This is the 21st Century, so we’re chatting it up mostly just everything. So basically they’ll get givin a Skype call. Ryan’s worked en areas, ‘Oh we’re working in the gaming industry profeson this new swamp area’, sionally for two years. What or something. So then we’re exactly made him want to get like ‘Ok I need to get all into such a kick-ass job? these swamp sounds.’”

“"I had to find something

to keep it interetsting most recent thing and that turned out “The I did,” he sniffs excitedly, “Was I recorded a voice to be games" over for one of the little

“Well I’ve always been a fan of games,” he sniffles through a bad cold. “I started out kind of in the music industry and I got to a point where I just monsters in it. We got one decided that I didn’t enjoy it as of the sound guys to come much as I did originally. So I had to find something in… and got him to go crazy on a microphone to sort of keep it interesting, and that turned out for like an hour or so, so that was a lot of fun.” to be games for me.” Obviously you’ll agree, I’d be worried if you didn’t, So did you make the right choice in changing? but how important would you say music is in “Yeah it’s been pretty good. I spoke to a friend games? “Well that’s the great thing about video and he was like, ‘Oh why don’t you get into games. It’s not just a soundtrack playing in the games?’ And I was like, ‘Oh God,’ and a whole background like you would in a film. It’s interother world was opened up to me… And I’ve active music,” he says. “You use it quite subconkind of just transitioned into it ever since.” sciously. If you use a bass drone or something building up in the background as something’s Ryan tells me about a number of projects he’s about to happen…you don’t notice that. But once worked on, including Postal 2, Sniper Elite 3 for that’s actually happened you feel the impact of it. PS4 and Xbox One, the upcoming Jagex game So music is crucial I think.” Transformers Universe, and the timeless MMO RuneScape. He’s also the lead sound designer at - Andrew Yates

TitanFall soundtrack If you could call down a giant mech suit from space, get in it, and kick the crap out of everything in your way, what would you play over the stereo? Without a doubt it’d be the soundtrack to Respawn Entertainment’s largely anticipated, ground-smashing first person shooter Titanfall. This epic bad boy dropped in with an equally epic soundtrack. Composed by Stephen Barton, who wrote the score for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, it’s atmospheric, badass and my god is it awesome.

The reviews

The opening track, ‘Cosmology’, starts off tranquil yet eerie with soft synths and strings. Electric guitars slide in and build to a climax where things take off on a grand scale. Quick hi-hats and pounding drums alongside the now distorted synths and screaming strings build and end in a sudden drop, symbolising the Titans dropping in from orbit. ‘Welcome to the Marauder Corps’ has warlike drums and violin-led strings that conjure up

images of Vikings. The tension rises until a climax that fades away into silence. It’s an expertly crafted representation of the calm before the storm rising into the heat of battle. ‘Here Be Dragons!’ presents a sense of approaching danger as deep, heartbeat synths create a tense atmosphere, before another build to a climactic drop that Barton seems to love so much. After that comes screeching violins and then things take a turn to the action side. Vertical Flanking is facepaced with booming brass and high-pitched stings. Changing completely into electric drum machines, synths and radio static, it sums up Titanfall’s gameplay perfectly: “need an edge on the battlefield? Here, have a giant robot!” Rounding things off is the ‘Original Titanfall Trailer Demo’ which showcases dramatic, thundering brass and provides a chaotic representation of the path of destruction you’ll leave when stepping into a Titan. - Andrew Yates

main three (VII,VIII and IX), but those who have played it and rate it as one of the best RPGs of all time always cite the soundtrack as a main component as to why.

For those familiar with the Final Fantasy series this will ring true when applied to any of the nine games he composed and arranged by himself, but Uematsu’s work on FFVIII is without a doubt one of the most emotive video game soundtracks of all time.

It’s still a Final Fantasy game though, and there are lighter elements to ease the ominousness. The game often has you exploring the high school or ‘Garden’ that the main characters attend, and the accompanying theme ‘Balamb Garden’ is so innocently relaxing that it would be no surprise to find yourself talking to every unimportant NPC in every

Sadly, it is often overlooked because many gamers regard it as the naff one out of the

room just to bask in the serenity. Uematsu has managed to create an entire soundtrack where no piece feels unimportant. From the focusinducing ‘SeeD’ anthem that psyches you up before an important mission to the delicate ‘Fragments of Memories’ that accompanies Squall’s flashbacks of being abandoned at the orphanage, every note is capable of eliciting an emotional response, and without a doubt, the occasional tear. Words by Nathan Butler

Burnout 3: Takedown This year marks 10 years since the release of Takedown – the third instalment of the Burnout racing series. Published by Electronic Arts, the game was released only on Xbox and PlayStation 2 and gained a massive following. The soundtrack can be heard via an in-game radio station, a feature that is still commonly used today, known as ‘Crash FM’. Players even had the option to customise their own set of songs they wished to listen to whilst playing the game. The soundtrack features tracks

from, what are now regarded as, big name rock acts such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance’s debut albums, as well as some classic rock hits and lesser known alternative rock bands. In its entirety, the soundtrack is very much an explosion of iconic 2004 emo rock (songs like Motion City Soundtrack’s somewhat gentle ‘My Favourite Accident’ and Yellowcard’s violin-ridden ‘Breathing’ are prime examples of this).

‘Right Side of the Bed’ by Atreyu is a borderline metal track, with a stomping chorus and chanted backing vocals. Classic punk veterans Ramones are even featured – ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ is a strangely perfect addition to the mix. YouTube these tracks now and you’ll find that there are still Burnout 3 comments – proving that this game and soundtrack really have stood the test of time. - Zoe Coxon

There’s a perfect blend of heavy and light-hearted rock.

Oh my God, you guys.You guys, check it out. The South Park game has finally been released and it is so tits! I’m seriously. It’s an RPG based in the world of South Park with all the familiarity of the TV shows, where the player takes on the role of ‘The New Kid’, the silent protagonist who arrives in South Park and is told by his parents to make new friends. This leads to fantasy role-playing similar to the recent Season 17 Game of Thrones spoof trilogy, and The New Kid gets to choose a class from Warrior, Mage, Thief and, the fan favourite of course, Jew. The battle system is turn-based and allows the use of a main attack, a ranged attack, magic, abilities and items. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but the item system is a bit screwed; all the items you can use can be looted from defeated enemies and you’ll quickly find yourself at capacity, rarely needing to use them.You can also buy the same items from shops, but there’s not really any need for it. The storyline is archetypally ludicrous, involving anal probes, Nazi zombie foetuses and a satirical, self-aware mockery of silent protagonists. The side quests are hilarious and involve subcharacters like the “super cereal” Al Gore enlisting the help of the protagonist to

find ManBearPig and finding Mr Hankey’s children in the sewer, and it’s these kinds of idiosyncratic occurrences that emphasise the game’s best quality – the humour. This being a South Park game, it’s not without controversies. Many females playing The Stick of Truth have displayed their outrage at not being able to pick a female character; players can choose to have feminine hair and makeup, but are constantly referred to through masculine pronouns. What female and male fans alike should already be familiar with is the gender divide in the TV series, and to put a girl in with Stan, Kyle and co wouldn’t make sense in the world of South Park. Although it’s what drives the game for fans of South Park, the self-referential humour may go over the heads of gamers not so familiar to the show, but the percentage of people who aren’t fans wanting to play this game are probably so low that it’s completely inconsequential. After all, this is a South Park game made for South Park fans so screw you guys, I’m going home… To play The Stick of Truth. - Nathan Butler

South Park: The Review of Truth

When asked about the Final Fantasy VIII soundtrack, composer Nobuo Uematsu said, “I think it will be a shame if we won’t be able to cry as we play our own game.”

Santaolalla’s work is not uncommon in Naughty Dog’s games. It’s the first time the composer has been given free reign over a whole soundtrack to himself, and he has truly shown himself by performing all the musical attributes himself. It gives you the emotion of the character, rather than an urgency of horror, even though you could be

slaughtered by an infected at any given moment. ‘The Last of Us’, throws you into a post-apocalyptic world, captivating you into intense and haunting melodies that coincide perfectly with every scene. The music matches up to the beauty of the game and the game matches up to the beauty of the music, complimenting each other side by side. Several tracks such as “The Hunters” and “Infected” quickly intensify alongside the 3rd person shooter by using large amounts of heavy percussion. Other tracks use enchanting guitars and perfectly balanced chamber strings such as “The Path” and “Returning”.

You give no notice to the lyricless tracks as rhythmical patterns of steel drums captivate your attention, giving you the perfect sence of suspense and satisfaction. The soundtrack illuminates the already perfect game and dramatically sets the scene of misery and pain shown throughout the story. You never forget that you’re in a bleak post-apocalyptic world, and that danger lurks around every corner. Santaolalla’s work is an elegant masterpiece, and an excitement bubbles over his next creation, it is with no doubt that ‘The Last of Us’ soundtrack is a work of its own. - Kiwi Vincent

our favourite stations

For many, a soundtrack in a game is just background noise, something to fill the space and never given a second thought. It is not until you hear the beautiful and compelling music from such work as Gustavo Santaolalla’s sound track to ‘The Last of Us’, that you can truly appreciate a game’s soundtrack.

FlyLo FM is already a step ahead of any other station on GTA because it isn’t restricted to a bunch of same sounding songs. Producer/rapper Flying Lotus had free reign over the featured tracks on his station, the outcome of which allows his eclectic taste to really come through. Where else could you see ‘Garbage’, OF misfit Tyler, the Creator’s loveless portrayal of a drug dealer next to the timelessly freakish ‘Windowlicker’ by Aphex Twin? FlyLo FM has the perfect mix of tracks for any GTA scenario too.Faced with a long drive to a crack den that’s savagely guarded by bikers? Pump yourself up with the Arguably one of the cheesiest radio stations featured in the GTA V soundtrack is Non Stop Pop FM. Hosted by British model Cara Delevingne, it features a whole host of absolutely classic pop belters. Ifyou’re looking for old school tunes such as the Hall & Oates classic ‘Adult Education’ or modern day hits like ‘Only Girl In The World’ by Rihanna, you’ve come to the right place. There’s something for

Over all the 17 stations that host in Grand Theft Auto V, West Coast Classic should definitely be in your top 3. Why you ask? West Coast Classics treats you to back-in-the-day Hip Hop, Gangsta rap and G-Funk. Crank up Dr.Dre to maximum to show off your swanky new car you stole five minutes ago. Or

hard ass trap instrumental ‘100hm’. Irresponsibly driving back from partying at the club all loved up/funked up with a girl named Kandi? You my friend, need Thundercat’s ‘Oh Sheit, It’s X’ to effectively get that reckless, young and in lust feeling. - Nathan Butler

every pop and R&B lover. Rewind back to 2003 and you get girl band Mis-Teeq’s insanely catchy tune ‘Scandalous’, with its obviously suggestive lyrics and pre-chorus raps from Alesha Dixon - now known for being a judge on Britain’s Got Talent. Hop even further back to 1999 and you get yet another girl band classic – the incomparable ‘Pure Shores’ by All Saints. It’s quite simply a playlist of euphoric pop at its finest. - Zoe Coxon

spend some ‘quality’ time with a pricey woman in a supermarket car-park to the funky tones of Compton’s Most Wanted’s “Late Night Hype”. The likes of classic “Gin and Juice” transports you back to your college days where you smoked yourself to sleep and leaves you wondering “What the hell happened to Snoop Dogg?.” Hosted by DJ Pooh who carefully selected the tracks himself, the station is a perfect backdrop to a late night cruise round Los Santos. Putting it perfectly themselves as “music from the days of the pager.” - Kiwi Vincent

One thing on Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that gets skirted over frequently is the soundtrack, and really, this game would be fractionally successful if the soundtrack wasn’t so glorious. The great thing about the soundtrack is that it changes the dynamic of gaming. The ‘Lost Woods’ theme is so disarming and loveable that actually getting lost isn’t frustrating, and there’s an alluring charm about ‘Windmill Hut’, along with the rotating mill, that makes you want to stay longer than necessary just to mess about. Where the soundtrack really impresses though is the reflection of ocarina tunes in background music. The ‘Ocarina Song of Time’ tune Link learns is mirrored in the Temple of Time and ‘Epona’s Song’ is expanded upon at The Lon Lon Ranch, which gives the OoT universe a unique continuity that subtly but significantly enriches the whole experience. - Nathan Butler

The Downpage reviews The much anticipated arrival of The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim, hit the shelves back in November of 2011, and with a gigantic game came an immense soundtrack.

Vibrant realistic tones compel you into the beauty of the game, with hallucinogenic tracks matching long journeys and warm melodies make you feel at home in towns of Skyrim. Different explorations in the open world have different musical settings, from fighting off the Draugr in the most dangerous of dungeons, to watching the northern lights at the mouth of the world. And of course, the intimidating main song ‘Dragonborn’ makes you feel like a hell of a badass dragon slayer when you’re slicing the face of a Dragon.Yeah fuck Alduin! The soundtrack is worthy to such a fantastic game and could almost be a movie soundtrack. The realistic, atmospheric and highly enjoyable music deems you a true Dragonborn of Skyrim. - Kiwi Vincent

A crazy fast paced game like Team Fortress 2 needs a crazy fast paced soundtrack – and that was something that Valve sound director Mike Morasky and the Valve Studio Orchestra were happy to deliver.

Many of the tracks from the ‘Meet the’ trailers fit the character class they’re for perfectly. ‘Faster than a Speeding Bullet’ from Meet the Scout reflects the Scout’s speedy, chaotic play style; and meet the Spy’s ‘Right Behind You’ is eerie, tense and sounds deadly, portraying the feeling of playing the Spy when you’re out to back stab some noobs.

Brass-filled tracks create tension, war-like moments and racing action that fit perfectly with a game that’s all about classic ‘RED’ vs ‘BLU.’ The now iconic opening track sums things up perfectly It’s an incredible soundtrack for a fantastic game. with its ticking clock, fast snare drums and energet- What more could you want? ic guitar and horns. - Andrew Yates

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Star Wars: The Old Republic Star Wars: The Old Republic extends the vast Star Wars universe in a glorious MMORPG. Its atmospheric soundtrack is certainly worthy of being labelled Star Wars music. The soundtrack album was released with the collector’s edition and has an array of tracks; with each individual class having its own theme. ‘Justice, The Jedi Knight’ has a grand, epic feel with a sense of authority and heroism. On the other hand, ‘Deception, The Sith Warrior’ has racing strings and menacing brass that personify the chaotic and destructive ways of the Sith.

The first track on the album, ‘Clash of Destiny,’ features a large orchestra complete with dramatic choir. It’s reminiscent of ‘Duel of Fates’ from The Phantom Menace, symbolising the battle of good vs evil. Whether you’re Republic or Empire, Jedi or Sith, SWTOR’s music immerses you into your character superbly, adding to the already fantastic roleplaying element of the game. - Andrew Yates