CircusOfValues
Banned
Recently I've been gathering video game music that makes me emotional. Tracks that really pull my heart-triggers. I then felt the need to write up why they make me feel the way they do - mainly to just get it out. I've collated and expanded upon these and taken out all the "when will this dark pain in my heart end" and trying to work out how to "fill my dark soul with light" sentences. For those interested, here's what I came up with. Feel free to reply with your own picks of music that you wouldn't usually admit make a single tear roll down your face while you stare out of a rain-dashed window.
'I'm not crying... it's just been raining... on my face...'
- Flight Of The Conchords
GAME: Assassin's Creed 2
TRACK: 'Sanctuary'
COMPOSER: Jesper Kyd
If you’re reading this then it’s likely you thought something from this game would make an appearance. There were a couple tracks I deliberated on but I decided on 'Sanctuary'. This game had such a unique feel to it. Open world games were gaining traction and this one set the standard for a lot of them.
The soundtrack was something else - Jesper Kyd's Hitman soundtracks were all brilliant and then he comes out with this completely fitting new sound. The setting was like nothing seen before and the charming main character was a rarity in such a game.
Everything came together into one to create a gaming experience I've not felt since which is likely why I'm so fond of this soundtrack.
One thing I realised with later games is that the soundtrack only played in certain gameplay situations and not while just wandering around... I may be wrong about this. But the ambience throughout the world of Assassin's Creed II always stood out to me.
I could walk around on the rooftops of Italy and listen to the music for hours - and still sometimes do.
BONUS: ‘Tour Of Venice’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPY5uu4SntI
Another outstanding track. Please see above.
GAME: Far Cry 5
TRACK: Oh John (Reinterpretation) // and all the others
COMPOSER: Hammock
I've picked this one, but the whole album... my lord (no pun intended) does it stir up the emotions. These post-rock 'interpretations' seem to be completely reworked tracks by the band Hammock. The original versions are based on groups singing hymn-like religious songs which are great in their own right.
I really love post rock but I'm quite picky with the genre - all of these tracks hit the tear-producing part of my brain.
They crop up in the game on the loading screens so it's hard to hear them for more than a minute (console depending). They're coupled with relaxing nature scenes from the game world. It works really well, reminding you the location is a beautiful place despite evangelical fanatics trying to kill you.
I'm unsure if the subject matter propels the emotional vibe forward or if they simply just know all the chord progressions that hurt my heart. Bliss.
BONUS: ‘The World Is Gonna End Tonight’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODi7RhlS6pM
A great folk song in its own right. Great soundtrack overall.
GAME: Sea Of Thieves
TRACK: 'Becalmed'
COMPOSER: Robin Beanland
Robin Beanland writes multiple sea-shanty inspired songs, all sounding like authentic sea-shanties. One of these is 'Becalmed' which evokes both adventure and heartbreak. There's a version with lyrics, however the 4-piece version is enough to make your eyes water from the sea air - for sure it's from the sea air.
BONUS: ‘Who Shall Not Be Returning’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPL_pIVMgE
A phenomenally performed piece. Also an in-game shanty but the version with lyrics exceeds at full billow.
GAME: Disco Elysium
TRACK: Red Rock Riviera
COMPOSER: Sea Power
This is the album version of a track that plays throughout the game.The band Sea Power (previously British Sea Power) provides the soundtrack to Disco Elysium and some tracks are taken from their albums, some modified slightly. I went in blind with the game and was quite blown away by everything about it - and the music only enhances the whole gloomy experience. I’ve seen them live a few times over the years and they’re always amazing. They used to have someone dancing through the crowd in a bear costume at their concerts - that’s all you need to know, really. Give them a listen.
Buy the Disco Elysium soundtrack here: https://seapower.bandcamp.com/album/disco-elysium
BONUS: ‘Fire Escape In The Sea’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z7uB9pSR5A
Another album version of a track you hear in Disco Elysium. Great band.
GAME: The Curse Of Monkey Island
TRACK: ‘Blood Island Map’
COMPOSER: Michael Land
This game looks beautiful, hilarious and the music enhances everything by thousands. I love just being in the world with the whole atmosphere of the hand drawn Caribbean.
The instrumentation is some of the best I've heard in a game.
Michael Land’s back for Return To Monkey Island and I’m excited for everything about it.
BONUS: The whole introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43-2jE-9OhA
GAME: Minecraft
TRACK: 'Mice On Venus'
COMPOSERS: C148
Minecraft will likely hold some place in your harddrive (heart). The music, while quite simplistic, always takes me back. Whenever certain tracks start playing when you're looking over a vista of blocky infinity or when the rectangle rain starts to come down I always get procedurally-generated chills down my perfectly-angled spine.
BONUS: 'Minecraft - Volume Beta': https://c418.org/albums/minecraft-volume-beta/
A collection of delicious dark doom-scapes; alternate versions and new compositions. I don't think a lot of these are in the games. Listen to 'Alpha', for a more orchestral version of Mice On Venus which will make you want to parade through the world.
GAME: Bioshock Infinite
TRACK: ‘Welcome To Columbia’
COMPOSERS: Garry Schyman, Jim Bonney
From the opening, as you ascend up to the city in the clouds, the music screeches to a somewhat juxtaposed climax; all but one instrument is heard - a clang-y old time piano. Once you've landed within the church-like building, the song ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ continues with angelic vocals which enhances the feelings even more. It's such an emotional scene which, again, I can't really explain as to why. A testament (no pun intended) to everyone involved in perfecting that scene. Perhaps it's how heavenly the city appears with the promise of a perfect location.
Either way, hallelujah.
BONUS: ‘Tainted Love’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccq__bsQ8Kc
Reimagined versions of popular song appear throughout the game including this - Tainted Love by Soft Cell.
The in-game explanation behind why they exist in the first place is also brilliant.
GAME: The Darkness
TRACK: 'Subway Theme 2'
COMPOSER: Gustaf Grefberg
Walking around a run-town subway station, distant train sounds, weird experiences in the dark... there's a lot of melancholy in this game.
GAME: Assassin's Creed Syndicate
TRACK: 'Too Dreadful A Practice For This Open Air'
COMPOSER: Austin Wintory
An absolutely beautiful piece of music - and it plays every time you climb to the top of Big Ben. The build up while climbing followed by the view across Victorian London is simply astounding.
It's strangely emotional; seeing, hearing and feeling the history and thinking about how things have changed.
Say what you want about the story of Syndicate, but I found the setting and the implementation really good. I found myself standing on top of the train which acts as your 'base' for 10 minutes and just observing the world around me. Unfortunately the last city-based game in the series.
Buy it here: https://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/track/too-dreadful-a-practice-for-this-open-air
BONUS: 'Jokes Jokes Jokes': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQHl4CpMSk
One of the many specially written songs in the style of music from that era. Been singing it to myself now and again over the years.
GAME: Skyrim
TRACK: ‘Secunda’
COMPOSER: Jeremy Soule
www.youtube.com
One which hits the nostalgia gland. Discovering forgotten ruins with glowing night skies and snow gently falling with this music playing was such a lovely experience - every time.
GAME: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
TRACK: ‘Lowlands Away’
COMPOSERS: Seán Dagher, Nils Brown and Michiel Schrey
...yes, another Assassin's Creed track. Yes, another sea-shanty. Yes, the sea air is getting in my eyes again.
All the sea shanties heard while sailing around the world sound authentic and make you want to join in despite how many times your neighbors complain there’s a noisy pirate living next door.
Buy a solo version here: https://seandagher.bandcamp.com/track/leave-her-johnny
FURTHER LISTENING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU3L-Ktighs
BONUS: ‘Lowlands Away’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkq_SsV8u4E
ANOTHER BONUS: ‘Main Theme’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNREuwdJCw0
Sufficiently piratey and makes me want to set sail with Edward once again.
That's it for now! Thanks for reading/listening/weeping. Will update if I come across any others. As I said, feel free to post your favourites here.
'I'm not crying... it's just been raining... on my face...'
- Flight Of The Conchords
GAME: Assassin's Creed 2
TRACK: 'Sanctuary'
COMPOSER: Jesper Kyd
If you’re reading this then it’s likely you thought something from this game would make an appearance. There were a couple tracks I deliberated on but I decided on 'Sanctuary'. This game had such a unique feel to it. Open world games were gaining traction and this one set the standard for a lot of them.
The soundtrack was something else - Jesper Kyd's Hitman soundtracks were all brilliant and then he comes out with this completely fitting new sound. The setting was like nothing seen before and the charming main character was a rarity in such a game.
Everything came together into one to create a gaming experience I've not felt since which is likely why I'm so fond of this soundtrack.
One thing I realised with later games is that the soundtrack only played in certain gameplay situations and not while just wandering around... I may be wrong about this. But the ambience throughout the world of Assassin's Creed II always stood out to me.
I could walk around on the rooftops of Italy and listen to the music for hours - and still sometimes do.
BONUS: ‘Tour Of Venice’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPY5uu4SntI
Another outstanding track. Please see above.
GAME: Far Cry 5
TRACK: Oh John (Reinterpretation) // and all the others
COMPOSER: Hammock
I've picked this one, but the whole album... my lord (no pun intended) does it stir up the emotions. These post-rock 'interpretations' seem to be completely reworked tracks by the band Hammock. The original versions are based on groups singing hymn-like religious songs which are great in their own right.
I really love post rock but I'm quite picky with the genre - all of these tracks hit the tear-producing part of my brain.
They crop up in the game on the loading screens so it's hard to hear them for more than a minute (console depending). They're coupled with relaxing nature scenes from the game world. It works really well, reminding you the location is a beautiful place despite evangelical fanatics trying to kill you.
I'm unsure if the subject matter propels the emotional vibe forward or if they simply just know all the chord progressions that hurt my heart. Bliss.
BONUS: ‘The World Is Gonna End Tonight’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODi7RhlS6pM
A great folk song in its own right. Great soundtrack overall.
GAME: Sea Of Thieves
TRACK: 'Becalmed'
COMPOSER: Robin Beanland
Robin Beanland writes multiple sea-shanty inspired songs, all sounding like authentic sea-shanties. One of these is 'Becalmed' which evokes both adventure and heartbreak. There's a version with lyrics, however the 4-piece version is enough to make your eyes water from the sea air - for sure it's from the sea air.
BONUS: ‘Who Shall Not Be Returning’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPL_pIVMgE
A phenomenally performed piece. Also an in-game shanty but the version with lyrics exceeds at full billow.
GAME: Disco Elysium
TRACK: Red Rock Riviera
COMPOSER: Sea Power
This is the album version of a track that plays throughout the game.The band Sea Power (previously British Sea Power) provides the soundtrack to Disco Elysium and some tracks are taken from their albums, some modified slightly. I went in blind with the game and was quite blown away by everything about it - and the music only enhances the whole gloomy experience. I’ve seen them live a few times over the years and they’re always amazing. They used to have someone dancing through the crowd in a bear costume at their concerts - that’s all you need to know, really. Give them a listen.
Buy the Disco Elysium soundtrack here: https://seapower.bandcamp.com/album/disco-elysium
BONUS: ‘Fire Escape In The Sea’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z7uB9pSR5A
Another album version of a track you hear in Disco Elysium. Great band.
GAME: The Curse Of Monkey Island
TRACK: ‘Blood Island Map’
COMPOSER: Michael Land
This game looks beautiful, hilarious and the music enhances everything by thousands. I love just being in the world with the whole atmosphere of the hand drawn Caribbean.
The instrumentation is some of the best I've heard in a game.
Michael Land’s back for Return To Monkey Island and I’m excited for everything about it.
BONUS: The whole introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43-2jE-9OhA
GAME: Minecraft
TRACK: 'Mice On Venus'
COMPOSERS: C148
Minecraft will likely hold some place in your harddrive (heart). The music, while quite simplistic, always takes me back. Whenever certain tracks start playing when you're looking over a vista of blocky infinity or when the rectangle rain starts to come down I always get procedurally-generated chills down my perfectly-angled spine.
BONUS: 'Minecraft - Volume Beta': https://c418.org/albums/minecraft-volume-beta/
A collection of delicious dark doom-scapes; alternate versions and new compositions. I don't think a lot of these are in the games. Listen to 'Alpha', for a more orchestral version of Mice On Venus which will make you want to parade through the world.
GAME: Bioshock Infinite
TRACK: ‘Welcome To Columbia’
COMPOSERS: Garry Schyman, Jim Bonney
From the opening, as you ascend up to the city in the clouds, the music screeches to a somewhat juxtaposed climax; all but one instrument is heard - a clang-y old time piano. Once you've landed within the church-like building, the song ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ continues with angelic vocals which enhances the feelings even more. It's such an emotional scene which, again, I can't really explain as to why. A testament (no pun intended) to everyone involved in perfecting that scene. Perhaps it's how heavenly the city appears with the promise of a perfect location.
Either way, hallelujah.
BONUS: ‘Tainted Love’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccq__bsQ8Kc
Reimagined versions of popular song appear throughout the game including this - Tainted Love by Soft Cell.
The in-game explanation behind why they exist in the first place is also brilliant.
GAME: The Darkness
TRACK: 'Subway Theme 2'
COMPOSER: Gustaf Grefberg
Walking around a run-town subway station, distant train sounds, weird experiences in the dark... there's a lot of melancholy in this game.
GAME: Assassin's Creed Syndicate
TRACK: 'Too Dreadful A Practice For This Open Air'
COMPOSER: Austin Wintory
An absolutely beautiful piece of music - and it plays every time you climb to the top of Big Ben. The build up while climbing followed by the view across Victorian London is simply astounding.
It's strangely emotional; seeing, hearing and feeling the history and thinking about how things have changed.
Say what you want about the story of Syndicate, but I found the setting and the implementation really good. I found myself standing on top of the train which acts as your 'base' for 10 minutes and just observing the world around me. Unfortunately the last city-based game in the series.
Buy it here: https://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/track/too-dreadful-a-practice-for-this-open-air
BONUS: 'Jokes Jokes Jokes': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQHl4CpMSk
One of the many specially written songs in the style of music from that era. Been singing it to myself now and again over the years.
GAME: Skyrim
TRACK: ‘Secunda’
COMPOSER: Jeremy Soule
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com
GAME: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
TRACK: ‘Lowlands Away’
COMPOSERS: Seán Dagher, Nils Brown and Michiel Schrey
...yes, another Assassin's Creed track. Yes, another sea-shanty. Yes, the sea air is getting in my eyes again.
All the sea shanties heard while sailing around the world sound authentic and make you want to join in despite how many times your neighbors complain there’s a noisy pirate living next door.
Buy a solo version here: https://seandagher.bandcamp.com/track/leave-her-johnny
FURTHER LISTENING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU3L-Ktighs
BONUS: ‘Lowlands Away’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkq_SsV8u4E
ANOTHER BONUS: ‘Main Theme’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNREuwdJCw0
Sufficiently piratey and makes me want to set sail with Edward once again.
That's it for now! Thanks for reading/listening/weeping. Will update if I come across any others. As I said, feel free to post your favourites here.
