Music in video games is an integral and important part of our playing experience. Game composers are world class musicians, although their contributions to the industry can be, at times, undervalued compared to other elements.
Visuals, of course, are extremely important in the creation of a particular atmosphere. However, much like films, music can be equally significant in gaming so that developers may invoke certain emotions or define a specific mood.
If a game’s music is well done and catchy, it allows me to become more immersed in the overall experience. Often, I’ll get an urge to play a certain title again because the music continues to resonate in my head, and organizations such as Video Games Live demonstrate that musical scores from games can be cherished just as much as the titles themselves.
So with these points in mind, I’d like to pay tribute to some of my favorite pieces of music from shooters – past and present:
Chemical Warfare Facility – GoldenEye 007 [Nintendo 64]
Mission Briefing – GoldenEye 007 [Nintendo 64]
dataDyne Central, Defection – Perfect Dark [Nintendo 64]
Skedar Ruins, Battle Shrine – Perfect Dark [Nintendo 64]
I’m particularly fond of the melody that begins around the two minute point, and the amount of time taken for this to chime in adds tension to the piece.
The Port of Adia – Turok 2: Seeds of Evil [PC]
Alternatively, listen to the N64 version; it’s a little different.
Hidden Lab – Gears of War [Xbox 360, PC]
Tomb of the Unknowns – Gears of War [Xbox 360, PC]
March of the Horde – Gears of War 2 [Xbox 360]
Even though three entries from the Gears of War series may seem excessive, I found it difficult to narrow my selections down to the above pieces.
In my opinion, the Gears of War games offer some of the most intriguing music found in modern games. The slow, eerie pieces create a dark, foreboding atmosphere, while the battle scores convey a sense of urgency and desperation that suit the conflicts they accompany well.
Menu Theme – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare [Multi-platform]
Wild Card – Call of Duty: World at War [Multi-platform]
I’m also very fond of World at War’s menu theme as well, but I enjoy this number because its nuances suit the Pacific campaign perfectly.
Closing Remarks
You may be wondering why a certain theme from a series starring a seven foot Spartan wasn’t included. While it’s revered by many, I personally prefer the tunes listed above and felt that including it would have been too cliché.
Of course, this list is simply a personal compilation and does not represent the collective opinion of all gamers, though I hope that listening to these pieces was enjoyable for you. As always, feel free to mention some of your favorites that are absent.