An ode to good music in OK games
Why Nier: Automata has one of the best soundtracks ever
As a proud member of the Having to Listen to Just the Right Music When I Work Club, soundtracks are my ally – but video game soundtracks are my best friend. And sometimes a game soundtrack hits so hard on its own that it makes me ask the ultimate question: If I'm here for the music… do I need to play the game?
There are quintessential examples of video game music backing up games of all time. "Simple and Clean," for Kingdom Hearts. "One Winged Angel", for Final Fantasy 7. Intermission music from GoldenEye on N64. Main themes of the Halo, Zelda, Mario, Chrono Trigger or Castlevania series. The entire soundtrack for games like Shadow of the Colossus, Journey or Donkey Kong Country.
But not all great video game soundtracks are lucky enough to be associated with games of all time. I've found that sometimes a really good soundtrack or theme music goes with a game that, for one reason or another, no one I know would recommend. Sometimes a game that's just OK has a soundtrack that beggars belief.
