I really like game soundtracks, but I’m also incredibly picky about which ones I like. As far back as Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill on PSone, I was already importing soundtracks.
Most games have what I would call workable soundtracks. They get by, convey the correct feeling, but are rarely memorable.
This year, two soundtracks have stuck with me – one movie and one game. The movie Drive’s soundtrack had a sort of ethereal ‘80s feel, augmented by the pink cursive text in the credits and the driver’s awesome jacket. The soundtrack completed the picture.
The same goes for Bastion, easily my favorite game soundtrack in years. While I wouldn’t call myself a country fan per se, I find myself drawn to the elements of country-esque music that conjure images of the Old West. One of my favorite bands is Calexico, and the Red Dead Redemption soundtrack is still in regular rotation on my list even today.
Bastion takes that old west feel and twists it to fit into a fantasy setting. Supergiant calls the music “Frontier Triphop.” The visual that conjures in my head matches Bastion’s setting and style perfectly. Everything has more twang to it than you’d expect. The music often sounds like it’s filtering through from Who Knows Where, taking on the same dream-like quality as those stages.
Bastion is worth checking out, if anything, just for the music. That it’s a fun game and a gorgeous game on top of that is bonus.
The soundtrack for Bastion can be picked up on Amazon (link above) or on the Supergiant Games’ site where' it’s available in FLAC format for you audio nerds.
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