ost
Latest
Classic action game 'Another World' is headed to your turntable
If you've played Éric Chahi's classic action-adventure Another World (aka Out of this World), there's a good chance you remember the soundtrack. Large chunks of the game were punctuated by silence, but you knew something special was happening whenever Jean-François Freitas' ethereal, Vangelis-like score began to play. Now, you can relive those moments on your turntable. Black Screen Records is releasing a vinyl (plus a CD, we'd add) version of the soundtrack, making it available for the first time beyond the deluxe editions of the game's 20th anniversary release.
Of course the 'Stranger Things' soundtrack is coming to cassette
Just when you thought Netflix's sci-fi horror series Stranger Things couldn't get any more retro, a new version of the original soundtrack is due to be released on cassette. To celebrate its one year anniversary, Lakeshore Records announced that both volumes of the Season One soundtrack will be available on red cassettes, which come inside cases that look like mini VHS tapes.
The 'Final Fantasy XV' soundtrack was a decade in the making
What were you doing 10 years ago? Try to think back. Maybe you had a different job or lived in another apartment. I was still a college student, waiting tables at a pub in my spare time. It feels like a lifetime ago. Now, consider this: Back then, Japanese composer Yoko Shimomura had just been asked to work on Final Fantasy XV. She wrote the first track in 2006, while it was still called Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Ever since, she's been waiting. Waiting and working through 10 years of tumultuous development, for the moment that fans could hear her work as it was intended -- as part of the full game.
'Rapture' game soundtrack pulled from out-of-touch UK charts
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is a post-apocalyptic game with a difference. Instead of a nuclear wasteland, you're tasked with exploring an idyllic, but empty town in the middle of the English countryside. There's little dialogue, but the sweeping soundtrack sets a wonderfully melancholic tone. Composed by the game's director Jessica Curry, these original tracks are excellent examples of modern classical music. And clearly they've resonated with people -- earlier this month, the soundtrack placed eighth in the UK's "Official Classical Artist Albums Chart." Curry and the rest of her studio, The Chinese Room, were delighted. That is, until it disappeared from the chart the following week.
'Shenmue' and 'Streets of Rage' tunes are headed to vinyl
When it comes to classic Sega games, they don't get much bigger (or better) than Shenmue and Streets of Rage. They were released more than eight years apart and on completely different consoles, but they share an important trait: incredible sound. Now, as Polygon reports, a London-based record label called Data Discs is planning to release both soundtracks on vinyl later this year. They'll be priced at £19.99 (roughly $31) and pressed on 180 gram vinyl, complete with lithographic artwork prints. The company is also working with Streets of Rage composer Yuzo Koshiro to remaster the tunes from the side-scrolling beat 'em up, ensuring fans get the best experience possible on their turntables. Pre-orders start on May 30th and there are "exclusive editions" for those who spend their cash early, however the first wave of records isn't expected to leave the warehouse until September.
Splice slices its way to PS3, PS4 on January 20
Splice, the gene-slicing game with a gorgeous piano soundtrack, is due out on PS3 and PS4 for $15 as a Cross-Buy game on January 20. PlayStation Plus members will get a 20 percent discount during its first two weeks on PSN. Splice comes from music-loving indie studio Cipher Prime and has players piecing together cellular strands in a moody, floaty environment. "We've been working for months to bring you a truly amazing experience for Playstation," Cipher Prime Creative Director William Stallwood writes on the PlayStation Blog. "It's been a childhood dream of ours for such a long time to release a game on a console, and Splice will be our very first. We couldn't be more excited to share with you our award-winning puzzler." To celebrate the console launch, Cipher Prime is offering the Splice original soundtrack, Flight of the Angels, for free this week. It's seven songs of haunting, emotive, original piano work; grab it on Bandcamp. Also, get the sheet music for Splice's songs in the links here, for $5. [Image: Cipher Prime]
Hear a new song from Hotline Miami 2's soundtrack
Dennaton Games' Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number has quite the name to live up to; the developer's original 2012 twin stick shooter of the same name is well-regarded for its musical tastes alone. While we've spun Hotline Miami's soundtrack on Steam many times, electronic music artist Magic Sword recently provided a new jam to listen to called "The Way Home," and it happens to be part of Hotline Miami 2's soundtrack. Head past the break to hear the song, courtesy of Magic Sword's SoundCloud page. Magic Sword told The Guardian that the musical duo was "excited to get involved with the sequel" by providing music for the game. "Hotline Miami has a lot in common with 80s movies like Thief and Blade Runner," the group said. "Movies like that and their synth-heavy soundtracks have always been big inspirations for us." Those that really dig the series' tunes can pick up a special collector's edition of Hotline Miami 2 that includes the games's soundtrack on vinyl, featuring music from artists such as El Huervo and Jasper Byrne. Following its October delay, Hotline Miami 2 is expected to launch early this year. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Listen to Shroud of the Avatar's player-created soundtrack
The fact that approximately 90% of the soundtrack for Shroud of the Avatar will be player-created may have escaped your attention, but the devs have not forgotten. In fact, in this past week's newsletter, several of the successful submissions were featured, including the track called Truth. The team is getting ready to unleash another grand tour quest and has announced that the reward for completing this journey will be a seasonal yule hat. Another addition planned for the upcoming Release 13 is the ability to light weapons on fire via magic. Why have magic if you're not making the world burn, right?
SteamWorld Heist taps Steam Powered Giraffe for OST
Some things are just meant to be together. Image and Form, the developer of steampunk platformer SteamWorld Heist, has partnered with the band Steam Powered Giraffe for the game's original soundtrack. Steam Powered Giraffe is a San Diego band, and its three members perform as steampunky, singing automatons, robotic motions and all. The SteamWorld Heist trailer featuring Steam Powered Giraffe's music is a testament to just how beautiful this union could be. At first, the deal was for Steam Powered Giraffe to compose a bonus song for the SteamWorld Dig soundtrack included in that game's Collector's Edition, Image and Form CEO Brjann Sigurgeirsson says in a blog post: "Being [Steamworld] Dig fans, they promptly agreed. When James told me I nearly exploded with excitement, and in June we met at E3 and sealed the deal on the entire SteamWorld Heist soundtrack." SteamWorld Heist is due out in spring 2015 for 3DS and other unannounced platforms. [Image: Image and Form]
Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack hits play on November 11
In a move that replicates Halo 2's soundtrack-supplemented launch in 2004, Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack will launch on November 11, right beside Halo 2: Anniversary's arrival in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The album will be offered in CD, vinyl and digital formats, with the latter format already up for a $14.99 pre-order on iTunes. Anniversary Original Soundtrack isn't a copy-paste of the original album's track list – Xbox Wire notes that 343 Industries' Senior Audio Director Paul Lipson teamed up with Lennie Moore, Tom Salta, Brian Trifton, Brian Lee White and Skywalker Sound to "adapt and re-record the iconic Halo 2 score created by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori." While there's no mention of Hoobastank making an encore appearance (probably you, just now) on Anniversary Original Soundtrack, new tracks from Steve Vai and Periphery's Misha Mansoor will also be included. Both the soundtrack and remake were preceded by the debut of Remaking the Legend - Halo 2: Anniversary, a documentary following Halo 2: Anniversary's creation, but Remaking the Legend will still be available on the Halo Channel on November 11. You know, just in case you wanted to surround yourself with three types of Halo 2-related media. [Image: Microsoft]
Rock out with Grand Theft Auto 5's OST on vinyl, CD this holiday
Grand Theft Auto 5 is kicking it old-school with limited edition soundtrack bundles in CD and vinyl formats, available online and at retail starting December 9. The soundtrack collections are limited to a production run of fewer than 5,000 units worldwide. There's no word on price just yet. The CD collection includes three discs, a USB drive branded with the GTA5 lettering and in the form of a gold brick, artwork, and a poster. The vinyl set comprises six colorful records, a full-color booklet and an exclusive lithograph poster. The collections include 59 tracks, "with original music from A$AP Rocky, Tyler, The Creator, Twin Shadow, Wavves, Flying Lotus, Yeasayer and more. In addition, these limited editions will feature the original score composed by Tangerine Dream, Woody Jackson, The Alchemist + Oh No, mixed by DJ Shadow," Rockstar says. Rockstar recently reminded hopeful Xbox One, PS4 and PC GTA5 players that there is no beta on those systems – if you see an invite for one, run far, far away. GTA5 is due out for next-gen systems on November 18 and for PC in 2015.
Scientists want to fight the Ebola outbreak using robots
Outbreaks of lethal viruses like Ebola are bad enough by themselves, but they're made worse by having to send in aid workers -- these people can quickly become victims, no matter how careful they are. To eliminate that risk, both the White House and a trio of educational institutions are holding workshops on November 7th where scientists will discuss using robots to tackle the current Ebola crisis. The goal is to minimize physical contact whenever possible while keeping patients and families in touch. At a basic level, they'd like machines to disinfect areas and deliver supplies. Telepresence robots, meanwhile, could both let people visit patients without putting themselves in danger.
Bandcamp houses complete Banjo-Kazooie soundtrack
There's probably no amount of reminiscing that can return the Banjo-Kazooie series back to its 3D platforming glory at this point, but at least now you can give kudos to the man behind the series' musical beginnings. Grant Kirkhope, composer of Banjo-Kazooie's soundtrack and longtime contributor to Rare's portfolio, is offering the sounds that backed the bird and bear's debut to those willing to name their own price. The exhaustive 164-file collection includes tracks, sound bites and a few unused beta tracks, all of which take us right back to searching for notes, Jiggles and Jinjos in the 1998 platformer. As a general Bandcamp reminder, you can take a thorough dose of nostalgia in MP3, FLAC or other formats, and those that pay will earn unlimited streaming through the Bandcamp app. If sampling the tracks has made you miss exploring themed worlds and Kazooie's general disdain for every other character, ports of both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie are still on Xbox Live Arcade for $14.99 each. We imagine those ports will retain their usefulness to collectathon fans in the coming years, considering the cancelation of the series' spiritual successor. [Image: Microsoft]
Listen to Supergiant's extended Transistor soundtrack here
If you were enchanted by the music featured in Supergiant's Bastion follow-up Transistor, you'll definitely want to check out an extended soundtrack released this week from composer Darren Korb. A digital version of Transistor's soundtrack is available via Supergiant's store for $9.99, and a CD version will set you back $14.99. Korb's tracks are also available from Steam and the PlayStation Store. To mark the soundtrack's launch, Supergiant is running a sale on the PC Transistor this weekend. Through August 4, you can pick up a Steam copy of Transistor for only $13.39. [Video: Darren Korb / Supergiant]
Listen to Guild Wars 2 Season 2's soundtrack now
Were you intrigued -- tantalized, perhaps -- with the recent talk on Guild Wars 2's new orchestra-recorded soundtrack for the second season of the living world? Well now you can listen to a chunk of it, thanks to the studio and SoundCloud. The team has posted six new tracks for the first episode of season two, including "The Fall of the Zephyrites" and "The Arid Sands." Check out ArenaNet's SoundCloud page to listen through them and let us know what you think!
Composer Jeremy Soule reiterates EverQuest Next exclusivity [Updated]
Composer Jeremy Soule won't be going back to Tyria, as he reminded fans today that he has signed a contract to exclusively create MMO music for EverQuest Next and EverQuest Next Landmark. On his Facebook page, Soule responded to a fan's query about his future projects: "No, I won't be returning to Guild Wars. EverQuest has an exclusive with me for the future projects that involve MMOs. [Guild Wars] was a good experience over many years. As with all good things, it had to come to an end." Soule was the main composer for Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2. He has also contributed to The Elder Scrolls Online main theme but will not be doing any other music for that title. [Thanks to Bogotter for the tip!] [Update 3/12/2014: Soule's agent has contacted us to clarify that his exclusivity to the EverQuest games is lime-limited and is unrelated to his abbreviated work on ESO. We may yet see him return to the Elder Scrolls franchise in the future!]
Report: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon soundtrack LP for Record Store Day
Heading out to your local music shop on April 19 for Record Store Day to get some fresh, block rockin' beats? Keep in mind that the soundtrack to last year's radically insane Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon might be among your options of choice jams to throw down during your next spin session. Or ... you know, available as a LP for you to casually enjoy around your house. Wax Poetic's collective list of rumored RSD inventory states that Invada Records will be distributing the soundtrack during the annual event. A tweet from Invada's UK Twitter account earlier today states that it will announce details of its RSD releases in the coming week through its newsletter and social channels. [Thanks, Shawn!] [Image: Ubisoft/Wikipedia Commons]
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire music collection now on iTunes
Need help reminiscing over your time in Pokemon Ruby /Sapphire's Hoenn region? If your old cartridge is lost or in storage, you could always turn to Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Super Music Collection. The 109-track collection can't be hunted in tangled grass or gloomy caves, but it can be captured on iTunes with $9.99! Uh ... just pretend it's the Safari Zone, and you're throwing loose change instead of rocks. If you're keeping track, Super Music Collections for Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen, Pokemon X/Y and Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver were released over the past several months. This leaves soundtracks for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Pokemon Black/White and Pokemon Black2/White2 off iTunes, all of which are noted as upcoming releases in the Ruby/Sapphire press release. Of course, with Nintendo planning to add GBA games to the Wii U Virtual Console in April and DS games in the works, you could always wait to see if every main Pokemon entry shows up there instead. Other than the 3DS' Pokemon X/Y, of course. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Pokemon HeartGold, SoulSilver soundtracks now on iTunes
Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver, the 2010 DS remakes of the Game Boy games that added the train-as-you-move Pokewalker device, can now be relived sonically. The 270-song Pokemon HeartGold & Pokemon SoulSilver: Super Music Collection soundtrack is available for $9.99 on iTunes. Good thing you don't have to capture those tracks individually! The new release follows the availability of soundtracks for Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen and Pokemon X/Y earlier this year. If you're still holding out for jams from other Pokeregions, remember that we can expect to see soundtracks for the following duos in 2014: Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Pokemon Black/White and Pokemon Black 2/White 2. If you don't already own HeartGold/SoulSilver but still want to kick up those childhood memories, this is a decent alternative from paying the steadily-increasing entry price for new copies of either game.
Pokemon FireRed, LeafGreen soundtracks on iTunes, rest to come next year
Nintendo has released its Pokemon FireRed & Pokemon LeafGreen: Super Music Collection soundtrack via iTunes, letting Pokemon fans nationwide listen to iconic series tunes without having to lug around a Game Boy Advance. The full album, priced at $11.99, includes a total of 90 tracks from the 2004 Game Boy Advance remakes of Nintendo's first-generation Pokemon games. The tracks are also available individually, so if you really want to pay 99 cents for the 11-second-long Game Freak logo jingle, you can do just that. The release follows up on the recent iTunes debut of Nintendo's Pokemon X and Y soundtrack. The series will continue in 2014 with upcoming soundtrack releases for Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver, Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Pokemon Black/White, and Pokemon Black 2/White 2. If you need more Pokemon-themed music right now, we'd like to suggest the landmark album Pokemon: 2 B A Master, featuring classic tracks like "What Kind of Pokemon Are You?" and the unforgettable ballad "The Time Has Come (Pikachu's Goodbye)."
