Even though we haven’t been able to celebrate world music day this year thanks to the pandemic, there’s no need for a festival to appreciate music - we can do it from the confines of our homes! From blood pumping metal, to chill ambient tunes and catchy pop tunes, music is often the most overlooked aspect of a video game (unless it is music-focused). Since there are so many different games out there and not enough time to listen to all of them, we decided to round up some of our favourite video game soundtracks for you to check out and hopefully enjoy!
Lifeformed - Cider Time, 9-Bit Expedition
Fun fact - I fell in love with the game before I played it for the first time thanks to its soundtrack. When I discovered the soundtrack, I had not been exposed to similar music before and it opened my ears to a whole new world of chill, electronic music. In turn, it led me down the path of enjoying indie games. If it wasn’t for the Dustforce OST, I wouldn’t be this deep into the hobby.
M|O|O|N - Hydrogen, Magic Sword - The Way Home, Vestron Vulture - New Wave Hookers, Mitch Murder - Hollywood Heights
It’s hard to pick a favourite track from here (they are all so good), but Hotline Miami is how I got into synthwave and the outrun genre. Young me would have not been able to appreciate such synth-heavy music, but because it perfectly complemented the fast and frantic gameplay of Hotline Miami (you die and repeat the same stages, over and over again), they were burnt into my head and I felt myself playing according to the rhythm of the songs.
Toby Fox - Once Upon a Time, MEGALOVIA
My jaw dropped when I learnt that this game was almost completely made by one person (Toby Fox) and all the music was composed by him. Probably one of the most-loved indie games of all time, Undertale’s soundtrack is simply amazing. From the harmonious overture (Once Upon a Time) to the adrenaline-inducing Sans fight music (MEGALOVIA) - Undertale’s soundtrack is perfect for the kind of game it is. Seeing how the game’s music has been used, remixed and covered by the countless number of people till today is a testament to its brilliance. In fact, some of you might have even heard its music before without knowing the game!
Christopher Tin featuring Ron Ragin and Stanford Talisman - Baba Yetu
I enjoy this because the composition is beautiful, "epic" in an uplifting manner. Combined with the choir in Swahili, the song evokes a sense that the world is larger, more mysterious and more beautiful than it seems. (Fun fact: "Baba Yetu", was the first piece of video game music to win a Grammy Award.)
2WEI and Edda Hayes - Warriors
I like how 2WEI slowed down the tempo compared to Imagine Dragon's original, giving it a contemplative and sombre feel without losing it's bite and fight. Edda Hayes' ethereal-like voice gives the song a slightly eerie and otherworldly vibe. The music video is also well animated!
Shoji Meguro, Rike Schmalz and Lyn Inaizumi - Beneath The Mask
This is the coolest, most relaxing song I've ever heard in a video game - it's the perfect song to listen to while drinking hot tea, sitting next to the window as rain pours on a cold night. I never realised how suave video games could be until Persona 5, and their acid jazz soundtrack fully encapsulates the tone of P5.
Nobuo Uematsu - Liberi Fatali
This was the first video game song I heard when I first played the original PlayStation, and what a fantastic introduction it was! The eerie choir opening, followed by sweeping orchestral sounds that jumped between intense and wondrous emotions are truly breathtaking. The overall FF8 soundtrack is just sublime - Nobuo Uematsu (regular Final Fantasy composer) rarely disappoints.
I’ll Keep Coming - Low Roar
One of the weirdest songs used in video game trailers, which makes it perfect for the then-mysterious Death Stranding. The opening may not be everyone’s cup of tea (it can be a bit unnerving), but it’s impossible not to nod (tongue twister) your head to the music when it builds up to its crescendo. Special mentions to Easy Way Out and Silent Poets’ Asylums For The Feeling (also Death Stranding songs) as my favourites too.
Mick Gordon - Rip & Tear
I don’t have any specific favourites for Doom (2016), but oh my, does its heavy metal soundtrack really get me in the mood to bash many demons’ heads. Only a few would be able to enjoy it just by listening to the soundtrack, but once you start playing Doom, you’ll welcome the crazy violence in your ears whilst engaging in gory carnage, thanks to Mick Gordon (Doom composer).
Saki, Riona, Kiryu - Like A Butterfly
Yakuza is one of the few games that makes me wanna listen to the soundtrack. I must say, I absolutely adore it. I'm in love with that kind of hard-rock-metal-electro music, so this track is one of my favourite songs that get me going when it comes to fighting bad guys and breaking items in the Yakuza games.
m.o.v.e - Rage your dream
Initial D's OST does its job well, but it heightens the experience in a much deeper way. It transports the viewer back to an era that no longer exists. The import tuner craze, street racing, JDM; this era of the 90's really isn't around anymore.
These are just some of the video game songs that we enjoy listening to - let us know if you enjoyed our recommendations and if there are any other soundtracks to check out. Stay tuned to eGG Network for more gaming content!
Who knew video games could serve as vessels for life teachings? I mean, I personally did, but I'm sure many would be surprised by the depth that some games possess. And just like our own fathers, some life lessons can be taught by various paternal figures in video games too. After all, they've lived through some pretty fantastical struggles, so I'm pretty sure they have their fair share of wisdom to impart.
Here are some of the wisest video game Dad life lessons that we think could inspire you:
Who could forget this line that so clearly illustrates the hardened Greek god Daddy? Kratos' tough love towards his only son Atreus may be intimidating at times, but it's hard to refute his lesson: there's no point wallowing in guilt when you've made a mistake. You can't change the past, but what you have control over, is learning from your wrongdoings to "be better".
The former cowboy outlaw is the imperfect father and husband - he initially escaped his responsibilities, afraid to repent for his errors, and had no clue how to connect with his son. Despite John's mistakes, his wife Abigail gave him a chance to prove himself, and he turned everything around to earn her forgiveness. In the end, he became an exemplary family man that did everything he could to keep his family safe
You don't need to live in a post-apocalyptic world like Joel to know that it's not enough just making sure we stay alive; we should take full advantage of the life we've been given and live it to the fullest. It doesn't necessarily have to be as deep as "finding our purpose in life" (which can be tough), it can be as simple as taking part in activities that fulfil our soul, or even contributing to mankind in our own small ways. Whatever we do, just know that life is more than what we're taught.
The aforementioned famous explorer is none other than Lara's missing father, Richard Croft. Though he was largely absent from her life, his words set a precedent for Lara to live up to. From surviving horrendous injuries and fending for herself on the deserted island, Lara's efforts to persevere transformed the timid, unsure woman into the confident tomb raider we all know and admire. To cite another quote from Batman Begins, "It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you."
It's easy to forget what we're working towards when we're so invested in fixing everything that's happening in the moment. We've always been taught to either work for the future or live in the present, but like everything else, there needs to be a balance. It's essential for us to focus in the current time so that we don't miss out on life, but it's also important to think ahead, be prepared for what's coming, and do what we can to ensure our future is bright.
It's been a tough time for everyone in the past year or so, though things are finally looking up with vaccines rolling in to vanquish the disease. We have much to be thankful for, especially our mothers for holding the fort and keeping the family together. So, it’s high time we celebrate how awesome they are by remembering all the great video game Moms that inspired us.
Even one of the most powerful sorceresses in The Witcher universe would have her own limits, including - in this context - being unable to conceive, like any other sorceress and Witcher. It's unfortunate that Yennefer of Vengerberg also had a desire to bear a child, but fate brought her and Ciri together through their destiny with Geralt of Rivia. Though the pair got off to a rocky start, they quickly developed a mother-daughter relationship as Yennefer trained Ciri in the ways of magic, even helping the Lion Cub of Cintra deal with her trauma.
In between cryogenic sleep, Nora witnessed the murder of her husband and the kidnapping of her infant son Shaun at the hands of mercenaries. Despite being an attorney during the pre-War era, she ventured out into the harsh world of post-apocalyptic Boston to rescue her son, battling mutants, bandits, hostile Synth and the like to achieve her maternal goal. And maybe help a few settlements along the way, build a Power Armor, hoard loot, grow her base - you know the drill.
It's easy to overlook fan favourite Chloe Price's shortcomings when you're in Max's shoes. Which is why her mother, Joyce Price, is the MVP for taking the brunt of her anger and sadness. After experiencing the loss of their husband/father, Joyce stayed strong and emotionally supported her daughter the best she could, while working as an incredible waitress at the Two Whales Diner. Though she found new love in Blackwell's security guard David Madsen, Joyce has to be the one to balance the antagonistic relationship between Chloe and her new husband. We salute you, Joyce!
The creator of Little Sisters had a change of heart when she discovered that despite being mentally conditioned, her creations remain young girls at heart. Filled with guilt, Dr. Brigid Tenenbaum became driven to save the Little Sisters she created so that they can live the lives they deserve. Even though she left Rapture by the end of BioShock, after presumably rescuing all of the girls, she still returned to the doomed underwater city when she found out there were more left behind.
This motherly loving creature took in Ori without question when she found the guardian spirit lost in the forest, raising them as if they were her own child. When their home started decaying and no food could be gathered, Naru gave the last of her fruit to Ori so that they would survive, while she herself died of starvation. Right in the feels. (dabs tissue onto watering eyes)
The Caretaker of the Ruins takes good care of not only Undertale’s child protagonist, but also every human who has fallen into the Underground. She gives them cell phones so she can check in on them frequently, loves bad jokes and puns, and enjoys cooking and baking - butterscotch-cinnamon pie and snail pie are her favourites. When the main character finally leaves Ruins, she even gives them a parting hug, as long as they play nice in-game.
Mom knows how much her son (your character) is addicted to his Nintendo DS, which is why she came up with complex methods to restrain him from gaming too much, such as keeping it in an alligator's mouth, on top of a giraffe, inside a watermelon, just to name a few. No matter how many times her son bested her plans, she tirelessly thinks of new over-the-top ways to help with her son's addiction. In the end, he finally learns his limits and returns to his family, waiting for him with open arms. Great job, Mom! Albeit a little dangerous, no?
At the age of 11 (Season 2), Clementine adopts infant Alvin Jr. (AJ) after his mother Rebecca and foster father Kenny are killed. Since then, they’ve lived with interchanging groups of survivors, overcame impossible odds, and through it all, they constantly saved each other when no one else would. Clementine taught him every lesson she learned from her last guardian Lee Everett (Season 1) so that he could fend for himself. Their deep bond is even more prevalent when the five-year-old says "I love you, Clem”, and how scared Clementine was when she lost him.
Persona 5 is one of the most revered RPGs of our time. After all, it had a gorgeous art style, head-bopping music, oomph-inducing gameplay in both combat and social sim, and a deep story about free will and human suffering, raising the standards for RPGs worldwide (I did not play 100 hours of it for nothing!).
The bad news? Its latest spin-off, Persona 5 Strikers, is now burdened with the daunting task of reaching the same heights as its main game, which might be a little unfair. Nevertheless, it seemed almost inevitable that the RPG-turned-hack and slash wouldn't live up to the level of Persona 5, though I still commend it for not refrying the same beans and is a worthy expansion on its plot.
Here's what I thought about Persona 5 Strikers:
Like other previous Persona spin-offs, in lieu of its signature deep social simulation gameplay and turn-based combat, Persona 5 Strikers opts for mostly real-time hack and slash, more emphasis on its main quest that takes players on a road trip across Japan, and much simpler social sim elements. Even so, Strikers didn't entirely divert from the original formula, with the return of Persona skills a nd management (both obtaining and fusing, but players can now level them up manually using Persona Points), Requests (basically side quests), and a brand new story that cements Persona 5 Strikers as more of a sequel.
Fans are hard-pressed to know whether these big change are good for the soul, and personally, they sacrificed a lot of what made Persona 5 so great.
To put it simply, Strikers' combat is a mess. Despite being a fan of the old Dynasty Warriors games (which Koei Tecmo worked on, as well as Strikers), Strikers didn't execute its frenetic battle system as well as the semi-historical series.
When the Phantom Thieves are going up against hordes of enemies (which is most of the time), it's hard to tell what exactly Joker and his teammates are doing in the heat of battle. I was button mashing half of the time and hoping for the best; and the other half executing combos that I vaguely remember, and pulling up the Persona skills menu - which pauses the game and reveals enemy weaknesses - to decimate opponents with the right magic or buffs/debuffs. Battles with fewer enemies may be less confusing, but to filter through never-ending in-battle dialogue, battle hints, and your teammates' actions, it still requires extra unnecessary focus to comprehend what's happening on the screen.
On the bright side, it was still satisfying to pull off All-Out Attacks, explosive Showtime ((an ultimate skill that deals powerful damage), 1 More combos, and exploiting enemy weaknesses, which reward players with visual treats that Persona 5 is known for. (Spider-Verse goosebumps)
What made Persona 5 so great was its wealth of quality side stories - mainly the relationships you develop with several characters through the Confidant feature - and activities that immerse you deeper into its universe. Which is why it's a huge shame that Persona 5 Strikers omitted those almost entirely.
In its place is the BOND system with your fellow Thieves, which is a much simpler Confidant that levels up via combat, optional conversations with your buddies, and your main story progression. Though the BOND system grants you perks, the benefits are pretty mundane, including increased damage, more chance for certain buffs, unlock difficult treasures etc.
Requests appear once more in Strikers, and similar to its purpose as side quests in Persona 5, they give a little more story and some rewards for completing them. Even so, they add little to the overall experience.
Initially, the new Recipes feature introduced in Strikers, where Joker can cook delicious-sounding meals by collecting food recipes in every city, seemed like a welcome addition to the game. But, it ended up just restoring your health and Stamina Points (SP), granting temporary combat perks, and increasing your BOND. It would've been more intriguing if finding and cooking food resulted in more unusual rewards and story.
If Persona 5 Strikers kept its social sim aspect intact, then I would've been able to forgive its lackluster combat.
Fortunately, it's not all dirt and grime for Persona 5 Strikers - the PlayStation exclusive still has plenty of bright sides that are worthy of pointing out.
Persona 5 Strikers' biggest strength lies in its storyline. After the destruction of Mementos and Palaces, the Phantom Thieves are now tasked with freeing people's captured Desires in Jails, by defeating the greedy Monarchs' - much like the Shadow rulers of Persona 5's Palaces - that feed upon said Desires to have power and influence over the real world. But, this time, it's not all black and white - the Monarchs are born from the traumas they endured in the past. The only way that the Phantom Thieves can accomplish their mission, is to understand what caused them to be this way and change them for good.
It's a more human story that we can relate to, told in dramatic anime fashion. Even if it can be a bit tedious going through drawls of dialogue and cut scenes, the pay off is worth it.
Finally, the art style and music of Persona 5 Strikers - of course, they're perfect! It may be awesome hearing old favourites like Last Surprise (battle theme) and Beneath The Mask (mellow as heck) again, but new songs like What You Wish For and Daredevil are fantastic additions to the overall soundtrack, not to mention that other instrumental songs flawlessly complement the bulk of the game. I only wish that they played the new vocal songs more often, and toned down on the old ones.
And, who knew a video game menu could exude so much style and confidence the way Persona 5 Strikers do? If a mundane part of a video game could be singled out for praised, then you can expect the rest of the medium to be similarly well done.
Persona 5 Strikers is a mixed bag that I would both recommend and advise against, depending on what you're looking for. If you're a newcomer or looking to enjoy more of Persona 5's greatness, it would be a good idea to sit this one out and play Persona 5 Royal. On the other hand, if you just want to gobble up more Persona 5 story and don't mind its combat, then Persona 5 Strikers is a strong yes, courtesy of its equally engaging story that remains true to its predecessor.
No matter how I feel about Persona 5 Strikers, I still respect the game for not rehashing the same old elements, and for staying faithful to Persona 5 in the thematic sense.
Persona 5 Strikers is available now on PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Out of nowhere, Ghost of Tsushima developer, Sucker Punch, surprises everyone by announcing a new online multiplayer co-op mode for the gorgeous samurai game, weeks after they introduced Lethal difficulty and other new features. What's more, it's free for any Ghost owners!
Set to be released later this year, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is a free downloadable content (DLC) that will be an entirely new mode and experience different from the main game, with an emphasis on co-op gameplay. Instead of Jin, Legends will follow four legendary warriors to explore a "haunting and fantastical" world inspired by Japanese folklore and myths, battling otherworldly entities and such.
After picking one of four distinctive character classes (Samurai, Hunter, Ronin and Assassin), you can team up with friends or opt for online matchmaking to embark in groups of two to four players. There are three separate segments in Legends:
More details on Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will be revealed in the coming weeks. So, stay tuned to eGG Network on Facebook and Twitter for more updates!
The latest episode of CD Projekt Red's Night City Wire was nothing short of informative, a treat for fans who are ever so hungry to know more about what to expect from Cyberpunk 2077.
This time, the second chapter of the Night City Wire live stream - which was broadcast last night - focused on three aspects of the sci-fi game: Lifepaths, weapons and the music behind Johnny Silverhand's band, Samurai.
Everyone already knew that lifepaths would determine the background of V, but CD Projekt Red revealed that not only will the starting point and "advantages" each lifepath offers will differ, but it'll also affect V's entire playthrough as either a Nomad, Street Kid or Corpo. If there's enough difference between each lifepaths, it would make replayability a lot easier for anyone who wants to experience every lifepath Cyberpunk 2077 has.
We also got to see the band behind Samurai, which is Swedish punk band, Refused. They shared their unusual experience of creating music as another band that's not their own, a sort of role-play as the chrome rock band and its rebellious frontman.
Saving the best for last, weapons. Although we do get glimpses of melee weapons (especially the cool-as-heck thermal katana), armour and cybernetic upgrades, this segment turned its attention solely to guns. There are three types of firearms, which are power weapons, tech weapons and smart weapons, as well as a rarity system that range from Common to Legendary. And the more popular and skilled V gets as a cyberpunk, the better he/she will handle their weapons, like faster reload or aiming speed.
For more information on the above, you can check out Night City Wire Episode 2 below:
© 2022 MEASAT BROADCAST NETWORK SYSTEMS SDN BHD & ROCKETFUEL ENTERTAINMENT SDN BHD. All Rights Reserved
