6. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Music: Max Payne 2 Main Theme I know I said no cutscenes, and you generally hear this track over the graphic novel component, but that in itself was a key part of the experience of the original Max Payne and its sequel. When the games cut to this unique blend of audio and visual to tell the story backed with Max's monologues and the beating of the rain on an uncaring city, it was an unforgettable experience. The distinctly noire universe of Max Payne, cut with Max's bitter, poetic stream of thoughts, and backed by his theme, make him a gaming icon. Not without its humour, as dark as it may be, the game and its soundtrack highlight the genre it parodies and pays homage to. This piece of music perfectly captures the mood of an unrelenting, wounded cop, in an unforgiving, cold New York. As a side note, there's a neat Easter egg in Max Payne 3. There are pianos dotted throughout the game - each time you play one, Max becomes a little better at the tune, until finally he remembers the whole piece and breaks the fourth wall: "There it was... the soundtrack to my life. And, for a few seconds, came harmony."