Composer(s): Darren Korb Making his second appearance on this list, Darren Korb (the composer of Bastion) returns with the critically celebrated soundtrack to this sci-fi RPG from 2014. Like Bastion, Transistor isn't a quintessential video game soundtrack by any stretch of the imagination, but with its eclectic composition, emotional lyricism, fervent tempo and instrumental variation, it is one of the absolute best soundtracks to come from any video game, well, ever. With his use of harps, electric guitar, accordions, mandolins and synth pads, Korb achieves a degree of variation and musical infidelity that surpasses most film scores, combining emotional highs and lows to convey the entire spectrum of human experience. While tracks like In Circles, We All Become, Paper Boats, The Spine, and Signals accompany some of the best moments from the game, they can be easily removed from that context and enjoyed independently - due in no small part to the vocals of Ashley Lynn Barrett whose range and delivery elevates several of the tracks from great to superb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zA1jRmAYfU Its for these very reasons that Transistor has topped the list. It may not be the objectively greatest soundtrack from any video game ever made, but it can stand up on its own in ways that many others simply cant. If you need some convincing, keep in mind that the soundtrack to Transistor sold over 48,000 copies within the first fortnight of its release, which I take as an indication that it can certainly stand alone. Further Listening: The soundtrack to Ghost in the Shell (1995) which I feel may have been influential to the Transistor soundtrack, as well as anything by Portishead or DJ Shadow. Let us know which game soundtracks you listen to outside of the games themselves, and create an account if you'd like to write for the site!
