9 Incredible Soundtracks That Were Almost Better Than Their Games

6. Hotline Miami (2012)

Composer(s): Carpenter Brut, M|O|O|N and Scattle The soundtrack to Hotline Miami offers an almost immediate gratification with its irrepressible synthesised instrumentation and hypnotic beats comparable to the tone of the game itself. It€™s fast-paced and fierce, darkly pulsating like the seediest of 80s nightclubs as seen through the eyes of an amoral, coked-up psychopath. But, that€™s not to say that the soundtrack is indistinguishable or lacking in variation. Unlike most soundtracks, Hotline Miami benefits from the collaboration of multiple musicians, including M|O|O|N whose notable contributions €˜Hydrogen€™, €˜Paris€™ and €˜Crystals€™ make up some of the more exceptional moments on this track list, merging minimalist electronics with unsettling dance music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKD-MVfC9Ag The soundtrack conveys the tone of the game perfectly€”which is why it might be difficult for some players to disassociate the two. However, I think this is a rare example of a soundtrack that achieves the best of both worlds, complementing the genuinely visceral and unrelenting visuals of Hotline Miami, and standing up on its own as a inimitable piece of dark and disturbing 80s nostalgia. Further Listening: The soundtrack to Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (2013), the soundtrack to the movie Drive (2011) and the album €˜Redline€™ (2010) by Lazerhawk.
Contributor
Contributor

Formerly an assistant editor, Richard's interests include detective fiction and Japanese horror movies.