Soundtrack Spotlight: Portal 2

Soundtrack Spotlight is a mandatory CFD! feature devoted to progressing science through VGM. Every week we expose you to nonlethal levels of recorded audio, inform you of inadequacies in your sound-knowledge database, and termina… surround you with a thick blanket of auditory bliss. Testing begins now.

Album: Portal 2

Composed by: Mike Morasky

The disarray and general dilapidation of the Aperture Science Enrichment Center make it an ideal location not only for an afternoon of portalin’, but also for the basis for this sequel’s stellar soundtrack.

Since Portal 2 is essentially just a linear accumulation of scientific endeavors, my expectations for its music consisted mostly of it being “appropriately science-y”, maybe with something poignant and clever over the credits. Not surprisingly, the game is awash in the kind of understated electronic melodies and dribbling modulation that complement the tone of its story and environment so well, and the ending song is achingly perfect. Give it a listen, for science!

Robots FTW

Background 01

Background 05

Bridge Intro

A Human Did This

Science Can Be Fun

Turret Wife Serenade

Want You Gone (SPOILERS!)

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Album: Mount & Blade: Warband

Composed by: Jesse Hopkins

Though ordinarily my VGM tastes tend to skew away from sweeping orchestral scores, I found myself thoroughly enjoying just that in the case of Mount & Blade. If I had to posit a reason for my specific change of heart, I’d cite the appropriately warlike, imperial nature of the score (available for download here).

Beautiful Land

Charge!

Crazy Battle

M&B Title Theme

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Album: Bionic Commando Rearmed 2

Composed by: Simon Viklund

Well known for his outstanding arrangement and remix work on the remakes of several Capcom classics (i.e., Bionic Commando Rearmed, Final Fight: Double Impact), Viklund returns with another take on the former, replete with superlative remixes of remixes and new compositions.

Bionic Labs