Soundtrack Spotlight is a weekly CFD! feature devoted to all things VGM. Every week we celebrate the best in game music, highlight new releases and forgotten tracks, and bring you a spectrum of auditory awesomeness.

Mixed by: Mr. Law

We’re at least knee-deep in the summer of 2011 and so, for a proper celebration, we’re flashing back to the summer(ish)time of 2008.

This seventy-minute megamix–a patchwork of songs from the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV and a slew of complementary tracks–was apparently crafted three years ago after GTA IV dropped, but only posted three months ago. Personally, I found more than a few songs I’d not stumbled over while playing the game. The mix certainly captures the dynamic, eclectic vibe of Liberty City’s handful of radio stations, so be sure to blast it as you go about your summer activities.

GRAND THEFT AUTO MIX SUMMER 08/ mixed by Mr.Law by Nealsantos

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Album: Bulletstorm Soundtrack

Composed by: Michał Cielecki, Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz

My reluctance to give Bulletstorm a try has drastically diminished in the wake of gagging through Duke Nukem Forever. It knows how to play to the big-and-dumb aspect of shooting things and having an associated attitude, but it seems like there might be some semblance of nuance in there.

At the very least, this suspicion is true in the case of the game’s soundtrack. It delivers the bombast you’d expect, but many of the tracks are of a cooler, more subtle and deliberate disposition. You can grab the whole album for free from Epic Games’ website.

The Brakes Are Out

Far Side Of the Cavern

Gotta Be An Out

Soaking The Ambience

The Storm

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Album: Hydorah Original and Arranged Tracks

Composed by: Gryzor87

Arranged by: Minusbaby, DJ Master Kohta, Big Brother, Eiko Ishiwata, Videogame Orchestra, Matheus Manente, ThePlasmas, Crashfaster, Mattias Häggström Gerdt, Goto80, Pocket Groovy, Jacobo García, Gryzor87,Magnus “SoulEye” Pålsson

The game parts of Hydorah are something I’ll likely write more about in the future, so for now its soundtrack gets all my attention. The diversity of the original soundtrack (quite good on its own) is complemented by the intensity of the arranged tracks–available to download for the low, low price of free.

Berserk (Arranged by ThePlasmas)

Biogothic Grave (Arranged by Videogame Orchestra)

Black Gate Descent (Arranged by Eiko Ishiwata)

Cyclades – Confrontation (Arranged by Mattias Häggström Gerdt)

Somet Nac (Arranged by Crashfaster)

Untulia (Arranged by Magnus Pålsson)