Growing up playing video games on the Wii U and Playstation 2, “video game music” meant fast bleep-bloops and retro synthesizers. I loved arcade games, but their music never stood out to me. The music was treated as a byproduct of the game, an afterthought, and while catchy and energetic, gave little motivation for someone to listen to the soundtrack on its own. Retro video game music is often repetitive, and was created mostly as background noise to gameplay rather than leaving a genuine impact on the listener.
Retro video game soundtracks were designed to fit within a small amount of memory and processing power, so they utilized sound chips and created simple, electronic melodies. This arcade style of soundtrack, also referred to as chiptune, also ideally complimented the games of the time which featured pixel graphics and fast paced, 2d, mechanics.
As video games gained more memory to work with, and therefore much more mechanical and creative freedom, their soundtracks advanced significantly. One of the best examples of this is the game franchise, Life is Strange. The first game released in 2015 by Dontnod Entertainment, and the most recent released just this March developed by Deck Nine Games. The soundtrack of the Life is Strange games feature both lyrical and instrumental music that resonate with players within and outside of the game, and help shape the story.
It is impossible to write about the music of Life is Strange without mentioning Syd Matters. Some of the most popular songs on the soundtrack were written by Syd Matters, a French indie rock and folk band formed in 2002. They released their album “Someday We Will Foresee Obstacles” in 2005, which did not receive widespread popularity until two of its songs, “Obstacles,” and “To All Of You” were featured in the first Life is Strange game. These two songs have gained significant traction on the internet and are now strongly associated with Life is Strange. They match the feel of the game perfectly with their nostalgic energies and heartfelt lyrics about growing up and facing challenges together.
The Life is Strange games feature both original music and needledrops that create cinematic and emotional moments. Here are a few of my favorite parts of the Life is Strange soundtrack, because there are too many wonderful songs across the eight games to feature:
1. “Haven” by Novo Amor
“Haven” is an original song featured in the main menu, as well as the trailer and credits of Life is Strange: True Colors. Not only is the song beautiful to listen to, its lyrics suit the game perfectly. The song is named after the town that the game’s protagonist, Alex, escapes to, and captures the longing and vulnerability she feels on her search for a new home. “Haven” encapsulates the feeling of staring out the window on a long drive to somewhere unknown, which makes the game’s atmosphere resonate so much more.
2. “Death by Dignity” by Sufjan Stevens
This song plays throughout The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. This game tells the story of a 9 year old boy, Chris, as he escapes into a superhero world to complete his chores and deal with the loss of his mother. The song is used when Chris is forced to confront his pain, such as when he finds a box of mementos, which ties perfectly into Sufjan Stevens’ lyrics about his own loss of his mother. “Death by Dignity” is a powerful soundtrack choice that amplifies the emotional devastation of Chris’ loss, and the difficulty he faces with his isolation and grief.
3. “Mountains” by Message To Bears
“Mountains” is featured in Life is Strange Chapter 4 as Max and Chloe rush to a junkyard to find out what happened to Chloe’s missing friend, Rachel Amber. Not only do the lyrics of this song match the scene, the music video parallels the game moment almost perfectly. Message To Bears’ video for “Mountains” features a girl digging in the dirt searching for something, similar to how Chloe and Max dig in the junkyard looking for evidence of Rachel Amber’s fate. The lyrics describe dreams of running away, which reflects the relationship between Chloe and Rachel Amber and their plans to run away from their small town together.
4. “Max and Chloe” by Matheus Stefan and Jonathan Morali
“Max and Chloe” is the instrumental track that plays at various points when the two characters are together. The song was co-produced by a member of Syd Matters, Jonathan Morali, which showcases how much Syd Matters put into the music of the Life is Strange games, offering their already released music and writing for the game’s soundtrack directly. Returning to “Max and Chloe” throughout the game creates an association with the feel of the song, calm and emotional, and the relationship between the two characters. The instrumental track creates an atmosphere that changes the way the player experiences the game.