Video-game music has come a very long way and is now regularly played across the world in professional symphonies. That's amazing of course, but you know what rarely gets any press? The fact that games now sometimes host entire spellbinding musical performances within them.
Today we're going to look at some of the absolute best.
Bioshock Infinite When Booker and Elizabeth arrive in Shantytown you can enter the Graveyard Shift Bar and explore. If you go down to the basement Booker will find a guitar. Interacting with it will make him begin to play "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" as Elizabeth sings.
It's not surprising that the angelic-voiced Courtnee Draper could bust out a killer version of old-timey religious music, but Booker's voice actor Troy Baker is actually the one playing the guitar in the game. It's one of those magic soft moments in a brutal campaign that makes Infinite so memorable.
Beyond: Two Souls Beyond: Two Souls is more interactive movie than game, but it's still a hell of a lot of fun to play and explore. One of the greatest things you can stumble across is a scene where Jodie is homeless and on the run from the CIA. Borrowing a fellow vagrant's guitar, she will begin playing a stellar version of Beck's "Lost Cause." Ellen Page does the sad tune perfect justice.
World of Warcraft When Burning Crusade was released it came with a beautiful moment for Alliance players willing to help Lady Sylvanas Windrunner by returning her necklace. The Banshee Queen, voiced by Vangie Gunn, rewards the player by performing "Lament of the Highborn" with lyrics in the elvish language of Thalassian.
Conker's Bad Fur Day Not all of these are going to be poignant and beautiful. For instance, The Great Mighty Poo will sing his self-titled opera tune as part of his boss battle. For illustrative purposes I feel the need to quote the first verse of the song.
I am the Great Mighty Poo and I'm going to throw my shit at you! A huge supply of tish come from my chocolate starfish. How about some scat you little twat?
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