music posts

If you're a little down because there's not enough Magicka in your life, then this should help lift your spirits. The official soundtrack to the humor infused four-player action role-playing game is available to download for free. Now you can bring the spellcasting feeling with you no matter where you go.

"Magicka is a satirical action-adventure game set in a rich fantasy world based on Norse mythology. The player assumes the role of a wizard from a sacred order tasked with stopping an evil sorcerer who has thrown the world into turmoil, his foul creations besieging the forces of good."

Download the Magicka Official Soundtrack (70 MB)
Read the Magicka Review
Check out all Magicka downloads

Those that are overwhelmed by the strobing visual complexity of Beat Hazard will be happy. The game just received an update that doesn't seem to add much. Windowed mode and some interface tweaks compose most of the patch notes. However, the update contains this little line as well:

- Added Low Visual Intensity Option to Difficulty Select Screen

For many people, the intense strobing effects of Beat Hazard were the biggest barrier of entry into this excellent arena shooter/music game hybrid. Those people can now enjoy Beat Hazard without going into an epileptic fit! Also, in the patch before the current one, the game was updated to support FLAC and OGG formats. Full patch notes for the last two patches is after the break.

Music games are a gradually growing genre. We're not talking about games like Guitar Hero, but rather games which take music and procedurally generate game content from it. The most famous is obviously Audiosurf, but there are others, such as Square Enix's Song Summoners. Beat Hazard is an entry into the procedural realm, and it was released on Steam last Thursday.

Beat Hazard follows the same rough format as Audiosurf. You choose a song, and the game procedurally generates a level for you based on the song's characteristics. However, Beat Hazard is an arena shooter (akin to Geometry Wars) and significantly more visually complex. By visually complex, we mean borderline epileptic. Strobe effects abound! If you can handle this, the game is available through its Steam page for $10 ($7 until the 22nd). The developer also posts in the game's Steam forums and interacts with the players. Watch for a full review soon.

For those without a Nintendo DS, there is a game called Electroplankton that music fans will no doubt enjoy. In it, you guide various plankton into making noises by bouncing around. BubbleBee, an entry into the Experimental Gameplay Project's Unexperimental Shooters theme, takes inspiration from this game and tosses in a little particle theory to add some interesting twists.

There is no way to win in BubbleBee. Rather, all you do is shoot little colored balls around inside a box. The balls collide with each other, conserving momentum and continuing around their little enclosed space. They can combine, and if they reach critical mass, an orchestral chord plays. It's an interesting distraction for the music-minded person

This is quite simply some of the best chiptune music I have ever heard. Bringing to mind all the classic console synths of childhood, Chaser does a great job of mixing together an addictive and simple gameplay mechanic with some complex and endearing music. If you are nostalgic at all about the games on the NES, SNES, or Genesis, you will love Chaser, guaranteed.

The gameplay basics of Chaser are relatively easy. Use left and right to turn, and up to run forward. You must attempt to chase down a blue figure through fields of rocks, trees, and other assorted aspects of scenery. While you chase him, he drops coins that can be picked up, and the chase as well as the coins you pick up add to your score. The best part, however, is the fact that as you play, the music fades in one track at a time, with each track layering complexity onto an already excellent medley of synthesized instrumentation. It's happy and fast-paced, and you can't help but walk away with a smile.

[Via IndieGames]

Welcome to Freeware Friday, a weekly column showcasing excellent games that you can play free of charge!

The PC has a strong tradition of creating freeware remakes of popular rhythm games that allow for user-created content. First came the remake of Dance Dance Revolution in Stepmania, which fueled the creation of the In The Groove series. The came the remake of the Guitar Hero franchise with Frets on Fire. Now, there is osu!, a remake of Ouendan (or Elite Beat Agents, pick your poison) that manages to put both to shame. A flexible built-in editor and player, a thriving community, and a unique online experience propel osu! above its peers in the freeware music game niche.

This video takes viewers behind-the-scenes of BattleForge and explains the decision making process in composing the orchestral music to compliment the action and creatures found in the game.

Download HD BattleForge Orchestra Trailer (91 MB)
Check out all BattleForge downloads

This is the instrumental theme song for The Sims 3 in MP3 format.

Download The Sims 3 Theme Song (2 MB)
Check out all The Sims 3 downloads

Looks like this is the week for machinima music videos. Characters from Sacred 2 get into heavy metal (and we're not just talking about gear) of Blind Guardian. The music video also features some cinematic footage from the game.

Download the Sacred 2 Blind Guardian Music Video (76 MB)

If you're looking for Simlish twist to your music, then check out this Sims 2 machinima music video for "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry. The pop/rock musician is featured on the Sims 2: Apartment Life soundtrack, and the original song can be found on her debut album, "One of the Boys." The song is quite catchy, whether in English or Simlish.

Download the HD Katy Perry "Hot N Cold" Sims 2 Music Video (62 MB)