The Review
As you probably know, Lone Survivor is a psychological survival game set in 2D retro style dark world, where the protagonist desperately tries to escape the nightmarish situation he is in. Music is obviously in vital role when it comes creating a surreal atmosphere alongside with freaky, drug-induced visuals. Jasper Byrne's soundtrack succeeds in this in my opinion. However, a bit narrow soundscape has to be seen as an advantage, when there are no public expectation for a score as such, Lone Survivor creates despair where you'd expect it and depression in the gloomy, frightening setting.Soundtrack vs. game
It is difficult to try separate and review the music out of its original context, the game. In this case, I find it impossible since I've heard the music while playing the game, but maybe somebody out there hasn't done that yet. I'd find it intriguing to know what people would think of this, as a piece of ambient elements combined with some familiar sounds. The piano part, for instance, in Party Time is quite refreshing alongside with wind instruments, trumpet I'd imagine, if I knew anything about musical instruments. Some of these elements mind create a new space of their own in the right circumstances.
Hear the darkness
The main theme Lone Survivor is quite catchy. From now on, every time I hear it, it brings me back. That is what one would expect. The music in the game changes according to each scene and environment. Therefore, some of these tracks like Home, which plays a lot since the player has to come back to the home apartment all the time, stay on the background not to seem too repetitive and overflowing
Glimpses of light
There are a couple of tracks which wage war against the overall dark motif of the story. Most notable must be Where Is It Going?, a song in a dream. This song remind me of some of the quieter Smashing Pumpkins song. Feels like someone's reaching out of the darkness with a soft voice.
The dreams are also nice change from the depressing reality. Although weird, the drugs really seem to inspire certain inner personas of the protagonist. So what can we benefit from the incessant dialogue of different personas? Dreams is a breathtaking scene within a dream, a timeless space through which the mixture of sounds flow without a care in the world.
Tracklist:
1. Blue World
2. Lone Survivor
3. Home
4. Dreams
5. Where Is It Going?
6. Party Time
7. Her
8. Sleep Forever
9. Reflections
10. Medicine
11. The Director
12. Descent
13. Alone
14. Whispers
15. You Know Me
16. The City
17. Survival
18. Moving On
This track listing is the one you can find at bandcamp site: http://spacerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/lone-survivor-original-soundtrack
I guess this soundtrack is totally worth the price.
The vibe I got from this game soundtrack was positive. I recommend you to find out for yourself and make your own deductions based on your own taste of music.
Hear the music in action. Go and see my Youtube channel and look for Lone Survivor Playthrough.
