Bastion

Darren Korb has made a good soundtrack, and one that I enjoy. It is repetitive but well constructed.

It’s a unique signature, the sound contained within Bastion’s soundtrack. The sound is Western mixed with Middle Eastern. It’s an interesting and well-executed combination. “Bastion” is a 2011 video game that I’ve played, and I would say is well worth your time. The game’s focus is very story-driven, and as a result the music serves as an accent to a broader narrative. Of course, most of the soundtracks that exist out there serve as accents to stories, so this statement is neither false nor a crutch.

“Bastion” in particular was well noted for its soundtrack. Among video game enthusiasts, this soundtrack occupied a special place within their libraries. One song in particular, “Build That Wall,” is considered the highlight of the soundtrack. And it’s good! But it’s not blow-your-mind.

The sound inside this soundtrack itself is pretty contained: guitars, strings, electronics, drums, etc. There are obviously more instruments than those four groups, but the sound itself is dominated by motifs strummed along by a guitar or helped along by drums. However, the pitfalls of the songs on Bastion are that they are (1) numerous, (2) short, and (3) repetitive. These factors on their own aren’t bad, and it makes the occasional Bastion song a well-enjoyed listen when played on shuffle. But if you listen to the album all the way through, you start to get a feeling of “When will this end?”

But there are some absolute gems of songs in this album. “Build That Wall” is one well-known one, but my favorite actually goes to “Setting Sail, Coming Home (End Theme).” It’s a brilliant penultimate song, and one that would fit amazingly well within any Massive Attack album. The vocals are brilliant, the song is well composed, and it’s something you can listen to on repeat.

Overall, I like this soundtrack. I really do. It’s not even close to the best video game soundtrack, but it definitely deserves a mention when talking about atmospheric sound. “Bastion” is pure atmosphere.