2023’s Alan Wake II is a formidable horror sport that melds mediums and tells a metatextual story about creating artwork. It’s a wondrous accomplishment of sport design. It additionally has one of many catchiest songs ever put right into a online game, memorably accompanied by a spectacular interactive efficiency. So I shouldn’t have been shocked to search out out that Night time Springs, the sport’s DLC, additionally has a track I can’t cease listening to. However the DLC has a twist: it is a correct theme track, and now I feel each online game wants one too.
Night time Springs is a cheeky little bit of DLC for an already meta-heavy sport. It performs out as episodes of an in-game Twilight Zone spoof written by Alan Wake himself and hosted by the mysterious Mr. Door. This provides every of the three episodes a canon rationalization whereas not requiring them to truly make sense. With no duties to remain per present lore, Treatment actually lets unfastened in methods you wouldn’t count on even after enjoying Alan Wake 2. And because the complete DLC is a TV present, it simply is smart for it to have a theme track.
Merely titled “Night time Springs,” the theme is a synth-pop tune that may shortly worm its manner into your head. The lyrics speak about most of the bizarre happenings that may happen within the present’s titular city, with examples together with getting caught in a time loop and discovering a photo voltaic system in a bowl of soup, amongst others. Each sounds prefer it may very well be its personal bite-sized episode, they usually all match proper alongside the tales we do play by.
Upon ending the primary episode, “Quantity One Fan,” the theme track performs for the primary time and It feels so good to listen to the pop anthem play after gunning down enemies in a rose-tinted world because the psychotic (however extremely loveable) Waitress. Now I hearken to the theme track and I take into consideration how enjoyable the DLC is. It’s only a suggestions loop of excellent occasions between the track and the sport.
Not that I wanted extra proof that issues are higher with a theme track, however this yr’s indie journalism satire sim Occasions & Galaxy additionally has one. Spoiler alert, it guidelines. Earlier than you even construct your distinctive robo reporter within the sport, an animated intro performs set to a catchy tune. What works on this theme track is the way it introduces you to the fundamental premise and forged of the sport. You will report a bunch of tales throughout various beats (arts, politics, and extra) and do it alongside the workers of the titular paper. Give it a pay attention and check out to not be excited concerning the sport. I, for one, have sung the strains “Area is a lonely void. We’ve received the entire thing coated. From the trash heaps of Aug to locations undiscovered” extra occasions than I can depend (or want to admit).
All I’m saying is that no sport can be made worse by including a theme track. Halo? Drop some lyrics on high of that choral soundtrack! Purple Lifeless Redemption? Give me some cowboy music! Elden Ring? You’d be having a greater time for those who might sing a catchy tune when you died to the identical boss repeatedly. So please, let’s get some extra theme songs in video video games.
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