I recently finished playing The Last of Us, a post-apocolyptic survival thriller video game, for the second time, and I enjoyed it TEN TIMES MORE than the first time I played through it. The relationship between the two protagonists, Joel and Ellie, is fascinating to watch unfold, and absolutely heart-wrenching at times. But the soundtrack to this game is what I want to chat about today, because it completely makes the game.
This is one of my favourite pieces from the soundtrack, because it resonates so wonderfully with what’s going on in the game, which I won’t say because of spoilers, but it really enhances an already beautiful sequence rife in emotional tension. What I really love is that the composer, Gustavo Santaolalla used really ordinary everyday objects, such as PVC piping and made a really haunting and creepy sound with it, and it goes so organically with the game’s ‘survival’ nature, having to scavenge and improvise in your surroundings in order to survive. It is such a different kind of videogame, and one that I could play again and again and again because it is such a moving, beautiful experience.
It’s a really dissonant and unique sound, but filled with such high emotion and incredible beauty. I really recommend playing it, or watching it, or just listening to it.
You can listen to the whole soundtrack here, and it’s also on Spotify
See you tomorrow 🙂
Mia
Bricks Out of the Wall 