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The electronic music genre developed in the late 2000s, and was mainly inspired by 80s media and pop culture. The idea of the genre was said to come from the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The game’s Miami beach based aesthetic, which consisted of sunlit beaches and vivid neon lights, was the main influence for some breakout French house producers, like the famous Kavinsky.
Many artists owe their talents to some of the greatest works of science fiction film, anime and video games, inspiring them to create the beautiful craft that we enjoy today. As we know it today, Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Terminator, classic Sega and Nintendo titles and much more all paved the way for the musical revolution.
It’s only fair then, that by adding them as their soundtracks, video games bring the love back into the source.
Vice City is set in 1986 in Vice City, Florida, and involves the adventures of Tommy Vercetti, the protagonist, as he rises to become the key criminal force of Vice City. Rockstar North developed the game and released it with Rockstar Games. Thanks to its innovative gameplay and graphics, it soon became a bestseller, and still remains a beloved icon to this day.
The summer days and boardwalk beaches’ synthwave vision comes from the photos of coastal US cities such as Miami and Los Angeles, packed with palm trees and sunsets on the oceanside. Another synthwave ore conceptual aspect includes the pervasive love affair with science and technology of the ’80s. The fascination of synthwave producers in science fiction, computers, neon lights, and futuristic supercars expresses this aspect.
One of the key contributors to the emergence of 80s themes in the 21st century has been Outrun, as a sub-genre of synthwave. Outrun is also strongly influenced by the Japanese culture of the 80s, including anime and games, particularly Out Run, its namesake game.
Out Run was released by SEGA in arcades in September 1986. It is known for its innovative hardware and graphics, nonlinear gameplay, and a legendary selectable soundtrack with music. The aim is to prevent traffic and to enter one of the five destinations. The game was a critical and commercial accomplishment, becoming one of its time’s best-selling video games and the most popular arcade cabinet of the 1980s by Sega.
Hotline Miami is an action game full of raw violence, hard-boiled gunplay and close combat crushing of the skull. Set in an alternate 1989 Miami, at the behest of voices on your answering machine, you will assume the role of an enigmatic antihero on a murderous spree against the shady underworld. You will soon find yourself trying to get a grip on what is happening and why you are vulnerable to these acts of abuse.
Hotline Miami, backed by a thumping soundtrack featuring Pertubator, MOON, Scattle, El Tigre, Magic Sword and more, was a violent ballet of bullets and baseball bats. Although the sequel doubled down on scale and with larger levels lost some of the power, its soundtrack was just as rich, both worth exploring..
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a shooter game that Ubisoft has developed and released. It is a stand-alone addition to Far Cry 3 in 2012. The game is set on a futuristic explorable island, a spoof of 1980’s action movies, cartoons and video games, with players playing the combat role of the military cyborg, Sergeant Rex’ Power ‘Colt.
The Aussie duo Power Glove, who made the soundtrack, made sure to remind you of the game’s 80s retro roots. From a title track that comes straight from the OCP building, to a battle theme that plays in the sweltering jungle, each track has its origins as a great slice of sci-fi nostalgia.
VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is an indie simulation video game developed by Venezuelan studio Sukeban Games. Gameplay consists of players making and serving drinks while listening to their stories and encounters to bar attendees. In the game, there are no dialogue choices, with making various drinks being the only way to influence the story’s course.
It’s backed by a cracking soundtrack that is very close to its cyberpunk tribute material. It has been given the modern synthwave styles we’ve all come to love by integrating neo-noir styles from the likes of Blade Runner, Snatcher and Policenauts. It’s a perfect fit for a game as stylish as this, from mellow, sedate tunes to upbeat synth action.
Katana Zero is a video game produced by Askiisoft and released by Devolver Digital for the 2D action platform. Released in April 2019, you play with a distorted understanding of time as a samurai. This allows the future to be seen by the samurai and gives him a slow view of time. You lead the samurai in this game to discover the secrets of the world and your history, cutting through crowds of people to achieve your goal.
Katana Zero has a wickedly amazing synthwave soundtrack to join you for the journey, as is expected of both the studio and Devolver Digital. Although calmer, theremin-induced undertones play out as both the story and your mind begin to unravel, wild, fast beats channel your blade skills across each level.
