When it first launched in 2010, multiplayer online game Final Fantasy 14 was a commercial and critical disaster. Riddled with bugs, impossible to navigate and missing a lot of key content, the series’ latest instalment, in which players try to save the world from an ancient evil, flopped hard. That is, until a totally rebuilt version hit shelves in 2013 and turned it into the most profitable FF game in history, with more than 30million active users as of January 2025 and five major expansions added in the years since.

• READ MORE: Now is the time to start playing ‘Final Fantasy 14’

Without a rigid set of quests to follow, players take on titan-sized bosses in mystical dungeons before returning to their adorable home-away-from-home to rearrange their furniture. What helps it all feel part of the same world is the brilliant music from Masayoshi Soken. The massive soundtrack features hectic, guitar-driven hype tracks, majestic bursts of orchestration and even the ability for players to make their own music via one of the 24 instruments that can be unlocked.

Speaking to NME, Soken describes his masterpiece as a “Final Fantasy theme park” with reworked music from classic entries in the series used throughout his score. “It’s important for me to remember the emotions I had when I first played those games. I want to take the inspiration I felt back then, and bring it into the now,” he says, hoping his music can inspire a new generation. ”My greatest hope is to see new media born out of the game.”

Soken also created the soundtrack to 2023’s single-player epic Final Fantasy 16 – and frequently performs at Distant Worlds, a Final Fantasy concert show that’s been touring since 2007. On top of that, he occasionally plays shows with The Primals, a band of game developers who give beloved Final Fantasy songs a metal-flavoured facelift. As Final Fantasy 14 enters its 16th year, Soken tells us why there’s still plenty for him to do in the land of Hydaelyn.

Soken’s inspiration comes from the unlikeliest of places

Even the most prolific of bands would struggle to keep up with Soken’s output over the past 15 years. What keeps him going? “It’s important to get daily stimulation,” he says. “It doesn’t need to be anything special either.” Yesterday, he drank some good sherry and a really nice Irish coffee. “I got a lot of inspiration from that.”

He also takes inspiration from his own listening habits, with his Final Fantasy soundtracks featuring everything from orchestral music to rock and pop. “Growing up, I always listened to classical music and as a student, it was a lot of rock. As I got older, I started listening to jazz and bossa nova”. Those broad listening habits (which he calls “Soken-style”) make it easy for him to tap into whichever direction the next expansion is heading.

He’s a rock and roll rebel at heart

Right now though, he’s listening to a lot of Rage Against The Machine, The Hives and Japanese metal band Suspended 4th. The same snarling energy can be heard in fan-favourite Final Fantasy tracks ‘Find The Flame’, ‘Shadowbringers’ and ‘Endwalker – Footfalls’. “I don’t know why Final Fantasy matches so well with that type of music but, to me, it felt like the game experience was asking for rock.”

There are plenty of classically trained musicians that work with Soken to create the music of Final Fantasy 14, but he’s not afraid of doing things away from plush recording studios either.  The sound of a pill rattling around an empty noodle tub has made it into the game’s score, and he once banged his wastepaper bin instead of using a proper drum. “I’m getting rid of all the rules,” Soken says of his approach.

Performing live is the perfect celebration of Final Fantasy 14’s huge community 

“I see music as a tool to give people a better gaming experience. It’s something that can be used to move a player’s heart,” Soken explains. Getting to leave the office and perform at events such as Distant Worlds keeps him energised and excited about his job. “I’m really able to see people’s reactions and what music does well in a particular moment.

“Final Fantasy 14 obviously has a lot of people coming together online but to have that community in the same room, united through music, is the best. It’s a reminder that we are all connected.”

“With a normal concert, everyone has a different experience of the same song but with a video game concert like Distant Worlds, everyone has had the exact same experience,” he continues. “It makes people incredibly empathetic towards each other. They know they’re all feeling the same emotion, and that’s a special space [to be in].”

He gets a similar thrill of connection when he performs with The Primals. “Normally the artist onstage is the protagonist but with those shows, the player’s game experiences are the protagonists. We’re just there to light a fire towards their memories.” The band has just announced their first tour in seven years – a whistle-stop run through Japan. Soken says he’d love to hit the road properly with The Primals and a European tour is top of his wishlist. As a full-time sound director for Final Fantasy, finding the time is tricky.

Soken is already working on his next project

Soken has been sharing photos of him at work in the studio on social media, with cryptic messages like “it’s finally coming to an end…” and “I started something” but he isn’t spoiling anything today. “I’m sorry, I really can’t say what I’m working on right now. I’m recording something though,” he confirms, adding that it “potentially” feels new. He’s just as tight-lipped when it comes to introducing new collaborators to the world of Final Fantasy 14. Pop-punk vocalist and unofficial queen of video game soundtracks Chrissy Costanza recorded ‘Give It All’ for Dawntrail’s end-game Arcadion raid last year, but Soken will only say there are “a lot of artists that I would love to bring in” when we ask who’s next. “I don’t want to create expectations.”

It makes sense to keep schtum, because Final Fantasy fans can be very precious about the music that weaves its way throughout the game. The various soundtracks have racked up millions of streams on Spotify and Distant Worlds has been touring for the past 18 years. “It’s proof that the game experience was strong and the music really moved them.”

Square Enix hasn’t announced what’s next for Final Fantasy 14 but last year, game director Naoki Yoshida said that he’s currently working on the story for the next three expansions after Dawntrail kickstarted a new era. “I just want to give people a higher level of game experience, so that’s where I’m putting all my efforts at the moment,” says Soken when asked about his plans for the future of Final Fantasy 14. “Everyone involved in making it is facing up to a challenge. I guess the only rule for us is to definitely challenge [expectations].”

The post How ‘Final Fantasy 14’ breaks all the rules of video game music appeared first on NME.

Mario Kart World is easily the biggest entry in Nintendo’s long-running racer series. Twenty-four characters face off in chaotic ‘Grand Prix’ races and the sprawling ‘Free Roam’ mode lets you investigate every corner of the huge open-world map. The Switch 2’s marquee launch title also comes crammed with different cars, bikes and trikes to try out – as well as a bumper soundtrack of absolute bangers to listen to while doing so.

• READ MORE: ‘Mario Kart World’ is a supercharged reinvention of the ultimate party game

Every one of the 29 courses in Mario Kart World has its own unique anthem and each route between them comes with its own catchy score. In total, that’s more than 200 different tracks in the plucky plumber’s impressive jukebox.

“We want players to stay engaged with this vast world for a long time without getting bored and hope the soundtrack will support those efforts,” explained Nintendo’s Atsuko Ashai in a recent developer Q+A. “We poured a lot of effort into each and every song. Our goal was to create distinctive music that’s fun just to listen to while driving around.” Heck, we’ve even started parking up to enjoy the music without the infuriating background engine whirr.

Unfortunately, until they’re available to stream via Nintendo Music, the only way to enjoy these trackside tunes is by playing the game (or, if you’re a bit naughty, firing up a cheeky YouTube rip). To make things a little easier to locate in-game, we’ve listed the biggest hits in Mario Kart World (and where to find them) below:

‘Underground BGM’ (Flamenco remix)

Where to hear it: ‘Free Roam’

‘Underground BGM’ is one of the oldest Mario themes going. It was first found in the underground areas of 1985’s Super Mario Bros. and has featured in virtually every Mario game since. World delivers a funky update on a classic though with this Flamenco remix. The guitar can still be heard playing the familiar tune but around it, Nintendo has created an upbeat, carefree anthem that’s sunnier than a shine sprite. Sunglasses at the ready!

Perfect for… zipping around Koopa Troopa Beach

‘Mario Kart World Main Theme’

Where to hear it: on the game’s title screen

Country music has never been more popular. Global megastars Beyoncé and Chappell Roan have introduced a little yee-haw to their polished pop in recent months and folksy anthems from Noah Kahan, Alex Warren and Gigi Perez are all over the radio. Wanting to get in on the action, Mario Kart World’s main theme is a barn-yard stomper that’s ideal for lassoing cows in Moo Moo Meadows. We’ve already heard it far too many times and we still can’t get enough.

Perfect for… starting your engines

‘Rainbow Road Theme’

Where to hear it: Rainbow Road (duh)

The only hidden circuit in Mario Kart World is unlocked after you’ve won all six ‘Grand Prix’ cups. Your reward is a glorious reimagining of one of the most iconic tracks around and its suitably extravagant soundtrack. As we’ve come to expect from Rainbow Road, the new score plays out like an epic saga – euphoric one moment, intense and troubling the next. It’s a tricky circuit to nail but the music makes the entire journey feel magical – even if you end up limping over the finish line in last place.

Perfect for… turning a terrible day around

‘Bowser’s Castle Theme’

Where to hear it: Bowser’s Castle

As soon as you drive up to Bowser’s Castle, you can feel the heat. There are rivers of lava, exploding fireballs and even a giant version of Mario’s archenemy made out of flames. Cranking up the temperature even more is a spicy, speed metal anthem that gives the scorching circuit an extra degree or two of danger.

Perfect for… headbanging in your Bowser Bruiser

‘Overworld Theme (Ska remix)’

Where to hear it: ‘Free Roam’

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater fans might be annoyed that the soundtrack for the upcoming 3+4 is missing a lot of classic songs, but ska is alive and well in Mario Kart World. It takes guts to give the most recognisable theme in gaming history and major makeover but this new version of the first bit of music you hear in the original Super Mario Bros. is even more joyful thanks to the addition of trumpets and sax.

Perfect for… embracing the rhythm (and wearing a shirt with flames on it)

‘Koopa Troopa Beach Theme’

Where to hear it: Koopa Troopa Beach

There are some amazing remixes of vintage Mario Kart themes in World, but the most surprising might be the EDM reworking of Koopa Troopa Beach. The song was first introduced as part of 1992’s Super Mario Kart and while this new version still has the same chirpy, upbeat vibe of the 16-bit original, it’s a far more pulsating, urgent electro banger.

Perfect for… that Mario Kart warehouse rave you’ve been planning

‘Vancouver Velocity’

Where to hear it: ‘Free Roam’

Like a lot of mobile games, 2019’s Mario Kart Tour was a watered-down version of the real deal. The races might not have been as fun but the soundtrack had a couple of gems – such as ‘Vancouver Velocity’. A new version of the ‘90s house track features in World and is even more euphoric than the original. From the vibey piano intro to the pulsating electronic bass, it wouldn’t sound out of place on Dua Lipa’s latest album.

Perfect for… the ‘Radical Optimism’ you need for ‘Knockout’ mode

‘Baby Park’

Where to hear it: ‘Free Roam’

As big as Mario Kart World is, there are still a few classic circuits missing from the game – some fans are already campaigning for the chaotic Baby Park to make a return. But while we wait for Nintendo to listen to their very reasonable (we think) demands, there’s a hectic dubstep remix of the original GameCube theme to enjoy. It sounds like Skrillex competing at Eurovision and it’s somehow even more bonkers than that description.

Perfect for… racking up a tricky combo of grinds and wall-rides

‘Dino Dino Jungle’

Where to hear it: Dino Dino Jungle

The relatively relaxed theme from Double Dash’s Dino Dino Jungle has been given a funky makeover for World. Featuring frantic drums that would have made a Donkey Konga player quake over their bongos and free-spirited guitar riff that was clearly inspired by Prince, this groovy little number is the perfect soundtrack to Mario Kart’s take on Jurassic Park. How else would you have the confidence to out-run a T. rex and use other terrible lizards to kickstart some kart parkour.

Perfect for… partying like it’s 1999

‘Yoshi’s Island Theme’

Where to hear it: ‘Free Roam’

There are a lot of big driving anthems on the soundtrack to World, which makes sense for a big driving game. But there are also moments of beauty and tranquility to be found in the glorious expanse of the open-world. If you get far enough away from the hustle and bustle, the jukebox algorithm might throw up this newly-polished version of the opening melody from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. A pretty, delicate, piano-led number, it’s the sort of intimate song that may bring a tear to your eye.

Perfect for… getting away from it all

The post The best songs in ‘Mario Kart World’ and where to find them appeared first on NME.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally out tomorrow (June 5) and you’re right to be excited. Alongside the shiny new gadgets, fans will also be able to get their hands on two brand new, never-before-played games – Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

• READ MORE: ‘Mario Kart World’ is a supercharged reinvention of the ultimate party game

A bigger, more powerful console means a number of classics will be available on Nintendo for the very first time, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman: World Of Asssination. Some best-selling Switch titles will also be getting upgrades to make full use of the Switch 2’s improved graphics and processing might. Then there’s the Nintendo Online Library, which features retro favourites from the original NES through to the N64, with a selection of GameCube oldies available exclusively too.

Basically, Switch 2 owners will be spoiled for choice – and that’s before we even get to upcoming releases like Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Borderlands 4.

To make things a little easier, we’ve gone through the launch line-up and picked out our absolute-must-play essentials.

Mario Kart World

Is it any good? Nintendo has spent eight years working on the sequel to Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and it’s time well spent. ‘Grand Prix’ races are more hectic than ever as you battle against 23 other drivers to cross the line first, ‘Open Roam’ means you can take your kart and explore every corner of the colourful open-world and the new ‘Knockout’ mode makes an already chaotic game even more intense. With loads of side-quests to uncover and characters to unlock, Mario Kart World will feel fresh and exciting long into the future.

How much? even at £74.99 for the physical game, you’re getting pretty good value.
Perfect for: getting together (in-person or online) with your mates.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Is it any good? Nintendo has made a lot of odd decisions over the years but not including Welcome Tour with the Switch 2 might be the most bizarre. It’s built around quizzes and minigames that showcase the new console’s technical strength. Players can learn the difference between 30 and 120 FPS (frames per second) and marvel at the Switch 2’s ability to know exactly what angle the built-in stand is currently at. It’s the perfect primer for anyone picking up the appliance on launch day…

How much? £7.99, which sounds cheap but this one has limited appeal in the long run.
Perfect for: getting to grips with the Switch 2.

Soul Calibur 2

Is it any good: There have been plenty of brilliant arcade fighting games released over the years, but Soul Calibur 2 is easily one of the best. Players can unleash a series of devastating attacks on their opponent by memorising the right combination of buttons but simply pummelling your controller repeatedly is also a valid way to play this wonderfully fast-paced brawler that was originally released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and GameCube in 2002.

How much? The game is available for all Nintendo Switch 2 Online Library + Expansion Pack subscribers, which will set you back £34.99 for a year’s membership.
Perfect for: getting out those frustrations after a long day at work.

The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Is it any good: Back in the day, GameCube owners had to deal with PlayStation and Xbox owners calling them childish. Nintendo didn’t exactly help matters by following up the darkest Legend Of Zelda game (2000’s Majora’s Mask) with a cartoon-like adventure that featured a talking boat and a pre-pubescent Link. The hand drawn look of the game originally divided fans but as time’s gone on, The Wind Waker has been rightfully celebrated as one of the most entertaining entries in the long-running franchise.

How much? Another one that’s available free for Expansion Pack subscribers.
Perfect for: realising you were an idiot 23 years ago.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Is it any good? Creativity is key in this open-world adventure that lets you craft any number of wacky inventions to use as tools in your quest to save Princess Zelda from the evil, monstrous Ganon. Massive in scope, Breath of The Wild pushed the original Switch to its technical limits and now it’s getting a Switch 2 upgrade that will make the gorgeous game look even better. If you do fall in love with Breath Of The Wild, there’s also sequel Tears Of The Kingdom to conquer afterwards.

How much? If you already own the game, it’ll cost you £7.99 to upgrade to the Switch 2 version but newcomers will have to shell out £66.99.
Perfect for: spending hours exploring a vast, beautifully rendered fantasy landscape

Split Fiction

Is it any good? The perfect co-op game used to be It Takes Two but Swedish developers Hazelight improved on their own formula for Split Fiction. Half of the game is a sci-fi epic, the other half is a fantasy adventure as you and a mate work together to escape a pair of storybook worlds. Along the way, you’ll have to solve puzzles, defeat scary-looking bosses and fly dragons. It’s basically a giant love letter to video games and the power of teamwork, selling nearly 4million copies since March. This is the first time Nintendo fans have been able to play it though.

How much? £44.99, which works out at £22.50 per player.
Perfect for: introducing an uncertain mate to the wonders of video games.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut

Is it any good? The long-running Yakuza series has always balanced its over-the-top mob stories with a knowing self-awareness. They’re a little bit bloody but also a little bit silly. Originally released in 2015, prequel Yakuza 0 explored the backstory of brutal gangster Kazuma Kiryu and cabaret club manager Goro Majima, while the new Director’s Cut expands on that twisting story. As well as giving the beloved game a much-needed lick of paint, Director’s Cut also introduces a ‘Red Light Raid’ online multiplayer mode, meaning you can team up with a mate and fight through hordes of enemies.

How much? £44.99 and it’s not available on any other console (for a limited-time, anyway).
Perfect for: filling the void left by Tom Hardy’s TV epic MobLand

Super Mario Odyssey

Is it any good: Every Nintendo console has featured an iconic Super Mario platformer. We’re sure one will come to the Switch 2 eventually but while you’re waiting, why not rediscover Super Mario Odyssey. The 2017 Switch game sees Mario teaming up with a sentient hat named Cappy, allowing him to copy pink pal Kirby’s party trick of transforming into loads of different objects, from Bullet Bill to Chain Chomp to a city-destroying T-Rex.

How much? £49.99 for the original Switch game but a free Switch 2 update will make it look better and allow you to play co-op using ‘GameShare’.
Perfect for: reminding yourself that Nintendo’s mascot is so much more than The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Is it any good: After nine generations of mainline Pokémon games, fans were a little burnt out by the time Scarlet & Violet came out in 2022. Dodgy graphics and performance issues didn’t help the first open-world entry in the series either. It’s a shame because this is an inventive evolution with a compelling story and some brilliant-looking ‘Mon to add to your team. The free Switch 2 upgrade promises to fix a lot of those issues, so maybe give it another chance?

How much? £49.99 which seems pricey for an older game.
Perfect for: catching them all, duh.

Deltarune

Is it any good? Deltarune is the follow-up to Toby Fox’s brilliant cult game Undertale. An episodic role-playing game about saving the world, Deltarune enemies can be defeated using ‘Bullet Hell’ violence or peaceful conversation. The first chapter was released for free back in 2018, with the second coming in 2021 with both parts celebrated for their humour and a brilliant soundtrack. Not only are those first two parts of the Deltarune story coming to the Switch 2 this week, but chapters 3 + 4 are also being released.

How much? £20.99
Perfect for: being your new favourite game

The post The essential games for every Switch 2 owner appeared first on NME.

Ever since Mario Kart rumbled onto the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, it’s been the ultimate multiplayer game. An intuitive racer that’s easy to pick up and requires almost as much luck as skill, the series is perfect for family-friendly tournaments while also inspiring countless student drinking games.

• READ MORE: Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth your money?

Each entry has introduced something new. Double Dash! had dual racers, Mario Kart 7 welcomed gliders and jet-skis. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a souped-up version of the 2014 Wii game for the Switch, felt like a greatest hits collection of all that innovation. With 96 courses from across the series and 48 playable characters including familiar faces from Animal Crossing, The Legend Of Zelda and Splatoon, it was easily the biggest Mario Kart game ever. Shifting more than 64million units, it’s also the most successful. So far, anyway.

No wonder it’s taken developers eight years to come up with a sequel. Making use of the bigger, more powerful Switch 2, Mario Kart World is a radical reinvention of the beloved franchise. There are new ways to race, devilishly tricky circuits to conquer and even more dastardly weapons  to blast your mates off the road with. Here’s every reason this is the best Mario Kart yet.

It’s a whole new (Mario Kart) World

Mario Kart is a great multiplayer game, but the single player experience has sometimes felt a little underwhelming. There are only so many times you can lap computer-controlled opponents before the thrill of Rainbow Road wears off. In World though, there are literally hundreds of challenges to take on via the shiny new ‘Open Roam’ mode.

For the first time, you’re given total freedom to explore the different courses and the lands between them – all without having to worry about being run down by another kart. Scattered across the open world are countless ‘P Switches’, with each one offering a new, timed challenge that will test your speed, agility and destructive capabilities. Hop across a series of moving blocks and collect all eight blue coins or avoid a herd of bewildered cattle as you race to the finish line to earn a sticker for your kart. For completionists, secret medallions and mysterious panels are also dotted about the place.

The slick ‘Open Roam’ mode isn’t just an excuse for a load of different driving challenges though. Each circuit can be explored at your own pace, making it easy to uncover shortcuts that will give you the edge when things do get competitive – and the bits of land connecting each course have been filled with colourful characters and Nintendo Easter eggs. It feels like a lived-in universe, which is perfect for a relaxing drive if you fancy a change of pace from trying to outrun 23 other racers. You can also invite your friends for a communal roadtrip – just perhaps don’t show them all your time-saving discoveries.

‘Versus Mode’ also makes use of the ‘Open Roam’s world, letting you link up two different circuits for a custom-designed race. It’s as close as the series has got to a course creator mode.

The more, the merrier

Of course, Mario Kart is at its best when you’re playing with friends. Four players can play World locally using a single Switch 2 console while up to 24 people can take part via online multiplayer. The Switch 2’s built in GameChat feature makes setting up an online tournament easy and the new camera means every last-minute blue shell attack feels personal.

Using tech wizardary, one Switch 2 camera can track up to four faces at a time. No matter how much you duck about the place, a live-broadcast of your image remains above your racer. It means you don’t have to ask who’s playing as Bowser after the bruiser takes you out again, and it makes targeting your friends in the revamped ‘Battle’ mode much simpler. Get those victory dances ready.

Knockout mode is the real gamechanger

Things can get pretty intense with Mario Kart but the new ‘Knockout’ mode takes things up yet another gear. Combining the frantic urgency of ‘Battle’ mode with the fast and furious hijinks of ‘Grand Prix’, ‘Knockout’ occurs over a six-course rally track. Players have to place to stay in the race, as the four slowest are dumped at every chequered flag. There’s very little time to recover if you make a mistake and every banana and red shell can end a mate’s game. The first few rounds are all-out chaos as 24 racers jostle for survival while the final four-way skirmish will test friendships.

With 24 racers able to take part, ‘Battle’ mode has also had a rejig. Taking place in bigger arenas, ‘Balloon Battle’ and ‘Coin Chase’ games require a touch more strategy – but you can also be more deliberate in who you want to take out. Keep your friends close…

You can explore at will

As well as being able to drive literally anywhere, World has a load of different ways for players to customise their racing experience. Collecting coins will still unlock fresh karts while earning a trophy in the different ‘Grand Prix’ cups will add a new character to your roster. At launch, 32 characters will be available including old school favourites Yoshi, Toad and Princess Peach alongside newcomers Cow (from Moo Moo Meadows Circuit) and Mario 64’s Penguin. Grabbing a drive-thru meal in ‘Free Roam’ or ‘Grand Prix’ will give you a speed boost as well as unlocking a new costume for your racer. Luigi has nine different outfits, Cow has none (you can’t improve on perfection). Our favourites were Walugi’s gothic Wampire, Wario’s surprisingly metal Road Ruffian and Toad’s adorable Adventurer.

There’s more to the game than just putting the pedal to the metal. Drifting around sharp corners will still give you a much-needed boost but, in World, you’ll also be able to jump and grind to get ahead. It’ll take a hot minute to get your fingers around these new dimensions of play but when you do, you’ll be able to link tricks together like Tony Hawk. If you mess things up, you can rewind time to give it another go – but it comes at a price, as everyone else continues with their race.

Sounds good, right?

Mario Kart World features more than 200 different songs, compared to 8 Deluxe’s 96. This bumper score includes everything from the chirpy music of Peach Beach to the thundering metal that scores the fire and brimstone of Bowser’s Castle. Alongside changing weather and the visible passing of time, the music really brings home the vast expanse of World’s environment. The main theme is a total earworm and if you spend too much time playing, you’ll be hearing that blaring countdown as you fall asleep. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

‘Mario Kart World’ is out June 5 for the Nintendo Switch 2

The post ‘Mario Kart World’ is a supercharged reinvention of the ultimate party game appeared first on NME.

You’ve probably heard, Nintendo has a new bit of kit coming out. The Switch 2 arrives a whopping eight years after its predecessor, the Switch 1 – and with more fresh features and technological upgrades than you can throw a banana skin at. Speaking of which, there’s also another Mario Kart game, World. Japan’s entertainment maestros are hoping a sequel to their best-selling individual title revs up customers’ engines enough to pay the hefty price tag (at £395.99, the highest ever for a Nintendo home system).

As with every major console release, it’s tricky to know whether the Switch 2 is worth the dosh or not. Hours of fun await as soon as the Amazon delivery truck rolls around your street corner – but hold fire and the RRP may suddenly drop like an Italian plumber down a greasy pipe shaft. What you really need to know, then, is: how much better is the Switch 2 than the original?

Luckily, we know the answer to that very question. Last month, Nintendo invited NME to an exclusive preview event at a stupidly-humongous convention centre in east London filled with hundreds of the planet’s buzziest new gizmo. Read on for all the reasons to buy and not to buy the Nintendo Switch 2.

Yes: Mario Kart World is wheel-y fun

If you’ve ever drifted your way to a Rainbow Road podium finish or suffered the ignominy of a final straight blue shell-induced defeat, then you’ll know how addictive Mario Kart can be. At April’s exhibition, Nintendo made everyone play the latest instalment before anything else. You weren’t even allowed onto the main convention floor without completing a lap of Peach Stadium or taking the Standard Bike for a spin around Salty Salty Speedway. So believe us when we say, it’s the best Mario Kart yet (and only available on the Switch 2).

Overflowing with new tracks, vehicles and characters (the Moo Moo Meadows’ Cow is now a playable racer), World takes everything great about the series and elevates it. The tricks look cooler, the items you throw at rivals seem more dastardly and the environment feels bigger than ever. For the first time, every tyre-skid takes place in an ‘open world’ universe – meaning you can drive between different circuits when you’re not racing. Perhaps the most exciting addition is Knockout Tour – a lengthy championship format in which you face off against 23 other competitors. It’s advisable to remain among the leaders during this mode, because if anyone falls down the rankings they run the risk of elimination at the next checkpoint. Just in case you didn’t find Mario Kart stressful enough…

No: there aren’t loads of new games

At launch, Mario Kart World is the sole substantial first-party exclusive available on the Switch 2. That’s kind of like opening a shoe store next to another shoe store that everyone already likes – and stocking it with the same shoes at higher prices. Yes, the Switch 2 has around 40 games confirmed – but a lot of these are available on other platforms already or aren’t really new. They’re “Switch 2 Editions”, such as The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, which is another way of saying “Switch 1 port with slightly shinier graphics”.

More attractive exclusives are planned – Donkey Kong Bananza lands July 17, for example – but for cash-strapped Mario Kart haters, there probably isn’t much incentive to shell out immediately.

Yes: it’s much easier on the thumbs

Every handheld console will hurt your hands eventually, but playing with the Switch 1 becomes an uncomfortable experience particularly quickly. And you can’t be pausing Breath Of The Wild every five minutes because your palms have gone numb when you’re trying to button-bash Calamity Ganon into submission. You need to focus.

Fortunately, Nintendo has heard these complaints and they’ve taken action. The Switch 2 is sleeker, smoother and generally rounder than its forerunner. The 7.9-inch 1080p display is substantially larger too – and with beefed up Joy-Con controllers to match, this hefty bit of gear should be much weightier. Four hours produced next-to-no soreness in our fingers though – and we didn’t have to rest once.

Side note: Mario Kart 8 veterans will be thrilled to learn that the ZL and ZR buttons have grown in size. God bless our bleeding digits.

Yes: download more with massive memory

In 2024, 75 per cent of UK games sales were digital, meaning they were downloaded onto a device without the existence of a hard-copy disc or cartridge. Now this is all very convenient, but what happens if you run out of drive space in which to store your costly games? This was a proper problem with the original Switch, possessing a meagre 32GB of basic storage. Compare that to the Switch 2’s 256GB of internal memory – eight times more! – and it’s like going from a virtual cupboard to a shipping container.

No: that price is sky-high

“How much?!” The sensible reaction to Nintendo’s reveal that the Switch 2 would cost £395.99 was also the most common. Other words used include “insane”, “absolutely ridiculous” and “that is robbery”. This writer’s own grandma claimed she’d bought her “first house for less”. It’s the dearest Nintendo home console yet, even after adjusting for inflation.

So if you’re on the fence – and none of what we’ve written above has changed that – you may want to stick it out and hope sales are sluggish and the price starts tumbling. Remember The Great 3DS Crash Of 2011? Just six months after the phenomenally lucrative DS’ update was put on the market, execs were forced to start selling at £129.99 (a £40 reduction). We’re too nice to hope the Switch 2 fairs similarly, but you might not be.

Yes: the mouse function is a game-changer

PC gaming has gone out of fashion over the past 25 years, but there was a time when schoolnights meant brainstorming increasingly psychopathic murder methods in The Sims and poking your crush over MSN messenger until they blocked you. The Switch 2 is hoping to bring the Y2K era storming back with its innovative mouse controls for Joy-Con 2.

The mouse sensor on the side of each controller lets you turn surfaces like a table into a mouse pad. This means point-and-click games such as Age Of Empires, that require greater dexterity than an analog stick can provide, should be easier to handle. We had a go on historical empire-builder Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 during the preview and it worked well. From ordering the construction of an ancient temple to crushing local rebellions with unflinching brutality, there were no tech-related hiccups. We’ll definitely be picking out a few old computer favourites come June 25 to see if there’s a Switch 2 sequel.

A word of warning: NME tested the Joy-Con 2 on a perfectly flat desktop surface. And while Nintendo assured us the sensors would function equally successfully on your lap or the sofa, it might be wise to check before spunking an entire pay-check.

No: most of the improvements aren’t major

At the end of the day, there’s a reason they called it Switch 2 and not the Nintendo Next, as was initially rumoured. Almost all improvements – the slightly bigger size; the higher-definition LCD display; the magnetic attachable Joy-Cons; the slick, all-black design; the crisper audio and 3D spatial sound; the online overhaul – won’t be hugely noticeable to the casual gamer. Unless you really, really want to fling some Bob-ombs at Wario on Mario Kart World – a definitely acceptable reason to pre-order – then there’s little to be lost from waiting several months.

VERDICT:

This is a bolder, better and more beautiful product than the Switch. Mario Kart World is a must-own and whoever had the mouse idea deserves a raise. You should absolutely buy the Switch 2, just not necessarily straight away. There aren’t enough monster titles that you can’t play satisfactorily on the original yet – and it’s super expensive. Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth your money? It’s-a-maybe!

The Nintendo Switch 2 is available on June 5

The post Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth your money? appeared first on NME.

The original God Of War was released on March 22, 2005 and kickstarted an epic franchise of sequels, spin-offs and celebrated reboots. 20 years later, more than 66 million God Of War games have been sold worldwide and a TV adaptation is in the works at Amazon.

Driven by brutal action and an emotionally devastating plot, the first God Of War trilogy followed hulking Spartan warrior Kratos on a mission of revenge against the Greek gods after one deity cruelly tricked the loyal soldier into murdering his own wife and child. The 2018 reboot leaped forward in time and took heavy inspiration from Norse mythology, but the game was still just as brutal. It started with Kratos mourning the death of his second wife Faye before heading out with their young son to spread her ashes from the highest peak in the nine realms – with plenty of mythical beasts and Nordic gods standing in their way.

It’s not just the fluid gameplay and the series’ dramatic take on mythology that’s helped it become one of greatest gaming franchises ever made. Every swing of Kratos’ hefty Leviathan Axe or quiet moment of loss is underpinned by a gorgeous score. The orchestral music of God Of War is as grand as you’d expect for a series about taking on actual gods but there’s also a real sense of scrappy humanity weaved between those epic highs, thanks to the skill of composers like Bear McCreary (God Of War 2018 and Ragnarök) and Gerard Marino (God Of War 1, 2 and 3). It’s little wonder it’s been performed at concerts across the globe.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Sony has teamed up with Laced Records for a bumper vinyl boxset, featuring 150-remastered tracks from across the entire franchise. Individual scores have also been made available on vinyl for the first time. It’s a well-deserved victory lap but, according to both McCreary and Marino, the success of God Of War is something of a miracle.

In the beginning, there was chaos

God Of War (2005)

When Gerard Marino signed on to score the first God Of War game, he was told by everyone involved at Sony’s Santa Monica Studios it was going to be a really big deal. “I knew they were attempting something ambitious…but I really didn’t know if it was going to work out,” he tells NME over Zoom. For most of development, he was scoring blocky figures moving about a blank environment, the ferocious protagonist Kratos was still called Dominus and Marino didn’t get to play a polished version of the game until after it launched for the PS2.

Creator David Jaffe had already had hits with 1995’s vehicular smash-em-up Twisted Metal and its 1996 sequel so Sony bosses let him “run pretty wild” with God Of War.  “There were a lot of ideas about combining different things together so for a long time, we were all just casting around. It really wasn’t obvious [what God Of War] was going to be,” says Marino. For a while, the music was going to be a cross between “this nasty, primordial soup that avoided all melody” and Queen’s glam rock score for Flash Gordon. Remnants of that mash-up (created by Ron Fish) can still be heard in the mystical nightmare of Pandora’s Temple but for the rest of the game, the team realised they needed something “a little more on the nose” so players wouldn’t be baffled by the brand new IP.

So, Marino set about creating music inspired by Hungarian-born composer Miklos Rosza’s Oscar-winning score for 1959 classic Ben Hur, a brassy, sweeping collection of tracks influenced by Greek and Roman music. “It was going to be this grand Hollywood swords-and-sandals epic,” he says, with Jaffe also wanting the character’s motivation to be reinforced with the music. “They wanted a theme like Indiana Jones’, so every time you heard it, you knew [Kratos] was about to do something cool.”

Using the Greek words for “revenge” and “redemption” (“ekdikisi” and “lýtro̱si̱”) he created ‘The Vengeful Spartan’ theme for Kratos. But months later, he was asked to craft something with more sorrow and anguish to better reflect the gruff but loveable hero’s journey through the game. After a few failed attempts and nearly getting fired “because they didn’t really know what they wanted”, Marino turned in the main God Of War theme. Shortly after the game was released, the now-iconic track was performed at the Hollywood Bowl during the first Video Games Live concert. The celebratory show is still on the road and the music of God Of War has never left the setlist.

The sequel had to sound even bigger

God Of War 2 (2007), God Of War 3 (2010)

“Making [the first] God Of War was a crucible of fire for everyone involved,” says Marino, with the whole development team figuring things out as they went along and somehow coming out with a game that was a critical and commercial success. Work quickly began on a sequel. Marino’s beefier, grander score for 2007’s God Of War 2 benefitted from the greater level of trust that was placed in him this time around by studio bosses, who interfered very little.

“We were all given a lot more freedom. I felt like a big boy composer – I was trusted with making all this amazing stuff and given the resources to pull it off.” He teamed up with his buddy Kostas Christides to create Greek scripts that were sung by massive choirs and Sony bosses only gave him two notes during the entire process – one of which was to change a lyric to avoid spoilers. This more ambitious, more daring soundtrack meshed perfectly with God Of War 2, which saw Kratos violently barrelling through legends with a newfound confidence.

By contrast, the soundtrack to 2010’s God Of War 3 was smaller. “It wasn’t as fast and flowery as what we’d done before,” he explains. “We dialled it back because it felt like we’d taken that non-stop tension as far as it could go.”

Three months after it was released, Sony reported that God Of War 2 had sold more than a million copies and in 2009, IGN named it the second best game ever released for the PS2, just behind Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Some critics claimed God Of War 3 was more of the same but that didn’t stop it selling more than 5.6million units – and it’s still regarded as one of greatest video games ever made.

“We all struggle with the search for meaning and those games really dive into universal topics like family, regret, failure and ambition. It helps you feel connected to something bigger,” says Marino of their cultural impact before grinning. “And it’s also a lot of fun to rip through stuff in a big, violent way.”

A new saga needs a new soundtrack

God Of War (2018)

A handful of celebrated prequels and handheld spin-offs kept the legacy of God Of War alive but Santa Monica Studios still wanted to reboot the series with a new mainline title.  Rather than a straightforward follow-up with shiner graphics, they were after something that felt as original as the first game.

Bear McCreary was already a fan and was brought on before the reboot was even green-lit by Sony to create the music. “God Of War was the perfect gaming experience,” he tells NME over Zoom. “The combat system is rewarding, the music is epic, the aesthetic is exciting and the gameplay is fun… and that should have been the end of it. But somehow God Of War 2 was even better. Arguably God Of War 3 was better still. The worst thing you can say about any of those games is that it’s more of the same great stuff.”

Still, God Of War 2018 moved away from Greek mythology to explore Norse legends with an older Kratos heading off to carry out the final wish of his dead wife Faye, alongside their young son Atreus, all while trying to escape the bloody, brutal actions of his past.

After a three hour meeting with director Cory Barlog where the entire story was laid out for him, McCreary knew OG fans were going to love the reboot – but it was more than just nostalgia bait. “There was just something special in the air at Santa Monica Studios,” he explains. “But I really could not have predicted the cultural response that 2018 received.”

McCreary’s plan for this new take on a classic? “Keep nothing the same.” He leaned into the new Scandinavian setting and researched Nordic folk music extensively. Using vintage instruments such as bodhrán frame drums, hardanger fiddles and nyckelharpa, a string quartet and the celebrated Icelandic choir Schola Cantorum Reykjavík, he created something that was as authentic as possible while still taking creative liberties. “Well, I think that’s in-keeping with the spirit of mythology really,” he grins. “When I hear that music now, it transports me to the snow-covered world of God Of War. Honestly, I have to put a sweater on.“

While the Greek music was grand and imposing, the first thing McCreary wrote was a “small, scratchy, intimate” theme, which matched up with the original vibe of the planned revival. But after the game was approved and development progressed, it felt like something was missing. “There was a need to acknowledge the rage, power and obsession that is burning within Kratos, that was on display fully in the Greek games,” says McCreary, who scrapped his original theme (though it was later repurposed for Kratos’ wife Faye) and created something more powerful and masculine. Together these two very different tracks represented the “layered” story that was told across the reboot.

“God Of War 2018 was a radical reinvention,” says McCreary. “It took that formula of epic single-player experiences [that celebrated studio Naughty Dog has honed with Uncharted and The Last Of Us] and turned it on its head. The combat is addictive, the aesthetics are beautiful, the drama is deeper… honestly, it’s a miracle it all came together.”

McCreary was already building a reputation for his emotional, epic scores but after God Of War, he become one of the most in-demand composers around, working on Black Mirror, Call Of Duty, Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power and The Walking Dead. Nothing was going to stop him coming back for the sequel though.

Things got even more emotional with Ragnarök

God Of War: Ragnarök (2022)

Released in 2022, God Of War: Ragnarök still focused on the trials and tribulations of Kratos, but a lot more characters shared the spotlight alongside him. It meant McCreary had to write new themes for new antagonist Freya and doomed dwarven brothers Brok and Sindri, who might have the most tragic story in the entire franchise. The biggest addition was Kratos’ son Atreus finally getting his own theme though.

“God Of War 2018 is the story of a father and son, but the boy didn’t have his own theme because his whole identity was about understanding his parents. In Ragnarök though, he goes on his own journey.” To signify this change, McCreary wrote a “scrappy punk rock” track that takes the first few notes of Kratos’ theme and flips them upside down. “It was this real ‘screw you dad, I’m going my own way’ thing.”

The end of the Norse saga finally allowed God Of War to go full circle

God Of War: Ragnarök – Valhalla (2023)

The release of the free Valhalla expansion in 2023 brought the chapter to an end and let McCreary finally use Marino’s classic theme. “I love the Greek scores and everything they brought to the game. We’d experimented with using them in 2018 but that music deserved better than fan service,” he explains. To get to the point in Valhalla where Kratos faces his younger self and the two sagas finally come together, gamers will have to have put in between 50 and 100 hours. “The fact we withheld those great themes until they could really be meaningful is how we honoured them,” says McCreary. “It makes me so happy that we finished the Norse saga by looking back on the Greek games.”

Valhalla wrapped up Kratos’ story neatly but that hasn’t stopped rumours about a new God Of War series, perhaps inspired by Egyptian mythology. “I’m really proud of my contributions to Kratos’ arc,” says McCreary when asked if he’d come back. “Being able to score the music for the last scene in Valhalla gave me this feeling of completion. That said, Santa Monica Studios have my number…”

Marino still hasn’t played those recent God Of War games. “It’d be like going out for dinner with your ex and her new partner,” he tells NME with a smirk. He’s a big Bear McCreary fan though. “He’s so good at melody, and that’s the thing that people fall in love with.” In fact, Marino started remixing some of McCreary’s God Of War themes for a tour that would feature EDM and industrial metal reworking of classic video game anthems. “The pandemic shut that down, but I still have a vision of every God Of War composer onstage together…maybe that’s how we should launch the vinyl this October.”

Perhaps proving the God Of War series can span generations, McCreary has just finished a playthrough of the entire thing with his daughter. “I love all of those games. I had to cover her eyes a few times but now many 10-year-olds can say they’ve completed the entire God Of War saga?”

And last month, Marino conducted the UCLA’s Game Music Ensemble as they performed a reworked selection of music from God Of War 3. “My daughter Olivia was in utero at that first Hollywood Bowl concert and for this, she performed soprano lead,” he beams. “God Of War really is the gift that keeps on giving.”

The ‘God Of War’ anniversary vinyl collection will be released this October and is available to pre-order here

The post The “miracle” of ‘God Of War’s music – 20 years since the first game appeared first on NME.

It’s been more than a year since Rockstar Games released the teaser trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 and quickly broke the internet. But since the first reveal, the studio hasn’t exactly been generous with updates about the new GTA. We know it’ll see players return to Vice City and is due later this year but beyond that…nothing else has been confirmed.

To stop you constantly refreshing social media in pursuit of more news, we’ve put together a list of essential games to play while you wait for the new GTA. From gritty crime dramas to high-octane racers and beyond, there’s something for all fans of the franchise.

Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)

Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

CD Projekt RED’s open-world action adventure game sees players get to grips with the dystopian world of Night City — a dangerous megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and ceaseless body modification. It’s a little more fantastical than Grand Theft Auto but the grimy streets of Night City will soon feel like home thanks to the game’s enthralling narrative. And that’s before we even get to the glorious gunplay and freedom offered by its absolutely massive map, making Cyberpunk 2077 the perfect distraction for any restless GTA fans.

EA Sports FC 2024 (2023)

Platform: All of them

There are a lot of reasons to play Grand Theft Auto but since the release of 3 in 2001, the games have become a place of music discovery. From Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre to Blondie, Toto and The Human League, the expansive, eclectic in-game radio routinely brings together timeless classics with buzzy new superstars. The only other game to come close to this level of impact is the long-running FIFA franchise, now known as EA Sports FC. If you want some new tunes for your playlists, this is the place to find them.

GTA Online (2013)

Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

This might seem like an obvious choice because Grand Theft Auto 5 is the most recent GTA game, but the world of Online has evolved far beyond the base game. With a number of dedicated role-playing servers and a fiercely dedicated playerbase, GTA Online remains an excitable hub for fans of the franchise. It’s still so popular that it’s rumoured Rockstar Games are pulling heavy influence from the game for GTA 6, with the publisher acquiring the team behind one of the leading roleplay servers in 2023.

Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020)

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC

The Definitive Edition of Mafia is an expanded remake of the 2002 original, which sees players take to the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the 1930s. The open-world action game follows the exploits of cab driver-turned-gangster Tommy Angelo as he climbs the ranks of the Salieri family via a series of legally questionable missions. As well as toying with the police, players can use various cars and motorbikes to speed up their criminal career, which is sure to delight seasoned GTA players.

Need For Speed: Unbound (2022)

Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

One of the best things about Grand Theft Auto is the reckless car chases players find themselves in. While a lot of racing games focus on performance and perfectly-executed gear changes, Need For Speed: Unbound is a gritty street racing game that sees the return of the “Heat System”, which allows players to build up notoriety with the police as they commit increasingly daring crimes. It gives Need For Speed: Unbound a sense of urgency, with players able to dial up the danger at will and live with the consequences (or die trying).

Palworld (2024)

Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Despite how massive the franchise has become, Grand Theft Auto has never taken itself too seriously. Fans into the series’ quirky sense of humour might find something to like in Palworld. Known affectionately as Pokémon with guns (though maybe don’t say that in front of Nintendo), the survival monster-taming game is as cute as it is chaotic, mainly because players are given the freedom to cause as much carnage as they want.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

In the years since Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto 5, the studio has been hard at work on the gun-slinging western Red Dead Redemption 2. Following outlaw Arthur Morgan who has to deal with government forces, rival gangs and the decline of the old west, it’s an epic in every way. Not only is the action-adventure game a brutal, narrative-driven masterpiece, but it also showcases what graphical and gameplay improvements developers could bring to Grand Theft Auto with the next instalment.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003)

Platform: Xbox 360, PC

The Simpsons: Hit & Run may have taken heavy inspiration from the world of Grand Theft Auto, but this cartoonish rampage through the streets of Springfield has become one of the most beloved cult games of all time. Featuring alien conspiracies, timed quests and a general sense of recklessness, the game is easy to pick up but impossible to put down with players tasked with returning normality to the world of The Simpsons. Created alongside the team behind the TV show, Hit & Run is as hilarious and outrageous as you’d expect. Now all we need is a remake.

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (2012)

Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Featuring 24 different expansions, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is absolutely massive. Set in Hong Kong, this gritty undercover cop drama has it all. From illegal street races and a winding narrative to impressive hand-to-hand combat and the occasional burst of karaoke, it’s a game that makes full use of its open-world setting. The constant danger of having your cover blown adds a layer of intensity to the game, but the vibrant setting makes for one hell of a good time.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon (2020)

Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Following in the footsteps of Fallout and The Last Of Us, Yakuza: Like A Dragon is the latest video game to inspire a TV adaptation. And from what we’ve seen so far, it looks great. The stakes are high, though, considering the eighth game in the long-running Yakuza series is already one of the most adored. Following new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, the turn-based RPG has players battling betrayal and questioning loyalty in the criminal underbelly of Japan. Every corner of the rich landscape can be turned into a weapon, making Yakuza: Like A Dragon a deviously entertaining adventure that will really speak to GTA fans.

The post The best games to play while you wait for ‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ appeared first on NME.

As well as introducing a generation of kids to the rapidly growing world of skateboarding and extreme sport, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was a crash course in punk rock. The original 1999 game was an instant hit that  spawned a number of sequels, spin-offs and copycat titles, thanks in no small part to its soundtrack featuring everyone from Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance to AC/DC, the Sex Pistols and House Of Pain.

Alongside travelling skate punk festival Warped Tour and the breakout success of Green Day and Blink-182, the Tony Hawk’s games helped punk to invade the mainstream. Goldfinger’s ‘Superman’ and CKY’s ‘96 Quite Bitter Beings’ especially became generation-defining anthems.

“The impact of the franchise really goes well beyond video games now, though, and I think a pretty good example of that is the inclusion of skateboarding in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games,” Josh Taub of developer Activision Blizzard said in a recent interview with Digital Trends. “I’d like to think that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the catalyst that sparked interest in skateboarding on a global scale, making it possible for incredible pro athletes to share their talent on the world’s stage.”

To celebrate the upcoming release of Pro Skater 3 + 4, we’ve dusted off our CD Walkman to rank each soundtrack from the 15 different Tony Hawk’s titles.

15. Tony Hawk’s Motion (2008)

This Nintendo DS-exclusive saw players control their skateboarder (or snowboarder) of choice via a special, motion-sensing gadget that slid into the GBA slot of the console. With dodgy response times and a lack of content, it was a bit crap. Its soundtrack of specially-created techno music was especially crap, though, with no ties to the punky legacy of what had come before.

If it were a trick… It would use the skateboard as a seat, slowly rocking back and forth at the bottom of a halfpipe and getting in everyone’s way.

14. Tony Hawk: Ride (2009)

Inspired by the success of Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk: Ride made use of a plastic skateboard deck peripheral that allowed you to live out your skating dreams in the comfort of your own home – all without having to worry about broken bones or skinned knees. It was a nice idea that was designed to spark a revolution in gaming, but the reality was more awkward than awesome.

And soundtracking all that frustration was a bloated 58-song playlist that brought together indie rock staples (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Band Of Horses, The Raconteurs) with the world of dance-punk spearheaded by the likes of MGMT. Add in Bill Withers’ feel-good ‘Lovely Day’ and The Commodores’ ‘Machine Gun’ and it’s easy to see why this Tony Hawk’s game felt so confused.

If it were a trick… A ball-busting, Boardslide fail, as seen on every eye-watering When Tricks Go Wrong compilation video.

13. Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam (2018)

The only game in the franchise not published by Activision, Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam was a free-to-play mobile game that basically pasted Hawk’s likeness over the existing Skateboard Party series. It’s a defiant entry – Hawk determined to carry on without his long-term publishing partners – and he reportedly picked the soundtrack himself. Perhaps there were issues with the budget, though, because the resulting 14 tracks includes multiple songs from the same handful of artists. The highlight? ‘The Rover’ from Interpol’s claustrophobic sixth album ‘Marauder’.

If it were a trick… Making a coin disappear. Simple, effective, but not what we were really after.

12. Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam (2006)

Based on the original Pro Skater level of the same name, Downhill Jam took the franchise in a pure racing direction. It was a solid entry in the series, even if it only focused on a tiny part of what made other Tony Hawk’s games so great. And the soundtrack was equally fine. Ticking boxes for indie (The Futureheads), metal (Motörhead), punk (Descendents) and hip-hop (Public Enemy), it followed what had come before without veering off course for a second.

If it were a trick… A 50:50 grind. A skateboarding staple, even if there’s little room for flourish.

11. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 (2015)

The most recent entry in the mainline series, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 was released a solid 13 years after 4. Because the game was developed hastily as the long-standing partnership between Tony Hawk and Activision drew to a close, it was unfinished when it launched. But, it did feature the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Tyler, The Creator as playable skaters, so it’s not all bad, eh?

The soundtrack included the classic punk anthems that the series had become known for, with a sprinkling of thundering rock ‘n’ roll from Royal Blood and Death From Above 1979. It wasn’t exactly what Pro Skater fans wanted, but there was enough nostalgia to keep fans interested.

If it were a trick… Nosegrab. Low-scoring, basic and without much risk.

10. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (2004)

The sixth entry in the Tony Hawk’s series was already dabbling with nostalgia by giving players the chance to skate in remastered classic levels. However, it also pushed things forward with a storyline that involved Hawk and fellow skater Bam Margera putting on a World Destruction Tour.

The soundtrack also straddled worlds, with comforting punk anthems from Jimmy Eat World, Less Than Jake and The Distillers standing next to absolute classics from Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra. Underground 2 wasn’t afraid of getting heavy, either, thanks to bangers from Metallica, Lamb Of God and Disturbed. There was still space for The Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rapper’s Delight’. Something for everyone.

If it were a trick… A crowd-pleasing Triple-Kickflip.

9. Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (2006)

Competing for a spot on Tony Hawk’s newly created team, Project 8 introduced the brilliant Nail The Trick feature and allowed players to rack up their hospital bill by controlling bails. Sadly, the soundtrack seemed to take more inspiration from the FIFA series than the franchise’s own legacy. Featuring Kasabian’s lad-rock anthem ‘Club Foot’, Klaxons’ nu-rave tune ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’ and classics from Joy Division and The Cure, it was an uncomfortable evolution for the series.

If it were a trick… The Leap Of Faith – ambitious but painful.

8. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (2007)

Proving Ground was the ninth Tony Hawk’s game released in eight years. After a few experimental releases in the series, Neversoft’s final skating game was a return to the arcade roots of the franchise. The soundtrack also celebrated what had come before by featuring the same giddy mix of classic punk and hip-hop that made the soundtracks so influential. With tracks from Sex Pistols, Foo Fighters, Bloc Party, Nirvana, Roots Manuva, Jurassic 5 and Bad Brains, it was a non-stop party.

If it were a trick… Air-walk. Loads of fun but you’re not getting anywhere fast.

7. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 remake (2020)

This remastered collection of the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games was a real celebration of everything the series had achieved in 21 years. A love letter to the franchise, the soundtrack featured the very best tunes from the early games, alongside a bunch of modern gems. Tracks from Machine Gun Kelly, DZ Deathrays and Skepta took their place next to Papa Roach and Goldfinger, but it was impossible for this collection to live up to the thrill of the original.

If it were a trick… Nose Manual. A classic trick that’s so similar to the original, but there’s no wow factor.

6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001)

It’s nothing but legends from hereon out. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 had the unenviable task of following up the wildly popular Pro Skater 2, but is still regarded as one of the best video games ever made. Fans could play online for the very first time, while an evolution in the game’s engine meant players could tie together even longer trick combos and really rack up those points.

Perhaps knowing they had an icon on their hands, the soundtrack features CKY’s unofficial skate punk anthem ‘96 Quite Bitter Beings’ alongside tracks from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Del The Funky Homosapien and House Of Pain.

If it were a trick… Handstand – a bit goofy but an instant classic.

5. Tony Hawk’s Underground (2003)

After four successful Pro Skater games, Tony Hawk’s changed things up with Underground. With a new focus on customisation and players able to hop off their board and explore for the first time, Underground felt like a much bigger game than everything before.

And a bigger game needs a meatier soundtrack. Underground definitely didn’t disappoint with 78 different tracks that spanned everything from a live recording of KISS’ ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’ to Nas’ ‘The World Is Yours’ and Refused’s ‘New Noise’. It felt like a revolution all over again.

If it were a trick…  A 20ft ollie between two water towers – it doesn’t get bigger than this.

4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999)

“My intention and expectation for the game was mostly for the enjoyment of skateboarders,” said Tony Hawk, looking back on the original Pro Skater. “I had no idea it would transcend a niche market to become a massive success and – as some have argued – change the course of skateboarding’s popularity. But hey, here we are, still talking about it 25 years later.”

As influential as that game was, the soundtrack had a cultural moment all of its own. Tunes including Goldfinger’s ‘Superman’, The Vandals’ ‘Euro-Barge’, Dead Kennedys’ Police Truck’ and Suicidal Tendencies’ ‘Cyco Vision’ introduced a generation to the rapidly blossoming world of alternative music. We’re not saying punk wouldn’t be what it is today without Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but it’s hard to imagine the genre being quite so influential without the gateway of this soundtrack.

If it were a trick… The 900. Simply iconic, even if it’s since been bettered.

3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)

If you ever need a sequel that’s better than the original, look no further than Pro Skater 2. Sure, the original game is a burst of scrappy skateboarding nostalgia, but the follow-up was a more polished beast that really embraced the power of the franchise. The soundtrack was just as swaggering, introducing gamers to the music of Rage Against The Machine, Papa Roach, Public Enemy and Anthrax. Pro Skater 1 may have started a legacy, but 2 really solidified it.

If it were a trick… A pop shove-it: the trick that launched a thousand pro-skating careers.

2. Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland (2005)

Taking place in an open-world trick paradise that allowed players to pick up abandoned BMX bikes and perform tricks, American Wasteland shook up the franchise and let fans play the game their way.

Not content with a collection of punk, rock and hip-hop classics, the soundtrack saw a number of iconic bands covering songs by their peers. It gave the world My Chemical Romance’s take on The Misfit’s ‘Astro-Zombie’, Fall Out Boy covering Gorilla Biscuits and Taking Back Sunday taking on Descendents. Clearly, the franchise wanted to continue dragging its legacy into the present.

If it were a trick… Around The World: simply sensational and full of flair.

1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (2002)

It might have been the fourth Pro Skater in as many years, but 4 continued to push the franchise forward with new tricks, skaters, a revamped career mode and the ability to hang onto cars and see the sights. And the soundtrack followed suit, bringing together THPS favourites like Goldfinger and N.W.A. with newcomers System Of A Down, The Offspring and Flogging Molly. Classics from Iron Maiden and AC/DC made skating feel epic, while scrappy tracks from The Distillers and The Cult made the game feel like the most exciting thing in the world.

If it were a trick… Nollie Backside 270 Blunt Slide, the gold medal-winning trick.

The post Every ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’ soundtrack – ranked! appeared first on NME.

Since the time-hopping 2007 original, Assassin’s Creed has weaved fantastical conspiracies about an ancient Order Of Assassins and real-world history together to make one of the most successful video game franchises around.

• READ MORE: ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ review: a bold new era for the historical action series

The first few games parkoured between the Italian Renaissance and the American Revolution but recent entries have delved even further into the past. Odyssey, released in 2018, took the sword-swinging action to ancient Greece, before Valhalla recreated the Viking invasion of England two years later. The newest game, Shadows (out March 20), will let players loose in Feudal Japan for the first time.

Music helps to ground each Assassin’s Creed game in its respective era and Shadows sees the return of composer duo The Flight (Joe Henson and Alexis Smith) after their well-received work on Odyssey. “We know how important sound is to video games,” says Smith, whose CV with The Flight also includes soundtracks for acclaimed games Alien: Isolation and Horizon Forbidden West. ”We see games during development and let me tell you, they’re all pretty boring without music.”

Days after they signed up for Shadows, The Flight attended the Symphonic Adventure tour, which is basically an Assassin’s Creed greatest hits show. “It was amazing to see that rich heritage and be reminded of all the fantastic scores,” he continues. “But it was also really intimidating when you’re just about to start a new one…”

Shadows is a game of two halves – which made writing the score difficult

For the very first time in an Assassin’s Creed offering, Shadows features two unique, playable characters that you can pick up and switch out across the game. There’s agile young ninja Naoe, who can slink along undetected; and hulking samurai Yasuke, who takes a much more direct route via the point of his sword. “There’s contrast between the characters, but there’s also contrasts with how they feel and get into various situations, which makes for a much richer player experience,” says Smith. It made scoring the game a bit of a pain though.

The action frequently switches between exploration, adventure, stealth and brutal combat – and the music must match up accordingly. Rather than play things safe and make something that works for all situations, The Flight wanted to play up to those extremes. It’s why Shadows’ mammoth score clocks in at three hours and 40 minutes, which is nearly double what they did for Odyssey. “We basically had to write four different soundtracks that all work seamlessly together,” says Henson. “Yes, it was a challenge but that’s what we do.”

Naoe’s theme is about the power of stealth

“Naoe and Yasuke have very different backgrounds and we wanted to mirror that with the music,” says Smith. The first thing The Flight did was write a five-minute theme for each protagonist that tells a simplified version of their story. Naoe’s, which appears throughout the game in various forms, was built around a traditional Japanese clay pipe and reflects her time growing up in the lush, peaceful forest of Iga before a sudden tragedy.

“The key thing was to have a melody that people could play to each other. Something very simple that you’d play to your child, or something the child would be able to play back,” says Henson.

In typical video game fashion, things get more complicated as Naoe evolves into a highly-skilled assassin. “We wanted to make her feel scary and powerful when she’s in stealth mode. She’s not hiding because she’s scared, she’s very much in control of the situation,” explains Henson. To do this, they used layered whispered dialogue and set it against fast percussion.

Samurai Yasuke needed a nuanced approach

Yasuke’s journey also starts with tragedy but because of his size, his music has a slower BPM. “There is a dark feeling across the whole game and we wanted to reflect that with the score,” says Smith, which is why there’s also a lot of distorted sounds.

However there are moments of calm, which is where tracks like ‘Matters Of The Heart’ (which can be heard below) come into play. “It’s a more peaceful reflection of Yasuke’s theme.”

The Flight worked with a full orchestra to create the cinematic track but also used the traditional Japanese shakuhachi flute. According to developers, the song can be heard when Yasuke romances certain characters throughout the game, with Naoe also given a handful of opportunities for love in an otherwise vicious chain of events. “The vast majority of the score is much moodier and focused on pushing action or exploration but ‘Matters Of The Heart’ is a rare moment of tranquillity and beauty,” says Smith.

Authenticity was crucially important to everyone

As well as speaking to a number of historians and researchers while creating Shadows, the team at Ubisoft wanted The Flight’s score to be built around classic Japanese instruments. “That’s the thing that makes each score unique,” explains Smith. “We never want our music to sound like something we’ve already done. It was really inspiring to work alongside masters of those instruments but also play with the constraints of what each one can do.”

Originally, a Ubisoft executive suggested Naoe’s theme use the Sho, a complicated, expensive woodwind instrument that has to be warmed up before it can be used and needs drying out afterwards. “It was used a lot for horror in traditional plays and has this haunting sound,” which didn’t feel right for the agile ninja. It made perfect sense for The Templar Order who act as the main antagonists in Shadows though.

But The Flight still wanted to give the game a modern feel

Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t the first game to be set in ancient Japan with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice released back in 2019 and the hugely popular Ghost Of Tsushima following a year later. The Flight knew they’d have to do more than learn the Nagoya harp to make their score feel different to what else was out there.

“At its heart, Assassin’s Creed is a science fiction franchise and we always wanted to make a modern sounding score,” says Henson. “When we did Odyssey, we intentionally made the music sound older but for this one, we wanted to combine traditional Japanese instruments with something more contemporary,” so they looked at Western films and turned to acts like Wu-Tang Clan for inspiration. “Hip-hop has taken a lot of influence from Japanese music,” says Smith.

“We both came from pop music rather than a traditional film scoring background, so there’s also a lot of avant garde pop that we were listening to while doing Shadows,” he continues before warning us that you can’t tell that from listening to the finished thing. “We just love anything that pushes boundaries a bit.“

‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ is out March 20 for PlayStation, Xbox and PC. The soundtrack is available to stream now

The post How The Flight crafted ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ stunning, super-sized soundtrack appeared first on NME.

Video games have always had banging soundtracks. In recent years, the best have taken on a life outside of their virtual homes as well. The music of Stardew Valley, Final Fantasy, Elden Ring and Death Stranding have inspired global concert tours while Spotify’s official Top Gaming Tracks playlist has been saved more than 6.9million times. Even ClassicFM are getting in on the action with their weekly Next Level show, hosted by gaming YouTuber DanTDM.

“We’re taking two worlds, mashing them together and hopefully finding some common ground,” he tells NME. The mission is to celebrate gaming music in all its glory, from orchestral blockbusters to the retro beeps of the 8-bit era. “Without music, games are just not as impactful. I just want to show people that there are, and always have been, incredible composers creating amazing music for video games.”

So, we got DanTDM to pick 10 incredible soundtracks that you need on your playlist – five for chilling, five that’ll get you motivated.

The best game soundtracks for relaxing

‘Fallen Down’ – Undertale (composed by Toby Fox)

“Undertale is a very cool, pixel-based game that’s inspired by Earthbound [a goofy ‘90s role-playing game with a cult following]. It’s just a really well-written game and I highly recommend it. Toby Fox developed it but also did the music. What he can do with minimal sounds, the way he can convey such emotion, it’s really impressive. I like a lot of his stuff but ‘Fallen Down’ kinda forces you to [stop and] take a breath.”

‘Awake’ – Celeste (Lena Raine)

Lena Raine makes music similar to Fox, but hers isn’t quite as minimal. She’s done some great stuff in Minecraft but I’ve just started playing Celeste and honestly, I don’t know why it’s taken me this long. It’s another pixel game with a very twinkly, laid back soundtrack. There are some tracks later in Celeste that are more intense but ‘Awake’ is near the start, so it’s a bit more chilled out.”

‘It Takes Two Theme’ (Kristofer Eng)

“It Takes Two is such a beautiful game, visually and with the sonics. This track might not be 100 per cent relaxing but does a really good job of conveying the emotion of the game and how things pan out. It starts off slow, quiet and takes a while to ramp up to become something a bit more intense. There’s a lot of emotion for such a short track and it definitely hits harder after you’ve played the game. The whole thing just feels adventurous.”

‘Sweden’ – Minecraft (C418)

“It’s just a really relaxing tune that takes me straight back to playing Minecraft. I hear those first few notes and I see the Minecraft hand, the empty hotbar and a lot of green, ready to become a new world. There’s something very peaceful about a new Minecraft world. I enjoy that first half a day before things get more serious and you have to hunker down for the night.”

‘1am’ – Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Kazumi Totaka)

“You can only hear this track if you’re playing at 1am. Some of the earlier ones are a little less relaxing but this one hits the sweet spot where you can imagine yourself walking around a peaceful town full of adorable animals. It really sends you to a space of serenity. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is just a proper, chilled out game. You don’t have to take it seriously. Like Minecraft, you can just do things at your own pace.”

The best gaming tracks for getting stuff done

 ‘Donkey Kong Country 1 & 2 Orchestrated’ (Dark Grunt Music)

“It’s upbeat, it’s high energy and it just makes me feel inspired. Like a lot of my picks, I chose this one because it’s nostalgic. As soon as I hear it, I’m taken straight back to being a kid playing my Game Boy Color. I picked the orchestrated version because it’s a medley of all the great tracks from both those games and it proves that even those tiny Game Boy soundtracks work on a massive scale.”

‘Escape From The City’ – Sonic Adventure 2 (Jun Senoue)

“My favourite band of all time is Bring Me The Horizon and right now, I’m loving the new Architects and Spiritbox albums – but this was my first experience with proper rock music. The game starts with you jumping out of a plane and you end up grinding down a helicopter blade, so it doesn’t waste any time in throwing you into the action. If you’re not prepared, this music makes you believe that you can do it.”

‘Gusty Garden Galaxy’ – Super Mario Galaxy (Mahito Yokota)

“This is another game intro that’s very in your face but this music makes you feel like you’re ready for an adventure, whether that’s in the game or in real life. It really sets you up for the day. There are a few tracks from Super Mario 64 that could have been in this playlist as well because [Mahito Yokota] is just an incredible composer. Mario always has the most hype tracks.”

 ‘Route One (Road to Viridian City’) – Pokémon Red & Blue (Junichi Masuda)

“I could have chosen a few different tracks from the original Pokémon games because ‘Versus Wild Pokémon’ is also great. As soon as I hear either of those songs, I want to go back and play those games again. I probably spent hundreds of hours playing them when they first came out. I adore the pixel art and the old school music. Now Nintendo just needs to make them available again.”

‘Wii Sports Theme’ (Kazumi Totaka)

“The Wii was such a massive, ground-breaking console. I remember how difficult it was to get one when they first launched but I got lucky, and Wii Sports was the first game we played. The music is very different [to previous Nintendo games] because it’s a little orchestral with brass instruments but it just sounds epic. The Wii Shop music is iconic as well but that intro for Wii Sports is so good. The top comment on YouTube is ‘this is what plays at the end credits of life’, it’s that sort of track.”

 Next Level with DanTDM Saturdays from 9pm-10pm on Classic FM and Global Player

The post DanTDM’s top game soundtracks for relaxing or getting stuff done appeared first on NME.