Unoriginal Soundtracks #49: Left 4 Dead 2

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Left 4 Dead 2 tightened the formula Left 4 Dead concocted: intense co-operative adventuring with much more character and atmosphere than one would expect from a multiplayer-only shooter. That character makes for an episode of Liverpudlian rock, St Louisan jazz, New York mariachi, and more.

Unoriginal Soundtracks #45: Crysis

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Mixing sandbox inconsequence from Grand Theft Auto, with the tactical approach to combat from Far Cry, Crysis is one of the premier power fantasies in games. It's generic in many ways, but it inspires a playlist of hip hop, spoken word, and noisy guitar-rock.