CREDIT: STUBBS THE ZOMBIE
Stubbs the Zombie is one video game that came with an awesome soundtrack that gave you the urge to sing along.

Last week I talked about Galactic Pinball, Cyber Speedway, the Hitman series, Panzer Dragoon and R-Type, five video games with truly awesome soundtracks that were overlooked. Here I present four more video games with unforgettable music.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (PC, XBOX, PS2, Gamecube)
The true peak of the Splinter Cell series of stealth action games (that has unfortunately become victim to being manufactured for “mass appeal”), Chaos Theory boasted slick, eye-pleasing visuals, open-ended, skillful gameplay, a shallow story that served as a backdrop for protagonist Sam Fisher's banter with whatever terrorist whose throat he just put a knife to, but most importantly, an earthumping, heart pulsing soundtrack by composer Amon Tobin.

While previous entries to the Splinter Cell series were merely generic action-movie music that served its purpose to fill in as background noise, Chaos Theory's music, comprised of a mix of loud, tense drums, deep, rumbling bass guitars, and various electronic elements, sought to heighten the tension, the music switching from an easy-going pace to a full-on “YOU JUST SCREWED UP” the moment you were spotted. Few games can boast a soundtrack that provides immersion as well as Chaos Theory's.

The Jet Grind Radio Series (Dreamcast, Xbox, PC)
A mix of fresh electronic, big beat, hip-hop and dance music that ties quite well with the graffitiartist theme of these rollerblading games. Play the soundtracks of these games at any party, and no one will be the wiser (but will likely have a good time dancing to it).

ProjectHorned Owl (PlayStation)
Project Horned Owl was a fairly innocuous mecha-based lightgun game from 1996. Gameplay-wise, it did nothing in a particularly different or innovative fashion to differ it from its more well-known lightgun peers like Time Crisis or House of the Dead. What Horned Owl did have, however, were cheesy but surprisingly high-quality anime cut-scenes directed by Masamune Shirow (Fire Emblem, Ghost in the Shell) backed with some equally cheesy but rocking music. Sometimes, I pop the game into my PlayStation just to hear that sweet main-menu theme.

Stubbs the Zombie (Xbox, PC)
A game that was unfairly ignored despite the controversy surrounding the acts of cannibalism performed by its zombie protagonist, Stubbs the Zombie is nevertheless an extremely original and fun game that's worth your time. Set in a retro-futuristic city modeled somewhat humorously after Disney World's Tomorrowland, Zombie's soundtrack features amazing covers of classic '50s hits such as “Sandman” and “Lollipop,” by bands like The Flaming Lips and Death Cab for Cutie in a cool fusion of alt-rock and the era's bubblegum style. It's very listenable, to say the least, and you'll give in to the urge to sing along.