This is post number 26 in the series “30 Days of Tales from the Loop,” a celebration of the game set in an 80s that never was.
Ready for one more soundtrack that would be useful in a game of Tales from the Loop? Let’s listen to the score to another iconic 80s film featuring kids as protagonists: Goonies! Here I’m covering the 25th anniversary edition of the score, by Dave Grusin. (I considered discussing the soundtrack instead, the one with pop songs of the time such as “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough” by Cyndi Lauper, but I don’t think most of those songs are noteworthy, and in a game, we have plenty of excellent period songs to fill the role of 80s pop.)
- Fratelli Chase. Cheerful and exciting. Use this when the Kids are evading mundane or bumbling enemies, but not scary robots.
- Map and Willie. Suspenseful synthesizer music, but not too scary. Perhaps useful for the revelation of a Mystery.
- The Goondocks (Goonies Theme). Don’t let the title fool you–this is NOT Cyndi Lauper’s Goonies theme song. This one is peaceful and slow and uneventful. Play it in the Hideout when absolutely nothing is going on.
- Doubloon. Similar to the previous track, but picking up in tempo and interest. Plus more synthesizer. That’s more like it.
- Lighthouse. Dramatic and suspenseful. Something has happened!
- Cellar and Sloth. Slower but still suspenseful. Good exploration music. Builds in action after the midpoint.
- Restaurant Trash. Peaceful flute piece. Perhaps for a budding romance?
- The “It”, Fifty Dollar Bills and a Stiff. Nice, mysterious track with spooky sounds. Good for creeping around in the basement. Be warned that the track gets much happier, briefly, in about the last minute, and then much scarier.
- It All Starts Here. Tense string music similar to track 8, laced with antici–
- Plumbing. Now back to a happy, quirky track. The Kids are on top of things…or struggling to be, but either way, they’re not facing tire threat.
- Skull and Signature. Creepy, with more spooky sounds. Great for exploration or investigation.
- Boulders, Bats and a Blender. A nice blend of action and kid-friendly creepiness. Such as if robots are coming for the Kids…but they’re toy robots, not Terminators!
- Wishing Well and the Fratellis Find Coin. Here’s a slower piece, the kind I’m prone to consider suitable for a scene in the Hideout.
- Mikey’s Vision. A mix of peaceful and synthesizer-driven, and I never say no to synth music. I’m not afraid to say it, either! In fact, TRON has the best soundtrack ever recorded! This is indisputable!!! … Where was I? Oh, yeah, this track. Perhaps borrow from the title and use this for a strange vision or dream scene.
- Oath and Booby Traps. Short track that starts out slow and peaceful but then gets more exciting.
- Triple Stones and a Ball. Another mix of action and tension. Maybe 75% skewed toward tension. Plus a little whimsy toward the end. This is Goonies, not Alien.
- Pee Break and Kissing Tunnel. Peaceful, synth-strong, inquisitive. Good for a scene between Kids.
- They’re Here and Skull Cave Chase. I’m running out of ways to say “whimsical,” but that happens here again. Then the piece moves toward action. Whimsical action.
- Playing The Bones. An alternating mix of creepy suspense and action. You might use this for a cat-and-mouse type of interaction. Also features a drumbeat that sounds just like beating on old bones. (Don’t ask me how I know that.)
- Water Slide and Galleon. Track 20: The Return to Whimsy! This is a happy action piece useful for when the Kids are winning.
- Octopus. A darker, menacing piece. Short, but useful for introducing a villain.
- The Inferno. Slow and suspenseful but not scary. Plus more synthesizer.
- One Eyed Willie. Spooky and ethereal (synth-ereal?), and would be great for an encounter with a ghost. Every game needs ghosts.
- Treasure, Data & Mouth and Walk The Plank. This track starts like a triumphant march and continues that way on and off. Perhaps start this when the Kids are on their way to the Mystery’s final confrontation.
- Sloth & Chunk. Speaking of triumphant marches–here’s another one! These might also be useful for a scene of Everyday Life where we see a Kid just KICKING ASS at chores.
- Mama & Sloth. A peaceful and happy song, useful for matching scenes of Everyday Life.
- The Fighting Fratellis, Sloth’s Choice and Ultimate Booby Trap. This is music of light or rising action sprinkled with periods of triumph. Good for a fight scene.
- The Reunion and Fratellis On Beach. More triumphant march music. Makes you think these Goonies aren’t going to be defeated after all! Your Kids should be just like them.
- No Firme and Pirate Ship. This soundtrack is definitely ending on a victorious note. I’m figuring this movie takes the same stance on not killing kids that Tales from the Loop does.
- End Titles (Goonies Theme). This one veers into semi-pop-song territory, without lyrics. For me, that means skip it.
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| That’s my boy. |