When it comes to sandbox games, licensed music is typically part of the package. It adds to the feeling of being immersed in whatever game world you have chosen. Get in a vehicle and tune to your favorite radio station. It's just like real life. Because I love music, this is one of my favorite elements of open world games. Even in games to which the "sandbox" moniker doesn't apply, like Fallout 3, I am always grateful for some kind of customizable radio function to choose my own audio backdrop for my adventures. Of course, some consoles allow you to add your own soundtrack from music on the hard drive or a streaming service (depending on the game), but here I'm talking about curated licensed tracks chosen by the developers specifically for their game.



Saints Row The Third has a great licensed soundtrack featuring a wide variety of genres and artists. Music can be played in any vehicle via the radio and the game features a mixtape function which allows you to choose your favorite songs in one sequence. In addition you can remove stations you don't like from the game entirely. I love the mixtape function, but one drawback of it is that the songs play from the top of the list every time you boot the game and sometimes it even starts over when you go into and out of a story mission. You can move the tracks around manually for a fresher mix, but I really would have loved a shuffle function to remedy this.

My only other complaint about the music in the game is that it can only be listened to in when in a vehicle during normal play. This is remedied in the next game the series, but for now you have to cruise if you want to groove. As I play through the game for the second time since 2012, I find myself enjoying the music as much as ever. I usually have it so loud that my sound bar is drifting along my tv stand from the vibrations. I even lowered the voice and sound effects in the options menu so the music is even louder in the general mix. I'll quickly mention that I also enjoy the dubstep and EDM styled score of the game, meaning the music in this game is an all-around victory, but now let's get into some of my favorite of the licensed tracks in more detail.

The Do - Queen Dot Kong - French duo The Do (pronounced like a female deer) bring us this cartoonish and silly but catchy as hell banger. This game was the first time I ever heard of this band and I've been into them ever since. I have no idea what this song is about but it's just one of those songs that you can take different things from each time you hear it. (Gen X)


Amanda Blank featuring Spank Rock - Gimme What You Got - Philadelphia rapper Amanda Blank released what is so far her only album entitled I Love You in 2009 and it is one of my favorites of all time. It combines pop, rap, electronic and all kinds of other stuff into a party of an album that doesn't overstay its welcome clocking in at just over a half hour. I have been listening to this album on a regular basis since it came out and I cannot wait for Amanda's next album. (K-Rhyme)


Divalola - Wallflower - It's a little challenging to find information on this song. The performer is known as Divalola, but in the game the song is credited to the production team of Kevin and Carrick. However you slice it, this synth-pop masterpiece was at the top of my list for much of my playthrough. It reminds me of my favorite Madonna song, Into the Groove. Just a young lady beckoning a young man to join her on the dance floor. It has a serious tone that builds to the hooky chorus and will make you want to stop being a wallflower after hearing it.(K12)


Wavves - Idiot - My last selection is the jangly surf punk of San Diego based Wavves. I prefer the title track off this album, King of the Beach, but Idiot features the same sun soaked spirit with snotty punk lyrics. It's a great song to jump a motorcycle off a bridge to.(SWIM)

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