Creepy, alien sound design that makes VR feel even more suffocating. Mike Morasky scored Half-Life: Alyx in these chapter-sized chunks, and Chapter 5 is where the Xen flora and fauna start closing in on you. "Alien Flora" is unsettling in this quiet, organic way, like the plants are watching.
Read more
"Arachnophobia" ramps the tension to unbearable levels with skittering, sharp textures that absolutely earn the name. Then "Lightning Dog" hits with something more aggressive and electric, matching those crackling Xen creatures perfectly.
"Extract. Resonate. Isolate." The title reads like a Combine directive and the music follows suit. If you've been through this chapter in VR and need to relive the dread from the safety of your headphones, here it is.