This companion release collects some of the best original licensed-style rock tracks created specifically for the Guardians of the Galaxy game, performed by the fictional in-universe band Star-Lord. These aren't orchestral score pieces -- they're full-on arena rock anthems written to sit alongside the game's real '80s licensed soundtrack from bands like Iron Maiden, KISS, and Bonnie Tyler.
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"Zero to Hero" and "Space Riders with No Names" are ridiculously catchy power rock tunes that could have genuinely charted in 1986, complete with shredding guitar solos and unapologetically cheesy lyrics about cosmic adventure.
"Ghost" slows things down into power ballad territory and is surprisingly affecting, while "Dragon Lord Of Kakaranathara" -- try saying that three times fast -- is pure over-the-top metal fantasy storytelling that perfectly captures the kind of music Peter Quill would have grown up worshipping.
The inclusion of orchestral score highlights like "The Monster Queen" and "Discouraged Souls" alongside the rock tracks creates an interesting contrast that mirrors the game's own tonal juggling act between humor and genuine emotional depth.
What makes this collection special is how committed the songwriting is. These tracks weren't phoned in as background novelty -- songwriter Steve Szczepkowski and the team at Eidos-Montreal crafted songs that sound authentically of their era while serving the game's narrative.
"Good People Never Really Die" hits different after certain story beats, and "The Matriarch" carries a weight that goes beyond its stadium-rock exterior. It's a love letter to '80s rock wrapped in a Marvel package, and it absolutely rips.