It's not hyperbole to say that as today, as of this very minute, the recent crop of games may be helping saving rock n' roll, if not all of music. Suddenly, 10-year-olds know who Thin Lizzy and Mountain (!) are, suddenly Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" can be heard sung aloud in high-school cafeteria lines. Those wondering how crucial the connection between music and gaming has become need only really know two things: Lars Ulrich is making his music downloadable to "Rock Band" franchise, and that the same series will be home to the first new official Guns N' Roses song in 78 years. As such, we humbly present this admittedly subjective survey of the best video game songs. For the purposes of this article, that means actual, real-live songs, not the boss-battle music from level 5 of Ninja Gaiden, or the Fever music from Dr. Mario. No covers, no instrumentals, no MIDI versions on the NES. The songs here were picked not only because they're awesome in their own right, but also because they somehow augment or accentuate game play in a way that an anonymous shreddy instrumental couldn't.
-Jeff Vrabel

Let's be honest, this song's no "Welcome to the Jungle," or, for that matter, "Pretty Tied Up." But "Rock Band 2" has figured out how to do what over a decade of pressure, New York Times articles, soft-drink companies, petitions, record company pleas and Bucketheadian maneuvers have failed to: get an official new Guns N' Roses song released in the universe.