Now here's an interesting soundtrack if I ever heard one. Very different from the soundtracks of first Portal and the Half-Life games. I guess it's similar to the Portal 1 soundtrack in a way, seeing as it still captures the Aperture Science atmosphere in the music. Portal 2's soundtrack was composed by Mike Morasky rather than Kelly Bailey who had done most of Valve's soundtracks prior to Portal 2. The change of composer is most likely the number 1 reason why these soundtracks differentiate from each other.

The soundtrack itself, besides being featured in the game, had it release throughout the summer of 2011 with one disc at a time from May to September under the name of "Songs to Test By". Instrument-wise it's pretty much 90% electronic sounds from a synthesizer/organ but with some orchestral pieces every other track. The sounds are very reminiscent to that of "computer" sounds, chiptune if you will, sterile tunes with odd rhythms and harsh bass. Random and chaotic comes to mind, but still with sequence and feeling. As usual, most tracks are not really worth remembering, as they probably filled a particular scene in the game and does not consist of much else than this electronic ambience.

There are still some amazing compositions here though, a lot in fact. It's clear that Valve focused on the soundtrack, as it's in compare with the complete Half-Life 2 Soundtrack + Episodes, in quality. 64 tracks are also way more than usual in a soundtrack, some of the tracks maybe didn't make it into the game but they're still included. All three discs consists of "hits" and keep the originality through despite the lack of different sounds. It does get a bit monotonous after awhile with too much beep boop, I have to admit, but it stays true to the genre. Sticking to the favorites is a good idea to keep the variety at ease, there are plenty of awesome, cute and goofy tracks, especially on the third disc.

Composer: Mike Morasky, Jonathan Coulton.

Here are some favorites:
Disc 1.
1. "Science is Fun"
3. "9999999"
9. "The Future Starts With You"
11. "You Know Her?"
16. "Hard Sunshine"
19. "Turret Wife Serenade"

Disc 2.
1. "You Will Be Perfect"
2. "Halls of Science 4"
4. "An Accent Below"
11. "I AM NOT A MORON!"
16. "PotatOS Lament"

Disc 3.
1. "Reconstructing More Science"
2. "Wheatley Science"
4. "Machiavellian Bach"
9. "Bombs for Throwing at You"
10. "Your Precious Moon"
12. "Cara Mia Addio"
13. "I Want You Gone" - Jonathan Coulton
16. "Some Assembly Required"
24. "Robots FTW"

Also "Exile Vilify" (Youtube) by The National is officially a part of the Portal 2 Soundtrack, but is not included in Songs to Test By.

Now here's an interesting soundtrack if I ever heard one. Very different from the soundtracks of first Portal and the Half-Life games. I guess it's similar to the Portal 1 soundtrack in a way, seeing as it still captures the Aperture Science atmosphere in the music. Portal 2's soundtrack was composed by Mike Morasky rather than Kelly Bailey who had done most of Valve's soundtracks prior to Portal 2. The change of composer is most likely the number 1 reason why these soundtracks differentiate from each other. The soundtrack itself, besides being featured in the game, had it release throughout the summer of 2011 with one disc at a time from May to September under the name of "Songs to Test By". Instrument-wise it's pretty much 90% electronic sounds from a synthesizer/organ but with some orchestral pieces every other track. The sounds are very reminiscent to that of "computer" sounds, chiptune if you will, sterile tunes with odd rhythms and harsh bass. Random and chaotic comes to mind, but still with sequence and feeling. As usual, most tracks are not really worth remembering, as they probably filled a particular scene in the game and does not consist of much else than this electronic ambience. There are still some amazing compositions here though, a lot in fact. It's clear that Valve focused on the soundtrack, as it's in compare with the complete Half-Life 2 Soundtrack + Episodes, in quality. 64 tracks are also way more than usual in a soundtrack, some of the tracks maybe didn't make it into the game but they're still included. All three discs consists of "hits" and keep the originality through despite the lack of different sounds. It does get a bit monotonous after awhile with too much beep boop, I have to admit, but it stays true to the genre. Sticking to the favorites is a good idea to keep the variety at ease, there are plenty of awesome, cute and goofy tracks, especially on the third disc. Composer: Mike Morasky, Jonathan Coulton. Here are some favorites: Disc 1. 1. "[u][i]Science is Fun[/i][/u]" 3. "[i]9999999[/i]" 9. "[i]The Future Starts With You[/i]" 11. "[i]You Know Her?[/i]" 16. "[i]Hard Sunshine[/i]" 19. "[i]Turret Wife Serenade[/i]" Disc 2. 1. "[i]You Will Be Perfect[/i]" 2. "[i]Halls of Science 4[/i]" 4. "[i]An Accent Below[/i]" 11. "[i]I AM NOT A MORON![/i]" 16. "[i]PotatOS Lament[/i]" Disc 3. 1. "[u][i]Reconstructing More Science[/i][/u]" 2. "[i]Wheatley Science[/i]" 4. "[i]Machiavellian Bach[/i]" 9. "[i]Bombs for Throwing at You[/i]" 10. "[i]Your Precious Moon[/i]" 12. "[u][i]Cara Mia Addio[/i][/u]" 13. "[u][i]I Want You Gone[/i][/u]" - Jonathan Coulton 16. "[i]Some Assembly Required[/i]" 24. "[u][i]Robots FTW[/i][/u]" Also "Exile Vilify" ([url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Vg2YS-sFE]Youtube[/url]) by The National is officially a part of the Portal 2 Soundtrack, but is not included in Songs to Test By.