A Modest Rant on Video Game Soundtracks
- Thread starter ScrubberDucky
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If a game had either really bad music, or no music it would be extremely noticable. Most of the games I play, the audio sequences basically hardwire themselves into my brain and I react to those certain musical pieces by settling my hands onto certain keys and sitting up a little straighter, or relaxing a little. The music in a game generally isn't noticed unless a specific moment stands out in the game, because the music is there to blend so seamlessly into the experience. Music can make us react, it's the window to our souls. That and food.
Bioshock made fantastic use of both licensed music and original score :3
Fort Frolic is one of my favourite game levels ever, and I'd say a good deal of its quality comes from scoring. It's also incredibly memorable as a result.
One of my favourite pieces of music in all history. Not just video-games.
Fort Frolic is one of my favourite game levels ever, and I'd say a good deal of its quality comes from scoring. It's also incredibly memorable as a result.
One of my favourite pieces of music in all history. Not just video-games.
I cannot have enough of any of t he epic songs played throughout Kingdom Hearts Series. I've found myself also using youtube to listen to songs from Alice:Madness Returns.
Music is often an afterthought in games, but it's not to say it isn't bad! I love most video game music, I'm still waiting for it to get up to film industry standards, but oh well.
The film industry has claim over the best music. Music used in films always seem to be incredibly good, while video game music is only sometimes good.
The film industry has claim over the best music. Music used in films always seem to be incredibly good, while video game music is only sometimes good.
Over the last few years there have been a fuckton of memorable game soundtracks - soundtracks that still stir up detailed memories and emotional responses when I hear them today.
Shadow of the Colossus, Dawn of War (I + II), Red Dead Redemption, Prince of Persia (Sands of Time trilogy + PoP 2008), NieR, Halo, Assassin's Creed (2 + Brotherhood), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Battlefield: Bad Company, Bastion, God of War, ... the list goes on.
Granted, compared to the staggering total number of games released each year it's still a small list, but we really do get new gems every year; I don't think game soundtracks are going down the crapper in terms of quality.
Shadow of the Colossus, Dawn of War (I + II), Red Dead Redemption, Prince of Persia (Sands of Time trilogy + PoP 2008), NieR, Halo, Assassin's Creed (2 + Brotherhood), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Battlefield: Bad Company, Bastion, God of War, ... the list goes on.
Granted, compared to the staggering total number of games released each year it's still a small list, but we really do get new gems every year; I don't think game soundtracks are going down the crapper in terms of quality.
Is that including licensed songs? Or are you just referring to actual instrumental tracks?Robert Ewing said:
Yes, movies have had some great soundtracks such as Lord of the Rings, Requiem for a Dream, Psycho and anything by John Williams, but other than those for me personally there are no instrumental only tracks that really stand out to me in movies.
Video games on the other hand, there are plenty of games with musical tracks that I can listen to all day.
How can you forget the epic soundtracks of Portal? Not to mention the credits songs 
I mean, listen to this from 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-4BKIlRTE&feature=related
Portal, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Halo have my favourite soundtracks ever :3
I mean, listen to this from 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-4BKIlRTE&feature=related
Portal, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Halo have my favourite soundtracks ever :3
Video game soundtracks have always been something close to my heart. The first game that really brought it to my attention was Banjo Kazooie, such good music. Recently, I have been listening to 2 soundtracks above all others - They are Xenoblade and Nier. They have phenomenal soundtracks.
Here's a few examples.
Seriously some amazing work on display here.
Here's a few examples.
Seriously some amazing work on display here.
It really depends on the game. Alan Wake is good for this, because it doesn't just have a great soundtrack, but in fact you have to find it yourself. There's no real 'background music' as such, though the game has it's own score (with some very beautiful songs), but in each level you have the chance to hear radio shows hosted by one of the minor characters, who then ends each show by playing a song. The songs are (save in two cases) from real bands, the two I mentioned that aren't are instead done by the in-game band Old Gods Of Asgard (really Poets Of The Fall), and you have to find them yourself, but they sum up the game itself very nicely. Except Coconut at the start, which is just bizarre, but still an awesome tune .
My point is, it takes the soundtrack and turns it into an effective reward for exploring and making an effort to find things in-game, and adds to that with some juicy plot details given by one song in particular...
.My point is, it takes the soundtrack and turns it into an effective reward for exploring and making an effort to find things in-game, and adds to that with some juicy plot details given by one song in particular...
Instrumental, and ambient tracks. Basically music created for the purpose of the movieChupathingyX said: