does music to you play a massive part in games
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For me it can be a massive influence, if the music is serene and slow, easing you into the mood of the game, or a tenser version for different tempos. I love good music in games and other forms of media and always will.
Music to me (along with good sound overall) is vital to immersion...I've been playing Ace Combat: Assault Horizon and I doubt it'd be anywhere near as good without it's music. It helps me get deep into the game, so I think music is vital to most games.
Music and the lack of music can make a huge difference.
Okami has a very traditional Japanese sound to it.
The sense of freedom and elation I felt when I first heard this track was astounding.
Then there's Shadow of the Colossus. No music plays while you're exploring the land, only emphasising the loneliness of that world. But then, you encounter a colossus, and eveything changes...
Arghh! I just wanna climb shit!
Okami has a very traditional Japanese sound to it.
The sense of freedom and elation I felt when I first heard this track was astounding.
Then there's Shadow of the Colossus. No music plays while you're exploring the land, only emphasising the loneliness of that world. But then, you encounter a colossus, and eveything changes...
Arghh! I just wanna climb shit!
It's integral for all games except horror or competetive multiplayer. Music plays a large role in immersion because it's another way to reinforce a particular setting or emotion(s).
For horror, I don't think it's 'vital' because of two reasons.
1. Sound effects are definately better at causing fear than music. I find it a much more effective way to build up suspense. Music CAN do it as well, and I guess you could consider a smart use of sound effects music (Edgard Varése's definition of music is "organized sound". A little broad but you get the idea.) I think for more cinematic events, music may fit in better. This is all just my opinion though.
2.Silence is a great way to make a scene more poignant. It's a time where suspense is at its peak, where the viewer/player expects the horror inducing scene to happen.
For multiplayer, I just think the music makes it rather distracting, especially when you're required to listen to sound effects to get an advantage in a game.
For horror, I don't think it's 'vital' because of two reasons.
1. Sound effects are definately better at causing fear than music. I find it a much more effective way to build up suspense. Music CAN do it as well, and I guess you could consider a smart use of sound effects music (Edgard Varése's definition of music is "organized sound". A little broad but you get the idea.) I think for more cinematic events, music may fit in better. This is all just my opinion though.
2.Silence is a great way to make a scene more poignant. It's a time where suspense is at its peak, where the viewer/player expects the horror inducing scene to happen.
For multiplayer, I just think the music makes it rather distracting, especially when you're required to listen to sound effects to get an advantage in a game.
Music is often a vital factor in making games as immersive and emotional as possible. It can turn a regular scene into a much more powerful one or even tell you something about the story with its tone (See SotC), so yes, music is definitely important.
However, it is not always crucial. There are kinds of games or scenes that would do better without background music. There are horror games that stay quiet the entire time, for example, because music would give away danger or just ruin the creepy atmosphere.
So if it fits into the game or scene and would overall improve it, then it should indeed contain good music made by TALENTED composers, because generic, boring music harms more than it helps.
If the game can or should do without, then it should do without.
Although all of them are good, obviously. And the after-battle song is incredible as well, because it tells so much about the story. Even changing it a little bit would completely destroy the entire scene. Man, I love SotC so much.
However, it is not always crucial. There are kinds of games or scenes that would do better without background music. There are horror games that stay quiet the entire time, for example, because music would give away danger or just ruin the creepy atmosphere.
So if it fits into the game or scene and would overall improve it, then it should indeed contain good music made by TALENTED composers, because generic, boring music harms more than it helps.
If the game can or should do without, then it should do without.
Oh and this one too. It captures the fact that you're battling an enormous beast perfectly as well.Daystar Clarion said:
Although all of them are good, obviously. And the after-battle song is incredible as well, because it tells so much about the story. Even changing it a little bit would completely destroy the entire scene. Man, I love SotC so much.
For most of the games I play...yes, yes it is very important. I couldn't imagine the games without the music, the most significant example being the Dynasty Warriors games.
However, sometimes having no music playing can be good, when building tension or maybe to give a sense of emptiness.
However, sometimes having no music playing can be good, when building tension or maybe to give a sense of emptiness.
Yes.
I can't imagine playing a game with a bad soundtrack for very long. Sounds can lend the game life and atmosphere, increase tension or get adrenaline pumping.
A developer who fails to recognise the importance of sound in games is a bad developer.
I can't imagine playing a game with a bad soundtrack for very long. Sounds can lend the game life and atmosphere, increase tension or get adrenaline pumping.
A developer who fails to recognise the importance of sound in games is a bad developer.
For the most part Yes, but also the lack of music can be powerful aswell.
Sometimes music actually ruins the atmosphere for me, like in horror films/games, the overuse of music can be annoying because it actually removes tension because you know something is about to happen because the 'tense' music has started playing.
Sometimes music actually ruins the atmosphere for me, like in horror films/games, the overuse of music can be annoying because it actually removes tension because you know something is about to happen because the 'tense' music has started playing.
By "vital" i understand "not optional". If so, then no. Even best soundtracks aren't required for good products to be that way. And even most awesome soundtrack won't change shitty product for better.
Music is important it can add an atmosphere, depth, but it's not massive, vital part in my opinion.
Music is important it can add an atmosphere, depth, but it's not massive, vital part in my opinion.
Yes it is important. especially when the music itself is good. for example, the COD BL OPs Zombies soundtrack is actually very good.
Yes, music is a part of the gaming experience and it can really build up atmosphere no matter what kind of game you're playing whether it's the stuff from Katamari or the Suicide Mission from Mass Effect, the music is a driving emotional force behind most games. Obviously there are some games where the music matters more or less than others.
I'd say Just Cause 2 is an example of a game where the music didn't make so much of the experience but then it wasn't intended to be taken as a serious narrative heavy game but just a mental action extravaganza.
In horror games, especially Amnesia: The Dark Descent, the sound is just as important as the images for creating atmosphere which includes the music that plays, the shrieking tune that plays when a mosnter is clsoe or you're looking at it sets the player on edge, on more than one occassion I think I was touching cloth from this.
Final Fantasy is a chief exmaple of the importance of music, before Final Fantasy 10 there were no voices to the characters and no facial animations *unless you count some of the more cartoony effects from FF6* so the main way to communicate with the audience on an emotional level is with the music, for example look at Tifa's theme, when we meet her in FF7 all we know is that she's working behind a bar and is affiliated with Barret somehow, her theme within the first 10 seconds lets us know that she's a gentle character and the way she greets Cloud shows that they already have a friendship.
I'd say Just Cause 2 is an example of a game where the music didn't make so much of the experience but then it wasn't intended to be taken as a serious narrative heavy game but just a mental action extravaganza.
In horror games, especially Amnesia: The Dark Descent, the sound is just as important as the images for creating atmosphere which includes the music that plays, the shrieking tune that plays when a mosnter is clsoe or you're looking at it sets the player on edge, on more than one occassion I think I was touching cloth from this.
Final Fantasy is a chief exmaple of the importance of music, before Final Fantasy 10 there were no voices to the characters and no facial animations *unless you count some of the more cartoony effects from FF6* so the main way to communicate with the audience on an emotional level is with the music, for example look at Tifa's theme, when we meet her in FF7 all we know is that she's working behind a bar and is affiliated with Barret somehow, her theme within the first 10 seconds lets us know that she's a gentle character and the way she greets Cloud shows that they already have a friendship.
Well, depends on the game.
If the game has good music that is used well, then yes, absolutely.
I said something similar in this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.318346-A-Modest-Rant-on-Video-Game-Soundtracks?page=1] recently. A good game soundtrack should complement what is happening on screen. Y'know, fast exciting music for action scenes, slow relaxing stuff for safe areas, tense tracks for stealth or horror games... you get the idea. If a soundtrack is impressive or memorable on its own then that's great, but its primary purpose should be to help make the game's scenes, locations and characters memorable.
I'll spare you all the list of Youtube imbeds and oh-my-god-this-music-is-so-great descriptions. Suffice to say, Bastion and Amnesia are two relatively recent examples of games with music that does this very effectively.
If the game has good music that is used well, then yes, absolutely.
I said something similar in this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.318346-A-Modest-Rant-on-Video-Game-Soundtracks?page=1] recently. A good game soundtrack should complement what is happening on screen. Y'know, fast exciting music for action scenes, slow relaxing stuff for safe areas, tense tracks for stealth or horror games... you get the idea. If a soundtrack is impressive or memorable on its own then that's great, but its primary purpose should be to help make the game's scenes, locations and characters memorable.
I'll spare you all the list of Youtube imbeds and oh-my-god-this-music-is-so-great descriptions. Suffice to say, Bastion and Amnesia are two relatively recent examples of games with music that does this very effectively.
Yes, good music is vital to some games.
It adds to the atmosphere: creepy, tense, happy, angry, or whatever.
Without good choice music the atmosphere can really disappoint.
But this only matters to games with atmosphere, not ALL games need music to be good.
The lack of music can also add.
It's not necessarily vital, but games wouldn't be the same without them.
It adds to the atmosphere: creepy, tense, happy, angry, or whatever.
Without good choice music the atmosphere can really disappoint.
But this only matters to games with atmosphere, not ALL games need music to be good.
The lack of music can also add.
It's not necessarily vital, but games wouldn't be the same without them.
