How Far Can A Good Soundtrack Carry A Game?

[nickyv917]

I have heard some people try to justify a horrible game because of the sole fact that has a kick-ass soundtrack. So, let me ask you guys: is a game whose only redeemable quality is its soundtrack a game worth buying?

PS: I don't actually intend to by such a game, it's just something I'm curious of other opinions on it.

 

[AD-Stu]

I can't ever see myself buying a game purely for the soundtrack. I've got a CD rack / hard drive full of great music already, I need something more from a game to make it worth buying.

 

[sextus the crazy]

No. Most likely if a game has a good soundtrack, it has a separate soundtrack to buy/download. Just get that. I did the same for C&C:RA3 because I heard it was shit, but the soundtrack was so good.

 

[Lionsfan]

No, a soundtrack can enhance a game for me, but it's never something that will make or break the game

 

[Daystar Clarion]

No, a soundtrack can enhance a game for me, but it's never something that will make or break the game

Usually, I'd agree with this, but I've played Journey.

Playing Journey is like playing your part in a symphony, and wouldn't have had nearly as much impact on me without the soundtrack.

 

[Frankster]

Great music can go a long way to multiplying the fun of a game or making you more forgiving of its shortcomings. But cant do the job by itself, still needs to be some decent gameplay or il just go "screw this" and look for the soundtrack on youtube or something, if ost is THAT good you can bet someone somewhere on the net uploaded it.

 

[mParadox]

I'unno, there's no way Borderlands 2 would've been as cool as it was if it hadn't for the kickass soundtrack playing in the background while you head shot the bosses and such. >.>

Now Audiosurf on the otherhand. <.<

 

[nickyv917]

I'unno, there's no way Borderlands 2 would've been as cool as it was if it hadn't for the kickass soundtrack playing in the background while you head shot the bosses and such. >.>

Now Audiosurf on the otherhand. <.<

Oh, yeah, I forgot about Audiosurf. That would pretty much suck without the soundtrack.

 

[Jorec]

Half the reason I buy sonic games is because I know even if the gameplay is average at least the soundtrack will be excellent. So far I haven't bought any bad sonic games though.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

The soundtrack can have a tremendous bearing on the tone of a game, so I think it's very, very important. However, a good soundtrack alone is not enough to make me enjoy a game; Sonic 06's level, event and boss music is pretty fantastic but it doesn't stop the game from being shit.

 

[krazykidd]

For me a good soundtrack can only carry a game past the title screen . Unless the music is awsome or terrible i tend not to notice . It is hardly anything game breaking . Hell i hated the music in Nier , but i finished the game twice . So music can't carry the game at all for me .

 

[Rose and Thorn]

I still would have played Dear Esther just for the Music and scenery, if it didn't have a story. Most people wouldn't however.

 

[excalipoor]

There's a pretty clear trend in the games I've loved and the quality of their soundtracks. For me, sound is just as big a part of the experience as anything else, but I'm not sure a great soundtrack could redeem a game if I can't find anything else worthy of my time in it. I could always just get the soundtrack instead.

NieR would be one game where the music kept me playing, even though I felt the first half of the game kept dragging on and on without anything happening. I'm glad it did, because it was totally worth it. Oh, and Chaos Rings!

I guess music can work as a sort of a buffer. Nowadays I have too many games and not enough time to play them all, so I tend make pretty hasty judgements on whether I want to continue playing or not. No game really hooks me as soon as I put the disc in anymore, but if the music is really good, I'm more likely to play the game long enough to warm up to it. But if the game is rotten all the way through, it'll still leave a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Marik2]

The soundtrack is what got me through the Halo games. I don't think they're bad, just not what the hype says it is.

 

[Avaholic03]

The best example I can think of is the soundtrack in Bastion making that game significantly better and more memorable than it otherwise would have been. Mind you, not saying it would have been a bad game...no amount of music can save a bad game. But it can make an okay/good game great.

 

[PunkyMcGee]

a soundtrack sets the tone of the piece whether is a movie or a game. it help wrap you into the world the creators are trying to put you in. and by Soundtrack i mean anything from subtle to blatent what ever it might be it's important. i think Bastion wouldn't be half the game it is with out it's music for example

 

[Adeptus Aspartem]

A great Soundtrack just adds to a great game.
Portal or Borderlands would be two good examples. There ain't no rest for the wicked is a catchy tune and fits the game perfectly - but that's the point, the game is consistend in its style etc. and was very good so it added to that mad max pew pew feeling.
Also whenever i hear the song nowadays i think of the game.

With Portal it's a little bit more obvious, since the track comes at the end. Though, with that song there was more going on.. it added to the charcter of Glados and also to the relationship to Chell.

I still buy games, because i want to play them. If i just want to listen to the soundtrack i just buy the Cd.

Edith says: Derp, also Bastion is a great example. How could i miss that. That's probably the best example for "setting a tone / mood".

 

[Sniper Team 4]

It carries it about two steps for me. I don't care if the soundtrack brings untold emotions to my being. If the game isn't fun, if the story isn't there, I'm done with it.

 

[Launcelot111]

I'd say at least 40% of the improvement between GTA3 and Vice City can be attributed to the soundtrack.