How important is music in a game?

[DragonStorm247]

I agree but I think music in games isn't utilized very well for the most part. 4 times out of 5 I don't even notice game music honestly like in the Halo games, Alice Madness Returns, Bioware RPGs...I didn't know if there was music in those or not for most of my play time honestly. Then again there's also games like Silent Hill Downpour and, Last Story which give me some hope for in-game tunes.

That can be seen as an indication of how seamlessly they fit the atmosphere. Consider: right in the middle of a Halo cutscene, if random dubstep or jpop started playing, you would definitely notice, because it would be so jarring.

Music is important to (or at least enhances the atmosphere of) any type of entertainment.

Hell, if someone could integrate headphone jacks into books and it could detect where you were, so it played music fitting to the current scenario, then even that would make a book better.

Provided the music was good enough, though. Most games don't place that big an emphasis on the music, so a lot of games either don't really have it, or it's very ambient and/or quiet.

Don't underestimate ambience. Just look at any horror game or film.

 

[xmbts]

Atmospheric music is almost always a plus but at the same time so is a distinct lack of music, and a good soundtrack can be a big improvement on a game.

Really music or no it all hinges on the games designers.

 

[Serinanth]

Sound is VERY important to me and a games soundtrack can make a big difference. Sound sets the mood for me and can be a key part of storytelling. It's the same with movies.

Fifth Element anyone?

Bastion is a very good example of a game with an incredible soundtrack.

As babinro said music can make a game memorable.

 

[Lilani]

I think it depends on the situation. You've got games like Portal 2 thats use music and sounds together to set the mood and the pace like they would in a movie. Then you've got games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent that use music sort of in the same way, but it has a lot more time where there is no music so that the impact of the music when it occurs is stronger. Having no music for long periods of time makes you feel even more alone and isolated, which is very important for the atmosphere of that game. And it also enhances the impact of sound effects, which are very important in that game not only for setting the mood (letting you really hear Daniel's breathing when he's scared, hearing your footsteps echo in the hallway, hearing the building creek around you), but also for letting the player be aware of what's going on (hearing a growl and knowing what direction it came from, knowing what kind of a surface you're on, all the little sound effects that come from interacting with something).

Then you've got games like Limbo which sort of uses "sounds as music"--the steady and semi-rhythmic pulse of the environmental noise (the crickets chirping, the wind, bullfrogs in the swamp, etc) behaves like music, and only at critical moments does the game reveal any sort of true melody. It isn't actually music, but it has the same effect--it sets a pace and a mood through sound. Like Amnesia, the sound effects are enhanced by the subtle approach to environmental sound.

And then there's games like Bastion, which takes the total opposite approach--every second of that game is scored except the loading screens and significant narrative moments. This in turn makes the silence signify an important moment. Having music all the time sets the game to a regular tempo--it makes you want to play to the speed of the music. When the music is slow and solemn, you want to keep it slow and look around more. When the music is fast, you're in more of a hurry. It almost turns the experience into sort of an interactive music video--the music is playing, and what you as the player do is the choreography.

MMOs use music in a similar way--since players spend a lot of time in certain areas, the music sets a certain pace and atmosphere. Since the point of an MMO is to roleplay the gamemakers could get away with no music at all--and many do for lots of areas, but again having that background music gives the player that "interactive music video" feeling and makes them feel more heroic. Because the point of an MMO isn't just to give players a playground. The player wants to come from the experience feeling a little badass, so the game needs to deliver on that feeling.

 

[TrevHead]

Very important, i'd take good game music over graphics anyday of the week. Music alone can have a profound effect on our mood, added with other media can greatly enhance the effect. Sadly imo video game music isn't all that great when it comes to many AAAs nowadays.

Off to play some more Wipeout 2097 with Underworld's Tin There track playing

 

[DevilWithaHalo]

Here's the scenario; you've just fought your way through a mountains worth of enemies to reach the dizzying peak overlooking the torn landscape below. You push the final massive door open echoing the chamber within, pillars hoisting the rooftop of the very world overhead. The light from the braziers causes the shadows to dance around you as your weary body is dragged by shear will power alone to the steps of the throne of gods. Sitting on it's edge awaits the final confrontation, your sworn enemy responsible for every suffering you've endured these past grueling months. Bloody and bruised, you raise you sword ready to do battle with an opponent so terrifying in stature and power, lesser men would break at it's gaze. As this immortal king rises to meet you in final combat... It's a small world starts playing in the background...

...so, how important is music in a game eh?

 

[Hazy]

Music is on par with visuals in terms of importance.

Try watching a horror movie without sound. Games are the same way.

 

[Jfswift]

Im going to say its important but not a game breaker. I never much cared for the music in suikoden 1 or dragon warrior 1, however both were pretty fun regardless. Even with games like castlevania: sotn and sol feace which have full symphonic pieces, I still think they'd be fun without it. With most games it's just icing on the cake.

 

[elvor0]

I agree but I think music in games isn't utilized very well for the most part. 4 times out of 5 I don't even notice game music honestly like in the Halo games, Alice Madness Returns, Bioware RPGs...I didn't know if there was music in those or not for most of my play time honestly. Then again there's also games like Silent Hill Downpour and, Last Story which give me some hope for in-game tunes.

Madness! Halo has a fantastic soundtrack, one of the greats I'd say, I'm not even a massive Halo fan, but the soundtrack has more than earned it's place in my music library. The main theme to Halo is stellar, as is Steve Vai's Mjonir Mix of it.
I honestly don't know how you can say you didn't notice a soundtrack in Halo. If you don't like it fair enough,(insanity!) but it was always pretty prevalent. But I will give you a lot of the time the music in games is fairly...generic and homogonous, but every once in a while you get a game with a soundtrack that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

OT: Plus of course FF 1-10 all had great soundtracks. Which is a massive shame when you consider just how BAD the soundtrack for FF13 was. If I ever have to hear Leona Lewis again, it'll be an eternity too soon. WHY DID THEY FEEL THE NEED TO MIX HER INTO ALMOST EVERY FUCKING TRACK?!

Metal Gear has a pretty kick ass soundtrack as well, the final fight cinematic between Snake and Liquid is just perfect, the music is just icing on the cake. Not only that, but the following boss fight music not only is really good, but connects with a player on a more personal level, due to it being tracks from the previous games coupled with the way the fight works. They're all memories synced in time with Snake /and/ the player. But then Kojima has always been very good at taking the link between the player and character to the next level. The torture scenes, the death of the Boss, the bosses Horse, the return to shadow moses etc.

 

[Evil Smurf]

the Music in Bastion helps make it favourite game

 

[Ron Alphafight]

Music is extremely important to video games, but it is only noticed if it's either really good or really bad. If it's bad, it takes you out of the game. If it's really good, it enhances it. Some prime examples being The Legend of Zelda series, Halo, Mass Effect 3 and of course Skyrim. Anywhere between really good or really bad and it adds to the ambiance of the game, but most people don't pay attention to it. However, it's still important.

 

[The Wykydtron]

It's really important, you can have a soundtrack that subtley makes the game more...In depth? I think. Like what Dishonoured did. None of the tracks were particularly memorable but it served its purpose in making the tone of the game stand out.

Or you could do what real men do and create badass masterpieces. In my opinion, music is only really, really good if it has context. Y'know, like games do? Sure I like my 3IOB metal songs but nothing is going to stand up to... Ok, this is entirely predictable but i'm posting it again for the 30 billionth time. This:


For the record, nope. Still hasn't got old. Never will.

Y'know I have yet to see a game with a properly godawful soundtrack. 'Cept maybe Kingdoms of Amalur (spelling?) I only played the demo and christ I had to turn that shit right off within 15 minutes.

 

[Mikejames]

Having just played Brutal Legend, I can say plenty of scenes wouldn't have nearly the impact they had without the music.

I can't say it's a necessity in all games though. Sometimes silence or light ambience is more effective, depending on the style.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

I'd say it's the second-most important element for me to fully enjoy a game, behind the gameplay itself. I like to have something enjoyable and catchy while I play, though; ambient music rarely does a lot for me.

I don't require it to be some in-depth, moving, stirring piece, though, and don't get anything more out of any work that features such things. Indeed, it can cause me to think the game is taking itself too seriously.

 

[Old Father Eternity]

Yeah, music can make a world of difference if it is done well, kind of impossible to pass by the obligatory HL2, if not for any other part then the one where *Triage at Dawn* kicks in and then of course there is Bastion, some of the civ building games have real nice background music, not all that important but good to the ear when your city/ies are prospering.
Likewise ambient music can really help the atmosphere e.g some of the level music in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.


Also to note that in case of BL2 the combat music falls more into the d'n'b category.

 

[RJ 17]

I think it's fairly important. Though when I was a kid, I remember a friend trying to tell me that the only reason games like Mario had a sound track was to distract you so you'd lose.

But honestly, can you imagine playing Crono Trigger with no music? How boring would that be? The right soundtrack for a game helps with immersion if you ask me, the same way it does with movies.

 

[Valanthe]

I think music is absolutely essential to the package of a good game. But it is also a wierd thing, as in some games it can really go unnoticed, even though the music score is fit perfectly with the game.

And say what you will about Mass Effect 3, I still get chills when this song starts playing on my iPod:

 

[someonehairy-ish]

To me it's hugely important. Halo wouldn't have seemed nearly so epic without the fast paced, drum-led track for fighting, or the operatic bit to highlight significant moments. Fable's music adds to the fairytale vibe, Skyrim's epic barbarian orchestral soundtrack makes it feel like you're playing as a legend.
I can't imagine gaming without music. If you don't understand why, just try replaying a game you enjoyed with the music setting all the way down. It feels emptier and the atmosphere goes to nothing. Although, dead silence can work for horror games. That's the main exception though.

EDIT: A lot of people are saying they don't notice it. That's what's supposed to happen. Poorly written music will distract from the game, but good music weaves seamlessly into the atmosphere of the setting or the scene.