Is in-game music important to you?

[ReservoirAngel]

I know people on both sides of this weird opinion contrast. Some people say the games' music adds massively to the experience and just makes everything better, while other says that it just gets in the way cause your constantly bombarded by music all the time while you play.

So Escapists, how important is in-game music to you?

Me personally...I waver from point to point. In some games (most games) I keep the music on because in some games the music is just so perfect to really give you that extra little something. But in some games I turn it off (such as in New Vegas for example, I've never had the in-game music on) because it kinda distracts me. Mostly these are games where I use stealth tactics to play. Nothing annoys the flow of stealth more than having some epic, grand chorus randomly start belting out when your trying to hear if an enemy's footsteps are retreating or approaching.

 

[Rylot]

Depending on how well it's done, in game music and either greatly add to a game's experience or detract from it. Just like movies. The right music adds to a scene, while crappy or inappropriate music will ruin an otherwise good scene.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Music can turn a mediocre battle into something truly amazing, making you want to play it just for the music, even if the fight itself isn't that hard. Music can also make exploration less tedious. Travelling across Shinshu Field in Okami with this music makes it a damn sight more enjoyable than without.

 

[MrShowerHead]

When it's well done. Something like this:

 

[Ironman126]

Music helps set the mood. Good music, like in Mass Effect, Half-Life 2, and Portal, can really improve the game, especially Mass Effect. Bad music, on the other hand, can totally ruin a game. Something unfitting can be just as annoying as poor game design.

 

[frozen_scarecrow]

Here's what I think. Bad music is the only one that's "important." A good score will float effortlessly around and be a wonderful addition. Bad music will set itself apart and screw with your experience. Could you imagine playing Amnesia with the yakaty sax music? It would have great mechanics, but the music would just kill it. Though in hind sight, that would be funny as hell.

 

[Arehexes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thFnJ3iVSH4

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Some of it is pretty great. And it all helps work towards a certain feel.
It's the same as movies. It can be done poorly (such as when it is so loud it drowns out all the dialogue), but it wouldn't be the same without it.

 

[benderinTime]

Well, it depends on the context. If I'm about to go on some sort of epic journey, or engage in a huge battle, I expect to hear a score to match such a thing. If it isn't a very dramatic game, then it doesn't really matter to me.
And then there are cases when music makes things seem more badass, in the case of all the metal in Devil May Cry.

 

[PureChaos]

it certainly helps but it's not a compulsory thing. like having good graphics, it's a bonus if it's there but there are more important things

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Yes, yes it is. It sets the mood, as well as adding to the overall gameplay experience. Sometimes it can be good, while other times it can be bad. When done perfectly however, well...

Spoiler: You get this.

[HEADING=2]I have this on my iPod and am not a damn bit ashamed about it.[/HEADING]

 

[Crazie_Guy]

I only keep the sound on in games where it is necessary for gameplay purposes - Shooters, l4d instantly comes to mind, some RTSs. Any game who's soundtrack is only there to fill the silence (turn based strategy) are going to find their playlist replaced by mine. I hesitate to say I do this with RPGs though, since they tend to have the best music in games - and my RPGs are generally on a handheld or console. I only play my own music over PC games.

 

[JaffaFrost]

Music is important to a game, it adds to the atmosphere and, mostly, adds to the experience.

But, sometimes, the music just gets on my tits when its just a repetitive orchestra..

 

[Sixcess]

In-game music is definitely important to me, and sometimes it's what elevates a good level to a great level, like this:

Spoiler: Tenchu: Infiltrate the Manji Cult

<youtube=fFwj685WqnA>

Other less notable individual pieces still add to the atmosphere. Just Cause 2's music isn't particularly memorable in itself, but as a whole it sounds exactly like the (slightly naff) soundtrack of an 80s action movie, which is what that game reminds me of.

I rarely if ever turn off the music, although if a track gets really repetitive I might. The battle music for FF7 used to really get on my nerves after a while...

 

[Dimensional Vortex]

Well it depends what game you are playing and what the general mood the characters in game are feeling, you wouldn't want a massive disco song playing while someone is being tortured in game.

If it is done well in most action games than I would be more than happy to enjoy the music or in mmorpgs like Lotro sometimes the music is soothing and nice when running across the land. But then again music even if done well can ruin the game, for example if you are playing a scary as hell horror game, with only a small light source and you are locked in a room with only one door and you think a monster might break through any music at that time would destroy the moment.
No matter what sound or noise you make, silence will always be scarier, music would enable the players mind to escape and wander free which would cause the monstrosities in the game to be less intimidating and scary. The silence will force players to think about what awaits them so they truly scare themselves by imagining the very worst monsters even though nothing is there except silence.

 

[SturmDolch]

Yes. It's important in making the atmosphere and mood.

The stupid "beep boop beep boopy boop" song in Assassin's Creed 2 always takes me right out of 15th century Italy. Who in the right mind thought to include that? The other music is for the most part good, but this is just god awful.

 

[TehCookie]

I love music in games. A good soundtrack can easily reinforce an aspect of the game whether it be the emotion and tone or just the setting. Even though the soundtrack that sucked me into the game world the most would have to be Chrono Cross. Go to a beach and close your eyes and listen to the song below and if you ever played that game you will feel like you are at Surge's home village.
I think a good soundtrack can make any game better. I use to believe that shooters didn't need a good soundtrack because I'd play my own playlist but L4D proved me wrong. I love music in games because they have shaped my entire taste in music. When I first herd Goldfinger on Tony Hawks Pro Skater I fell in love with the ska genre, which is still my favorite genre today.

 

[The Hero Killer]

Yes, the music was a big part of why I couldnt accept Castlevania: Lords of Shadow as apart of the series.