Poll: The Music of a Sci-Fi Epic Game

[Eumersian]

Hello Escapist!

I have a question that's been bugging me for some time. When it comes to big, sci-fi epic/space opera games (Mass Effect comes immediately to mind, but even games like StarCraft count in my opinion) do people prefer electronic music, or orchestral music in the score? A good score is written to compliment the themes, moods, and onscreen action of the game. Personally, I prefer the orchestral stuff because I feel like you can never go wrong with that style in any genre.

So, what do YOU think?

 

[American Tanker]

Two words: John. Williams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcZ9kQ1h-ZY&list=PLQKSiUMW0Z4KOG1toDenyqVSoriMcp7B9

 

[Zhukov]

Either/or.

However, I am getting a little tired of orchestral music in games. It's nice, don't get me wrong, but bloody everyone uses it. It makes a lot of games sounds rather samey. The good stuff can still stand out though.

Personally, I loved these two tracks from the Mass Effect games:

Spoiler: Unoriginal choices, I know.

Mostly, I want to see more games using vocals in their soundstracks.

Spoiler: More like this please.

 

[Mcgeezaks]

3 replies and no one have mentioned the epic space opera that is the Halo-trilogy?

Spoiler: Behold!

I'd say Halo's OST is the video games Star Wars when it comes to music.

 

[Hawki]

I guess generally orchestral, but it depends on the setting, narrative, etc.

StarCraft is actually an interesting example of how music changes to suit the narrative. In SC1, the music has a bit more of a rock/electronic feel to it, especially with the terrans, and even the zerg OST is bombastic. The 'grittiness' fits the smaller scale of the setting. By SC2, the OST is changed, with the terrans' being more western, and a lot of the OST is orchestral, ranging from grand, sweeping scores, to melencholic ones, overall befitting SC2's larger scale. Overall, I prefer SC1's 'race tunes' (e.g. the ones that play in missions), but feel SC2 has a grander, more varied OST.

To comment on other examples, Mass Effect and Marty Stratton-era Halo are pretty damn solid - both go for orchestral music, and both benefit from it.

 

[The Madman]

To be honest I'm kinda tired of Orchestral scores, at least in a general sort of sense. Don't mean to imply there aren't some amazing new orchestral game soundtrack out there or that I can't appreciate them, just that these days I tend to find the more off-beat or unusual soundtrack more memorable.

This goes ten-fold for the sci-fi genre and especially it's cyberpunk cousin. Not really sure it counts as an epic space opera or anything, but my favourite soundtrack of any recent game in that sort of field has to be Furi, a game I didn't particularly enjoy playing but love listening to.

 

[skywolfblue]

Why not both!

Mass Effect has a blend of electronicy-orchestra and it is AWESOME!

...Hmm. It's sad I can't think of another truly amazing (game) soundtrack that was both...

There was a game called Ares long ago and far away, it has one of the most beastly electronic soundtracks of all time. I still listen to it all the time (it makes great exercise music to get the blood pumping!).

Main Theme[/youtube]
Eyes of Fire[/youtube]

Hmm, thinking through all my sci-fi games - Dead Space (no soundtrack), Halo (pure orchestra), Starcraft (ok there are a few electronic tracks "Radio Free Zerg" for example), Homeworld (pure orchestra)...

 

[Zhukov]

There was a game called Ares long ago and far away...

Christ, that's a blast from the past.

Well, more like a whisper from the past. I barely remember it. It was a kind of space RTS, right?

 

[skywolfblue]

There was a game called Ares long ago and far away...

Christ, that's a blast from the past.

Well, more like a whisper from the past. I barely remember it. It was a kind of space RTS, right?

Yay! Someone else remembers!

It was kinda revolutionary for it's time. You could zoom way in and way out seamlessly, and do RTS stuff while piloting a spaceship yourself! Fun times!

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

I think the key to any game or movie is getting a unique sound that fits with the material. For example, I tried Rebel Galaxy because it was free on PS+ and the soundtrack is amazing along with the sound effects. I didn't play the game much because naval-like combat system just really interest me much but I'll always remember that music.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Either, or.

Electronic music works because, well, it's sci-fi.

Orchestral music is good for space operas, like Legend of the Galactic and Star Wars. But it also works for artistic sci-fis, like 2001 and Alien.

Mass Effect would have been so much better if it had an orchestral score as memorable as these:

 

[Eumersian]

Orchestral is most appropriate, but sometimes I can find more original stuff that somehow fits a setting, even if it might sound a bit unconventional.

 

[distortedreality]

I'm firmly in the 'why not both' camp.

With the way a lot of composers work these days, there is no reason why we can't have great electro acoustic scores that fit the game.

As a reference point, two of my favourite game scores are from Chrono Trigger and the original Deus Ex.

 

[maninahat]

Orchestral music often sounds incredibly generic in a videogames. It's especially bad when some don't use a full orchestra, but even when they are at best plain indistinguishable, pompous space filler. Sci-fi isn't like other genres, in that it is one of the few that gets away with a variety of musical styles. Wild west stories have to have slide guitars and Indian whooping, War stories have their patented mournful snare drum, horns and flute. Sci-fi though, I've heard synth jazz, minimalist, classical, bebop, electronic and Arabic lounge. That's what I like to hear in epic sci-fi videogames.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Electronic for me. Orchestral is good and often fits just fine, but I feel electronic music suits the sci-fi epic themes most aptly. It's science fiction, anything is possible; why limit the score to traditional instrumentation? Mass Effect's Galaxy Map theme, anyone?

Spoiler: Mass Effect Galaxy Map

 

[happyninja42]

I am an unapologetic fan of electronica, so I am fine with either one, though I will answer with "It depends". Some scenes work well with electronica, if the mood trying to be conveyed is different from sweeping operatic stuff.

It really depends on the game/scene/mood really. I'm fine with either if it fits the moment, and improves my experience.

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

I kind of automatically prefer orchestral scores in any game where it's at all appropriate. Mass Effect has just about the best OST ever, and it's mainly the big orchestra pieces that make that so. But that's not to say the electronic/synth stuff isn't also awesome when done right. Mass Effect of course has some great electronic stuff as well. Another one of my favorite soundtracks is from that old game Descent, which was pure MIDI synth and it was so cool.

 

[Bad Jim]

Why not both? In one track . . .