A Modest Rant on Video Game Soundtracks
- Thread starter ScrubberDucky
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Music is often an afterthought in games, but it's not to say it isn't bad! I love most video game music, I'm still waiting for it to get up to film industry standards, but oh well.
The film industry has claim over the best music. Music used in films always seem to be incredibly good, while video game music is only sometimes good.
The film industry has claim over the best music. Music used in films always seem to be incredibly good, while video game music is only sometimes good.
Over the last few years there have been a fuckton of memorable game soundtracks - soundtracks that still stir up detailed memories and emotional responses when I hear them today.
Shadow of the Colossus, Dawn of War (I + II), Red Dead Redemption, Prince of Persia (Sands of Time trilogy + PoP 2008), NieR, Halo, Assassin's Creed (2 + Brotherhood), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Battlefield: Bad Company, Bastion, God of War, ... the list goes on.
Granted, compared to the staggering total number of games released each year it's still a small list, but we really do get new gems every year; I don't think game soundtracks are going down the crapper in terms of quality.
Shadow of the Colossus, Dawn of War (I + II), Red Dead Redemption, Prince of Persia (Sands of Time trilogy + PoP 2008), NieR, Halo, Assassin's Creed (2 + Brotherhood), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Battlefield: Bad Company, Bastion, God of War, ... the list goes on.
Granted, compared to the staggering total number of games released each year it's still a small list, but we really do get new gems every year; I don't think game soundtracks are going down the crapper in terms of quality.
Is that including licensed songs? Or are you just referring to actual instrumental tracks?Robert Ewing said:
Yes, movies have had some great soundtracks such as Lord of the Rings, Requiem for a Dream, Psycho and anything by John Williams, but other than those for me personally there are no instrumental only tracks that really stand out to me in movies.
Video games on the other hand, there are plenty of games with musical tracks that I can listen to all day.
How can you forget the epic soundtracks of Portal? Not to mention the credits songs 
I mean, listen to this from 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-4BKIlRTE&feature=related
Portal, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Halo have my favourite soundtracks ever :3
I mean, listen to this from 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-4BKIlRTE&feature=related
Portal, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Halo have my favourite soundtracks ever :3
Video game soundtracks have always been something close to my heart. The first game that really brought it to my attention was Banjo Kazooie, such good music. Recently, I have been listening to 2 soundtracks above all others - They are Xenoblade and Nier. They have phenomenal soundtracks.
Here's a few examples.
Seriously some amazing work on display here.
Here's a few examples.
Seriously some amazing work on display here.
It really depends on the game. Alan Wake is good for this, because it doesn't just have a great soundtrack, but in fact you have to find it yourself. There's no real 'background music' as such, though the game has it's own score (with some very beautiful songs), but in each level you have the chance to hear radio shows hosted by one of the minor characters, who then ends each show by playing a song. The songs are (save in two cases) from real bands, the two I mentioned that aren't are instead done by the in-game band Old Gods Of Asgard (really Poets Of The Fall), and you have to find them yourself, but they sum up the game itself very nicely. Except Coconut at the start, which is just bizarre, but still an awesome tune .
My point is, it takes the soundtrack and turns it into an effective reward for exploring and making an effort to find things in-game, and adds to that with some juicy plot details given by one song in particular...
.My point is, it takes the soundtrack and turns it into an effective reward for exploring and making an effort to find things in-game, and adds to that with some juicy plot details given by one song in particular...
Instrumental, and ambient tracks. Basically music created for the purpose of the movieChupathingyX said:
Red Dead Redemption has a fantastic soundtrack. Really really good.
The thing is, the soundtrack is meant to compliment the experience rather than overwhelm it. If the music is distracting you from what you're supposed to be doing then it isn't doing it's job right.
EDIT: Also, Cthulhu Saves the World. That set such a fantastic mood that I couldn't help but feel upbeat and cheery.
The thing is, the soundtrack is meant to compliment the experience rather than overwhelm it. If the music is distracting you from what you're supposed to be doing then it isn't doing it's job right.
EDIT: Also, Cthulhu Saves the World. That set such a fantastic mood that I couldn't help but feel upbeat and cheery.
You damn kids, I'll show you what REAL music is.
And then go search for "Guilty Gear XX OST" on Youtube. Plenty of great music there.
And then go search for "Guilty Gear XX OST" on Youtube. Plenty of great music there.
I think it's staggeringly incorrect to say games don't have good music. Most AAA games have music on par with films these days.
- On the one hand, there's games with licensed soundtracks. Tony Hawk, Need For Speed, Burnout Paradise, that malarkey.
- Then there are games which have music integral to the experience. Jet Set Radio, Rez, Space Channel 5, Dance Dance Revolution... shit, I just named my favourite Dreamcast games, didn't I?
- Some games however just wouldn't feel right if they were accompanied by the constant thump of RnB. In some games, ambient sounds, incidental music or plain old silence just work better. Just because you're not bopping along to some sweet tunes every time you have a blast on Gritty Urban Shooter 4, doesn't mean the developer is "doing it wrong".
- In the case of incidental music, sometimes the hallmark of success is discreetness. The music shoud be complementing the action but playing second fiddle (quite literally).
- And finally, I suppose a reason why a lot of modern games don't have "soundtracks" as such but rely more on background music, is the need for the protagonists to be heard talking. Going from Monkey Island 2 (text dialogue) to Monkey Island 3 (spoken dialogue) it's quite noticeable how the volume - and quality - of music dips in the later game.
- On the one hand, there's games with licensed soundtracks. Tony Hawk, Need For Speed, Burnout Paradise, that malarkey.
- Then there are games which have music integral to the experience. Jet Set Radio, Rez, Space Channel 5, Dance Dance Revolution... shit, I just named my favourite Dreamcast games, didn't I?
- Some games however just wouldn't feel right if they were accompanied by the constant thump of RnB. In some games, ambient sounds, incidental music or plain old silence just work better. Just because you're not bopping along to some sweet tunes every time you have a blast on Gritty Urban Shooter 4, doesn't mean the developer is "doing it wrong".
- In the case of incidental music, sometimes the hallmark of success is discreetness. The music shoud be complementing the action but playing second fiddle (quite literally).
- And finally, I suppose a reason why a lot of modern games don't have "soundtracks" as such but rely more on background music, is the need for the protagonists to be heard talking. Going from Monkey Island 2 (text dialogue) to Monkey Island 3 (spoken dialogue) it's quite noticeable how the volume - and quality - of music dips in the later game.
I think most video games have great sound tracks, I actually really enjoy just listening to them instead of actual songs. Some stand out more than others, but for the most part, they're pretty good.
Here you have two great games. Each with a great soundtrack. One is an old school game the other a recent major release.
Here you have two great games. Each with a great soundtrack. One is an old school game the other a recent major release.
The music is SUPPOSED to be the background sound in 99% cases. That doesn't mean it's either unnoticeable, forgettable, bad or not on par with the other media.
Pretty much any score by Jeremy Soule (Morrowind, Oblivion, NWN, KOTOR games etc.) or Jesper Kyd (Assassin's Creed games, Hitman games, Borderlands etc.) is pure gold and they're not alone with it.
Now, you may not notice the music in games much, but that's how music for games is designed. It's not designed for you to look around trying to find an orchestra playing, it's designed to enhance a moment in the game or be the backdrop for it, neither of which make it inferior. If I boot up an old game, the music is gonna be one of the first things I'm gonna recognize and remember. And if I hear a score from a game I've played, it's gonna invoke a whole lot of memories and emotions. Morrowind and Oblivion themes in particular bring up a whole lot of them and I remember trying to pick up my jaw off the floor after unlocking the Truth video in Assassin's Creed, a HUGE part of which was the music that had my pulse beating like crazy.
Pretty much any score by Jeremy Soule (Morrowind, Oblivion, NWN, KOTOR games etc.) or Jesper Kyd (Assassin's Creed games, Hitman games, Borderlands etc.) is pure gold and they're not alone with it.
Now, you may not notice the music in games much, but that's how music for games is designed. It's not designed for you to look around trying to find an orchestra playing, it's designed to enhance a moment in the game or be the backdrop for it, neither of which make it inferior. If I boot up an old game, the music is gonna be one of the first things I'm gonna recognize and remember. And if I hear a score from a game I've played, it's gonna invoke a whole lot of memories and emotions. Morrowind and Oblivion themes in particular bring up a whole lot of them and I remember trying to pick up my jaw off the floor after unlocking the Truth video in Assassin's Creed, a HUGE part of which was the music that had my pulse beating like crazy.
I usually only notice soundtracks when they consist of specific modern songs. Like Flatout: UC.
If they just play obscure orchestral music in the background though, you can't blame anyone for not noticing.
I think the only orchestral soundtracks I recognise are Halo and Mass Effect.
The mood and atmosphere are amazing. I really felt the loneliness they were trying to create.
If they just play obscure orchestral music in the background though, you can't blame anyone for not noticing.
I think the only orchestral soundtracks I recognise are Halo and Mass Effect.
I really loved this game, and it's score, I think it's a shame it got such a bad public response.sravankb said:
The mood and atmosphere are amazing. I really felt the loneliness they were trying to create.
I take your 5 (quite excellent) examples, and raise 5 of my own to defend the mainstream games!leet_x1337 said:
To quote the YouTube commenter from the second video, Jeremy 'fuckin' genius' Soule:
Jesper Kyd:
And for the fifth, I don't know the composer, but the theme is the one... the only...
Warning: Turns girls into boys, boys into men, men into Gods and God into a little girl. No, but seriously, epic soundtrack.
