Japanese Composers Say Western Game Music is "Dry"
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
A few Western games that I know have good music just quickly off the top of my head:
Mass Effect
Space Empires V
All the WarCraft games.
StarCraft
Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2 are decent.
Command & Conquer series is decent.
Star Control 2
Fallout 1 & 2.
While I don't claim to be a pro on Japanese games much of their music for them, from my experience, are quite similar despite the type of game. I've noticed most Western games music often fits the game's mood and atmosphere much more closely.
Mass Effect
Space Empires V
All the WarCraft games.
StarCraft
Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2 are decent.
Command & Conquer series is decent.
Star Control 2
Fallout 1 & 2.
While I don't claim to be a pro on Japanese games much of their music for them, from my experience, are quite similar despite the type of game. I've noticed most Western games music often fits the game's mood and atmosphere much more closely.
I can't really say I've heard any music created by a Western composer that has stood out to me, with MGS 4 being the exception.
I'm gonna have to agree with this since pretty much every track ever composed by Shoji Meguro (Shin Megami Tensei series)and Daisuke Ishiwatari (Guilty Gear and Blazblue) is made of win. Some of Nobuo Uematsu's stuff can be thrown in there as well along with stuff by Motoo Fujiwara (Tales series)
I'm gonna have to agree with this since pretty much every track ever composed by Shoji Meguro (Shin Megami Tensei series)and Daisuke Ishiwatari (Guilty Gear and Blazblue) is made of win. Some of Nobuo Uematsu's stuff can be thrown in there as well along with stuff by Motoo Fujiwara (Tales series)
I can sort of agree with them, western game music is very good atmospherically, but often it doesn't stand out in the way of japanese game music.
It seems odd that people are citing Mass Effect, Half-Life and The Elder Scrolls as examples of western music that disproves this. They fall smack bang in what the article describes: the do a damn fine job setting the scene, but once I've turned off the game I struggle to recall the tune.
It might just be the trend that Japanese developers have for leitmotifs. Take Final Fantasy, nearly every character has their own tune. Metal Gear Solid takes the best of both worlds, with its distinct tunes for each situation, interspersed with dramatic background music.
It seems odd that people are citing Mass Effect, Half-Life and The Elder Scrolls as examples of western music that disproves this. They fall smack bang in what the article describes: the do a damn fine job setting the scene, but once I've turned off the game I struggle to recall the tune.
It might just be the trend that Japanese developers have for leitmotifs. Take Final Fantasy, nearly every character has their own tune. Metal Gear Solid takes the best of both worlds, with its distinct tunes for each situation, interspersed with dramatic background music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73n7HTcmb5gaBlackKnight said:
Of course you remember this, infact this was done none other than David Wise a British composer (though it may not count but it is to point something out)
It is hard for me to remember any themes from western games, the only one that comes to mind is the Fable theme. If you want good japanese music in a game, play any game by Namco with the name Tales in the title.
There are plenty of good North American Game Composers... but so many Western Games rely on quiet, ambient music which I will agree... is dry. How many games have a score that really pops out at you? As far as I can tell, most people on this thread are just referencing their favorite games, assuming that they automatically have a good soundtrack because of the "MY FAVORITE GAME IS PERFECT HOW DARE YOU INSULT IT IN ANY WAY YOU BASTARD" effect, with a little Xenophobia thrown in there thanks to Yahtzee and his anti-japanese sentiments.
The Western Games I can think of with scores that really "pop" are...
- The Halo Series
- Mass Effect
- Uncharted: Drakes Fortune (Greg Edmondson of Firefly fame composed that one)
Games like Oblivion, Morrowind and Fallout 3 have boring, bland and DRY scores that sit in the back ground, rarely making themselves heard. Because SO MANY people here say those games have GOOD soundtacks I'm pretty sure that a good 80% of you don't give a DAMN about the music and just want to indulge your mild cultural hatred toward Japanese Developed Games.
The Western Games I can think of with scores that really "pop" are...
- The Halo Series
- Mass Effect
- Uncharted: Drakes Fortune (Greg Edmondson of Firefly fame composed that one)
Games like Oblivion, Morrowind and Fallout 3 have boring, bland and DRY scores that sit in the back ground, rarely making themselves heard. Because SO MANY people here say those games have GOOD soundtacks I'm pretty sure that a good 80% of you don't give a DAMN about the music and just want to indulge your mild cultural hatred toward Japanese Developed Games.
I'm glad someone else was thinking this. It seems like a lot of people were jumping all over any chance to attack Japanese games.PedroSteckecilo said:
I also think the title of this article was just a wee bit sensationalist. I was expecting something different from the "I wish we had their budgets!" that most of the article was.
Personally, everything sounds dry compared to 'The Hymn of the Fayth' and most final fantasy music in general
GTA has licensed music, which doesn't count, this guy is refering to Original Scores and name me a memorable track from a Half-Life game that isn't "Stay Alive"? Can you name me the composer for Half Life? I can name you several memorable tracks and composers from Japanese Games.1ronJ4m said: