How does a game's music affect your experience with it?

[Kermitu Kleric Katie]

I was unsure of whether to post this here or in the Venue, but I decided on here because this section is more popular. Anyway, in what ways does the music in a game affect your experience with it? For me, a good song in a game can really affect how a I play a game. If I really like a song in a game, and it can still be listened to in the point in the game I'm at, I'll often go out of my way to find an excuse to go to the location, do the battle, play the minigame, etc. where that music plays, just so I can hear it again. For example, I'll often fly to Mistralton City in my White 2 just to hear the music, even though until recently when I unlocked the Nature Reserve I literally had no reason to be going there. If a song can only be heard at a certain scene or battle in the game, I'll often make that scene or battle take as long as possible just so I can hear the song for as long as I can. I remember not advancing the text at all for long periods of time in scenes where Professor's Sycamore's theme plays, just so I could hear it for as long as possible. So, what effect does music have on you guys' gaming experiences?

 

[Splintered]

I feel like videogame music can manipulate me in a number of ways.

1> I mean, basic of basic, game music helps immersion. Whether it's to communicate a tense scene, or background of a town that helps communicate culture or mood. I think the best example is Treno's song in FFIX or Wall Market music in FFVII. In many cases the music isn't memorable, but you know what, it doesn't have to be. In fact it might be even better that it doesn't, the music is invisible and just melts with the background.

Music in this instance isn't suppose to be the forefront, and thus a lot of these songs aren't listenable out of context. And that's the genius of it, honestly, making sound that deliberately makes sense on in that one area, it's unique and it's part of that experience- without it, it means less. And vice versa, an environment without their music feels like less of what it is.

Final Fantasy XII and Silent Hill is the best example I can think of.

2>
Manipulating music or sound that breaks norms of the game. Here the music is very much important and noticeable, but it's done to deliver a point.

Take for example, Aerith's death and the Jenova fight. How much more powerful is that fight because Aerith's theme plays? And vice versa, The Aerith theme is memorable but I feel like it's easier to get emotionally attached because we have to fight through it. The same thing happens in FFXIII in the town of Oerba, which plays the same music in battle as the field, which helps make the location one of the memorable in the game.

I think it's equally powerful when you take away music. Although it doesn't quite fit in this example because the entire game is like this, but the fact that there is no music thoughout Limbo only helps with the creepy factor. And makes all the sound effects that signal your impending deaths (many, many, many deaths) stand out more.

3>
Then there's the emotional, so beautiful you want to stay longer, it makes you emotional or ready for action just by listening too music. You know exactly it is saying, even without the scene, and it stays with you.

I remember staying at the church in Crisis Core to hear The Burdened. I have the same reaction to the Another World overworld theme in Chrono Cross, Liberi Fatali from FFVII, or even Halo's theme.

It's strong, memorable, and I probably downloaded the song for my ipod and listen it a million times until my ears puke.

4>
The last type is less how composer use music, and more on the player itself. It's the nostalgic factor. When a game because so ingrained into part of your childhood, just listening to it invokes the feelings that you use to feel.

It's basically become a sensory memory. The way people react to certain smells or visual queues, it makes you remember things. The opening scene in FFVII and the music, looking back at it, isn't as impressive as other openings but there are very few songs that gives me chills like that one does. There are certain songs in FFVII and in Zelda OoT that aren't particularly impressive (I mean, it's Nobou they are ALL great but you know what I mean) but when you hear them you immediately react. And then it makes you really want to play the game again.

 

[Joker]

I feel like I'm more likely to continue playing something that has good music than something that doesn't, mostly because so many games out there are very dependent upon sound to communicate a lot of thing (although this is mostly effects), and I don't like eliminating the music entirely, because it is usually there to add atmosphere to the gaming experience itself. I love Borderlands to death, but its music is pretty generic and just sort of there and so I get tired of it after a few minutes and need some other kind of aural stimulation to keep myself from getting bored with the game experience itself (which is fun). On the other hand, there's games like Castlevania which have absolutely amazing, god-tier soundtracks that I can't stop listening to and even when I'm just listening to the music on my computer it makes me want to play the game.

In fact, I put the Castlevania soundtrack on every night a bit before I fall asleep and just have it on repeat.

 

[Keveh Kins]

The Castlevania games have consistently had terrific soundtracks, even when the gameplay itself wasn't particularly imaginative, Curse of Darkness' level design was poor, but the soundtrack tempered my dissatisfaction with it and made me keep playing. The quality has continued into the Lords of Shadow Castlevania trilogy with a new composer, it adds so much more to the game.

Then there are games that have very minimal use of music, like Dark Souls, where a lot of the gameplay isn't accompanied by anything but the sounds of the game world. For me, it always makes the music that much more impactful when it does play. The Dark Son Gwyndolin/Moonlight Butterfly theme is one of the most eerie yet beautiful tracks I've ever heard in a game and I think a large part of that is because the game has deprived me of music up until key moments like that, so it has a much greater effect.

A lot of the emotive quality of a game, particularly games without voice acting, comes from the soundtrack for me. I still feel elated and determined to see the party succeed when the Highwind theme hits after Cloud opens up to the group about his past and they all say the "Ain't no getting off o' this train we on" line, and that's after 12 odd years of constant playthroughs

 

[Kermitu Kleric Katie]

I got to agree with all of you there. I also find that if I'm playing a game that requires quick reactions (such as an action RPG or a rhythm game) the music can affect how fast I press the button/tap the stylus(depending on what game and system I'm playing). So a fast tempo song will allow me to acvt faster than I would otherwise with no music or a slower tempo one. This effect is especially convenient when playing rhythm games, where keeping up with the beat of the music is key.

 

[Octo]

Off at a tangent, I've never played a Castlevania theme, but my brother did, and I can to an acapella version of Simons theme. Makes people leave the room for some reason.

Anyway I don't think I have much to add, except back in the dark days, pre internet - when vidyagames were really looked down on (much more so than now) I used to use a crappy tape recorder pressed up to the speakers on my TV to record game music, mostly Sonic IIRC and Secret of Mana, because that was fucking awesome. In fact I had a huge fight with my little brother because he interrupted me recording the end theme and it meant I had to reload and fight the Mana beast all over again.

I digress, I think I sort of felt nerdy and secretive about it, like it wasn't 'real' music. Which of course is nonsense.

Having said that, I think I prefer updated instrumental versions where I can get them - though I kind of hate it when the orchestral version differs too much from the original. It's a fine line I guess.

 

[Ghost X]

A good soundtrack can improve an already good game. I assume the same can be said for bad games, but I don't play bad games . A bad soundtrack can lead me to pressing the mute button, but fortunately I don't think I've ever had to do that.

 

[Unlucky]

While a great soundtrack definitely improves the whole gaming experience, I don't find it hard to immerse myself in the scene or story even with music that I find bland or sucky. Probably because I'm more focused on the dialogue and game events more than the music while playing the game.

Sometimes when the music is too good I even find myself getting distracted which is not good. But there's also the 'forgettable' type of soundtracks which probably failed in making me get into the game more, but overall didn't bother me too much.

I can think of a few exceptions where the music kind of ruined the experience for me. The Crisis Core OST comes to mind. As much as I loved the music in the church, I hated the theme in the slums. And the rock battle themes sounded too similar to each other, it's like listening to Nickelback.

If you'd ask me though I'd prefer a horrible soundtrack over a boring one. When playing I'd rather get annoyed than get bored.

 

[Drax]

I agree with what game composers usually say: game music's #1 main purpose is to be ambiance for the gameplay. It doesn't matter how catchy or how good it sounds on its own, as long as it fills its role in creating the atmosphere, it does its job.

Still doesn't mean Burning Rangers' theme doesn't go with everything I play: example :'D

But my favorite trait of video game music is that it tends to ground itself strongly in whatever it's adapting. When it's pop, you get unabashed pop (the later Persona games, particularly the PSP remake of the first one. No More Heroes is another example). If you want south american folk, big band, or jazz, you get that (see: Grim Fandango.) I think part of it is because they don't have the luxury of being able to place music over movie/tv footage after the fact; they're forced to make something more complete to fill up how much time the player spends in a certain area.

 

[Clement Rage]

One of the first things I noticed about Metal Gear Rising was the music, I listen to it on Youtube while I'm working. The boss themes, like in no more heroes, actually add to the character if you listen to the music, and make certain scenes stand out. (Beatrix's theme etc.)

Just look at battle on the big bridge, it made a minor recurring boss extremely popular to the point of cameoing ever since.

In the legacy of Kain series, they have one catchy theme (Ozar Midrashim, look it up), while the rest of the music just sets the mood. It's not music you listen to on its own, but it works really well for its intended purpose.

 

[Drax]

I've been playing Civilization because it was free on XB Live. I get giddy whenever Baba Yetu shows up after highlighting an action

 

[Abortedj]

I find that the right music can enhance the gaming experience greatly. Fallout 3 was a very good example of that. Hearing the cheery GNR music station out of your Pipboy as you walk through wasteland and ruins, that just worked. The simple piano music in Minecraft also works great.

On the other hand, bad music rarely ruins a game. In most games you can just turn the music down/off.