Game Music in classic and modern video games

[MusicallyInspired]

http://kotaku.com/5821655/why-video-games-with-silent-heroes-had-the-best-soundtracks

I found this very interesting. It marks the very difference I've been trying to nail down in why I prefer classic game soundtracks to new game soundtracks: classic games had no voice acting. The article points out that games with voice acting cause the brain to focus on the words instead of the music and there's "not enough bandwidth" for our brains to process both voice acting and an interesting soundtrack. The soundtrack takes a backseat to the speech because that's naturally what our brains focus on. This is also why Hollywood movies and video games with a cinematic flow tone down the music for when characters are talking and leave the lead melodies to areas without talking and intro/credits sequences.

This is exactly why I prefer the soundtracks of old and I didn't even realize it: speechless games. Even the soundtracks from LA's games experienced without speech are far more engaging (the music, not necessarily the game). It's a very interesting difference. In the article the author links to two YouTube videos from FFVII, both of a sequence with text and engaging music (yeah, that's most of the game, but you know). One version was the original game presentation and the other with voice acting. The point was to show just how much more effective the music is when there's nothing else to listen to, and it's remarkably true! Maybe you guys understood this difference already, but I've never thought of it that way before. Perhaps that's why I always preferred KQ2+ without voices and why I never found TSL's or Telltale's game soundtracks particularly memorable or striking (though done extremely well). Though I really enjoyed Puzzle Agent's themes....particularly the puzzle themes, because there's no dialogue!

You know, in light of this I really think it'd be great to play a game solely based on gameplay with a rich soundtrack and no dialogue at all. Speech nor text. Just music telling the story. That would be an interesting experience and a fun exercise to score as well. I'll have to do that before I die sometime...

[Fierce Deity]

I've never distinguished good music based on the presence of voice acting. It could be true, but I usually always listen to music first, cause it's a main interest for me, as a "future/potential composer". 

Voice acting is also important to me too, cause I like the character being able to "come to life" so to speak. I may sound redundant, seeing as I made a thread based on the series, but I always liked the soundtrack in Kingdom Hearts. I also think they got a brilliant composer to handle the battle music, as well as the cinematics. Another game that may prove your point would be Radiant Historia. A silent cast, but an amazing soundtrack. The soundtrack was even released with the game, due to Atlus' amazing bundles. I can say that music can truly be effective if the composer tries to understand the game as a gamer would.

[MusicallyInspired]

It's certainly not true that a game soundtrack can fail just because there's voice acting or that it's ambient. I like a lot of ambient game soundtracks like Myst and Portal for instance. But to me personally they don't shake a stick at the great works of The Secret of Monkey Island or King's Quest 5. It's a taste thing at that point. Music works perfectly well in modern games (and old ones) with voice acting, it's just not as memorable because the focus isn't on it so much and it's not trying to drive the emotion solely on its own. It's merely there as support. I happen to prefer the older style.

[Fierce Deity]

It's certainly no true that a game soundtrack can fail just because there's voice acting or that it's ambient. I like a lot of ambient game soundtracks like Myst and Portal for instance. But to me personally they don't shake a stick at the great works of The Secret of Monkey Island or King's Quest 5. It's a taste thing at that point. Music works perfectly well in modern games (and old ones) with voice acting, it's just not as memorable because the focus isn't on it so much and it's not trying to drive the emotion solely on its own. It's merely there as support. I happen to prefer the older style.

Agreed.

[MikPal]

it's just not as memorable because the focus isn't on it so much and it's not trying to drive the emotion solely on its own. It's merely there as support.

Well, that's why game- and filmmaking are collaborative arts with usually one or many skippers to keep the production on the road.

[darthkiwi]

Extra Credits also did a video on this which has a different take on the issue:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2019-Videogame-Music

[MusicallyInspired]

This video was also posted by a member on the Telltale forums where I posted this topic. It is also an interesting video with some great points, but with a slightly different focus than the previous article. Absolutely worth a watch, though.

[liggy002]

The soundtrack for the original KQ1 was phenomenal.  It was my favorite all time score.

[MusicallyInspired]

"Soundtrack?" There were like 2 jingles and a short theme (which was Greensleeves). The Sierra remake soundtrack, on the other hand, was excellent.

[liggy002]

lol, it's good that you picked up on that.  I'm just joking around like I sometimes do.   

[Sir Perceval of Daventry]

Two points here:

1) Does anyone else feel music in computer/video games isn't what it used to be?

I love the simple, brief numbers in games like Sonic the Hedgehog (Mushroom Hill Zone 1, Green Hill Zone being standouts), Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country, Pitfall, Mortal Kombat, World of Illusion and other games of that time. Same goes for PC games of the 90s--there's a certain charm to the music of games like Fate of Atlantis and Doom, and of course, the amazing soundtracks of KQ2 (Tandy), KQ3 (Tandy), KQ4, KQ5, KQ6 and to a lesser extent KQ7. While today you have long orchaestrated numbers, they don't compare IMO to the simple melodies of earlier games.

I will admit SOME more modern games (post 1996 let's say) have greatsoundtracks, like Curse of Monkey Island, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Kingdom Hearts and some others.

2) What are your favorite video game soundtracks/musical numbers?

[Cez]

I think I gave a list of this recently but here we go again:

1) Gabriel Knight series and Gray Matter. Robert Holmes is a genius.
2) There are some great pieces in King's Quest. I wouldn't catalog any of the single soundtracks as awesome, but I could probably make an awesome CD out of all the King's Quest.
3) Same with Final Fantasy. In general I love the music, but I don't find any full soundtrack to be something awesome. There are, however, some pieces that are just incredible in every game.
4) Xenosaga. There are some great tracks in Episode I. Episodes 2 and 3 are just amazing fully and completely.
5) Kingdom Hearts has some exceptional pieces through all of its soundtracks.
6) Lost Odyssey also had some great pieces.
7) I like The Dig soundtrack as well.
Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross!

Yeah, I like Japanese soundtracks a lot

I used to use Sierra soundtracks when I did theater in highschool. King's Quest VI, Space Quest V, Gabriel Knight, were some of the pieces I used.

oh and...
The Silver Lining is incredible I'm a number one fan of Austin's music.

I enjoy this site a lot: http://ocremix.org/  They remix music from games, some really awesome pieces in there.

[MusicallyInspired]

Didn't I make or contribute to a thread about this a month or two ago?

[Cez]

yeah, we did, didn't we? The same threads keep being posted and posted!

[crayauchtin]

Some games these days have great music. There are a few spots in WoW where I just have to stop and listen to the music. Dragon Age has some really fantastic tracks as well. (And, of course, TSL has an amazing soundtrack!)

That said, Quest for Glory, in general, has the best game music ever. EVER. Nope, I'm not listening to your arguments! Lalalala can't hear you, I'm listening to my QfG music!

[Lambonius]

We at IA are in the process of implementing additional music to the beta build of SQ2VGA...I think you all are really going to enjoy what we've come up with! 

[Big C from Cauney island]

For the most part, whenever I remember games from the 80s and 90s I always remember the music. Most of the ones listed are the ones whose music I like. Super mario brothers (all of them), Metroid 1 and 2  , Kid Icarus, Mike Tysons punchout, double dragon, teenage mutant ninja turtles, zelda, Sonic the hedge hog.  I really liked the intro for willy beamish on Sega CD.

But the one I will always remember is Ghostbusters on commodore 64.  I can't even count how many hours spent on that one.  Also, pitfall 2 on commodore 64. Metroid really hits a chord too.  Possibly street fighter 2 on snes. Zelda snes had cool music too.

Obviously all of sierra's stuff.  The simplicity of Kings quest 3 theme sticks out. Willy beamish pc had a cool intro even with internal speaker. I really like all the music from Willy beamish.

As far as recent games, crysis 2 had a cool soundtrack.  But, Assasins creed 2 and brotherhood soundtracks are probably the best of recent times.  And TSL as well. The first doom isn't really recent, but I remember the music from the first level perfectly.

And of course, random arcade games.

[darthkiwi]

This video is an insightful view of the topic:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/video-game-music

I agree with them, broadly. I think a lot of recent games have great soundtracks despite being orchestral. The MGS theme tune, the Neverwinter Nights theme tune and any music by Jesper Kyd (Hitman and Assassin's Creed) are all fantastic game soundtracks, and are all orchestral.

But I do agree that some games seem to fall into "boring nondescript music". That's the fault of the composer and the game rather than the genre of music, though.

Also, VVVVVV has an AMAZING chiptune soundtrack. I love it to bits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_n0Gv23w5s

[MusicallyInspired]

That's the same video I posted in the other music thread.

[Blackthorne]

Yeah, does anybody do a search around here before they post?


Bt