Author Topic: Music in Games (Read 14309 times)

Don'tHate742 · « **on:** March 08, 2003, 08:33:39 AM »

I wish game development parties would take more time in developing the music....

Skies of Arcadia had excellent music on the opening menu, but everything else not nearly as high quality.
Music does so much for a movie, so why can't developers realizes that it could do so much for a game too.
If anyone has seen the movie "Requiem For a Dream", the movie itself was alright but the thing that made it great was the the background overtures. The music made you get deeper and deeper into the movie.

If they took more time they could make masterpieces

kennyb27 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2003, 10:06:26 AM »

Yes, I couldn't agree with you any more. But one thing many developers don't have is time. They are continually strangled by the publishers with deadlines. Also, the cost. For incredible soundtracks, you need incredible performances by orchestras. And well, it costs alot. They probably would sell more games with a better soundtrack. But, frankly, the gaming market is extremly fickle and one second the games can love a developer and another, they will push them to the back of their mind.

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2003, 11:19:30 AM »

Nintendo music tends to be very good. . . Metroid Prime's music (made exclusively by Nintendo) is spectacular, Mario Sunshine has happy, appropriate tunes (and very nice), and most of the Wind Waker music sounds good. . . generally, the games I get have good music, so I can't really say much about bad music in games. . .

Smadte · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2003, 06:28:50 PM »

I think music is taken WAY to lightly with videogames. I was outraged when I heard Zelda wasn't going to be fully orchestrated, and even more outraged when I heard the samples Kondo used (If I were him, I'd use this). The composition is outstanding, but the samples aren't up to par with the competition. Although, there are composers out there, like Jeremy Soule, that compose WONDERFUL orchestrated music. I would be more than happy if Soule composed the music for the next Zelda game, actually.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2003, 06:36:19 PM »

Well, Nintendo have shown us they're willing to put effort into their CD based music (Smash Bros. Melee), but it'll never have the same charm as their stuff on NES and SNES did. Cartridge music all the way!

What's sad is when developers have access to stunning music composed for the game, yet treat it like rubbish. Yeah, I'm lookin' at you Xenosaga....

PIAC · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2003, 08:21:50 PM »

i rate videogame music very highly

as i said somewhere else in this forum i have the Chrono Trigger soundtrack and Ocarina of Time soundtrack (still in transit)
i want the phantasy star online album, and prolly metroid from the snes

but to actually put something worth while to the topic

if the music is done poorly i enjoy games less, alot of games i had on the 64 (im kinda too sick to remember which ones) i used the volume down feature on the music which i think is a shame, if developers had more time then music would be better

... im rambleing now, gah im going to bed =\

DrForester · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2003, 08:45:19 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Infernal MonkeyWhat's sad is when developers have access to stunning music composed for the game, yet treat it like rubbish. Yeah, I'm lookin' at you Xenosaga....

Yeah, play Xenosaga, then you'd see its a fantastic game, with a fantastic soundtrack. DOn't hate it just becasue it has a nice big story.

Anyways, game music can be very good. I do wish Nintendo would become a little more active in the Game Sountrack area. It is taking them 3 months to get the soundtrack to The Wind Waker out in Japan, yet other games have the Soundtracks out before or shortly after the game itself, simmilar to a move soundtrack release.

best game soundtrack for me at Final Fantasy 6 (Gotta love the opera), and Xenogears (Mitsuda's great).

And Requiem For A Dream did have a nice soundtrack. Never seen the movie, but listened to some of the soundtrack after I found out the main theme of Requiem For A Dream was the elusive song they used in the Two Towers trailor.

MorningStar · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2003, 09:09:15 PM »

Best music in a game:
FFVII-Cid's Theme
Eternal Darkness-Maximillian Roivas' Chapter
Metroid Prime-Data Select Screen
Super Smash Bros Melee-Ness' Level(the one thats kind of like a residential neighborhood)

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2003, 02:09:08 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: DrForester
Quote
Originally posted by: Infernal MonkeyWhat's sad is when developers have access to stunning music composed for the game, yet treat it like rubbish. Yeah, I'm lookin' at you Xenosaga....

Yeah, play Xenosaga, then you'd see its a fantastic game, with a fantastic soundtrack. DOn't hate it just becasue it has a nice big story.

I didn't say I hated the game, I'm talking about how they used the music in the game. The majority of the tracks on the OST are stunning, yet they seem to be used in the worst parts of the game. Or used... Wrong. Having FMV with nothing but the sound of engines going in the background isn't my idea of epic.
Or using great tracks in one hallway... Where they'll never be heard again, is just sad.

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2003, 05:40:35 PM »

I liked the Skies of Arcadia soundtrack. I don't know what your problem with it was.

Okiva77 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2003, 06:38:30 PM »

the following games have EXCELLENT music:

Maniac Mansion
The Legend of Zelda
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Kirby's Adventure
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy VI
Super Metroid
Yoshi's Island
Tetrisphere (especially when you input the secret code to access the extra "old school" style music)
Conker's Bad Fur Day (especially the vampire's castle)
Eternal Darkness
Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2
Metriod Prime

also very notable are:

Wild Arms
Saiyuki: Journey West
Chrono Cross
Ico
Silent Hill 2
Rez

Also, the Vanilla Dome music in Super Mario World is very memorable.
Most of those SNES and N64 titles, I use to actually just put them on for the music while i did some work. So classic!
Why, oh why, can't their be more orchestrated music in Nintendo titles? Has anyone heard the Ocarina of Time orchestrated soundtrack CD? Excellent!

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2003, 06:45:06 PM »

Speaking of Silent Hill, number three will be coming with the OST as a pack-in for all PAL territories! Somebody over at Konami Europe loves us ^^

JoeFalco · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2003, 09:33:31 PM »

Listening to the soundtrack from Chrono Trigger always bring a tear to my little eyes.

Music beautifully done and selected in a game separates the awesome from the excellent. Some of my favorite soundtracks, in no particular order, are from:
Banjo-Kazooie (The music for the final battle is very upbeat and catchy)
Final Fantasy VI (My favorite songs from that soundtrack are Kefka's theme, Shadow's theme and Gogo's theme. A piano version of Kefka's is the most entertaining and haunting)
Chrono Trigger (Excellent. Simply excellent)
Donkey Kong Country (This SNES classic still holds a place in my heart. The music from the different areas in the game blend in wonderfully with the action)
Metroid Fusion (Deeply disturbing. The music for the SA-X leaves a chill in my bones whenever I hear it.)
Legend of Zelda: O of T (I like it! Sorry I couldn't come up with anything good to describe the music. So sue me!

)

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2003, 12:51:22 AM »

Nintendo's use of midi is far too evident in this generation.
I mean, on the N64, it wasn't really CD quality sound (the only game that sounded clear was Mario 64 - everything just sounded muffled, some more than others). I think they should get better midi systems. The midi in SFA, Mario Sunshine, Wind Waker, Mario Party and Luigi's Mansion was just too obvious when they tries to make the music sound orchestrated (the brass, horns ans strings). Nintendo's soundtracks peaked with Super Smash Bros Melee, with all that "OH MY GOD I KNOW THIS THEME" type of music. And some orchestrated. The reason why Metroid Prime isn't being knocked is because the music is sort of techno and meant to be like that Even the orchestrated part sounded good (Talon overworld), cause it sounded like Eschebone from JFG. I don't know also, how Silicon Knights did the music in their games. If it was orchestrated, then great, but if it was midi, then f**k! They should give thier midi systems to Nintendo. That just sounded like good audio.

Also, the music in Mario Sunshine, just didn't sound good enough. It was too basic. I think they should go for something like Rare did for Banjo Kazooie/Tooie and DK64. No more of that Barbershop Quartet thing with the finger clicks and the "doo doo doo doo" and whistling of the Mario theme. That was just bad.

theaveng · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2003, 06:20:04 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Termin8Anakin
Nintendo's use of midi is far too evident in this generation...

You know what annoys me most about game music? It's not the midi, or the orchestra, or the lack there-of. It's the constant repeating over and over and over. Like Kingdom Hearts. It sounds beautiful, but it repeats itself every 2 minutes. After 5 hours of hearing the same song over-and-over-and-over I'm ready to smash the speakers.

What musicians need to do is make the music *longer*... like classical music pieces which last ~30 minutes. That way it wouldn't be so damn repetitive!

Don'tHate742 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2003, 11:31:45 AM »

Ya, I didn't mind the repetiveness or the techno sounding music in Prime becuase it all blended perfectly. That is what i'm talking about, it doesn't have to be fully orchestra made game, I just want what is composed for the game to match the game. I want the music to take you deeper into the game, especially RPG's or adventure games.

Another example is the movie "The Rock" the main theme was brillaint and really brought out the heroic parts of it. If anyone has played Red Faction 2, could you imagine having a soundtrack like The Rock played at a part where your taking out or helping a bunch of people. I would love that

Smadte · « **Reply #16 on:** March 10, 2003, 02:24:16 PM »

The only thing wrong with Nintendo's music is the crappy samples they use. It's not because of midi programs, it's the horrid use of samples. That's it. I mean, come on! JFG's music is FAR superior to almost everything Nintendo's done on the gamecube. They really need to get with the program and stop shafting the music as much as they have been. Music is more important than graphics, if you ask me.

Polyethylene · « **Reply #17 on:** March 10, 2003, 03:54:18 PM »

I guess the best music for a video game to me it's
the Castlevania IV music. Some of the tracks are
atmospheric and others are very motivating. I
specially remember the second level song, the
third level and the track of the credits.

Smadte · « **Reply #18 on:** March 10, 2003, 04:49:47 PM »

I definately agree. Castlevania IV has one of the best soundtracks, along with Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Ghouls 'n Ghosts and many others. The SNES was the power house for the best game soundtracks in history. I recenly did an Orchestral Arrangement of the third level of Castlevania IV that you may enjoy. It doesn't stray too far from the original.

KrazyJ1098 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2003, 06:12:26 PM »

i dont know, the best music to me in video games has to be between one of these four, super metroid, metroid prime, and donkey kong country, and star fox for the snes. all of them had amazing numbers and were all very rememberable. but they are alos my favorite games of all time. so far anyways.

Mario · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2003, 11:20:14 PM »

I love most videogame music, but there are some games that really stand out above the rest when it comes to music IMO. The Legend of Zelda (every single one of them, especially Majoras Mask), Starfox Adventures, Sonic 3, Banjo Kazzooie, Conkers Bad Fur Day, Luigis Mansion, Eternal Darkness and Fzero GCN (havent played it but LOVE the music in the videos lol). Those games have AMAZING soundtracks IMO, some of my fav songs are the end credits of Majoras Mask. End credits of Luigis Mansion, gotta love that funky remix, its AWESOME! Conkers Bad Fur Day, the great mighty poo song, extremely well done, and most songs from that game. And most of the Starfox Adventures music. Oh yeah, and in Sonic 3, on the Ice Cap level, i cant believe i actually remember that song, its so damn catchy.

Gamer Donkey · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2003, 11:32:17 AM »

I like when the music seems to interact with the gameplay. I've noticed it in NFS III:HP (I don't know whether its made like that or I just had incredibly good timing) when I would crash with a particular song the voice would say:"Don't stop, baby, don't stop." Anyone else notice this? Just to throw in my two cents.

And that Unity is supposed to have something about the music interactiong with gamepay, but I don't know how that works.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #22 on:** March 12, 2003, 11:56:16 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
Oh yeah, and in Sonic 3, on the Ice Cap level, i cant believe i actually remember that song, its so damn catchy.

*Throws a link at Mario*

ENJOY THE REMIXED GLORY!

PIAC · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2003, 06:34:44 PM »

yay! the overclocked remix site is great

now i have cable i might have to give them a serious visit >=D

Mario · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2003, 09:07:25 PM »

*catches link*

OMG! Thank you monkey! I am in your dept forever! I love that song so much! Sonic Mega Collection is soooo mine.

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Author Topic: Music in Games (Read 14309 times)