Impact of The Greatest Video Themes
As in films, effective use (or lack of use) of music in video games has proven to be the difference between a defining emotional climax reaching its full splendor, and what would have otherwise been captivating moment achieving the poignancy of a dried tomato (unless dried tomatoes actually bring you to tears, in which case I’m sure they satisfy your need for emotional storytelling to a far greater extent than any game). Just as the last few years has seen great strides in compelling videogame narrative, so too has its use of music seen rapid development.But as all games must revolve around both storytelling and gameplay, its version of auditory accompaniment has proven itself wholly unique to this medium. The sophistication of electronic entertainment has come a long way since the days of 8-bit and MIDI soundtracks from classics such asMario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda. Music alone has backed some of the greatest gaming moments of all time, however some titles have driven this a step further, building the entire core gameplay around musicality. This is my examination of music’s enormous role in videogames.Around the late 1970’s when videogames first begun to emerge as a popular form of entertainment during the so-called ‘golden age’ of arcade videogames and the second generation of consoles (we are now entering the 8th generation with the Wii U, Xbox One and PS4), music was created via simple synthetic chips to generate musical sounds in the aptly named style: chiptune. Previously most videogames were totally silent or only contained extremely simple beeps and boops – such as in Atari’s Pong, released in 1972 – but as background music in videogames began to become expected by customers, developers capitalized directly on this growing trend with the release of the universally panned, Journey (I know what you’re thinking, but the 1983 version). Gamers played as photographs of the members of Journey placed on cartoon bodies were endeavoring to reunite with their instruments, but heard none of the bands actual music. Though still at its infancy at this time, the simplicity 8-bit music from this era surely invokes nostalgia for anyone who grew up during the 70’s and 80’s, even videogaming back then was far less a serious hobby as it is today and more a toy. I myself experience this same blast of nostalgia when I hear the opening theme of the original Playstation.
Excuse me while I hyperventilate due to the explosion of memories.
Over the years, music in videogames developed just as rapidly as its technology: it has become a good time to be a gamer. As well as a device to create atmosphere within the story and setting of each level, music has been used to directly communicate information to players in an artistic way, this leads me to unveil a musical beast unique to videogames: the dynamic soundtrack. First utilised in the revolutionary R.B.I. Baseball in 1987, dynamic soundtracks alter and flow based on the actions of the player. Musically, games such Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, can turn on a dime from a beautifully delicate violin melody as you gaze at a breathtaking aurora atop a snow capped mountain, to heavy masculine grunts and drums the instant you step into combat, often this change occurs before you’re even aware you’re under attack. This forces composers to go beyond the usual sensibilities of film composition, creating phrases that are both captivating enough to draw out the emotions of players, and precise enough to allow for a comfortable transition into the next song at a moments notice. Videogames are built on information just as surely as emotion, and this information must be communicated in a creative way. Even without a complex dynamic soundtrack, music can communicate information as simple as winning a level or a game over. These sounds can become even more memorable than the games themselves. EVERYONE knows exactly what to expect as soon as this music reaches his or her ears:
However like in film, creating atmosphere is a far greater function for music to serve than simple communication of information. Creating an immersive fiction in which to set the narrative is a key duty for any developer looking to create a popular and acclaimed videogame, and music is a huge part of achieving this immersion. Whether its diagetically (experienced directly by the character) such as the radio stations in Grand Theft Auto 5, or non-diagetically, such as the exquisite, symphonic backing score of Journey (1983 version), appropriate music can speak volumes about the world of the protagonist, especially through era-appropriate music such as that of Hotline Miami, which features a pounding 80’s-esc accompaniment. At the perfect moments in the struggles of the characters, and when the visuals and atmosphere are splendidly established, music can directly manipulate our emotions and play them like a game of Monopoly.The Last of Us was beautiful in many ways, but its grasp of musicality in the context of a videogame narrative was just unparalleled
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The brutal intensity of this scene is incredibly juxtaposed by the simple guitar melody that follows it, ushering in the new season on a black screen. We experience stories and the lives of fictional characters because we want to feel. We want to cry over the loss of characters we love, or laugh when they achieve their wildest dreams – perhaps to distract us from confronting the real emotions we so readily avoid in our everyday life. One thing is for certain though, there is no situation, real or imaginary, that can’t be improved with music, or pizza. (Daria fans? Anyone get that joke?)