The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Games are great. They help you relax, they give you many hours of fun and they can give you something to talk about. But it's actually more complex than that. What actually makes a game?
Games, on a whole, are always great fun. If you know what type of game's you prefer, and you see one that you think you will enjoy, the chances are that not only will you buy the game, you will like playing it. But what actually is it that you enjoy? The graphics? The gameplay? Well, yes, but there is some element hardly talked about, an element in games that, if harnessed properly, can make a game 100% better. That element is Sound.
Sound is becoming more and more apparent in today's society. More and more ringtones keep appearing, music is branching out to different people and there are many formats to choose from, whether it's CD, Minidisc, MP3 or the good old cassette, nearly everyone has some kind of music that they listen to. Sometimes, music can be the factor that people remember about a game. Take films for example. Jaws was one of the best Shark attack films (and there seem to be many!) ever. If people see a Great White Shark, you can guarantee that Jaws will be mentioned. But why? Is it because Jaws is scary? Or the fact that he is famous? I think different. The infamous Jaws tune, when he is on the attack has to be 'the' film music that everyone knows. But can the same be applied to games? The answer is yes.
Soundtracks to games are evidently increasing in popularity with gamers and developers. Developers can easily see that music is changing the way we play games. A good example would be that of Amped or GTA3 (PC version) with the ability to download MP3 files and store them onto your Xbox or PC, allowing you to play them during the game. This is one of the many examples to show that Music is changing games forever.
RES is, I feel, the game that is nearly 100% based upon music. Although the aim of the game is to complete the levels in a type of 3rd person shooter, but everything you do causes a sound effect to be played. This, together with the background music, creates a whole new gaming experience, and it won't take long before you start trying to make a good beat instead of trying to complete the level. Visually, RES wasn't *that* great, but it did look different to say the least. This was because the Developers main focus was to create that different style of game. The emphasis was clearly on music, and personally, I think it worked like a treat.
An even better example would be that of Dancing Stage Euromix. The aim of this game was to perform dance moves, by stepping on a foldout mat that was connected to your PS/PS2. You would have to place you foot on the corresponding symbol to that which was on the screen. Now, many different symbols were played simultaneously, meaning that you would have to dance around the mat, which was incredible fun and created a great multiplayer experience.
Other genres, such as Platformers, RPG's, FPS and even Adventure games all have great music too, even though the main emphasis is that of Gameplay and graphics, and other focus points. It's obvious, again, that developers see the need for sound, that's why they include sound tests. Being a big fan or rock music, I enjoy listening to the sound test on Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, which has a good selection of Rock music to listen to.
Music can also improve your gaming. You may not realise it, but I certainly play better when I listen to music that I like. Take Sonic Adventure 2: Battle again, as an example. Now, originally, the Knuckles' levels have hip-hop music. Now I know that many people enjoy hip-hop, but personally, I don't. So what do I do? I turn the sound down for that particular level, and stick on some Millencolin, Weezer or even Foo Fighters. It does, without a doubt, create a much better atmosphere when you are listening to your favourite music.
So, to conclude, Sound is becoming a vital part of life, for regular people and for gamers. Music can make you feel happy when you are sad, it can allow you to unleash anger and it is a good remedy when you struggle with the mighty force that is Coursework. Games are always changing. Music is a vital part in that change, and I believe that the change is for the good.
Thanks for reading.
MiCRoCHiþS
Games, on a whole, are always great fun. If you know what type of game's you prefer, and you see one that you think you will enjoy, the chances are that not only will you buy the game, you will like playing it. But what actually is it that you enjoy? The graphics? The gameplay? Well, yes, but there is some element hardly talked about, an element in games that, if harnessed properly, can make a game 100% better. That element is Sound.
Sound is becoming more and more apparent in today's society. More and more ringtones keep appearing, music is branching out to different people and there are many formats to choose from, whether it's CD, Minidisc, MP3 or the good old cassette, nearly everyone has some kind of music that they listen to. Sometimes, music can be the factor that people remember about a game. Take films for example. Jaws was one of the best Shark attack films (and there seem to be many!) ever. If people see a Great White Shark, you can guarantee that Jaws will be mentioned. But why? Is it because Jaws is scary? Or the fact that he is famous? I think different. The infamous Jaws tune, when he is on the attack has to be 'the' film music that everyone knows. But can the same be applied to games? The answer is yes.
Soundtracks to games are evidently increasing in popularity with gamers and developers. Developers can easily see that music is changing the way we play games. A good example would be that of Amped or GTA3 (PC version) with the ability to download MP3 files and store them onto your Xbox or PC, allowing you to play them during the game. This is one of the many examples to show that Music is changing games forever.
RES is, I feel, the game that is nearly 100% based upon music. Although the aim of the game is to complete the levels in a type of 3rd person shooter, but everything you do causes a sound effect to be played. This, together with the background music, creates a whole new gaming experience, and it won't take long before you start trying to make a good beat instead of trying to complete the level. Visually, RES wasn't *that* great, but it did look different to say the least. This was because the Developers main focus was to create that different style of game. The emphasis was clearly on music, and personally, I think it worked like a treat.
An even better example would be that of Dancing Stage Euromix. The aim of this game was to perform dance moves, by stepping on a foldout mat that was connected to your PS/PS2. You would have to place you foot on the corresponding symbol to that which was on the screen. Now, many different symbols were played simultaneously, meaning that you would have to dance around the mat, which was incredible fun and created a great multiplayer experience.
Other genres, such as Platformers, RPG's, FPS and even Adventure games all have great music too, even though the main emphasis is that of Gameplay and graphics, and other focus points. It's obvious, again, that developers see the need for sound, that's why they include sound tests. Being a big fan or rock music, I enjoy listening to the sound test on Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, which has a good selection of Rock music to listen to.
Music can also improve your gaming. You may not realise it, but I certainly play better when I listen to music that I like. Take Sonic Adventure 2: Battle again, as an example. Now, originally, the Knuckles' levels have hip-hop music. Now I know that many people enjoy hip-hop, but personally, I don't. So what do I do? I turn the sound down for that particular level, and stick on some Millencolin, Weezer or even Foo Fighters. It does, without a doubt, create a much better atmosphere when you are listening to your favourite music.
So, to conclude, Sound is becoming a vital part of life, for regular people and for gamers. Music can make you feel happy when you are sad, it can allow you to unleash anger and it is a good remedy when you struggle with the mighty force that is Coursework. Games are always changing. Music is a vital part in that change, and I believe that the change is for the good.
Thanks for reading.
MiCRoCHiþS
Good point there UA. If games have the wrong music, it really doesn't get you in the 'mood' as such.
:)
:)
Oh boy, in-game music has such a big effect on me to the point where it's often how I remember a game!
A recent example is Turok Evolution where the developers, in my view, got the music spot-on and really caught the whole mood in it. If a game doesnt have the right music to accompany it, the whole mood of the game is spoilt for me.
Quite possibly the best in-game music ever has got to be Final Fantasy VII - as soppy as this sounds, it went right to my heart and almost brought a tear to my eye. FFVII without it's music would be...I'd rather not think about it.
Agree with you on all accounts there Micro, good post. :)
A recent example is Turok Evolution where the developers, in my view, got the music spot-on and really caught the whole mood in it. If a game doesnt have the right music to accompany it, the whole mood of the game is spoilt for me.
Quite possibly the best in-game music ever has got to be Final Fantasy VII - as soppy as this sounds, it went right to my heart and almost brought a tear to my eye. FFVII without it's music would be...I'd rather not think about it.
Agree with you on all accounts there Micro, good post. :)
Thanks. Music and Sound Effects work in unison to provide some classic gaming moments. Music can make or break a game. :)
Nice post Micro!
I always thought that music in games helps to define the audience. Tony Hawk - teenagers. Mario - people who wanna have fun! Well, maybe :-)
But in Resident Evil, the sound effects played a huge part! The evil, eery music make you feel uneasy. It's great! One moment that stands out is when you use the armour key past the typewriter down the stairs into a cellar-type area. There's a faint tapping and scratching sound. I was looking around for ages. Sweating like a pig. Then after looking around a saw a shadow at the window. I tried shooting it but that noise wouldn't go away! Classic.
Also, music can be a warning as well. In Goldeneye 007 when something big was happening, such as lots of guards coming, the music would slightly change. Although it wasn't noticed much, it was genius!
Great post, my man! GAD worthy! :-)
I always thought that music in games helps to define the audience. Tony Hawk - teenagers. Mario - people who wanna have fun! Well, maybe :-)
But in Resident Evil, the sound effects played a huge part! The evil, eery music make you feel uneasy. It's great! One moment that stands out is when you use the armour key past the typewriter down the stairs into a cellar-type area. There's a faint tapping and scratching sound. I was looking around for ages. Sweating like a pig. Then after looking around a saw a shadow at the window. I tried shooting it but that noise wouldn't go away! Classic.
Also, music can be a warning as well. In Goldeneye 007 when something big was happening, such as lots of guards coming, the music would slightly change. Although it wasn't noticed much, it was genius!
Great post, my man! GAD worthy! :-)
I kind of miss the bleep-bleep music of old, where programmers had to work with a music chip rather than streaming mp3s off a CD. There were some great tunes made like that, although they gave you a headache after a while.
The best in-game music has to be the jazz number that accompanies the billiards mini-game in Super Monkey Ball: nice.
The best in-game music has to be the jazz number that accompanies the billiards mini-game in Super Monkey Ball: nice.
In my opinion, the right music is required in a game, because it can effect the way you play. Heavy Metal music just wouldn't sound right if it was put in a Platform game with cute frry creatures, would it?!
I could reply with some more stuff about this, but you get my point.
Good post. :-)
I could reply with some more stuff about this, but you get my point.
Good post. :-)
Thanks for the replies Guys.
:)
:)
Good post Chips, sorry I didn't have time to read all of it but I have a ton of Homework...
The 'do doing' in the Old-skool levels of Mario Sunshine is pretty bad
The 'do doing' in the Old-skool levels of Mario Sunshine is pretty bad
Games are great. They help you relax, they give you many hours of fun and they can give you something to talk about. But it's actually more complex than that. What actually makes a game?
Games, on a whole, are always great fun. If you know what type of game's you prefer, and you see one that you think you will enjoy, the chances are that not only will you buy the game, you will like playing it. But what actually is it that you enjoy? The graphics? The gameplay? Well, yes, but there is some element hardly talked about, an element in games that, if harnessed properly, can make a game 100% better. That element is Sound.
Sound is becoming more and more apparent in today's society. More and more ringtones keep appearing, music is branching out to different people and there are many formats to choose from, whether it's CD, Minidisc, MP3 or the good old cassette, nearly everyone has some kind of music that they listen to. Sometimes, music can be the factor that people remember about a game. Take films for example. Jaws was one of the best Shark attack films (and there seem to be many!) ever. If people see a Great White Shark, you can guarantee that Jaws will be mentioned. But why? Is it because Jaws is scary? Or the fact that he is famous? I think different. The infamous Jaws tune, when he is on the attack has to be 'the' film music that everyone knows. But can the same be applied to games? The answer is yes.
Soundtracks to games are evidently increasing in popularity with gamers and developers. Developers can easily see that music is changing the way we play games. A good example would be that of Amped or GTA3 (PC version) with the ability to download MP3 files and store them onto your Xbox or PC, allowing you to play them during the game. This is one of the many examples to show that Music is changing games forever.
RES is, I feel, the game that is nearly 100% based upon music. Although the aim of the game is to complete the levels in a type of 3rd person shooter, but everything you do causes a sound effect to be played. This, together with the background music, creates a whole new gaming experience, and it won't take long before you start trying to make a good beat instead of trying to complete the level. Visually, RES wasn't *that* great, but it did look different to say the least. This was because the Developers main focus was to create that different style of game. The emphasis was clearly on music, and personally, I think it worked like a treat.
An even better example would be that of Dancing Stage Euromix. The aim of this game was to perform dance moves, by stepping on a foldout mat that was connected to your PS/PS2. You would have to place you foot on the corresponding symbol to that which was on the screen. Now, many different symbols were played simultaneously, meaning that you would have to dance around the mat, which was incredible fun and created a great multiplayer experience.
Other genres, such as Platformers, RPG's, FPS and even Adventure games all have great music too, even though the main emphasis is that of Gameplay and graphics, and other focus points. It's obvious, again, that developers see the need for sound, that's why they include sound tests. Being a big fan or rock music, I enjoy listening to the sound test on Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, which has a good selection of Rock music to listen to.
Music can also improve your gaming. You may not realise it, but I certainly play better when I listen to music that I like. Take Sonic Adventure 2: Battle again, as an example. Now, originally, the Knuckles' levels have hip-hop music. Now I know that many people enjoy hip-hop, but personally, I don't. So what do I do? I turn the sound down for that particular level, and stick on some Millencolin, Weezer or even Foo Fighters. It does, without a doubt, create a much better atmosphere when you are listening to your favourite music.
So, to conclude, Sound is becoming a vital part of life, for regular people and for gamers. Music can make you feel happy when you are sad, it can allow you to unleash anger and it is a good remedy when you struggle with the mighty force that is Coursework. Games are always changing. Music is a vital part in that change, and I believe that the change is for the good.
Thanks for reading.
MiCRoCHiþS
Games, on a whole, are always great fun. If you know what type of game's you prefer, and you see one that you think you will enjoy, the chances are that not only will you buy the game, you will like playing it. But what actually is it that you enjoy? The graphics? The gameplay? Well, yes, but there is some element hardly talked about, an element in games that, if harnessed properly, can make a game 100% better. That element is Sound.
Sound is becoming more and more apparent in today's society. More and more ringtones keep appearing, music is branching out to different people and there are many formats to choose from, whether it's CD, Minidisc, MP3 or the good old cassette, nearly everyone has some kind of music that they listen to. Sometimes, music can be the factor that people remember about a game. Take films for example. Jaws was one of the best Shark attack films (and there seem to be many!) ever. If people see a Great White Shark, you can guarantee that Jaws will be mentioned. But why? Is it because Jaws is scary? Or the fact that he is famous? I think different. The infamous Jaws tune, when he is on the attack has to be 'the' film music that everyone knows. But can the same be applied to games? The answer is yes.
Soundtracks to games are evidently increasing in popularity with gamers and developers. Developers can easily see that music is changing the way we play games. A good example would be that of Amped or GTA3 (PC version) with the ability to download MP3 files and store them onto your Xbox or PC, allowing you to play them during the game. This is one of the many examples to show that Music is changing games forever.
RES is, I feel, the game that is nearly 100% based upon music. Although the aim of the game is to complete the levels in a type of 3rd person shooter, but everything you do causes a sound effect to be played. This, together with the background music, creates a whole new gaming experience, and it won't take long before you start trying to make a good beat instead of trying to complete the level. Visually, RES wasn't *that* great, but it did look different to say the least. This was because the Developers main focus was to create that different style of game. The emphasis was clearly on music, and personally, I think it worked like a treat.
An even better example would be that of Dancing Stage Euromix. The aim of this game was to perform dance moves, by stepping on a foldout mat that was connected to your PS/PS2. You would have to place you foot on the corresponding symbol to that which was on the screen. Now, many different symbols were played simultaneously, meaning that you would have to dance around the mat, which was incredible fun and created a great multiplayer experience.
Other genres, such as Platformers, RPG's, FPS and even Adventure games all have great music too, even though the main emphasis is that of Gameplay and graphics, and other focus points. It's obvious, again, that developers see the need for sound, that's why they include sound tests. Being a big fan or rock music, I enjoy listening to the sound test on Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, which has a good selection of Rock music to listen to.
Music can also improve your gaming. You may not realise it, but I certainly play better when I listen to music that I like. Take Sonic Adventure 2: Battle again, as an example. Now, originally, the Knuckles' levels have hip-hop music. Now I know that many people enjoy hip-hop, but personally, I don't. So what do I do? I turn the sound down for that particular level, and stick on some Millencolin, Weezer or even Foo Fighters. It does, without a doubt, create a much better atmosphere when you are listening to your favourite music.
So, to conclude, Sound is becoming a vital part of life, for regular people and for gamers. Music can make you feel happy when you are sad, it can allow you to unleash anger and it is a good remedy when you struggle with the mighty force that is Coursework. Games are always changing. Music is a vital part in that change, and I believe that the change is for the good.
Thanks for reading.
MiCRoCHiþS