Saturday 21 February 2009

Week 18 - Sound in Games

Game music is one of my favourite genres to listen to. Normally when I fill in profile details about “Favourite music”, I always put “Instrumental/orchestral, film and game”, mainly because the sound of game music fits my love for instrumental and orchestral music perfectly (I don’t listen to lyrical music that much).

Back when I was a young teenager I didn’t play very many games, but my eyes were opened to the wonderful game music by a friend who was a gamer and made me listen to some of the music from his favourite games. This was when I got hooked to the Final Fantasy music by Nobuo Uematsu. I then went on and listened to more game music, even playing some game trailers over and over again to enjoy the background music if I didn’t have the game (which was a lot).

What attracts my attention in game music are the great tunes, the sounds that heightens tension, or the way it can stir up emotions and feelings and make you think about what’s happening in the game while you are listening to a particular part of the music.

Some music with faster time signature and staccato notes that urge you to do a mission within a limited time really makes my heart race! I remember once I sat down to do some drawing and put on one of those songs in the background, I ended up scribbling like mad because I kept thinking there was a time limit… my heart felt like it was about to explode.

I also love it when the theme changes when a certain boss arrives or something bad has happened and it really changes the mood.

When I started playing games properly, I fell so much in love with some of the music that, also being a violin and piano player, I managed to find some scores and played them myself on those instruments. I remember that one of my favourite themes to play on the piano were Aeris’ theme (Final Fantasy VII) and To Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X). Especially the latter. I *loved* that theme. Now I feel like playing it again…

Here’s an orchestral version of it. Even if you’ve never played FF10 (like me), or absolutely hate the FF games or whatever, I urge you to listen to this song!!!!!!!!!



That song sends chills down my spine every time I listen to it. And I get goosebumps too…

Well I finally bought FF10 on Thursday… can’t wait to start playing it! (that’ll be during the Easter holidays as I don’t have a PS2 with me here at uni).

Though instruments in next-gen games may produce a better sound to hear, I love many old school themes such as Terra’s theme from Final Fantasy VI. Listening to it is making me feel so nostalgic…



Oh god, I really need to finish that game.


At the moment, my playlist consists of music from Dynasty Warriors 6. That game may be repetitive after awhile, but throughout the entire DW series the composers seem to be able to come up some seriously kickass songs! I love every single Dynasty Warriors music.

My current ringtone :P

2 comments:

Blair said...

Prepare to cry buckets at FFX. To Zanarkand becomes TEN THOUSAND TIMES MORE SAD when you know the context of it.
;___;
And hey, that's awesome that you can play it on piano!

Chenz said...

Heh yeah, I've been warned by every single person who's played FFX that it WILL make you cry... oh god...

I shall get a box of tissues ready ;_;

Thanks! XD