The Importance of Music

[jyoung]

Originally posted by Valgar
I don't know if this counts as extreme sports, but I like the music from Virtua Tennis (not Tennis 2K2 though..gah).

Like StriderKyo said, Tennis is not even close to being an extreme sport.

And I'd much rather listen to the over the top guitar riffs from Virtua Tennis than the generic techno music in Tennis 2K2.

[Cheebs]

For everybody in this thread ripping Square for using midi in the PS Final Fantasy games: Digital audio would not have been possible. That is, unless you wanted it to come on 10 CD's that you would have to interchange every 2 minutes. Simply not enough storage room for music when the game is that big.

[sleeve]

I realize that. My point is that I think their priorities are misplaced. I would have rather had top-quality music than hours of CG movies.

[epmode]

well, there's also the option of having high quality sound banks. the chrono cross soundtrack has some of the best sounding instruments i've heard in a videogame. excellent use of the playstation's sound board. the psx final fantasy games don't come close.

[ferricide]

Originally posted by StriderKyo
Because at the time it beat the crap out of SNES midi, that's how. I agree though, I was suprised they went that route at the time. It didn't make much sense, but I like lo-fi, so I got used to it no problem.

actually, for some reason uematsu *likes* the midi-style sound. i remember reading a quote to that effect in an interview. it's really apparent in final fantasy X -- the tracks that aren't composed by him have realistic sounding instruments, and his bust out the synth. i don't get it, don't like it, and am bored of him mostly. though he did some rather nice work on FFX (some bad ones too.)

Originally posted by StriderKyo
And a bad soundtrack can really kill a game, too (hello, Smashing Drive!).

hey -- the craptacular soundtrack is that game's saving grace i think. "get your dirty diapers!"

[Brisco Bold]

Music totally affects a game. Problem is, I have a very particular taste. Certain songs, while I admit that they are excellent, don't affect me the way others do.

Rygar, for instance. Excellent music. However, only two songs really go to me. And even then, well, it wasn't enough.

Shinobi, I loved the music.

If I am humming the music after I'm done the game, well, then, you got me.

Virtua Fighter 2, totally turned me off; there was no incentive to play this game with a horrible, horrible soundtrack. Tekken on the other hand (until VF4) had me locked.


Mortal Kombat 1-3; excellent music. I will endure the horrific gameplay for this musical master piece.

I'm a weird man.

In short, music sets atmosphere and provides an incentive to keep playing.