The Game of Music
Navneet Prakash, Jun 12, 2007 1527 hrs IST
Music makes the world go round; it sure does for gamers too. Remember that inspiring soundtrack which made you grip the game controller for hours?
Does music play an important part in your life? Maybe, maybe not. But if you're a gamer, it could define the way you perform in a game, even get you interested, change your pace and send thrills down your spine.
To match the ambience, right from the hustling winds, extreme rains and other weather phenomenons, all the way to bombastic thumps of grenades, rocket launchers, sounds of screeching aliens and dying soldiers, everything makes a difference. Imagine playing without sound; not happening! The actions performed by objects or humanoids obviously require sound, but another factor that gives a whole new feel to the game is the background score for various scenes.
Well, you've obviously guessed why I am giving you a lesson in musicology today. Yes, music in gaming is our topic for the day. Everyone talks about great graphics and gameplay, but no one can ignore the fact that gaming would be dull without music and sound in general. I am listing a few games that made me appreciate the game more because they had an amazing musical score/in-game music or sound effects.
Crusader: No Regret
I don't think many of you would have heard about it, let alone play this game; but if you have, I am sure you will remember its musical score. The game revolves around a rogue solider called 'Silencer', who is fighting a losing war against a giant corporation. Detailed level designs were further enhanced by a brilliant musical score that gave each level more character. One of the first games that made me realize the importance of good sound in a game.
Contra
The name says it all. Contra is an icon in gaming and rightfully so. Remember, when as kids we would sit around playing Contra waiting for the Shotgun/Spread or 'S' power? I guess all of you will agree that the fast paced music that Contra offered was quite enjoyable. So what if it wasn't uncompressed 7.1 digital audio, it still it worked well with the game. What made Contra's music special was that it portrayed the intensity of the level; hence, music during Base 1 and 2 is way different than the music played during 'Waterfall'. You'll probably not find this impressive now, but way back in the 1990s this little fact made a whole lot of difference.
USER COMMENTS
by zzz, zzzz, on Oct 23, 2007 09:16 AM, Report abuse Reply
by kusnadi, batam, on Oct 23, 2007 09:13 AM, Report abuse Reply
OMG!!! Prince of Persia Left out!!!!!!!!! i don't believe it!!! especially Warrior Within... Amazing soundtrack...not even a slight mention.... unless of course this article has a part two... :D
by thetroooper, Pune, on Jun 14, 2007 05:30 PM, Report abuse Reply
noneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
by ranjan, durgapur, on Jul 10, 2007 12:36 AM, Report abuse
"im just dropping by,nice post!" www.mp4-converter.net/dvd-to-mp4/
by shark12er, CHICAGO, on Jun 14, 2007 09:28 AM, Report abuse Reply
I wana MP4 convertor for Kg Lg 300 I have use Total convertor and IMTOO but fail to play the songs on my mobile phone...
by Asif, Faisalabad, on Jul 04, 2007 09:25 PM, Report abuse
how come no one has mentioned anything about Battlefield 1942 and Battlefield 2...infact the whole series......their music owned anything on the planet!! That music brought the game to life!!!
by Battlefield RUL, Mumbai, on Jun 22, 2007 12:32 PM, Report abuse Reply
How on earth can you write an article about music from games and not mention Final Fantasy and Nobuo Uematsu? Must have something to do with the almost complete(if not complete) absence of any Square Enix games on this website. Really, they have some of the most popular games in the world and yet you barely even acknowledge their existence. Maybe you could stop being a n00b and do some more research before writing such a lame article. I knew more about games when I was a 12 yr old girl. Geez
by Lumena, Mumbai, on Jun 21, 2007 01:40 AM, Report abuse Reply
I like this game so i want to download now
by Saleheen, Kolkata, on Jun 14, 2007 10:33 AM, Report abuse Reply
yaaaaaa men how to download no? Navneet give give...
by Prakash Navneet, Bhopal, on Jun 19, 2007 06:30 PM, Report abuse
Contra and Super mario set the trend in gaming for sound,and still it is so melodious to ears today too.Even despite games like Farcry,Gears of war,God of war,NFS..where one is simply bowled by the sound effects.Old will still remain gold.
by Fenix, Chd, on Jun 17, 2007 04:31 AM, Report abuse Reply
by nitish, bhopal, on Jun 16, 2007 01:23 PM, Report abuse Reply
and the track of super mario bros is still more livid
by sus, kolkata, on Jun 15, 2007 09:11 PM, Report abuse Reply
man what about max payne series.......?? its impossible to forget that melancholy tune seeping throught the grim atmosphere as well as the incredible voice acting..... my fav also include pop ww for its heavy metal strums perfectly fitting with the high voltage action.......
by sus, kolkata, on Jun 15, 2007 09:05 PM, Report abuse Reply
by jageet, asr, on Jun 15, 2007 12:08 PM, Report abuse Reply
by Blackburn, Mumbai, on Jun 14, 2007 09:18 PM, Report abuse Reply
Final Fantasy VII actually made me look up to realise the importance of a musical score in a game other than graphics and gameplay. Noteworthy mentions have to include the likes of Mario (it still rings in my head today), Pacman, Burnout revenge, NFS UG, Prince Warrior within, Def Jam NY, Silent Hill & MGS series...
by Nicks, mumbai, on Jun 14, 2007 08:37 PM, Report abuse Reply
I don't know and don't care abt any Game mentioned in this Article, except for CONTRA! The music still plays in my Mind and Heart! It would have been nice if u had given a link from where we could listen to these tracks that u found great!! Personally I found these Games had the great music!!: 1. Halo (I don't understand how U forgot to add this???!!!) 1. Diablo 2 (the Music is awesome! especially in Chapter 1 and Chapter 5), 2. Deus Ex (Level 1 and 2 music Are my Fav) 3. Half Life 2 (Not bad music I can say) 4. Jagged Alliance 2 (one of thing that never gets boring is the Music!!) 5. Chronicles of Riddick too had good music
by SamRock, Bangalore, on Jun 13, 2007 09:48 PM, Report abuse Reply
Actually i cant believe he hasnt mentioned HL2 soundtrack. The HL2 sound-track rules. The whole gaming experience changes when you start Ravenholm, and the eerie music that follows ! The article lost major points for it not mentioning HL2
by Andy !, Mumbai, on Jun 13, 2007 10:22 PM, Report abuse
I still remember the theme song of Half Life Day 1? It was BEST
by Shailendra, Panvel, on Jun 14, 2007 08:44 AM, Report abuse
This is Bad!! I don't even see a Single Guyy happy about this article!!
by SamRock, Bangalore, on Jun 14, 2007 07:40 PM, Report abuse
Anyone got Soundtrack of Contra?
by Vikrant Bhave, Jalgaon, on Jun 14, 2007 07:37 PM, Report abuse Reply
OMG!! So many Comments.. I guess everyone loves a good piece of music durin a game.. :p Nice.. Speakin about Contra, can't forget Mario.. Btw, herez a youtube link to Mario music.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neAiLZcy8Qk
by Gdn | TD, Chennai, on Jun 14, 2007 03:23 PM, Report abuse Reply
ppl u forgot mohaa,i just loved tht sound track
by vigi, mumbai, on Jun 14, 2007 12:55 PM, Report abuse Reply
ES:Oblivion and Dreamfall. The rising score of Oblivion (and Morrowind) can uplift a player. PoP:WW screwed up with the metal - but thankfully corrected itself with PoP:TT. Dreamfall is just plain beautiful. Also any Final Fantasy game - probably one of the most recognized tunes in gaming. Other than the shotgun sound of Doom ;)
by Bull B, Bangalore, on Jun 14, 2007 12:21 PM, Report abuse Reply
i liked the sounds from deus ex 1 especially in the hong kong level.
by Daedelus, Mumbai, on Jun 13, 2007 07:37 PM, Report abuse Reply
Word. Awesome ,awesome,awesome game. DX2 was semi-decent. i pray the third is good.
by Helios, Mumbai, on Jun 14, 2007 10:29 AM, Report abuse
Include Prince of Persia Warrior Within
by Maggi, Bangalore, on Jun 14, 2007 07:08 AM, Report abuse Reply
Prince Of Persia, lol he left Prince of Persia also :P
by POP, POP, on Jun 14, 2007 06:58 AM, Report abuse Reply
Cusader was a good game tho the controls and camera angles where tricky, What the hell happened to soundtrack of games like street fighter,Doom and Fifa 97 they too are hall of famers
by vinay, mumbai, on Jun 13, 2007 10:44 PM, Report abuse Reply
Where the hell is Final Fantasy VII? Lame d00d, very lame:(!
by Rishi, Mumbai, on Jun 13, 2007 09:06 PM, Report abuse Reply
Gopd of War and Devil May Cry 3, too have very good soundtracks and fit the game very well.
by ashish, shyamlaya, on Jun 13, 2007 07:44 PM, Report abuse Reply
Great choice of games,though i havent played a couple of em
by pras, bangalore, on Jun 13, 2007 06:13 PM, Report abuse Reply
Rmbr' Phobos Anomaly in Doom1 Duke Nukem 3D title music - cool music.
by awesome music, mumbai, on Jun 13, 2007 06:12 PM, Report abuse Reply
by Lanos, Ranchi, on Jun 13, 2007 01:55 PM, Report abuse Reply
"worth a look, thanks" http://www.ipodconverter.com
by shark12er, chicago, on Jun 13, 2007 12:56 PM, Report abuse Reply
Divine Divinity ! The most haunting and beautiful game OST ever ...
by Boo, Bangalore, on Jun 12, 2007 09:39 PM, Report abuse Reply
interesting idea, i must say, and good choice of games, nice 1
by pop, pop, on Jun 12, 2007 08:40 PM, Report abuse Reply
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