Is Music More Lasting Than Graphics In Games?

Posted by simoniker on Monday January 5, 2004 @12:39AM from the x-bleeps-to-the-pixel dept.

Thanks to Tokyopia for their article arguing that music may be more important than graphics for the most enduring videogames. The author, apparently a "a renowned game music composer who would rather remain nameless", argues: "In going back to look at a few rare [older] videogames that still [have lasting value] today, it struck me that the graphics have almost always dated horribly, but the music - almost without fail - still succeeds. At worst, old music elicits a smile. At best, a full on emotional connection that really enhances the game." He then references Sega's NiGHTS Into Dreams and Namco's Ridge Racer Type 4 as titles which benefit from this connection, concluding: "Over time, a game's graphics will inevitably be relegated to being the mere nuts and bolts of the experience. The basic structure around which the all important game play is wrapped. But the music? The music is our emotional connection. It's the experience. And it plays forever."

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Re:I think he's right by Andy+Smith · 2004-01-05 01:04 · Score: 2, Informative

A couple of links thrown up by Google...

Jesus on E's by LSD

Old mods (scroll down to 1993)

I haven't/can't test the downloads at the moment so apologies if these links disappoint.
One of the more compelling arguments by Discoflamingo13 · 2004-01-05 04:10 · Score: 3, Informative

for how enduring the music is is at Overclocked Remix. A must-listen for those who know video game music never dies - it just gets remixed.
1. Re:One of the more compelling arguments by mattgreen · 2004-01-05 07:10 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Don't forget VGMix, which I'd rank as superior to OC Remix in every way. Look up a song like "Destiny, zyko - Dragon's Prayer," and try and tell me that video game music remixes cannot be great.
Re:Hardly at all! by Ayaress · 2004-01-05 04:19 · Score: 2, Informative

I didn't like Lament of Innocence's soundtrack *at*all*. The old Castlevania games had very excelent and moody classical scores to them. I remember the original Castlevania had some of the best music the NES ever saw. Then comes this new game with the sort of music I expect from a game like Mario. Not bad music, per se, but it doesn't fit the gloom-and-doom feel of the game.