With today’s technologies, video gaming can be an incredibly immersive and intense experience, often making the player feel like they are really in the world of the game. From RV headsets that allow players to look around and feel like they are in the virtual environment, to subversive sound systems that integrate with gaming chairs to block out any background noise and distractions.
However, one of the most powerful aspects of the gaming environment is the music. Music in gaming is used to convey critical points in the game where something is about to happen, the game is coming to an end, or an adventure is beginning. The music can convey tension, happiness, sadness, shock and many other emotions that the game creators want gamers to feel.
At some point or another, many of us have experienced the sound of not working on a game or a movie. The fact of the matter is that without the sound, the experience is lost on us. Sound conveys such meaning that without it, the content of the game does not have impact on us as players and we lose interest or cannot even play.
Below, we will look at how soundtracks affect video games, alongside reviewing some of the greatest gaming soundtracks of all time.
How Music Elicits Certain Moods in Gamers
Imagine you’re in the world of Minecraft, it’s nighttime, the stars are out, there’s a gentle wind in the trees and the moon is casting a light down on you as you walk through the grasslands. The music is lightheaded and serene, a little like elevator music, making you feel at ease and ready for a relaxed evening in the world of Minecraft.
Now imagine the exact same scene, only tense and fast paced music now begins. You immediately get a sense of danger and have the instinct to run as far away from that area as you can because a creeper is probably around. The music notifies you of impending danger and gets your adrenaline racing.
These scenes are exactly the same to begin with, only the music tells us how we should be feeling and gives us an idea of what to expect coming up. In this sense, gaming soundtracks are incredibly important for setting the mood of the game and appropriating the scene. Imagine a battle arena game, only the music is smooth jazz, all tension and excitement is gone and the scene becomes more comical than tense and exciting. Without the right soundtracks, the meaning of a video game is lost on the gamer.
Games with Music Themes
Some games are even themed around certain soundtracks, like musically themed slot games. Many online slot games have exciting themes, such as those based on musicals like Mamma Mia or Wicked. There are also slot games themed around famous musicians and bands, such as The Beatles themed slot game or a rock music themed game.
For gamers who really love music, there’s often a slot game to suit their musical interests, making the game even more fun and exciting. Many of these games can be found at these verified real money online casinos.
Other games feature the ability for players to get involved in the music and sing along or play a real-life musical instrument such as Garage Band on Apple, or Wii Sing which allows players to plug in a microphone and sing along with their favourite artists.
The Top Gaming Soundtracks
Now that we’ve established just how important soundtracks are in games, let’s take a look at some of the best gaming soundtracks of all time.
- Crypt of the Necrodancer (2015)
Crypt of the Necrodancer is a spooky electronic rock soundtrack that accompanies players as they move through monster-infested dungeons. The incredible energy depicted in each track makes the game incredibly exciting.
- Donkey Kong Country – Diddy’s Kong Quest (1995)
The Donkey Kong Country games are known for their legendary soundtracks, making it hard to pick a favourite, but Diddy Kong Quest really does stand out. Diddy’s quest takes on a cathay pirate theme soundtrack with flute accompaniment and sax medleys throughout. The music infuses an essence of jungle mixes, oceanic rhythms and industrial factory beats from the original games, while taking on a completely new melody of its own, making it a legendary soundtrack for the DOnkey Kong series.
Overall, soundtracks hold incredible power over the success or demise of a videogame. If the soundtrack isn’t good, then the rest of the game doesn’t work either as the soundtrack ties everything together. From setting the scene, to depicting tense or exciting moments, to creating fear and adrenaline in the player, the soundtracks used in a game are essentially the coding for how it should be played.