For this post, I wanted to discuss a topic that I am really excited to talk about. Video game soundtracks hold a special place in my heart. They define the game they are scoring and provide support in telling a story. Video games would not be the same without them and I relive my favorite gaming moments through their soundtracks.
Telling The Story
For some games, the story gets told through dialogue. Characters speak to one another or to themselves to convey what is going on. However sometimes games have little to no dialog and lean on their soundtracks to tell the story for them. It is in these moments that it becomes abundantly clear how important a soundtrack is to a game.
Take a game like Gris for example. The entire story is told through the actions of the player and the music of that game. I felt every single emotion and followed her through each stage of her grief. Listening to those songs now makes me remember each and every moment in detail. Those song, like many other soundtracks, bind themselves to those memories and allow me to revisit that game anytime I want to.
Celeste is another great example of this. Each moment in Madeline’s journey up the mountain is partnered beautifully with a song to match exactly what she is going through. Everything from her overcoming anxiety to falling down and picking herself back up again has a theme. Those themes allow the player to feel Madeline’s emotions more deeply and tell her story with that much more detail. Celeste without its soundtrack would undoubtedly be less effective at its storytelling.
Building on that, each level of Celeste has a B-side which is harder in difficulty. These B-sides also have remixed versions of the original track, making the level feel harder. To me that is just magical.
Emotions Run Wild
As I touched on in the last section, soundtracks can help bring about emotions that would otherwise go unearthed. A big example of this that I can think of is in Sayonara Wild Hearts. Being a rhythm game means if has music in it, but the point I want to make is how important is it to get that music right. When I first put in Sayonara Wild Hearts I could immediately tell that the soundtrack was perfect for that game. That game and many other wonderful titles brought me to tears with just their soundtracks. Music is so powerful and for video games to utilize that effectively is one of my absolute favorite things about playing them.
To better understand the character you plan to control, you need to feel like you know what they are going through. Soundtracks help explain those thoughts and emotions without ever having to explain them. Instead, the game can let you stay in the moment and feel those emotions without pulling you away from the experience. It is such an important part in storytelling and one that I keep getting more and more sensitive to when I play games.
Soundtracks are almost always the first thing that stands out to me in games these days. They are also one of the biggest things to stay with me after I’ve completed a game. Those soundtracks will always hold those memories and feelings within them. Every time I listen to a game’s soundtrack, I’m taken right back into that title. I actively utilize those soundtracks in a playlist and meditate to them. That playlist is also what I listen to when I write about games. Nothing gets me in the spirit more than reliving my favorite gaming moments.
Nostalgia-Infused Tracks
Another thing I have grown to love and appreciate about video game soundtracks is their heavy nostalgic qualities. Whenever I hear the Johto region’s music I am instantly taken back to my childhood. To this day when I play current Pokémon games, the Pokémon Center music is still similar enough to ensure my body remembers every fond memory I have had with the franchise.
The same can be said for any game that we hold close to our heart. When franchises recognize this and play into it, it just makes things that much more special. Take Final Fantasy for example. Every game is different, but the Prelude is almost always the same. If it isn’t the same, it is reworked to feel more modern but still holds on to its original sound. Playing Final Fantasy VII Remake was a great example of this as they incorporated new and old versions of the original soundtrack.
Even Super Smash Bros. Ultimate uses this to their advantage. Masahiro Sakurai knew that he wasn’t just creating a fighting game, but rather a love letter to video games as a whole. As such, he added original music tracks from all the franchises that have graced Smash with their presence. To top it off they also remixed some of those popular songs exclusively for Smash to make the fans even more excited when their favorite songs come on. Those remixed tracks fit Smash perfectly too since they are infused with nostalgia and a huge amount of energy to keep the fight going.
New Horizons With Each New Game
Every time I start a new game, I am so excited to be introduced to it. From the world it takes place in to the characters that inhabit that world, I am always at awe with each new game. The icing on the cake is having a soundtrack that instantly identifies itself as that game. A soundtrack that knows it will forever embody that game for the rest of eternity. Each and every time I hear Stardew Valley songs I can recall the season it takes place in or the area it plays in.
I experience the same thing when I hear the soundtracks of Monster Sanctuary and Hollow Knight. Huge metroidvanias like those have multiple areas within them but each of those areas stand out to me through their music. I can tell the difference between Dirtmouth and Greenpath but they both sound like Hollow Knight to me. That is exactly how it should be.
Soundtracks to games I have played with people in my life are also very powerful. Minecraft and Stardew Valley are very heavy in that department for me, along with a few others. Those soundtracks not only bring me back to those games, but shared moments with those that I love.
Each soundtrack is a way to explore that game in more detail. They also give us insight into how the creators view their game. Soundtracks speak volumes to the games they are scoring and I couldn’t be happier each time I am introduced to a new one. I only mentioned a few of my favorites in this piece. What are some of your favorite soundtracks and which ones hold a special place in your heart?
