An Ode to Video Game Music: The Ultimate Storyteller
If you’ve ever felt a spike of anxiety at the onset of a jarring battle theme, or found yourself shimmying to the beat of a game’s sunshiny soundtrack, you know that video game music has the power to transform video games from simple, fun diversions to unforgettable experiences that stay with fans for years to come. Whether you’re plunging into a vast, new world or dipping back into familiar territory, nothing has more impact or speaks more eloquently. A gentle, comforting melody ebbing from a nearby checkpoint wordlessly reassures you, “You made it. You can rest now.” But, a short moment later, the slow trickle of a disjointed, uneven theme sends a shiver of unease down your spine. The sudden darkness of the music makes it perfectly clear: there’s danger nearby. These scores tell stories and create extraordinary moments that endure long after the credits roll. To hear a piece like “One-Winged Angel” from Final Fantasy VII is to relive that memory, that triumph, again and again. Step into the ruined Temple of Time in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and you may hear the fragmented ruins of a well-known theme from a time when the temple stood tall. And any time you boot up a Super Mario game, you can expect bright, joyful tracks that make you want to jump and dance and not sit still. A theme that lasts only a few seconds can tie together video games spanning decades and give players a little piece of home with each new release. And if you know how to listen, you will find that every score—new and old—has a story to share. So don’t be afraid to turn the volume up.
📷@_curtisperry
