Blitzkommando
Dec 3, 2005, 02:40 AM
VGM, or video game music, is what I consider to be one of the most overlooked artforms of today. Just like with movies, a game is simply less enjoyable without music. It sets the tone, it sets the mood, and it adds life to the game. How many times have you gotten angry, happy, sad, scared, excited, et cetera from the combination of the music and the visuals, story, and action of a game? I know I have, many times.
When I play games without music I just don't enjoy them the same way. They become bland, dull, and almost a drudge to play through. Yet, when you ask many people about the music they are prone to switching to talking about the amazing graphics or the intense action. Even very short, often quiet, pieces of music can be very effective at setting the mood. Half-Life is a prime example, as is Half-Life 2, and more recently, FEAR. The music pumps you up, it gets the adrenaline pumping, it gets you ready to expect something, anything, to jump out.
I suppose, like any medium, there is a specific type of game that is most often associated with the 'best of the best' and more often than not the answer is "RPGs". I have to agree, RPG games have stunning music, both in quantity and in quality. And, I suppose there are a few names that instantly pop into the heads of those who do listen to such music.
Nobuo Uematsu has been writing music for years now, and has released music outside of video games more recently as well. And I have to say, the man is awesome at making some of my favorite music, not only in videogames, but outside as well. Those of you who don't know, Nobuo Uematsu is the man behind the majority of Final Fantasy music.
Yasunori Mitsuda is another great VGM composer. Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, and Xenosaga are just a few of his works. Again, he has some stunning work in the area of VGM and will be remembered for that work for years to come. While not quite as long of a list, his works are nothing short of amazing with each and every one.
Koji Kondo is the Nobuo Uematsu of Nintendo. Legend of Zelda, Mario, Star Fox, and Super Smash Bros. are the main claims of his. A great variety, and great melodies make up his works. Again, he will always be remembered for that simple, but very catchy, beat from the Super Mario Bros. Overworld Theme.
One of the lesser spoken of VGM musicians was Masato Nakamura. He composed the music of Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2. While a very short career in VGM, it was very influential. Afterall, if you didn't grow up on Mario during the video game boom, you grew up on Sonic.
One of the more, upbeat and happy composers of VGM is Jun Ishikawa [not to be confused with the author]. He is the father of Kirby music and all those wonderfully simple, but very catchy tunes from those games. Again, great music that is often overlooked.
I realize this is just a small list, but I believe we should all thank these men and women that make up the wonderful world of VGM. Afterall, they don't get near the attention of other, far less talented, musicians. I just listed a few that came off the top of my head and, who else would you add to this list?
When I play games without music I just don't enjoy them the same way. They become bland, dull, and almost a drudge to play through. Yet, when you ask many people about the music they are prone to switching to talking about the amazing graphics or the intense action. Even very short, often quiet, pieces of music can be very effective at setting the mood. Half-Life is a prime example, as is Half-Life 2, and more recently, FEAR. The music pumps you up, it gets the adrenaline pumping, it gets you ready to expect something, anything, to jump out.
I suppose, like any medium, there is a specific type of game that is most often associated with the 'best of the best' and more often than not the answer is "RPGs". I have to agree, RPG games have stunning music, both in quantity and in quality. And, I suppose there are a few names that instantly pop into the heads of those who do listen to such music.
Nobuo Uematsu has been writing music for years now, and has released music outside of video games more recently as well. And I have to say, the man is awesome at making some of my favorite music, not only in videogames, but outside as well. Those of you who don't know, Nobuo Uematsu is the man behind the majority of Final Fantasy music.
Yasunori Mitsuda is another great VGM composer. Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, and Xenosaga are just a few of his works. Again, he has some stunning work in the area of VGM and will be remembered for that work for years to come. While not quite as long of a list, his works are nothing short of amazing with each and every one.
Koji Kondo is the Nobuo Uematsu of Nintendo. Legend of Zelda, Mario, Star Fox, and Super Smash Bros. are the main claims of his. A great variety, and great melodies make up his works. Again, he will always be remembered for that simple, but very catchy, beat from the Super Mario Bros. Overworld Theme.
One of the lesser spoken of VGM musicians was Masato Nakamura. He composed the music of Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2. While a very short career in VGM, it was very influential. Afterall, if you didn't grow up on Mario during the video game boom, you grew up on Sonic.
One of the more, upbeat and happy composers of VGM is Jun Ishikawa [not to be confused with the author]. He is the father of Kirby music and all those wonderfully simple, but very catchy tunes from those games. Again, great music that is often overlooked.
I realize this is just a small list, but I believe we should all thank these men and women that make up the wonderful world of VGM. Afterall, they don't get near the attention of other, far less talented, musicians. I just listed a few that came off the top of my head and, who else would you add to this list?