Pixel Sound

A video game's soundtrack is much more than just background music to fill the silence. Though it isn't something on the forefront of every gamer's mind, a game’s soundtrack is a much more vital part of a video game than people give it credit for. Throughout the history of video games, music has been used to help immerse players in their virtual landscapes. From the first meeting of the protagonist to the arrival of the final battle, a video game’s soundtrack provides the perfect backdrop to set the tone.

As two of my favorite mediums, naturally, I’m drawn to music composed for video games. One of my earliest memories of an impactful video game soundtrack is that of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the SNES. At the time, no other game I experienced could manage to convey such a strong sense of adventure, malevolence, and wonder through its soundtrack quite like ALTTP. Whenever I hear its Hyrule Castle theme I am instantly transported to my childhood, where I’m watching my older brother play through the game as it was much too difficult for me. Though I hadn’t played the game myself until years later, my love for ALTTP stayed with me because its beautiful soundtrack (composed by Koji Kondo) has been ingrained into my memory.

As I became a bit older and my own video game obsession grew, So did my love for video game music. Kingdom Hearts first gained my attention with a teaser from a demo disc (remember those?) for the PS2. When Square premiered the commercial for the original KH, it turned my slight curiosity into a strong desire for the game. The gameplay as well as the Disney/Square Enix mashup drew my attention, but it was the game’s main theme, Simple and Clean by Utada Hikaru, That truly captivated me. Any and everyone who talked about KH couldn’t do so without mentioning its beautiful theme. By the time I received the game for my seventh birthday, I began to play it religiously. Charming and whimsical compositions such as the Traverse Town theme and the Olympus Coliseum battle theme became beloved songs that stuck with me after playing (and dying) for countless hours.

It is not uncommon for video games to take 50+ hours to complete. Long play times can really start to burn out players to the point of no return. However, when a game has a catchy soundtrack that keeps the player engaged, long play times suddenly become less of a chore.

The Persona video game series, for example, is fantastic not only because of the challenging, yet rewarding turn-based gameplay but also for its catchy soundtracks. 12 year old me was absolutely captivated by Persona 4’s music. From the battle theme to the dungeon themes, the soundtrack does a great job priming the player for their next battle or task at hand. My absolute favorite song from throughout the Persona series, Aria of the Soul, is a peaceful, yet chilling opera piece that plays as the player fuses “personas” to make them stronger during their journey. I’ve admittedly spent many hours in the game’s velvet room area just to hear the song play, adding unnecessary playtime on my save file.

My favorite and most recent example of a soundtrack that is both captivating and meaningful is that of Nier Automata for the PS4/XB1. It features an adaptive soundtrack, meaning the game’s music changes depending on the situation or setting. For example, the song “City Ruins” features two mixes: “Rays of Light” and “Shade” (with both having their respective quiet, medium, and dynamic versions). Though they are the same song with the same somber feeling, the former expresses a moment of respite among the chaos, while the latter expresses a sense of urgency after tragedy strikes. Both mixes feature vocalists singing in a fictional language that still manages to convey strong emotions that encapsulate the player in its melancholic world.

You can’t talk about the influence video game soundtracks have without mentioning the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series. It's no secret that both skateboarding and hip hop are rooted in street culture and rebellion. So when I played THPS2 and beyond, there was always a sense of familiarity present despite me never skating a day in my life. As I child, skateboarding wasn’t typically seen as something that Black people did. So when Tony Hawk released a skateboarding video game series that included hip hop, urban elements, and Black Skaters, it helped introduce the sport to a new audience. I have fond memories of my dad popping in on me playing THPS4 and commenting on the fact that they included “Mass Appeal” by Gangstarr (his jam, of course). Skating around to Public Enemy with Kareem Campbell helped me realize that skateboarding, contrary to my beliefs, was a space that included Black people. Though I still have yet to step foot on a skateboard, I have grown to appreciate skateboarding and its culture thanks to the Tony Hawk soundtracks.

When it comes to creating the perfect soundtrack, video games aren’t all that different from movies and television. People who discredit video games as an artform fail to understand all the elements at work and the impact they have on the player. I mean, what other medium is able to make a two-minute ladder climb so intense? The music (or lack of it) helps video game developers convey specific feelings in a way gameplay cannot. Video games have come a long way from their 8-bit days, and music plays a crucial role in their evolution.