A Discussion about music in Fighting Games (or any Video Game)

Force_of_Nature

Force_of_Nature

[12] Conqueror
Being a bit of a musician myself, I tend to pay attention to how music is implemented in video games (and movies to an extent). If anyone plays a FG with me online, the main deciding factor for what stage I determine is not really the design, but the music selection associated with the stage and how it makes me feel or complement my mood.

Sometimes I want intense music for a fast-paced battle or calmer music for a more slower-paced or methodical battle, and of course "epic" music for those epic encounters (oh how I love Elysium's "Sacred Dawn" theme!) for instance. I feel that music is a sometimes overlooked but surprisingly engaging element to fighting games (or games in general) because of how it draws you into the battle and scenario at hand. I can't describe how much of a turnoff it is to me to play a game with poor music hammering away in the background (I mean no disrespect to VF players, but the music of VF5FS could use a little improvement).

This is one of the first things I've noticed about SoulCalibur, the music is utterly fantastic and arguably the best that you'll find in a fighting game.

Check out these pieces and see for your self:

Ephermeral Dream

Hubris

Halcyon Harbor

Phantasmagoria

Sacred Dawn

Adorned by Evil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdxujJmrL-Q

And 5 of my personal favourite songs

Future Perfect (TSFP)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Vo9c0iTC0&feature=relmfu

Scrap and Build Ourselves AKA. Revolutionary Etude. (Eternal Sonata)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_XLNE77Sqw

Ultimate Being (Parasite Eve)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLoKsTqm-4Y

Antarctica (TM2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccGGL2yl6rc&feature=related

Bridge Assault (PDZ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Ri-GmSQfM

So what do you think about the role and implementation of music in Fighting Games? How does it affect you (if at all) and what's your take on this rather "behind the action" element? Feel free also to share your music preferences from Fighting Games too, since I'm curious to see other people's tastes!

Happy listening!
 
I just want it to be louder. These songs have alot of subtle elements, and often the only parts you'll hear are the loudest parts, like in Regalia or Brutal Instinct. (You know the parts I'm talking about).

Also I LOVE Mischevious Whispers.
 
You can edit the volume of the music in the sound options such as making sound effects, like a 12 and music a 15. I personally haven't had any qualms with the music and like how it's well orchestrated but doesn't "overbear" itself over the battle at hand.
 
Force_of_Nature said:
You can edit the volume of the music in the sound options such as making sound effects, like a 12 and music a 15. I personally haven't had any qualms with the music and like how it's well orchestrated but doesn't "overbear" itself over the battle at hand.
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I turned the music volume up to max, I guess I meant I just wanted the more subtle elements (repeating yourself FTW) to stand out more. Like in MW all you hear id the really high fluttering instrument and in BI all you hear is the tuba.
 
I ignore music in fast paced games for the most part unless i use my own with the feature on the 360. Dynasty Warriors 7 has the best soundtrack I have ever heard in a game though.
 
You have any idea how hype I would be if they included it. The closest thing to Super Khan Session in SCV is Algol's theme, which is awesome might I add.

I'm a visual art and music head, so I always put these factors into what makes a great game. Not sure why.

It's something about music that gives a better effect on how the characters (if a character-based theme song), or setting (if stage-based) are defined. It gives the character more life and personality from what they already have, or most of them at least.
 
DrakeAldan said:
*Snip*
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That song is 100% awesome sauce Drake, and it would have served itself beautiful as SCV DLC, but this is Namco we're dealing with. We generally don't get what we really want from them and then get left hanging like disgarded laundry (unless we play Tekken of course...).

I've been on a bit of DOA kick uplate so I'll post a few of my favourite songs from the series:

Grand Style (DOA2)

Moonlit Lady (DOA4)

Jintsuriki (DOA2)

ALPHA-152 (DOA4)

Prismatic Butterfly (DOA3)

A little disappointed that DOA5 doesn't have character specific themes but let previous characters retain their themes. Also it had Christie's DOA3 THEME!!! gaHHgaHHAA
 
I love listening to the song in SCIV that was renamed after Astaroths last weapon in SCII (Thanatos). I wonder what it'd be like to have every soundtrack in a video game (SCV most likely) sound like a badass boss musix to get you pumped up eachtime you fight. Like the feeling of "THIS IS YOUR FINAL BATTLE" lol. It would be a specialist boner fest each fight with head bobblin & goose bumps gettin stronger.
 
Two of the recent Tekken DLC stage tracks.



They've always had good music, I think. Modern/electronic feel.

Subwoofer!

i've not been too fond of the game itself though :|
 
SC always have great music, my favorite songs are:

SCIV:
Thanatos
Infernal Offering
Phantasmagoria
SCV:
Daybreaker
The Storm Bringer
Dance of the Oracle
Adorned with Evil

Other fighter that have great music is BlazBlue, my favorite is Queen of Rose
 
My personal favorite fighting game soundtracks and a sample:



My personal favorite song in the game.



 
From SCV my favourite ones are:
  1. Venice Rooftops (SCV Mix) (Ezio Auditore theme)
  2. Sacred Down (Elysium's theme)
  3. Adorned with Evil (Pyrrha Omega's theme)
  4. Sword of Resolution (Patroklos' theme)
  5. Virtuous Heart (Alpha Patroklos' theme)
  6. Blood Thirst Concerto (Raphael's theme)
  7. Sleepless: An Untamed Beast (Z.W.E.I.'s theme)
lol I also prefer the story mode version of Sacred Dawn
 
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