In the “Mario Kart” series, the soundtrack speeds up to remind players they’re on their last lap, while “Splatoon” warns its players that time is running out by playing a distinct 60-second music clip when rounds only have a minute left. The same sixth sense can be used to notify players of just about anything. Players learn to recognize the change in music – it’s like a sixth sense alerting them to danger even if the enemy isn’t yet in their direct line of sight. In many action-adventure games, such as the “Witcher” series, the regular soundtrack transitions into a more menacing tune when an enemy approaches.
In games where the soundtrack doesn’t play a direct role in the main objective, the changes in the music can notify the player of specific information. But if the player taps out of time with the music, their action is cancelled and they must wait for the next four-beat measure to try again. Likewise, a monkey can throw a coconut to attack primates nearby by tapping their own platform three times and the enemy platform once. A monkey perched on one platform of leaves can move to a second, adjacent platform if the player taps the first and second platforms twice alternatively. The game integrates the soundtrack into real-time strategy in a way players don’t often see. For instance, in Disco Pixel’s 2014 PlayStation Vita game “Jungle Rumble: Freedom, Happiness and Bananas,” the player commands a squad of monkeys by tapping the screen in time with the bongo-heavy music. While mainstream rhythm games such as “Just Dance” continue to sell, some developers have introduced variations on the rhythm gaming genre. Messing up the rhythm can cause the player to lose points or even be eliminated. Players have to dance or press buttons – often on musical instrument-shaped game controllers – in time with the beat or melodies, often with increased difficulty the faster or more rhythmically complex the songs. Popularized by “Dance Dance Revolution” and later again by “Guitar Hero,” the rhythm genre forces players to focus on the music in order to actually play the game. The most obvious example of the utilization of music in video games comes in the form of rhythm games. Sometimes music drives gameplay and other times it’s a possible booster of cognitive function.
The soundtrack can provide a catchy background ambiance for video games, but it can also contribute more significance to the gameplay experience. Tune in and take note: Music can be the baseline of a well-composed game. Each week, columnist Evan Charfauros will examine the pros and cons of different game mechanics as seen in the modern gaming industry. Games have always been a huge part of the entertainment industry, but what makes them entertaining? Game makers expend significant effort making design decisions people often don’t think about when they’re playing each game.
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