Stories Without Words: The Versatility of Video Game Music
/Music is a wonderfully diverse art form, encompassing a vast array of genres and an endlessly wide variety of subjects. Lyrics are often the most important part of any given song, as they provide the majority of its impact and meaning - for most people, that is. In truth, I tend to ignore lyrics and focus more on the way songs sound - the cadence of the singer's voice and the quality of the music itself is what makes or breaks a song for me. To this point, I generally prefer music without lyrics.
A good story can be told through music alone, casting words aside in favour of evoking emotional resonance through instrumentation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the realm of video game music, where any given tune can tell its own tale - one that may not be explicitly stated or otherwise implied. It adds depth and nuance to any scene, and ultimately serves as the backbone for atmosphere in general.
There are countless examples of video game music elevating something that would otherwise just be alright into something truly incredible, and the varied nature of these examples is a testament to the versatility that is inherent to this kind of music. With that in mind, I believe that the tracks listed below are some of the best examples of what video game music can achieve, from the stories they tell to the impact they leave - all accomplished without a single word.
As with music, a good story can make or break a game - even a simple tale can be effective if it is written well. Many games that take this simple yet effective route of storytelling rely on things like atmosphere in order to convey deeper points and emotions. The Pokémon series in particular is notable for staying true to this method, with admittedly mixed results - for the most part, that is. Black and White are still held in high regard for prioritizing the story over everything else, and with that story comes music to match its quality and depth.
Lace up your running shoes and gather your team of Pokémon, because you're heading down...
UNOVA ROUTE 10
"If I get stronger and become the Champion, that will be the reason for my existence. I want to prove that I'm really living."
Route 10 serves as the penultimate path of the game, and the music perfectly captures the essence of finality and reflection. It sounds bittersweet yet hopeful, as if to remind you that while your journey across Unova may be coming to an end, the memories that you made will remain to be cherished forevermore. The area itself is nothing special on the surface, but the importance that it carries deserves a story of its own, and this track tells that tale in a beautifully wistful fashion.
It is important to note that not all video game music carries emotional resonance or plot relevance in the same way that Unova Route 10 does. Instead, many tracks build upon the atmosphere in a more tangible sense by associating a certain kind of music with the way that an area looks and feels. This is probably the most common type of video game music, but that is not necessarily a bad thing - quite the opposite, in fact!
Bundle up and prepare to brave the oppressive chill of the Frostlands, for your destination is...
A TOWN VEILED IN WHITE
"Welcome to Stillsnow, our humble village buried amidst the deep drifts."
Picture this, if you will - a small, cozy village, nestled in a valley overlooked by the snow-capped peaks of a towering mountain range that extends across the horizon. Bathed in the soft ochre glow of gaslight, the winding cobble streets are bustling with activity - market stalls offering homemade pastries and confections, families spending time at the local ice rink, couples enjoying a night on the town. The cheer and festivity is practically tangible, felt in the air that carries a gentle snowfall to build upon the pristine winterscape. Above, the northern lights race across the sky - a vibrant, blazing cascade of colour on a canvas of pitch, gracefully weaving its way through the stars on high.
This beautiful picture - perfectly serene and ethereal - is what the track paints, and is a prime example of what music can do for atmosphere.
As we have seen, video game music can tell stories through emotional resonance in tandem with plot developments, or it can simply help to craft an immersive atmosphere. This, of course, is where the inherent versatility that I mentioned comes into effect, as there are plenty of tracks that can carry emotional impact, work with the plot, and build atmosphere. Tracks like this are fairly rare, as it takes a truly talented composer to check all three boxes at once. The results are often fantastic, and usually lead to some highly memorable moments.
It will not be easy to forget the icy grasp of dread that creeps its way through your veins. The end of your journey and the target of your revenge await you at the pinnacle of the towering fortress that now stands before you - a place better known as...
DEATHSHEAD'S COMPOUND
"Remember that you trespass against a man who built a civilization."
Hailing from the titular compound, this track builds atmosphere and a sense of purpose for the story all at once. It takes a while to build up to the main segment, and it spends that time making you feel like you're leading the charge against an impossibly strong enemy force. This initial part of the track is bleak, emanating a chilling aura of uncertainty and desperation. Once you get further into the compound, though, it drops hard. The legions of Nazi soldiers and mechanical monstrosities fall before your relentless assault, and the gravity of the situation is brought crashing down upon you - after everything that you've been through, you're about to kill the man whose inventions singlehandedly won the war for the Germans, ushering in an era of tyranny and chaos.
The methodical buildup of this track makes for an excellent, atmospheric, and downright epic sequence.
Every battle is a story in its own right, and while some play out over entire levels, some get straight to the point with a climactic clash against a villain - and by that, I mean boss battles. Most music in this category is pretty straightforward, but as with the last example, a truly talented composer can turn an otherwise shallow track into a self-contained narrative sequence. This usually manifests in the form of different music for different phases of a battle, often getting more intense over time.
Case in point: you've quite literally fought your way out of hell, and all that stands before you and your freedom is a single opponent, standing across the ancient terrace. There must be some sort of catch, right?
Of course there is.
Your opponent is the Lord of the Underworld himself, also known as...
HADES, GOD OF THE DEAD
"You wish to test yourself against the full extent of my wrath? Very well."
This track has three distinct phases, all of which go even harder than the last. The first phase starts off slow to match the pace of the battle, which pairs well with the sombre nature of the encounter - a necessary evil, if you will. The second phase brings the heat, as the battle becomes far more intense. Eventually - once it seems that Hades has been vanquished - the intermission cools things down for a bit.
Then the third phase kicks in, and all hell breaks loose. Neither side is holding back at this point, and the frenzied pace of the track at this point speaks volumes about how goddamn awesome this battle is.
Eons of pent-up rage, frustration, and resentment between two ancient gods is conveyed in just 13 minutes of metal. That is the power of video game music, and it just goes to show how incredibly versatile it can be when telling a story without words.
With the right track, any kind of story can be told - a bittersweet look back on an unforgettable adventure, an immersive take on a lovely winter village, a last-ditch assault on the compound of a man who effectively ended the world, or a clash between gods that was thousands of years in the making. The narrative possibilities are endless.
The sun now sets on this post, but there are countless examples of stories without words in the realm of video game music - you just need to listen for them.
The Conductor
The Conductor is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Elusive, reclusive, and an old soul through and through, he enjoys going on excursions into the wilderness, listening to classic folk music, drinking good scotch, and yelling at clouds.
