Music can truly make or break the atmosphere of any visual medium be it a show on television, a movie, or a video game. The right selection of Music has the ability to transform what was once dull and mundane into something great. Would the Iconic shower scene from Pyscho with its symphonic jabs, or the simple chord progression that the film Jaws uses to such stunning effect be the same without them? With video games being inherently more immersive then either film or television, music can have a profound effect on the atmosphere for the player. While most games being released during this generation are happy releasing a Hollywood style symphonic suite for their games, it takes more then a full orchestration to create an intended atmosphere; a design philosophy that I feel is often glaringly overlooked.

When thinking about the best example of an atmosphere created mostly through it’s sound track, I came to my answer pretty quickly, Super Metroid. While it may seem a bit like preaching to the choir to anyone that has played it, Super Metroid was great for various factors; the game play was excellent, level design was top notch, and above all (at least for me) the music went above and beyond in creating one of the most immersive game worlds ever conceived. From the title screen to the ending credits every musical theme and motif works towards the player’s immersion as the lead character, Samus Aran, while fueling the feelings of isolation and thorough abandonment.

The Theme from Super Metroid

Much like any great horror film, Super Metroid’s score consists of floating high-pitched strings, creating the haunting melodies that are memorable to those who had the pleasure of playing it. While it won’t be winning any awards for pushing the Super Nintendo sound chip, the music created had a different feel from the usual offerings. Every sound effect, be it a jump or a blast from the ice or charge beams, all remain organic within the world. Most games treat the music as simply background noise to break up the monotony of game play, but in Super Metroid you can’t escape from the feeling that the music remains synonymous with the world, almost as if it is playing from within the game, not over it.

Excerpt from Kraid’s Chamber

-Eric Wall

Tags: Game Design, music, Music Monday, Retro, Super Metroid, Super Nintendo

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