#checking the score

Checking the Score: Elden Ring Offers a Masterful Blend of Lore, Music

Through the soundtrack, and additional musical assets, Elden Ring reminds us that music has the power to transform settings and characters. The whole integration of music into the title gives us an extra window into the Lands Between and even helps shed light on the practices of this world, further immersing players into the action. Singing bats, violin-playing nomads and trumpet-wielding cloth monsters (no one actually knows what they’re made of) all serve a purpose in creating atmosphere. 

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Checking the Score: Rytmos Wants Us to Appreciate Music History

Rytmos goes as far as explaining in detail how the kalimba and mbira were used as healing instruments during rituals. Its thematic elements continue to resonate today with its use in lullaby themes, tranquil themes and other general themes of restfulness in games.

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Checking the Score: Jumping Flash!

Checking the Score is a monthly feature devoted to these crucial compositions which are literally the soundtrack to our gaming lives. Delving into what makes them impactful, the process of composing them and the intricacies of each score, our aim is to put a spotlight on the aural backbone of gaming.

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Checking the Score: F-Zero X

From the very beginning, the connection between F-Zero games and their soundtracks have been strong. The signature of the music in each title is undeniably “F-Zero” in tone. It also helps that most of Nintendo’s other games have a completely different sound in comparison. Nintendo games are usually fantastical or whimsical in nature. Not so much rock tunes, aside from in the case of this series.

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Checking the Score: 2020 – The Best Year for Vaporwave in Game Soundtracks

The vaporwave genre is nothing new, but it has begun makings its way into video game soundtracks. Some games are all about that vaporwave aesthetic, from visuals to audio. Others only include a few tracks in much larger, multi-genre soundtracks. Whatever the case may be, 2020 video game music saw a strong influence from the vaporwave realm. Some excellent indie titles utilized the genre to great effect. A few of the best were Paradise Killer, A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986 and Umurangi Generation. 

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Checking the Score: The House in Fata Morgana

The House in Fata Morgana is an exquisite visual novel in many ways. From the incredible storytelling to the gorgeous visuals, every piece of the experience makes it one of the greatest visual novels in the past decade. The soundtrack is a key component of that experience. Perhaps even more so than in most visual novels due to there not being voice acting in this title, and without voice overs, the music stands out more. If it were bad, it would dampen the entire experience, but instead, it helps lift the game up in all the right ways.

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Checking the Score: Wilbert Roget Talks Past and Present of Mortal Kombat Music

With the newest installment Mortal Kombat 11 out, Hardcore Gamer takes a look at the game’s musical history in an interview with the game’s composer, Wilbert Roget. In a detailed interview, Roget explains his use of Mortal Kombat’s past to influence its present. His composition is thoughtful of the game’s subject matter and long-running history through the use of organic sounds and synthesizers to bring a fresh sound to the game while staying true to its roots. 

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Checking the Score: The Sounds of Cyberpunk in VA-11 Hall-A

What’s amazing about the VA-11 Hall-A soundtrack is its wide range of electronic music for our listening pleasure. While we’ve only demonstrated a few tracks out of many, this sampling shows just how diverse the whole album can be. 

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