Atmospheric music vs Memorable music

[Thadeus]

Atmospheric or Memorable music, which do you prefer?

 

Atmospheric sounds are those songs that you don't really remember all that well but they set the mood and are usually very powerful then and there, while memorable music are those songs tht you go around humming such as world 1-1 from SMB.

 

Personally I like atmospheric as it sets the mood for what's happening in the game and gets you involved.

[Lord Sinister]

I think this very much depends on context, so I'm going to go with both.

[Arby]

Eh, really good atmospheric music is memorable. Like the bit that plays during the first elevator ride in "Welcome to Rapture" when Atlas is narrating about how the city went to hell, and you get to see it. I could kinda throw in all of the halo soundtracks, they're really not "themes" for anything, but set the mood for the section where they play ( except the flood theme, that's always for them)

[Eedo Baba]

Some music can very much blend the two. The music in Riven is very ambient during normal gameplay. Then, during emotional cutscenes, it sort of organically ramps up to be more epic. Still, in either state, there are melodies that I can easily recite to this day.

 

You can see it in these tracks how they start out very smooth and quiet, then everything gets really epic.

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[Alyxx Thorne]

I'm more of an action type so in general I prefer memorable tunes like Megaman, Doom and Duke Nukem, or the tunes from the classic arcade games like R-Type and Afterburner. And I can't imagine Sonic the Hedgehog without the memorable songs.

[Arby]

I still remember this tune from KotOR because it was so relaxing, very good ambient music for a hub:

 

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[Kirkreng]

I'm more of an action type so in general I prefer memorable tunes like Megaman, Doom and Duke Nukem, or the tunes from the classic arcade games like R-Type and Afterburner. And I can't imagine Sonic the Hedgehog without the memorable songs.

But those kind of arcady games are less about atmosphere and more about the action.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Yeah, in horror games and action/adventure games I prefer more atmospheric music in general. It really depends on the genre for me. But I definitely prefer more arcady action games, and nothing gets to me like a good memorable tune.

[Pinkie Pie]

It wouldn't be memorable if I didn't like it more.

[Jek Jek Roo]

Memmorable, because it's (as usual) very atmosphric, and it brings hell lot of memmories.

Gothic Ost

Morrowind, Oblivion, Kotor, the Neverhood, Deus Ex, Planecsape Torment... And more...

[Alyxx Thorne]

I think OP means memorable as in catchy, a tune that gets stuck in your head, as opposed to atmospheric which simply builds tension or the underlying emotions in a level.

[Axeldeath]

Like a memorable piece of music would be-

 

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or

 

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and atmospheric music would be-

 

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or

 

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Both types have there pros and cons, memorable music is usually used on a title screen because of it's... well... memorability, but it doesn't usually cause a dramatic emotional response to it.

Atmospheric music is made to go along with something you are experiencing to add to the emotional response. When I listen to atmospheric music it conjures up the feelings I felt at the time, that's why I don't listen to an OST unless I've played the game.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant.

[Srake]

Memorable. Just because of City Escape.

[Pinkie Pie]

And I can't imagine Sonic the Hedgehog without the memorable songs.

Oh my god, Sonic the Hedgehog, throughout ALL his games, has the biggest orgasm inducing collection of music I've ever heard in videogames, or ANYTHING for that matter. I played through Sonic Generations and went through each stage listening to it's music and I couldn't find one I didn't like. Just...wow.

[Alyxx Thorne]

Yep, Sonic Generations sure feels like a "best of" compilation.

[BTGBullseye]

Is it really too much to ask for both memorable and atmospheric music? (Example: Exhibit 13 - Blue Man Group) (Example 2: Peter Gunn Theme Song)

[Arby]

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This whole soundtrack sends chills up my spine just remembering my Impossible run

[a clever name]

The fight music and main theme from skyrim is both atmospheric and memorable. and awesome.

[The Scoutman]

Memorable at the main screen, most important cutscenes and at the ending.

 

Atmospheric during everything else.

 

That why Deus Ex soundtrack kicked so much ass.