Super Mario Bros. X Forums

GMarinaX wrote:That's why music for me is just 1 or 2 points in the Design section of my reviews.

zlakergirl357 wrote:

GMarinaX wrote:That's why music for me is just 1 or 2 points in the Design section of my reviews.

What does music have to do with design?

fireflowerhour wrote:

zlakergirl357 wrote:

GMarinaX wrote:That's why music for me is just 1 or 2 points in the Design section of my reviews.

What does music have to do with design?

That's one of the dumbest questions I've ever seen on a computer screen.

Music ties a level's atmosphere together. A grassland level has a happy, upbeat tune. A castle has somber or maybe even spooky/threatening music playing in the background. I could go on, but I think I can explain it simply:

Take a level you really like. It could be one of your levels, someone else's level from the level section, or from an episode. Now, go into the editor and take out all of the music, and play it. Sure, everything's the same gameplay-wise, but doesn't it feel like there's something missing?

Still don't believe music's at least a little important? Alright, then make a level on your own. Any kind of level! Grassland, Desert, Lavaland, Underground, whatever. Try playing through it without music. Don't you still notice something missing?

The point I'm trying to make here is that while music does not directly influence the level, it can affect the level (and possibly the player) in an indirect fashion. An unfitting song for a level can unnerve some people, a happy song can brighten someone's mood, etc.

So to answer your question, music has a lot to do with design. Not having the correct music for something, anything, can ruin the entire experience.

Nickname wrote:Design is mostly referred to as Level Design though, rendering your main point useless.

Nickname wrote:And of course, while it adds to the atmosphere of a level, it still takes less effort then general Atmosphere or Design and should thus not be directly compared to one of them.

Nickname wrote:(Also the first sentence was a little rude)

fireflowerhour wrote:

zlakergirl357 wrote:

GMarinaX wrote:That's why music for me is just 1 or 2 points in the Design section of my reviews.

What does music have to do with design?

Music ties a level's atmosphere together. A grassland level has a happy, upbeat tune. A castle has somber or maybe even spooky/threatening music playing in the background. I could go on, but I think I can explain it simply:

Take a level you really like. It could be one of your levels, someone else's level from the level section, or from an episode. Now, go into the editor and take out all of the music, and play it. Sure, everything's the same gameplay-wise, but doesn't it feel like there's something missing?

Still don't believe music's at least a little important? Alright, then make a level on your own. Any kind of level! Grassland, Desert, Lavaland, Underground, whatever. Try playing through it without music. Don't you still notice something missing?

The point I'm trying to make here is that while music does not directly influence the level, it can affect the level (and possibly the player) in an indirect fashion. An unfitting song for a level can unnerve some people, a happy song can brighten someone's mood, etc.

So to answer your question, music has a lot to do with design. Not having the correct music for something, anything, can ruin the entire experience.

zlakergirl357 wrote:Music is important, but however it has nothing to realate with the design of the level as the music is suppose make a good atmosphere, not good level design.

icemario12 wrote:That's not a stupid nitpick. It's a great downside that every reviewer has. They can give high scores on music just because they liked. Imagine that you're playing a grassland level, and the music that plays in the background is the Super Punch-Out Minor Circuit theme. Sure, I really like the theme itself (actually Super-Punch-Out is one of my favourite games of all time), but it doesn't fit in with the open world theme. It might fit with an escape sequence or with a tough enemy, but NOT with grass.

Nickname wrote:

icemario12 wrote:That's not a stupid nitpick. It's a great downside that every reviewer has. They can give high scores on music just because they liked. Imagine that you're playing a grassland level, and the music that plays in the background is the Super Punch-Out Minor Circuit theme. Sure, I really like the theme itself (actually Super-Punch-Out is one of my favourite games of all time), but it doesn't fit in with the open world theme. It might fit with an escape sequence or with a tough enemy, but NOT with grass.

> every review
I don't think a single Level Judge does this.

Christian07 wrote:

Nickname wrote:

icemario12 wrote:That's not a stupid nitpick. It's a great downside that every reviewer has. They can give high scores on music just because they liked. Imagine that you're playing a grassland level, and the music that plays in the background is the Super Punch-Out Minor Circuit theme. Sure, I really like the theme itself (actually Super-Punch-Out is one of my favourite games of all time), but it doesn't fit in with the open world theme. It might fit with an escape sequence or with a tough enemy, but NOT with grass.

> every review
I don't think a single Level Judge does this.

Actually, I have found a review where the music is rated alone.