Why are western games OST underwhelming compared to Japanese's?

Dark_Castle · May 16, 2018

It's not say they're bad, no. They do their job just fine. Many western games opt for ambient sound instead of music for majority of the time, saving music only for certain situations or cutscenes. When there're music, they're much more subtle, or go all out bombastic like Skyrim. Western games also have the tendency to license songs from singers instead of making their own synthesized, original music, so games like GTA, Saints Row. But as a result, I just don't feel like they're very memorable or catchy, whereas Japanese games tend to feature music that always strive to complement the environment, created to evoke all sorts of emotions from players, from adventurous, to joyful, to intense, to sadness, to heroic.

Here's the starting area of Ys VIII's music.

Here's how it would probably sound like from a western composer.

Now I'm not saying ALL western soundtracks are inferior to Japanese soundtracks, they are exceptions of course, but that's in my opinion of their approach in creating soundtracks and why I personally prefer one over the other on average.

Kenzodielocke · May 16, 2018

Oh, taste.

J 0 E · May 16, 2018

I disagree

Deleted member 4976 · May 16, 2018

One, taste.

Two, I don't think this is the case anymore for me, and I'd have agreed with the sentiment some time ago. In recent gens, I've been enjoying the western stuff way more.

Kiraly · May 16, 2018

To me, the track from DA:I sounds much better than from Ys. The track from Ys just sounds like faux-rock from an unknown B band.

Spinky · May 16, 2018

Japan is video games as fuck, America wants to be "cinematic" a lot of the time. They still put out some good stuff, but it's probably less often I guess.

But it's really just a matter of taste. I'll take that Dragon Age track over that other thing any day.

J 0 E said:
I disagree

This is rad too, love this.

CaseyVGCx · May 16, 2018

Its all about the cinematic experience.

They need that ambiance and the immersion for the moments

Vault · May 16, 2018

This made me feel more than any Japanese game

Izanagi89 · May 16, 2018

It's just the tone of the games themselves. Japanese OSTs would never fit in Western games. But there are western games that really change up their music, and while I don't really like Witcher 3, that menu theme is, as they say in South Africa, LEKKER.

NotLiquid · May 16, 2018

A lot of prominent Japanese composers have been composing for video games since the humble beginnings, when they had to abide by the limitations of what consoles could produce. That means most of them had to emphasize melody, because they couldn't implement a lot of other textures and sounds to create memorable moods. Most of those composers are still in the business, and they've taken those experiences to heart in a modern capacity.

But it's still a pretty broad stroke to paint on western composers. A lot of western composers out there like David Wise, Mick Gordon and Martin O'Donnell follow much of the same tenants.

Faria · May 16, 2018

Marty O' Donnell is Japanese?

ULTROS! · May 16, 2018

I dunno but:

Western games: ambient and cinematic music, I don't really notice a theme in the songs.

Japanese games: catchy and most likely has an overarching theme, a good example is the Final Fantasy games.

oneils · May 16, 2018

yeah, taste. the ys one is pretty cheesy. the jrpg operatic rock style is an acquired taste. I'm not a big fan of it.

cowbanana · May 16, 2018

Why do people make new threads with personal opinions presented as fact, on things that are entirely based on individual taste?

Deleted member 8196 · May 16, 2018

Taste. They are not underwhelming by any means lol

The west has Jasper Kyd, Inon Zur, Mick Gordon, Jeremy Soule, you can't say their work is underwhelming....

Zhukov · May 16, 2018

They're not.

I find many Japanese games to have painfully generic music. Hell, there's a particular sound I've come to call 'JRPG music' because they fucking all seem to have it.

This being a prime example:

(Is there an actual term for that kind of thing?)

There are exceptions of course. Neir Automata, for all that I despised it, did feature a delightfully varied soundtrack.

Granted, western games have their own issues. Way too much "epic" orchestral stuff.

Dr. Caroll · May 16, 2018

Dark_Castle said:
Western games also have the tendency to license songs from singers instead of making their own synthesized, original music, so games like GTA, Saints Row.

GTA V has an original score by Tangerine Dream. So it's not really the best example to use.

Anyway, this thread is bound to end rather poorly. But in the meantime, I would like to point out that the best soundtrack of the year is very arguably Far Cry 5. This is absolutely unforgettable music.

FriedConsole · May 16, 2018

To generalize in a thread that is asking for broad generalizations but probably just wants affirmation that Japanese game music is better:

Western music is to complement the game and story as background. Japanese game music is usually busy and says "hey listen to me" sometimes to distract that the game is janky.

Arklite · May 16, 2018

The frequent use of big orchestral sound or cinema type tracks in the West start to blur together for me as well, but there's some crazier stuff like the Doom OST. JP stuff certainly has a bigger range that I like better.

Dark_Castle · May 16, 2018

cowbanana said:
Why do people make new threads with personal opinions presented as fact, on things that are entirely based on individual taste?

They're opinions. Stop reading just the title and skipping OP, because I stated that what I said was what I personally think, not that it's a fact.

eXistor · May 16, 2018

Melodic foreground music vs. atmospheric background music. Which do you prefer? For me 100% of the time melodic. You can argue that games like BotW wouldn't work with a more traditional soundtrack but personally I disagree. Games like Metroid also have very melodic soundtracks and the ones that don't, like Samus Returns, are incredibly bland as a result, thanks in part to the lack of melodies. The game is much more fun to play with something fun to listen to and I personally believe this applies to every single game. It´s all down to the quality of the music. I hate cinematic-style bombastic background music that sounds like nothing and certainly isn't memorable.

Master Alucard · May 16, 2018

Kiraly said:
To me, the track from DA:I sounds much better than from Ys. The track from Ys just sounds like faux-rock from an unknown B band.

and the DA track sounds like a wannabe opera music. they have very different target, and they are both appropriate for the game and the moment they want to portrait, imho. i don't generalize as saying one nation has better music than the rest of the world but it's clear they have different visions about music in videogames.
the difference to me is that i could hear Ys track with eyes shut and instantly think "that's a Ys track yep" while you could slap any title on the dragon age and it would "fit"

Snake Eater · May 16, 2018

OP stating opinion as fact

DocSeuss · May 16, 2018

This is totally subjective.

With the likes of Mick Gordon, Bear McCreary, Jesper Kyd, and Grant Kirkhope, I think your original post comes from a pointless perspective.

Maybe I should go write a thread called "so why is it that the only good games are first person shooters? why does everything else suck?" Maybe then you'd understand what you sound like.

As a former music teacher, I think that Ys track is fucking godawful. Jfc.

Western composers are great.

Nesther · May 16, 2018

Still one of the greatest soundtracks.

Yinyangfooey · May 16, 2018

I'm personally a JRPG guy so taste and exposure is one thing.

But if I'm being completely honest, I literally cannot name one single western OST that has grabbed my attention. It has never happened at all for me.

I absolutely love the Persona 5, Trails of Cold Steel, Pokemon Emerald soundtracks, etc. For example, however, I never have noticed the music for God of War, Destiny, or Deus Ex at all. If you sat me in a room and played them for me, I wouldn't be able to tell you which western game they're from and I loved all three of them.

Deleted member 8196 · May 16, 2018

Dark_Castle said:
They're opinions. Stop reading just the title and skipping OP, because I stated that what I said was what I personally think, not that it's a fact.

Your title reads as a FACT, don't try to spin it in your favor.
There's a difference between: "I think....." and "Western games OST are underwhelming....".

RexNovis · May 16, 2018

Holy sweeping baseless generalizations Batman!

SurrenderDorothy · May 16, 2018

100% disagree.

Many of my favourite OSTs come from Western games. But that's all subjective.

Kemono · May 16, 2018

Both sides have wonderful and plain bad/boring music in their games.

In the end it comes down to taste and for many non-anime/non-japanese game fans their music is often hard to swallow. It's more of an acquired taste imo.

Western music is mostly used to compliment a scene and not take the spotlight.

Two different approaches but neither is really better.

Dark_Castle · May 16, 2018

Dr. Caroll said:
GTA V has an original score by Tangerine Dream. So it's not really the best example to use.

Anyway, this thread is bound to end rather poorly. But in the meantime, I would like to point out that the best soundtrack of the year is very arguably Far Cry 5. This is absolutely unforgettable music.

These are great to listen no doubt, but most of the time when you're actually playing you rarely ever hear these, but just ambient noise.

DocSeuss · May 16, 2018

Dark_Castle said:
These are great to listen no doubt, but most of the time when you're actually playing you rarely ever hear these, but just ambient noise.

I heard them all the time when playing. That whole soundtrack is masterful.

Arklite · May 16, 2018

eXistor said:
Melodic foreground music vs. atmospheric background music. Which do you prefer? For me 100% of the time melodic. You can argue that games like BotW wouldn't work with a more traditional soundtrack but personally I disagree. Games like Metroid also have very melodic soundtracks and the ones that don't, like Samus Returns, are incredibly bland as a result, thanks in part to the lack of melodies. The game is much more fun to play with something fun to listen to and I personally believe this applies to every single game. It´s all down to the quality of the music. I hate cinematic-style bombastic background music that sounds like nothing and certainly isn't memorable.

Melodic is a good way to put it. If a tune sticks with me I end up thinking it's great. On the other hand I remember games like Fallout 4 having good background themes but I can't hum or recall any of it. Not a bad thing, just a difference in implementation.

Spinky · May 16, 2018

Bloodborne does "cinematic" better than most game OSTs and it was made by both Japanese and Western composers.

Eumi · May 16, 2018

All your OP shows is that you like one song from Ys 8 over a different song from DA:I.

It's just taste. And it's not even a Japan vs West thing, you're just making it into that.

Kill3r7 · May 16, 2018

AudioEppa · May 16, 2018

Disagree OP because

Eumi said:
It's just taste. And it's not even a Japan vs West thing, you're just making it into that.

And by any chance are you a fan of FFXV's soundtrack?

MrTired · May 16, 2018

Did we already have this conversation already?
OP don't do this, when I as fan of the final fantasy series known for its excellent ost can say your premise is wrong.

.exe · May 16, 2018

So wrong it hurts! You're not playing enough games, OP.

Then there's Hotline Miami's brilliant soundtrack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKD-MVfC9Ag

stan423321 · May 16, 2018

It's almost a genre thing. Japan leans on stylized audio, just like visuals, which tends to blur out less in comparison to Western AAA emphasis on realism and, in case of sound, orchestration and/or effect overload. That said, there are loads of bad Japanese soundtracks. What genres of games do you play, OP?

Vault · May 16, 2018

Jeremy Soule is fantastic

Dark_Castle · May 16, 2018

Stygr said:
Your title reads as a FACT, don't try to spin it in your favor.
There's a difference between: "I think....." and "Western games OST are underwhelming....".

So are you suggesting that everything we say from now on, we should add in I think, or IMO. How can one random individual present what he said as a fact without presenting adequate evidence to suggest that he or she said is a fact or opinion? And then I clarified that what I said is personal thoughts, AND I EVEN SAID IT'S PERSONAL IN OP.

But oh no, this guy didn't say 'I THINK' in his title, so it must be a fact!!!

Phamit · May 16, 2018

I'm thankful that the music in Inquisition is not like Y's at all, that would be completely out of place and really exhausting at some point.

2+2=5 · May 16, 2018

I'm recently watching some music and OST related videos and i had the confirmation of what i was already suspecting, modern western movie OSTs are meant to be unnoticed, they must add atmosphere but nothing else, technically speaking they focus on the harmony(the "moody" element) while mostly ditching the melody(the "hummable" part), most of the western AAA games try to mimic movies so...

Deleted member 42221 · May 16, 2018

I'm not a fan of film-score style game soundtracks... That having been said, I think some western game soundtracks have a lot to offer. Journey and Hotline Miami are 2 of the 5 best gaming soundtracks from this generation. I don't think a Japanese game soundtrack could be like Hotline Miami.

Visanideth · May 16, 2018

This is the Godfather of all thread backfires.

Deleted member 8196 · May 16, 2018

Dark_Castle said:
So are you suggesting that everything we say from now on, we should add in I think, or IMO. How can one random individual present what he said as a fact without presenting adequate evidence to suggest that he or she said is a fact or opinion? And then I clarified that what I said is personal thoughts, AND I EVEN SAID IT'S PERSONAL IN OP.

But oh no, this guy didn't say 'I THINK' in his title, so it must be a fact!!!

Put the personal thoughts in the title as well.

Kilgore · May 16, 2018

They aren't. You like more Japanese OST, that's it.

MetalLord · May 16, 2018

For the same reason western games are underwhelming compared to Japanese games,Japan is superior to america.

Shake Appeal · May 16, 2018

That Ys track in the OP is dreadful.

Why are western games OST underwhelming compared to Japanese's?

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