Thanks to the evolution of technology, it's possible to create more complex video games. However, for one of the creators of the most memorable themes in the video game industry, this progress is somehow limiting the creativity of modern composers.
Nobuo Uematsu participated in an interview with NewsPick (via AUTOMATON) in which he discussed the challenges of making music for video games decades ago, modern music in video games, and his dissatisfaction with the latter.
The artist mentioned that music was like oxygen for 8-bit games, bringing stories and characters to life in an era where there were no other elements to convey that, such as voice acting, aside from the challenges related to limited memory resources.
The creative recalls that during the original PlayStation era (with Final Fantasy VII), it was already possible to create more elaborate compositions compared to the NES or SNES. However, he chose to stick to compressed soundtracks to ensure a seamless gaming experience, allowing users to enjoy an adventure without compromising the quality of the music. Otherwise, they would have had to wait on a loading screen every time they transitioned from exploration to combat.
"A period where we could practically do anything," Uematsu mentioned about the era of titles like Final Fantasy X, where everything became simpler in terms of music and technique. "As game consoles have advanced, it has become easier for me to express different musical genres (like rock and jazz, etc.) within game music."
Why doesn't Nobuo Uematsu like modern music in video games?
However, this doesn't mean that Uematsu is entirely pleased with the ability to create any type of music for video games, as he believes directors and producers are "satisfied with music similar to film soundtracks in games."
According to Uematsu, when video game composers strive to adhere to the style of movie music, they limit their creativity, causing "game music to not be able to develop further."
In case you missed it: Nobuo Uematsu can no longer compose music for an entire game.
For this reason, Uematsu encourages modern video game composers to question themselves about what only they can do and to use their "knowledge and experience to be truly creative." Then, "game music will be more interesting."
Of course, the renowned composer is against the idea of using artificial intelligence to create music because, to make good music, it's necessary to "reach deep within yourself to find unique aspects for you and then express them."
Do you agree with Nobuo Uematsu's words? Tell us in the comments.
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