Critical Gamer's No Tune Unturned: Character Themes

Critical Gamer's Stephen K writes: It’s that magical moment when the music becomes the character. When Darth Vader strides on-screen, an imposing man/machine cloaked in billowing darkness, accompanied by a commanding score that sends shivers of majestic evil down one’s spine. When the Imperial March plays, you know Darth Vader has arrived; the instruments, tempo, and style mirror everything about him; the music becomes the character. Think of it like the X Parasite from Metroid Fusion but without all the death. I’ve always had a soft spot for this technique (combining music and storytelling, not the death thing) and videogames are in a prime position to take advantage of it. Huge casts of characters that live inside worlds as vibrant as they are varied help with that, and I’ve gone through a small handful of these worlds to pick some of the best examples. Of course, we’re not talking about cool songs that happen to hang around specific dudes/female dudes; the music and characters ne...