Who created the audio experience? Manami Matsumae. Here's a cool interview where she discusses in detail her work on Mega Man. Really enjoyed reading that she compares composing for game systems (like NES) with the three melodic channels with playing Bach three part inventions. Interesting that back in this era composers, along with many game designers, aren't listed in the credits of the game. By '87, we're nearly a decade after Atari got started with Combat and I think about the split in Atari that led to the creation of Activision largely because game designers weren't recognized in credits or some way for their work in the games! I'm not sure why there wasn't more credit given in this era, but luckily game fans have pulled out the truth on the internet over time. As a note, in the game credits, the only audio mention is Sound Programmer: Yuukichan's Papa, a pseudonym for Yoshihiro Sakaguchi.
What is the audio experience? For any Mega Man lover, here are the beginnings of many iconic sound effects for death, 1-ups, power ups, damage, etc. As far as music is concerned, there's different music for each boss level as well as boss select music on the main menu, victory music, game over music, and several tracks right at the end of the game, for the final boss, when you beat him, and the ending of the game.
How does the audio draw the player more deeply into the game? Each level having its own music obviously helps to give even more atmospheric differences to the levels. Also, each level starts with a short vamp that doesn't repeat unless you die, instead the loop point is a few seconds into each track. Boss music indicates that something more difficult and challenging is happening and doesn't need to be as long as the music for different levels because, one way or another, the boss battles are relatively short. In the Wily stages, the music doesn't have short intros, instead, the music starts right in with the beginning of the theme. The music at the very end of the game (Wily stages 3 and 4) gets very chromatic and thus more eerie.
I hear such a similarity between the Boss Victory music here and Uematsu's Battle Victory music from Final Fantasy. It's the bVI-bVII-I progression. Is this just a typical fanfare or were the composers referencing each other? It's very interesting to hear victory music sound so similar! More investigation is needed.
Also, check out the end game sequence and think carefully about the music as you watch. First of all, there's a clear key relationship between the theme when you beat Dr. Wily and the beginning of the credits music (both F# major). Also, there are very distinct music/visual cues that are hit in the final movie: music picks up when Mega Man beams down, the key change from F# to A major happens roughly around the same time as he is shedding his uniform (what's with the Elvis hair?), and as soon as he reaches the edge of NY, we're established in a new key. Considering the key changes, musically, it's as if we're moving from the depths of the evil palace back to home. This is the first track I've encountered that changes keys as it continues and also that matches so closely with a series of visual events.
Alright, now to break it down track by track. Mega Man has just over 6 minutes of music. Give a listen to the Mega Man soundtrack.
Main menu: 4 sec, Ab major -- simple chord planning between Ab and Gb
Boss select: 6 sec, G minor-- love that this ends on V!
Gutsman: 28 sec (26 w/o stage start) G minor-- starts on V
Cutman: 41 sec (38 w/o stage start) A minor-- longer track with AAB form-- Matsumae's favorite
Elecman: 41 sec (38 w/o stage start) B major
Fireman: 30 sec (26 w/o stage start) F# minor-- a huge sequence at the end of this tune-- earworm!
Bombman: 37 sec (30 sec w/o stage start) Db major
Boss: 9 sec, Ab minor, Passacaglia?
Boss victory: 6 sec, E major. Compare Uematsu's FF battle victory
Game over: 3 sec, Db major
Wily 1/2: 32 sec (starts right on it) F# major
Wily 3/4: 22 sec G minor-- very chromatic
Wily Boss: 13 sec D minor-- very chromatic
Beat Wily: 14 sec F# major
End Game: 90 sec F# major to A major (!) This is the only track that changes keys.
Elecman was always my favorite song in the Mega Man series. :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love about the Elecman track is how it starts out relatively low and then jumps up to such a high register at the end. I know this theme well because I would often beat Elecman early on in the game. My favorite of these themes is easily Fireman. The double musical sequence at the end of it is so classic, so expected, yet completely fulfilling.
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