The composer and audio director for Starfield, an upcoming action RPG from Bethesda, just shared 11 different songs and musicians that inspired the game’s music.
This is one of many behind-the-scenes looks for Starfield, which just tweeted about the score here:
Because Starfield is an epic space RPG, there are a lot of expectations. Countless popular franchises have explored space with their music, such as Halo and Mass Effect, who established memorable feelings of adventure and majesty.
So, it may prove difficult for Starfield to distinguish itself. Even cinema still offers new space epics, such as Dune, and comparing yourself to an arthouse Hans Zimmer score might be tough. Fortunately, it’s clear that composer Inon Zur and audio director Mark Lampert have a plan.
Music Selections and Breakdown
Few of their inspirations are actually from the gaming industry at all, focusing mainly on bands and movies that have experimental and unique sounds.
For example, bands outside of gaming include Einstürzende Neubauten, True Widow, Jason Moran, and Steve Moore. This includes a surprising range of genres, even including Rock and Jazz.
This bodes well for the game’s personality, which may feature something closer to strange cues reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The movie soundtracks that inspired them tend to blend long, orchestral measures with a digital shadow. The selections were Blade Runner, Heat, Platoon and The Revenant.
It seems that Starfield may have more mystery and mood than expected, which is good for a space RPG that is focusing on, well, atmosphere.
For fellow composers, they naturally listened to John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. But they also mention John Cage and Johann Johannson.
If you’re feeling lost, the audio connoisseurs mention Zur’s own scores for the Fallout franchise, which is his biggest claim to fame. So, you may expect a similar sound to installments like Fallout ’76.
Music can transform games and transport players, invoking fear, panic or triumph in all the right moments. So, the score for Starfield also gives players a hint on how the game experience will play out. And it seems like things are shaping up for something pretty special, despite fans’ hesitation.
You can read more breakdowns and video game updates in our dedicated news section!
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