The Future of Pokemon

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Now that I had enough time to play Pokemon Moon thoroughly (btw thanks Nintendo for releasing it five days later in the EU) I can wholeheartedly say that the Game is excellent. But more on that tomorrow when my review launches.

Today I want to talk about something that has been on my mind since Pokemon X and Y launched. And that is the question of Pokemons Future. We already have crossed the 800 mark for Pokemon, which is a lot from the original 151. And even though they released less new Pokemon with Generation six and seven the complaints about bad design have been growing louder.

First let me say that I don't share these feelings. I don't think the Pokemon design overall has been getting worse. Even in the first Generation there have been some very uninspired designs. Grimer and Muk come to mind.

What's true is that the Pokemon designs have become more outlandish and cartoon like. While the original 151 were mostly looking like animals in the newer generations many Pokemon got an extremely cartoony design. This makes them harder to classify for people and often causes some backlash against the design. But wit over 800 released Pokemon it becomes harder and harder to create something that isn't either a slightly remade version of an already released Pokemon or too outlandish to work in the context of the game. And this problem won't go away. So what is the Future of Pokemon? What can GameFreak do to keep the franchise afloat after 20 years on the top?

Take your time:

2013 we got X/Y and now in 2016 we got Sun/Moon.

Three years is a good time frame for a new Pokemon Generation, but I would even go a little bit further and make it four years. If you overstretch a franchise with to many consecutive releases it burns out, as evidently shown by Assassins Creed or Call of Duty, but if you give your Fans some time to recharge you can avoid the much dreaded franchise fatigue. A new Pokemon Game every four years, with a remake sprinkled in between, should be the perfect time frame to ensure the franchise still exists in 20 years.

Use the new Generations to introduce new Concept and then expand on those which worked in the Remakes. This way GameFreak can create a flow of creativity, which doesn't tire its consumers with countless releases.

Reduce the amount of new Pokemon:

This has been something that they have been doing for the Past couple of generations. Sun/Moon added 81 new Pokemon, while X/Y added only 72. However X/Y also added several Mega Evolutions. Speaking of Mega Evolutions. I think this is the path GameFreak should follow. This way they can reduce the amount of new Pokemon while also increase it at the same time. What I want to say is that instead of creating a completely new Pokemon they can ''bring back'' a classic by giving it a Mega Evolution. Something they did perfectly in X/Y and OR/AS. They invigorated some of the older and less used Pokemon. It's also easier than designing new Pokemon because the base Form of the Mega Evolution gives you an anchor where you can ground the design.

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It's a shame that Sun/Moon don't add any new Mega Evolutions, but instead focus on the new Z-Attacks, which don't have that big of an impact in my opinion.

For the Future they need to bundle their creativity and focus on a few new Pokemon, while also giving some older ones Mega Evolutions to increase the diversity in viable Team Compositions.

Open up the World of Pokemon:

Generation seven did a good job in freshening up the franchise. Instead of traveling from Gym to Gym you now explore the four islands of Alola and try to beat the different trials of the Island Challenge. These Tasks can vary a lot and bring a fresh feeling to the old concept. Of course in the end the Pokemon League awaits, but some customs shouldn't be changed.

This concept of the Island Challenge is something that GameFreak should build upon in further releases. It opens up a lot of possibilities for a truly open Pokemon Game. In Sun/Moon the path you take is still very linear. You can't progress unless you beat a specific challenge first. Of course this is to ensure that there is a smooth challenge curve and you don't meet Pokemon or Trainers you aren't ready for yet, but it's also pretty restricting.

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How about instead of taking a specific path across an Island it was totally open from the get go? What if you'd like to tackle the Fire trial before the Water one? This way players would get much more invested. The Problem with encountering Pokemon and Trainer, which are much higher than yours, could be solved in two ways.

Either make them scale, so that you'll always encounter Pokemon around your level or, and I would prefer that solution, give the player a warning if he enters an Area which is too high level for him. And if he ignores it he has to deal with it or fail.

With the step into full 3D Pokemon opened up its world and now is the time for the next step and create a truly open Pokemon Adventure.

These are the three main points, which would keep the next generation of Pokemon fresh and interesting. GameFreak have the comfortable Position that they created a franchise with a timeless concept, so they don't need to change any fundamental things about Pokemon. But they also shouldn't rest on their laurels. Pokemon is a huge franchise, but it isn't a no-brainer as the rise and fall of Pokemon Go did show us.

What are your ideas for the future of Pokemon? How do you think they should keep the franchise fresh? Let me know.

And as always

thanks for reading

My Top 5 Pokemon Spin-Off Games

I hope all of you are enjoying Pokemon Sun and Moon. For the past week I have been playing non-stop and I really love the new path they took with the seventh generation. It really felt similar to playing Red and Blue for the first time. Well except the feature that wild Pokemon can now call for Help during a battle. That feature can burn in the deepest depths of hell.

After 20 Years Pokemon has grown into one of the most successful and biggest franchises in the history of video games. The Mainline games excite young and old and with Pokemon Go the franchise created an unreal hype this past summer. Over the years Pokemon has grown from a simple video game into a multi-genre titan. Movies, TV-Series, Toys and everything else under the sun are created under the brand. However this is first and foremost still a video game blog. That's why I'd like to share my five Pics for the best Pokemon Spin-off games.

While looking into this topic I realized again how many of those games are out there. Pokemon truly has ventured into nearly every genre there is. And so it wasn't easy to narrow the pics down to only five.
The incredible diversity in Spin-Off games just shows the potential of the franchise. When a Fighting Game and a (kind of) Rail Shooter are released under the same brand, and both feel like a natural fit, you truly have a goldmine at hand.

But now don't lets waste any more time. Here are my Top 5 Pokemon Spin-off Games.

5: Pokken Tournament

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When this game was announced I was pretty puzzled. Could this work? Should this work? Well the answer is quite simple. Absolutely!

While the absolute ruler of fighting games on the Wii-U is undoubtedly Super Smash Bros. this game offered fans of more complex fighting games a great alternative. It got quite the deep fighting system with a lot of great combos and offers a high skill cap. It's the perfect game for fans of Tekken or Street Fighter, which want to truly master a game like that.

The selection of Pokemon is great. They managed to include not only the obvious choices, but also freshen things up with several unusual fighters. They even made Chandelure work.

It is a shame that only the Arcade Version of the game got several new characters so far, but I still hope that we'll see them as DLC for the Wii-U Version along the line.

So if you always dreamed of Pile Driving Gardevoir with a Pikachu dressed as a Lucha Libre, then this game is what you have been waiting for. Fans of Tekken and Pokemon got the ultimate Franchise Mix Up. A very good fighting game with some very unusual fighters.

4: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon:

The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series puts you into the shoes of a Pokemon. I was always wondering why it took them so long to release a game like that, but since Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue we got a steady supply of those games.
They take the well known Pokemon Formula and replace it with a Dungeon Crawler style of gameplay, which is quite refreshing and a great fit for those games.

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After choosing which Pokemon you'd like to play, you're thrust into the world. As newest Member of your respective rescue team your job is it to help other Pokemon, recruit them for your team and explore the dangerous dungeons.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is an entertaining Action Adventure series and it's success over the years is testament to that. It may lack the polish of the main line games, but if you like the Diablo like gameplay then these games are surely worth a buy.

3: Pokemon Trading Card Game

Like I said earlier Pokemon has grown into a multi-million dollar industry of its own over the course of twenty years. There have been some hit and misses, but one of the most successful franchise spin-offs was and is the Pokemon Trading Card Game. After all this years it's still going strong with regular tournaments and so forth.

But for this list I'm not talking about the physical Trading Card Game.

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During, what many consider the height of Pokemon, when Silver and Gold where just around the corner, Nintendo released a GameBoy Color Version of the Trading Card game. And it was brilliant.

It included all of the original 151 Pokemon and a lot of Trainer Cards. And while this number may seem a little bit small in comparison to today’s 801 Pokemin, but it was more than enough to build fun and diverse decks. Combined with the ability to battle your friends via Link battles this created just the same addicting fun as the main line Pokemon Games. It also offered a relative cheap version to play the Trading Card Game without investing hundreds of dollars for booster packs.

I'm sure a true successor with all currently released cards would be a huge success.

2: Pokemon Snap

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I'm still kinda pissed that this game didn't get a successor on the Wii-U. There was no console in history that was better suited for a Snap game, but Nintendo really dropped the ball with this one. Well at least we got the excellent original on the Virtual Console.

By todays standard it may seem a bit lackluster and small, but during it's initial release it was a groundbreaking next step for the Pokemon. After all it was the first time you could see your favorite Pokemon in 3D. Even before the release of Pokemon Stadium.

And what was even better it allowed you to spectate them in their natural habitat. Something that was never truly seen before.

The gameplay itself is easy to grasp, but still a lot of fun. Trying to capture that perfect picture for a better score was a great driving force. It may seem vain, but there have been countless hours spend just to get that perfect picture of a Pokemon. Of course this only seems vain to people, who have never played Snap.

Pokemon Snap, just like my Number One Pic, was released during the high time of Pokemon. The first generation created a never before known worldwide Hype and the second generation was right around the corner to drive it to new unknown heights. Nintendo and Game Freak tried to spread the franchise onto other genres and consoles and thanks to that we got one of the best and most unique N64 games. And of course we also got...

1: Pokemon Stadium 2

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While the first Stadium did lay the groundwork, the second installment perfected it. This is the perfect console Pokemon Game. Yes Colosseum and XD were great in their own right, but Stadium was better. Simply because it did it's own thing and didn't try to emulate the Mainline games. Instead it offered something that wasn't possible on the Handheld. Fully rendered 3D Pokemon Battles.

But these games did so much more.
Once again you could transfer your Pokemon from the Handheld to the Big Screen via the Transfer Pack, but this time you could also use all Pokemon from the second generation. Seeing your hard trained Feraligatr on the Big Screen defeating a Charizard is a feeling you can't describe.

But like I said the 3D Battles in the Stadium, while being the heart piece of the game, weren't everything. You could challenge the difficult to beat Gym Leaders or you could play the Mainline Games on the Big screen. There was even a possibility to run the games at twice or three times their normal speed. Then there was the trainer academy and of course the hidden stars of Pokemon Stadium 2. The Mini Games.

Who needs Mario Party if you have Pokemon Stadium 2. The Mini Game Tournaments are one of the most entertaining things you can play. Period. Even though I suck at them, I love to see the despair on my friends face when I overtake them during the last meters of Tumbling Togepi.

From all the games on this List the Stadium series is most in need, and most deserving of a new installment on the Switch. Make it happen Nintendo.

And that were my Top 5 pics for Pokemon Spin-Off games. What are your thoughts on that topic? What games did or do you enjoy the most? Let me know.

And as always

thanks for reading

The Keys to a successful Switch

When late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced the Nintendo NX in March 2015 he started one of the biggest sources for hype and rumors that I've ever seen. Especially in the last months before the actual reveal of the Switch you couldn't have one day without a new rumor or leak. Now I thought this would slow down after the actual reveal. But Nintendo had other plans. And while I think the reveal was in fact very well done and worked, for what it intended to be, it also left enough spaces open so that the rumors and speculation could continue. This will hopefully end in January, when Nintendo will answer all questions, but until then we'll have to live with our daily Switch rumor/leak.

But there is also one thing that's good about the vague information we have so far. It gives me the possibility to talk about the things the Nintendo Switch needs to do to become a success.

After the commercial failure that was the Wii-U Nintendo needs another successful console to stay relevant. They can't forever life of a dwindling market share of Nintendo faithfuls and need to reclaim lost customers. This can only be done by bringing in both, hardcore and casual gamers. Something the Wii-U failed to do, but the PlayStation 4 manages to pull of perfectly.

With the first trailer Nintendo made a step in the right direction. Instead of the hot mess that was the Wii-Us unveil it was well paced and had a clear message. Everybody instantly got what the NX was about. The Switch is off to a good start. Something that I didn't expect after the months of silence preceding the announcement. I wasn't sure if they could survive the Hype that had build up over the passing months.

After watching the Trailer however my worries were disperse immediately. Nintendo definitely knows what they are doing here.

So after this good start what comes next? Well in my opinion there are four key factors that will decide the success of the Nintendo Switch.

The right Price:

I think this will be the most deciding factor for success with the casual crowd. It is also important for hardcore gamers, but more in the sense of a return of investment, while the Casual gamers only see the Price and don't care much for the specs. So a lower price than the Wii-U is unavoidable if they want the Switch to succeed. If Nintendo truly wants the Switch to be such a social experience, like the promised in the trailer, they have to make sure that enough people can afford it. Video game consoles are still mostly seen as toy by the general public. And even though the Video games industry is massive this hasn't changed in the last couple of years. Because of that the average person isn't willing to invest as much into a console as in, for example, a new phone. A Price Point which you can easily accommodate into a balanced budget will help to get the Switch into a reasonable amount of households in the first year.

Also the Switch will have to prove itself against the X-Box One and the PlayStation 4. It doesn't matter if Nintendo thinks they are in no direct competition because they are. You'll easily can find those consoles for around 300$, so if the Switch wants to stay competitive it can't be allowed to cost more.

While the fact that the Switch serves as both, a portable and a home console, resonates with the casual crowd, it don't think it will be enough. After all they have their mobile phones for gaming on the go. But I also think the promise of being able to play anywhere, without huge limitations, is a great foundation to win back the casual market. A low price point of around 250$, which is also heavily rumored, would help the Switch get a good starting boost. And with that comes a sizable installer base, which will lead to more games and so forth.

So I think the most deciding factor for the initial success of the Switch won't be the Games or Specs or Marketing. It will be the Price. If Nintendo can win the price battle against Microsoft and Sony, if they can get their foot into the door, then I think the Switch will become a success. At least at the start. For it to become a long lasting story of success there are also some other key factors.

Now you're playing with Power:

Now while I think the raw price is more important with the Casual crowd this point is the most deciding factor with the Hardcore gamers. Can the Nintendo Switch truly compete with the X-Box One or the PlayStation 4? I think to have lasting success with the gaming crowd the Nintendo Switch needs to be at least at X-Box One levels of power. Preferably PlayStation 4.

From the initial show off during the Trailer I got a good feeling. Skyrim Remastered running on the Switch was a good sign and yes I know that Bethesda didn't officially announce it for the new console, but that's probably to keep the interest on the other versions of the game, which launched one week after the Switch reveal.

But it showed that the Switch has at least some horse power. The fact that they use a Nvidia Tegra chip is also reassuring. If the truly used the Tegra 2 Chip set with Pascal architecture a power level around the X-Box one is definitely possible.

But why is the Power level so important? Specs don't matter, games do. That is true, but if the Switch can't run X-Box One games then we have the same problem as with the Wii-U. Of course Nintendos failed console amplified the problem because it was extremely complicated to port games onto. A mistake Nintendo has fixed wit the Switch. But even the extremely popular Wii got hardly any games from PS3 or X-Box 360 and if they were heavily gimped. This resulted in poor sales for those ports and the Publisher abandoning the Wii completely in the later stages of its life cycle.

To keep this from happening to the Switch it needs a power level comparable to its competitors. Sony and Microsoft also did show with the PS4 Pro and the Scorpio that they don't intend to end this console generation anytime soon. Instead they will only offer Updates on their existing consoles. And while the games may look better on these upgrades, Sony and Microsoft will make sure that all games will also run on the basic versions of their consoles.

So if the Switch has a similar power level to X-Box One and PlayStation 4 it will get games as long as these two consoles are around.

Keeping their Promise:

The first trailer of the Nintendo Switch promised us that we would be able to play our home console games on the go and everywhere we want to. The Joy Cons will allow us to customize the control scheme and with the Docking Station we can seamless go from handheld into home console mode. So the Switch promises us to play however and wherever we want. This core principle is something that Nintendo needs to get right from the get go. Not like with the Wii, where the promise was only fulfilled when the Wii-Motion + launched.

The biggest catastrophe the Switch could get hit with is a game that only works when the console is docked. In fact it doesn't even need to be so bad. A game where several features are only available in one mode would be a huge problem. Just like with the Wii-U where several games didn't use the second screen at all. Some even by Nintendo. This brought up the question of the screen necessity and opened up a new front of criticism about the specs of the console. And this could also be a problem for the Switch if it happens there.

Why should I buy a console, which is weaker than the competition because of a unique feature, which isn't even used all the time. This is a train of thought that surely will appear in the minds of many people and pose a problem for the Switch. That is why they absolutely need to deliver on their promise from the get go.

A part on this is also a good battery life. At least the same amount as the 3DS should be manageable. If the Switch can't even last a short train trip then it will hardly be used in portable mode, which makes the whole foundation of the console crumble.

Games, Games, Games:

And as a last key factor, which will decide the success of the Switch, it will also need a good selection of launch games and support during its first year. So if the rumors are true and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is delayed till summer a new Mario 3D Game is a must at launch. You need a big flagship title to properly excite people for your console. This coupled with some of the rumored Wii-U Ports would provide a very good launch line up. Also I don't think that Wii-U Owners will then skip the console. Most Wii-U buyers are hardcore Nintendo Fans and a new 3D Mario Title is more enough for most of them to validate the purchase.

The Long Term Support of Games after the initial launch is also secured if Nintendo doesn't gimp the Switch in power, as I explained earlier.

All in all Game is both the most important and least important point. Of course it's the biggest deciding factor for the long term success of the Switch, but it's also completely dependent on the other points. If the specs are to bad there won't be third party support. If the price is too high and the Switch doesn't sell well in the first months, there won't be third party support.

So what are your thoughts about these four key factors? Would you agree? Or are there some factors I have missed?
Let me know what you think.

And as always

thanks for reading

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My Top 5 Games, which deserve a Port for the Nintendo Switch

Several weeks ago Nintendo finally revealed the Switch, but if you thought that the Rumors would stop because of that, oh boy you were wrong. Quite the contrary to be honest. Now that we know the basics of the Switch the rumor mills have been sent into overdrive. Of course it didn't help that Nintendo has still kept many things about the Switch a secret. From its price to its power to the launch line up. The Switch event in January will surely shed some light on that, and I understand that Nintendo wants the Holiday focus firmly on Pokemon Sun and Moon and the Nintendo NES Mini, but you can't really blame the people for craving more information.

In regards of the launch line-up something that is often mentioned are ports of popular Wii-U Games. Or to be more precise enhanced Ports featuring better graphics and more content. And while I as Wii-U owner am not excited about this, but I can see why this is an attractive prospect for Nintendo. It's an easy way of inciting new buyers to get the Switch if they get the Best of Wii-U games next to brand new switch titles. And that is also todays topic. I'd like to present to you my Top 5 Wii-U Games, which should get a enhanced Switch port.

5: Super Mario Maker

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Super Mario Maker is the (near) perfect 2D Mario experience. It's level design toolkit has shown how imaginative the fanbase can be. And also how cruel, unforgiving and sadistic. And after creating a subpar Port for the Nintendo 3DS I think Super Mario Maker: Switch could be the perfect way for Nintendo to redeem themselves. They just have to make it compatible with the Wii-U Version and you already have Millions of unique levels to play. But what should they do to enhance the port?

Well that is simple. Add new things to the toolkit. Different Stage themes like Desert, Snow or Lava World. Add a new graphical style. For example the Style used for the Lost Levels in Super Mario Allstars. Add new enemies and slopes and so forth. It is really simple to enhance this game. Also they could offer these additions to the Wii-U Version as either free or paid DLC. This would ensure that both, the Swith and the Wii-U Version of the game, remain compatible.

I think it's still to early to release another entry into the New Super Mario Bros. series, so this port could help to fill the craving for new 2D Mario games without tiring the fanbase. It's an easy guess and I would be shocked if we didn't see Super Mario Maker in any form or capacity on the Nintendo Switch.

4: Mario Kart 8

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I think this is the rumored port that I'm least excited for. Mario Kart 8 is an excellent game, but I don't think a Port of it would be that great. Rumors suggest that it would contain several new tracks as well as an improved battle mode. I was never the biggest fan of battle mode, so I don't care much about that and new tracks are fine and well, but I'd prefer a complete Mario Kart 9 instead.

But it can't be denied that Mario Kart 8 would be a sure System Seller on the Switch. It has an insane attach rate on the Wii-U after all. Also it wouldn't be to hard to create an enhanced port of the game. I guess they'd add four more cups, bringing the number of cups to sixteen, which is double the amount than in a normal Mario Kart game.

Next to following game I think Mario Kart 8: Enhanced Edition is the safest bet on this whole list.

3: Super Smash Bros.

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Include all DLC characters, stages and costumes and you're done. People would eat this game up. If you want to be extremely generous also add some stages from the 3DS version, the Ice Climbers and a true Single Player Mode.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii-U is one of the greatest video games ever created. It has an insane amount of content and a great battle system. But it also took a long time to create and even cost Sakurai some of his health, so I don't think he and his team are ready to create a new one soon. An enhanced Port of the Wii-U Version would solve this problem and give the Switch one of the biggest games ever created for its launch.

Smash Bros is one of the series that nearly everyone wants to play and getting the most complete one with all DLC and bonus content included would create a big incentive to buy a Nintendo Switch. I think a port of this game is pretty much guaranteed. It's even more likely than Mario Kart 8.

2: Hyrule Warriors

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This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I think this game could really benefit from an enhanced port. Bringing together the content from Wii-U and 3DS alone would create a huge game, but if they include even more characters, for example Fan Favorite Groose, which wouldn't justify a full sequel by themselves, this port would be absolutely jacked full of content. It could also bridge the gap until the Breath of the Wild release, if the rumored delay is true.

Hyrule Warriors isn't a classic Zelda game, but it is the ultimate Zelda fan game. I know several people, who didn't buy a Wii-U and weren't interested in playing the game on the small 3DS Screen. For this people this could be a great incentive to buy the Switch. Especially because they know they'll also get a real Zelda game within the first year.

By combining the content from 3DS and Wii-U as well as adding a handful of new characters and stages they could create an Ultimate Version of the Ultimate Zelda Fan Game.

1: Xenoblade Chronicles X

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Xenoblade is the best game on the Wii-U. It is better than Bayonetta or Mario 3D World or even Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze. The only game hoping to dethrone it is Breath of the Wild.

The World of Mira is one of the best designed alien worlds I have ever experienced. Seeing it in full HD and 60FPS on the Nintendo Switch would be a dream come true.

Xenoblade is the perfect candidate for an enhanced port, because of it's low sales figures on the Wii-U. If the Switch manages to capture some Hardcore Gamers this game could very well be one of the reasons why. A huge, complex RPG may not be a System seller in itself, but it could very well be the tipping point at which many consider buying the system.

Also Mira deserves to be experienced by as much people as possible.

That would be my five suggestions for enhanced ports on the Nintendo Switch. Releasing those over the course of the first year together with several new games would give the System as solid library that satisfies every Nintendo Fan. Oh and before you ask why Splatoon isn't on this list. It's because I really want a true Splatoon 2 including playable Octolings.

So what games would you like to see ported to the Switch? Or are you against remastering and rehashing every remotely successful game from the previous generation? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

Music in Horror Games

Music is a very important, and often overlooked part, of video games. There is no better way to build a specific atmosphere than with a fitting score. And even though our visual trumps our audio memory, it can't be denied that specific tunes have a much deeper emotional impact. There is hardly any Nintendo fan, who won't become excited after hearing the Zelda Main Theme.

Music is an integral part in creating memorable moments. The last stand during a final boss is only half as epic, without the fitting music pushing the player to its limits. A great score doesn't only accompany the level. It tells a story of its own, enhancing your experience in the process. As an example take a listen to Sawmill Thrill from Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

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Even without any pictures you can exactly tell what is going on. The dramatic chase through the Sawmill followed by the calm middle section before heading into the final mayhem. It's perfectly crafted for this specific level and only works there.

In my opinion the music of a game is even more important for its atmosphere than the graphical presentation. And that brings me to the actual theme of todays Thoughtpiece. Music in Horror Games.

As some of you may know I'm a big fan of Horror. And while I prefer the methodical horror of, for example H.P. Lovecraft, which slowly creeps its way towards you, I also appreciate the tenser kind of horrer that a game like Outlast provides.

For a Horror Game to truly work there are many different puzzle pieces that all have to fit together. And the Music is one of the most important. So how does music factor into the atmosphere of a horror game?

Horror Groove:

First let us take a look at actual Music, because the absence of such can also be a strong building block of atmosphere.

The music used for horror games is often a duo of sorts. Slow and sinister chords are broken up by irregular high screaming ones. It creates a dissonance that doesn't sound bad, but makes us feel uneasy. In a recent study scientists revealed that these irregular chords, which they labeled ''non-linear chaotic noise'', is similar to distress cries emitted by children or baby animals, when they are in danger. It triggers a biologically ingrained response in us.

In the study music containing such ''non-linear chaotic noise'' was often linked to feelings such as fear or anxiety by the participants. Researches also found that music clips where the melodies suddenly became higher provoked greater emotional reaction. This is also linked to biological behavior. A scream goes higher when the vocal chords go tenser, which is a likely result if scared to death. If you're interested and want to delve deeper into the topic, then you can do it here.

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Creating a piece of music for the Horror Genre can be quite the challenge. You have to balance the ''non-linear chaotic noise'' with the internal harmony of the piece.

And for Video Games there is another layer. The music can't be to effective. Take a chase scene for example. After some exploration of a dark area, where the music was kept to a minimum, you are spotted by whatever hunts you, and a intense chase scene starts. The previous gameplay has all led up to this. The tension has been building and now it unloads. Now the music has to support this. It needs to scare you, but at the same time push you forwards. It needs to get your blood pumping in fear for your life, but not paralyze you with it.

As an example for such a piece of music just take a listen to the River Twygz Bed from Paper Mario. It's distorted noises create a creepy sound, which makes you feel uncomfortable. 

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Now Paper Mario is a relatively harmless game, but this soundtrack alone made the River Twygz into a threatening area, where you want to spend as little time as possible. And that is exactly what these music aims to achieve. You shouldn't feel safe or at ease, but constantly threatened.

The Music should create the same feeling as the visuals. In a way they should reflect eachother. Through small changes the familiar can turn into something absolutely horrifying. That goes for musical and visual aspects of the game.

The Sound of Silence:

Now let us take a look at the other way of using music in Horror Games. Well that's not entirely true. It's not music, but rather the absence of such. Horror often needs a minimalistic approach. No grand set pieces, but dark and confined environments. The same goes for it's music. While orchestral arrangements can be quite intimidating, they don't have the effect needed for a horror atmosphere. They are simply not capable of creating fear.

Instead a minimalistic approach with no background music can prove to be much more effective. It let's you focus on your surroundings, taking them in and learning to fear them. Sounds can provide relief in a tense situation, and when you hear nothing for several minutes, but the sound of your own footsteps the tension slowly builds to unbearable levels. In that situation anything that breaks the silence is considered a threat. A game which made good use of this was Dead Space. Abort the USS. Ishimura where countless lonely corridors, abandoned rooms and hallways. While you slowly wander them, and dread the next attack of the Necromorphs, you hear nothing but your own heavy footsteps. The lack of music is there to show your loneliness, but you know that your not alone. Distant mechanical noises and air vents, which under other circumstances would be quite normal noises atop a mining ship, suddenly become threatening. Are they normal? Or are the Necromorphs close by?

The lack of music in most areas of the game also increases the impact, when the developers decide to use audio. This creates a jarring shift in tone, which is then often considered as a ''non-linear chaotic noise'', which, as we know, creates feelings of fear and anxiety.

In that regard ambient noises can be used to the same effect. Something that would otherwise be considered normal can become quite menacing under the right conditions. A door opening or closing. The Wind rustling some leaves. All these sounds, or the lack of them, can be used to craft an atmosphere.

It is hard to describe musical atmosphere with words, but I hope you understand what I mean. Music plays an important part in the atmosphere of a video game and even more so in the Horror genre. Used right sounds can make even the most peaceful looking scenery seem threatening. It's a small ledge to balance on, but one worth aiming for.

I hope you enjoyed this small excursion into the world of music. I am by far no expert on this matter, more like a novice if we are generous, but hopefully I managed to get my thoughts across properly.

So what are your thoughts on this subject matter? What sounds or noises make you feel anxious or scared? Let me know in the comments below.

And as always

thanks for reading

My Top 5 Iconic Nintendo Tunes

Music has a huge part in creating iconic gaming memories. Halo would be not as big without it's iconic chorus. Everyone knows the Tetris theme. These pieces of music have become iconic themselves and in the process also made their games larger than life.

It is a shame that many actual video games opt to use fancy songs from famous musicians to promote themselves instead of forging a distinct audio identity.

While visual memories may be stronger in general, you can't argue that hearing a special tune from your childhood can trigger some powerful emotions. But I'm not here to analyze visual and audio memory and tell you which is stronger.

Today I want to introduce you to my selection of the five most iconic Nintendo tunes. This is probably one of the most subjective lists I've done so far. And there is no arguing that everyone has wildly varied memories and experiences, when thinking about this subject.

So just lean back and hopefully enjoy my selection of the Top 5 most iconic Nintendo Tunes.

5: Pokemon Red/Blue Main Theme

No I'm not talking about the Anime Opening, although there is probably no one on earth, who can't sing along to it, but instead I mean the opening tune to the original Gameboy games.

©Nintendo

Next to the Tetris tune this was the defining music of the Gameboy days. It's dramatic start helps to perfectly frame the battle occurring on the screen, before switching over to the actual start screen. The tension lightens up and is replaced by a hopeful tune of adventure. The marching drums in the background are perfect to convey this feeling of a grand journey that is about to start.

It is a simple tune, and given the limited technical tools they had to work with, this is understandable, but because of that simplicity it is so memorable. A trend that will occur more than once on this list.

The Pokemon theme is the perfect tune to start an adventure. It is a positive outlook on the wonders ahead. It motivates you to venture out in the wild and Catch em all. And it is one of the defining tunes of many childhoods.

That's why it's a deserved Number 5 on this list.

4: Donkey Kong Country Opening Theme

©Nintendo

Donkey Kong Country is a groundbreaking game and one of the best Jump'N'Runs to ever exist. And even though I prefer the second installment and have Yoshis Island as my favourite Jump'n'Run of all time, I can't deny that the first Donkey Kong Country changed the game.

The Opening is a testament to this. It starts of with a nostalgic flashback to the original Donkey Kong with Cranky, before our main protagonist drops in and changes everything. The tune that follows encompasses everything that is great about this game. It's full of energy, but still has such a smooth groove to it. The underlying bass line just eases you up, while the screaming E-Guitar makes you headbang at the same time.

David Wise is a genius in capturing the essence of a level or game with his music. The Donkey Kong Country theme captures everything great about the game. The powerful and energetic passages, but also the more somber and darker ambient parts of the game. It is a quint essence of the adventures awaiting you on DK Island.

3: Super Mario Bros. Main Theme

©Nintendo

Ok this was a simple pic. You can't talk about music in Nintendo Games or Games in general and not mention this song. Super Mario Bros. is lauded as one of the most important games of all time so often, and just as often the Music is kinda overlooked. This tune just has it all. It's simplistic and catchy, but it perfectly captures what Mario is all about.

It perfectly accompanies a whimsical adventure battling walking Mushrooms, Turtles and Piranha Plants. (Even though the first Mario game has a pretty dark backstory. Check it out in my Top 5 Darkest Nintendo Games list)

Just whistle this tune in the middle of a group of people and at least one other will join you. Everyone knows this song. I would go as far as to call it the quintessential Video Game tune.

The Super Mario Theme still works today, not only from a nostalgic viewpoint, but because it is a great and timeless classic. It is charming in all the right places and it's upbeat and happy go lucky nature will push you through even the hardest parts of the game.

2: The Legend of Zelda Main Theme

©Nintendo

Koji Kondo is a genius. If there was ever any doubt, just take an extended listen to this tune. It is amazing what he created with the limited technology of the NES. This theme has it all. The promise of grand adventure. The darkness of Ganon on the Horizon. And what is most important, the mystery of an uncharted land ready for exploration.

The melody is simple and easily recognizable. The melancholic start slowly builds until it reaches the tune of hope and adventure we all know and love. To me the theme speaks of hope and Danger. Of Adventure and Exploration. The Tale of a Hero.

The Main theme simply captures everything that is great about the Legend of Zelda. There isn't much more to say about this. It's perfect. It's timeless. So just listen and enjoy.

1: Super Metroid Main Theme

The last metroid is in captivity. The Galaxy is at peace.

©Nintendo

Speaking of tunes that perfectly capture the spirit of their game. Arguably the best game on the SNES and among the top pics for best game of all time Super Metroid is a masterpiece through and through. And it's Main Theme isn't an exception.

At the beginning the music speaks of danger and despair. It sets the tone of a dark space adventure. But then the legendary tune sets in and marks the arrival of Samus Aran. Hope has come. It lifts the whole atmosphere, while still retaining the dark ground tone. The drums are used perfectly in the background to enhance both, the uplifting part of the tune as well as the dark and brooding one.

For me this music tells the tale of Super Metroid perfectly. You are all alone on this dark and dangerous alien planet. Surrounded by strange beasts and hostile creatures. But don't despair. Because you're Samus Aran. In this dark and brooding corridors in the depths of Zebes you're the ray of hope.

It simply conveys everything great about that game. The lonely and dark atmosphere. The Badassery of Samus Aran. This tune serves as your inspiration and your drive to start the adventure and save the Galaxy. It simply doesn't get much better than this.

And that was my selection for the Top 5 Iconic Gaming themes. I realize that this list only includes games from more than twenty years ago, and I think I'll do another list about more modern classics in the future, but for now, what are your favorite gaming tunes? It doesn't matter if from a classic or a more recent game.

Let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading