So much about video gaming is to do with the visuals that it can be easy to forget about the soundtrack. But almost as much effort goes into making this central part of the game that it’s even given the pretty grand title of “sound design”.
Along with all the SFX that go alongside the action there’s the music too. This can be in tune with the sort of game that you’re playing. Fun and light for a Candy Crush type game, spooky and mysterious if you’re exploring a haunted house.
But for all action games, whether you’re in the middle of a battle royale or fighting off wave after wave of flesh-eating zombies there’s only one genre that will really do – hard rock from the likes of AC/DC, Metallica and Napalm Death.
Why metal’s the way to go
There have been plenty of psychological studies into whether music enhances game playing or hinders it and they’ve come up with some very different results. But one finding that has remained very consistent has been that when it’s a fast-paced game with plenty of action coming in from all sides, music’s a must.
There are quite a few reasons for this and the first of these is that it enhances focus on the game, especially when you’re in the middle of a long session of play or there are lots of repetitive stages to go through.
It’s also an undeniable fact that music can have a strong effect on your mood and emotions, something that the very best games do too.
Then there’s the effect that it can have on reaction times. When you’re playing a fast-paced game it can help you to be more instinctive in your actions and reactions. Because sometimes pausing to think, even for half a beat, can often be disastrous. Last, but not least, music adds to the atmosphere of the gaming session like nothing else can.
So that’s the rationale for music. But why’s metal the perfect audio accompaniment?
There’s the speed for a start. The driving beat of the drums with the power riffs from the guitars provide a dynamic aural backdrop to the action. That, in turn, gives a hyperdrive boost to reactions and decision-making, not to mention a heady rush of adrenalin too.
Then, as you pass through the challenges of a game, it gets you even more hyped up and ready to take on whatever else is coming your way. It’s called cognitive advancement and it’s what all gamers need to perform at their very best.
It’s not just the music that can have an effect, it’s the lyrics too. Most lyrics in the genre are focused on taking on adversity, rebelling against the norm and ultimately emerging victorious. Even if these words are being absorbed subliminally they’re certain to have a positive effect on performance. Sometimes they can even provide that extra impetus that’s needed to snatch victory when it looks like everything might be lost.
And let’s not forget the truly epic nature of many heavy metal lyrics dealing with lost civilisations, tackling mythical monsters and overcoming nerve-jangling situations. All experiences well-known to gamers everywhere.
Metal-themed games
Some games are even distinctly heavy metal themed. A great example is Brütal Legend said to have been inspired by developer Tim Schafer’s own experiences in the world of heavy metal. The gameplay features a roadie Eddie Riggs (pun very much intended) who finds himself magically transported into a heavy-metal universe.
Armed with a magic electric guitar, an axe and a hot rod car called The Druid Plow he has to take on various challenges with power chords and riffs helping him along the way. There’s even a nod to the Guitar Hero franchise in the middle of the game.
Then there are other titles like Metal Gear Rising:Revengeance and the already-mentioned Guitar Hero that gives you the chance to feel like a true axe-wielding superstar.
Slots too
A tributary of the gaming world, online slots from sites like Bally Bet, also pay homage to heavy metal and some if its heroes.
One of the very best of these is the Guns ‘N’ Roses game. Not only do the reels carry iconic symbols of the band you’ll also be treated to snatches of “Sweet Child of Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle”.
Or, as a tribute to the legendary and now tragically passed Ozzy Osbourne, it’s well worth giving the Black Sabbath slot a spin. “Paranoid” and “iron Man” both feature and it’s a thrill, a minute game.
Of course there are many other metal-themed games from the Motorhead video game partly designed by Lemmy himself to slots featuring bands like Kiss and Megadeath. And, for all of us who are truly dedicated to metal, we salute every single one of them.