Thread: Soundtrack and Sound Effects Speculation

So Generation VI is officially on its way! How exciting!!!

Whenever a new game is released, the soundtrack is one of the things I always get the most excited about. So what do you all think it might be like? Will it remain much the same as previous generations, or will we finally see a fully orchestrated soundtrack?

How about the cries of the Pokemon? Do you think we will see more electronic sounding cries, or are they going to move over to voice actors playing these parts? Will the cries of previous generations be redone if this is the case? And what about the in-battle sound effects?


Any thoughts?

Well, I feel like they'll stick with the retro cries for all the Pokémon that have been with us in the past, and simply expand that with the new console's capabilities.

For the soundtrack, I don't suspect a fully orchestrated soundtrack, but I certainly see it being, if not made with entirely all real instruments, that it'll sound realistic.

Ah yes, the soundtrack. One of the things I love best about the series.

Well, let's go back.

Kanto=8-bit

Johto=16-bit

Hoenn=Orchestra attempt (was, IMO, the most epic soundtrack because every track was BIG sounding)

Sinnoh=Piano with some French influence (Very pretty and beautiful)

Unova=Electronic with some Rock and Techno influence (Very modern and high energy)

So ??? will match the theme of the game along with the area that influenced the game's region. They already had some "French" sounds in D/P/Pt so I am very curious how they will incorporate those sounds in a new light. I am thinking Full Orchestra but I may be way off.

I personally don't see what's the big deal about having orchestrated soundtracks. I remember when Skyward Sword was revealed to be entirely orchestrated and everyone was flabbergasted by it while I didn't care that much. Not saying I disliked its soundtrack (cause I definitely don't, though I don't necessarily love it either), I'm just wondering why everyone is so obsessed with everything being orchestrated.

With that being said, I hope it won't be fully orchestrated. I hope it will be like the other games, with music that fits the "style" and environments.

If there's one track half as good as Verdanturf I'll be happy.

I doubt they'll orchestrate it. I should point out the 20th anniversary of Pokemon is in three years. If there were a year to orchestrate a pokemon's sound track that'll be the year.

As for Pokemon cries, we know they'll never use voice acting similar to the show which is a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing because I find most the american voices craptastic, bad thing because the japanese voices are pretty fantastic. I do think they'll enhance the audio quality all around though, cries and bgm. The 3DS has some fantastic speakers on it comparred to the DS so the quality of sound will be pretty awesome this go around. But time will tell.

BW2's title screen theme was orchestrated. I can see Pokemon taking a page from Super Mario Galaxy and have a few more tracks recorded live, but not all of them.

And here's to more vocals!

Looking back at the first trailers for D/P, B/W, and B/W 2, the music used during their run was definitely ingame music, with D/P and B/W's both showing off their versions of the Pokemon main theme.

So what we got in the trailer is probably a good indicator.

Maybe parts like the ones in V Gen with the N's mugshot could have voice acting.

I think with the plan to get the games out across the world at the same time, getting voices for all the Pokémon and anything else in multiple languages would be a bit difficult in such a short time. Most likely, they'll be sticking with the regular cries for the Pokémon.

As for the music, I'd love to hear a fully orchestrated soundtrack, but whatever they do will be great! I've always loved the soundtracks in the Pokémon games, even the 8 bit and 16 bit ones!

DPPt had some classy-sounding music. I feel like they could incorporate that kind of vibe into these games as well.
I would also be VERY okay with a 100% eurobeat soundtrack, because eurobeat is awesome.

You can kind of hear some battle sound effects in the battle scenes of the trailer.

Specifically the "take damage" sound effect that varies with different effectiveness.

I read an article that before Unova was considered for a region, they were considering or had the idea doing Europe as a region with classical music I think. I'll try to find it, but if true I think thats what to expect in terms of music this Gen.

Originally Posted by Angela-Samshi

I personally don't see what's the big deal about having orchestrated soundtracks. I remember when Skyward Sword was revealed to be entirely orchestrated and everyone was flabbergasted by it while I didn't care that much. Not saying I disliked its soundtrack (cause I definitely don't, though I don't necessarily love it either), I'm just wondering why everyone is so obsessed with everything being orchestrated.

With that being said, I hope it won't be fully orchestrated. I hope it will be like the other games, with music that fits the "style" and environments.

The reason people are obsessed with it is because, unfortunately, there's a certain section of people in the gaming world that care about "real music" (that is, pure instruments; no digital stuff) much like certain people boycott pretty much everything else because of autotune and techno/electronic/wubwub crap, only liking "real bands". The definition of music is skewed towards real instruments for both.

Me, on the other hand, while I appreciate the efforts being made to keep real instruments alive and kicking, I would have to disagree with these kinds of people. Composing on the computer, besides the effort needed to play the note, isn't that much different from composing stuff on piano, for example. You still need a good knowledge of music to be able to make a good tune.

Let's just hope they will change those awful cries from the older (Gen I-III) pokémon. I wonder how screech isn't a default move for every one of them.