The Art of Crafting Soundscapes: Game vs Film Soundtracks Compared by Composer Andrea Bellucci

Andrea Bellucci, an experienced composer in various media forms, has been entrusted with developing the musical identity for numerous games, films, television shows, and other projects. Notably, he has contributed to major video game titles such as Riot Games' League of Legends, Hi-Rez Studios' Smite and Paladins, and Skydance Interactive's highly-anticipated upcoming VR game Behemoth.

In an interview with Game Rant, Bellucci discussed his decade-long experience working on films and games, and his approach to creating music for both interactive and non-interactive entertainment. Bellucci remarked that while his artistic approach to film and games is similar, video games often pose additional technical challenges when striving to create an immersive listening experience for players.

Video Game and Film Soundtracks Are About Storytelling

Bellucci highlights the significant similarity between video games and film music: both rely on the music to enhance the storytelling. Consequently, his compositions prioritize capturing the essence of the events in the game through music. Regardless of the complexity of the story, Bellucci aims to effectively convey the narrative and establish a unique identity for each project.

From a creative perspective, these domains share a commonality in that they revolve around storytelling. Whether composing for a straightforward game or a more intricate production, the goal is to give voice to the project, just as one would for films or TV shows.

Looping Video Game Soundtracks Call For A Unique Approach

Many of the top game soundtracks are nearly identical to those of films and are often equally memorable. The Halo theme's Gregorian chant melody, for instance, is just as recognizable as the opening crawl of Star Wars, and composers like Bellucci are indispensable assets to storytellers, irrespective of the medium.

When it comes to the technical aspect, Bellucci highlighted some of the challenges that video game composers encounter in comparison to film or television projects. The music in video games often needs to be reusable throughout the game and also needs to be capable of adapting to the dynamics of gameplay. Bellucci employs a clever technique of incorporating layered tracks, allowing the same song to subtly shift in intensity or tone depending on the current state of the game.

From a technical standpoint, I highly value the aspect of game music that requires adherence to a set of rules in order to create a playable experience for the users. Unlike regular background music, interactive game music is meant to be engaged with by the player.

Interestingly, this adds more constraints to consider. However, it also opens up a world of possibilities to manipulate and utilize various elements and tools. The ultimate goal is to ensure seamless transitions between loops, as well as creating a distinct ending and beginning section for each piece of music. These sections must always be connected, which is truly fascinating to me. The ability to compose music that remains impactful and functional from the initial game level all the way to the final boss is truly remarkable.

Game music often requires endless looping, and Bellucci showcases his exceptional songwriting skills by composing tracks that never seem to end and remain captivating throughout. This level of creativity extends to significant portions of the soundtrack, as each song seamlessly connects to others at their respective starting and ending points. Mastering this unique skill is crucial for game composers, as a well-crafted loop by a talented composer can transform a piece into a harmonious atmospheric accompaniment, eliminating any sense of monotonous repetition.