Music in Pikmin: Difference between revisions

{{todo|Find the internal names of each track.}}

The '''music''' of {{p}} accompanies every aspect of the game, from the gameplay to the [[cutscene]]s and [[menu]]s. Generally, the textural style of the music reflects the futuristic world of [[Hocotate]], the organic environment of [[PNF-404]], and/or the small scale and nature of the [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] themselves, by varying instrumentation, register, and rigidity of rhythm. During gameplay, the music sets the mood of the area and dynamically adapts its intensity according to what is happening on-screen, albeit to a lesser degree than the following games in the [[Pikmin series|series]]. During cutscenes, the music is predetermined and functions more linearly and punctually. While all of the music in ''Pikmin'' is melodically driven, no established melodic gestures seem to become motifs; that is, none of the soundtrack's unique melodies (besides perhaps the main theme's melodic gesture) become more important to the game than the rest, unless the melody is heard over most of the 30 [[Day|days]].

The soundtrack to ''Pikmin'' was composed by Hajime Wakai. All of the compositions in the game are either synthesized sounds or samples attempting to mimic real instruments. The majority of these are sampled from the [https://kurzweil.com/k2500/ Kurzweil K2500] and [http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/SC-88 Roland SC-88] synthesizers.

''Pikmin'''s soundtrack was also released on CD under the title "[[Pikmin World]]". This official release features some minor changes to the music. In addition to the higher quality on the CD, in most instances, many sounds are now panned towards a specific speaker, instead of being centered.

The main theme of ''Pikmin'', heard on the [[title screen]] and some menus accessed from it. This menu is not visited very often during a playthrough, so the percussion is soft-spoken and an instrument resembling a Native American bass flute is not extremely prominent. Eventually, the flute does play the five-note figure (D B♭ E♭ D B♭) that becomes the main motif of the series, but this is only heard if the menu is left running. Without pressing a button, the main theme will not finish before [[Cutscene#Attraction mode|attraction mode]] begins. A looping {{w|Lion's roar (instrument)|lion's roar}} sample is played throughout the beginning.

Heard [[Day results menu|after the day is complete]] and the [[S.S. Dolphin]] has taken off. This theme was carried over to other games. All the instruments are intended to sound synthesized; at this point the game's referential environment has switched from the natural ground to the S.S. Dolphin in low orbit. Also, the beep-like tone that arpeggiates throughout the theme is a sound unique to {{p}}, which can be heard in other tracks, normally associated with the S.S. Dolphin.

Cutscenes are pre-timed, and player input does not change the cutscene (other than skipping it). As such, the music is a score, accenting and controlling the evolution of what in the cutscene the player should focus on. In the European [[Region|version]], the music for numerous cutscenes was modified or extended, since the game runs at a slower [[frame]]rate.

Many prominent sounds drop out when the enemy mix fades in, most notably, the pad in the main version, and the recorder and celeste in the sunset version. Additionally, it's only during sunset when the contrabassoon can actually be heard in the enemy mix, as it replaces the basses.