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The '''music''' in the [[Pikmin series]] accompanies every part of the games, from ambient music during gameplay and menus to pre-rendered cutscene scores to minor jingles for small events. The style is quite unique and extremely varied across the games, featuring many different instruments and textures that reflect the game environments on [[PNF-404]] and beyond. Most notably, the music is dynamic: gameplay events and parameters can add or subtract elements from the music. For example, in all games, combating an [[enemy]] will bring a new intense percussion track into the mix, and the passage of [[Day#Sunset|sunset]] thins the music down to a quiet, peaceful rendition. Bosses in the game have their own themes, and [[Canon|non-canonical]] game modes (such as [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin)|Challenge Mode]] or [[Bingo Battle]]) have a different, less serious compositional style, to reflect the different structures and styles of gameplay. Overall, music gives the games more character and interest, and can even help direct the player's attention to important in-game elements. | The '''music''' in the [[Pikmin series|''Pikmin'' series]] accompanies every part of the games, from ambient music during gameplay and menus to pre-rendered cutscene scores to minor jingles for small events. The style is quite unique and extremely varied across the games, featuring many different instruments and textures that reflect the game environments on [[PNF-404]] and beyond. Most notably, the music is dynamic: gameplay events and parameters can add or subtract elements from the music. For example, in all games, combating an [[enemy]] will bring a new intense percussion track into the mix, and the passage of [[Day#Sunset|sunset]] thins the music down to a quiet, peaceful rendition. Bosses in the game have their own themes, and [[Canon|non-canonical]] game modes (such as [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin)|Challenge Mode]] or [[Bingo Battle]]) have a different, less serious compositional style, to reflect the different structures and styles of gameplay. Overall, music gives the games more character and interest, and can even help direct the player's attention to important in-game elements. | ||
The soundtracks for ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'' and ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' were composed by Hajime Wakai, with help from Kazumi Totaka. ''[[Pikmin 3]]'''s soundtrack was composed and arranged by Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi, and Hajime Wakai. All of the music in the series is synthetic, using either samples of real instruments or synthesizers mimicking them and producing other sounds. | The soundtracks for ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'' and ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' were composed by Hajime Wakai, with help from Kazumi Totaka. ''[[Pikmin 3]]'''s soundtrack was composed and arranged by Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi, and Hajime Wakai. All of the music in the series is synthetic, using either samples of real instruments or synthesizers mimicking them and producing other sounds. | ||
==General information== | |||
The music that accompanies gameplay in all three games is dynamic, meaning that certain conditions of the game can add or subtract elements from the music. Most commonly, in all three games, if an [[enemy]] is near or combating the leaders and Pikmin, the music will add an intense track of percussion and other instruments to its mix, further engaging the player in the combat. At [[Day#Sunset|sunset]], the music will subtract elements to become higher in register, thinner in texture, and calmer in mood, suggesting the approaching end of the day's events and complexity. As the games progress, this dynamism in the music becomes more and more a part of gameplay; after [[Pikmin (game)|''Pikmin'']], new mixes are added when Pikmin are carrying spoils (a high-register accompaniment suggesting success) and performing tasks like removing [[obstacles]]. While still an aesthetic addition, a beneficial consequence of this dynamic music is its ability to organize the psychology of gameplay. It can not only adjust the mood of a theme to reflect the efficiency and intensity of a day, but even direct the player's attention to something, and help categorize the many actions that Pikmin perform over the course of a day. | |||
Generally, the gameplay music of the ''Pikmin'' series has quite an avant-garde style, with many non-tonal progressions and harmonies that make themes more complicated and interesting. At times, a theme may be intended to be so complex that its streams of information cannot all be followed at once, directing the player's attention completely to gameplay rather than scenery. At other times, the music stands aside for gameplay by being serene or simple, playing more of an ambience to the environment than a theme to Pikmin's actions. | |||
During [[cutscene]]s, music is a predetermined length, often followed by a loop over a dialog segment; these cutscene scores can be played by many different sizes and types of ensembles. Pre-rendered cutscenes (such as the cinematics in ''Pikmin 2'') are normally scored by a Hollywood-style orchestra and electronics, making them feel all the more cinematic. Music during cutscenes is more prominent, since the player can do nothing to alter it or the events it scores. | |||
==''Pikmin''== | ==''Pikmin''== | ||
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==''Pikmin 2''== | ==''Pikmin 2''== | ||
{{see|Music (Pikmin 2)|t1=Music (''Pikmin 2'')}} | {{see|Music (Pikmin 2)|t1=Music (''Pikmin 2'')}} | ||
''[[Pikmin 2]]'' has perhaps the most varied soundtrack of all the games, thanks to its [[cave]]s. Cave themes are the first and only instance of [[Randomization|randomly]] structured music in the series, and ''Pikmin 2'' has [[Music (Pikmin 2)#Caves|25 different themes]] with which to score each [[sublevel]]. This game also introduces in-game cutscenes, which have eclectic pre-rendered scores; and new complements to the music, triggered by conditions such as carrying [[treasure]] or playing as a particular [[leader]]. The music is generally more ambient in this game, but introduced in the cutscenes are new [[Music (Pikmin 2)#Leitmotifs|leitmotifs]] that become very popular in this game and the next. | ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' has perhaps the most varied soundtrack of all the games, thanks to its [[cave]]s. Cave themes are the first and only instance of [[Randomization|randomly]] structured music in the series, and ''Pikmin 2'' has [[Music (Pikmin 2)#Caves|25 different minimalist themes]] with which to score each [[sublevel]]. This game also introduces in-game cutscenes, which have eclectic pre-rendered scores; and new complements to the music, triggered by conditions such as carrying [[treasure]] or playing as a particular [[leader]]. The music is generally more ambient in this game, but introduced in the cutscenes are new [[Music (Pikmin 2)#Leitmotifs|leitmotifs]] that become very popular in this game and the next. | ||
==''Pikmin 3''== | ==''Pikmin 3''== | ||