Looking Back at Nier: Automata Soundtracks
Developer PlatinumGames and publisher Square Enix released the action role-playing game Nier: Automata a year ago today. One the first yearly anniversary, composer Keiichi Okabe was brought in to look back at the achievements the game amassed not only for a very appealing gameplay but also in regard for great music. Okabe happens to be the CEO of Monaca, Inc. who designs background music for anime and video games in general.
While composing background music for a game, it usually takes two to three months to complete before the final product goes out for sale. Meanwhile, there are interviews to attend to and events to show up on talking about the work during the period of launch. Things pretty much wraps up like this all the time.
When working on the Nier: Automata project, the development of the original soundtrack begins right after they were done with the in-game sound design. A concert and voice-over performance was in order as part of an event called “The Memories of Puppets”. Right after the program, the original soundtrack came out on CD and then there was a theatrical stage show “YorHa”. So, a year has passed doing all that. Technically, when an album is released, his work is done but his involvement with Nier: Automata seem to be an ongoing process.
Since the predecessor game of the series had a great track-record for music, Keiichi Okabe ensured to maintain that legacy by making the tones mysterious and ephemeral in contrast to the vibe of the game. Instead of the previous Nier's sad feel, Nier: Automata received a more dynamic treatment while maintaining the spiritual theme of the series.
The visuals and the situation of the game greatly impacts on the creation of the sounds that sparks life into play and the goal is to make it rich in quality. From battle music to songs, the procedure varies and designing background music for video games is way different than usual track-making process. The instruments often play a big role in expressing emotions of the characters and they way it should be designed that it could move you.
During his work on the Nier: Automata soundtrack designing, Okabe would often receive requests from game director Yoko Taro to make songs for specific scenes or sequences. The delivered tracks are sometime used as the composer would have hoped for and then there are times, when things go very surprising for him. One funny story about it was the song “Alien Manifestation”, which was originally requested for one of last stages but ended up playing in the very beginning instead.
Producer Yosuke Saito on the other hand never really asked for anything in particular from composer Okabe except for a rearranged version of a song from the previous Nier (2010) game. If Okabe and Yoko were cool with something, he will just go with it. His deal was as simple as that. Since director Yoko Taro is not easily moved as a creator, it was very brave of producer Saito to rope him on board.
Keiichi Okabe grew up listening to music of North America and Europe, the influence of which clearly reflects on his work. However, his very own style has Japanese base. Listening to a lot of tracks and putting his own emotions to the project brought out the beautifully scored soundtrack for Nier: Automata. In the end, fans worldwide loved his work very much and some are regarding the work on the game tracks to be one of the best for the category, which is not wrong though.
Usually it is very tense moment before the original soundtracks of a game is released in anticipation of the fan reaction. With a lot of pressure and struggle already invested in the work, one can only hope for everything to turn out well. Upon release, not only it was well received by the fans, the album started getting nominations and ended up winning a number of awards, which really tells a lot about the quality of the unique content.
People who have played Nier: Automata on PC and PlayStation 4, as well as loved the soundtracks designed by Keiichi Okabe has his gratitude for honoring his work. The firsthand fans’ reactions from many events in Japan and online reactions on his work from west truly overwhelmed him and inspired to do more great work in the future.
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| Looking Back at Nier: Automata Soundtracks |
While composing background music for a game, it usually takes two to three months to complete before the final product goes out for sale. Meanwhile, there are interviews to attend to and events to show up on talking about the work during the period of launch. Things pretty much wraps up like this all the time.
When working on the Nier: Automata project, the development of the original soundtrack begins right after they were done with the in-game sound design. A concert and voice-over performance was in order as part of an event called “The Memories of Puppets”. Right after the program, the original soundtrack came out on CD and then there was a theatrical stage show “YorHa”. So, a year has passed doing all that. Technically, when an album is released, his work is done but his involvement with Nier: Automata seem to be an ongoing process.
 |
| NieR: Automata Original Soundtrack |
Since the predecessor game of the series had a great track-record for music, Keiichi Okabe ensured to maintain that legacy by making the tones mysterious and ephemeral in contrast to the vibe of the game. Instead of the previous Nier's sad feel, Nier: Automata received a more dynamic treatment while maintaining the spiritual theme of the series.
The visuals and the situation of the game greatly impacts on the creation of the sounds that sparks life into play and the goal is to make it rich in quality. From battle music to songs, the procedure varies and designing background music for video games is way different than usual track-making process. The instruments often play a big role in expressing emotions of the characters and they way it should be designed that it could move you.
 |
| Nier Music Concert |
During his work on the Nier: Automata soundtrack designing, Okabe would often receive requests from game director Yoko Taro to make songs for specific scenes or sequences. The delivered tracks are sometime used as the composer would have hoped for and then there are times, when things go very surprising for him. One funny story about it was the song “Alien Manifestation”, which was originally requested for one of last stages but ended up playing in the very beginning instead.
Producer Yosuke Saito on the other hand never really asked for anything in particular from composer Okabe except for a rearranged version of a song from the previous Nier (2010) game. If Okabe and Yoko were cool with something, he will just go with it. His deal was as simple as that. Since director Yoko Taro is not easily moved as a creator, it was very brave of producer Saito to rope him on board.
Keiichi Okabe grew up listening to music of North America and Europe, the influence of which clearly reflects on his work. However, his very own style has Japanese base. Listening to a lot of tracks and putting his own emotions to the project brought out the beautifully scored soundtrack for Nier: Automata. In the end, fans worldwide loved his work very much and some are regarding the work on the game tracks to be one of the best for the category, which is not wrong though.
 |
| NieR: Automata Game Soundtrack |
Usually it is very tense moment before the original soundtracks of a game is released in anticipation of the fan reaction. With a lot of pressure and struggle already invested in the work, one can only hope for everything to turn out well. Upon release, not only it was well received by the fans, the album started getting nominations and ended up winning a number of awards, which really tells a lot about the quality of the unique content.
People who have played Nier: Automata on PC and PlayStation 4, as well as loved the soundtracks designed by Keiichi Okabe has his gratitude for honoring his work. The firsthand fans’ reactions from many events in Japan and online reactions on his work from west truly overwhelmed him and inspired to do more great work in the future.
