Composer Shoji Meguro created the Metaphor soundtrack: ReFantazio (That you can find on Amazon), one of the most acclaimed games of 2024, winner of several awards at the Game Awards including best RPG, best art direction and best narrative. The game’s soundtrack, and in particular the Battle Theme, has gone viral on social media.
In an interview with The Verge, Meguro explained the creative process behind what he called “perhaps the best Battle Theme ever made for a video game”. The composer, known for the pop and jazz sounds of the Persona series, faced a completely new challenge with the choral orchestrations of Metaphor.
“When I was introduced to Metaphor: ReFantazio, they told me it would be an epic fantasy RPG” said Meguro. “Immediately I heard the sound of large orchestras and thought this could be an opportunity to write songs that I had never written before, which got me very excited.”
To develop Metaphor’s music, Meguro wanted to evoke a classic fantasy experience, but with a unique twist that fans have come to expect from Atlus games. This twist became what Meguro called a “spiritual musical style” that characterizes the soundtrack, particularly the battle music.
Metaphor’s Battle Theme has become extremely popular on gaming social media. The composition begins with a choir accompanied by an orchestra, with an intensity typical of an epic clash. Then the song intensifies further with the addition of a Japanese monk who chants in a very fast pace, comparable to that of Eminem.
To further elevate the songs, chants were written in an original language inspired byesperantoa language invented in 1887 and designed to be used as a universal secondary language internationally.
Finding the right voice for this task was not easy. Meguro said: “I was looking for a specific type of voice that could sustain a fast pace while reading Esperanto-inspired scriptures.” His search took him to YouTube, where he found a monk named Keisuke Honryo performing in Nam Jazz Experiment, a musical group that combines jazz with the recitation of traditional Buddhist sutras.
Meguro had to rethink his approach to composing the soundtrackleading to the creation of something truly unique that changes the way players perceive the game.
“I’ve always considered game soundtracks similar to UI elementsconstructs that exist only to serve the player,” Meguro explained. “Although the soundtrack should capture the feel of the story for the user, it’s worth remembering that this music isn’t actually played directly in the world they find themselves in the characters”.
In collaboration with the game’s director Katsura Hashino, Meguro looked for ways to connect what the players hear to what the characters feel. This idea was implemented in the game itself: in the first few hours of Metaphor, the player’s companion casts a spell that allows them to hear music as you explore the world and fight.
This moment drastically changes the context of all of Metaphor’s music, especially the battle themes. Transforming these compositions from simple atmospheric elements for the players to something that the characters also experienceexplains why the songs are so powerful and engaging.
Meguro used Metaphor’s music to further immerse players in the game and is happy with how his work has been received. The two Battle Themes, entitled “Warriors in Arms” and “Warriors in Valor”, they immediately won over the players, inspiring memes and even animated shorts.
“It brings me so much joy that fans are responding enthusiastically to Metaphor’s music,” concluded Meguro. “It’s an honor to receive this kind of reaction“.
Source: www.tomshw.it
