Music is the Inspiration

Red Dead Redemption is, no lie, perhaps one of my favorite games on the PS3. I'm pretty sure I've driven my poor friend who owns one completely insane because I'm constantly playing it and have been for awhile now, either running around in the post story free roam mode for kicks or replaying the story because I mean, come on, this game has a good story. In fact, if there was one thing I would say I didn't like about the game and one thing only, it would be the music... at least at first.

A large part of it is just how jarring it feels to be playing this Old Western game, and then suddenly during key points of the story (no spoilers for anyone who hasn't played the game yet; I know it's an old title at this point, but still) you hear music starting to play with like, actual lyrics. It's certainly not helped by the fact that you can still hear the background noises during this time, even if they're muted so you mainly hear the music... and of course, the occasional random encounter with hostile strangers or animals is very likely to bring that music to a screeching halt, which just doesn't feel like it fits the flow of the story.

Of course, I say 'at first' because outside of the game, the songs have managed to grow on me immensely. And as someone who writes while listening to my iTunes, well, don't be shocked if at some point a short iPod shuffle challenge fic of only three chapters pops up for those songs because I mean, really, they are good when I'm not being distracted by the game.

Comments

[Lucky Seven]

I actually play a lot of Rock Band 4 before I write. Got like 200 DLC songs and hearing them always gives me new ideas.

Though when it comes to iTunes, it's the Bungie Halo game OSTs for me all the way while I write!

[Krickis]

Red Dead Redemption is, no lie, perhaps one of my favorite games on the PS3

This is truth

As for the songs with lyrics thing, I dunno. I found the ending part absolutely beautiful, once you're on your way to your family and the song starts playing.
...until I started getting chased by a bear Totally ruined the moment, which was otherwise perfect. So I can see the complaint, but personally I'd rather they had the scene as it was, but removed hostile animals/people along the path , only adding them back if one deviates too far from the intended path, a certain amount of time passes, or,ideally, when the player gets to the destination.