Ever jumped into a new MMO and felt like something was missing? For one PC Gamer writer, that something is the constant musical companionship they're used to in Final Fantasy 14.
They're deep into the WoW: Forever beta and absolutely loving its stripped-back, old-school feel. It's their first real taste of World of Warcraft since a brief attempt with a level 13 Paladin years ago. This time, it's sticking. They praise the game's modern touches that make it accessible even without nostalgia goggles.
But there's one sticking point: the music. Or rather, the lack of it. WoW: Forever often lets silence and ambient sounds—crunchy orc footsteps, whispering wind, an eagle's squawk—do the talking. The writer admits they're warming up to this deliberate choice, but they can't help yearning for FF14's approach, where every zone, dungeon, and boss has its own theme.
In FF14, there's a song for everything: day and night versions for each zone, music for dungeons and sub-bosses, and even bespoke tracks for every raid fight. The final boss of each tier gets two songs. That's 15 songs for one raid series alone. Some tunes get overused—looking at you, Machinations—but composer Masayoshi Soken has thoroughly spoiled players.
So when the writer tags an enemy in WoW: Forever and no combat music kicks in, it feels downright wrong. They've become so used to that aural response that they feel lost without it. Sometimes they'll be fighting while serene overworld music plays, which is extra weird. They appreciate WoW's different approach, but wouldn't say no to hearing more from its composers.
What they've heard so far is fantastic, and they're sure nostalgia will hit hard when Durotar's music plays and memories of their Troll Shaman's voice lines come flooding back. It's a reminder that music can make or break an MMO experience, even when the game itself is a blast.
What do you think? Is WoW's minimalist music a breath of fresh air, or do you miss the constant tunes of FF14? Will you be picking up WoW: Forever?
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