There's no denying that music is an important part of games. There are some fan-favorite scores that initiate warm feelings outside of the games that bore them (Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man). There are some games where the music IS the gameplay (Rock Band, PaRappa the Rapper, Elite Beat Agents). And then there are a distinct few in which the sound is so irrevocably tethered to the gameplay that removing those sounds would render the game dull and lifeless. It is these games that I hope to spotlight in this new irregular feature – NO Alternate Soundtrack.
Today, a personal favorite of mine, skip's quirky Gamecube platformer Chibi-Robo. While there is a minimal musical score in the game, the vast majority of sound is actually produced by the characters, often in a whimsical and melodic manner. Every footstep of Chibi-Robo's is a musical note, changing depending on the surface he walks upon. Every action he takes makes its own music, with different sounds for different items. While playing the game without these sounds certainly wouldn't be impossible, it would suck a huge portion of the charm and fun from the experience. Cleaning doggy footprints with a toothbrush would seem like the real-world chore it is without the delightful acoustic guitar.