Video Games Live

“For the Horde!” yelled an enthusiastic audience member as an iconic piece of gameplay music began.

You might expect that this particular brand of proclamation wouldn’t be indicative of a night out at the symphony. However, in this very unique case, you would be wrong. Video Games Live, a concert created by composer Tommy Tallarico, has subverted the traditional notion of orchestra by fusing it with video game music. After 13 years of taking his show on the road, it finally had its Australian premiere, and the results were breathtaking.

Referring to gamers such as myself as ‘passionate’ is a prodigious understatement, and that extends to the music that pervades our favourite pastime. As Tallarico stated on the night, video game music becomes the soundtrack of our own lives. Unlike movie scores, video game music is truly penetrating – everything from sweet dulcet tunes to swelling crescendos permeate our experience as we guide characters through their trials and tribulations.

Across two giant acts, the orchestra explored old-school titles such as Sonic The Hedgehog and Mega Man, as well as modern favourites such as Mass Effect, Skyrim and Kingdom Hearts. Fanfare was greatly encouraged, so it became the norm to hear shouts of adulation ring out from the crowd as Shadow Of The Colossus and World Of Warcraft appeared on the accompanying screen. It was truly a fully immersive experience, and I even found myself simply closing my eyes and allowing the music to wash over me as the soundtrack to one of my all-time favourites, Chrono Trigger, rang out across the Enmore.

Whimsy and nostalgia was accompanied by a healthy dose of humour in between songs and during the intermission. The crowd was treated to some hilarious game mash-ups, such as Frogger versus GTA and Donkey Kong versus Mortal Kombat, as well as some examples of terrible video game titles (Touch Dic, it’s a thing) and the worst voice acting of all time. But the real hero of the night was an audience member who took to the stage to perform ‘The Pretender’ by Foo Fighters on expert mode on Guitar Hero and didn’t miss a single goddamn note. The crowd literally went wild and a legend was born. And this is truly what makes Video Games Live great – it combines pure passion with art, audience interaction and fun. Any gamer would fall in love with this experience.

4.5/5 stars