I just lately went to The PlayStation Live performance, a dwell music occasion that Sony claims “redefines leisure”. That includes a dwell band and musical medleys from a few of the greatest PlayStation franchises, I used to be eager as ever to listen to the corporate’s storied historical past performed out on stage as a part of its thirtieth anniversary celebrations.
To my shock, PlayStation Live performance was extra a celebration of the final two generations than something that got here earlier than, and the one factor it was “redefining” was what constitutes a dwell band.
That could be a bit harsh, as a result of whereas I had my points with the live performance (which I’ll get into), I did nonetheless get pleasure from my night of PlayStation musical goodness. Me and my pals laughed at references, cringed at a few of the presenter’s patter, and revelled in simply how good a few of the soundtracks that accompany PlayStation titles actually are.
What units this occasion other than different dwell bands or orchestras that I’ve been to up to now are the visuals. The PlayStation Live performance utilises a large excessive decision display screen behind its band, after which these 5 banners that drop down and retract over the entrance of the stage.
These banners have secondary animations, borders, or movies performed over them, however you may nonetheless see via them, which allowed me to see the banners, the band, and the large display screen all on the similar time, creating some actually cool overlays.
Every of the primary medleys regarded phenomenal, telling the tales of the video games via photographs and animations, with the visuals at all times mixing issues up. I used to be consistently scanning the stage for cool particulars, and it was simple to get misplaced within the expertise of all of it.
Nonetheless, that degree of immersion didn’t at all times final, as a result of not every little thing was getting the total AAA therapy. The place some video games had customized absolutely animated visuals, others have been primarily an animated PNG.
Video games like Uncharted and Bloodborne featured just about nonetheless photographs that didn’t actually change in any respect throughout their 5 to 10 minutes on stage. It was extremely inconsistent, and every time certainly one of these lower-effort titles confirmed up, it was boring by comparability.
Nonetheless, I’m clearly there for the music at the start and that is the place The PlayStation Live performance let me down essentially the most, even when it wasn’t instantly obvious.
For starters, in the event you’re hoping for a real illustration of PlayStation’s 30 years, you gained’t discover it right here. Last Fantasy, Crash Bandicoot, Killzone, Resistance, inFAMOUS, Metallic Gear Strong, Shadow of the Colossus, LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet and Clank and extra have been all fully lacking from the present, regardless of quite a few references to some all through. There’s possible plenty of authorized tape stopping a few of these from being included, but it surely would not cease me feeling like they need to be.
As a substitute, the present centered on 4 huge franchises, with some extras getting a tune or two in there. Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima, The Final of Us, and God of Warfare have been the large 4, all that includes 20 plus minute medleys. As a lot as I used to be dissatisfied by the dearth of selection, these medleys have been improbable.
I’m not likely an enormous fan of the Horizon soundtrack, but it surely was particularly rousing listening to music from key moments in Ghost of Tsushima, The Final of Us, and God of Warfare. I repeatedly obtained goosebumps and even teared up a bit throughout these segments. To me it highlighted simply how integral the music is for these initiatives.
I can’t say I’ve even thought concerning the music from Ghost of Tsushima since I accomplished it, however listening to the observe that’s performed over the ultimate confrontation of that recreation introduced me proper again, together with all of the feelings that have been synonymous with that scene.
You may hear a pin drop through the violin solo of The Final of Us, which emotionally coated Sarah’s dying all these years in the past. Even at this time, it nonetheless packs a punch and it was much more highly effective listening to it dwell, together with the accompanying visuals.
The most important contradiction of this present nevertheless got here with the large climactic soundtrack of God of Warfare, which regularly makes use of huge bombastic choirs together with its orchestra. The band that stood earlier than on the stage was made up of two violinists (one was off with a abdomen bug throughout my present), a cellist, two French horns, a trombone (who additionally performed another wind devices), two drummers, two guitarists, and simply two singers.
All of that’s to say that The PlayStation Live performance is supplemented with pre-recorded tracks. One part of the Ghost of Tsushima medley had a musician taking part in the Koto up on the large display screen, not on stage. The God of Warfare medley regularly featured back-up choir members broadcasted on the display screen, whereas simply two singers stood on stage.
The extra I listened to the present the extra I realised that what I used to be listening to simply merely couldn’t be coming from the individuals on stage alone. And whereas from an audio standpoint all of it sounded improbable, realizing that I’d paid cash to solely see half an orchestra carry out dwell was a bit disappointing, and it took away a part of the magic.
I believe that’s why The Final of Us labored the most effective for me. Outdoors of simply being a large fan, this iconic franchise has a really minimalistic soundtrack, making it playable solely from these on stage. You may see the individuals truly taking part in the songs and also you knew the sound you have been listening to was coming from them. Whereas the lead singer standing dramatically throughout God of Warfare’s huge climax might have been miming for all I do know.
I would relatively have a barebones visible expertise with an precise full orchestra and choir, as a result of on the finish of the day, PlayStation video games have some phenomenal soundtracks which might be ok on their very own to entertain.
Visible inconsistencies and audio woes apart, I did nonetheless get pleasure from my time at The PlayStation Live performance. The music was improbable, the visuals have been unimaginable more often than not, and there have been loads of enjoyable moments, like being served a cup of liber-tea throughout a short Helldivers 2 phase.
You probably have an emotional attachment to a few of these franchises like I do, then the expertise of listening to them in an enormous stadium surrounded by lots of of PlayStation followers with a (largely) dwell band, will probably be sufficient to make sure a very good time. And that’s precisely what I had: a very good time. I simply wished it coated a wider gamut of PlayStation’s historical past and had finished extra to stay actually “dwell”.
Did anybody else handle to get out to the PlayStation Live performance? Which PlayStation soundtrack would you like to listen to dwell? Tell us down within the feedback under.
