Junichi Masuda on the Process of Composing Music for Pokémon

Music in the Pokémon games is something that's nearly as iconic as the titular monsters themselves, with many memorable tracks being produced over the series' long run. After all, who could ever forget the sweet relief of hearing that Pokémon Center tune, or the anticipation that starts building once you enter victory road? As it would happen, Junichi Masuda -- the man who is responsible for directing the series from Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire and onward -- also serves as the series' composer, and he recently sat down with Game Informer to discuss some of the famous music he's made.

One of the first questions asked was what the composing process itself is like. Masuda definitely focuses on getting 'in the zone' when he makes music, saying that he likes to be alone and to focus solely on music. A track usually starts in his head, and it's then finished when he actually puts it down:

One of the important elements is that I have to be alone. Most of the time when I'm with other people, I'm usually talking, so it's kind of hard to hum a new song [laughs]. Also, when it comes to gameplay ideas and musical ideas, I find that I have to separate the two. I can't think of both simultaneously. I'll choose to think about one or the other for a full day. Once I have that focus, the inspiration will come at times throughout the day. But that focus is what's important.

When it comes to the actual process, I think everyone's different, but for me, it just kind of starts in my head. I can't play the piano to try and come up with a new sound, for example [laughs]. Often, I think of the melody first, and then come up with the bass and the drums all in my head. Sometimes I'll have the whole song in my mind and I'll just sit down at the computer and all I have to do is enter it in.

Moving on, Masuda was asked if there are any rules that are adhered to when the team gets started making music for a new game. While he says there really aren't any strict rules on what Pokémon music must sound like, the team generally has an understanding of the sound that previous titles have rolled with, and generally music is made with this in mind:

The whole sound team, me included, doesn't really have any firm rules for what the tone needs to sound like, so technically, we are free to do what we want. With that said, with the history of the series, everyone on the team definitely has an idea of what Pokémon should sound like in their head, and they try to stay true to that for the most part. I'm probably in the best position to shake things up, so that's why I'll occasionally do things like the gym battle music in Pokémon X and Y, where it doesn't really sound like what some people might feel Pokémon traditionally should sound like. I try to expand the possibilities for everyone by doing things like that.

However, one thing we really do try to be careful with is not making the music too complex in places like the Pokémon Centers or the main towns in the games. We want them to have an identifiable melody.

Another thing we try to do is have variety in how the music sounds from place to place. People spend a lot of time playing these games, so we try to mix it up as they progress.

For the full interview, check it out here, there's lots of interesting points brought up.

What do you think? What's your favorite Pokémon theme? How do you think the Pokémon X and Y soundtrack stacked up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.