Melody of the Machine: The Music of Video Games
The history of background music — and the people responsible for it — is richer than you might think
I first encountered Where the Water Tastes Like Wine at the tail end of an Xbox Game Pass subscription, a quiet indie title nestled among flash-in-the-pan big-budget shooters and other games destined to be forgotten once the moment moved on. The style was alluring but the description offered precious few clues as to the nature of the gameplay, so I made it my final pick before letting the subscription lapse, just to dispel the mystery.
At a glimpse, one can tell that this is a game built for its narrative. The player — taking the role of a cursed wanderer — is tasked with gathering the stories of a bent and enchanted version of the early 20th century United States. The goal is to learn the true story behind sixteen nomadic figures, who must in turn be charmed into revealing their own secrets through storytelling sessions.
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is a game that defies easy classification — the exploration resembles an adventure game with very light survival and simulation…
