Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Vol. 2

[Peter LaCara]

Oh my god. It's so good. I got it today, and already I've listened to it, like, four times now. It's hard to really focus on just how good so much of the music is because stuff tends to be blowing up all the time.

I really like the suite structure, but I think track 6 (Unforgotten) is my favorite so far. It's either that or track 4 (Unyielding).

[Killfalcon]

....wait. That 'volume 1' thing actualy meant something?

I didn't realise there were enough gaps in the first soundtrack to fill a second CD, to be honest. Ah well, time to go shopping. :)

[Peter LaCara]

....wait. That 'volume 1' thing actualy meant something?

I didn't realise there were enough gaps in the first soundtrack to fill a second CD, to be honest. Ah well, time to go shopping. :)
To be honest, this basically is the real soundtrack. The majority of volume 1 was the stuff done by other bands that had been adapted for the game, and a few snippets of music that was actually in the game. Volume 2 is the full, hardcore Marty O'Donnell stuff that you got barely any of in Vol 1, which makes it about 1,000 times better in my eyes, since Marty O'Donnell is like the John Williams of video games.

So good.

[Killfalcon]

Volume 2 is the full, hardcore Marty O'Donnell stuff that you got barely any of in Vol 1, which makes it about 1,000 times better in my eyes, since Marty O'Donnell is like the John Williams of video games.

So good.

You realise I'm probably going to have to get this imported, right? :p

[AWOL Joe]

Even though I've never played Halo 2, I'm a big enough fan of video game soundtracks that I'll probably pick this up.

-AWOL Joe

[IceShadow]

I will too, I guess.

Once upon a time, I wanted to write music for video games. Bad enough that I went to college and built up an incredible debt to get a composition degree.

But not bad enough to move somwhere there's a plethera of video game makers and really apply myself at them to try and find a job, or attach my financial future to a new project that may or may not succeed. :(

[javelin98]

I have the original Halo soundtrack, and it too kicks butt pretty well.

Another soundtrack that is aural ambrosia is the Battlestar Galactica Season One soundtrack. Amazingly good stuff on there.

[Kushiel]

I remember liking the music to this one quite a bit while playing through it. Where did you pick up the soundtrack? The only video game soundtracks I've bought were the Silent Hill ones, which I got from Ebay.

[Vrylakos]

Volume 1 was basically MEH for me.

Volume 2 is what I wanted in Volume 1.

BUT... strangely, Halo - the first game - it's soundtrack, when I hear tracks, I remember the game VIVIDLY. I remember what levels and what happened, and the music conjures up that action.

The strange bit is that H2v2 does not do that in all but one or two bits.

Vrylakos

[IceShadow]

To be honest, this basically is the real soundtrack. The majority of volume 1 was the stuff done by other bands that had been adapted for the game, and a few snippets of music that was actually in the game. Volume 2 is the full, hardcore Marty O'Donnell stuff that you got barely any of in Vol 1, which makes it about 1,000 times better in my eyes, since Marty O'Donnell is like the John Williams of video games.

So good.
And what does that make Matt Uelman (the guy who did the Diablo and Diablo 2 soundtracks)? :D He's my idol.

[Firelight]

BUT... strangely, Halo - the first game - it's soundtrack, when I hear tracks, I remember the game VIVIDLY. I remember what levels and what happened, and the music conjures up that action.

That's not so strange at all. Studies have been done showing that sounds actually contribute to verisimilitude to a higher degree than visuals. In other words, a Intellivision game with life-like 3D surround sound and a kickin' sound track feels more "real" than a game that had photo-realistic graphics and amazing effects with BEEP BOOP style sound effects.


And on the subject of OTHER game soundtracks that rock on toast, the Jade Empire soundtrack (entirely in game music by Jack Wall, thank goodness) anyone?

[Killfalcon]

And on the subject of OTHER game soundtracks that rock on toast, the Jade Empire soundtrack (entirely in game music by Jack Wall, thank goodness) anyone?

I've barely seen Jade Empire, I'm afraid, but the Tomb Raider: Legends soundtrack is very nice. The Croft Manor theme, especially, is wonderfully relaxing. I don't think it's been commercially released, but a fansite (tomb raider chronicles IIRC), has most of it in MP3 format.
The best thing, IMO, is that played next to the two film soundtracks, it sounds *right*.

Speaking of game-film soundtracks, the DooM soundtrack is about as kickass as it could be.

[Vrylakos]

That's not so strange at all. Studies have been done showing that sounds actually contribute to verisimilitude to a higher degree than visuals. In other words, a Intellivision game with life-like 3D surround sound and a kickin' sound track feels more "real" than a game that had photo-realistic graphics and amazing effects with BEEP BOOP style sound effects.


And on the subject of OTHER game soundtracks that rock on toast, the Jade Empire soundtrack (entirely in game music by Jack Wall, thank goodness) anyone?

Sorry, the strange thing was that the Vol 2 didn't make me respond the same way...

V

[Firelight]

Sorry, the strange thing was that the Vol 2 didn't make me respond the same way...

V

Oh... well it's still an interesting factoid :p

[Peter LaCara]

Volume 1 was basically MEH for me.

Volume 2 is what I wanted in Volume 1.

BUT... strangely, Halo - the first game - it's soundtrack, when I hear tracks, I remember the game VIVIDLY. I remember what levels and what happened, and the music conjures up that action.

The strange bit is that H2v2 does not do that in all but one or two bits.

VrylakosHuh. That's odd. When I listen to it, I know exactly where each piece of music goes in the game. Even moreso than on the Halo 1 soundtrack.


And what does that make Matt Uelman (the guy who did the Diablo and Diablo 2 soundtracks)? He's my idol.

Huh. I never found the Diablo 2 music to be particularly memorable, but maybe that's just because I never really got in to any of the Diablo games.

[Vrylakos]

[QUOTE=Peter LaCara]Huh. That's odd. When I listen to it, I know exactly where each piece of music goes in the game. Even moreso than on the Halo 1 soundtrack.[QUOTE]

This, dear Peter, is because you are CHRONIC. ;)

Good music, no mistake. Perhaps, for me, the levels just weren't as memorable.

V

[Professor Phobos]

Hmm. I might pick it up. I do have a question though- is there any way I could obtain the Half Life soundtrack? Or the HL2 soundtrack? Or the music from HL2:E1?