Forgettable Music in General

[Leo]

I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same - Elden Ring is lacking just that one thing in all of its fight themes and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not helped that the DLC didn't do it any favors either. Not once did I find myself intrigued by any of the OST, which is sad considering that I still think most if not all of fromsoft titles, including Demon's souls, Ds1, Ds2, Ds3, Sekiro, BloodBorne, and even most of the Armored Core soundtracks all have interesting music, let alone ambience which I think Elden Ring lacks a lot of too. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy this game, but I'm pretty disappointed in the dip in quality of music for the game. Just something about the general ambience of this game is just off, or should I say nonexistent. I really need help with pinpointing what it is, since I don't want to seem like someone who is trashing a game that I otherwise enjoy "just because". Perhaps the field music that plays was too much for a series like this? I don't really know but a lot of bosses lack that original fromsoft flair in this one - completely contrary to how I felt about Armored Core 6's bosses and score. What happened?

[Cody]

The OST is for sure much weaker than the other ones, except for Demon's Souls.

[Leo]

Originally posted by Cody:

The OST is for sure much weaker than the other ones, except for Demon's Souls.

I suppose so, especially since the remake also felt like it missed a few marks on the original ambience, of which was already premature for one of the first of its kind - Not to say it was bad, but I understand your view

[Darkstorm]

For me OST is okayish, but idk. From DS1 I only remember "plin plin plon" part, and I don't know if that says good about the whole soundtrack.

[Dr.Abscondus]

The fight music is distracting so I always turn it off in any game I play. BGM while exploring the world is fine, but it's all or nothing, so I choose nothing.

[Rumpus]

You're not the only one. The orchestral arrangements don't give any room to breathe or take in the themes. The boss themes in particular really have this bad effect of just bleeding together and have these constant high peaks which just make it sound awfully mixed.

The lack of variety is what really busts my ass. If you played any boss theme from ER to a veteran player I don't think they would be able to tell you to which boss it belonged to. There's no themes, no motifs, it's just orchestral noise.

Remember in Dark Souls I when you meet Gwynevere for the first time and there was that heavenly chorus? It felt like it was truly 'her' tune and you were basking in it. The instrumentation takes a backseat for the choir and it all just feels so warm - it sets the tone for the rest of the game.

What about Seath's theme? That depraved sounding glockenspiel, shrill strings, and the droning chorus... befitting only of a character such as Seath.

I'm tired of the droning, meandering ambience that accompanies the overworld. It just feels like it's there to not feel quiet, it doesn't accompany the theme of the world well, it doesn't make you feel anything.. It's just a miss.

[LuckyCheshire]

Yeah. There's nothing I actively dislike about the soundtrack, but it just... fades into the background. I never actively listen to it like in some games. I barely notice it, even when I'm hearing it for the first time. The only exception is the Elden Beast track, but even that one isn't that good honestly.

I'm not sure what the main thing is that the tracks are lacking. Maybe just a stronger beat/melody? It's all just really atmospheric, not gripping or energizing.

[Eric]

Originally posted by Leo:

I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same - Elden Ring is lacking just that one thing in all of its fight themes and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not helped that the DLC didn't do it any favors either. Not once did I find myself intrigued by any of the OST, which is sad considering that I still think most if not all of fromsoft titles, including Demon's souls, Ds1, Ds2, Ds3, Sekiro, BloodBorne, and even most of the Armored Core soundtracks all have interesting music, let alone ambience which I think Elden Ring lacks a lot of too. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy this game, but I'm pretty disappointed in the dip in quality of music for the game. Just something about the general ambience of this game is just off, or should I say nonexistent. I really need help with pinpointing what it is, since I don't want to seem like someone who is trashing a game that I otherwise enjoy "just because". Perhaps the field music that plays was too much for a series like this? I don't really know but a lot of bosses lack that original fromsoft flair in this one - completely contrary to how I felt about Armored Core 6's bosses and score. What happened?

Yea, besides the epic af tune that is in the menu i dont have any of the music in my head.

[Akemua]

I don't have an issue with it, but it's also not actively making the game better either.

[Lord Bob]

I disagree.

After I'm done fighting a boss I coop the hell out of it or go to youtube to listen to the OST all over again, because of how amazing it is in my opinion.

[Akemua]

Originally posted by Eric:

Originally posted by Leo:

I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same - Elden Ring is lacking just that one thing in all of its fight themes and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not helped that the DLC didn't do it any favors either. Not once did I find myself intrigued by any of the OST, which is sad considering that I still think most if not all of fromsoft titles, including Demon's souls, Ds1, Ds2, Ds3, Sekiro, BloodBorne, and even most of the Armored Core soundtracks all have interesting music, let alone ambience which I think Elden Ring lacks a lot of too. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy this game, but I'm pretty disappointed in the dip in quality of music for the game. Just something about the general ambience of this game is just off, or should I say nonexistent. I really need help with pinpointing what it is, since I don't want to seem like someone who is trashing a game that I otherwise enjoy "just because". Perhaps the field music that plays was too much for a series like this? I don't really know but a lot of bosses lack that original fromsoft flair in this one - completely contrary to how I felt about Armored Core 6's bosses and score. What happened?

Yea, besides the epic af tune that is in the menu i dont have any of the music in my head.

Ironically, I feel the same. The minute the "horror" esc tune fades, drums begin and it starts to crescendo I know the tune anywhere, lol.

[Darkstorm]

Originally posted by Lord Bob:

I disagree.

After I'm done fighting a boss I coop the hell out of it or go to youtube to listen to the OST all over again, because of how amazing it is in my opinion.

The only soundtracks I was listening to after playing the game were: death stranding, metal gear rising: revengeance, Witcher 3, nier Automata and like 2-3 tracks from cyberpunk.

[AdamWe]

I share that sentiment with most base game boss themes.
There I feel that most themes miss a certain dynamic in its rhythm and tension building that drive the action forward.

For example, Godfrey's theme has a very high emphasis on choirs, which IMO, don't really convey a fitting stomping rhythm.

The basegame ambience is ok, as it serves its purpose well enough. A standout here would be Caelid's theme, as it has some nice experimentation with instrumentals.

I think that Fromsoft had more composers this time around to give Yuka Kitamura (main DS3/Sekiro composer) some well deserved rest.

The DLC, however, improved the OST quite a bit IMO.
Take the Lion Dance OST which has Yuka Kitamura written all over again and is a really great boss theme IMO.

[Velber]

nah theres a few that are pretty good, like astiels

[JellyPuff]

Wat.

I think this game's OST among the best of any FromSoft game i've ever played, in large parts due to actually having fitting ambient tracks for most areas, instead of the dead silence in soulsgames, even if the silence fits these games. Maybe a bit too bombastic at places, which is why some of the boss themes hardly stick, due to the melodies drowning in all the orchestral spectacle, but that's kind of a general issue with big budget games these days.
Simpler, cleaner melodies tend to stick more with players. Demon's Souls is a good example of that. Or you can have the best of both worlds, like with Sister Friede from the first DS3 DLC.

[TyresTyco]

Midras and Consort Radahns OST is pretty lit tho. The others I dont remember.