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?

[Grimmz]

its whatever to me. most of the time i pvp i listen to metal or doom ost.

but yeah i do know all the tracks tho, and some i can appreciate, like main menu theme, fortissax/placidusax theme, i really like those.

[DiscoContidie]

Those United In Common Cause was such an insanely good track, loved listening to it

[Leo]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 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.

Awesome way to put it... It's droning where it should have - could have been something much greater.

[Leo]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 8uman:

Those United In Common Cause was such an insanely good track, loved listening to it

wholeheartedly agree with you. It's such a shame that this is the only one that really sticks out somewhat.

[Leo]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 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.

I appreciate your perceptive, it's nice to know that some people actually do prefer he ambience over nothing - I think I'm too harsh perhaps, as this was their first attempt at trying to make a living, breathing open world that doesn't just feel like the depressive journey that most souls games are, but I still hope that they do venture back to their roots with making spectacles for what they are - spectacles. I just find myself turning the music off in areas such as limgrave where the music is repetitive in feel, perhaps something that could've helped it was differing area OSTs depending on time of day or weather for something more dynamic. As for bossfights, I still cant tell what is missing, perhaps the switch in main composer might have led to some creative liberties with the artistic vision being between multiple people, causing an "average" music range of sorts. Well, what do I know, for I am just a consumer - I can't confidently say that is the case in any capacity.

[Spulls]

The base game has quite a few tracks that aren't that great, but the DLC pretty much made everything better. The local ambience, most of the bosses. Saint of the bud and Midra were fantastic.

[JellyPuff]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Leo:

I just find myself turning the music off in areas such as limgrave where the music is repetitive in feel, perhaps something that could've helped it was differing area OSTs depending on time of day or weather for something more dynamic.

The ambient tracks for overworld areas are different, depending on the time of day. And all tracks (even in dungeons) change dynamically, depending on wether or not you are in combat, usually layering drums.
That's something, i'd wish Tears of the Kingdom did better. It has amazing sound-design, but it's always the same combat music outside of the shrines, but i digress.

[Hian Gomes]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 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.

firelink shrine music is top tier

[Dusty13B]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 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?

Complete opposite for me. I found myself thinking "this music goes hard" especially on Rellana, Mesmer and Bayle.

[Loudness]

I have to agree with OP. I love the game in almost every way, it's an upgrade from the base game, but the soundtrack so far has been really lackluster, probably the worst thing about the entire DLC so far. (haven't finished it yet, so maybe there's some hidden gems in there)

My favorite themes from the base game are Maileth's and Radahn's 2nd phase themes. They're so epic and make the fights 100x more enjoyable. Imagine Godfrey without his theme, it would be a random boss fight.

But I like DS3 OST even much more. Man, Yhorm's theme and Halflight's 2nd phase are just insane, same for Pontiff Sulyvahn's and Abyss Watchers. When you go Halflight 2nd phase as an invader, your instincts instantly tell you to switch weapons and armor and go boss mode lol., switching from kinves to Ringed Paired Knight's Swords. I knew back then when Gundyrs theme hit that that game would go down as one of my favorites ever, and Gundyr's theme wasn't even top 10 in DS3. DS3 is the GOAT when it comes to OST out of any souls games and it's not even close.

All in all, this is a rare thead where criticism of the game is valid IMO. Field music is great though, much better than the base game. It really sets the atmosphere perfectly.

[Abysswalker]

Elden Ring has some of the best OSTs in From history and most atmospheric ones too. Leyndell as an ambient theme for example catches the feeling that this is a capital fallen from grace long ago perfectly. Caelid OST is terrifyingly good too. Then we have Radahns boss theme, Renalla, Morgott, ofc Radagaon/Elden Beast, Godskins etc. which are all masterpieces.

With the DLC we now got Messmer (you can also feel a lot of emotions in this theme), Lord of Frenzied Flame (insanely good theme, captures the horro perfectly and could be straight out of Bloodborne) and ofc the final boss theme which also captures both characters we see there perfectly, especially the later half of the theme.

So no, I wont ever accept an opinion like you have. Its simply not true. Elden Rings theme is definitely far better than DS1,DS2,DeS.

[LexAnimex]

Everyone is talking about boss music but what about open world music? It's so boring. I have the feeling there is only one music track for the whole open world. Some places are beautiful but the music doesn't really change/ isn't noticeable or there is just silence which is really bad for atmosphere imo

Edit: I'm talking about the Dlc right now

[Rust Vendor]

fight music is for JRPGs, this is just an RPG that's from Japan. In all seriousness I hate boss fight music, like in Monster Hunter I just turn the music off because it's mostly annoying songs (they have the annoying anime/jrpg music down for sure) but there are a lot of audio cues in games as well that you don't catch if there is a loud song. The open world music in Elden Ring is fantastic though, unintrusive but sets the mood. It's been really good int eh DLC as well, like some remixes of the classic boring hits.

[echo_ML]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Leo:

Forgettable Music in General

https://youtu.be/sObWQiAUrUs?si=pOEoqiOsR8Ht-55t

[Chibbix]

Comparing any of the souls game's music to the DS1 is such a disservice.

I won't say other song from the other games aren't good, but Elden Ring does hold up for me. I mean they brought the Pling Pling Pling back.

But DS1 and Bloodborn's soundtrack are lightning in bottles.