What do you think of the soundtrack?

[surly king]

NO POLITICS or "GAME BAD" HERE please thanks

A topic I haven´t seen discussed here at all, but one that I personally at least find very interesting and important. So many games nowadays put a lot of effort and work into their OSTs and for many of my favorite games, it´s what really carries the emotion of the game and brings me into the experience.
With some games (NieR for example, Undertale) I get choked up (in a good way) and transported back into the game, by just hearing a few of the notes. It carries immense weight in my enjoyment of a game.
Conversely, if a game has a lackluster or even bad soundtrack, I will not really remember much of it later. The game doesn´t emotionally connect with me.

For some context, some games that came out this year with absolutely incredible OSTs (in my opinion):
- Stellar Blade
- LaD Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor ReFantazio
- SMT V Vengeance
- Persona 3 Reload

Veilguard sports one of the most prolific composers world wide with HANS ZIMMER, as well as Lorne Balfe (I looked through his page but I can´t say I´m overly familiar with his work)
My personal grievances with Hans Zimmer aside, he has made some incredible movie scores to date (my favorite one being the Interstellar theme).

Do you think they did this game justice?

Personally I´m honestly torn. The electronic elements are curious and weird. A lot of the more whimsical fantasy sound is very pleasant to listen to, like that track with the piano in the forest area.
But that´s about where it ends for me. I can barely remember a lot of the music I´ve heard so far, whereas I could probably hum like 90% of Metaphor´s OST note for note, even though I haven´t really touched the game in like a week.

Did the OST land for you? Are you listening to it outside of playing the game? I do that with the 5 games I listed above

[GM Morgan]

I’m gonna have to listen to it on its own. This is the second game I’m playing with our new audio system for our PC (the first was Rogue Trader and the Heavy Bolter sounds amazing with a sub btw). I think the audio design in general is good, blends into the scene, but some of the reused effects stand out (there’s a spell that uses the reaper blast noise from ME3 and I can’t unhear it).

[JerBeware]

Interesting topic!

I'd agree. It wasn't bad per se, but it was forgettable.

It's also not one that I would consider to be of the variety that 'grows on you'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhhvWeXHjP0

[Ashtrails]

The actual first time I perked up and realized there is any soundtrack of note at all was when the Necropolis battle music played.
I liked that one.


Now that you've told me Hans Zimmer is involved that explains a lot.
With big name composers you can kinda tell when their heart is in it (based on the milquetoast interview / statement, it was not, I guess), or when they just get the job done profesionally.
And the music reflects that. Yeah, gets the job done, but after 40+ hours I can distionguish exactly one track.

I wouldn't say the other entries were very strong for actual ingame tracks either, but they had standouts like their main themes (DA 1-3 title themes still go hard), or the Dawn will Come, Sera's Song etc.

Can't say this one has so far.

[surly king]

Originally posted by GM Morgan:

I’m gonna have to listen to it on its own. This is the second game I’m playing with our new audio system for our PC (the first was Rogue Trader and the Heavy Bolter sounds amazing with a sub btw). I think the audio design in general is good, blends into the scene, but some of the reused effects stand out (there’s a spell that uses the reaper blast noise from ME3 and I can’t unhear it).

I liked the Rogue Trader OST a lot. They captured the oppressive, violent, dark and lonely but also epic mood of 40K well. Church organs and heavy bass is such a great combo
I´ll probably give the VG OST a full listen by itself after I bring myself to finish it.

Originally posted by JerBeware:

Interesting topic!

I'd agree. It wasn't bad per se, but it was forgettable.

It's also not one that I would consider to be of the variety that 'grows on you'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhhvWeXHjP0

My kneejerk reaction to the VG OST is also one of servicable but pretty forgettable music.
That track is nice !

Originally posted by Ashtrails:

The actual first time I perked up and realized there is any soundtrack of note at all was when the Necropolis battle music played.
I liked that one.


Now that you've told me Hans Zimmer is involved that explains a lot.
With big name composers you can kinda tell when their heart is in it (based on the milquetoast interview / statement, it was not, I guess), or when they just get the job done profesionally.
And the music reflects that. Yeah, gets the job done, but after 40+ hours I can distionguish exactly one track.

I wouldn't say the other entries were very strong for actual ingame tracks either, but they had standouts like their main themes (DA 1-3 title themes still go hard), or the Dawn will Come, Sera's Song etc.

Can't say this one has so far.

I was going to add this to my opening post, saying I couldn´t really recall any Dragon Age music off the top of my head, but after clicking through some of Origins´ tracks, it´s coming back to me at least a little. That opening theme is really good and makes me think of Morrigan for some reason.

I wish they had rehired Inon Zur instead of going for Hans Zimmer. A negative part of me thinks they purposefully avoided it to distance themselves further from DA Origins and 2 and their legacy.

[Naamtar]

Soundtrack and performance are the highlights of the game if you're looking for something to praise as beyond the standard in the AAA industry.

The music wasn't overdone but it wasn't undercooked. It always felt spot on to the events taking place for me.

[Supgad]

Interesting. This is the first time I’m taking time to even acknowledge the soundtrack. The best I can offer with that in mind is that it wholly and utterly uninteresting and adds nothing to the ambiance or the overall feel of the game.

Shame.

[surly king]

Originally posted by Naamtar:

Soundtrack and performance are the highlights of the game if you're looking for something to praise as beyond the standard in the AAA industry.

The music wasn't overdone but it wasn't undercooked. It always felt spot on to the events taking place for me.

Can you name a few other games where you find the OST comparable in quality or even better? I just want to get a sense of your preferences, because I think VGs is fairly lackluster, especially compared to all the games I listed in my first post.

[surly king]

Originally posted by Supgad:

Interesting. This is the first time I’m taking time to even acknowledge the soundtrack. The best I can offer with that in mind is that it wholly and utterly uninteresting and adds nothing to the ambiance or the overall feel of the game.

Shame.

Do you generally not engage much with the music of games or just for VG in particular?
I find that especially in recent years, production quality has ramped up so much across the board, many video game OSTs are equivalent to if not better than "actual" music (i hate making this distinction, but I´m pretty sure a large majority of normals will still look at you like an idiot, if you tell them your favorite music comes from a game)

[Sentient_Toaster]

Unobtrusive, which is fine.

For a soundtrack featuring tunes I'm more likely to hum when not playing the game, I'd suggest that of Supergiant's "Hades II", in particular the tracks the dead for the Sirens fight (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7QSavYWEE0 ).

[skullymex]

I was hoping they'd get Trevor Morris back after the incredible job he did with the Inquisition OST.
Personally I think the soundtrack is one of the weakest points of Veilguard, the only tracks that stood out to me were the music that plays in the Necropolis and the Lost Elf arrangement at the end (unsurprising, since the theme is from Inquisition)
It's not bad on its own I guess, it's fine. It just sounds more like something that would play in a movie, if that makes sense? It doesn't really feel 'Dragon Age' to me.

[JerBeware]

Originally posted by surly king:

That track is nice !

While there's definitely some WoW nostalgia there, there were definitely times / zones where I would play the game and set the music to loop and not listen to outside music. That's an example of one of them.

What I also liked is that for a fantasy game it gave exactly the feeling (to me at least) of elves, the forest, something almost spiritual, etc. -- all without the need for words or without having to even see that environment.

[Naamtar]

Originally posted by surly king:

Originally posted by Naamtar:

Soundtrack and performance are the highlights of the game if you're looking for something to praise as beyond the standard in the AAA industry.

The music wasn't overdone but it wasn't undercooked. It always felt spot on to the events taking place for me.

Can you name a few other games where you find the OST comparable in quality or even better? I just want to get a sense of your preferences, because I think VGs is fairly lackluster, especially compared to all the games I listed in my first post.

Sure.

I think Veilguard falls into the category of more thematic and sort of a background track to set the tone of each setting rather than being more at the forefront of the experience like some other great games with great soundtracks do. As I said not over the top but not undercooked.

In that regard I'd put it in line with something like Hades, either of the Ori games or Fable off the top of my head.

[surly king]

Originally posted by Sentient_Toaster:

Unobtrusive, which is fine.

For a soundtrack featuring tunes I'm more likely to hum when not playing the game, I'd suggest that of Supergiant's "Hades II", in particular the tracks the dead for the Sirens fight (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7QSavYWEE0 ).

'
Supergiant has never missed with the music for their games, really good stuff
I also feel like they really work with the composers closely to integrate the music into the game, something I wish more games did!

Originally posted by skullymex:

I was hoping they'd get Trevor Morris back after the incredible job he did with the Inquisition OST.
Personally I think the soundtrack is one of the weakest points of Veilguard, the only tracks that stood out to me were the music that plays in the Necropolis and the Lost Elf arrangement at the end (unsurprising, since the theme is from Inquisition)
It's not bad on its own I guess, it's fine. It just sounds more like something that would play in a movie, if that makes sense? It doesn't really feel 'Dragon Age' to me.

I´m just re-listening to some of the Inquisition tracks and I gotta say I love that he managed to bring out the main theme leit motif so well, really nice.

Considering Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe are both primarily movie composers, I think your perception is spot on. I also find it to be a bit too ambient for a video game.

Originally posted by JerBeware:

Originally posted by surly king:

That track is nice !

While there's definitely some WoW nostalgia there, there were definitely times / zones where I would play the game and set the music to loop and not listen to outside music. That's an example of one of them.

What I also liked is that for a fantasy game it gave exactly the feeling (to me at least) of elves, the forest, something almost spiritual, etc. -- all without the need for words or without having to even see that environment.

I think that´s what good music is all about. It just tells a story on its own, engaging you on a very primal and emotional level, rather than mental.

[LoVeSuns]

I was unimpressed with the soundtrack. It was just mediocre. Not a single piece stood out to me as being especially good.

[surly king]

Originally posted by Naamtar:

#
Sure.

I think Veilguard falls into the category of more thematic and sort of a background track to set the tone of each setting rather than being more at the forefront of the experience like some other great games with great soundtracks do. As I said not over the top but not undercooked.

In that regard I'd put it in line with something like Hades, either of the Ori games or Fable off the top of my head.

I can definitely see it being as more of a subdued kind of soundtrack that´s just there to enhance the overall mood.
I guess my personal preference really goes towards heavy and in your face music in video games, something that really sets the tone.
On that note, I just listened to some Fable 1 again and man, that game has some great music.