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

[Zebedee]

Haha. I was just cussing one particular fight because of its music as my partner is finishing up her first run. I absolutely detest the music for Ghilan’nain’s Blight Shield.

But generally I thought the music was fine. Not hugely memorable but, other than the one exception, also worked for me within the game. I like The Dread Wolf best among the tracks on the OST. Kind of agree with Marcin Przybyłowicz's view on game music that it's supplemental and anything above not screwing up the mood of the game is fine.

Best soundtrack for a game this year, for me, was Akira Yamaoka returning to the Silent Hill 2 soundtrack for the remake.

[surly king]

Początkowo opublikowane przez LoVeSuns:

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

How about especially bad? Anything you really disliked? That can also be interesting

Początkowo opublikowane przez Zebedee:

Haha. I was just cussing one particular fight because of its music as my partner is finishing up her first run. I absolutely detest the music for Ghilan’nain’s Blight Shield.

But generally I thought the music was fine. Not hugely memorable but, other than the one exception, also worked for me within the game. I like The Dread Wolf best among the tracks on the OST. Kind of agree with Marcin Przybyłowicz's view on game music that it's supplemental and anything above not screwing up the mood of the game is fine.

Best soundtrack for a game this year, for me, was Akira Yamaoka returning to the Silent Hill 2 soundtrack for the remake.

The guy who made both the Witcher 3 OST and Cyberpunk OST said that? I feel like his words ring pretty hollow there, considering how in your face and bombastic the soundtracks for both of those games are. Even quiet moments in W3 are "supplemented" by absolute bangers. One of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yNURjzVu3o

To me, the soundtrack is one of the most important parts of the game. A boring or lackluster OST just takes away a lot from the overall experience. I personally don´t engage with it, if my ears aren´t having a good time

[Zebedee]

Początkowo opublikowane przez surly king:

The guy who made both the Witcher 3 OST and Cyberpunk OST said that? I feel like his words ring pretty hollow there, considering how in your face and bombastic the soundtracks for both of those games are. Even quiet moments in W3 are "supplemented" by absolute bangers. One of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yNURjzVu3o

To me, the soundtrack is one of the most important parts of the game. A boring or lackluster OST just takes away a lot from the overall experience. I personally don´t engage with it, if my ears aren´t having a good time

Yeah, he did. Was a chat he did on a stream with Pawel Sasko when CDPR devs were privately streaming after Cyberpunk 2077's release. He was making exactly the counterpoint to the idea that having a brilliant soundtrack was important to a game's success. One game I think demonstrated that recently was Lamplighters League, which bombed and was killed days after release, which has an amazing soundtrack by Jon Everist which is actually reactive within the game.

Obviously you're at another end of the spectrum on the view of its importance.)

edit: sp.

[Naamtar]

Początkowo opublikowane przez surly king:

Początkowo opublikowane przez 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.

I like more in your face stuff that gets your blood pumping and your mind racing, too.

I can appreciate when composers try to keep it toned down to accentuate the game instead of be more at the forefront, too.

Fable's music is a good nostalgia trip.

To get an idea of where my tastes are, I think Bloodborne - especially the DLC - has the best video game soundtrack ever made.

Ludwig, The Accursed & Holy Blade - and the way its transition is seamlessly fit into the phase transition of the boss fight is peak game music.

https://youtu.be/7n1qe2ZSTPA?si=gOZsIqUdEtCnXVqU

Arthas My Son is up there, too.

[Water Shaper John]

Soundtrack is fine, atmospheric and suits situation, especially music for Bellara quests. What i didn't like is combat soundtrack for some Taash quests, it sounded too much as Cyberpunk or Crysis 3, wrong scene for this. I could use more OST like this one, but well, different authors and game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQULRDCZic

[surly king]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Zebedee:

Yeah, he did. Was a chat he did on a stream with Pawel Sasko when CDPR devs were privately streaming after Cyberpunk 2077's release. He was making exactly the counterpoint to the idea that having a brilliant soundtrack was important to a game's success. One game I think demonstrated that recently was Lamplighters League, which bombed and was killed days after release, which has an amazing soundtrack by John Everist which is actually reactive within the game.

Obviously you're at another end of the spectrum on the view of its importance.)

Very interesting. It´s not hard to see I´m definitely in a minority with my opinion on the importance of music in games. Looks like I´ll have to check out Lamplighters League!

Początkowo opublikowane przez Naamtar:

I like more in your face stuff that gets your blood pumping and your mind racing, too.

I can appreciate when composers try to keep it toned down to accentuate the game instead of be more at the forefront, too.

Fable's music is a good nostalgia trip.

To get an idea of where my tastes are, I think Bloodborne - especially the DLC - has the best video game soundtrack ever made.

Bloodborne sounds incredible. I recently got a copy of the OST with FLAC quality and the Ludwig track is just crazy good. Where is my PS5 remake Fromsoft 😭
On that note, I am also reaally liking the Elden Ring DLC music. That Dancing Lion boss OST with the flutes is so cool

Would you consider something like the OST of Oblivion as more of a backing soundtrack? One of my favorites and I would consider it very subdued, for what it is

Początkowo opublikowane przez Water Shaper John:

Soundtrack is fine, atmospheric and suits situation, especially music for Bellara quests. What i didn't like is combat soundtrack for some Taash quests, it sounded too much as Cyberpunk or Crysis 3, wrong scene for this. I could use more OST like this one, but well, different authors and game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQULRDCZic

I think the electronic parts of the OST are interesting if a bit misplaced. Dragon Age is still primarily a low/high fantasy setting after all, with only that ancient "elven magic" stuff being really kind of like modern tech.

Man I love NWN. Not the same composer but... the Storm of Zehir main theme for NWN 2 is one of my favorite "generic" medieval fantasy tracks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn72ub3It0E

Also interesting since I wasnt aware: Jeremy Soule (the Elder Scrolls composer) made the OST for NWN 1? Crazy. The more you know

[Naamtar]

Początkowo opublikowane przez surly king:

snip

Yah definitely Oblivion. I think a lot of WoW's zone music is way up there, too and of course their main pieces are amazing.

[surly king]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Naamtar:

Początkowo opublikowane przez surly king:

snip

Yah definitely Oblivion. I think a lot of WoW's zone music is way up there, too and of course their main pieces are amazing.

Wish I played WoW when it came out. I don´t really have the mental fortitude for MMOs anymore, so going back to play it now is kind of iffy.
I ideally always want to experience the music in game for the first time
On that note, I´ve been playing a bunch of FF14 precisely because it has so very little "MMO", and the soundtrack for that game is crazy good too

[Water Shaper John]

Początkowo opublikowane przez surly king:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Zebedee:

Yeah, he did. Was a chat he did on a stream with Pawel Sasko when CDPR devs were privately streaming after Cyberpunk 2077's release. He was making exactly the counterpoint to the idea that having a brilliant soundtrack was important to a game's success. One game I think demonstrated that recently was Lamplighters League, which bombed and was killed days after release, which has an amazing soundtrack by John Everist which is actually reactive within the game.

Obviously you're at another end of the spectrum on the view of its importance.)

Very interesting. It´s not hard to see I´m definitely in a minority with my opinion on the importance of music in games. Looks like I´ll have to check out Lamplighters League!

Początkowo opublikowane przez Naamtar:

I like more in your face stuff that gets your blood pumping and your mind racing, too.

I can appreciate when composers try to keep it toned down to accentuate the game instead of be more at the forefront, too.

Fable's music is a good nostalgia trip.

To get an idea of where my tastes are, I think Bloodborne - especially the DLC - has the best video game soundtrack ever made.

Bloodborne sounds incredible. I recently got a copy of the OST with FLAC quality and the Ludwig track is just crazy good. Where is my PS5 remake Fromsoft 😭
On that note, I am also reaally liking the Elden Ring DLC music. That Dancing Lion boss OST with the flutes is so cool

Would you consider something like the OST of Oblivion as more of a backing soundtrack? One of my favorites and I would consider it very subdued, for what it is

Początkowo opublikowane przez Water Shaper John:

Soundtrack is fine, atmospheric and suits situation, especially music for Bellara quests. What i didn't like is combat soundtrack for some Taash quests, it sounded too much as Cyberpunk or Crysis 3, wrong scene for this. I could use more OST like this one, but well, different authors and game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQULRDCZic

I think the electronic parts of the OST are interesting if a bit misplaced. Dragon Age is still primarily a low/high fantasy setting after all, with only that ancient "elven magic" stuff being really kind of like modern tech.

Man I love NWN. Not the same composer but... the Storm of Zehir main theme for NWN 2 is one of my favorite "generic" medieval fantasy tracks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn72ub3It0E

Also interesting since I wasnt aware: Jeremy Soule (the Elder Scrolls composer) made the OST for NWN 1? Crazy. The more you know

Jeremy Soule is the most modest composer you can ever encounter, he got talent not worse than Trevor Morris and Howard Shore, but he isn't advertised anywhere, and you need to dig some deeper to discover his music like exploration music from Oblivion.

[surly king]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Water Shaper John:

Jeremy Soule is the most modest composer you can ever encounter, he got talent not worse than Trevor Morris and Howard Shore, but he isn't advertised anywhere, and you need to dig some deeper to discover his music like exploration music from Oblivion.

I just looked through his wiki page. Very good stuff altogether. The Dungeon Siege 2 OST is another standout great for me.
A shame he apparently got cancelled back in 2019 and hasn´t done anything since.

[nutcrackr]

There are a couple of good ones but I need to listen to the soundtrack to really judge it.

[Zebedee]

Sharing it here cos it's linked to the OP. Slowwalkthrough is pulling out the ingame music, lots not on the OST, on her channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUSS2nItDEQ

Playing through again has reminded me of little bits of the background music which actually sounded a bit Mass Effect (synths used perhaps?).

[/dev/random]

It's bad

[LoVeSuns]

Początkowo opublikowane przez surly king:

Początkowo opublikowane przez LoVeSuns:

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

How about especially bad? Anything you really disliked? That can also be interesting

Nope. I don't like when games don't have music that stands out, but nothing struck me as bad either. It's just all too forgettable for me with nothing outstanding.

[Vanu]

I usually only appreciate sound tracks when I'm listening to them.on spotify as the focus. But I notice a lot of time it feels no music is in the background.