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How important are epic songs in games?

Do you have a favourite song, which have done with such quality, that it will still give you chills and brings up epic gaming memories from the past? How important are great songs or even whole soundtracks for the games?

For me, great music is like a cherry on top of the cake.

Even after ten years, this WoW song still gives me chills...

https://youtu.be/K1eBQF8F62g

...and it is just one example from many.
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Comments

  • I really like Ashes theme song too, but it still needs the game itself to become something more. ;)

    https://youtu.be/CjpSTpXNmbY
    Do you need a ride to the Underworld?
  • xlangatangxxlangatangx Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Love this post!

    I get a feeling of wonder every time I hear the Ashes theme song. No doubt due in large part to the mystery behind what this game will ultimately end up being.

    I feel like these epic songs are very important! They basically set the stage for how you are going to feel coming into a game, and will accent the story you are being told. I feel like Ashes hit the nail on the head here.
  • VarkunVarkun Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    I am honestly looking forward to the soundtrack Bear McCreary puts together for ashes. Really do like his work.
    3KAqRIf.png
    Close your eyes spread your arms and always trust your cape.
  • DamoklesDamokles Member, Alpha One, Adventurer
    edited October 2019
    I dont really need songs in game, but epic background music is a must!
    I still get the chills from some of the WoW music, or the old Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

    The current Ashes theme is okay in my opinion, but it needs more epic drums and violins ;)
    Maybe its just nostalgia, but... Nothing can beat this in my opinion xD

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SBQvd6vY9s
    a6XEiIf.gif
  • NagashNagash Member, Leader of Men, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    nJ0vUSm.gif

    The dead do not squabble as this land’s rulers do. The dead have no desires, petty jealousies or ambitions. A world of the dead is a world at peace
  • ilisfetilisfet Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Music can make or break a game, it's not just the cherry on top. Music sets a mood and if that mood matches, or even heightens the mood of the gameplay, it can elevate a good game into a great one. By contrast, conflicting with the gameplay's mood can sour an experience into obscurity.

    Music can even be arguably half the game, as in Etrian Odyssey:
    optional boss theme
    https://youtu.be/14U64jWO85s
    post-game random encounter
    https://youtu.be/-8Kf3d9ly9s
    Stratum II exploration
    https://youtu.be/0omuIyEgosI

    There's also the quiet ambiance of Breath of the Wild. Silence is just as important as music.
    https://youtu.be/_D0JCe80Jzk
    so what music does cut in has all the more impact
    https://youtu.be/Brf5w1hFNlw

    But I feel like I'm getting off topic from the OP...
    Among the most memorable and favorite epic tracks has to be EOIII's post-game, true final boss ...'s phase 2 theme:
    Calling That Detestable Name
    https://youtu.be/U_0TeykT5NA
    which has many a cover for good reason.
  • WololoWololo Member, Phoenix Initiative, Hero of the People, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    i love Maplestory music. So many memory's with all these songs. Not that it would fit with Ashes though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou_HtCCaEYw
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  • xlangatangxxlangatangx Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Don't forget the Resident Evil classic

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kcF7E69C6Q
  • NagashNagash Member, Leader of Men, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Don't forget the Resident Evil classic

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kcF7E69C6Q

    Loved the way they built up the horror till you first see a minion
    nJ0vUSm.gif

    The dead do not squabble as this land’s rulers do. The dead have no desires, petty jealousies or ambitions. A world of the dead is a world at peace
  • Damokles wrote: »
    I dont really need songs in game, but epic background music is a must!
    I still get the chills from some of the WoW music, or the old Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

    The current Ashes theme is okay in my opinion, but it needs more epic drums and violins ;)
    Maybe its just nostalgia, but... Nothing can beat this in my opinion xD

    I am a long term Tolkien fan, however I never got excited enough of the LOTRO, I guess WoW was just too good back then. Well this is not from a game, but have you heard this version of Song of Durin?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxfoa23skHg
    Do you need a ride to the Underworld?
  • @Nagash Aaaa... Warhammer, takes me back to my youth when I did play Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40K and Mordheim... Also it was a shame, that Warhammer: Age of Reckoning had to turn down the servers. I kind of liked that game, but again, WoW was back then the #1 choise for me.

    I am wondering, what is atm the situation of Warhammer: Return of Reckoning? Already launched or still in development? Do they have any chances to get solid playerbase and follow WoW Classic's footsteps?
    Do you need a ride to the Underworld?
  • DamoklesDamokles Member, Alpha One, Adventurer
    ferryman wrote: »
    Damokles wrote: »
    I dont really need songs in game, but epic background music is a must!
    I still get the chills from some of the WoW music, or the old Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

    The current Ashes theme is okay in my opinion, but it needs more epic drums and violins ;)
    Maybe its just nostalgia, but... Nothing can beat this in my opinion xD

    I am a long term Tolkien fan, however I never got excited enough of the LOTRO, I guess WoW was just too good back then. Well this is not from a game, but have you heard this version of Song of Durin?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxfoa23skHg

    I love the song of durin! :D

    here is another good song from the movie:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEm0AjTbsac
    a6XEiIf.gif
  • NagashNagash Member, Leader of Men, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Damokles wrote: »
    ferryman wrote: »
    Damokles wrote: »
    I dont really need songs in game, but epic background music is a must!
    I still get the chills from some of the WoW music, or the old Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

    The current Ashes theme is okay in my opinion, but it needs more epic drums and violins ;)
    Maybe its just nostalgia, but... Nothing can beat this in my opinion xD

    I am a long term Tolkien fan, however I never got excited enough of the LOTRO, I guess WoW was just too good back then. Well this is not from a game, but have you heard this version of Song of Durin?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxfoa23skHg

    I love the song of durin! :D

    here is another good song from the movie:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEm0AjTbsac

    Love the misty mountain
    nJ0vUSm.gif

    The dead do not squabble as this land’s rulers do. The dead have no desires, petty jealousies or ambitions. A world of the dead is a world at peace
  • George_BlackGeorge_Black Member, Intrepid Pack
    Extremely
  • Super important ~ ! You can't skip out on something like this ! ! ! ! I hope they'll deliver some really memorable sound tracks ! It really adds so so much when you'd rather leave the music on, than finding it annoying and turning it off.
    Poko.png
  • ilisfetilisfet Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Poko wrote: »
    finding it annoying and turning it off.

    *cough* eso *cough* combat *cough* music *cough* GUH, ... 'scuse me, had a bit of a fit.
  • VarkunVarkun Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    edited October 2019
    ilisfet wrote: »
    Poko wrote: »
    finding it annoying and turning it off.

    *cough* eso *cough* combat *cough* music *cough* GUH, ... 'scuse me, had a bit of a fit.

    I dont mind the music in eso, all I mainly do is pvp and the music changing is a dead giveaway that combat has started near you even if you can not see it.

    I have never once turned the music off in any MMO I have played, turned it down yes but never off.

    But its all a personal choice.
    3KAqRIf.png
    Close your eyes spread your arms and always trust your cape.
  • MakinojiMakinoji Member, Warrior of Old, Kickstarter
    I am a sucker for game music. It's part of the immersion for me. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from games that I have on my personal Spotify and one of my favs from the man creating AOC OST to come.

    "http://https://youtu.be/JMCAx2U2aZ8"

    "http://https://youtu.be/p88TFn2ozGU"

    "http://https://youtu.be/_p7FPLRIILM"
  • AtamaAtama Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    SWTOR music is my favorite. But it’s Star Wars so of course it’s awesome.
     
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  • BirdieBirdie Moderator, Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    As a musician I think music is very important. Music that fits to each scenery. Eerie ambient stuff while in a forest, for example. Epic music for battlegrounds, Irish folk for taverns :D .
    P.S. Wouldn't be awesome if some inns or taverns had Jazz music :love:
    volunteer_moderator.gif
  • ilisfetilisfet Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    Varkun wrote: »
    I dont mind the music in eso, all I mainly do is pvp and the music changing is a dead giveaway that combat has started near you even if you can not see it.

    It's the lowest tier combat music that plays anytime you get aggroed by a mob, it's... have you ever heard of listening fatigue?
    https://youtu.be/vBxaLT171VY
    And there's a mob attacking you every 3 steps if you go off road, too
  • Love this post!

    I feel like these epic songs are very important! They basically set the stage for how you are going to feel coming into a game, and will accent the story you are being told. I feel like Ashes hit the nail on the head here.

    You are right, if we think of Ashes first trailer, even the world and art looked really nice, it was the music what raised the video a total new level.
    ilisfet wrote: »
    Music can make or break a game, it's not just the cherry on top. Music sets a mood and if that mood matches, or even heightens the mood of the gameplay, it can elevate a good game into a great one. By contrast, conflicting with the gameplay's mood can sour an experience into obscurity.

    I guess the music can be more than a cherry on the top, but maybe it depends of the players' personal thoughts. Some people value more the music than others.
    Do you need a ride to the Underworld?
  • Birdie wrote: »
    As a musician I think music is very important. Music that fits to each scenery. Eerie ambient stuff while in a forest, for example. Epic music for battlegrounds, Irish folk for taverns :D .
    P.S. Wouldn't be awesome if some inns or taverns had Jazz music :love:

    This was a really good point. Background music changing from scenery to another is super important, because it leads the player to right mood in right situation. The music can also give the player a hint what is going to happen or at least creates a waiting and thrilling athmosphere.
    Do you need a ride to the Underworld?
  • whitedude31whitedude31 Member, Founder, Kickstarter
    Halo 3 soundtrack is still my favorite to this day. Have yet to find any game that can top that. Some have come close, but they just don't do it quite right. Favorite level/stage in gaming ever, including all the MMOs I have ever played, is the final level in Halo 3 when you are racing across the exploding platforms. Epic music done right.
  • VarkunVarkun Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    ilisfet wrote: »
    Varkun wrote: »
    I dont mind the music in eso, all I mainly do is pvp and the music changing is a dead giveaway that combat has started near you even if you can not see it.

    It's the lowest tier combat music that plays anytime you get aggroed by a mob, it's... have you ever heard of listening fatigue?
    https://youtu.be/vBxaLT171VY
    And there's a mob attacking you every 3 steps if you go off road, too

    Been playing eso for 5 and a half years and have yet to get sick of the music I guess somehow I tune it out to a degree but for me I like to have it there in the background. But thats just me I guess :)
    3KAqRIf.png
    Close your eyes spread your arms and always trust your cape.
  • ilisfetilisfet Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    I will say my favorite epic song that's not from a game is
    https://youtu.be/nkogNDpk0lg
  • NoaaniNoaani Member, Intrepid Pack
    I still think the best song from any game is Baba Yetu.
  • NagashNagash Member, Leader of Men, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    ilisfet wrote: »
    I will say my favorite epic song that's not from a game is
    https://youtu.be/nkogNDpk0lg

    for me it will always be this

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM_c_avPlx4
    nJ0vUSm.gif

    The dead do not squabble as this land’s rulers do. The dead have no desires, petty jealousies or ambitions. A world of the dead is a world at peace
  • NagashNagash Member, Leader of Men, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    noaani wrote: »
    I still think the best song from any game is Baba Yetu.

    a civ 4 was such a great game
    nJ0vUSm.gif

    The dead do not squabble as this land’s rulers do. The dead have no desires, petty jealousies or ambitions. A world of the dead is a world at peace
  • AtamaAtama Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
    noaani wrote: »
    I still think the best song from any game is Baba Yetu.
    The Grammy Award voters agreed with you.
     
    Hhak63P.png
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