Curse

PhineasToke · Mar 10, 2005, 03:57 AM // 03:57

The majesty of the music in the game and even the introduction screen is simply amazing. Reminding me of the music of Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings) and even much of the music of John Williams I can't help but ask who is responsible and when and where was the music recorded.

William of Orange · Mar 10, 2005, 03:59 AM // 03:59

Off the Pre-Order Box...

"E3 Event Music from British Academy Award Winner Jeremy Soule"

I'm assuming that he still has something to do with the rest of the music for the game? Not entirely sure on that...

PhineasToke · Mar 10, 2005, 04:03 AM // 04:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by William of Orange

Off the Pre-Order Box...

"E3 Event Music from British Academy Award Winner Jeremy Soule"

I'm assuming that he still has something to do with the rest of the music for the game? Not entirely sure on that...

Of Harry Potter and Balder's Gate, I am in awe.

Devil's Dictionary · Mar 10, 2005, 11:47 AM // 11:47

From the IMDB.com

Quote:

# Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (2003) (VG)
# Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) (VG)
# Unreal II: The Awakening (2003) (VG)
# Journey Toward Creation (2003) (V)
# SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs (2002) (VG)
# Impossible Creatures (2002) (VG) (title theme)
# Neverwinter Nights (2002) (VG)
# Dungeon Siege (2002) (VG) (original music)
# The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002) (VG)
# Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002/II) (VG)
# Forgotten Realms: Baldur's Gate - Dark Alliance (2001) (VG)
# Azurik: The Rise of Perathia (2001) (VG)
# Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001/II) (VG)
# Final Four 2002 (2001) (VG)
# Giants: Citizen Kabuto (2000) (VG)
# Forgotten Realms: Icewind Dale (2000) (VG)
# Total Annihilation (1997) (VG)

Uthar · Mar 10, 2005, 03:17 PM // 15:17

Soule's a big name in the game soundtrack industry. Unfortunately, he has tendency, especially in slower, more tension-building, or even just plain scenic tracks to begin to sound very similar to other work he's done. (But self-plagiarization is a big thing in the music field. Williams does it, I haven't heard enough Shore to know whether he does it, but I would not be surprised to find out he does. Hell, Beethoven and Mozart did it)

I've been listening to the available GW soundtrack, and despite some earlier acerbic comments about it, I've begun liking it a bit more.

For similarity anecdote, I had just been playing KOTOR recently, came out to where we had some friends visiting, and the one was playing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, making Harry go running around on her laptop. I listened to the music for perhaps 30 seconds, and said "Jeremy Soule did the music." Looked it up, and what ho! I was right.

Spooky · Mar 10, 2005, 08:39 PM // 20:39

Heh. If i'm being brutally honest, to me, the game's soundtrack sounds a lot like Lord of the Rings: At the Dentist's Office.
It is 'Epic Muzak' .. not offensive, and completely forgettable. I suppose that's the way games like this have to be though, with a worldwide release, and music tastes differing such as they do from here to there, music needs to be as unobtrusive as possible.

That's also a matter of personal preference, though. To me, if i'm going to be in a situation where it feels like life or death for my character, I need something .. with a pulse, something that is driving forward. The Guilty Gear: XX soundtrack is a good example of this. (Not that mostly awful music from Isuka, however.)
If the music has to be more 'worldly' sounding, then look at the soundtrack for Chrono Cross, as composed by Yasunori Mitsuda (Known for Xenogears among others) it has a very Celtic, British Isles kind of feel to it .. very atmospheric, but also very memorable. It's easily one of my favorite game soundtracks, along with FF6 / 7, and a far cry from just being an audio-sedative.

Aladdar · Mar 10, 2005, 09:03 PM // 21:03

You're correct spooky, there's a wide range of music styles and focusing too heavily on one style will drive some people crazy. If there was rap or heavy metal style music in this game I'd go nuts.

Devil's Dictionary · Mar 10, 2005, 09:23 PM // 21:23

There are great soundtracks and there are pathetic soundtracks. Guild War is in the middle as it is, indeed, forgettable. Deus Ex 1 had a top-notch soundtrack whereas Burnout 3's soundtrack is even less annoying than the game's DJ. I am not terribly impressed by Soule's works because to me they all sound alike.

Shrapnel_Magnet · Mar 10, 2005, 10:18 PM // 22:18

To me, in the audio department, Guild Wars is lacking. Sure, the music is decent, but the sound effects, while not BAD, are nothing to rave or even discuss. It's a pretty quiet game, to me. The game is beautiful visually, but it pulls up short in Audio... at least in relation to the quality of the other aspects of them game.

Losandros · Mar 11, 2005, 06:40 PM // 18:40

I think the best soundtrack ever to an RPG was that of the Baldurs Gate series, by Michael Hoenig, it creates the perfect atmosphere for a game.