It's hard to explain really, but it's mostly a composer thing, and i'm sure 343 had the same thing as Davidge did in mind.
Halo 4 OST Discussion
- Thread starter IJoel
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It's hard to explain really, but it's mostly a composer thing, and i'm sure 343 had the same thing as Davidge did in mind.
"Hopefully the Halo fans will see that we're being respectful," Dunkley told Edge, "but we've also taken it somewhere else, and maybe onto a higher plane. If you're always trying to reference back, you're not creating new things."
"It's a new journey, it's a new story, it's a new arc," said self-professed Halo fan Davidge, "and so I feel like my job is not to revolutionise or reinvent but to continue the evolution, and I have a slightly different voice to those guys."
"It's a new journey, it's a new story, it's a new arc," said self-professed Halo fan Davidge, "and so I feel like my job is not to revolutionise or reinvent but to continue the evolution, and I have a slightly different voice to those guys."
MrCookiepants
Member
Not listening. I need to hear them in the game first.
But I did go back and listen to some of the previous OSTs. Never Forget... I actually fucking cried a little. ;_;
But I did go back and listen to some of the previous OSTs. Never Forget... I actually fucking cried a little. ;_;
Axelstream
Member
Beyond the already-stated lack of consistent leitmotifs (it cannot be said enough: it breaks my heart not to hear the Halo theme anywhere in here ;__
and the tired bombast of a good deal of the tracks, there's something missing here. Marty's music had was this romantic melodic sense that didn't just excite me, but moved me. It had a lot of heart. In Halo 4's soundtrack, it's those moments which become breakthroughs for me -- tracks like To Galaxy and 117.
117 in particular, I think, is one of the most powerful tracks, and the one which brings Halo closest to mind. Its melodic focus allows the music to shape and swell, to decrescendo and reform. The layers of instrumentation and melody are sublime. It doesn't settle into the boring, flat escalation on show with tracks like Arrival (which is seriously Example A in this case -- it's almost like a dubstep track, where you just wait and wait for the drop). It doesn't surprise me that it was composed by a different person. Taking a look at his previous work he was involved with some of the recent Metal Gear games, which, what do you know, is another military-centric series known for its strong melodic composition.
That's not to say its all bad, though. There's clearly this interesting alien/discovery scifi theme going on throughout, and on a whole its a bigger, darker soundtrack than any of the previous Halos, so it's not like it has no identity at all. I think Awakening is an awesome battle-focused track -- it's not very melodic, but the piano and the thunder of the drums just come together in a really strong, memorable way. I just think the whole thing could benefit from a bit more heart and soul, which is often found in melodic ties. I don't want the whole thing to be melody, or even the majority, but there's too much weight on the other end of the scale. In a soundtrack clearly based around the strange, epic, and expansive, it's the human elements that will stir the listener.
and the tired bombast of a good deal of the tracks, there's something missing here. Marty's music had was this romantic melodic sense that didn't just excite me, but moved me. It had a lot of heart. In Halo 4's soundtrack, it's those moments which become breakthroughs for me -- tracks like To Galaxy and 117. 117 in particular, I think, is one of the most powerful tracks, and the one which brings Halo closest to mind. Its melodic focus allows the music to shape and swell, to decrescendo and reform. The layers of instrumentation and melody are sublime. It doesn't settle into the boring, flat escalation on show with tracks like Arrival (which is seriously Example A in this case -- it's almost like a dubstep track, where you just wait and wait for the drop). It doesn't surprise me that it was composed by a different person. Taking a look at his previous work he was involved with some of the recent Metal Gear games, which, what do you know, is another military-centric series known for its strong melodic composition.
That's not to say its all bad, though. There's clearly this interesting alien/discovery scifi theme going on throughout, and on a whole its a bigger, darker soundtrack than any of the previous Halos, so it's not like it has no identity at all. I think Awakening is an awesome battle-focused track -- it's not very melodic, but the piano and the thunder of the drums just come together in a really strong, memorable way. I just think the whole thing could benefit from a bit more heart and soul, which is often found in melodic ties. I don't want the whole thing to be melody, or even the majority, but there's too much weight on the other end of the scale. In a soundtrack clearly based around the strange, epic, and expansive, it's the human elements that will stir the listener.
Beyond the already-stated lack of consistent leitmotifs (it cannot be said enough: it breaks my heart not to hear the Halo theme anywhere in here ;__
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTCcrXf2buQ
Zeouterlimits
Member
I'm neither here not there on it. I do quite like a few tracks but there are more than half I don't.
Dislike almost every remix too.
Hope the combat soundtrack is good, no way to judge how the OST will figure into the game.
Dislike almost every remix too.
Hope the combat soundtrack is good, no way to judge how the OST will figure into the game.
I don't agree with this, Marty's pride is a gold whale.
Axelstream
Member
Alright, I got pretty syrupy in that post. :V you understand what I'm getting at though!
Nah, I was just posting a classic Marty song.
My reason for hating it is that there's no Hoobastank or Breaking Benjamin.
layzie1989
Member
http://youtu.be/2G7QOdq6GYo?t=56s
is this piece in the OST?
edit: okay, I found that it's titled "Haven". This is my favorite track of the OST. It's sweeping, emotional, devastating and triumphant at the same time. That's the melody I'll have in my head for a long time.
is this piece in the OST?
edit: okay, I found that it's titled "Haven". This is my favorite track of the OST. It's sweeping, emotional, devastating and triumphant at the same time. That's the melody I'll have in my head for a long time.
Yes.
thisisnotdanny
Banned
Awakening really gives me the feeling of stepping into Chief's boots again as soon as the piano hits. Also, Requiem has an awesome sense of alien discovery that is almost Metroid-esque. I really like the diversity this OST has, at least that aspect of Halo is the same.
A couple of the tracks are kinda lame/generic (mostly in Faithless, the strings just sound dumb) but for the most part there are a lot of high moments here. I'm very excited to see the scenes that are meant to be played with this music. You can't say it's not memorable until you've actually experienced the whole package; I thought that much was obvious but apparently not.
A couple of the tracks are kinda lame/generic (mostly in Faithless, the strings just sound dumb) but for the most part there are a lot of high moments here. I'm very excited to see the scenes that are meant to be played with this music. You can't say it's not memorable until you've actually experienced the whole package; I thought that much was obvious but apparently not.
Twin Drive System
Member
After listening to 117 a couple of times, I went ahead and ordered the soundtrack.
So good.
So good.
Blue Ninja
Member
Yeah, Marty's a musical god. There's some good tracks on this one too, though. I love Green and Blue, love it.
The following isn't a story spoiler, but if you want your musical experience to remain unspoiled, wait until after finishing the game to read it, and then get back at me.
You're gonna cry again.
XANDER CAGE
Member
I just wish that we had gotten something with a little more range. So much of this soundtrack is virtually indistinguishable from other big, simple, recent blockbuster soundtracks. Given his background with Massive Attack I'm surprised Davidge's work is so in line with this current trend of Remote Control Productions/Media Ventures stuff.
Canis lupus
Member
Its a great OST, but I like Reaches more, the only ever Halo album I bought.
AltogetherAndrews
Banned
Yeah, I'd say this has OST that covered.
So either you haven't actually listened to it, or you're exaggerating like there is no tomorrow.
Trunchisholm
Member
Those saying that the soundtrack doesn't have memorably themes must be listening to something else. There are definitely memorable themes a plenty. I love Marty's work, but I would loathe it if they kept doing remixes of the old themes. I'm confident some of them might still be even in the game.
RealDeadOne
Member
I think I'm just really disappointed that A Walk in the Woods won't be in the game in any form.
I appreciate the need to separate Halo 4 from the rest of the series, I really do, and I think they've succeeded in that. But would it really have killed them just to sample a couple of the classic themes?
Regardless, after listening to the soundtrack some more I can see many of the songs (To Galaxy, 117, Revival) becoming series staples.
I appreciate the need to separate Halo 4 from the rest of the series, I really do, and I think they've succeeded in that. But would it really have killed them just to sample a couple of the classic themes?
Regardless, after listening to the soundtrack some more I can see many of the songs (To Galaxy, 117, Revival) becoming series staples.
I think the ODST soundtrack is still my favorite one from the series. Marty's work has always been very important for Halo, sometimes even too important. Maybe it's the mixing and the removal of user options for music and sound, but the music does tend to overshadow the game itself sometimes in the past games.
PIMPBYBLUD
Member
Agreed...Using a new composer for a new trilogy is not a bad thing. While Marty gave the Halo series it's iconic sound, I don't mind a new composer coming in and changing things up. I compare it to Danny Elfman's score of Batman versus Hans Zimmer's version of BB. They are both great and have their own sound which compliment the medium they are attached to. I approve of this OST.
I'll judge it when I play it...my new headphones and DAC/amp should be here in time for release so it'll definitely get a more fair appraisal than youtube and these shitty laptop speakers.
That said ODST is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time, and the rest of Marty's work on the series was great as well. My standards are sky high.
That said ODST is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time, and the rest of Marty's work on the series was great as well. My standards are sky high.
Wiggum2007
Junior Member
This thread is reminding me of what a great soundtrack ODST had, best part about that game, such great nighttime ambiance. Bungie should loan Marty out to the team of the next Deus Ex game.
AdmiralSnackbar
Member
It is kind of weird since Halo Wars proved that it could have its own distinct sound to fit the tone of the game and still manage to slip the main theme in there. Really Stephen Rippy did a perfect job given the situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z89adFGjR3g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z89adFGjR3g
Demoncarnotaur
Member
sltPoison pointed out that the Halo 4 ViDoc has a bunch of music in it that is not on the OST.. I wonder if these songs will be in the game, because they really sound great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3KLtf8DzCU&sns=em
Agreed. But I am glad the majority of tracks on the Halo 4 OST are new, I just wish there were one or two interpretations of the classic themes. Some of those themes are such an identity of the Franchise, like the Star Wars theme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3KLtf8DzCU&sns=em
Agreed. But I am glad the majority of tracks on the Halo 4 OST are new, I just wish there were one or two interpretations of the classic themes. Some of those themes are such an identity of the Franchise, like the Star Wars theme.
Quick Mustard
Member
I know I'm only a Junior so my opinion is like a fart in the bath but I love this OST.
I've got all of them, as I suspect many of you have and love the fact that Davidge has gone out and made a new style without feeling the need to panda to the old themes.
Sure there missed, but I'd rather he try something new and succeed than mess with a classic and butcher it.
My standout tracks are
Awakening
Nemesis
Solace
To Galaxy
117
Arrival
Revival
Green and Blue
There are elements and snippets of the classic cues and tunes in some of the tracks as well, so there is a link between this one and the previous ones.
I've got all of them, as I suspect many of you have and love the fact that Davidge has gone out and made a new style without feeling the need to panda to the old themes.
Sure there missed, but I'd rather he try something new and succeed than mess with a classic and butcher it.
My standout tracks are
Awakening
Nemesis
Solace
To Galaxy
117
Arrival
Revival
Green and Blue
There are elements and snippets of the classic cues and tunes in some of the tracks as well, so there is a link between this one and the previous ones.
â Narayan
Member
I've gone through the soundtrack three times now. Very different, but quite good. 117 is my favorite track out of the lot. I find it interesting that this particular track was composed by Kazuma Jinnouchi and orchestrated by Nobuko Toda. Does anyone know if Sotaro Tojima composed any tracks? I know he's the audio director. It really shows, as the sound design in this game is nothing short of brilliant. Other tracks worth mentioning are: 01 - Awakening, 03 - Requiem, 10 - To Galaxy, 13 - Arrival, 14 - Revival, 15 - Green and Blue
I'm really looking forward to hearing how the soundtrack is presented in the game.
I'm really looking forward to hearing how the soundtrack is presented in the game.
Agreed.
Volume 2, perhaps?
â Narayan
Member
Yeah. I love this. The overall tone of the soundtrack is very fitting for the setting.
Monumental
Banned
I will do anything...ANYTHING..for the vocals in the track Legacy. You can hear them here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3KLtf8DzCU&sns=em&t=1m48s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3KLtf8DzCU&sns=em&t=1m48s
Monumental
Banned
Heeeellll NOO. 117 is the most generic and RPG-sounding track on the entire OS. It's what would come out of Michael Bay directing a Star Ocean movie.
It starts out great, but around the 5 minute mark I really think I'm listening to the Lost Odyssey Soundtrack or something. Great music, but it's the one that sounds the least Halo in the second half.
No.
Cuban Legend
Member
Haven is the best fucking thing on that OST. I think it should be the new Halo theme.
Monumental
Banned
I take it back.
brandonh83
Banned
After the Metroid Prime comparisons at E3 it's very interesting to hear how "Green and Blue" begins.