It's commonly said that MMO players eventually turn off the game's soundtrack in favor of their own tunes, voice chat or even silence. Most MMO tunes are forgettable the first time you hear them, nevermind the 1,000th, so scores are dumped in the trash and forgotten forever.
Except that's not always the case, now is it? Sometimes there's an MMO with a gifted composer who crafts tunes so ear-catching that you even listen to them (gasp) outside of the game. Sometimes there are MMOs in which you consider the soundtrack to be an essential part of the game experience, and refuse to ever disable it.
For today, we want to hear about your favorite MMO soundtrack. Which is your favorite? Are you in love with any particular track? Have you ever gone to great lengths to obtain a particular piece of music for your MP3 player or a CD? What score will you refuse to mute, even when a cute elfish vixen or lad comes up to chat?
(Bonus points to commenters who provide a YouTube link to their favorite scores -- and to the genuis who thinks that this is a great time for a Rickroll, well, call this a preemptive strike.)
Reader Comments (107)
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:04AM MrGutts said
Lotro hands down.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 10:10AM (Unverified) said
Agreed. The music composed for Mines of Moria by Chance Thomas was amazing. Well worth picking up the special edition box with the OST CD in it. Mint!
Reply
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:09AM Mirin said
I always liked the soundtrack in Fallen Earth, its more of an ambient thing but I think it adds a certain depth to the experience.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:11AM DaBruuzer said
Although I no longer subscribe to the game, I still listen to the soundtrack from Age of Conan every now and then. One of the best works to ever be included with any game, it is a truly emotional masterpiece.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:13AM Verus said
Age of Conan has some great music.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 10:07AM DarthCheese said
Yeah, AoC has the best soundtrack by far!
Especially the song that plays in Conall's Valley, it's simply amazing.
Reply
Especially the song that plays in Conall's Valley, it's simply amazing.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 11:07AM (Unverified) said
AOC!!!!!!
Love, love, love "The Awakening"!
It encapsulates all the grittiness of Conan.
Reply
Love, love, love "The Awakening"!
It encapsulates all the grittiness of Conan.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 2:22PM Justpotatoes said
This is my vote too. As a runner, the AoC soundtrack is some of my favorite "long run" music.
Reply
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:15AM Bijaz said
I have to say, of all the games that I've played, World of Warcraft wins hands down on its soundtracks. The soundtrack to WotLK is simply amazing.
Totems of Grizzlemaw (my fav from the soundtrack).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAFUBpuaL20
Mountains of Thunder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH1ERCemdZ4
Totems of Grizzlemaw (my fav from the soundtrack).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAFUBpuaL20
Mountains of Thunder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH1ERCemdZ4
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:16AM archipelagos said
Age of Conan and Warcraft have very impressive soundtracks, makes a world of difference.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:18AM pcgneurotic said
The last time I listened to *any* game's music, it was coming through a SID chip.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 9:24PM (Unverified) said
How many kiddies know what a SID chip is without Googling it?
Reply
Posted: Jun 9th 2010 5:35PM (Unverified) said
More importent question is my dear Turlagh, how many of em give a crap about it. Answer? Well.. less than You hope:) Have a nice day.
Reply
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:23AM (Unverified) said
Age of Conan without a doubt. I don't even play the game but I know its soundtrack is a masterpiece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG7UspfRdzg
And my personal favourite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXccS8lclRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG7UspfRdzg
And my personal favourite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXccS8lclRA
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:24AM (Unverified) said
Bill Brown's score for Lineage II definitely brings back some many fond memories.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:25AM Audacious said
Lake Wintergrasp from World of Warcraft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viqXC6BA6iw
There's also a track that plays during a boss fight with a giant trackless train type machine in that game I like, but I can't find it for the life of me.
Even if I don't play the game any more, I've got the Wintergrasp music in my MP3 player to listen to. Still gives me goosebumps sometimes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viqXC6BA6iw
There's also a track that plays during a boss fight with a giant trackless train type machine in that game I like, but I can't find it for the life of me.
Even if I don't play the game any more, I've got the Wintergrasp music in my MP3 player to listen to. Still gives me goosebumps sometimes.
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:26AM Dumac said
Guild Wars Factions hands down. Most if not all of of Jeremy Soule's work that i heard is just fantastic, but the Asian tunes in Factions really hit the sweet spot in my heart.
Small sample:
Factoins Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMvcglKzCgE
Assassin theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAwq5C1a3mM
Small sample:
Factoins Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMvcglKzCgE
Assassin theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAwq5C1a3mM
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:29AM (Unverified) said
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 12:32PM Slowrollin said
FFXI has a beautiful soundtrack. Haven't played in years but I can remember the music!
Reply
Posted: Jun 3rd 2010 8:31AM remover said
DDO has some of the most surprisingly amazing scoring and sound design i've seen in an MMO.
It's super visceral and dynamically fitting to whatever is going on.
No throwing generic fanfares over everything... it gets into your head.
I like a lot of weirder music though so maybe it's just me.
It's super visceral and dynamically fitting to whatever is going on.
No throwing generic fanfares over everything... it gets into your head.
I like a lot of weirder music though so maybe it's just me.
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