Dear 343 Industries (If you’re reading this),
After listening to the entire Part 1 and 2 of the Halo 4 Soundtrack, I have noticed something that could’ve been done better in the Halo 4 campaign. First of all, the soundtrack is beautiful, no doubt about it. But what’s wrong is that I did not notice it’s grace while playing the campaign neither during gameplay nor the cutscenes. The music was playing way too softly in the background and I could barely hear it. Also, the volume of the background music was inconsistent. For the next installment in the Halo series, be proud of the soundtrack instead of holding it back as to not be intrusive. Make the volume of the soundtrack louder. In past Halo games this was done really well. The uplifting tone of the main theme made me feel things I otherwise would not have felt had there been no soundtrack. My advice is to raise the volume of the background music because it really says something in it’s own right. “Lasky’s Theme” and “Arrival” is truly something. Too bad it wasn’t stressed enough in the game.
Tbh I didn’t think it was anything special. After Halo CE and 3 the other games soundtracks (yes, even Halo 2) just don’t stack up.
You kiddin? Halo 2 had the best soundtrack in my opinion. Just listen to “Impend”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMklVFOHyPE
Breaking Ben playing hard riffed guitars while gunning your way through the Mausoleum was awesome! Halo 2 was the best. I liked the change that Halo 4 had, but other than the epicity (I’m inventing this word) of “Arrival” (which you have to be deaf to not notice), Cortana’s theme and the opening Africanesque theme are all that stood out.
Halo 4 music was amazing but not well implemented.
I have to say that to galaxy needs to be reworked. Its not epic enough. The strings need to be higher pitched and go up higher. Not sure how to explain.
I agree. Some songs werent well implemented in game or in cutscenes. I really liked most of the soundtrack, but the way it was used in the game really made it lost a lot of emotion…
And I thank the OP for posting a solution and not a mindless “kick Neil” complaint.
Halo 4 had some good music, but Tom salta should have done the music for it. Halo 4s music is too cinematic, which is not the style of music halo is known for. Spartan assaults music fits in with old halo pretty well. Halo 5 should be more like spartan assault in terms of music.
> Halo 4 music was amazing but not well implemented.
>
> I have to say that to galaxy needs to be reworked. Its not epic enough. The strings need to be higher pitched and go up higher. Not sure how to explain.
I agree, although I think the second half of “To Galaxy” was really epic. It could’ve been the Halo 4 theme had it been implemented well enough. It being the main theme was also my first impression when the Halo 4 soundtrack sample came out before the game.
My main problem with the soundtrack is the lack of old halo music. The small cameo of the main theme is not enough. I dont mind new tracks like 117 or to galaxy, but the HALO THEME should at elast appear a couple of times
> My main problem with the soundtrack is the lack of old halo music. The smal cameo of the main theme is not enough. I dont mind new tracks like 1117 or to galaxy, but the HALO THEME should at elast appear a couple of times
It did, at least once.
> Breaking Ben playing hard riffed guitars while gunning your way through the Mausoleum was awesome! Halo 2 was the best. I liked the change that Halo 4 had, but other than the epicity (I’m inventing this word) of “Arrival” (which you have to be deaf to not notice), Cortana’s theme and the opening Africanesque theme are all that stood out.
I thought that “Blue and Green” followed by the new version of “Never Forget” was pretty emotional.
> Halo 4 had some good music, but Tom salta should have done the music for it. Halo 4s music is too cinematic, which is not the style of music halo is known for. Spartan assaults music fits in with old halo pretty well. Halo 5 should be more like spartan assault in terms of music.
Its more cinematic because that is exactly what they wanted the game and the soundtrack to feel more like. Cinematic.
If Halo 5 is supposed to have a theme and feel more like the original trilogy, then definitely use that kind of music. But if its cinematic… use cinematic music.
> > My main problem with the soundtrack is the lack of old halo music. The smal cameo of the main theme is not enough. I dont mind new tracks like 1117 or to galaxy, but the HALO THEME should at elast appear a couple of times
>
> It did, at least once.
He said the small cameo it had is not enough.
Halo 4’s music is amazing. I love it!
But it wasn’t implemented very good in neither Campaign nor Spartan Ops sadly. They’re just too quiet. Heck, one of my favorite tracks, “Aliens”, plays during the mission Forerunner, and I didn’t even freaking notice it until loads of playthroughs later. That’s sad.
The music seriously needs to be louder next time.
Halo 4 did have some pretty awesome music. It was weird to play a Halo game without Marty’s signature percussion and bass strings though–felt like something was missing for the entire game.
Was it just me, or was the main menu music volume annoyingly too high?
Wow, I didn’t even know Lasky’s Theme existed until I came to this thread, and it’s awesome.
That’s the problem. Most of the songs weren’t implemented well.
I’m fine with the more cinematic music (in fact I just might prefer it) but I’m not a fan of dumping the old themes and motifs. The monk theme–THE Halo theme–completely absent save one brief moment when a Halo Ring appears (for like 3 seconds); it’s just ridiculous. I love how they remixed (covered?) Never Forget, and 117 had some hints at the previous music towards the end, but mostly it was all new.
Again, I don’t have a problem with new, but we gotta keep the old too. One Final Effort? Peril? Three Gates? All awesome and distinctly Halo.
That’s the other problem. I enjoyed Arrival, don’t get me wrong, but it’s massively repetitive and frankly pretty nondescript. It served its purpose–I felt invincible playing through the last level once it started–but it’s not a good theme song. To Galaxy, also great, also pretty run-of-the-mill, could-be-any-movie song. We need to get back to Halo’s musical roots and loose a lot of repetition. Even my personal favorite track, 117, is the same melody over and over again.
I really want to see the original theme return with a remixed twist to it. Maybe a different instrument and more emotion. (Piano?)
zips up flamesuit
I’m honestly glad the Halo theme only appeared for three seconds
> Halo 4 had some good music, but Tom salta should have done the music for it. Halo 4s music is too cinematic, which is not the style of music halo is known for. Spartan assaults music fits in with old halo pretty well. Halo 5 should be more like spartan assault in terms of music.
I agree, not only “too cinematic” and missing the “Halo theme”, but I kept hearing other cinema themes - James Bond, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, etc.
All very beautiful, but didn’t evoke the feeling of “Halo”, and when I recognized those themes it pulled me out of the experience rather than amplifying the experience.