Deus Ex, Soul Reaver, FF7, Metal Gear, Wildstar... all have solid and memorable music close to perfection. Mass effect series has some great tracks aswell.
Dragon Age? Good. But kinda bland. Some songs may be on the borderlands from good to great... but generally uninspiring, uncreative and unoriginal. I'm not sure if it is the fantasy genre to blame. But the music as a whole in the Dragon Age series has been forgettable.
It is as if the one in charge of music choice is afraid to try something more unique.
Just my opinion. DA music is not bad, but it lacks soul and feels "Good, but safe to the point of boring"
(Note: DA1+2 in mind, reserving opinion on DA:I until I've heard it).
You are certainly more than welcome to. I'd just prefer if DAI stayed a bit more true to Dragon Age rather than entirely distancing itself from the previous soundtracks. Imagine Star Wars or Lord of the Rings entirely changing their soundtracks with every individual film. It just doesn't feel right and seems out of place.
woj0404, EmperorKarino et Scuttlebutt101 aiment ceci
Deus Ex, Soul Reaver, FF7, Metal Gear, Wildstar... all have solid and memorable music close to perfection. Mass effect series has some great tracks aswell.
Dragon Age? Good. But kinda bland. Some songs may be on the borderlands from good to great... but generally uninspiring, uncreative and unoriginal. I'm not sure if it is the fantasy genre to blame. But the music as a whole in the Dragon Age series has been forgettable.
It is as if the one in charge of music choice is afraid to try something more unique.
Just my opinion. DA music is not bad, but it lacks soul and feels "Good, but safe to the point of boring"
(Note: DA1+2 in mind, reserving opinion on DA:I until I've heard it).
Your "good, but safe to the point of boring" is more or less how I feel about DAI's main soundtrack. It doesn't sound special. It doesn't sound original. As I stated previously, it could have been produced in a number of fantasy soundtracks. I personally felt while some may believe DAO's soundtrack wasn't spectacular, it was far from safe. I'm not sure I could even say I've heard anything similar to what Dragon Age did before.
SomeoneStoleMyName, daniyaM et woj0404 aiment ceci
You are certainly more than welcome to. I'd just prefer if DAI stayed a bit more true to Dragon Age rather than entirely distancing itself from the previous soundtracks. Imagine Star Wars or Lord of the Rings entirely changing their soundtracks with every individual film. It just doesn't feel right and seems out of place.
thats true, but the door is sorta open since the art style and combat changed between origins and 2, so a bunch of changes between 2 and inquisition isn't too surprising, admittedly i don't like all the changes (mostly the gameplay ones) but i think if they pull it off well then i won't care too much about the changes. i really enjoy the main theme for inquisition. now i don't know if i prefer it over the previous main themes, so far the music for all 3 games has been really good
This is where I confess that the first thing I do in any game, including DA is turn the music off, so I only get to hear music in cut scenes, so how they match the cut scene/story/tone is far more important to me than if I can listen to it as an album.
So I don't think this is a question that can be answered until the game is out. Soundtracks are not something that exist in isolation, they can only be judged as successful in the context of the scenes they overlay.
thats true, but the door is sorta open since the art style and combat changed between origins and 2, so a bunch of changes between 2 and inquisition isn't too surprising, admittedly i don't like all the changes (mostly the gameplay ones) but i think if they pull it off well then i won't care too much about the changes. i really enjoy the main theme for inquisition. now i don't know if i prefer it over the previous main themes, so far the music for all 3 games has been really good
Dragon Age as a franchise has certainly had its fair share of bumps and bruises. BioWare struggled just to get DAI out of development limbo. However, at some point there needs to come a time when BioWare really establishes that identity and sticks with it. Otherwise, I believe they do Dragon Age a disservice if they are noncommittal and aren't willing to maintain some sort of standard and consistency between each game. The best franchises grow and evolve, but their core foundation and principles always match where they originally came from. If you are just a timid feather blowing in the wind, who knows where you will eventually end up? You could be better off, but what's really the likelihood of that outcome?
Who and who? I'm not going to say music in a game does not make a difference, it does. There is music that I'm surprised I like in games, but a change in music, as long as it fits, is not a bad thing. I can't say I've heard a lot of music from DA:I yet, but I'm looking forward to it and I doubt it will be so bad that I'm always thinking of the music from the previous DAs.
This is where I confess that the first thing I do in any game, including DA is turn the music off, so I only get to hear music in cut scenes, so how they match the cut scene/story/tone is far more important to me than if I can listen to it as an album.
So I don't think this is a question that can be answered until the game is out. Soundtracks are not something that exist in isolation, they can only be judged as successful in the context of the scenes they overlay.
This is very true. DAI's soundtrack may fit the context of the game very well. That still doesn't disregard the fact that there is no continuity with the two previous soundtracks at all. DAO and DAII certainly had very little in common, but there was a consistency and identity that tied them together through their soundtracks.
While Dragon Age suffered from being too generic fantasy or coming across as bland or interesting, music was never the issue. It's soundtrack was different from anything else offered in the medium. Now, DAI's soundtrack sounds like something that could have come out of Lord of the Rings, to be quite frank. It's good, but it's essentially Neil Davidge replacing Marty O'Donnell's Halo soundtrack. I like both, but the new really just doesn't have any connection to the old. It would have been one thing to at least build some parallels, but there is nothing left of what Dragon Age was. I see that as an issue, since if anything should have some consistency, it should be the soundtrack.
I disagree. If anything should have consistency, it should be the foundation not the music.
Since you brought up Star Wars, I'll use it as an example:
Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels have soundtrack styles that are as different to the movies' as DAI's soundtrack is to previous DA games. However, they are still clearly in the Star Wars universe and feel like they are in the Star Wars universe. Same thing applies.
Your "good, but safe to the point of boring" is more or less how I feel about DAI's main soundtrack. It doesn't sound special. It doesn't sound original. As I stated previously, it could have been produced in a number of fantasy soundtracks. I personally felt while some may believe DAO's soundtrack wasn't spectacular, it was far from safe. I'm not sure I could even say I've heard anything similar to what Dragon Age did before.
Difference of opinions I guess
I just wish they could go for more... contrast? Like a Orchestra Metal hybrid theme for a boss fight for example. When all the music just weaves into the background without having a real impact on your emotions, then the music has failed imo. So far I havent heard much of DA:I music at all. Hoping they have some surprises for us and not a soundtrack that goes "generic music 1-20"
I prefer Trevor Morris, and that was solidified when I heard this.
There has never been a combat theme that good in Dragon Age, ever. In fact, they were always the weakest part of the soundtrack in the past. Mind you, I do hope the style of some memorable themes like 'I am The One,' 'Rogue Heart' etc. return, but as of now, Trevor Morris is doing nothing but good IMO. We'll see when we hear the full thing.
Undead Han, Dagoth4, PizzaThe Hutt et 2 autres aiment ceci
I disagree. If anything should have consistency, it should be the foundation not the music.
Since you brought up Star Wars, I'll use it as an example:
Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels have soundtrack styles that are as different to the movies' as DAI's soundtrack is to previous DA games. However, they are still clearly in the Star Wars universe and feel like they are in the Star Wars universe. Same thing applies.
Huh? I just pulled up the Star Wars: Rebels theme. They pulled it entirely from the old trilogy. They changed a few notes here and there and modified the pacing. It's essentially still the same Star Wars theme we all know and love.
The same applies to The Clone Wars cartoon and movie. They are clearly from the Star Wars soundtrack with varying modifications and slight alterations. It's still obvious that it's Star Wars nonetheless.
Whereas with DAI, none of the main soundtrack sounds anything similar or familiar to DAO or DA2. It's entirely new and made up specifically for this game. That is my issue, and you merely reinforced my point by using Star Wars. No matter whether it's a film, cartoon show, video game, there are ties and similarities to all of them in terms of the music. DAI does not apply here.
Difference of opinions I guess
I just wish they could go for more... contrast? Like a Orchestra Metal hybrid theme for a boss fight for example. When all the music just weaves into the background without having a real impact on your emotions, then the music has failed imo. So far I havent heard much of DA:I music at all. Hoping they have some surprises for us and not a soundtrack that goes "generic music 1-20"
I can agree that, in general, most soundtracks never offer more than mere backdrops to their franchises. Few ever are incorporated in such a way where you really can feel the music applicable and grow with each and ever scene of the story. You may be interested in The Witcher 2 if you are looking for a Orchestra/Metal hybrid soundtrack.
Dragon Age as a franchise has certainly had its fair share of bumps and bruises. BioWare struggled just to get DAI out of development limbo. However, at some point there needs to come a time when BioWare really establishes that identity and sticks with it. Otherwise, I believe they do Dragon Age a disservice if they are noncommittal and aren't willing to maintain some sort of standard and consistency between each game. The best franchises grow and evolve, but their core foundation and principles always match where they originally came from. If you are just a timid feather blowing in the wind, who knows where you will eventually end up? You could be better off, but what's really the likelihood of that outcome?
very true and i agree with that, i liked the changes between origins and 2, but i'm worried about the ones between 2 and inquisition, but we'll have to wait and see. despite my concerns, i'm still hella excited for inquisition.
I'll be quite honest, apart from a select few tracks (most of them a reuse of the menu theme and camp ambient music), the track of Origins wasn't anything special. And I don't remember a single piece from DA2. Yet so far, Trevor Morris's music seems pretty good to me.
It's a bit sad, but Dragon Age never had great music like Mass Effect did. Hopefully it changes this time around.
Huh? I just pulled up the Star Wars: Rebels theme. They pulled it entirely from the old trilogy. They changed a few notes here and there and modified the pacing. It's essentially still the same Star Wars theme we all know and love.
*snip*
The same applies to The Clone Wars cartoon and movie. They are clearly from the Star Wars soundtrack with varying modifications and slight alterations. It's still obvious that it's Star Wars nonetheless.
*snip*
Whereas with DAI, none of the main soundtrack sounds anything similar or familiar to DAO or DA2. It's entirely new and made up specifically for this game. That is my issue, and you merely reinforced my point by using Star Wars. No matter whether it's a film, cartoon show, video game, there are ties and similarities to all of them in terms of the music. DAI does not apply here.
I said soundtracks, not themes. If one piece is enough to have them be similar, then your whole point becomes moot since there has been at least one piece from DAI that matches previous games.
I prefer Trevor Morris, and that was solidified when I heard this.
There has never been a combat theme that good in Dragon Age, ever. In fact, they were always the weakest part of the soundtrack in the past. Mind you, I do hope the style of some memorable themes like 'I am The One,' 'Rogue Heart' etc. return, but as of now, Trevor Morris is doing nothing but good IMO. We'll see when we hear the full thing.
What's odd about this particular song is it sounds like it came straight out of Halo 4 with the removal of synthesizers and some slight tweaks to make it sound more like fantasy. Trevor Morris must have been listening a lot to Neil Davidge:
What's odd about this particular song is it sounds like it came straight out of Halo 4 with the removal of synthesizers and some slight tweaks to make it sound more like fantasy. Trevor Morris must have been listening a lot to Neil Davidge:
Hmm...not hearing it. If anything, it reminds me of some of The Witcher's combat themes with the vocals, but even that is vague.
I said soundtracks, not themes. If one piece is enough to have them be similar, then your whole point becomes moot since there has been at least one piece from DAI that matches previous games.
Feel free to link that one piece, but you are still missing the point. The main theme sets the tone for the entire soundtrack. If there is ever continuity when dealing with franchises, you are most likely going to hear it in the main theme and reverberated throughout the rest of the soundtrack in subtle tones. Listen to the main theme in DAO and DA2. There are a lot of similarities between the two at certain points, even though their tone is very much different. There is zero connection between DAO/DA2 and DAI. There certainly isn't anything to be found in the main theme, and I haven't heard anything remotely similar in any of the other tracks BioWare has used.
Hmm...not hearing it. If anything, it reminds me of some of The Witcher's combat themes with the vocals, but even that is vague.
Listen to the tempo and the main beat. They are almost identical, particularly in the earlier and latter parts of the Halo 4 piece. The only aspects that really set them apart is one is heavily focused on strings and orchestral sounds while the other is focusing on synthesizers. Strip away the coating above and the base is more or less the same.
I had to do a bit of a double-take when I saw two threads supporting Inon Zur over Trevor Morris for DA composer started by someone with "Revan" in their username. One of life's small surrealist moments.
I had to do a bit of a double-take when I saw two threads supporting Inon Zur over Trevor Morris for DA composer started by someone with "Revan" in their username. One of life's small surrealist moments.
Not that this is really relevant to the discussion, but this is the first thread I've personally made about the soundtrack. If another person started one previously, I wasn't aware of it and certainly it hasn't been circulating this forum actively. Either way, music does matter. It can make or break a game. That is even more important for Dragon Age which has suffered an identity crisis since its inception.
So far I like what I've heard from Trevor Morris's compositions; "Combat theme", "Lead them or Fall" and "Main theme" are all imho Morrowind-quality of epicness.
Inon Zur hands down. Even if it was only a few. Those few blow Trevor Morris out of the water.
Right there with you. It's quality that matters, not quantity.
I thought people were joking about there being another thread identical to this one by another "Revan." Wow lol. His profile is a picture of Darth Nihilus though, and he is a "Revanchist," which refers to devout followers of Revan. My profile and name are actually direct ties to Revan himself!
So far I like what I've heard from Trevor Morris's compositions; "Combat theme", "Lead them or Fall" and "Main theme" are all imho Morrowind-quality of epicness.
Why not just hire Jeremy Soule if we want Morrowind-quality? Then again, I'd rather Jeremy Soule stick to The Elder Scrolls, as I'd rather not mix different fantasy franchises.
For me it's less about being "epic" and more about being "unique." Ever since Jeremy Soule took over as the lead composer for TES since Morrowind, he has absolutely re-imagined the entire franchise. But it's not just generic fantasy epic combat music either. When you hear music from Skyrim, Oblivion, or Morrowind, you can tell it's all part of the same universe and from the same composer.
We had that same uniqueness with the first two Dragon Age games, partially because it was by the same composer. DAI has no correlations at all to its predecessors, which herein lies my issue. Dragon Age was never generic fantasy epic combat music. Now it is.
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