Originally Published by Music4Games.net
Released in December of 2008 by Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else and Sumthing Digital comes Halo Trilogy – The Complete Original Soundtracks. And you guessed it, it’s a collection of all the original music produced for the best selling series in a sweet silver “box-set” with a promo DVD showcasing 4 new tracks from Halo Wars and some preview vids as well. This is something most Halo fans would have loved to received under the Christmas tree. But in case you missed it, we thought we’d divulge a bit more info on the contents of the package as well as provide spiffy links if you so choose to purchase said package because that’s how we roll…
Ok, so the box looks killer. It’s definitely something you want to put on a shelf, desk or simply alongside your other games. Distributing a release like this helps legitimize the game soundtrack as a whole. Ok yeah, it’s Halo but we know Bungie, Sumthing Else, and O’Donnell and Salvatore aren’t going to rest on their laurels. And these guys have HUGE laurels, it’s only the drive and love of their product that we get to see things like this on a commercial level… Ok, I’m sure there’s money involved somewhere too, plus the benefit of promoting the 360 exclusive release of Halo Wars, an RTS developed by Ensemble Studios. Some more liner notes or non-box artwork would have been cool, but this is a musical showcase that doesn’t disappoint.
Man, what else can I say about the Halo series that we didn’t already go over here on Music4Games? We do have the reviews of them up lying around, you could saunter on over and catch up. (Post note - I should have some of these reviews available here in the near future!) At the very least I’ll encapsulate some of my current thoughts on my re-listens. It is especially nice for me to hear this music again, I listen to so many soundtracks and usually have so many more in queue for write up I rarely have time to go back and actually enjoy some of these discs. This music holds up real well, and it’s interesting to lay them all next to each other and study their arc of development and production methods. The soundtrack for Halo: Combat Evolved is obviously where it all started, and all of your favorites are definitely here. This was the basis for not only the rest of the soundtracks in the series but I’m sure the direction and integrity of the following two games. It’s use of thematic progression, sense of relevancy, and dynamic feedback is of course legendary and is often emulated by games everywhere. Oh yeah, and the monks.
A minor caveat with Halo 2: Volume One…it’s not here. You’re not missing any of the original Halo 2 music though. Volume One showcased cuts of the score intermixed with some third-party, “inspired by” tracks, that were fun for sure but if you want the full, completely original score of the Halo series, it’s addition is not really necessary. I didn’t miss it. Halo 2: Volume 2 however is still as fantastic and “progressive” as it ever was. Back when I reviewed this disc I touched on how memorable these themes are. That certainly goes for the whole series, but for some reason I usually hear people react to the music in Halo 2 than in any other title in the franchise. Steve Vai is of course here in full force, (of course the idea of Steve Vai rocking out to Halo has been replaced by Tommy Tallarico’s guitar wrangling performance, whipping around like Spiderman on the Videogames Live stage by now…) and the guitar still resonates and is definitely the signature instrument of the Halo 2 soundscape.
In an interview with Music4Games around Halo 2: Volume Two’s soundtrack release, Marty O’ Donnell said “I write more Piano music than usually shows up in the Halo soundtracks.” Well if Halo: Combat Evolved featured the monks, and Halo 2 showcased the guitar, then Halo 3 definitely rocks the piano. Featuring lush, true symphonic renditions of classic Halo motifs, the music in Halo 3 truly infects the whole experience with resolution, elegance, and momentous impact. Halo: Combat Evolved set it up, Halo 2 turned the world upside down, Halo 3 provided restoration and balance. Halo 3 soundtrack release featured the same treatment as Halo 2, featuring 2 discs of the music from the game in it’s original entirety, as penned by the composers, as ordered through the game’s story progression.
So essentially you’re getting the Halo Soundtracks with a bonus Halo Wars DVD. This is a great way for Halo fans to really round out their love of the game. Maybe you just got into it all with Halo 3 on the 360, or maybe you’ve dug the games since the beginning but never got any of the soundtracks. Maybe you heard the Halo Wars tracks would be mixed in 5.1 surround. Actually this would be a good time to talk about the Halo Wars Bonus DVD!
Released in December of 2008 by Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else and Sumthing Digital comes Halo Trilogy – The Complete Original Soundtracks. And you guessed it, it’s a collection of all the original music produced for the best selling series in a sweet silver “box-set” with a promo DVD showcasing 4 new tracks from Halo Wars and some preview vids as well. This is something most Halo fans would have loved to received under the Christmas tree. But in case you missed it, we thought we’d divulge a bit more info on the contents of the package as well as provide spiffy links if you so choose to purchase said package because that’s how we roll…
Ok, so the box looks killer. It’s definitely something you want to put on a shelf, desk or simply alongside your other games. Distributing a release like this helps legitimize the game soundtrack as a whole. Ok yeah, it’s Halo but we know Bungie, Sumthing Else, and O’Donnell and Salvatore aren’t going to rest on their laurels. And these guys have HUGE laurels, it’s only the drive and love of their product that we get to see things like this on a commercial level… Ok, I’m sure there’s money involved somewhere too, plus the benefit of promoting the 360 exclusive release of Halo Wars, an RTS developed by Ensemble Studios. Some more liner notes or non-box artwork would have been cool, but this is a musical showcase that doesn’t disappoint.
Man, what else can I say about the Halo series that we didn’t already go over here on Music4Games? We do have the reviews of them up lying around, you could saunter on over and catch up. (Post note - I should have some of these reviews available here in the near future!) At the very least I’ll encapsulate some of my current thoughts on my re-listens. It is especially nice for me to hear this music again, I listen to so many soundtracks and usually have so many more in queue for write up I rarely have time to go back and actually enjoy some of these discs. This music holds up real well, and it’s interesting to lay them all next to each other and study their arc of development and production methods. The soundtrack for Halo: Combat Evolved is obviously where it all started, and all of your favorites are definitely here. This was the basis for not only the rest of the soundtracks in the series but I’m sure the direction and integrity of the following two games. It’s use of thematic progression, sense of relevancy, and dynamic feedback is of course legendary and is often emulated by games everywhere. Oh yeah, and the monks.
A minor caveat with Halo 2: Volume One…it’s not here. You’re not missing any of the original Halo 2 music though. Volume One showcased cuts of the score intermixed with some third-party, “inspired by” tracks, that were fun for sure but if you want the full, completely original score of the Halo series, it’s addition is not really necessary. I didn’t miss it. Halo 2: Volume 2 however is still as fantastic and “progressive” as it ever was. Back when I reviewed this disc I touched on how memorable these themes are. That certainly goes for the whole series, but for some reason I usually hear people react to the music in Halo 2 than in any other title in the franchise. Steve Vai is of course here in full force, (of course the idea of Steve Vai rocking out to Halo has been replaced by Tommy Tallarico’s guitar wrangling performance, whipping around like Spiderman on the Videogames Live stage by now…) and the guitar still resonates and is definitely the signature instrument of the Halo 2 soundscape.
In an interview with Music4Games around Halo 2: Volume Two’s soundtrack release, Marty O’ Donnell said “I write more Piano music than usually shows up in the Halo soundtracks.” Well if Halo: Combat Evolved featured the monks, and Halo 2 showcased the guitar, then Halo 3 definitely rocks the piano. Featuring lush, true symphonic renditions of classic Halo motifs, the music in Halo 3 truly infects the whole experience with resolution, elegance, and momentous impact. Halo: Combat Evolved set it up, Halo 2 turned the world upside down, Halo 3 provided restoration and balance. Halo 3 soundtrack release featured the same treatment as Halo 2, featuring 2 discs of the music from the game in it’s original entirety, as penned by the composers, as ordered through the game’s story progression.
So essentially you’re getting the Halo Soundtracks with a bonus Halo Wars DVD. This is a great way for Halo fans to really round out their love of the game. Maybe you just got into it all with Halo 3 on the 360, or maybe you’ve dug the games since the beginning but never got any of the soundtracks. Maybe you heard the Halo Wars tracks would be mixed in 5.1 surround. Actually this would be a good time to talk about the Halo Wars Bonus DVD!
Rounding out the package is the Halo Wars Bonus DVD. The disc includes a spiffy behind the scenes soundtrack production montage vid set to the Halo Wars main theme, the 5-minute opening cinematic of Halo Wars, and of course 4 preview tracks mixed in 5.1 surround. Chances are, when the official Halo Wars soundtrack comes out it won’t be in 5.1, and the only way you’ll hear it as such might be in-game. I’m not the biggest fan of 5.1 mixes in general, but some have surprised me and really intrigued me to become a fan. The mixes here are subtle, nothing too dramatically panned that I could tell. The music is rich and full and truly feels like an extension of the Halo series. Stephen Rippy picks up where Halo 3’s soundtrack left off with the piano and has created a motif all of it’s own. If you hadn’t told me, I would have simply assumed the team of O’Donnell and Salvatore were at it again here. I think it’s a fantastic compliment and should assure Halo fans and fans of Halo music that their beloved franchise, their collective, cherished experiences are in good hands with Rippy.
But we’ll have a good report on the Halo Wars soundtrack when it hits. In the meantime, consider adding this excellent package to your game music arsenal. Currently, it’s actually the cheapest way to own all three Halo soundtracks at once. Thanks Sumthing, Bungie, O’Donnel and Salvatore, and Ensemble Studios for such a quality, well-deserved release.
But we’ll have a good report on the Halo Wars soundtrack when it hits. In the meantime, consider adding this excellent package to your game music arsenal. Currently, it’s actually the cheapest way to own all three Halo soundtracks at once. Thanks Sumthing, Bungie, O’Donnel and Salvatore, and Ensemble Studios for such a quality, well-deserved release.