Halo: Original Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Michael Salvatori | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 11, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Sumthing Else
• ASIN: B000067UO7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,587 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Indie Music > Soundtracks > General
  • #10 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > General

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

210 of 213 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you own Halo, or just like great music - This is for you. June 20, 2002

By "knight_premier"

Format:Audio CD

If you played the game, you know just how stunning and well done the music of Halo is. If you haven't... you're missing out on some of the most original and inspiring music of our time.

Here is your chance to right your wrongs and experience the aural beauty of Halo.

To begin, the CD comes with a small foldout, giving you a bit of insight into the authors and the music, as well as a few directions to help you on your way to becoming an adept Bungie fan.

Also, to calm the worries of Xbox owners, there is no data on the disc; so you can play it and rip it to your hard drive whenever you wish.

The music itself is a recomposition of the most dramatic scores in the game, with only a smattering of the transitional music. Which means only the good stuff. Also, the music had to be recombined from it's origional 'freeform' version. Now the tracks are a good set legnth, and will play as a normal score would; rather than loop or remix themselves as they might have in the game. Many of the scores have been combined into 'Suites' containing many smaller tracks from the game, giving the music fluidic transitions that only serve to enhance the experience. Another important point is that the in-game music was somewhat sparser, because it's job was to blend in with the game. The album version, on the other hand, has been spruced up in some slow areas - giving Halo veterans a richer experience than they would expect. Finally, the album includes tracks played only at the Halo expositions at Gamespot and E3; as well as other pieces that were not used in the game, or were hard to find...

The music itself is a broad-range of taste. Transitioning from charged pieces found in 'Brothers in Arms', to the guitar riffs of 'Rock Anthem for Saving the World', and the melodic spell of 'Ambient Wonder'. And anyone who has an afinity to cultural drumbeats will love the soundtrack, which manages to blend electronicly generated sounds with them to further a wonderful piece.

The only track which seems to deviate from perfection is 'Shadows'. It's strong guitar sounds challenge the rest of the album, and may come as a jolt to anyone listening for relaxation. It does however provide a upbeat after the darker music in tracks such as Suite Autumn and the Library Suite, particularly dark levels in the game which were matched with equally cryptic music.

For music lovers, this is a must have at a resonable price. From energetic bursts to get you going, to trance-inducing melodies, and reminiscent pieces to help you contemplate. It features music for almost any occasion, and will provide unequalled awe for anyone who has never played the game. It may even provoke you to buy an Xbox and Halo: Combat Evolved.

For gamers, this will invoke memories of the levels and lessons learned in the stunning game from Bungie. The beautiful vistas of 'Halo', the alien halls of 'The tru7h and Reconcilliation', the amazing tank run in 'Assault on the Control Room', and the fear induced by '343 Guilty Spark'. This music highlights both the places you've been and the places you haven't.

For Bungie fans, this CD is a must-have. The message behind SABABWL, the music from Halo at E3, and an hour of memories from Bungie's latest work of genius. What's there not to like?

Final Note: The music totals to well over 60 minutes of tunes, more than enough time to listen to on a drive to work, or to help pass the time durring some tedious chore. Whatever your intentions, the Halo Soundtrack CD is a great piece of work that will please everyone.

Make the right choice, buy this CD, and learn the Tru7h.

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's finally here! An award winner from Bungie Studios! June 12, 2002

By Jose Miguel Chavez

Format:Audio CD

Many of us have been eagerly awaiting this soundtrack. The music contained within has won awards from Rolling Stone ("Best Original Soundtrack in a game") and the Game Developers Conference ("Gamer's Choice award for Best Audio")

So it's no wonder that Bungie Studios decided to release the music of Halo as a bonafide soundtrack CD. And the world is a better place for it.

In-game, the music beds played dynamically, in rhythm to the player's moves on the battlefield. Coupled with the Xbox's 5.1 Surround Sound capabilities, it made for one of the best marriages of visual and aural 'Shoot-em-up' entertainment. Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori are to be commended for continuing their track-record first started with Riven, The Sequel to Myst, followed by Myth and then Oni.

In producing this soundtrack, Mr. O'Donnell had to lock-down the music. As he states in the liner notes, this creates a different experience for the listener that's familiar with the game, as the music burned on CD now follows a firmly defined beginning, middle, and end. To that end, Mr. O'Donnell has done an admirable job of letting the pieces breath on their own. By also breaking up the sequence of songs into an interspersed list of musical moods, the CD never 'gets into a rut' : each piece is well complemented by the piece before and after it. A moving percussion-heavy track, like "The Covenant Dance" (#14) is bracketed by the more symphonic "Devils... Monsters..." (#13) and synth-heavy "Alien Corridors" (#15). At the same time, the track list does follow the musical progression in the game, so if you're familiar with the storyline, the CD is a great way to re-experience your battle with the evil alien baddies known as The Covenant.

Some tracks only suffer from not being given more time to 'git all funky wit it', like a personal favorite of mine, track #6, "A Walk in the Woods" or track #16, "Rock Anthem for Saving the World" but then pieces like #22, "The Long Run" make up for it, relishing on the percussive grooves of a chase through dangerous territories.

For absolutely beautiful Bass lines, track #10, "Under Cover of Night" and the aforementioned track #6 are worthy contenders. Ambient pieces, hinting at New Age sensibilities, but not allowing itself to 'go too random.' can be found on track #7, "Ambient Wonder" and "Trace Amounts," #9. Some of the anthem/military-like pieces are #3, "Brothers in Arms", #8 "The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe." Be careful not to listen to these pieces while driving to work, or you may just get a speeding ticket!

One truly unique twist that seperates this music from other 'game' music is the addition of actual Monk chants, performed by Mr. O'Donnell, Mr. Salvatori, and other singers. It's a testament to their ingenuity that they pull it off! The signature piece, "Halo", #26, and tracks, #1 "Opening Suite", and #17, "The Maw" show how Monks and their chants can still 'fit' in modern music, no less in a modern console action game!

All in all, this soundtrack is a must have for anyone interesting in instrumental music that touches on different genres and infuses them with a sly personal touch. If you get a chance, you must try it out with the game it was created for, on a home theater setup, natch! You won't regret it!

I eagerly await any future soundtrack work from Bungie Studios and Total Audio.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best musical scores for a game, for music even January 2, 2004

By 16 yr old game addict

Format:Audio CD

This music is great music, even since it originated from a game.

The music on this CD and in the game, Halo, consists of a mixture of Techno, Classical, Horror, and a hint of rock. Mostly, it is fantasy-like music, the typical kind of music you would find in a game, except this music surpasses the various musical scores for other games.

The music in the game, Halo, contributes to the tense, mysterious, suspense-filled aura while you are playing. The music coordinates with the storyline to effectively deliver the impact of the situation to the player. For me, I also experienced the music to coordinate with what was happening around me, where I was, and what was to come ahead.

Though this music isn't exactly something you would "bump up" while you were in a car drive downtown, it makes great background music while you are playing other games, or - in my case - doing homework. Some of the tracks on this CD are actually very relaxing, which may seem ironic given that this game is a sci-fi shooter.

My personal favorites (and a small description):

The Gun pointed at the Head of the Universe: For the Halo fans, this track appears at the end of the second level, "Halo." This track involves a fast pace and consists mostly of drums/bass type instruments. It is definitely geared to a more upbeat combat situation, and the snare drums add a militaristic feeling to it.

Brothers in Arms: Well, listen to the demo for yourself. This is a very militaristic-feeling song that contributes to the Human-Alien conflict in the game. The song sounds as if there is a whole symphany playing in it and is very well done.

The Maw: A relaxing, Gregorian Chant-type song, that expresses neither happiness nor sorrow, yet still ties in both feelings somehow.

Ambient Wonder: A song that fits its title very nicely, it is more geared toward the techno side. It is a slower-paced song with a nice waterfall-effect towards it. It rises and falls throughout the song and the way the notes are played makes it a relaxing piece.

A Walk in the Woods: I have to concur with one of the previous reviewers, this is by far my favorite track, probably the best. It is near the end in the level called "Assault on the Control Room." It is neither slow nor fast paced, but it is more uplifting than most of the songs. The drums aren't as intense as they are in most, but still provide a catchy beat to the song as a whole.

If the Amazon people had any sense left, they would add part of #6: A walk in the Woods, to the demo list, to get people to truly hear what this CD has to offer.

Be warned, this music is not for those of you who would rather turn off the game music, and instead play the heavy-metal or rap stuff in the background instead. This music is definitely geared to the videogame/fantasy music fans, the Halo fanatics like myself, and the true music lovers who are passionate for the song itself and not for what is the style in the day.