Battle Music

[ArtillerySmoke]

For those of you who have played the demo (I've been lazy. Haven't even installed Steam or DoW2 yet) - How is the battle music?

I've always thought the original MTW had the best battle music, although finding the soundtrack online has been difficult to say the last.

Any opinions on it, or links to samples?

Thanks

[quadalpha]

I thought it was pretty unremarkable. Interesting feature: the music volume goes down (a lot) when you fast forward.

[ArtillerySmoke]

I thought it was pretty unremarkable. Interesting feature: the music volume goes down (a lot) when you fast forward.

meh.

Is it similar to M2's style, or is it some new unique flavor of it's own given the time period?

[Tellos Athenaios]

It's very much unlike M2TW or RTW for that matter.

[Incongruous]

could you describe it?
Is it period military music? Kind of like this by Lully https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81bxIH9uvhk, say from 00:49 onwards?

Or this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXmljXjwZko&feature=related

Or is it an attempt to convey the spirit of the period's battles through a more modern concept, aka the epic movie soundtrack style?

[Mailman653]

The last two times I played I shut the music off, something about just hearing the envrioment, the birds, trees in the wind, musket fire and drums, was all I needed to get into the atmosphere.

[Hollerbach]

I've always thought the original MTW had the best battle music, although finding the soundtrack online has been difficult to say the last.


I can't remember noticing the music much when playing MTW, but I do recall the first time I played the MTW demo (I hadn't played STW before playing this). The thing that really struck me was how good the music was, not just the soundtrack itself but the way it adapted to what was going on in the battle. A mate of mine was watching me play the first time and we were both amazed.

Now that I think of it I don't know that I've ever noticed the music much since then in any TW game. Maybe I should pay more attention to it, as it was very cool!

I've played the ETW demo once (haven't had much time since downloading) and I didn't notice the music, but maybe it was subliminally enhancing the atmosphere?

[Vlad Tzepes]

Music seemed okay to me, but didn't give me any thrill - but then, I assume it'll be more in the actual game.

As for the TW series music&sound combination, I find that nothing came even close to the phenomenal atmosphere in Shogun.

[BeeSting]

I've been turning the music off on the demo...

RTW and MTW2 was much better.

[BeeSting]

Music seemed okay to me, but didn't give me any thrill - but then, I assume it'll be more in the actual game.

As for the TW series music&sound combination, I find that nothing came even close to the phenomenal atmosphere in Shogun.

Ah, shogun was the best.

[Hollerbach]

The Shogun battle and campaign music was good, but the victory music got pretty annoying I remember. You know the "Bata Bata Boyong Boyong Boyong Bata Bata Boyong etc" one. The weird (and slightly un PC) 'my rord de enemy general has forsaken his onor and is fleeing like a whipped got' never got tired though!

[Sir Beane]

I thought the ETW music was good. It's nothing very memorable but it fits the time period and does the job of providing atmoshpere for a battle.

It's a shame that Total Wa games don't have signature theme music like Age of Empires or the Elder Scrolls games do.

[ollicompolli]

The E:TW music is mediocre compared to Rome (one of the best sooundtracks ever) or even Medieval 1 or 2 ( each one had a really good battle theme, the rest was good, but not excellent).

I find it much more enjoyable to turn off the music altogerther and hear the eagles shrieking in the air, the artillery guns explosion and the charge of thousands of stocky men.
Or just play Megadeth in the background.

[Forward Observer]

All the music tracks for the total war games, from Shogun through Medieval 2 and all the expansions, were composed by Canadian born Jeff Van Dyck. His wife is also featured in some of the vocals.

Here is his site with lots of clips from the various games he has done music for.

http://jeffvandyck.com/

Since I do not see Empires listed at his site, either it has not been updated or Creative may have not used him for Empires. One of you guys who have the game will have to check the credits to see. There is one line about working on the next game, but only the movie clips seem to be working, so it apears that his site may not be up to date.


If he was not involved with the new game it will be a shame, for his work has always been a major element that simply made all the total war games that much more memorable.

Cheers

P.S. My copy of the special edition of the game should arrive today from Amazon, but since my new custom PC will not be here before Friday the 13th (crap, I hope that isn't a bad sign) all I will be able to do is watch the history channel DVD and look at the map and manual.