Music in PoE

Hi all,

I was reading all the stuff about the sacrifice of the vaal, and was getting very exited for new areas to explore and enemies to meet, even more so than using and experimenting with all the new corrupted gear and stuff. This made me think of the good old days where i was totally immersed in the atmosphere of the only game worth comparing with poe, d2.

The point i wanted to make is, that while the gameplay of poe blows that every other action-rpg out of the water, the atmosphere in the game does not (yet).

I can think of three elements which totally made the atmosphere in d2 for me (only game i ever felt so strongly connected with the lore and general ingame atmosphere): the written lore, the music, the cut-sceens. I think the written lore is there in poe, i like the (somewhat meagre storyline) but poe lacks when it comes to music, and obviously cut-scenes. I want to discuss the music with you all, hopefully grab some attention from ggg in the process.

While the music does an absolutely outstanding job of creating a spooky and horror-like atmosphere in poe, it lacks two things: variety and feel-good music.

It took me quite a while to figure out the exact things that made the d2 music to what it is, but i think i got it now. All the soundtracks in poe are 'background music', which in itself is not bad at all, but i think it deserves more, i think it certainly has the potential to do more. What it needs is some songs that you actually WANT to hear, instead of just hear on the background, some music that makes you wanna stay in that area. What other location to put the most appealing music to, then the towns where every player spends a lot of time. This is what d2 did as well, i noticed that all towns in d2 actually have pleasant music (instead of just echoing drums, dripping-in-a-cave and other atmosperic noises for when you're out in the wild, not in a populated town). What it really needs is some gripping theme songs that stand out. Enough talk, just hear for yourself. I wrote down my feeling with each song to mark the difference between the two games:

Act 1 poe (while this is one of the better songs in poe, i don't like to listen to it when i'm just comfortably standing in town, talking to people and identifying and selling my loot. Though on the other side, when it's your absolutely first time in lioneye's watch its more appropriate i think):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5-1iV27kik
Act 1 d2 (absolutely beautiful, makes you feel good and at ease):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO-vG8oPhhM

Act 2 poe (first minute feels good and exciting (same with sarn encampment act 3), after that its just horribly boring and starts to get annoying):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoSc7yUSlYk
Act 2 d2 (first exciting, adventurous, exotic, after that relaxed and a joy to listen to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0QbfvdmZsA

Those are just two examples. There are plenty more absolutely gripping songs in d2 (tristram village for example). I think the main point is, that the music in poe NEVER is relaxing and enjoyable, it's always either boring and/or (imo) annoying or just horror-like (and good at that!). I know the game has to feel dark and gritty, but without light how do you know what's dark i guess is what you could say, it needs some compensation, some simple variety (there are no instrumental guitars in poe music, these was one of the instruments that added so incredibly much flavour to some d2 songs). I don't even play the music anymore nowadays because i just can't stand all the 'dark' music anymore, makes me feel uneasy (where it's not supposed to).

So, do you people agree with me? Do you find the music entertaining, a joy to listen to even though you've played the game for hundreds of hours already, or have you gotten bored of it to the point where it's just an uncomfortable background noise which you rather mute like myself?

ps.

Another awesome song, Harrogath town, act 5 d2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=layjWs2IpS4

(Oh and about the cut-scenes, i know it costs a lot of money, but i myself am willing to pay a regular retailprice for the addition of such things, but thats another whole topic :P)

Well, it's hard to disagree. The music Matt Uelmen created was amazing, he has his own artistic sound which you can hear in all the pieces. Adgio Hutchings is not bad at all, but the music is way too electronic and really lacks melody. But it's probably not cheap to hire an experienced composer for the task :)

The music in Grim Dawn is actually pretty neat though: http://www.grimdawn.com/media/Grim%20Dawn%20-%20Lament.mp3
http://www.grimdawn.com/media/Grim%20Dawn%20-%20Remember%20the%20Dead.mp3

"

HerrFlickk wrote:

This is what d2 did as well, i noticed that all towns in d2 actually have pleasant music (instead of just echoing drums, dripping-in-a-cave and other atmosperic noises for when you're out in the wild, not in a populated town). What it really needs is some gripping theme songs that stand out.

I agree on this one. Best example is the Lut Gholein theme. The Sarn and Lioneye's themes should be more calm and relaxing imo. Esp. the (for me unpleasant) Sarn music makes me want to turn off music completely.

It's funny - I was thinking about this the other day, especially in relation to the Lunaris Temple on the way to Piety (I dont think that music fits there well at all).

Overall though...I find the music pretty good, but when you brought up the fact that it seems a little like background music, I had to agree with you. Obviously, comparing anything else to the genius that Eulman brought to Diablo would make it seem terrible, but I feel that new music in certain areas could improve the atmosphere of the game. I listened to some of the Town music that you posted and actually really enjoyed it and got a similar feeling to how I feel when listening to D2's music.

Outside of that though, I can't actually picture the music for Sarn or any of the areas outside of town. That implies that I either don't play enough PoE or that the music is too much in the background. I can specifically recall the music from certain areas of D2 (Harem was great, Kurast Docks, Tristram, Harrogath...all of it).

I don't know if they'll ever update the music though. I guess that because GGG isn't some massive, multi-billion Dollar company, the amount of money they can pour into various developments is limited and other things should be focused on first, such as adding cinematics (something I feel the game lacks hugely), changing some of the NPC voice acting and ADDING PANTS TO THE 3D MODELS! (PAAAAAAANTS!)

But! You've got my +0.5!

:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub_Igr_L-rw

god!

I totally agree about the lack of atmosphere, I don't pay much attention to the music but POE desperately needs better theme/atmosphere

I never played the game with the sound on, i think that says enough.
i'd love something like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tCU0wVoyOk but a lot calmer, but eh.. that wouldn't fit the game

I have to disagree for some part. I've played over 700 hours and I nearly always play with music on and I'm not tired of it. One exception is the Act 3 town music though, but that's because that's the zone people generally spend the most time in ;)

I don't really need 'feel good' music in a game like this, if I really want to 'feel good' I'll put up some of my favorite metal music to feel super strong (and most likely RIP).

Crypt/catacomb music is still my favorite and also the warden music. The game could use a bit more of that warden-style adrenaline pumping music for some certain fights though.

I've listened to some D2 music while playing PoE recently to see how it felt, but honestly I didn't feel the need to do it again. Yes some of those parts are epic but there is also a lot of annoying trash in there as well which PoE doesn't have. Nostalgia is a powerful feeling though and I can get goosebumps from music I heard a lot in a game 10+ years ago. I still listen to Dune 2 music for example just because it reminds me of the days I started gaming, but that doesn't mean that music was better than the game music that is made now.

i think the atmosphere is awesome BECAUSE of the music. the music fits perfect to the game style. i dont know how feel good music would fit in a cutthroat atmosphere. but i know it would be the first time i would turn the music off.
GGG keep on that style please. its the part i love the most on that game.

"

PoorJoy wrote:

i think the atmosphere is awesome BECAUSE of the music. the music fits perfect to the game style. i dont know how feel good music would fit in a cutthroat atmosphere. but i know it would be the first time i would turn the music off.
GGG keep on that style please. its the part i love the most on that game.

I think it helps serve more as a pacing mechanic. If the atmosphere is always tense then it will drag on the player and make the more important events like the piety fights seem just like any other fight. At least the home towns past lions watch i feel should be a bit more upbeat. I personally like the first zone because it really sets that depressing mood, which is apt for the situation. Sarn...probably should be a bit more upbeat given the lighting and general atmosphere of the city.