The Music of BG

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To be honest the BG music mostly sucks balls, so I always mute it and open up an RP playlist on winamp. I've come to think that the music tends to define the gameplay.

For instance, I tend to play the more dramatic roles in BG, because honestly Charname's life has not been the most enjoyable since he's left Candlekeep. There's a great sadness in his heart since that innocence has been taken from him and I reflect that in the music I choose to put in the playlist. Songs like Soldier Side (System of a Down) or Time (By Pink Floyd played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra), etc. All these songs just set the mood that makes the game seem so much more real.

Likewise having a more foolish character would lead to different music, but overall I think having specific music has become a very very important part of the RP experience for me. It's just as important as the banter and has an affect on the choices I make.

Like all my other threads this is an opinion one, so please, post your opinions on the subject, I always find them interesting and always try out many of them. This specific thread is about the music of BG, (whether it's the actual music or music you play or don't play), and not about soundsets and portraits. Those are obviously customization features that do a great deal of benefit to the experience .

 

I have never considered playing different music whilst playing BGII. I usually have the volume down pretty low so I can't actually even remember what the BGII music is like anyway. But I'm sure it would be nice to play with some music that inspires the right feeling for you.

 

The BG2 music works very well for me. Some tracks I think are brilliant in their own right, and I sometimes listen to them while working on my desktop.

This thread has inspired me. I've got it playing right now!

 

I think the music is generally well-done and sets a mood more appropriate to the game than the titles you mentioned. Of course, this is all a matter of opinion and if System of a Down and Pink Floyd work for you, then by all means, have at it.

While on the topic of music, I must say that the music that comes with the Imoen Romance mod is some of the best I've heard in the series, despite it not being official. It does an excellent job at setting the mood and all in all is just pleasing to listen to.

 

I live with it. Coming from an era of CPU hogging games, I don't play other music over any game or use alt+tab to swap windows. After playing 90% of the Bioware/BIS games, the music melds together.

 

Are you talking about BG1 or 2? If your're talking about the original, I really loved that soundtrack. I tried tutu some time later, and when I heard the music, the whole feeling of BG1 came back to me. BG2's music is good, but not nearly as good as the originals

 

There's music in the game? I've clearly played too long to notice it anymore...

 

BG2 battle music is great! It is cool, full with action and very inspiring! Dragon or special encounter musics are awesome too!

Romance musics are cute! Favourite is Viccy, full with mysteries, and is close to the main opening theme music. Aerie's is just too chilidish and Jaheria's is too mature...

I love this music, when you kill Gromnir and his men, Melisan comes and screams...that music playing there is sad and cool! My favourite music! Such a beautiful soothing and sad melody!

 

I don't think I could really listen to "modern" music whilst playing a game set in a medieval setting, or really any lyric-filled music (apart from some of those fun folk-tavern songs you can get ). Instrumental music does well with a game like this, and indeed all games set in the past (or a comparison of).

 

Music is good, but I rather listen to any other playlist / radio / whatewher than enjoy the same tune 63789 time in a row. But from the other side, I'm becoming a freak who listen any kind of music in any situation and any mood.

 

I'm not particularly fond of BG2's music either, but I've heard it so much that I'm also pretty well desensitised to it. I wouldn't use my normal playlist as a substitute though. I suspect I'd find it a lot harder to suspend disbelief with Coldplay or Faith No More jamming along as I bring down Kangaxx.

Planescape: Torment had fairly good music in my opinion, though.

 

@Prine - The music in Planescape:Torment is the most moving, dramatic music I have ever heard. I love it!

I had some mod that was playing Pirates of the Caribbean music - that went pretty well with the game. Maybe LOtR music would fit well, too.

I love all of the romance music too. They all go really well with the characters. Viconia's is a bit too similar to the main theme though, but it goes a treat with her personality. I don't like Jaheira's though. It is just...annoying. I think that Britney Spears' song "Everytime" was written about Aerie - all of the lyrics (nearly) are in some way like Aerie. Weird or what?

[ January 24, 2006, 19:43: Message edited by: Moon Elf ]

 

I tend to play a lot of instramental music, (ie: the Pink Floyd I play is the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing Time, or Another Brick in the Wall without lyrics, and changed to be a piece of music that... well... you really have to hear if you love the BG music.)

Thing is that I'm getting used to rock + medieval stuff from all the fantasy/sci-fi movies coming out since the late 90's and it really does fit better than it seems.