MMO Music
Following in the vein of gaming aesthetics in my previous editorial, I decided I’d move on to another important aspect of MMORPGs. This one isn’t as immediately integral as graphics and animations, but it does play a part in setting the mood and tone of a game, even though it might be something we all just turn off eventually. I’m talking, of course, about the game’s musical score, which in an MMO is something that just fades into the background eventually, and is something we rarely even think about.
S4 League had great Techno music which fit the game nicely
There are a few MMOs that have memorable musical scores, though. One of my favorites is the music from the now classic Ragnarok Online, a game I played ages ago, and whose music I still have saved on my hard drive. Something about those plucky, upbeat tunes just never got old to me, and it fit in with the game’s bright, cartoony art style perfectly. It’s music I never got sick of listening to, even after a month of playing the game and exploring the same areas. That is a successful MMORPG musical score!
Ragnarok Online had great background Music
Of course, the catchy soundtrack has been a video game staple since the dawn of gaming. When you’re sitting still, focusing on something and doing the same levels or exploring the same areas repeatedly, you don’t want the music to be grating or obnoxious (well, no one wants music to be grating or obnoxious period), and you don’t want there to be no music at all, because that would just be boring. MMORPGs have to make especially moody, ambient musical tracks that fit in very appropriately with the game’s theme and the area you’re in, so as not to take over the scene, but to enhance it. Most games do a pretty good job of this, I find.
Sword 2 Has some of the best background music of any MMORPG!
Something I’m curious about is whether or not any of you have heard a song in an MMORPG, F2P or otherwise, that you absolutely couldn’t stand. Was there one you really like? What about an MMORPG soundtrack in general which you really enjoyed, or really hated? There are going to be plenty of you who probably just turn the music off right away and play your own in the background, which is something I know I’ve done multiple times. Developers are beginning to understand this, and even provide built-in media player compatibility within the games engine, to prevent needless alt-tabbing to fiddle with your playlist.
Project Powder from OutSpark Actually had Great Music Too. The tunes fit the snowboarding theme nicely
So let’s hear it. Are there any games out there that have music you never get sick of? Tell us about them. Are there any games out there that just need to have the sound turned off or you’ll lose your mind and do something terrible to yourself and/or others? Warn us about them! Of course, I’d also love to know what your favorite playlists are for playing games, if there are any at all. Does your playlist change depending on the game? The character? Share!
By, B. Olivia
September 13, 2010
#
Well in my opinion the best mmo music for me, has to go to my first mmorpg “Runescape” there Tracks keep you in the mood.
September 14, 2010
#1
Rune scape is good but the best is Blitz 1941. Best game ever although ReMo gave it a poor rating. =(
September 15, 2010
#2
yeah,runescape does it for me,it is the absolute best,maKES YOU FEEL NOSTTALGIC AFTER A FEW DAYS of playing only,but in other videogames i generaly turn the music off and listen to trash metal while grinding,its less boring that way
September 13, 2010
#3
The best MMO background music i’ve listened is the one from Sword 2 (Granado Espada). I have quit the game a long ago, but I still listen to the soundtrack. There so many different music styles on that game that varies depending on the location.
It could made my grinding less boring =).
September 13, 2010
#4
Sword2 has some decent background musics, but my favorite is Talesweaver.
For those of you who don’t know Talesweaver, go youtube it. (Korean MMORPG, similar to Ragnarok but way better)
Simply type ‘Talesweaver Ost’, and you will see tons of music videos. =)
September 13, 2010
#5
Best MMO music for me is the music in Ultima Online (Nostalgia 4tw) and the Ragnarok Music =].
September 13, 2010
#6
I found that AVA has the best MMOFPS music. Like when your about to go to battle, the music changes so it makes people tense up saying “hurry up! Start!” lol. The intro music is pretty cool. It goes on for 8 minutes! The music that is in during game is pretty neat too. They always give you fast paced music during the end of the round to tense you up and let you know that the game is coming to a close soon. And in those Co-Op missions, I found that the weird out of place techno music is kind of fun to listen to while killing those mutant soldiers or prisoners that has zombie like eyes.
I don’t know why, but Runescape music seems to be catchy. But it still sounds like 16 bit Super Nintendo music. Which kind of ruins the music of the game. But if they improve that, it would be pretty interesting to listen to on a iPod.
September 13, 2010
#7
The best mmo music is the media player from all points bulletin… maybe because you can import your music aswell
September 13, 2010
#8
the best mmo music is from sword 2 i downloaded that music because its the best
September 13, 2010
#9
BGM from S4 League is from a game made by the same company (Pentavision) called DJMAX. Its a GREAT game, one of the best rythem games out there for the psp, i recommend it to anyone, the music is FANTASTIC.
September 13, 2010
#10
Agreed. The S4 Music is phenomenal. Fits the game so well – and it’s something you can listen to outside of the game too =]
Those interested in the RO Soundtrack can listen to it here:
http://rpgmusic.org/ragnarok-online
September 20, 2010
#11
That and they include some songs from DJ Max in S4
S4 Music ftw
September 13, 2010
#12
I like maplestory’s music especially in ludibrium.
September 13, 2010
#13
I disliked the new music for Megaten, Megaten’s music turned waaay to…something…because it used to give me a feeling at anytime a super strong aggro’d field boss would pop up and beat me to death, now i can use it to fall asleep (specially nakano’s)
September 13, 2010
#14
Guild Wars soundtrack! Epic. Plain Epic.
September 13, 2010
#15
I don’t usually listen to the music in mmo’s… they’re distracting… THOUGH, I do enjoy all the time and effort put into the creation of the music. and there is a time and place and environment for the music. I do agree on that. Though, I mostly mute the music it self, and have the voices/sfx on, and turn on some of my music… Jrock, Christian rock, yeah… good combo right ,lol?
September 13, 2010
#16
I had played Ragnarok Online for nigh on five years – and even now I still have the OST saved on my computer, and I listen to it every now and then. To my tastes, there’s still no game (MMO or otherwise) out there whose music rivals Ragnarok’s.
Other MMOs whose soundtracks caught my fancy include S4League, Perfect World, Aika Online, World of Warcraft, and FFXI. Perhaps a track or two from FlyFF, as well.
I relish immersive gameplay, and I haven’t come across many games with immersion-breaking soundtracks, so I rarely, if ever, turn off the BGM.
September 13, 2010
#17
I think gunz has great music too, one of the tracks of gunz is of my favourite band (i know it because of gunz) it is scream aim fire by bullet for my valentine.
September 13, 2010
#18
I personally like game music in MMO’s
The Ellina theme in Maplestory was one of my favorites. Back then, i would just stay there just to listen to the music. Fits the mood and it’s calming. Other games like LaTale have a decent soundtrack, not one that i could spend all day listening to, but ok. Most games nowadays though have terrible BGM in my opinion
September 13, 2010
#19
two wordz: talisman online
September 13, 2010
#20
Spiral Knights, during its Preview Event on January or February, had really great music. It’s relaxing and with quite a unique style mixing 8-bit-ish chiptunes with orchestra instruments.
September 13, 2010
#21
Probably Ragnarok. Even now, me and my friends listen to it and talk about our adventures when we were still playing. It makes us nostalgic and stuff.
September 13, 2010
#22
Guild Wars had great music.
September 13, 2010
#23
i really like the music in Atlantis, especially the battle music:)
September 13, 2010
#24
Ragnarok and Talesweaver….
September 14, 2010
#25
Granado Espada has the best OST and BGM
LINEAGE II has it too
RAGNAROK II got one of the cool BGM too
REIGN OF REVOLUTION: R2 is even got a better BGM too
Guild wars is EPIC
Final Fantasy still on the rank
Aion the Tower of Eternity will never be left behind, got a good OST and BGM too
Mabinogi has it cool
so there’s my favorite mmorpg music…
September 14, 2010
#26
Defenatly PW, such excelent soundtracks
September 14, 2010
#27
i like the music in cabal online,it fits almost perfect in each map
September 14, 2010
#28
I haven’t player Ragnaroc Online or Sword 2, but for now I like the musical scores of Mabinogi and S4 League the most. In Mabinogi you can also make your own music
September 14, 2010
#29
Oh God the typos! We should be able to edit these D:
Or just be more careful.
September 14, 2010
#30
wow hands down
September 14, 2010
#31
I can never get enough of the following things
Quited the game and like someone said the music made the grinding bit more enjoyable I love Nexus 
) then put up my own music behind useally Anime OST (onegai teacher and Mai-Hime) for rpgs 
and FPS I put faster music like some trance/techno or even some rock 
1. The trailer song from mabinogi ITS SOOOOO pretty that you can’t stop listening to it.
2. Guild Wars has some awsome tunes like with the login screen is damn catchy
3. Swords 2 has the BEST music of all
September 14, 2010
#32
whoa great part of my comment got left out >.< Hate it and dont want to fix it either :S
September 14, 2010
#33
The ability to create your own music in Mabinogi was great. Typically, any town you went to, you could hear any of hundreds of songs being played, from made up songs, to Bach, to lady gaga. I know it’s not part of the original sondtrack but it definitely added a lot to the game and kept me playing for at least a couple years.
September 15, 2010
#34
Best music I’ve ever heard ingame was from Runes of Magic and Guild Wars. Rom had music for day and for night in the same zone, it really invoked moods in me. I’m still pissed that RoM got rid of the old opening from open beta/chapter 1, I had even written words to it. Aika’s music is also excellent.
My favorite musical expirince was last year, when I would listen to Spyro Gyra while playing Allods Online. Something about the jazzy saxaphone playing just fit the game, I don’t know why.
September 15, 2010
#35
I liked Aika music
September 17, 2010
#36
i think final fantasy music still best
September 18, 2010
#37
I think LaTale has the best MMO Music
September 21, 2010
#38
I think most of the mmo’s have a preaty good soundtrack, and some have great ones , like Cabal – i love these songs !
November 7, 2010
#39
forgot cabal for that list mabe best mmo music wise