I have been thinking about this ever since watching some Warcraft matches again. I was like, what's that thing Warcraft does better then its space marine counterpart? It was music. I realized that it made up a rather big part of the experience, while my thoughts always went after solely the graphics before. So time for an open poll: what's the best music you've even seen in an rts game? I tend to lean to Warcraft 3. Specifically Night Elves. It doesn't really distract me, but it sounds really good. The whole soundtrack of Emperor: Battle for Dune is the best ever, though. Can't remember the name of the race, but it wasn't Harkonen nor Atredies. (Edit) Ah, the Ordos. To bad it always distracted me, resulting in lost games. (music volume way up, sfx way down = not hearing warning sounds) Oh, and Red Alert 2. To bad the expansion took away all the good tracks. :/
In the age of chaos, two batches battled for dominance. Seriously though, Dawn of War II has to be my favourite soundtrack. It just sets the stage for the gameplay.
I like the Space Marine theme. Just youtube searched it. Good thing that the sound quality is at least decent.
My memories of RTS music other than WarCraft and StarCraft are rather limited. So, I'm just going to say Rise Of Legends since that's what's stuck in my mind the most.
1st place: Warcraft 2 HANDS DOWN (I ocasionally listen to the MIDIs because they're epic) 2nd place: Red Alert 1 and 2. Only a few good tracks but those are sublime. 3rd place: Starcraft (Terran songs ftw)
blizzard rts games use a form of classical music. Relatively weak melodies, but very atmospheric. In fact the less melody the better for me. Typically these themes go through several phases communicating fear, pulse, pride, emptiness, tedium, and strangeness. I love Protoss theme 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjQFaf9xHZg and Zerg theme 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJDw763q3n4 Those are my favourites. The middle half of Protoss theme 1 is okay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FYHNLi63Ws
For now from what I remember, I have to say that World War II Panzer claws had some very nice musical pieces. It classical style music but it was very well done.
The Command & Conquer series has some great tracks. I visit the Frank Klapecki website and pick out the best ones.
Homeworld 2 For me, without any doubt, the HomeWorld 2 tracks, highlighting Battle of the Keepers and Sajuuk. Homeworld2 is a really, really good game: Battle of The Keepers (start playing at the end of the movie): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATIHXt01xlU Sajuuk (it starts at about 1:46): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQqUVM6b5XU I thought it would be nicer to show the soundtrack with the gameplay, sou you guys can feel the mood of the game ;-)
I mentioned the game, but it was to distracting. That's what makes rts game music different from other genres. It has to add to the atmosphere and have a high cool factor, but it must not be distracting. Hell's March was keeping me from playing the game with full concentration. >_>
The best, I dunno...my fondest is easily from the original C&C which is incidentally my first rts. http://www.mirsoft.info/gmb/music_info.php?id_file=MTI5MA==
1st: StarCraft: 1a: Terran Melodic theme ??. 1b: Cinematic: The Ascension music playing while DuGalle is recounting his final message to Helena, and while marine outposts are being overrun. 1c: Terran Brood War Melodic theme. 1d: Protoss Brood War Melodic theme. 1e: Zerg Brood War Melodic theme. 2nd: WarCraft III. 2a: lol 'Power of the Horde'. 2b: Orc 2. 2c: 'Lich King Theme'. 2d: 'Pursuit'. 2e: 'Doom'.
1st: StarCraft: 1a: Terran Melodic theme ??. 1b: Cinematic: The Ascension music playing while DuGalle is recounting his final message to Helena, and while marine outposts are being overrun. 1c: Terran Brood War Melodic theme. 1d: Protoss Brood War Melodic theme. 1e: Zerg Brood War Melodic theme. 2nd: WarCraft III. 2a: lol 'Power of the Horde'. 2b: Orc 2. 2c: 'Lich King Theme'. 2d: 'Pursuit'. 2e: 'Doom'.
When I mentioned the Command And Conquer series I SPECIFICALLY meant Hell March from RA1. There's also one called 'In Deep' From RA2 which is really awesome. I would usually pause the game whenever Hell March was playing just to bang my head for a few seconds.
Here are some of my favorite RTS songs outside of Blizzard games: C&C - Act on Instinct http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVNubbPiZAU C&C Tiberian Sun - Map Theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTcZ6-H5rqI C&C Red Alert 2 - Grinder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7jSig5_N3o C&C Red Alert 3 - Shock and Awe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3f6WqoWylU&feature=related C&C Red Alert 3 Uprising - Yuriko's Theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZO61hWFeC8 Dawn of War 2 - Forged in Battle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OikrIxAcPu4 Dawn of War 2 - Khaine's Wrath http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJpPzjHkDUs
Red Alert 2 +3, i'm not sure what they're called, but the battle theme certainly enhances the gaming experience. It is a pity teching is a large part of the game and early game units are mostly redundant in later tiers.
