The Role of Music in World of Warcraft

[Jeremiah]

You never really get to appreciate the music in World of Warcraft. Most people I've spoken to play with the game music off, though that does not account for the entirety of players. I just find the music repetitive and distracting, as I spend most of my time in battlegrounds where the music isn't absolutely stellar.

Storm Peaks is absolutely breathtaking. You can't really enjoy the immense, overwhelming feel of the zone without listening to the titanic orchestra that accompanies it. I wasn't too impressed with the Icecrown music, but it certainly did have a very nefarious feel to it. Howling Fjord has a collection of some of the arguably best instrumental pieces in the game. Nothing stands out in regards to Borean Tundra, and I can't even conjure up a memory of that zone's music.

The looming orchestrals of Ulduar were absolutely brillaint. "Titan Orchestra", or the theme of the Iron Dwarves, got its own reprisal in the new Cataclysm theme, "The Shattering". This new version of the theme is packed with beautiful, harmonized choirs and blaring brass; come to think of it, I'd love to see some video recordings of the "Making Of" or World of Warcraft's soundtrack.

Mentioning World of Warcraft music, we can't forget the epic track "Invincible" that was released with Blizzard's Battlecry Mosaic. With some beautiful psuedo-Icelandic vocals and amazing female choirs, this invoked visions of wind-kissed peaks and bloodied Vrykul hunters nestled amongst the frozen mountains of Northrend.

Playing through the wastelands of Northrend with the music on was how the game designers intended. By turning off the music, you miss part of the experience of immersion in the game. I know for sure that I'll be playing WoW's music during my baby steps into the fog of Cataclysm.

I will conclude this short entry with a question for our readers. Please answer it in the comments section, or in the actual original forum post.

"What is your favorite song in the entire game, and why? Do you have any in-game experiences or memories connected with this specific piece of music?"

[Garry__]

Howling Fjord definitely had the best music in the whole game. I love it in there.

[Jeremiah]

Howling Fjord had amazing music. I have it on my MP3 player as well.

[stoneharry]

My favourite music in the whole of WoW has to be the vanilla login screen music. I remember starting up the game for the first time ever and being met with that, such an epic moment. Brilliant music. The TBC and WOTLK login screen music didn't really feel anywhere near as good, although the Cataclysm one sounds good and has themes from the entire game creating an amazing semantic field that I love. <3 Although I have yet to listen to it properly and can't comment appropriately.

I think people should appreciate the WoW music and just listen to it while questing every now and then - it's amazing what Blizzard do for each zone and how well the music fits... There's not many games with such good music.

[I Hypnotoad I]

WoW Music is good for certain occasions, but when you want to get the job done, pop out your favorite house/tech/trance songs.

[LJN]

The Storm Peaks

1:52 is the best.

[Bolleno]

Goldshire, it has some nice memories when i came there for the first time

[Forgiving]

Stormwind is suuuuuper beast for me at least. also like sholazar.. btw aphel I love how well you are contributing tot he news team, its really fun reading some of your articles.

[Jeremiah]

Stormwind is suuuuuper beast for me at least. also like sholazar.. btw aphel I love how well you are contributing tot he news team, its really fun reading some of your articles.

Thanks dude! It means a lot to hear that people enjoy my articles Stormwind's suite is also amazing.

[Zantas]

WoW Music is good for certain occasions, but when you want to get the job done, pop out your favorite house/tech/trance songs.

Amen
filleer

[The-Eradicator]

My favourite music in the whole of WoW has to be the vanilla login screen music. I remember starting up the game for the first time ever and being met with that, such an epic moment. Brilliant music. The TBC and WOTLK login screen music didn't really feel anywhere near as good, although the Cataclysm one sounds good and has themes from the entire game creating an amazing semantic field that I love. <3 Although I have yet to listen to it properly and can't comment appropriately.

I think people should appreciate the WoW music and just listen to it while questing every now and then - it's amazing what Blizzard do for each zone and how well the music fits... There's not many games with such good music.

This. To me, the classic login music is iconic of the series, and expresses something the game seems to have lost: Warcraft.