Halo: Original Soundtrack

Here is your chance to right your wrongs and experience the aural beauty of Halo.

To begin, the CD comes with a small foldout, giving you a bit of insight into the authors and the music, as well as a few directions to help you on your way to becoming an adept Bungie fan.

Also, to calm the worries of Xbox owners, there is no data on the disc; so you can play it and rip it to your hard drive whenever you wish.

The music itself is a recomposition of the most dramatic scores in the game, with only a smattering of the transitional music. Which means only the good stuff. Also, the music had to be recombined from it's origional 'freeform' version. Now the tracks are a good set legnth, and will play as a normal score would; rather than loop or remix themselves as they might have in the game. Many of the scores have been combined into 'Suites' containing many smaller tracks from the game, giving the music fluidic transitions that only serve to enhance the experience. Another important point is that the in-game music was somewhat sparser, because it's job was to blend in with the game. The album version, on the other hand, has been spruced up in some slow areas - giving Halo veterans a richer experience than they would expect. Finally, the album includes tracks played only at the Halo expositions at Gamespot and E3; as well as other pieces that were not used in the game, or were hard to find...

The music itself is a broad-range of taste. Transitioning from charged pieces found in 'Brothers in Arms', to the guitar riffs of 'Rock Anthem for Saving the World', and the melodic spell of 'Ambient Wonder'. And anyone who has an afinity to cultural drumbeats will love the soundtrack, which manages to blend electronicly generated sounds with them to further a wonderful piece.

The only track which seems to deviate from perfection is 'Shadows'. It's strong guitar sounds challenge the rest of the album, and may come as a jolt to anyone listening for relaxation. It does however provide a upbeat after the darker music in tracks such as Suite Autumn and the Library Suite, particularly dark levels in the game which were matched with equally cryptic music.

For music lovers, this is a must have at a resonable price. From energetic bursts to get you going, to trance-inducing melodies, and reminiscent pieces to help you contemplate. It features music for almost any occasion, and will provide unequalled awe for anyone who has never played the game. It may even provoke you to buy an Xbox and Halo: Combat Evolved.

For gamers, this will invoke memories of the levels and lessons learned in the stunning game from Bungie. The beautiful vistas of 'Halo', the alien halls of 'The tru7h and Reconcilliation', the amazing tank run in 'Assault on the Control Room', and the fear induced by '343 Guilty Spark'. This music highlights both the places you've been and the places you haven't.

For Bungie fans, this CD is a must-have. The message behind SABABWL, the music from Halo at E3, and an hour of memories from Bungie's latest work of genius. What's there not to like?

Final Note: The music totals to well over 60 minutes of tunes, more than enough time to listen to on a drive to work, or to help pass the time durring some tedious chore. Whatever your intentions, the Halo Soundtrack CD is a great piece of work that will please everyone.

Make the right choice, buy this CD, and learn the Tru7h.


Absolutely awesome! Must have for HALO fans!   July 15, 2002
AMM (New England, United States)
26 out of 29 found this review helpful

What more needs to be said? If you're an XBOX gamer, there's very little doubt that HALO isn't one of your favorite games. HALO is a first person shooter done correctly, in every conceivable aspect. HALO is one of those extremely rare games that seems to do everything right-everything is done perfectly and all components compliment each other flawlessly. In addition to the gripping story and revolutionary gameplay, the soundtrack is also exceptionally well done and many HALO fans have been clamoring for an official soundtrack.

The good news is that Bungie listened to its loyal fans and with Total Audio's help, they have released the soundtrack to this epic game.

If you loved the music in HALO and wished there was some way to hear the tracks in their entirety or find some way to rip them to your hard drive, get this CD! Many of your favorite tracks are here and they sound great! The awesome variety of sounds helps set the mood from fast paced rock tracks to moody, introspective ballads complete with chanting monks. Plus, you can rip these tunes to your XBOX hard drive and play them on any game that supports a custom soundtrack!!

Buy this CD today! 100% recommended!


One of the best musical scores for a game, for music even   January 3, 2004
16 yr old game addict (Madison, WI)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

This music is great music, even since it originated from a game.

The music on this CD and in the game, Halo, consists of a mixture of Techno, Classical, Horror, and a hint of rock. Mostly, it is fantasy-like music, the typical kind of music you would find in a game, except this music surpasses the various musical scores for other games.

The music in the game, Halo, contributes to the tense, mysterious, suspense-filled aura while you are playing. The music coordinates with the storyline to effectively deliver the impact of the situation to the player. For me, I also experienced the music to coordinate with what was happening around me, where I was, and what was to come ahead.

Though this music isn't exactly something you would "bump up" while you were in a car drive downtown, it makes great background music while you are playing other games, or - in my case - doing homework. Some of the tracks on this CD are actually very relaxing, which may seem ironic given that this game is a sci-fi shooter.

My personal favorites (and a small description):

The Gun pointed at the Head of the Universe: For the Halo fans, this track appears at the end of the second level, "Halo." This track involves a fast pace and consists mostly of drums/bass type instruments. It is definitely geared to a more upbeat combat situation, and the snare drums add a militaristic feeling to it.

Brothers in Arms: Well, listen to the demo for yourself. This is a very militaristic-feeling song that contributes to the Human-Alien conflict in the game. The song sounds as if there is a whole symphany playing in it and is very well done.

The Maw: A relaxing, Gregorian Chant-type song, that expresses neither happiness nor sorrow, yet still ties in both feelings somehow.

Ambient Wonder: A song that fits its title very nicely, it is more geared toward the techno side. It is a slower-paced song with a nice waterfall-effect towards it. It rises and falls throughout the song and the way the notes are played makes it a relaxing piece.

A Walk in the Woods: I have to concur with one of the previous reviewers, this is by far my favorite track, probably the best. It is near the end in the level called "Assault on the Control Room." It is neither slow nor fast paced, but it is more uplifting than most of the songs. The drums aren't as intense as they are in most, but still provide a catchy beat to the song as a whole.

If the Amazon people had any sense left, they would add part of #6: A walk in the Woods, to the demo list, to get people to truly hear what this CD has to offer.

Be warned, this music is not for those of you who would rather turn off the game music, and instead play the heavy-metal or rap stuff in the background instead. This music is definitely geared to the videogame/fantasy music fans, the Halo fanatics like myself, and the true music lovers who are passionate for the song itself and not for what is the style in the day.


A masterpiece   February 18, 2006
M. Harold (Dantooine, Old Republic)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

For people who love Halo, like myself, naturally they should love the music but this soundtrack is also for people who might not enjoy or have never played the game. Now the people in the category of the latter would need some sort of pyschiatric checkup but the point is the music is so wonderfully done, i do belive a nobel prize is in order for both Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori.The best tracks without question include; Covenant Dance, Ambient Wonder, Brothers In Arms, and A Walk In The Woods. A pure joy to put on and relax to when you feel like chilling. Pretty cool to listen to when your baked off your ass from my own experience as well. Some tracks make you want to cry while others make you want to fight someone. First time I heard Brothers In Arms I had a sudden urge to contact my local recruiter and enlist in the Marines. Simply brilliant.