"... emotive force more important and the given context ... familiarity."

Poor wording on my part I guess. But pretty sure whatever your definition of character for music is would be met by "Rise of Iron" and that you're probably just not as familiar with it relative to "Path to Oryx," so you don't remember it.

It's like the Robot Chicken off-copyright version of their own work.

Preface to this comparison: I personally reject your requirement of character for good music. At least isolating to that term. I consider emotive force more important and the given context, and I do consider memorable to be an aspect of "character," but made more important by the emotive force of familiarity. More on that later.

Emotive force is not enough. Pretty much every piece has an emotion attached to it. I'm sure you've seen movies or played games were you have 'sad' music when you are supposed to be said, 'epic' music when it's supposed to be epic, etc. Yet we never talk about these types of music choices when we talk about the best. Emotive force is the bare minimum actually.

Preface to this comparison: I personally reject your requirement of character for good music. At least isolating to that term. I consider emotive force more important and the given context, and I do consider memorable to be an aspect of "character," but made more important by the emotive force of familiarity. More on that later.

So, we will start with out baseline: "The Traveller."

Twenty seconds of isolated horn followed by hopeful string and building layers. A sharp crescendo and a cut to something more ethereal. This song when taken as a whole becomes very familiar as it moves through different sections and how it mirrors the players involvement in the game world. You start alone, but it builds on an intense feeling of hopeful growth. It is very appropriate to the game it precedes.

This music has a very distinct character to it (loneliness meets hope) and it is in this sense that it is easy to become familiar with. The repeated recognition of sequential shifts through the song become very enjoyable. I would compare this with "Hedwig's Theme" in The Sorcerer's Stone, though highlighting that the emotion is more on the side of wonder than hope. It is easy to get lost within either of these songs.

I think this is somewhere in the realm of what you mean by character? Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Most people seem to agree that this was great title music and it is remembered very fondly. "The Traveller" set a very good baseline and people like it because it lifts them up.

"Path to Oryx"

The first fifteen seconds is a build of ominous strings with a percussive support. It starts spooky. And it tends to stay that way. The key, pacing, and focal instruments all support that you should be uneasy. Perfect, definitely befits the story we're prefacing here. And that sensation doesn't really change throughout the song. It's all spooky dread.

In reference to almost everything else in Destiny, this stands out like a nail in your foot. It was a spectacular tonal shift and an emotion that we didn't really get with most of vanilla. Most of the tracks associated with the Hive in Vanilla had hints of being spooky, but I don't think any of them built dread. That is important.

The entire soundtrack of Insidious or the main theme of The Thing are both soundtracks that I feel build dread through anticipation. However, only one of those really stands out as memorable in regard to being full of character. This is not a bad thing as they both fulfill their purpose in their context. I'm pretty sure that unsettling, erratic strings aren't what you mean when you say a song has character, and perhaps for independent listening that is correct. "Heels" from It Follows is also a solid comparison for setting up spookiness.

"Rise of Iron"

A somber start and then a break in the clouds, but it retains the grave tone throughout. It shares some of the lifeblood of both "The Traveller" and "Path to Oryx" while also having its own identify. The song is not as aggressively paced either. It is much longer. And it does take advantage of that fact. It builds on itself, almost like a sword being forged. It is much more grand than "Path to Oryx" and possible even more than "The Traveller."

Quite plainly it is more for a fantasy epic than anything else. I guess if you don't take the time to listen to it that it has no character due to the slow build. But damn if you do take the time to listen to it. It wouldn't be out of place in something set in Middle Earth. It fits nicely along side Two Steps From Hell's "Heart of Courage" and would fit in with anything like the darker side of Willow or the main theme from Conan: The Barbarian.

So, really. Long winded way to say "lolno" to the assertion that the title music for Rise of Iron doesn't have character and doesn't adequately set up the story that follows. Perhaps only in the context that "Path to Oryx" takes cues from horror does it really stand out more than either "The Traveller" or "Rise of Iron."

I think that's a premature assessment, but I have to admit, I haven't sought out an mp3 to I can listen to it repeatedly.

If that's a thing people want

-Disciple

Meh.

What makes for good music in games (and film)? Is it memorable? A good melody? Unusual? No, that's not really it.

It's character. Great music must have character.

More on this in a future post. I had my suspicions since the Des2ny announce trailer, but this confirms it. Like all character, it must be right for your story… does this sound like "a world without light"?

I think that's a premature assessment, but I have to admit, I haven't sought out an mp3 to I can listen to it repeatedly.

I think it's very good but ...

I miss Marty.

Well... at what point in the timeline does the title screen occur? Maybe during the Age of Triumph just before Gary comes and cuts us off?

The Taken King set the tone before Oryx took anyone!
Rise of Iron didn't really have much character at all.

We will see in September.

Meh.

What makes for good music in games (and film)? Is it memorable? A good melody? Unusual? No, that's not really it.

It's character. Great music must have character.

More on this in a future post. I had my suspicions since the Des2ny announce trailer, but this confirms it. Like all character, it must be right for your story… does this sound like "a world without light"?

YES! and yet... a resounding classic Cody no.

It's taken me these few years of your posts to conclude this, but if my updated observations are correct, I give you a pro tip. It's one of many, but the most pressing right now. I do this because one of (from many of) my greatest character sins on this earth, is that I care. So here I go.

Pro Tip: You suck with timing. If you got better with that, then you would (likely) no longer need to link your posts and declare your self right. Again. And again. Aaaaaand again.

I mean come on Cody. You're obviously smart enough for it. Characters that don't change and learn from their mistakes tend to be dull characters. You honestly give GREAT input, but your line in the sand style of table manners makes these things an even more sour horsepill to swallow then it ever should be! And... That's a dam shame! I WANT to read your input, but there is a trend where I can't do it without getting heartburn in the process. I know I'm not the only one, and you probably know it too. It's not the first time, by a LONG stretch, that your post, Cody, has invoked a post about your post, AND NOT about what you posted. YET YOU KEEP DOING IT!

HAD you waited for the game to launch, and the conclusions you've posted here were still correct to your minds eye, you would have somehting to go with. Instead now you have this bickering here about the INTRO SCREEN of A BETA! It's RIDICULOUS!

For EXAMPLE, and only for example - I'm not going to talk about it yet. I have some reservations and concerns about Destiny 2 visuals. I expect I have these because I have some of that know how and trained eye. Yet it would be FOOLISH to say anything now, as all I have to go off of are trailers. What I see could be because of the nature of a beta, or it could be a world look that I am unaware of, or it could be resolution I watch something at... or... something else. I don't know. It's too early to say.

Maybe it's the world at large, but I'm tired of Scandal as the result of Stupid. You're not stupid Cody. As a fellow forum member who cares, please do better Cody.

With all that said, I've fulfilled my quota for the month in wasting time on a Cody post. If the Admins could help me update my time-card, that would be sweet.

But! If my expectation is wrong, well... then we can come together. As a forum. And make fun of Funkmon. Ha ha Funkmon. Ha ha. ;P

Like all character, it must be right for your story… does this sound like "a world without light"?

I actually agree with where you're coming from here. I like the music own its own merits, but it still sounds like it could be from Destiny 1, full of hope and majesty.

Yes. They do have character :-p

ok I'm done :P

Meh.

What makes for good music in games (and film)? Is it memorable? A good melody? Unusual? No, that's not really it.

It's character. Great music must have character.

More on this in a future post. I had my suspicions since the Des2ny announce trailer, but this confirms it.

Hey, just like most of your posts!

Yes. They do have character :-p