Halo 2, Vol. 2 Reviews

• Makes me want to save the world myself!

  
  By A2P6GSY8VH2JD1 on 2006-05-06
  Although Halo 2 Volume 1 was deservedly the best-selling video game soundtrack ever, it was a dissapointment overall because of the Incubus music. It took up nearly half of the album, but it had nothing to do with the game. Instead, it just got in the way of the scoring. The whole soundtrack just felt too commercial. There was so much music from the game that I was heartbroken to not find there.
  
  Fortunately, however, composer Marty O'Donnell is just as generous as he is talented. This is the Halo 2 Soundtrack I've been waiting for for over a year: here all of the music sorely missed from the first volume is available without interruption. It's put in an order that reminds you of the way the game progresses. No, the order is not entirely faithful, meaning that it does skip around to some extent, but every theme will remind you of where you were in the game when you originally heard it. Words cannot describe the beauty of "Unforgotten," and I don't know any Halo fan who is not elated with the "Delta Halo Suite," which contains some of the most heavily demanded music from the game. I also love the first two sections of the "High Charity Suite."
  
  My only problem is with how repititious some of the music is. There is a good handful of themes that you will hear over and over again througout the soundtrack. To Marty O'Donnell's defense, most of these repititions do have subtle differences, but I just thought the extent to which these themes were played and replayed was just unnessecary. Speaking of which, I'm also not a big fan of the track "Reclaimer." It's the same as "Unyielding" but with a wild guitar solo by Steve Vai. I know some people like Steve Vai's style of guitar playing, but I'm not really one of them. It was great in the "Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix" from Volume One, but for some reason, I find it annoying and out of place in that one track here. These criticisms are so slight, however, that I can still give this soundtrack 5 stars just as easily.
  
  This is very heroic-sounding music that not only *reminds* you of the sprawling, epic feel of Halo 2 but *contributes* to it in a major way. Now I can hear it whenever I want, and all I have to do is turn on my CD player. Thank you Marty!
  
  

• All the music less the game itself

  
  By A31Y316PIE6PKC on 2006-05-20
  This soundtrack has all the game music, except the instrumental Incubus and Breaking Benjamin pieces. While Volume 1 was great, it was missing some genuinely good compositions. This is the big reason why I was anticipating this release since last year and I'm very pleased they added everything.
  
  If you've played the game, then you know exactly what the music is and that's what you'll get when you buy Volume 2, nothing more and nothing less. If you haven't played the game, think rock and instrumental mixed together with some very interesting vocals, flutes, and guitars to form a sort of trance-like dance music. It's very original and is somewhat of a narcotic for the auditory senses. You just want to keep listening to it over and over. It's a real work of genius.
  
  The only gripe I have is that the suites feel a bit stitched together. It would have been nice to just separate them out on the CD so one can skip between pieces as desired. The suite structure forces you to listen to the whole piece even if you want to hear just a part of it.
  
  Still, it's a great buy. I also suggest getting Volume 1, because only together do these two give a complete musical representation of this classic game.
  
  

• Better than Volume 1 by far

  
  By A1LPJI59QWMBJG on 2006-04-25
  Like the description states, Halo 2 Volume 2 uses a suite structure for the music. In this aspect, I find the music very pleasing throughout. I find it rather enjoyable for the most part, but it's my opinion, Marty O'Donnel could have created better transitions between some of the pieces.
  
  One thing I do have to say. Some of the music, such as the horns from Prologue for example, carry over onto other tracks. While it gives the album as a whole a better sense of cohesiveness, sometimes I think, "I just heard this!"
  
  I'm a fan of the Halo games foremost, but I'm also a fan of the music. I've waited for much of this music to come out since I've played the game and was dismayed to find Volume 1 didn't contain certain pieces, such as Epilogue. Beautiful string-work there. Mombasa Suite is another piece I very much enjoy. If you've seen the E3 demo (now included in Halo: Combat Evolved, under Demos, I believe), you'll notice the first set was used in that. It also includes the percussion used in 'Ghosts of Reach' from Volume 1.
  
  Overall, this shows a lot of effort has been put into it, compared to Halo 2: Volume 1 (Personally, I could have lived without the Hoobastank and Nataraj tracks, but that's another review!). The composition is not at all displeasing to the ear. Therefore, I've given five stars.
  
  

• Lacking Energy

  
  By A21I5JWA3OCONV on 2006-05-07
  I own all three soundtracks, and, unlike most people, I find Vol. 2 to be my least favorite. Sure, there was much anticipated in-game music, and it sounded more integral than the others, but I thought that, aside from a couple of tracks, it lacked the energy of the first two. I'm not criticizing Marty O'Donnell's genius or anything, I just liked the other ones a lot better...
  
  

• Moving and Atmospheric

  
  By AKW7GZK16YS30 on 2006-08-11
  Having all three Halo soundtracks (the first one and volumes one and two for the second) I can safely say that this is the pick of the three.
  
  I liked the original soundtrack for the first Halo because it had full-length versions of all the tracks. Halo 2: Vol 1 had a great selection of music from the game, with some great band track thrown in there too (Incubus' Odyssey and Breaking Benjamin's Blow Me Away come to mind).
  
  I personally prefer the musical score though, which is why I love Vol 2 so much. It's all score, conveniently 'suited' together for maximum listening pleasure. While I prefer being able to listen to the themes in their entirety ala the original Halo soundtrack, the music found here is above and beyond anything heard in the first game, with huge thematic swells and mournfully moving interludes. Horror cues are smattered throughout (best heard in the score from the Flood segments of the game) as well as some experimental electronica.
  
  All in all, Vol 2 is an epic, cinematic musical feast. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Short and simple
  By A34SEYVKCP2PZ8 on 2006-05-03
  I really don't know what Marty O'Donnell was thinking when he brought Hoobastank and the like into Halo 2 Vol 1.
  
  I am very glad that he left them out this time.
  
  The music is fantastic.
  
  
• Vol 2 the Best yet!
  By A25ODBH5H90BL2 on 2006-05-05
  I now own all three Halo albums, and I have to say that this is the best yet. I found it to be more true to the game than the previous volume. I found the score to be fantasic and brilliant. Marty O'Donnell is a amazing composer who has brought a life and emotion to the games threw his music. I am proud to own all of his work, but this album is by far his greatest work. I loved every minute and second of this album. I reccomend this album to the Halo fans and to anyone who hasn't played the games. Favorite tracks: 6 Unforgotten and 12 Epilogue. To all those who read this review God bless and check out the games if you haven't already.
  
  
• One word: Beautiful
  By ASO0IXL49FQ4A on 2006-05-01
  This is what I've been waiting for. While don't get me wrong, Vol. 1 was just as good, but it wasn't the real music they put in the game (or not all of it). The songs are magnificent and beautiful. The one song I've been really wanted to hear but wasn't in Vol. 1 was Epilogue. I don't know why but I just love that song. I also like Unforgotten, and well, all of them! 5 Stars!
  
  
• Great CD
  By A20ITYC7W5785L on 2006-05-16
  Ok first off CD is awesome, second when the first one added Hoobastank, Incubus, and Breaking Benjamin that flippin awesome and who ever says that was crap your garbage. To add that depth in a cd was pure intellegent. The music provided by those artists added a "kick" to the cd, point blank.
  
  
• Great music from a great game!
  By A1G05M1KV3THPE on 2006-07-12
  Once again this music does not fail to deliver. This long awaited vol 2 is worth the wait. Most of the music has been compiled into suites whch lets you relive the entire game through the music. The only problem I have with it is that none of the classic themes are present, and the best that it has are varuiations on those themes. That being said you should buy this soundtrack, but if you do not own the Halo 2 vol 1 soundtrack of the Halo 1 soundtrack then you should buy them also.
  
  
• Remembrance
  By A3PVU8R4MF68WA on 2006-04-26
  This is the soundtrack that should originally been released versus the version 1 that was riddled with Hoobastank and Breaking Benjamin. Listening to this soundtrack brings you through the game in a cohesive manner in which you will remember all the levels and moments that made Halo 2. From the prologue when you booted up your Halo 2 disc for the first time to the epilogue when you were still gripping your controller in triumph (or devastation over the cliff-hanger) this soundtrack is the real deal.
  A great buy and a must own for all Halo 2 addicts and videogame music fans.
  
  
• I LOVE THIS EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By A3TEHXSVTXQBCF on 2006-04-26
  The first volume only had a few good themes, but volume 2 nearly every theme is good!!! I have been waiting for volume 2 to come out ever since I beated Halo 2 for Xbox. I was dying to get the theme from the menu of the game which apparently is titled "Unforgotten" (One of my fav theme). All Halo fans should go out and get this soundtrack, even the ones who haven't play the game should check it out.
  
  
• HALO 2 Volume 2: Double the Twos...Double teh awesomeness
  By A193BH93BEP6F5 on 2006-04-27
  Here we are at Halo 2 Volume 2 OST. This one is more layered like Halo 1's CD with all of the games music arranged into a CD. Although I liked Halo 2 Vol 1, volume 2 is where the true compositional talent of Marty O'Donnell shines through. With over an hour of specatacular orhcestral music, volume 2 whisks you through the epic adventures and revelation that is Halo.
  ~ LazerBlader
  
  
• Marty, You've Done It Again
  By AMATOQ5HTO5NQ on 2006-04-27
  Just when I thought he couldn't impress me further, Marty goes and produces a masterful second volume of the Halo 2 score. I have followed the production of this soundtrack rather closely, and I must say, it was well worth the wait. This has everything that Vol. 1 didn't, and, when combined with the previous soundtrack, has every single second of music you hear in Halo 2. This time around, there's no inspired music - just the cuts from the game. They are arranged in suites, which make for great listening. I'm not going to say Volume 1 is better than Volume 2, or 2 better than 1, because in my opinion, they are two must-have soundtracks for any hardcore Halo fan. If I had to pick a track as my favorite, it'd be Leonidas, the 3rd movement in the Delta Halo Suite. Marty is working his way up as one of the great composers of our time.
  
  
• At Last!
  By A237KY8K19LEIF on 2006-04-28
  Excellent. I've waited since I bought volume 1 to get this. Volume 2 lacks much of the vocals of vol. 1, and is much heavier on the instrumental side. I have to say that I really enjoyed it, if for no other good reason than because the music is almost like a smooth chapter tour of the game. I would definately recommend this to anyone who liked the game. Marty did a wonderful job on this one :)
  
  
• Another Reason To Love Halo
  By A3SSWX8URK3IYE on 2006-04-28
  Whenever I tell my friends about how interested I am in the Halo and Halo 2 music, they usually laugh. But the score of Halo and Halo 2 is amazing and just another reason why the Halo games were that good, in my opinion. Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori are a fantastic team and have never dissapointed thus far. To this day I own the Halo 1 soundtrack, and both Volumes of Halo 2 and I could honestly say that after listening to Volume 2, it's my favorite one yet. The strings, the drums, the horns, everything is put together so perfect. Most of the tracks are very soothing while the rest make your remember the action scenes in the game.
  
  I'd reccommend this soundtrack to anyone, even those not interested in the game. While the game owners will arguably enjoy it more, those who know nothing of Halo will still really like this soundtrack, that is if they appreciate good music.
  
  Favorite Track: Delta Halo Suite--Just awesome. Especially awesome midway through the song.
  
  Least Favorite Track: Mausoleum Suite--I don't hate it, but the others were certainly better.
  
  
• Definatley Better than the first
  By AH5GQZTLVBD72 on 2006-04-28
  The sad thing about Halo 2 VOL 1 is the fact that there's more "Incubus"(very annoying, too) music than marty o'donnel. Now that that's taken care your free to feel the full blast of Martin O'Donnel and his magic-making orchestra.
  These are songs you can easily recognize from the game, and I haven't stopped listeing to it
  
  
• Two thumbs up Mr. O'Donnell!
  By A293FHQ952USF2 on 2006-04-30
  I have been a huge fan of Halo's music ever since Halo: Combat Evolved. When I heard "Earth City" for the first time in the E3 2003 Trailer I immediately knew Halo 2 would live up to peoples expectations in the musical arena. This CD is superb in every way. Not only does it contain tracks that Vol.1 doesn't have, but there are portions of it that are not even in the final game. I recommend this for fans of game music and even those who love the Halo series.
  
  P.S.
  Marty, if you are reading this; If future Halo games contain music like "Mombasa Suite" (Vol.2), "In Amber Clad" (Vol.1), or the "High Charity Suite" (Vol.2) you will have another hit in the future. Thank you Mr. O'Donnell and BUNGIE.
  
  
• Halo 2 At Its Core
  By A2LPPPJSM8XNR2 on 2006-04-30
  At the announcement of the realease of Halo 2 Vol. 1, I was very thrilled. After playing the game, I knew that Marty O'Donnell had created another magnificent score, that not only featured sweeping orchestral and vocal pieces that get you into the mood of the game, but a large variety of brilliant percussion and some more modern themes (Steve Vai's guitar pieces, to name an example). When Halo 2 Vol. 1 came out, I was a bit disappointed. While being a good album featuring a good variety of O'Donnells works, it lacked the feel of the over all game. I'm a fan of Hoobastank, like Incubus, and don't mind Breaking Benjamin, but in truth, they did not belong on the album.
  I had a more optimistic view when the second album was announced, and my optimism payed off. This album was better than Vol. 1 by a long shot. Like I said, this album is Halo 2 at it's core. It features the full score almost in it's entirety, with nearly all of the music (that wasn't in Vol. 1) that was in the game. Everything you loved from the game is here and the production value is just amazing. To compliment the game's excellent score are some additional pieces that don't at all hinder the album, but feel like they were plucked right out of the game. It is amazing the amount of musical styles that Marty O'Donnell is able to cover and it all culminates to deliver an incredible collection. I highly recommend it.
  
  
• Great Sequel Voume
  By A2TPAH80V6G15S on 2006-05-29
  This is a very good second volume in the Halo 2 soundtrack. It contains all of the great songs the first cd was lacking. Among the people playing on this cd is guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, who is widely known for his skill as a musician. Anyone who has played the game would tell you of the great tracks in the game, and even if you haven't played the game, it still has some powerful tracks. I reccomend this to anyone looking for a cd to both relax and rock out to.
  
  
• Halo, Halo 2 ,and soon enough Halo 3...the game, the music, its all something to be treasured
  By AE8WQ39BL035N on 2006-06-23
  When Halo came out it was and still is the best game for the Xbox, or maybe any console game your going to find. The music that went along with Halo only boosted the value of the game and you would be hard pressed to find a better soundtrack to anything anywhere. That is until Halo 2. Now Vol.1 was excellent,of course some say too much rock and mainstream bands like Incubus ruined it, but nonetheless it was a joy to listen to.Then finally Vol.2 came out and it could not have been more worth the wait."Mausoleum Suite" is as haunting and creepy as they come,"High Charity Suite" is a beautiful song, and Steve Vai, master of the 7 string, provides his blend of guitar genius on "Reclaimer",just as he did on Vol.1. Overall if you are or claim to be a fan of the Halo series shame on you if you dislike any of the music that have come along with it. Now it's all about waiting for Halo 3 and Halo the movie, no doubt they will flat out rock.
  
  
• Halo 2, Vol. 2
  By A2AMRRAGMA52N4 on 2006-07-10
  Great CD if you like the music from the game would definitly Recomend to any Gamer
  
  
• Good Follow-Up CD
  By A168F5YMKSLPFQ on 2006-08-12
  This CD probably won't be worth much to anyone who doesn't have a significant interest in either the artistic value of music or in the Halo series, but it's a good follow-up to the first CD. Definitely worth the money.
  
  
• My Halo 2, Vol. 2 Tracks Review.
  By APOKTLOIO2WIF on 2007-01-18
  I thought that the music in the CD was awesome. Every time I play it on my MP3 player I can close my eyes and imagine myself actually in the game itself. It was just an all around great CD, I'd recommend it to anyone. Especially a Hard-Core Halo Fan like myself!
  
  
• Inspiring and Fun!
  By A8GEY190H0CDJ on 2007-03-24
  Salvatori and O'Donnell have created a memorable and inspiring collection of instrumental melodies in this second compilation of tracks from the Halo 2 video game. Its melodies rival that of its predecessors (Halo and Halo 2, volume 1). Salvatori and O'Donnell capture the emotion and environment of a video game, yet offer a taste of the finely mastered quality you would expect from great composers of memorable movie soundtracks. I only gave this soundtrack 4 stars because I wish some of the movements were longer, as the melodies are so inspiring, yet leave you craving for more. No connoisseur of video games, instrumental music, or movie soundtracks should go without Halo 2, volume 2.
  
  
  
  
• Enter the Halo universe
  By A17QWJEEELWETQ on 2007-06-11
  When I first purchased Halo 2 (The game), I was scared. From the opening guitar solo of Bungie to the rest of the prologue, there was a flurry of emotions running through my body. Scared, excited, curious and most of all nervous. What was I about to get myself into for the rest of the afternoon??
  
  I was nervous and scared at first. How long will I last with the Master Chief before I first get killed by some unsuspecting Grunt around the corner? Or some Elite jumping at me and slashing me with his energy sword? Or some sneaky little jackal sniping me from what seems to be 3 football fields away? This is what I asked myself before I finally came to and began to wail away at the Covenant with my assault rifle. No match for the Chief says I.
  
  So 4 years later I finally get my hands on the "real" Halo 2 soundtrack and man oh man how those emotions I had when playing the game came back to me. I quickly remembered what levels I was at when listening to the different tracks and tried to think of how I was able to keep my sanity from dying and dying over and over again in the game. But I prevailed nonetheless and now eagerly await the arrival of Halo 3 in September.
  
  The soundtrack is great if you're a fan of the Halo games or of this kind of music in general. You can be driving to work or just kicking back in your couch just to chill. It's pretty soothing with it's futuristic space sound. It's the soundtrack to the Halo universe. A Halo universe that exists in all of us.
  
  
• Yet another CD that demonstrates talent outside of movie-music
  By A1MX6EGUMFTHK2 on 2007-07-15
  This CD was awesome, even compared to the Halo: Combat Evolved CD and the Halo 2 vol. 1 CD. It proves yet again that there is musical talent (or should I say SUPERB musical talent) in the gaming industry. There is even a song (possibly the best on the CD) featuring Steve Vai on guitar. The only problem with this CD is that it is comprised of suites, which are each made of different smaller "songs", and you can't skip to an individual movement in the suites. Overall, this CD shows that a great videogame deserves some great music to go along with it.
  
  
• Better than the first volume
  By A12BEV48TP6ON9 on 2006-04-26
  As a seven year drummer, I really loved the percussion pieces. They consisted mostly of military style snares and at other times, very African culture-esque toms. Also, I enjoyed how all the pieces were from the game unlike the first volume's. Sure Incubus is a great band and their drummer beyond outstanding, but I thought their style of music deviated from the Halo universe.
  
  In volume 2, the transitions aren't that bad and luckily, there wasnt any cheesy trance-like remixes (aka Never Surrender of vol 1) =). Overall, I'd say that this is a great buy for anyone including upstart artists who are looking for melding different instruments and vocals but a must-buy for fans of the game.
  
  
• Best soundtrack yet. Marty is a genius!
  By A15TJZ2Y184PRF on 2006-04-26
  Volume one, in my opinion, was a great soundtrack. Some of the inspired music didn't fit with the Halo theme (with the exception of Incubus's Odyssey), but this album is absolutely amazing. The Suite structure truly makes this an immersive experience that somewhat follows the game's story. Marty is a master of composing. I bow to his skills.
  
  
• Halo 2 v.2
  By ANQ7S0VF01UW1 on 2006-10-29
  Over all good CD but not quite as good as the first one.
  
  

• Halo 2, Vol. 1
• Halo: Original Soundtrack
• Halo 3 Original Soundtrack (2-CD Set)
• Contact Harvest (Halo)
• Ghosts of Onyx (Halo)