The Best MMO Music

Most MMO games aren’t known for their music. In fact, I don’t know many people that play MMOs with the music on. Within a week, all of the melodies seem so repetitive that it boils down to white noise. First impressions play a role in how much we remember our first time experiencing a new zone or town. Whenever I think back to my experiences in my first MMO, EverQuest, I have to recall those memories with the music. That’s why I decided it was appropriate for me to write a column on some of the MMO tunes from the past that deserve a second listen. Maybe after this you’ll see yourself returning to these games and turning the music back on.

Final fantasy XI – Heavens Tower

Final Fantasy XI has arguably the best music of any MMO on the market. Heavens Tower is a personal favorite. The melody starts off with minimalist percussion and bells and then swells with a symphony of flutes and strings. The song is surprisingly repetitive, but doesn’t detract from the allure and calm it’s meant to arouse. This is atmosphere music you’ll definitely enjoy having on while you play. The best part is that it’s not forgettable. Instead, it improves the experience.

Honorable mention:
The Federation of Windurst

EverQuest – Battle 2

This battle theme hits a pleasure point in my brain every time I hear it. Having been my first MMO, I was in love with the tension of the bass line and the drive of the timpani. I confess that the music is dated. Every time I hear it though, it brings back my first experiences with MMO combat. I clearly recall the first-person perspective of my level 1 Monk punching the ever-loving crap out of snakes outside Qeynos. I have a weak spot for this song from my childhood. I’m not afraid to admit it.

Honorable mentions:
I did mention that the original EverQuest‘s music was dated, right? Well, EverQuest eventually released an expansion that was perfectly tuned for musicians; The Planes of Power. Each of the gods in EverQuest was represented with their own realm. Here are some of the more memorable tunes.

The Plane of Water

The Plane of Fire

The Plane of Justice

The Plane of Time

World of Warcraft Burning Crusade – Lament of the Highborne

It pains me to say this, but World of Warcraft has a lot of forgettable music. Perhaps that’s their intention. A majority of the music isn’t really there to make an impression, but rather take the backseat and be ignored. There aren’t many brash, machismo, or even inspiring compositions in WoW. Even the battle music sounds more trudging than tense and direct. It’s actually a shame because most of their work is really well mixed and composed; it’s just forgettable. That being said, the Lament of the Highborne is one of those songs that’s absolutely worth noting. Blizzard knows it too. It was specifically tailored to make an impression. To hear the song performed, there’s a specific quest you have to complete in the Undercity. Once you retrieve the song lyrics, an in-game cinematic occurs that presents Lady Sylvanas performing the song with a choir of banshees. It’s pretty amazing, and the song itself is exceptionally achieved. The song also plays over the Burning Crusade credits.

Honorable mention:
The tavern themes