So my friend says elder scrolls music sucks a## but I say its the best video game music out there!!! Skyrims is the best with morrowind a close second.. Whats your guys thoughts and opinions on the elder scrolls music

The Morrowind theme is god tier, up there with the best ever. The Oblivion theme is a close second. I agree, the ES soundtrack is pretty much amazing from top to bottom.

The music in the elder scrolls games are an integral part of the experience for me. The way you'll be walking though the snowy mountains with a haunting yet pretty score rising in the background is chill inducing. Then for it all to turn epic and soaring when you enter a battle with bandit or even a dragon is inspiring. It's absolutely beautiful. Skyrim wouldn't have been near as special as it was to me without the music. It's safe to say you're friend is dead wrong.

The soundtracks are generally good sounding, but largely forgettable outside the game for the most part, in my opinion.

Yeah. As someone who likes to listen to game soundtracks, I would never listen to any of the Elder Scrolls series' music outside of the game. Though that's more my disinterest in orchestral music and less any actual dislike of the soundtrack.

Nier is best game OST.

The exploration music is so so good in those games. I really like Skyrim but Oblivion holds a special place in my heart. You should check out the Guild Wars 2 soundtrack for another good Jeremy Soule soundtrack.

This is how I feel too, but in my case, I tend to like orchestral music. I've been playing the Icewind Dale games for the first time recently, and I've often found myself thinking "wow, I should look up the name of this song for future listening" which is something I don't recall feeling about the Elder Scrolls' music (outside of the main themes, which tend to be pretty memorable)

Also:

FUCK YEAH IT IS.

Also I love orchestral music.

I think the reason is that Elder Scrolls music is really good at setting a mood, that feeling of exploring and adventuring. The music is perfect for accompanying you on your travels across Tamriel, but it's not particularly suited for independent listening. Most of it is designed specifically in the context of its implementation in the game and not so much as a catchy or memorable standalone piece of music.

Haha, that's funny, that thought just occurred to me after I posted and was about to correct myself, but I guess I don't hafta now.

Hell no, Oblivion had a better soundtrack if anything.

@snakeitachi: I couldn't agree more.

In my case, Oblivion resonates with me more than most games do. I had just gotten a 50 inch HDTV, Surround Sound and a 360. So, when I sat back and played the game, it was one of the most immersive experiences I ever had. Even with that memory in my mind, I would still think that the music is the most defining of the series, and almost each song stands out from each other.

@deadpancakes said:

In case you haven't looked it up... it's actually the same guy! Jeremy Soule composed Icewind Dale 1 and all of Elder Scrolls. Inon Zur did Icewind Dale 2.

@audiobusting: Woahhh, weird haha. Thanks for the info, maybe I'll give an Elder Scrolls soundtrack a listen sometime.

I sure look like an idiot now (though, to be fair, the song I had in mind when I wrote that comment was when the song that plays in Targos in the second IWD, so...maybe I'm half an idiot?)

I have also found Elder Scrolls music excellent study music, or for anything intellectual.

For independent listening, though, there are video game soundtracks that I like better. Not many, but a few.

Diablo II would like a word

Skyrim had a few good tracks, but it was mostly kind of forgettable.

I can't bring myself to actually play Morrowind nowadays, but the soundtrack seemed pretty great. It was one of the few western RPGs I can recall where I remember thinking "Hey, this game's music is pretty rad".

Fantastic soundtrack that perfectly captures the tone of the game. Oblivion and morrowind were also great, but skyrim is even better. Jeremy Soule know's how to encapsulate fantasy worlds so well in his music. Its never overbearing, always in the background bringing you into the experience.

It's ok, but nowhere near the best.

The one thing about the Skyrim OST that really irritated me was the terribly cut together Bard/Bar Maid singing segments. I found myself enjoy the flow and rhyme of those little segments and it was made all the cooler that in game characters were singing it.
But it was so painfully put together>

Line line line, pause, cut. Line line line, pause, cut, line line line, pause, cut. It was so noticeable and jarring.

Phoenix wright 1 or afterburner 2 are best soundtracks, with elder scrolls it's really only the main theme that's memorable.

It is pretty amazing, though beyond the opening theme it's just a solid soundtrack. Only a couple of stand out tracks.

I have a signed copy of the 4 disc album. I am terrible at taking photos.

I really like the main theme to Skyrim, but it's no Mega Man or Zelda as far as game franchise music goes.

@alistercat: I also have that signed album, and you're right, there are a few fantastic tracks in there but it doesn't hold a candle to Oblivion where literally every song is a masterpiece.

Morrowind is pretty sweet too, but I don't have the reverence for it.