Arcanum: Main Theme

Published by: Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Developed by: Troika Games L.L.C.
Released: Aug 21, 2001
Music by: Ben Houge

[@thebel89]

Ben Houge wanted soundtrack to fit to whole magic vs. technology thing, so he created style where medieval style meets Victorian era instruments. Also because its possible to play both good and evil, he didn't want make heroic theme, instead he used melancholic, almost tragic sound. That is why soundtrack is so unique.

[@MarkoLomovic]

Spot on. World of Arcanum is melancholic and beautiful. Tragedy is at every corner it start from very moment game begins. I don't think anyone can imagine this game with different music its one of its vital parts.

[@MoonsideResident]

thebel89 Brilliant assessment!

[@YaHozna1]

Llamanator Beautifully put.

[@ennuied]

Interesting

[@foxmulder8955]

"medieval style" this is like post romantic thingy "victorian era instruments" string quartet instruments are still the same today the style reminds me ravel, fauré, this kind of composers. It does fit the game very well

[@Thyralon]

I mean, YOU! And then the Zeppelin and- and the fire! And the altar says that- do you have any idea what all of this means?!

[@ColdSkinGamer]

I read this in Archer’s voice, even though I’ve played the game

[@horzagiar88]

"By the gods! I almoust died. Didn't you see the crash?"

[@valdemariv394]

Whut you say?

[@Riddlerisenigma]

Hello, Virgil.

[@greaseball9537]

By God man would you spit it out.

[@ModernEphemera]

Call me sentimental, but this may be one of the most expressive instrumental pieces of music I've ever heard in a computer game. It flawlessly captures the themes of the game, simultaneously, both the proud triumph of strange new technological innovation, and the melancholic loss of a commonly held natural order. Well done.

[@lucafavero2192]

Amazing description. I totally agree with you.

[@cembaks2982]

Definitely!

[@stardust6004]

You're so right. What i love is the fact, that it is so peaceful and full of hope for the future but also kinda melancholic and sad. So much emotion in a single piece of music - hard to believe. And yes, i have some tears trying to come up when listening to this and thinking of the time i played this masterpiece of a game.

[@BIadelores]

I wouldn't say it's the most expressive music I've ever heard, but as far as video game soundtracks go, it's definitely up there. This seems very inspired by Romantic-era classical, so I'd recommend listening to some of Beethoven's late string compositions for something that's also every bit as powerful and beautiful.

[@NowKnownMAWO]

ur name is sentimental?

[@thedarkspy2]

Rest in RIP in piece, Troika.

[@VoytekPavlik]

;(

[@Amonny]

@@VoytekPavlik Their games live on. Arcanum, Vampire, ToEE... And so do their previous games. Fallout 1 & 2, Icewind Dale, Planescape, and Baldur's Gate 2. Those were the times.

[@Joseph-Mamma]

legends dont die; especially digital ones.

[@xi8975]

rest in rest in peace in peace?

[@ThunderLord1]

@@xi8975 There's an echo.

[@Megaman_Zero]

"Hearing this song is like getting a hug from an old friend" you couldn't describe it any better.

[@daytonasixty-eight1354]

It's also the sound track I'd imagine a child factory worker in a Charles Dickens novel plays over and over in his head.

[@Marcusianery]

@@daytonasixty-eight1354 Ahhh! Seth!

[@nyxn8107]

This game was my childhood. My mom got it for me at a thrift store when I was around 12. I remember I looked at it and thought the game looked stupid and why would she ever buy it for me. I downloaded it a few days later, and have been loving this game ever since. It is such an underrated and kind of unknown game. I thank my mom for introducing this game into my life. It will always hold a permanent and personal place in my heart.

[@ronaldjohndalmacio8117]

Same story bruh, my mom brought it at a thrift store when i was 16

[@WurliMonkhaven]

Dude what the fuck, same story as you and ArchiEduc PH. I had the flu when I was like 12 and my mum bought me this at the corner shop to help me pass the time. I was pretty bad at games at the time, pretty much just massacred Shrouded Hills over and over again, lol. As I've grown (21 now) I've come to see it as a genuine masterpiece and appreciate it as such.

[@Joseph-Mamma]

my Dad gave me this game

[@metato3079]

English...... Please.

[@ttvv88]

Mother knows best

[@kevinvaillancourt5737]

True story: When this game was released, my eldest son was just shy of two years old. One weekend day I was playing Arcanum at my home office desk with my headphones on. The title music started and I felt my son tugging at my pants. I looked down at him and saw that he wanted to put the headphones on and hear what Daddy was listening to. So, I put the headphones on him just a few seconds after this very main theme had begun and.......he closed his eyes and began dancing. Just spontaneously. A slow stepping sort of improv toddler ballet. It was fascinating and wonderful.

[@zanethezaniest274]

In the future, scientist will recommend babies listen to the Arcanum OST instead of Beethoven. One day brothers…

[@belkabella]

that true...

[@DippKlippGuy]

The children yearn for the factory floors...

[@speciallinktube]

258.000 backers are ready for Arcanum 2

[@theblackbaron4119]

Too bad Activision / Blizzard own the rights to it now. They would just turn it into a diablo clone mobile game Cashgrab

[@admiralamel9563]

@@theblackbaron4119 oh no...

[@theblackbaron4119]

@@admiralamel9563 yep. We are never going to see Arcanum 2 it was too niece not as widely known as fallout. So I doubt that Activision would ever take the risk to put out a sequel to a game most people these days never even heard of. Even though , at least in my opinion it was the best RPG that I've played. Also if Activision would make it, they would probably turn it into a shitty mass effect clone...

[@Donbd83]

@@theblackbaron4119 The good side of that is that the rights to the game could likely be bought for a bargain.

[@pawesomepal7827]

@@Donbd83 rights to intellectual property is rarely sold, especially for big companies.

[@mommozz123]

The soundtrack deserves a Grammy

[@whatchachattin]

read that as granny, but yeah it deserves a grammy too

[@n33to]

“The mental soundtrack of a child factory worker”

[@Saviliana]

Or every sweatshop worker working on streamline production.

[@detromaniac]

This game is still a top 10 RPG.

[@Rezzekful]

One does not simply play this theme once.

[@alex_pearl]

One enjoys it for a lifetime.

[@vadafan3423]

Even after all these years, Arcanum still holds a special place in my heart.

[@SidNightWalker]

It's still easily the greatest soundtrack I've ever heard.

[@Grigeral]

It is, but it's closely matched by Torment. That said, Torment does outperform it in every other section. Even combat and that is actually impressive on Arcanum's side lol... I can't think of any other game with worse combat!

[@SidNightWalker]

Oh blah, all it takes is a little effort to get some points in a few key stats and you can kick ass in Arcanum just fine. Of course, the combat in Arcanum is supposed to be a challenge, either way. When it comes to the writing, characters and storyline, they're both exceedingly excellent, right at the top of the RPG genre, really.

[@Grigeral]

***** It's not that it's hard. It's actually fairly easy. It's more that it's just done badly and feels more like it's tacked on as an afterthought.

[@SidNightWalker]

If it's so easy then why complain? The combat in many, many great CRPGs is far from perfect. Which is fine since that is, in no way, their main draw. It sure as hell isn't in Planescape Torment, that's for damn sure.

[@Grigeral]

***** You misunderstand, I wasn't complaining :). The combat in it just doesn't live up to the rest of the game. Granted, you are correct that few RPG's combat does and the story being told is easily the most important part.

[@gregorythomson7759]

It's strange yet comforting reading all these comments. The experience of this game and the soundtrack feels like such an oddly personal and introspective life event. When I read how it resonates in a way with others which I can relate to, it's almost like sharing in the memory of some personal grief. Perhaps in some way this game, with it's brutality and sensitivity, had some mysterious way of connecting with the melancholic and now we are unified here by it's influence. And now here I am musing in a way I never intended to. Well there you go. That's Arcanum in all it's mysterious glory. Very strange... and wonderful.

[@clmdeprav]

That's actually true fort art in general, but the strong "shared feelings" sensation with such games as Arcanum probably comes from the fact it gives the players some kind of "communal experience", like we lived through the same story at some point of our life or something.

[@zlodrim9284]

Well put.

[@iamlucaschilds]

god that game oozed melancholy.

[@BKSD26]

Games like this are rare masterpieces.

[@iantaran2843]

I STILL think about this game all the time. What a fucking experience man 😅

[@saxmusicmail]

Talking with Ben some years back, he told me he had composed over 50 minutes of music for this game, which is more than is in many full length movies. He sggested 5 selections which I transcribed/arranged for saxophone quartet. It turned well, and for a while Sierra Games had links to the the sax quartet music on their website. It all came about with me hearing one of my sons playing the game... I just couldn't believe that was a game soundtrack and commented to him how excellent it was. He said, "You can download the string quartet music from the website." That led to me contacting Ben, and resulted in the sax quartet. I really enjoyed the collaboration.

[@thiagocancian2336]

That's awesome! Got links for the sax quartet performance?

[@saxmusicmail]

@@thiagocancian2336 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3SUqHmGgJmabLs

[@NahasapeemapetilonX]

They don't make such games anymore. :(

[@laamis]

amen, i wish they did though

[@Noki_Kelevra]

Check out Pillars of Eternity, Torment: Tides of Numenera and Wasteland 2. They are all being done by inXile and/or Obsidian, which are both successor studios to Black Isle (and by extension to Troika as well).

[@NahasapeemapetilonX]

Noki Kelevra Yeah, I've been thinking about getting PoE. The question is if the game mechanics will translate well.

[@Noki_Kelevra]

Twerko Saurus Well, so far it's looking awesome. Knowing Obsidian, there will be a few bugs but since they don't have any publishers breathing down their necks this time they might just take the time to polish it.

[@NahasapeemapetilonX]

Noki Kelevra Oh, I don't doubt that this game has a chance to be great. A good Steampunk RPG would be nice, though.

[@Kumimono]

They should go with the Arcanum way more often. One doesn't need an orchestra for suitably epic, or sad, music.

[@khristinajuarez8673]

Seeing these comments makes me happy there are still so many Arcanum fans.

[@darkmammoth2232]

And new ones who are just finding out about it!

[@user-dp3lo4zx8e]

@@darkmammoth2232 True.

[@michael_sharples]

I only played this game for a few hundred hours as a teenager about 20 years ago but the music always stuck with me. One day I plan on playing it again and actually finishing it

[@beatricebeathyraneniute2298]

This music theme is so beautiful and emotional. I could feel it in my heart.

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

I like how when you travel and days and nights go by with this music playing...

[@iamlucaschilds]

N1GHT5 god what an insight, I never thought of that

[@FolkloreYT]

I always get goosebumps from listening this.

[@r3v4n21]

I remember looking at how much time had passed ingame at one point and I saw that 6 or 7 years had gone by since the Blimp was shot down. The main theme playing in the background made this moment so perfect.

[@ramazantekin4144]

how can one soundtrack be so beautiful?

[@AvatarOfgrief]

Waited an entire summer to play this game, even having the cd, then played it for nearly 17 years. One dosen't simply stop to play arcanum.

[@KillFaceProductions]

One of my favorite RPG's ever made. Played it since I was 5

[@acezar2644]

Played when I was 11. Now I play again at 25. A truly masterpiece

[@grocam_]

Troika were gaming maestros : Fallout 1, Arcanum, Vampire bloodlines they litteraly breathe pen and paper RPG culture along the years, they understood and made three unmatched masterpieces, they had this soundtrack in mind, so unique, so subtle. fuck.

[@kissmyass682]

still keep coming back for this great track

[@kissmyass682]

Yep, I'm back

[@0krana333]

​@@kissmyass682 me too, its a timeless song

[@kissmyass682]

back again

[@cybronichuman]

This soundtrack is unbelievably beautiful. I remember how back in 2001 my elder cousin brought me this game on 2 CDs and said that it was the best game he had ever played and it is so versatile and complex that it will blow my mind. Many years since then I still think it was one of the best games if not the best that I have ever played in my entire life with great thanks to its soundtrack. The best way I can describe the feeling when I listen to it is "bittersweet" and my eyes involuntarily fill with tears.

[@gregtronica3569]

around gnomes, watch yourself

[@Jsitun]

Man, that part at 1:56 ... Hard not to tear up.

[@PashaDefragzor]

Work of art

[@ermenengardo]

Best videogame ost ever.... No doubt...

[@FrostyChilli]

This game is epic. When i usually say, you can't compare games of different genre, then right now i can say arcanum beats every game. RPG,racing,action, it doesn't matter. Arcanum Is and will be masterpiece and it is the best game in gaming history. I'd not wait for a sequel, because nothing can beat This. Nowadays games are "nothing" compared to this. In this world of fantasy there is so much reality and so much to learn about life. Music of Arcanum fits perfectly. Well done Troika...well done.

[@knavenformed9436]

There's a handful of developers who could snatch up this IP and create something great, from Obsidian to Larian. Thing is the climate today just wouldn't allow the game to have its soul anymore, this might be one of the heaviest and darkest games, while still staying fundamentally neutral, hell you can't even say some of the many words out loud anymore that Arcanum puts into a heavy spotlight. How this old game managed to become even more contextually relevant in the modern world is just astonishing.

[@Adrian.E.M]

Hey hey, people! The members of the Merchant's Guild is pleased to have experienced this fine tune during Sseth's review.

[@Karakta]

To think that I bought this game for 5€ in a bargain bin back in the days. Best 5€ spent in my life !

[@Andaril2]

it was 0.99€ on yesterday steam sale XD

[@kickassandchewbubblegum639]

song captures the sadness of nature fleeting but the excitement of technological advancements....we see the end of trees and birds singing but embrace immortality and artificial intelligence

[@Galvorn11]

This is an anthem for people who knows about games,this is steampunk in all senses pure steampunk.

[@daytonasixty-eight1354]

Boy does this hit hard sitting in quarantine in 2020 watching everything around you burn.

[@AngelPrimsepski]

I wish I could meet someone who played this game :/ So many in the comments but no one on real life. I try to show the game to people and their small minds are bored just because of the graphics, smh..

[@user-xf9bd6ew9q]

for classical rpg graphics are good enough.

[@benji3216]

I think the same thought often. About other thing aswell. Like music. One feels lonely..

[@gidofter_lukge]

All of these classic RPGs need a rework. They would be insane and amazing.

[@-CrimsoN-]

Same here m8. People have no idea what they are missing if all they can do is judge a game by its graphics, but we live in the age of “instant gratification” so people want to be amazed almost instantaneously, instead of unraveling a complicated story and world filled with amazing lore and discovery on the scale of an epic.... nope people just want sparkly graphics and overused lens flare :(

[@user-dp3lo4zx8e]

Show them the Mutiverse Edition)

[@AngelPrimsepski]

Wish theyd make a second arcanum ;(

[@chazzwozzio]

they were. buuuuuut troika went bankrupt before they could finish it :(((

[@AngelPrimsepski]

Ugh that is so beyond the worst thing thats ever happend Dx If they do ever finish it for whatever reason, i pray that they dont make it super modern and flashy and just keep it how this one was

[@chazzwozzio]

i here ya just update the graphics and animations work out the kinks add more tech and magic and a new story

[@AngelPrimsepski]

Chad Busch They dont even need to update anything, i love old games and everything about this one was perfect! Granted alot of people are too dumb and closed minded these days and would prefer amazing graphics over game content so it would probably never be like that. That was the downfall of the elder scrolls for me, i used to love morrowind, and skyrim was pretty good too but the lack of creativity skyrim had versus the immense creativity of morrowind left me a little disappointed and quickly bored with the game. They are trying too hard to be mainstream and i kinda wanna check out the elder scrolls online cause i dont wanna miss out on the new continents but i just hate online games! I wish things could just stay the way they were D;

[@r3v4n21]

Arcanum 2 or "Journey to the Center of Arcanum " (Yes it was suppost to be like the Jules Verne story) was dropped in favor of Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines" If they would remake this game they should just drop the Real Time Combat, refine the Turn Based Combat and improve the AI. And make the game more stable. I can't finish it because right at the end all my saves were corrupted.

[@kseo88]

This music is incredible. It still holds up to this game. Fantastic, timeless game as well.

[@Wiktorino1984]

This game was peace of art. Ofcorse got some problems with ballance and bugs but i Love intelectual part of game.

[@JohnnyCasey]

*" You're ugly. There's just no other word for it, unless you consider hideous a better word. "*

[@NMJuan]

Being a violin player that misses the old days...this almost made me cry

[@user-dp2nr5mu3m]

О, эта ностальгия!

[@Dyablo5382]

Childhood memories my good old days

[@Mindless_Lunatic]

This warms my heart and reminds me of the old carefree days, when right after school I would turn on my computer and fall into this magical world of steampunk.

[@alhazred3718]

Beautiful instrumentals and soundtrack, background and ambiance, voice-acting and characters, and a plot that lures you in... This is one of the best RPGs I've ever played as a gamer.

[@pyrocrafter7944]

Try Torment:planescape, my play through change my view on rpg games, poetry filozofical considerations, musical, artistic design, and the STORY is out of this world, never felt emotions like this with any other game 🙏

[@Rezzekful]

I can never get tired of this music. Every time I listen to it, I feel so sophisticated. I love having it playing in the background when I'm just sitting around.

[@OpenBiolabsGuy]

This game needs a sequel or remake or remaster or something. It was a masterpiece of original thinking and art. I feel like with the advances that have been made in gaming technology since then a new Arcanum could rival Baldur’s Gate 3.

[@Azazelishdish]

One of the most amazing soundtracks. It brings me back to my early 20's.

[@8KingFisher]

This song hits hard, the nostalgia is so difficult to bare and yet feels so good. The soundtrack of a simpler time

[@user-ru2ds3fn7h]

Best game I have ever seen. my without exaggeration favorite game . It's been over 5 years and I played it and I still remember most of the quests. each quest as a book like story...and music . oh god,this music ...

[@user-dp3lo4zx8e]

Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps.A great game with a great soundtrack,and one of the most underrated RPGs in history,the fame of which came much later than the release.20 years will soon pass, and there are people who still play it, such things.

[@Grigeral]

Great game, phenomenal music, but the reason it was underrated was because, like all Troika games, it was a completely broken mess.

[@hommrod]

love this game forever !

[@ZeldaOotSoundTrack]

My sister would never play ANY video games, until I showed her this master-piece.

[@zack1378]

Don’t mind me, still coming back to this vid.

[@justiziabelle]

My All-Time-Favourite soundtrack in a game. ♫♪♪♫♪♥

[@Andarthiel]

This and the Tarant theme gives me shivers up my spine and makes me tear up. So beautiful and graceful.

[@fa.2064]

This game has his soul.

[@Regularguy220]

This has been drilled into my mind because of the amount of time ive spent on character creation. I really need to finish this game

[@Night10194]

This game convinced me Steampunk was awesome, until I realized most Steampunk is nothing like Arcanum. Now, I simply know Arcanum was one of the most beautifully told and written RPGs ever made, and that Steampunk could stand to learn a few things from it!

[@Wiktorino1984]

I love this game. I know this game is far from perceft, glichy system of progresion, many usless skills but I love it and nothing can't change that.

[@jbshiva865]

I loved this game as a teenager, I still do. I doubt there will be a sequel but maybe someone will buy the rights and do a reboot and get people interested in it again.

[@180digi]

Stunningly bleak, darkly intimate, and most of all human.

[@Anarkose]

This game is just another reminder of what really makes a good game.

[@Ravnurin]

Arcanum indeed is an absolutely outstanding RPG game. This game was fun, challenging and great in every aspect of the game. This is a game that I really miss playing, that is for sure :( The music is so appropriate for the game, and adds a special 'touch' to it as well.

[@Ugh000]

Music is one of the most powerful ways to tell stories. This song captures perfectly the perils of the Victorian age

[@CabooseCatapult]

This is the first game I played, That I kinda have feelings for... sounds kinda stupid, but I've been playing this game for the last 8 years. I am in love with the soundtrack, not like I listen to it everyday, but hearing it brings the same feeling to me as the one I got the time I saw my first love. Hearing this song is like getting a hug from an old friend. Lovley.

[@MajiinFreddy]

This song and Original Sin 1's main theme is perfection.

[@kadirkaya96]

It still gives me chills, Arcanum is an amazing game just like this soundtrack

[@cirnofumo7352]

Beautiful to say the least.

[@SlavaFuchse]

Ностальгия... Может ещё раз пройти её?

[@ephifanball3685]

Да, следует сделать так как ты сказал.

[@SlamFaKtory]

Search for Ben Houge on goodle. I have been searching for this music for ages... I finally found it by beginning with him... I was alomost ready to buy the game from EBAY just to listen again... Beautiful!

[@evgeniblanchard675]

"Can we have fantasy music ?" Arcanum : "Victorian era sad theme that make you imagine children dying in work. Take it or leave !"

[@user-tb8uo9lt2x]

We will NEVER get another game like this. I'm not even talking about Arcanum 2 (though we'll never get that either). I'm talking about a game with the feel of a real industrial era setting based on actual history. The powers that be (in other words, thin-skinned ninnys), have determined that too much of this game is "problematic", and any attempt to use this game as a base will be nothing more than a hollowed out shell. A pretender. Now I'm sad.

[@cRoxy86]

That feeling when youre traveling on the world map while hearing this song...

[@LazzyVamples]

Back then, video games weren't an industry. Developers did it for the joy of creation and a passion for what they do. When dev teams were working on the games, they really put themselves into it. Now that it's an industry it has become profitable. Developers are -very- often forced to do stuff they don't want to do and their own input is denied. The game is there but the soul is missing. Kind of like a painter being forced to do a painting he hates.

[@cubicle89]

Video games were an industry back then as it is today. It´s just the games that defy these rules that are remembered.

[@NeiltheNotSoBrave]

One of my favourite computer game musical scores. I've searched for this everywhere. Thank you. Arcanum was a very special game.

[@hoodsbreath]

This game is so unique. Tech and magic side by side is a genre so hard to find, so untapped. People humping the zombie and post-apocolyptic genre's for all thier worth. Fantasy and tech blended. I think that's why this game is so amazing, because nobody has the common sense to see how much potential this idea has. So many new and interesting tales from hundreds of different worlds could be told. But no one dares. Such a shame, such wasted potential.

[@BonesAO]

Troika: probably one of the best and at the same time, most underrated video-game company of all time!

[@TheDeejay01]

This game may seriously be the best RPG that has ever been made. It is incredible how it goes under the radar and is unheard of by most.

[@mrdeathamore]

arcanum is amazing. it was my third gaming experience, behind doom and fallout. so fucking nostalgy :(

[@Kuoted]

Holy shit guys, I just found Arcanum's music score sheet, google it, just type in Arcanum Music Sheet and Ben Houge will show up, happiest day of my life

[@xSigmarx]

Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used-usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United States-that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as Victorians might have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art. From wikipedia.

[@marian_tsx]

I love Arcanum, it was a nice part of my life. And i played it a few years ago again, can't stop playing it or listen to its beautiful and relaxing old fashion music. I so much expected a sequel of this game :( graphics doesn't matter, the story was AWESOME, the voices, the speeches, everything was so perfect. :'((((((((

[@ciaacho1]

sounds like Henryk Górecki Symphony No.3

[@ingrima4220]

After hearing Ravel's string quartet in F major for the first time a couple of days ago, I thought it semed similar, at least the atmosphere. But you are right, that one really does! (thanks for the tip ;)

[@wmtyrance]

I can't believe i just found this game at Amazon for 20 bucks. This was one on my first pc games . I can't wait to play this again. I've looked everywhere for this game but they wanted 100 dollars or more for it. It must be a rerelease or something. If you really love rpg's this is a must have game. Amazing for its time. Its old but the story and gameplay are great.

[@damianleb1]

i played this game for years. i couldnt stop playing. the music is the most beautiful i have ever heard in my short life.

[@Joaovpo]

Aah, I remember when I was expelled from school, I stayed all day listening to this music.... it made me forget my problems.

[@Daladun]

The music kind of fits with the feeling of nostalgia and how much more fun it was to be young playing these games.

[@Armingale]

This game brings so much joyfull memories, and i couldn't aggre with you more. Games are dumbed down in every possible way. I always wondered why didn't anyone make an sequel to this game.

[@ezet]

there's a really special atmosphere in this game... nothing compares