Halo OST Reaction Marathon Campaign Session - Halo Reach, Halo 3 ODST, Halo 4, Halo 5

[@TheMartyODonnell]

I’m still here. Harry Hmura was guitar on ODST. Kazuma Jinnouchi also was the composer for 117. Thanks for doing this. Memories. Happy New Year

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Happy New Year to you too, Marty :)

[@EchoX860]

Love you Marty, thank you for being a huge part of my teenage years

[@PixiePlankVods]

Thank you for your job Martin! Halo was great also thanks to you!

[@Nick_Harrell80]

Happy new year Marty!

[@PantheonGoon]

Thank you so much for touching all of our lives by bringing these games to life with your beautiful music. The older and older I get the more and more I appreciate the powerful emotion conveyed through your work.

[@lane4156]

"It didn't take long for Reach to fall: our enemy was ruthless. Efficient. But they weren't nearly fast enough. For you had already passed the torch. And because of you, we found Halo, unlocked its secrets, shattered our enemy's resolve. Our victory - your victory - was so close, I wish you could have lived to see it. But you belong to Reach. Your body, your armor - all burned and turned to glass. Everything… except your courage. That, you gave to us. And with it, we can rebuild." Along with the ending Epilogue for halo reach

[@ToastedWaffles_]

Gives me chills reading. God i fucking love Reach.

[@Strater117]

In 2589 reach started to be terraformed

[@AndresLopez-sk4bt]

❤❤❤

[@Tar-Numendil]

@@Strater117 Re-terraformed. It had to be terraformed to allow for human habitation in the first place.

[@Strater117]

@@Tar-Numendil wonder how the covenant felt about the re terraforming of reach

[@hannibal8909]

Just for some context, ODST takes place in a city that for the majority of the game has a rainy setting. The songs with a different vibe than the sax are fine tuned for the missions that don’t take place in the rain but everything else is crafted to walk in the rain to. Thank you so much for listening to Deference for Darkness and have a wonderful new year!🙏

[@Scottistic]

ODST was actually inspired by Film Noir style. The entire game you are alone in this city in the rain, enemies around every corner trying to piece together the mystery of what happened whilst you were unconscious. Essentially a Detective game when in the Hub.

[@hunterh1175]

Not necessarily the rain, more the night. In the OG game it never even actually rained, 343 only added some rain effects on *some* parts of the Streets missions where we do hear rain in the soundtrack

[@wolfdestiny2519]

Halo Reach Ashes plays on one level in particular which hits hard. It's about half way through the campaign, and it's at this point one of the team members (Kat) is shot in the head abruptly by an elite assassin. The entire team tries to fire back, but the assassin escapes. The final cutscene in the level shows the team, which is down to just 4 of the original 6, walking off into a destroyed city which was standing moments ago, carrying the body of Kat. It's a very hard hitting level because you realize this is the turning point. There's no way to win, all you can do is fight and die trying. Halo Reach Epilogues plays on the very last mission in game, called lone wolf. At this point, your entire team is dead, sacrificing themselves so you can carry "the package", a weapon which changes the war for Humanity. The level starts off with a cutscene of your spartan standing in the ruins of a small outpost, staring off into the dusty sky. Your only ride out has just left moments before, and you're the last spartan standing. Around you throughout the map are bodies of other spartans, guns still loaded desperately fighting. You slowly start to take damage, surrounded on all sides, but instead of regenerating health, your armor starts to crack, and you get bogged down, fighting as your ammo runs out. Eventually, it's too much, your spartan taking off his helmet, throwing it to the side as he makes a last stand. The ending of the track plays at the very last cutscene, which shows off humanity recolonizing the planet years in the future, rebuilding the planet you and your team gave everything for. Reach really hits hard for me. I grew up playing the campaign over and over, slowly understanding what it meant. Thank you for giving me some reminders of my childhood, and I hope this explains some of the background behind these songs.

[@sharkuel]

Yep, same here. The contrast between the main trilogy and this game is quite noticeable. It is indeed an emotional ride that propelled the Covenant from "alien enemies" to a scary overwhelming powerhouse of an invading army. From the moment Jorge dies, the rest of the game feels quite hopeless. And it is there where you start to realize that Humanity is losing, and that you are doing whatever you can to avoid more casualties. It felt like the books and feeling that dread in a game was so wonderful. The game indeed its hard, it is the second most emotional campaign, that only falls behind Halo 4's campaign.

[@nihilisticadventure]

@@sharkuel[ 1st paragraph ] -- 😄👍🙌 [ 2nd paragraph ] -- 😐🤨👎

[@sharkuel]

@@nihilisticadventure we get it, you never played Halo 4.

[@nihilisticadventure]

@@sharkuel Son, I've been playing Halo since November 2001. And yes I did try 343 Industries attempt at a Halo trilogy. It was a directionless mess to say the least. In fact the whole trilogy did nothing but undermine Bungie's beloved story .

[@goldengeneral2535]

Only one who didn't die was Jun.

[@MisterJackmanB]

The ODST OST has such a special place in my heart. I still remember staying up the whole night until the morning to play it when it came out. The music moves me every time I listen to it. It has that same Halo sound, but with such an emotional tinge to it.

[@BringDHouseDown]

I felt vulnerable as an ODST, no longer a Spartan you know, I just remember watching in a corner in the darkness in the night with rain falling, covenant patrols passing by, and sneaking my way past them, any engagements I went for where against grunts or jackals, but if a Brute was passing by then I would avoid unless I was forced(they were the ones coming to me cause...w.e, the mission, alerted enemies and they were reinforcements, w.e) and it really felt like you were alone in the dead of night and there was a certain level of tranquility and calmness, quiet despite being in the middle of a besieged city, the rain added to that feeling I think.

[@MichelGG117]

@@BringDHouseDown playing as an ODST really made me realize how scary the brutes are when you aren’t a Spartan, I would get very nervous whenever I heard a brute patrolling around the area and would constantly sneak around or just hide wherever I could to avoid them

[@Thiccness_Is_Delicious]

We needed more games as normal humans not super-powered Spartans and that's why ODST is my favorite halo game of them all

[@MichelGG117]

@@Thiccness_Is_Delicious and more jazz music, don’t forget the jazz music

[@chrissonofpear1384]

@@BringDHouseDown I'm still looking for some comparable music of similar style, myself, commercially. Any suggestions? Smooth jazz, etc.

[@funnyforyaface]

deference for darkness makes me wanna cry now listening to it as an adult, so much raw sadness

[@ryanparker4996]

But just as much hope

[@ammod4827]

the odst soundtrack is the perfect thing to listen to on a rainy day

[@kylewagenaar5786]

Halo 2 was one of the first games I ever played, I was probably around 6 years old then and I always loved the soundtrack and continued to love the music through the rest of the series.

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Thank you so much, Kyle :)

[@elpinchishen2521]

Bro same, I played Halo 2 when I was 7, great times...

[@halken117]

@@elpinchishen2521 Same here, with Halo 2, since I was 5 back in 2004

[@phillipgallas]

Me too! In fact I played it when my dad brought Xbox and Halo 2 from a trip to Canada in 2004 To this day, it's my favourite game and OST

[@halken117]

@@phillipgallas Wow, same for me, but from the US. He got the XboX from a prize draw, and Halo 2 came with it.

[@gharbog]

Reach still has easily one of my favorite soundtracks in the series. Marty perfectly encapsulated the feeling of hopelessness and despair that the entire story of Halo Reach tells. Particularly during the Epilogue track. Those vocals at the beginning are ingrained in my memory for just how haunting they are; it almost feels like the souls of all those who died during the Covenant's invasion lamenting over the fall of the planet.

[@yewtewbstew547]

Something I like about a lot of the more militaristic brassy sounding tracks in Reach (e.g. parts of Winter Contingency) is that they maintain that feeling of hopelessness and despair, but I think there's also a strong element of determination and even aggression behind them as well. Or at least that's how I interpret them. I think a big part of Reach's story is the characters understanding that they're fighting a losing battle, which is where the despair comes in, but also resolving to fight on and do as much damage as possible in spite of that. And I think the music captures that.

[@mitchyoung4173]

@@yewtewbstew547 amen, you encapsulated my thoughts entirely

[@TheRafark]

Reach is beautiful but the soundtrack is lame compared to the original trilogy, especially halo 2

[@jonnyparr4375]

Halo Reach Overture is incredible. Worth checking out imo

[@xAkasora]

^ this

[@gyrozeppeli4862]

Engage too

[@dylanholman3]

@cursedchest6469inter contingency is **chefs kiss**

[@EthanThomson]

@@dylanholman3tip of the spear though

[@dillpickle987]

Overture blew the minds of my friend and I on the night of the game’s launch. Good memories.

[@MackMillicco]

12:15 "lost-in-a-purgatory vibe" It is amazing that you are able to verbalize the exact context of this particular part of the music. When this song plays in the game, you have been left behind. You are alone, with no hope of anyone coming to rescue you. This song plays during your final moments. You didn't even know the context and you knew _exactly_ what was happening. That simply shows both your expertise in the world of music and Marty O'Donnell achieving his goal through his music. Absolutely awesome!

[@superactivitylad]

i was thinking the same thing. its amazing how you can tell a story with music.

[@john-ek9gv]

deference for darkness is amazing. In the cut-scene it features in, our character gets a first glimpse of hope, raises his weapon with confidence (the track kicks in) only to look up to see the city destroyed and hes reminded that humanity is on the verge of extinction , hes alone without the squad in the pouring rain at night. Just you, your gun and your deference for the darkness. ( meaning a sort of respectful submission)

[@john-ek9gv]

as the track starts to speed up (when in gameplay now) your fighting your way out of the building you just came in with enemies now appearing out of the darkness. so amazing

[@johnnyAFIRE]

It's also worth noting that Rookie is from Luna (The Earth's moon) So the name "Deference for the Darkness" adds a new context when his home is literally always in the sky at night

[@tonyyul703]

Yeah the song immediately takes you back to REACH, and you can't help 😭 but get emotional.

[@Xx_Stogi_xX]

Hey man, thanks for listening to our childhood songs. This has really shown us a new perspective in music theory and how it affects us. I would personally want you to listen to (Halo 3 - Choose Wisely) and (Halo 2 - In Amber Clad). These sound tracks have been etched into my mind of what makes halo so rememberable. Thank you so much!

[@gwamhurt]

God, just the names of the ships in the game evoke so much to me. In Amber Clad is a 'cellar door' type experience to say aloud.

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Mahalo for the cup of coffee!!! :) I'll check your suggestions!

[@OhYeahSimulator]

@@gwamhurt The names of the Covenant ships too!! Shadow of Intent, Truth and Reconciliation and so on. The Lore in general accompanied by the absolutely captivating music and visuals just make this one of the greatest game series ever created.

[@john-ek9gv]

@@gwamhurt heavy price paid is an amazing track

[@GaminGilmore]

Neil Davidge’s Halo 4 soundtrack is hella underrated. It’s a little bit of a departure from what Halo music was known for, but it fits the campaign of Halo 4 extremely well, and the tracks are simply stellar in terms of composition. If you decide to do more Halo 4, I highly recommend Haven and Legacy.

[@darkphoenix2]

Arrival is the one that stuck with me most, I always wish it played constantly throughout the final section but if you're not fast enough it ends and plays a new track

[@Reivanhist]

As for me, it is quite in the style of Halo. Davidge himself spoke about the rules that the music of the series should observe. He just didn't try to copy Marty's style, but observing the same rules, wrote music in his own style, getting, as for me, the best soundtrack in the franchise.

[@GaminGilmore]

@@darkphoenix2 arrival is also great. Tbh there are a lot of great tracks in halo 4, but I picked the 2 I did because he mentioned that 117 wasn’t pulling the emotional strings that the ODST and Reach tracks were.

[@qelleri]

Halo 4 OST is great. Especially the Awakening plunges you straight into the darker and more serious tone of Halo 4.

[@wolfanime25]

I actually like halo 4's OST on its own but i think the mixing in the game is done so poorly. So many times I'll be invested in a piece only for it to be taken away and replaced with ambience which I'd quickly grow tired of due to excessive repetition. I think the game really did Neil Davidge dirty because there are so many good, powerful pieces that are underutilized or overshadowed. The example that rings very clearly in my mind is "Arrival" at the end of the game where Chief is trying to get to the didact. I remember being immersed in how the slow build up created a sense of tension and urgency pushing the player into moving through the stage quickly to get to the objective. It was a phenomenal movement that really made the player feel the chief's sense of duty and determination. It was heroic. It was driving. And it created a moment where i thought to myself, "i can see the light at the end of this tunnel. The end was nearing. This is the climax of Chief's journey." Then *spoiler* Cortana disintegrates and the music switches to the standard, boring combat ambience. There are so many other musical choices that could've capitalized on that vital moment. Perhaps that moment could've synced in time with the rise of the song further emphasizing the theme of heroic sacrifice. They could've had another piece put in that created a different mood following Cortana's disintegration. But to follow-up one of the best pieces in the soundtrack with a generic ambient soundscape was really a disservice to everyone. And, unfortunately, there are many moments like that throughout Halo 4.

[@ToastedWaffles_]

Reach is Marty & Michael's Magnum Opus and I'd love for you to run through more of its tracks.

[@lSuperUnknownl]

YESSS, I've been asking for Difference for Darkness for soooo long

[@nesyboi9421]

Not to be grammar police but it's deference for darkness, as in respect and admiration for darkness Fits the track and game very well

[@thirtyred7091]

What a perfect way to end the year, was waiting on this one 🤙

[@MjIsHere50]

The Halo games have been one of my biggest inspirations to pursue composition, if not THE biggest. There are SO many good pieces throughout this whole series (specifically from Marty and Michael [the future composers did great too]) but it always time travels me back to simpler times and reignites my passion to create again. I loved hearing your insight and just being able to vicariously experience the songs again through you. I hope you continue to dive into so many more great pieces from these games as well as other great games (Ori and the Will of the Wisps is AMAZING). Keep doing what you're doing and I greatly appreciate this channel as a whole.

[@Wumbus117]

Would absolutely love to see your reaction to the scenes that each of the tracks are used. Seeing how the music interacts with the scenes and emphasizes what’s going on. Would be an awesome video.

[@youngwindmillgang3239]

that's a great idea i hope it happens

[@thebutterman1553]

I agree, I think that would be a cool reaction to see.

[@troopergames8173]

I agree!

[@preston_s.]

Reach and Halo 4 have some of the most heartfelt tracks I've heard from the series. "Arrival" from Halo 4 is a special one for me because it somehow perfectly marries bombastic excitement with bittersweet grief, which really fits the part of the game it plays in. Worth checking out.

[@profoundresolve]

I love the odst tracks. They feel oddly "noir" in some places, with the sax and piano in a game about drop troopers lol. It doesn't sound like it should fit, but it just does. Also huge advocate for halo 5 ost, despite the mixed reception of the actual game. Very big and epic sound that really tickles me.

[@Windjammer19]

ODST's soundtrack is incredible. Good from front the back.

[@paulbrown8443]

This is amazing. I just found this channel a couple days ago and now I can’t get enough of these videos. “Leaving Earth” or “An End, Once and For All” from Mass Effect 3 are great songs that really made me fall in love with the game. Awesome video!

[@TygerKrash]

A Clint Mansell react would be great.. Lux Aeterna from Requiem for a Dream/ Welcom To Lunar industries from Moon/ Death is the road to awe from The Fountain? ah heck ye can pretty much pick anything he's worked on.

[@aramiu_549]

I litteraly breacked down crying my soul out when Halo Reach epilogue's kicked in. The momories of this story that was just SO compeling came back all of a sudden, the song really made me remember the first time I finished the game ( I cried to the first time ). TRUE PIECE OF ART

[@Tar-Numendil]

The end credits song "Insignificantia" from Halo: Wars is incredible and very much worth listening to.

[@Tsnow206]

"Tip of The Spear" from Halo Reach is a track you should take a listen to. It plays in the intro to a part of the campaign where humanity is making its first big offensive push against the alien invaders, with a huge army and battle

[@juliomonteiro242]

There is something about watching other people react to this incredible franchise that I adore. It certainly takes me back to when I first heard this wonderful music. It's hard to pick out a favorite Halo composer, if not impossible. Marty started something special, unique, & inspiring but every Halo composer has added their own unique flair. They can all be so proud of creating music that has touched the hearts of so many gamers.

[@pigpig252]

I like listening to people talk about music and you're definitely my favourite reactor I've found! So many of them feel like they play up their reactions or don't know their stuff, while what I get from you is an absolute expert knowledge and a wholehearted love of the art. Great stuff!

[@Unkle_Genny]

This man needs to be protected at all costs

[@supernovaa7222]

I'm still here! Thank you for a wonderful video. I love these longer videos. Halo has a special place in my heart. Enjoy a cup of coffee.

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Thank you so much! Glad you like them!

[@lendon01]

Difference for darkness plays as your alone roaming the streets of a futuristic city while looking for the rest of your squad, it is dark and you are weaker than you are in any other halo game as you are just a normal human Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) these silent lonely missions mixed in with the epic missions with the other squad mates. This is an amazing game that is honestly what made me fall in love with halo despite not being my first halo game. The soundtrack, the story, the gameplay, is all so fun and just a great mix up from the normal halo.

[@aquaraptor2146]

Light is Green has gotta be one of my favorite and most underrated tracks from halo 5, huge power from that song IMO

[@lucaspiano76]

Halo Reaches epilogue theme is one of the most haunting song I’ve ever heard, knowing the context of the game, the theme plays as you look over a destroyed planet, your failure, and then the message “current objective: Survive” appears, truly one of the best moments in gaming

[@Tainu]

The Halo Theme (Mjolnir Mix) from Halo 2 is the track that features Steve Vai :) An amazing arrangement that I think you'd really enjoy!

[@Mazzi1132]

Even though Halo 5 and 4 are my least favorites in the series, I will say that Trials and 117 have to be some of my favorite tracks in the series. There’s something about them that just fills me with such emotion and make me tear up every time they reach up to those highs.

[@primary2630]

For sure, "117" was a banger and a half

[@m777howitzer4]

The moments of chaos are so beautiful, the perfectly depict the moment the player is in and the conflicting emotions. The difference from other composers is that Marty ACTUALLY plays the game.

[@Jake_n_Bake88]

Hey Geebz thanks for looking into more halo OST's the music is super powerful and nostalgic! Was wondering if you'd ever try and play Halo ever again or if you've picked it up since you started reacting to more halo soundtracks?

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Actually, my grandson is in love with Halo so in the last couple of weeks I have gotten back into it a bit. But the always get mad when I leave because I leave the paddle settings inverted :D LoLOLoLoL

[@CoordinatedCarry]

It’s convenient that Halo 3 ODST Overture has rain in it, that way no one can tell who’s crying.

[@KepsStore]

my favourite part of the odst soundtrack is how well it ties to the feeling of being lost, then it hits you with some up beat music to give you some hope as you wander thru the city. still my favourite halo to this day

[@FlopplesTheGnome]

Long comment, sorry in advance! Ashes- This song is a variation on the ending of "New Alexandria", specifically a scene where the 2nd of the 6 members of your team die in-game, this one being very much a sudden, out of nowhere shock. Epilogue- This song plays during a mission that was originally after the credits of the game. The objective of the mission is simply, "survive" and the grim chorus at the beginning plays until the player finally dies after endless waves of enemies, thus killing the "main" character of the game. The lighter tone afterwards plays when the player learns that the sacrifice they just played through eventually led to humanity winning the war, due to the actions they had just achieved. This was also Bungie's final thank you message to their fans, as this was the last Halo game they made. Overture- Halo 3 ODST was almost a noir-style mystery as players gather clues to figure out what happened to their squad members after a botched orbital jump that scattered them all over a massive city (hence the blues style saxophone). As far as I remember the main Halo themes weren't used in this game, as players weren't cast as powerful Spartans, but as ODSTs, who are better trained than most marines, but have no power armor so are still just as vulnerable as a regular soldier. Deference for Darkness- This song played as the player wandered the dark city streets completely alone, usually with some nice rain and thunder to accompany them. No massive set pieces or battles, just a few skirmishes, or no fighting at all if you can sneak around and remain undetected. Just one soldier all alone in the darkness and silence... just beautiful. Traffic Jam- My memory is fuzzy but I believe this song plays while the player escapes from the city as the enemy begins to destroy it with plasma bombardment. The classic Halo trope of ending a game with a warthog run. This isn't the Steve Vai song, that would be Mjolnir Mix and Reclaimer, along with a couple of other tracks from the Halo 2 soundtrack. 117- Halo 4 was the first mainline Halo game that wasn't made by Bungie. Most things, including the soundtrack, changed a lot, to good or bad results depending on who you ask. 117 plays as the player flies a small space fighter through the rapidly shifting surface of a huge alien craft. Imagine top gun but in space, basically. The major key change that happens 3/4ish of the way through, when the player realizes that they aren't entirely alone and are receiving help from Earth's defense fleet which enables the player to breach the hull and board the huge craft. The title 117 refers to the Master Chief's designation, Spartan 117. This is also one of the few tracks in the game that samples the original Halo theme by Marty and Michael, as heard near the end of the song. The Trials- Halo 5 didn't happen. Any feelings of epicness that may have been felt are just a false flag reaction, I can assure you that none of it translates into the actual gameplay. I'm fairly certain this song never even plays during gameplay? No one will ever know, as replaying the Halo 5 campaign is as impossible as flying without wings. That's it!

[@Dylan-xx2tk]

The Trials plays during the final push to Blue Team IIRC? Yeah, I think it's when you're riding the elevator and right before the room with the final Warden Eternal boss fight. Probably one of the best tracks from Halo 5 in my opinion. Never caught this track on my first solo playthrough though (around the time the game came out), but I returned to the campaign about two years ago with a friend and was able to somewhat appreciate the music and the experience a bit more. (that's not to say the campaign aged well, it's still not at all that good...)

[@jmeister9694]

Traffic jam also plays on Mickey's mission when he gets the tank

[@Baalam421]

Jajajaja wtf!

[@LateNightHalo]

The Trials plays randomly in one of the linear levels. Its really weird. Its a sort of standard hallway shootout and its just playing loudly while you're behind cover.

[@johnorourke8116]

34:47 Interesting thing about Deference for Darkness is if you listen very closely to the alto sax you can hear that they played it a little too close to the microphone, meaning that you can hear the clicking of the musician changing notes. This was either never noticed during the production or they kept it in intentionally, personally I love it.

[@loganscully373]

I love that you’re showing the halo 5 one. That track is easily one of my favourites of the franchise

[@Swifty487]

I love this so much, being able to share a newfound love for the Halo OST through the eyes of another, and with a different lens at that, being a composer such as yourself! Keep it up! I hope this can go towards your next cup of coffee to get you through a Part 2 of this video 😁

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Wow, thank you!

[@brucemaximus3797]

Every time he says "It's been a Great Journey," I get a frisson up my spine.

[@PrimeSavage217]

Longtime halo fan and man just seeing your genuine smile while hearing these songs hits me with the same feelings and nostalgia i feel when hearing these songs back, hearing your proffessional thoughts and opinions is also really interesting while tying the technical talk to a medium that i and so many others gravitate towards is cool as well. cant wait for more

[@Unkle_Genny]

Your content is an absolute joy to watch. And so, now you’re the first channel I’ve Super Thanked. Good stuff!

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Wow, thank you so much, Mark :)

[@MostlyJoJoMemes]

Thank you for the wonderful reactions! These are all post original trilogy Halo games, so I'd love to see another campaign of this with just the first 3, I think everyone can agree that the music in 2 and 3 are truly something special. (Just to let you know, it's 'Deference' for Darkness, not 'Difference', in case you wanna update the chapter!) edit: It was also not Steve Vai on that guitar track, he is exlusively in the Halo 2/Halo 2 Anniversary soundtracks! Have a great New Years Geebz! :)

[@darksuntoggafhd9947]

Im completely biased, but 2 might be one of the best OSTs of all time.

[@ItIsInFactMe]

Was really excited to see this video, here's to a happy new year

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Thank yo so much!!

[@23100Battlefield]

At 12:53 you talk about how theres a pause and then a smoothing part that makes you feel like quote "its all okay". Yes and this happens in the game after the planet reach that was destroyed by the aliens, cuts to a scene about 50 years later where it is reterraformed again and there's an inspiring poetic speech given, MAKE A VIDEO WATCHING THE CUTSCENES WITH THE TRACKS! Please do it! Look up "halo reach movie game, all cutscenes" you will be moved so much more than just listening to this alone and you don't need to play the game.

[@RighteousZeros]

117 is Chief's assigned number. It is normally said as John One One Seven.

[@poly_g6068]

54:22 You assumed very correctly. The heavy metal influence does show itself every now and again in Halo soundtracks, but it started in Halo 2 and continues here in Halo 3 ODST, I recommened giving "Air Traffic Control" a listen.

[@xlRainlx]

Funny that you mention the hybridization of sounds in 117 from Halo 4 as I remember watching a video docummentary of the making of Halo 4 where they specifically stated that they wanted the sound of the music to reflect the themes of the game of things melding together machine and organic. So they mixed a lot of electronic tones and elements with live performers. Even the big bad doomsday weapon in the game that absorbs humans and turns them into artificial intelligences to be controlled by an alien tyrant reflects that idea. The doomsday weapon is called The Composer haha. Many things were odd design choices in Halo 4 but the music and the overarching story are absolutely brilliant especially with how they work together thematically.

[@Ethazoid19]

The Halo Reach epilogue is so emotional, and even though you don't have the gameplay context your interpretation was spot on! It's a 3-part song, the 3 parts playing at different times in the final mission of the game. The first part, your character, Six, has completed their mission, but missed their opportunity to evacuate a doomed world, so goes out to fight an overwhelmingly powerful enemy alone. In this short introduction cutscene, Six is looking out across the battered war torn scene with a sense of hopelessness, but the gameplay begins, you head down and start to hold off as more and more enemies arrive. The second part, with the discordant sounds, which interestingly are reversed samples from the first song you listened to in this video (when a character called Kat is killed), plays when you eventually lose against the unending waves of higher and higher difficulty enemies. Six has a cracked visor so discards their helmet, and from their helmet's point of view you see Six take down a handful of elites before eventually being overpowered and killed. Cut to black as the energy sword cuts into Six. After a few seconds of silence, just seeing Six's broken helmet in the scorched earth, the third part begins, with a monologue. As you said, it has this feeling that everything is going to be alright. You see Six's helmet in the same place it was, the paint is faded, it's years later, and the scorched earth has grown back into a beautiful grassy field. The monologue from Doctor Halsey assures you that even though you died, your armour is burnt, your body is dust and returned to the earth, everything is gone but your courage, which you passed on to the rest of humanity, and your actions lead directly to humanity's victory. She only wishes you could have lived to see it. So you were spot on, it's emotional, it's discordant as you watch your character die, but it's reassuring that everything will be okay, you're at peace now, and you helped save humanity

[@calebburrichter8452]

That campaign was masterfully designed, and the tracks were perfect for it.

[@adjustingmythreshold233]

Edit: Please if you can, talk about the Deliver Hope Trailer, and or the entire Song. It's extremely powerful, and it was like that last treat that Bungie gave us, before saying goodbye. Every month I watch a new person blind play through this game so I can live through their reactions. Halo Reach, 1, 2, ODST, and 3 will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@loverofjesusMKII]

Halo 4 and it's music are criminally underappreciated.

[@ShepherdMD]

Thank you for doing this! Always been a huge OG (1-Reach) Halo fan. The point you made at 15:45 about how through video games, so many people are exposed to such brilliant music is how I've always felt about these games. There has never been a second I took Marty's genius for granted. And I also really appreciate your analyses of his music! Keep up the amazing work! +1sub

[@stupidrainbo]

11:50 Wow you basically summed up the story of the game from about there on! Essentially the story of Halo Reach is that you play the part of these soldiers that are trying to save the planet but they know they're doomed, and you know the ending (because the other games talk about the bad guys winning in this one), however the good guys do win in the end of the series because your actions in Reach are able to save the Master Chief (main character in the later Halos) and Cortana, and they team up to defeat all the aliens once and for all and save humanity... sorta. So basically, Reach is a story about a super sad and pyrrhic victory.

[@skyblues8785]

halo 4's 117 is a great piece

[@StellarShibe]

Man this was awesome! Thanks for taking the time to do put this together. I love hearing your takeaways on all these different tracks from games I grew up on.

[@Richy59]

Halo 3, ODST and Reach were my childhood, and it is amazing to hear the genuine raw reactions of some stand out songs from my past. With all it faults, it is so great to hear someone else find The Trails from Halo 5 to be one of the best Halo arrangements. I really get what you are saying, its almost such a perfect send off and homage to Marty and Michael's themes. Such a great video, all 1 hour and 16 minutes of it! Hanging on your every word. Halo Infinite OST is worth a listen, some of the arrangements are fantastic and really do hit the nostalgia of Halo right on the head. Zeta Halo is just a great intro to the game.

[@edyvazquez3084]

Thanks! Cheers

[@medivhh]

This guy needs a playlist of the cutscenes from the games to accompany the sound. Also Halo 2 needs some appreciation. Thanks for the vid.

[@cornflakes4life414]

Wow. I am fairly new viewer, just joined within the last few months, and I scrolled down to add a comment and noticed 210 comments with 6.6k views at the time of writing this. This ratio of interaction is exceptionally impressive. It is so sweet to see how much people are enjoying your content, and feeling comfortable enough to add their own input at this kind of rate. As someone who has never learned an instrument, or had any education on music after the 7th grade, I personally appreciate the passion you put into explaining and breaking down what you hear. If you are still open to suggestions on what to listen to in the future, I would love to see anything from the Metroid Prime trilogy. The whole Metroid series is full of tracks that I adore, but something about how the Prime trilogy within the series handles it just feels so perfect for the atmosphere in game. Menu Theme, Parasite Queen, and Chozo Artifact Temple (all from Metroid Prime 1) are my personal favourites. A lot of these can be quite repetitive however, as with many Nintendo game OST's. Anyway, Happy New Year to anyone reading this, I hope everyone has a safe and productive 2023 ❤

[@airsofteer]

found your channel like a week ago, just finished the podcast with Marty, and now this comes out! The Halo series certainly has some of my favorite tracks of any game, although I kept thinking with some of your other videos (like with Final Fantasy and "To Zanarkand", which was the first of your videos I watched), when you're sort of learning about a game or series for the first time and scanning through comments or tracks, is it overwhelming having so many recommendations? Like with Final Fantasy, there are just so many games and so many great songs (the series covers 3.5 decades and 15 "main" games!) it seems impossible to "perfectly" par it down for one video like this

[@forafewpossumsmore]

So many of these tracks were such a large part of my life growing up. It was really awesome getting to see someone else experience them for the first time.

[@vonjt4077]

Steve Vai recorded for Halo 2, he's on the Halo 2 Mjolnir Mix and several other Halo 2 pieces

[@VinnyB117]

Halo Infinite's soundtrack is probably the best mix between new and old. Definitely the best of the newer Halo soundtracks.

[@Crazyguy_123MC]

I love that the Infinite soundtrack paid homage to the older games. I loved the callbacks to past characters too.

[@we1rdo_man]

I enjoyed ever second of this, not only for the phenomenal music that brings me goosebumps every time and because it was actually my 1st time hearing the Halo 5 track "The Trials"(I haven't been able to play 5) which was like an ode to all the great tracks from prior games and combined them and brought something of it's own and really made something special & beautiful, but because it was great to see you explain in such depth and knowledge the way it was made, why it sounded the way it did and to see you react to or imitate certain instruments when I did the same. You have a cool thing going, so keep it going.

[@myfaceismyshield5963]

This was great (Steve plays guitar in Halo 2, in the anniversary remaster and the original, they got him back to play his parts again) and the longer vid didn't bother me at all. Excellent input as always!

[@stauner4242]

As someone who has no experience with when and where these tracks take place during the game (well the epilogue is obviously at the end but like what's going on in game at the time), it is simply incredible how you're able to put to words almost exactly what is happening in the story, just by listening to the soundtrack. Truly incredible work that someone can simply listen to something without any other context, and understand exactly what's going on. Truly a testament not only to the composers of the pieces, but also your ear being able to put to words exactly what's happening

[@suryaselvakumar5385]

Halo has some wonderful music, your review definitely earned a sub

[@rubenellery3691]

Thanks

[@rpgeebzmusicarcade]

Thank you, Ruben!

[@zRxLLegacy]

The points in gameplay where Deference for Darkness plays in ODST is usually after a mission, where you as the player are trying to track down your missing squad, you've just found some evidence they left behind and have played a flashback of that squad member's journey through the battle for this city during the day... now you, alone at night in the aftermath, are treated to this beautiful music as you steel yourself to push onward into the dark to find your comrades amidst the destruction. Enemy ships fly overhead, your ammo reserves are getting low, the enemy patrols the streets around every corner.. and Deference for Darkness plays in the background as you push forward. Chilling stuff

[@tetov1620]

There's nothing like deference for darkness playing as your lonely odst traverses a dark city where the enemy already won; the only humans around are the corpses of those who died fighting hours before you arrived. This game shows the despair a normal soldier would feel in a losing war against an alien invasion.

[@vivixxthatengimain9787]

damn dude im really happy that you are reviewing my most fav games of all time. my persona fav from reach is fortress which is from the invasion game mode from the multiplayer. halo 3 odst has my al time fav OST out of all of them and that skyline. 4 i played it a bit and i dont remember which one i used to like from that game but i never played 5 and tbh i have heard some of the OST from it and im not to sure about it

[@crabbyfool]

So pleased this came up in my recommended, will be watching many of your previous videos, great work!

[@PenroseMusic]

117 from the Halo 4 soundtrack is easily one of my favorite songs in the entire series. I'm not sure what it is.. maybe the chords? The key changes? I can't pinpoint it, but I do know that I love it to death.

[@GaminGilmore]

Easily one of the most epic and bombastic tracks. It gives off the sense of saving the world, against all odds, against an unbeatable foe, more than any other track in the halo series imo.

[@nintendonerdjoseph]

It's a great piece. It's too bad it's underutilized even in the mid game it's stuck in.

[@enmadaio.8975]

@@nintendonerdjoseph A generic piece for a trash game

[@bloodgulchpatrick]

It has this very strong "heroic and lonely" vibe

[@rb_memorablerexog8589]

man halo reaches ending music still gives me chills to this day just your sparten standing there looking into the destruction knowing his time is almost up after watching all his teammates suffer a similar fate was just so touching

[@fireflyredux3373]

Deference for Darkness even after all these years still can easily bring a tear to my eye.

[@Crusty783]

1:04:25 beautiful track

[@Rullisi]

What I love about games is the exact same you described. It has really expanded my taste in music and exposed me to many cool styles that I might not have been interested in otherwise. Halo and Silent Hill especially have a special place in me with their music. I also love listening to those adaptive pieces of music idk what they're called but it's cool the way they amp up over time with different stages even if it's a little janky to listen to some of those. They don't work flawlessly in every game but they're still super cool. Also always great to hear thoughts from a pro. You tell me a lot about things I never even noticed which makes me appreciate these even more.

[@aVandalInShorts]

I've been playing the Halo series for the past 21 years, it has always been a big part of my life. I started playing the guitar because of Halo 2's OST. The music from every composer has always given me a wide range of emotions, nostalgia and good memories throughout the years. It's been a pleasure reliving again these beautiful soundtracks with you. Watching you reacting and commenting on them added a new perspective to the music and I'm glad you liked the tracks. Thank you for this, keep up the good work!

[@theodorekalfagiannis7506]

Absolute treat to watch 😃 you put into words the techniques and decisions that made me fall into love with the halo sound tracks at their core. I come from that design background (art) so it's fantastic to learn so much about how and why the musical decisions that were made impact us the way they do.

[@JS-vj1il]

Have been waiting for this forever. Great video! Halo Reach is a prequel to the other Halo games. Its kind of more dramatic and tragic game thats why the soundtrack is like this and more melancholic. Its the magnum opus of Marty. If you do another one then Halo 2 probably needs it own video. It would be interesting if you compared the original versions to the anniversary versions.

[@onewheeledcar6030]

Youll notice with odst that theres 2 kinds of tracks, the more melancholic soundscapey ones, and then more focused bombastic ones. This is intentional.

[@mariamerigold]

Thank you Geebs! Looking forward to more of these 😁

[@SpectrumAnalysis]

Reach's Overture is an underappreciated gem. You should listen to it if you haven't!

[@greed0599]

Halo 3 ODST was such an amazing game. Felt like the series had matured from just being about badass space marines. Of course, it was still about that, but ODST was the first time that I really felt the impact the war was having, when walking through the freshly abandoned city streets and listening to the audio logs of the turmoil, panic, greed, despair of the cities' inhabitants

[@RaZieLDaNtE1984]

Hi there Geebz and I´m still very much here. I´ve been on a marathon of playing all the Halo games and I have to say that Halo ost still rocks to this day. And maybe I´m in the minority, but I personaly loved Halo 4 and Halo 5 ost and you just reacted to two my personal favourites from each game. Kazuma Jinnouchi made not only great music for both games, but give The Master Chief his own theme wich is 117. And Trials is a worderful combination of both Kazuma´s 117 and Marty´s original Halo theme that absolutely pumps you up and give a sense of grandeur for all fans of the Master Chief himself. It´s been great watching your other reactions to videogames Osts, the way you enjoy and understand the sounds and composition as well as the passion that every composer must have. Cheers, stay safe and keep on keeping on. Happy videogame music apreciation to us all

[@hemandy94]

I'm still here. Great to hear your input from the OSTs.

[@SanePhoenix0]

Very late to getting to this video but just found the chanel and love it. All these tracks just bring back all the emotions I felt playing the games and its interesting to hear the technical view on it all. More halo please as there are so many amazing tracks

[@onewheeledcar6030]

Thanks for making these! Reach and odst were always my favorite. If your looking for some more combaty music from the odst track i recommend menagerie first then skyline, and i ADORE coastal highway. All are great!

[@m777howitzer4]

Yes!!! Found your first halo video a month ago and this is a nice dream come true. Buckling up!

[@Limit19970]

Reach and ODST had a massive effect on my musical taste growing up. Reach being sombre, and ODST being soo reflective and both being graceful soundtracks that really help you remember the stories and even make new ones in your head. The soundtracks by themselves really are journeys.

[@MajorDookieJuice]

I love watching these! I think you do a great job analyzing the emotions present and it's amazing how close your guesses are for things that might be happening in the games. Keep on doing your thing, you've got great energy!

[@BeTeLGeuZeX]

im glad that i finally got around to watch all of this and then will see you and marty do a interview/podcast that i also have on the watch later tab. time flew by so fast. Barely catching up so all the great talks

[@BRGKasumi77Main]

Wooow that was super mega awesome Halo music reaction that I've never heard before. I watched it from the beginning to the end!!! So cool

[@Dave_Chrome]

This was such a fun watch. Halo means so much to me, I even used to listen to the original trilogy soundtracks every morning in middle school to help wake up and get through my routine lol Can't wait for more content! Love your commentary style, it pumps me up to learn more about music

[@Metrosoda]

As always, this was a fantastic analysis, I love how good you are at picking up on themes without even knowing the context behind each piece. Deference for Darkness is one of my favorite tracks and I'm so so glad you listened to it. I know you get tons of requests and recommendations but man would I love to hear your thoughts on the Hades OST. Scourge of the Furies is a bit long but so, so good. Same with God of the Dead. Both have tons of metal inspiration.

[@XLrLNoOdLE]

If you were caught off guard by that part in Traffic Jam you MUST listen to Skyline also from Halo ODST, the slow build to the final third of that song is fantastic.