Jukebox Heroes: Reader requests

One of my favorite parts of doing this column is reading your comments every week. I've discovered that there are several other gamers who are passionate for this type of music and have plenty to say about these songs. There's a lot of memories that are triggered by these tunes as well, and I love hearing about them.

Unbeknownst to you but totally beknownst to me, I've been collecting comments regarding your favorite songs in the game's we've covered so far. My opinions on the best of every soundtrack isn't the be-all, end-all, after all. Sometimes you guys and gals show me a song that I overlooked or perhaps didn't appreciate the first time I heard it.

So what I've decided to do is turn your favorite songs into an occasional column, and this here is the first. Instead of focusing on just one MMO this week, we'll be looking at six additional tracks from titles we've discussed over the past few months. If you were gnashing your teeth that I overlooked an MMO classic, then you might just be in luck today!

1. EverQuest II: Isle of Refuge

There's been a ton of music released from EverQuest II over the years, but it was one of the first tunes that caught this reader's ear. Aelious wrote, "I have to say that EQII has it all in terms of music. From the original Karpman tracks all the way through the expansions, this is a great catalogue."

Isle of Refuge certainly has a movie-like quality to it. It begins with a whirlwind of light noise before the horns pump up and take us to a sweeping fantasy soundscape. I like how it alternates between going all-out with the grandeur and dimming down to an enchanting lullaby. Quite beautiful, I agree.

2. Rusty Hearts: Debtor's Prison

The Rusty Hearts rock 'n' roll soundtrack has quite a few followers. AthenaEternalFire wanted to share this track with everyone: "I'm playing this game, and I must say that the soundtrack won me over the first time I entered a dungeon. It's amazing and great! My very favorite is the one that is playing when you enter the debtor's prison (and some others of course, but this is the first that unlocks). Check it out!"

This song doesn't take long to crank up the electric guitar, so don't be playing it if you're performing dental surgery or trying to take a nap. I wouldn't say this is as catchy as some of the other songs I've heard from this game, but it certainly isn't bad.

3. World of Warcraft: Teldrassil

I expected a fair bit of controversy for what I left out in my World of Warcraft soundtrack column. The original score is so dang iconic, and it stands to reason that certain songs pluck our nostalgic chords. So BhimaJenkins was not alone in saying that "hands down" Teldrassil was his most favorite songs in the game.

Don't get me wrong; I like it just fine. It definitely captures the mystery and wonder of the Night Elves and their big honking tree, and it's not hard on the ears either. Between the harp strings and choral humming, it definitely puts me in a serene mood.

4. World of Warcraft: Dun Morogh

The Dwarves aren't going to stand for those Elves getting all the attention, however. Reader Jgolia thought it was an outrage that their beginning zone wasn't represented: "What what? You forgot Dun Morogh! Talk about atmospheric!"

This was actually the first zone I ever played in WoW, so the music holds special memories for me. It's hard to explain, but this song conveys the harsh mountain wilderness while managing to be softly beautiful at the same time. I really never got sick of hearing it.

5. Runes of Magic: Valley of Heroes

I totally stand with reader FabiaMoon, who wrote, "I could wish that Runes of Magic would release the entire soundtrack of this great game, but that would be asking too much, I think."

I'd buy that for a dollar. Or more likely, many dollars. I often bemoan the fact that so many MMO scores just aren't available to buy, and right at the top of my wish list is this game.

FabiaMoon was a particular fan of the music in the Valley of Heroes, which I had actually never heard before. It's certainly epic, like something you might hear in a museum of awesome history.

6. EverQuest: Karana Bridge

For our last reader request, we go all the way back to the original EverQuest. That article brought out a lot of enthusiastic conversations, and it seems as if everyone fixated on one particular tune as something that summed up his or her experience in the game.

For KansasGamer, it was this song. "There was a giant wooden bridge at the end of the Karanas, on the way to High Pass Hold," he wrote. "I recall there being a peaceful bit of music there, and I'd chill to that while chatting."

That brings our first reader request column to a close! Keep chatting it up in the comments in future weeks, and never be shy about sharing your favorites. After all, I might be watching!

MMOs aren't just about looks; they also have great soundtracks that often go unnoticed. Heroes don't stand for that! Every Tuesday, Jukebox Heroes will check out a game's soundtrack and feature the best tunes to share and discuss. Your DJ for the hour is Justin Olivetti, and the request line is open!