[Apollo]

I always felt that most of FreeSpace's atmosphere comes from its soundtrack. FS1 felt hopeless because of its mournful briefing music and dark soundtracks, and even FS2 had some excellent pieces like Joshua and Cinema 2.

So, what FS music holds the most emotional meaning for you? I'd personally go with Darkside, Cinema 2, Marauder, Worlds Apart, Joshua, and most of FS1's briefing music.

[niffiwan]

Cinema/Intro cutscene (gives me goosebumps everytime I'm listening to it properly), followed by Exodus (I think - the one that plays in sm3-10 Apocalypse) - this makes me feel like reality is falling apart and you're desperately trying to hold it together.  But, I like it all, everything from the FS2 hi-quality media_vps music pack is on my phone, and I'm going to get around to adding some of the FS1 music as well.  If I could download the new FS1 music from Dan Wentz's Soundcloud page, it'd probably already be on there

[An4ximandros]

The FS2 Credits Theme, it really gives this "you are screwed" sensation that make a slight chill go down my spine.

And the song used on the Third Ancients Cinematic in FS1. It is full of melancholy, regret and reckoning.

[-Norbert-]

I'd also go for the Ancients cutscene music, followed by the music that played during the first part of the ending cutscene of FS2 (from the beginning till the white-out from the Nova).

[Scotty]

I've always gotten the strongest reaction from one of the FS2 briefing pieces: brief4.  As soon as it starts playing at the beginning of A Lion at the Door, you can tell **** is about to get real.

[BritishShivans]

I think Marauder and Strike are my favorite tracks in FS1. I like to call Strike Shivans, because of it's use as their "theme". Why I really like it, however, is because it fit well with the FS1 portrayal of the Shivans - these guys come out of nowhere and kill the **** out of the Zod strike group, and then they come over and start killing you as well, after a about a minute.

My favorite FS2 tracks are the Ending cutscene's music. I always felt it portrayed the "dear god **** what are they doing" feeling people probably felt when they noticed that's Capella's star is COVERED IN SATHANAS

Other tracks would be Exodus and Leviticus. I also like brief1 and brief3(? I think that's what it's called), although I preferred FS1's briefing tracks.

[karajorma]

I've always gotten the strongest reaction from one of the FS2 briefing pieces: brief4.  As soon as it starts playing at the beginning of A Lion at the Door, you can tell **** is about to get real.

I was about to post the exact same thing. When I used to FRED FS2 missions I'd just stick that on a perpetual loop to get myself in the Freespace mood.



When it comes to battle music, I've always liked Joshua best.

[BritishShivans]

I've always gotten the strongest reaction from one of the FS2 briefing pieces: brief4.  As soon as it starts playing at the beginning of A Lion at the Door, you can tell **** is about to get real.

I was about to post the exact same thing. When I used to FRED FS2 missions I'd just stick that on a perpetual loop to get myself in the Freespace mood.



When it comes to battle music, I've always liked Joshua best.

Ha! I forgot about Joshua. Joshua is an awesome piece. Sadly you only hear in two missions in the retail campaign, so it's kinda unappreciated.

[Mongoose]

I have to agree with the FS2 Cinema 2/Credits track.  I forget which exact mission uses it for a briefing, but as soon as it started playing, I sat bolt upright in my chair.

[niffiwan]

Slaying Ravana

e: actually, I'm pretty sure there's another one I can't remember of the top of my head as well...
e2: Clash of the Titans II and Return to Babel according to the wiki...

[yuezhi]

intro version of cinema2. i swear first time i watched it, i was almost brought to tears. not even mass effect can do me justice like that.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Apart from both Cinema tracks and Joshua (mentioned before), also the FS1 and FS2demo (ST:R) mainhalls. The FS1 music has a 'stuff is happening' vibe right from the start, which really draws me into the game. And the ST:R mainhall still gives me cold shivers if I even think about it. The first time I started the mod, I was... paralyzed as soon as the music kicked in. I just had to listen it all to the end. Why ever dropped that one from FS2 is beyond me.

Oh, and the Sathanas cutscene music - although there I'm not sure if it's the music or the association which gives me shivers.

[Luis Dias]

I'm actually in the process of building a mix of the FS2 soundtrack with some key briefings and comm chats to some flavour, some 15 min of story telling.

[Goober5000]

And the ST:R mainhall still gives me cold shivers if I even think about it. The first time I started the mod, I was... paralyzed as soon as the music kicked in. I just had to listen it all to the end. Why ever dropped that one from FS2 is beyond me.

Me too.   Dan really did a great job with that one, and I was very glad it was available to use in ST:R.

And I just loved the hybrid combination of FS2's Brief4 and FS1's Strike, which I used for "He Who Rides the Tiger".

[IronBeer]

I've always felt that Galatea (FS1 mainhall) nailed the atmosphere and general vibe for the first FS- I perceive elements of mystery, awe, but also danger and dread. FS2 Cinema; 'nuff said.

Regarding battle tracks, I'm most partial to.... Monolith! The first time I heard the track (which never appears in the main FS1 campaign, bafflingly) was during an old and possibly lost FS1 single mission: a re-creation of the Battle of the Line from B5. Never seen the show, but that mission was hands-down the most intense battle I had fought up to that point. That was many years ago, before I discovered FSO. I'll go ahead and echo the sentiments on Strike as well, though I don't particularly have a favorite FS2 battle track.

[soilder198]

Briefing 5 and Levictus.

Oh man, when Levictus starts playing in the middle of a firefight, it makes me feel like the world is in some glorious, epic, giant ducking fight.

[esarai]

In terms of briefing tracks, the Title and Cinema tracks from FS1 take the cake.

As for mission tracks, my favorites are from FS1; the March and Spook tracks are by far my favorites.  March has a sublime mix of foreboding, intense doom and badassery, while Spook laid the framework for one of the most memorable game sequences I have played.  Used in 'The Big Bang' it made for a subtly tense atmosphere, but in 'Playing Judas,' infiltrating Shivan space with the low, mournful wails of space echoing in your ears and the driving drum beat and cello urging you onwards, soon to be joined by horns as more and more ships arrive, finally rising to a crescendo right as the node explodes with light and the Eva and Lucifer emerge. And there you are in your pitiful fighter, helpless to do anything except watch the Fall of Vasuda take its final shape.  That really drove the 'you're all screwed' message home in a way only matched by the use of Lacrimosa to herald the Imperieuse's arrival in 'Delenda Est.'

[BritishShivans]

Also, I absolutely like and loathe Arv_B02. Goddamn Seraphims, man.