Editing Halo 2: Original Soundtrack

{{ratings}}

{{Era|H2|RW}}

[[Image:Halo2Soundtrack2.jpg|thumb|right|Cover Art, Volume 2]]

The '''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack''' was composed and produced by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]], with a few tracks by [[Incubus]]. While the [[Halo: Original Soundtrack]] was released in a one format, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack was split into two volumes, which were released almost two years apart. Volume 1 was released on November 9th, 2004 and Volume 2 was released on April 25th, 2006. Rather than keep the medley form from the Halo: Original Soundtrack, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack focused more on suites with different chapters, similar to movements in a symphony. Unlike the Halo: Original Soundtrack, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack focuses more on heavy guitar riffs and beats as evident in the re-designed Halo Theme- Mjolnir Mix. As such, O'Donnell brought in several bands and guitarists (such as Incubus and Breaking Benjamin) to help compose the songs.

Volume 2 of the soundtrack differs greatly from Volume 1 in the presentation and form of the songs. While Volume 1 is made up in a "movement" form, Volume 2 focuses heavily on suites. As stated on the Volume 2 inlay card, Martin O'Donnell details why he chose to use this structure: "I decided to use a "suite" structure that corresponds to the chapters within the game. In a sense, by listening to this soundtrack, you will hear the musical representation of the story of [[Halo 2]]."

|name= Halo 2: Original Soundtrack

|1=[[Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix]]

|t1=4:11

|2=[[Blow Me Away]]

|t2=3:25

|3=[[Peril]]  

|t3=2:47

|4=[[Ghosts of Reach]]

|t4=2:22

|5=[[Follow]] ([[1st Movement of The Odyssey]])

|t5=4:15

|6=[[Heretic, Hero]]

|t6=2:32

|7=[[Flawed Legacy]]

|t7=1:59

|8=[[Impend]]

|t8=2:21

|9=[[Never Surrender]]

|t9=3:36

|10=[[Ancient Machine]]

|t10=1:39

|11=[[2nd Movement of The Odyssey]]

|t11=5:10

|12=[[In Amber Clad (Song)|In Amber Clad]]

|t12=1:38

|13=[[The Last Spartan]]

|t13=2:18

|14=[[Orbit of Glass]]

|t14=1:18

|15=[[3rd Movement of The_Odyssey]]

|t15=6:40

|16=[[Heavy Price Paid]]

|t16=2:32

|17=[[Earth City]]

|t17=3:06

|18=[[High Charity]]

|t18=1:59

|19=[[4th Movement of The Odyssey]]

|t19=9:07

|20=[[Remembrance]]

|t20=1:17

|21=[[Connected]]

|t21=2:39

|22=Prologue

|t22=2:35

|23=[[Cairo Suite]]

|t23=9:42

|24=[[Mombasa Suite]]

|t24=6:41

|25=[[Unyielding]]

|t25=3:05

|26=[[Mausoleum Suite]]

|t26=8:10

|27=[[Unforgotten]]

|t27=2:09

|28=[[Delta Halo Suite]]

|t28=11:26

|29=[[Sacred Icon Suite]]

|t29=7:26

|30=[[Reclaimer (music)|Reclaimer]]

|t30= 3:05

|31=[[High Charity Suite]]

|t31=8:27

|32=Finale

|t32=3:10

|33=[[Epilogue (Music)| Epilogue]]

|t33=3:49

* '''Original composition:''' Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori

* '''Sound design:''' Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori

* '''Performance:''' Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Steve Vai, Breaking Benjamin, Incubus, Hoobastank, Nile Rodgers, Nataraj, Daniel Estrin

* When played in reverse, the "Destroyers Invocation" part of [[Mausoleum Suite]] on Volume 2 plays a cryptic message from what is thought to be the [[Gravemind]], but could in truth be many people/AI.<ref>http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5067985657980184442&q=mausoleum+suite&total=17&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0</ref>

** The "Infected" movement seemingly contains reversed vocals as well, it is unknown whether there is a message hidden here or if they are just part of the music.

* There are several extra tracks not included in either of the two Halo 2 OST's, and can only be heard during gameplay, some of these are:

**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez_glg1Yh6E Metropolis (Bridge)] - Played when halfway across the bridge at the beginning of [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]]. This is an altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix track, focusing on the instrumental side.

**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjFdrB6gi4k Metropolis (Finale)] - Played at the end of [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]] during the [[Scarab]] battle. Another altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix, this one, focusing on the guitar.

**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i_TTUhkN9A Delta Halo (Landing)] - Played during the Warthog sequence on [[Delta Halo (Level)|Delta Halo]]. This track is obviously a remix of [[In Amber Clad (Song)|In Amber Clad]], but is shorter than its counterpart.

**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc1xgOMS63M Sacred Icon (Final Drop)] - Played when dropping down the final piston on [[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]]. This is an altered version of the last part of [[Sacred Icon Suite]]. It is also played on [[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]] when you first encounter the [[Heretic Leader]].

**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFxRAurzH5k Quarantine Zone (Drumrun)] - Played in the [[Sentinel]] factory on [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]]. As it's name implies, this track is focused on the drum section. This was also featured in the "Another Day At the Beach" podcast.

** There's another "lost song" played in Commons Area B-01 on [[Cairo Station (Level)|Cairo Station]], as well as several minor variations of the soundtrack songs in-game (eg: a more instrumental version of [[Earth City]] on [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]], an alternate version of "Cortege" from [[Sacred Icon Suite]] on [[Regret]], and the variation of [[Heretic, Hero]] played during the [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]] elevator sequence) .

<references/>

* [[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]

[[Category:Halo Music]]

[[Category:Music]]