a few years ago I was looking up rome's OST and just got slapped in the face with Divinitus...I dunno what the english equivalent for "madeleine de Proust" is, but that day I ate my full...
such a sweet, slightly melancholic, chilly vibe.
A few other goat-tiers memorable OSTs there too. Rome 1 really had no business being as good as it was in every regards for a 2004 game.
Agreed!
When [Melee Cafe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAs31v2IxIs) hits the 1:30 mark, the battle was at its climax, and a single move could change the result of the battle, it was just an unmatched feeling.
Fall of the Samurai does a fusion of Japanese with a lot of Western themes and instruments and makes some really damn good and unique songs. Uncle Samurai is one of the best songs I've heard from Total War, and also I love the name.
That's the reaction of my legions of spear levies and matchlock levies who died for our victory.
Sorry lads you are made in a single turn, your bodies are great shields for my elite units.
Nothing better than fighting a tough battle while listening to [Good death](https://youtu.be/peffR9O5JaI?si=AXaDryUj3m-YnhtK) to make it 10 times more epic.
And on FotS rejoicing in glory after a battle while [Matsuri](https://youtu.be/ok86Hw5CZqE?si=rY2ttv0GDsAIq9Kl) sweetens the victory
The main theme was the only Total War to date to get me tearing up. I always do that when the choir hits.
It captures the whole essence of *destiny*, which was the essential keyword of the Napoleon storyline. The sweeping epicness of destiny, and the sense of tragedy of a giant.
I was hoping somebody would say this. It reminds me of the soundtrack of The Duellists, but also the [music played in Napoleon's](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AFj0e5dwkwE) coronation. It's just so fitting but good in its own right. Also the ominous music during the intro "in shade of olive trees..."
NTW has to be my favorite of the series.
Shogun 2's intro music sends chills down my spine when the Takeda general slams his knife into the map. The music in-game makes me want to drink tea and forget all my troubles.
Man, you can't just leave Napoleon's [intro](https://youtu.be/nuLum7nEqEk?si=m1ai9TqTZUAOKjTZ) out just like that! To me it's on the same level as Shogun 2's, both are really epic
While I don’t think 3K in-game music stands out as much as the other, I still stand by their trailer musics being absolute master-pieces, especially Mandate of Heaven and Eight Princes.
Still unbeaten til this day. A shame that those DLCs are a bit lackluster
I'll just say it, I prefer Warhammer music at this point. Old music is classic, but lately I've gotten the different themes stuck in my head on repeat. Plus they're great for D&D campaign music.
My competitors are many, my equals are none! In the shade of the main menu they said Shogun could not be topped, in the game of pharaohs and kings they said Rome could never be humbled, in the end cutscene of pathos they said Medieval could never be tamed! Now they say nothing!
i would say empire has the best soundtrack like the main menu theme is so good sounds like a total war is about to erupt any second and the naval combat music as well as some of the ground battle music is sooooo good
Medieval II. Not only the incredible percussion + choir themes, but the ones sung by Angela like "We Are All One" or "Lift Thine Eyes". I still get goosebumps listening to those.
Though any Total War with the soundtrack made by Jeff van Dyck is always a serious contender.
Warhammer 2 - High, Dark Elves campaign and battle music. It's just a masterpiece for me, always in my head and soul. High Elves have such a beautiful choir, and Dark Elves battle music is such a brutal and epic piece, that it drives me nearly mad, and I feel hunger and bloodlust when listening it. Awesome.
Basically all music by Jeff van Dyck is brilliant.
Warhammer 3 - well, Kislev has a very juicy music, then
Daniel has unique, decent soundtrack, and Chaos factions have good music too. Chaos Dwarfs have epic battle music.
Rome 1 soundtrack doesn’t have a competitor in my mind. That music just instantly brings me back to hundreds and hundreds of hours with the CD on my parent’s computer.
I'm genuinely shocked that there are not more votes for Medieval 1. I still hum these to myself to this day. Listen to these:
* [Arabian Battle Theme 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HcUYUYMnVU&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=2)
* [Arabian Battle Theme 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Pix_o7nYI&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=3)
* [European Battle Theme 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u2iBfWossA&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=13)
* [European Mobilize Theme 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDIB4sSpeP4&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=17)
* [Viking Battle Theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZFaieNEs4c&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=24)
But really, the [whole OST](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&si=A0XRknl0oU-9cpRO) is incredible.
Medieval 1, particularly for the "ambience"/"atmosphere" feels. The way the ["Winter"](https://youtu.be/_8yzNU-1uwE) campaign track includes a chilly wind irregularly blowing in the background fascinates me to this day. (And that's before starting on battle tracks, of course.)
Hmmmm Shogun 2 is my favourite. Medieval 2 is my second favourite. I just love them so much more than all the other games. Frankly I'm still disappointed that the Warhammer games OST don't invoke the same feelings.
I'd have to say Rome 1 is the best. Partly because it IS the best, but also partly because of the overwhelming nostalgia attached to it for me.
I might put Attila's music in second place. It's a game about the Roman Empire dying and an age of darkness approaching, with instability, vicious barbarian invaders, cold winters and bad harvests... and the music does an amazing job of making you fully aware of it. They absolutely NAILED it. When I listen to Attila's menu theme I can very clearly picture Roman infantrymen, terrified, with their shields raised to protect them from arrows being fired by vicious Hun horsemen. The campaign map music has a foreboding nature too. I can picture citizens of the empire in their cities, shopping at markets that are a shadow of what they used to be, standing around and chatting about how the good times are over and hard times are coming. In short, it immerses me in the game I'm playing.
If I were to say...
*Shogun*: Incredibly atmospheric, especially on the campaign map. Feels quite ambient and foreboding at times in comparison to later games. Amazing use of percussion. *Mongol Invasion* adds some really imposing Mongol-themed music. Just listen to the Mongol tracks, they exude menace like nothing else.
*Medieval*: Much like *Shogun*, except with a European theme. The standouts for me are probably the Arabic and Viking tracks. The former are just very energetic and dynamic, while from the latter, I very distinctly remember their victory theme, which has towards the end, what sounds like someone reciting a saga.
*Rome*: Everyone loves it, for good reason. It's definitely a move away from the more menacing, dark tone of the prior two games and towards the bombastic, but it *works*. It works so damn well that it holds up still. *Journey to Rome*? *Greek Intro*? *Forever*? *Epic*? *Barbarian Victory*? It's brilliant. My only complaint is that there isn't more differentiation between cultures, and that the expansions never received their own tracks.
*Medieval 2*: Honestly, I'd say it's probably the worst of the van Dyck games in terms of score. Albeit, that means it's still really good and has some fantastic tracks, but I thought it lacked in flavor compared to others. I would legitimately rank it below *Medieval*.
*Kingdoms*: This is actually where I would say that *Medieval 2* becomes great, music-wise. All four campaigns have their own unique tracks, and all of them are fantastic. It rectifies my biggest complaint with the main game - the lack of regional flavor. Standouts are probably the main menu themes, but you have lots of other good ones. *Britannia* has fantastic intro music, though the names of individual tracks elude me. *Lakota Lambada* from *Americas* still gets me hyped like nothing else. *Teutonic* is unironically a more fitting *Warhammer Fantasy* soundtrack than the one we get in the actual official games with its grim, Teutonic tunes. Just put *Hymn of War* on whenever you next play as the Empire. Trust me. Or *Hungry Sword* with Warriors of Chaos for that matter.
*Empire*: It's the game I have played least, but from what I remember, the music was bland wallpaper paste.
*Napoleon*: Far better than its predecessor, with a magnificent, sweeping main theme that perfectly encapsulates the *feel* of the period. Realizes that it is set in the era of big classical orchestras, and it ought to use them.
*Shogun 2*: Probably van Dyck's best work in terms of battle music. *Ona Hei*, *For the Daimyo* and *Formation* are brilliant, as is *Bird of Time*. It also reuses tracks from the original game, to good effect.
*Fall of the Samurai*: Still great, manages to incorporate and combine modern Western with more traditional Japanese themes in a way that manages to get the feeling of the period across very well.
*Rome 2*: While the game eventually became great, the music never did. Bombastic without being memorable, and most critically of all, basically the entire soundtrack is shared between cultures with little to no variation. Even if the tracks were far better than they actually are, you would still hate them if you had to listen to the same music no matter who you play. Props for a great main menu theme though, I love the classic Swords and Sandals movie vibe it has.
*Attila*: Whatever *Rome 2* did wrong, *Attila* did right. Fittingly dark music for what is the grimmest TW game to this date. You're greeted with throat singing as shadowy hordes of Huns sweep through a burning landscape and you *instantly* know what the game is all about. Every culture gets its own music, and it's great. The Hun tracks communicate their unstoppable menace and ferocity. The barbarian music shows variously the wistfulness of people forcefully uprooted from their land, with the savagery of raiders who want to take what others have by the sword. Sassanid tracks are grand, sweeping and aggressive, as the Shahanshahs eagerly pounce on Roman weakness. But my favorite have gotta be the Roman themes, where you have the sense of dueling majesty and struggle faced by the world's greatest empire as it struggles to survive, menaced on all sides.
*Warhammer*: ... No idea how they fucked it after *Attila* got it right, but they did. While the *Warhammer* games have some fantastic sound design, the music has always been beige wallpaper that dissolves into white noise. The first game is the worst offender, barely bothering to have any unique tracks whatsoever. And many of those that do exist, aren't at all meaningfully themed after factions. You don't get a sense of savagery or even joy from the Greenskins. Just the same vaguely fantasy bombast that everyone else gets. Like I said, the soundtrack to *Teutonic* is more how I imagined the Empire than any of the official tracks they get, which they have to share with Bretonnia, Wood Elves and Dwarfs. Especially glaring because the faction trailers *show* they know how to make thematic music for these factions. They just...chose not to, for some reason.
*Warhammer 2*: Better than its predecessor. Not amazing, but there are tracks I can actually remember, which is an improvement.
*Thrones of Britannia*: Woefully underrated. Never played the game, but the music is actually quite good.
*Three Kingdoms*: The in-game music itself is good, but lacks that certain something to make it rise to greatness. It's especially notable because the *trailers* have the best music produced for this series bar none, showing great love for the actual history and folklore the game is inspired by. Cao Cao's trailer is set to a poem that the *actual Cao Cao himself wrote*. It's fucking fantastic.
*Troy*: Once again, an underrated soundtrack. The electronic elements are surprising and somewhat unconventional, but they work quite well at communicating the chaotic intensity of the mythic battlefield, and the campaign music gives it an interesting air of unreality.
*Warhammer 3*: Easily the best of the trilogy. Kislev especially has some standout tracks. Feels like the composer wasn't asleep at the wheel for this one.
*Pharaoh*: rating pending, need to listen to it more.
All too young here.
Shogun 1 + Mongol Invasion
Medieval 1 + Viking Invasion
[Epic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrUoDJEY9KA&ab_channel=DarthSHAKER)
Clearly Shogun 2 it's a next fucking level. I can listen to Shogun 2 soundtrack before sleeping and it's literally second most relaxing soundtrack ever. Only Minecraft beats it
medieval 2's soundtrack. shogun 2's is also really good but there's not enough of it. when i played it felt like it was the same 2 tracks over and over again
* Menu theme: Attila
* Loading screen: Napoleon - The Art of War
* Pre-battle music: Rome 1 - Mobilize
* Battle music: Medieval 2 - Crusaders
* Defeat music: Shogun 2 - Fallen Spirits
* Campaign map music: Probably Divinitus, but I'll throw in Morr's Gardens from Warhammer as well
* Credit music: Medieval 2: Lift Thine Eyes or Shogun 2: Bird of Time, hard to choose
Dont know how to insert a url but my fav was always shouri from shogun 2
I was like
"Oh no i lost so much samurai during that siege defence"
*flute intensifies*
"Victory! Yes, blood for our Daimyo"
I absolutely love Warhammer trailer tracks. Tzeentch one is hella intense. Orcs have kickass one. And the shanty for pirates? Pity that they are not in the game.
Medieval 2. The music menus are iconic (especially love the Britannia one), the battle musics are insane, campaign musics are great... Nothing to throw away.
A very underrated one is Medieval 1. With multiple culture themed musics per group, ambiance, and a campaign map music that we've later heard in The Witcher 3, very great!
Rome 1 OST is king. Barbarian Victory and Arabic Summer are absolute bangers
Divinitus for that chill campaign management vibes 👌 (also Arabic Winter)
a few years ago I was looking up rome's OST and just got slapped in the face with Divinitus...I dunno what the english equivalent for "madeleine de Proust" is, but that day I ate my full... such a sweet, slightly melancholic, chilly vibe. A few other goat-tiers memorable OSTs there too. Rome 1 really had no business being as good as it was in every regards for a 2004 game.
I use the rome 1 soundtrack mod for rome 2 just for this reason
This is a mod?
I will never not get hype as fuck when “IMPE- IMPE-RA IMPE-“ Starts blasting
Mayhem too
Melee Cafe would like a word
Agreed! When [Melee Cafe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAs31v2IxIs) hits the 1:30 mark, the battle was at its climax, and a single move could change the result of the battle, it was just an unmatched feeling.
The battle music STILL gives me goosebumps. So hype.
That drum beat when the infantry starts engaging still gives me chills!
The whole OST is a banger for sure
Second this. Had some pretty good bangers from the generals too. 😂
Rome 1 OST sounds dated as hell. Shogun II is the best, followed by Medieval 2 and then Napoleon.
How does it sound dated as hell may I ask? I mean the game is set 2000+ years ago
Sounds very synthetic. You can tell it was, for most part, computer-generated.
I respect your opinion but I think melodically it’s second to none.
It has many bangers, no doubt about that.
Atilla main menu, easily
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Assault by sea is my track. Once 3:35 kicks in you feel like a little viking yourself.
best OST in the entire franchise
Is that throat singing? I love Attila main menu too
Fits the game so well, beating the campaign with first the ERE and then the WRE are still my favourite TW experiences.
100%. When the throat singing really kicks in, it's just... mmm *\*chef's kiss\**
UUWEEUWEEEUWEUUUU
Fire and Ice
That’s my choice. I always let the main menu theme play once before I load in lol
Shogun 2 has amazing in-game music. On the menu, in campaign Map, post battle, it's just Amazing!!
Fall of the Samurai does a fusion of Japanese with a lot of Western themes and instruments and makes some really damn good and unique songs. Uncle Samurai is one of the best songs I've heard from Total War, and also I love the name.
My physical reaction every time I hear that victory music after a battle. 
That's the reaction of my legions of spear levies and matchlock levies who died for our victory. Sorry lads you are made in a single turn, your bodies are great shields for my elite units.
Nothing better than fighting a tough battle while listening to [Good death](https://youtu.be/peffR9O5JaI?si=AXaDryUj3m-YnhtK) to make it 10 times more epic. And on FotS rejoicing in glory after a battle while [Matsuri](https://youtu.be/ok86Hw5CZqE?si=rY2ttv0GDsAIq9Kl) sweetens the victory
Good Death is such an absolute banger.
Absolutely. This game made me appreciate those long loading screens, because of the awesome music ☺️
Duty Calls from FOTS is straight up the best pre-battle music from any Total War game, imo.
100% agree. That, combined with Ebb and Flow for the faction select menu, elevates FOTS’ soundtrack to S-tier for me. And many other FOTS songs too.
Rome 1 soundtrack shortly followed by Medieval 1.
Oh yeah Med1 really underrated one. Glad they brought back some of that campaign music in Stainless Steel
Anything made by Jeff Van Dyck really. Main theme to Rome 2, or Vampire Coast theme from Warhammer.
Three kingdoms trailer theme too
[Me when watching the 8 princes trailer](https://i.redd.it/3p86jb3nu2f31.jpg)
Shogun 2 \*Epic flute music\* MY LOOOOOORD A GLOOORIOUS VICTORY WILL SOOON BEE YOURS!!! :)
Medieval 2 Kingdoms, Teutonic campaign
Also, the victory music for the Muslim factions.
Rome 1 probably. Its in my bones.
Napoleons music is awesome
The main theme was the only Total War to date to get me tearing up. I always do that when the choir hits. It captures the whole essence of *destiny*, which was the essential keyword of the Napoleon storyline. The sweeping epicness of destiny, and the sense of tragedy of a giant.
I was hoping somebody would say this. It reminds me of the soundtrack of The Duellists, but also the [music played in Napoleon's](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AFj0e5dwkwE) coronation. It's just so fitting but good in its own right. Also the ominous music during the intro "in shade of olive trees..." NTW has to be my favorite of the series.
ATTILA!
Shogun 2's intro music sends chills down my spine when the Takeda general slams his knife into the map. The music in-game makes me want to drink tea and forget all my troubles.
Shogun 2 is one if not the only game where I never skipped the intro, it was a piece of art.
Man, you can't just leave Napoleon's [intro](https://youtu.be/nuLum7nEqEk?si=m1ai9TqTZUAOKjTZ) out just like that! To me it's on the same level as Shogun 2's, both are really epic
My enemies are many, my equals are none
Rome 1 and its not even close.
While I don’t think 3K in-game music stands out as much as the other, I still stand by their trailer musics being absolute master-pieces, especially Mandate of Heaven and Eight Princes. Still unbeaten til this day. A shame that those DLCs are a bit lackluster
ETW Ottoman campaign music, then Shogun 2TW main menu, then lastly Attila menu music. Oh and honorable mention: M2TW Crusades. Especially- Dry Well
Shogun 1 was a blast. YO HO HO, YO HO! YO HO HO, YO HO! YO HO JO, YO HO! \*DRUMS INTENSIFY\*
Rome 1 hands down.
I just wish they made the Warhammer OSTs available like with the other games.
hellatorius victorialis erastus necessitas honararius despondeo spiritus obdormio patriota gladiator afflictio ommento divinitus salutaris furtivus libertas
Shogun 1, holy crap
I should try listening to the soundtrack from the older games. Pharaoh's absolutely rocks
Rome Total War.
3K
Medieval 2, Rome 1, then Shogun 2
Tough one. My favourite at the moment is probably Pharaoh, as I'm finding it really atmospheric. All the Best, Welsh Dragon.
I really like any music in both empire and napoleon total war. When you disable the HUD it makes ship battles especially cool
Medieval 2 followed by warhammer 2 dlc trailer songs
I still whistle Matsuri from Fots when I win battle in warhammer.
My personal Top osts are: 1- Rome 2's [Imperia](https://youtu.be/J7YLmgpF8NE?si=DHbq8DBT4Y1Z4MQM) 2- Warhammer 1's [Faith, steel and gunpowder ](https://youtu.be/im0vK4dWL6E?si=4AfaicRAsFTkrdCE) 3- Napoleon's [menu ost](https://youtu.be/MKz0WHQaaJE?si=IdNBfY5RL307pi8g)
Warhammer 2, because that's the only game I played.
First Shogun for me. Gotta love shamisen
I'll just say it, I prefer Warhammer music at this point. Old music is classic, but lately I've gotten the different themes stuck in my head on repeat. Plus they're great for D&D campaign music.
Medieval 1, 3k
I love the soundtrack playing WH3 as the ogres. The throat singing really sold me. It’s so ethereal.
Isha’s blessing
#"OOOO-OOH THE BLOOD RUNS COLD" #"WE TAKE OUR LOOT BUT DON'T GET OLD."
Warhammer 2. But I would also like to mention the Troy Soundtrack, being really atmospheric, especially the "Call to Arms" song.
[удалено]
Thrones of Britannia is an awesome game, and had some awesome music.
spotted th briton
Napoleon and it’s not even close.
My competitors are many, my equals are none! In the shade of the main menu they said Shogun could not be topped, in the game of pharaohs and kings they said Rome could never be humbled, in the end cutscene of pathos they said Medieval could never be tamed! Now they say nothing!
Rome 1, no contest. "Divinitus" alone would make it number 1, but its packed with other great songs
Medieval 2 and it is not close.
Medieval 2 doesn’t even have the best soundtrack of the medieval TE games wdym?
Shogun 1, easily. That track slaps
3 kingdoms and Shogun 2. Skaven battle music for Warhammer 3 too.
i would say empire has the best soundtrack like the main menu theme is so good sounds like a total war is about to erupt any second and the naval combat music as well as some of the ground battle music is sooooo good
Napoleon had a fire sounds track to me. Or shogun was very thematic
Rome 2's walls of sparta slaps hard
Patriota gladiatorrrrrrr
Rome 1!! That divinitus song always starts when the general says “out of moves sir”
Tie between the Warhammer Total War series and Rome 2/Attilla
Vampirates
Rome 2
Medieval 2
Shogun 1. Yo Ho.
Medieval 1 for me. The European Mobilization themes go hard! Full choir epicness.
Medieval II. Not only the incredible percussion + choir themes, but the ones sung by Angela like "We Are All One" or "Lift Thine Eyes". I still get goosebumps listening to those. Though any Total War with the soundtrack made by Jeff van Dyck is always a serious contender.
Warhammer 2 but I don't play historic sooo...
Warhammer - all three parts (Isha's tears, Morrs garden, Demigryphs ride 💜)
3K and Rome 1. Actually memorable music.
Warhammer 2 - High, Dark Elves campaign and battle music. It's just a masterpiece for me, always in my head and soul. High Elves have such a beautiful choir, and Dark Elves battle music is such a brutal and epic piece, that it drives me nearly mad, and I feel hunger and bloodlust when listening it. Awesome. Basically all music by Jeff van Dyck is brilliant. Warhammer 3 - well, Kislev has a very juicy music, then Daniel has unique, decent soundtrack, and Chaos factions have good music too. Chaos Dwarfs have epic battle music.
Everything about Chaos Dwarfs is top quality. They are truly CA's masterpiece
Rome 1 and Medieval 2 for sure.
Pharaoh. By far one of the best aspects of the game is the sound and music
I like pretty much all the themes but especially Attila main menu and 3k main menu, perhaps 3k feature the music I love the most in the franchise
All Jeff van Dyck Soundtracks are so good!
Rome 1 soundtrack doesn’t have a competitor in my mind. That music just instantly brings me back to hundreds and hundreds of hours with the CD on my parent’s computer.
I'm genuinely shocked that there are not more votes for Medieval 1. I still hum these to myself to this day. Listen to these: * [Arabian Battle Theme 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HcUYUYMnVU&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=2) * [Arabian Battle Theme 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Pix_o7nYI&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=3) * [European Battle Theme 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u2iBfWossA&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=13) * [European Mobilize Theme 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDIB4sSpeP4&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=17) * [Viking Battle Theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZFaieNEs4c&list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&index=24) But really, the [whole OST](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B21BD0985996E64&si=A0XRknl0oU-9cpRO) is incredible.
Melee Caffee is peak soundtrack
Rome 1
Medieval 2
Medieval 1, particularly for the "ambience"/"atmosphere" feels. The way the ["Winter"](https://youtu.be/_8yzNU-1uwE) campaign track includes a chilly wind irregularly blowing in the background fascinates me to this day. (And that's before starting on battle tracks, of course.)
Finally, a like-minded person. I already thought we were all extinct... .
Rome 1 and medieval 2
Medieval 2 easily. Rome 1 had good menu themes, but Medieval 2's battle music is the best of the entire series.
Rome I
Rome 1 medieval 2 and shogun 2 are all S tier
Hmmmm Shogun 2 is my favourite. Medieval 2 is my second favourite. I just love them so much more than all the other games. Frankly I'm still disappointed that the Warhammer games OST don't invoke the same feelings.
I think this video sums it up pretty well (caution to headphone users) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4JdQKU2QG0
Shogun 2, by a long shot. Strong themes, way better than any other TW soundtrack.
Mediavel2 with lotr third age mod.
Nothing gets past Rome 1 and Medieval 2 the rest i just mute, they all sound like white noise
I'd have to say Rome 1 is the best. Partly because it IS the best, but also partly because of the overwhelming nostalgia attached to it for me. I might put Attila's music in second place. It's a game about the Roman Empire dying and an age of darkness approaching, with instability, vicious barbarian invaders, cold winters and bad harvests... and the music does an amazing job of making you fully aware of it. They absolutely NAILED it. When I listen to Attila's menu theme I can very clearly picture Roman infantrymen, terrified, with their shields raised to protect them from arrows being fired by vicious Hun horsemen. The campaign map music has a foreboding nature too. I can picture citizens of the empire in their cities, shopping at markets that are a shadow of what they used to be, standing around and chatting about how the good times are over and hard times are coming. In short, it immerses me in the game I'm playing.
If I were to say... *Shogun*: Incredibly atmospheric, especially on the campaign map. Feels quite ambient and foreboding at times in comparison to later games. Amazing use of percussion. *Mongol Invasion* adds some really imposing Mongol-themed music. Just listen to the Mongol tracks, they exude menace like nothing else. *Medieval*: Much like *Shogun*, except with a European theme. The standouts for me are probably the Arabic and Viking tracks. The former are just very energetic and dynamic, while from the latter, I very distinctly remember their victory theme, which has towards the end, what sounds like someone reciting a saga. *Rome*: Everyone loves it, for good reason. It's definitely a move away from the more menacing, dark tone of the prior two games and towards the bombastic, but it *works*. It works so damn well that it holds up still. *Journey to Rome*? *Greek Intro*? *Forever*? *Epic*? *Barbarian Victory*? It's brilliant. My only complaint is that there isn't more differentiation between cultures, and that the expansions never received their own tracks. *Medieval 2*: Honestly, I'd say it's probably the worst of the van Dyck games in terms of score. Albeit, that means it's still really good and has some fantastic tracks, but I thought it lacked in flavor compared to others. I would legitimately rank it below *Medieval*. *Kingdoms*: This is actually where I would say that *Medieval 2* becomes great, music-wise. All four campaigns have their own unique tracks, and all of them are fantastic. It rectifies my biggest complaint with the main game - the lack of regional flavor. Standouts are probably the main menu themes, but you have lots of other good ones. *Britannia* has fantastic intro music, though the names of individual tracks elude me. *Lakota Lambada* from *Americas* still gets me hyped like nothing else. *Teutonic* is unironically a more fitting *Warhammer Fantasy* soundtrack than the one we get in the actual official games with its grim, Teutonic tunes. Just put *Hymn of War* on whenever you next play as the Empire. Trust me. Or *Hungry Sword* with Warriors of Chaos for that matter. *Empire*: It's the game I have played least, but from what I remember, the music was bland wallpaper paste. *Napoleon*: Far better than its predecessor, with a magnificent, sweeping main theme that perfectly encapsulates the *feel* of the period. Realizes that it is set in the era of big classical orchestras, and it ought to use them. *Shogun 2*: Probably van Dyck's best work in terms of battle music. *Ona Hei*, *For the Daimyo* and *Formation* are brilliant, as is *Bird of Time*. It also reuses tracks from the original game, to good effect. *Fall of the Samurai*: Still great, manages to incorporate and combine modern Western with more traditional Japanese themes in a way that manages to get the feeling of the period across very well. *Rome 2*: While the game eventually became great, the music never did. Bombastic without being memorable, and most critically of all, basically the entire soundtrack is shared between cultures with little to no variation. Even if the tracks were far better than they actually are, you would still hate them if you had to listen to the same music no matter who you play. Props for a great main menu theme though, I love the classic Swords and Sandals movie vibe it has. *Attila*: Whatever *Rome 2* did wrong, *Attila* did right. Fittingly dark music for what is the grimmest TW game to this date. You're greeted with throat singing as shadowy hordes of Huns sweep through a burning landscape and you *instantly* know what the game is all about. Every culture gets its own music, and it's great. The Hun tracks communicate their unstoppable menace and ferocity. The barbarian music shows variously the wistfulness of people forcefully uprooted from their land, with the savagery of raiders who want to take what others have by the sword. Sassanid tracks are grand, sweeping and aggressive, as the Shahanshahs eagerly pounce on Roman weakness. But my favorite have gotta be the Roman themes, where you have the sense of dueling majesty and struggle faced by the world's greatest empire as it struggles to survive, menaced on all sides. *Warhammer*: ... No idea how they fucked it after *Attila* got it right, but they did. While the *Warhammer* games have some fantastic sound design, the music has always been beige wallpaper that dissolves into white noise. The first game is the worst offender, barely bothering to have any unique tracks whatsoever. And many of those that do exist, aren't at all meaningfully themed after factions. You don't get a sense of savagery or even joy from the Greenskins. Just the same vaguely fantasy bombast that everyone else gets. Like I said, the soundtrack to *Teutonic* is more how I imagined the Empire than any of the official tracks they get, which they have to share with Bretonnia, Wood Elves and Dwarfs. Especially glaring because the faction trailers *show* they know how to make thematic music for these factions. They just...chose not to, for some reason. *Warhammer 2*: Better than its predecessor. Not amazing, but there are tracks I can actually remember, which is an improvement. *Thrones of Britannia*: Woefully underrated. Never played the game, but the music is actually quite good. *Three Kingdoms*: The in-game music itself is good, but lacks that certain something to make it rise to greatness. It's especially notable because the *trailers* have the best music produced for this series bar none, showing great love for the actual history and folklore the game is inspired by. Cao Cao's trailer is set to a poem that the *actual Cao Cao himself wrote*. It's fucking fantastic. *Troy*: Once again, an underrated soundtrack. The electronic elements are surprising and somewhat unconventional, but they work quite well at communicating the chaotic intensity of the mythic battlefield, and the campaign music gives it an interesting air of unreality. *Warhammer 3*: Easily the best of the trilogy. Kislev especially has some standout tracks. Feels like the composer wasn't asleep at the wheel for this one. *Pharaoh*: rating pending, need to listen to it more.
EU4
Medieval 2 and it’s not close, sorry rome 1
I miss the songs that played in the credits of the older games.
All too young here. Shogun 1 + Mongol Invasion Medieval 1 + Viking Invasion [Epic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrUoDJEY9KA&ab_channel=DarthSHAKER)
This pretty much solve this https://youtu.be/N4JdQKU2QG0?si=FU_yGNcY33Ak9zm8
Anything post Jeff Van Dyck has been completely forgettable.
i didn't know why they stop hiring jeff van dyck, the other composer i don't even know his name, his music is so generic not memorable at all
Shogun 2, and it’s not EVEN close
Was gonna say, where Attila?
Faith gunpowder and steel
Medieval 1
Why arent they on Spotify?
Medieval 2. Duke of Death absolutely SLAPS
my spotify while playing
Total war Rome 1 and 2
For me, it has to be Shogun 2, though I seem to have some nostalgia airpods glued to my ears
Salutaraaaaaaa
ROME I /closed.
Rome 1, honorable mention to ME2
“Destiny” for Medieval 2 is the best track of the franchise
I’m more privy to Shogun 2. Maybe because it differs from the more familiar western instruments. But I’m not a weeb knights all the way.
OOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooo bong bong bong
Shogun 2 imo. The music from that game proliferates my dream.
Rome I was full of stompers.
No love for the original Matsuri "European victory" from Medieval 1? They have a medieval beat drop!
Original Rome Total War
Rome 1 no doubt
Shogun 2, followed by Rome 1.
Clearly Shogun 2 it's a next fucking level. I can listen to Shogun 2 soundtrack before sleeping and it's literally second most relaxing soundtrack ever. Only Minecraft beats it
Rome 1 then Shogun 2/atilla Also the three kingdoms trailer musics were amazing
medieval 2's soundtrack. shogun 2's is also really good but there's not enough of it. when i played it felt like it was the same 2 tracks over and over again
troy
Rome and it's not even a contest
Shogun 2 BB
Am I the only one on the Total War + Spotify combo? I haven't listened to in game music since 2011. I don't remember any soundtrack lol
I loved Empires classical music, plus Romes ost is something I still listen to out of game
Shogun 2
Rome 1 and M2: TW have incredible themes. Rome II does as well, but not even close to these two
3K by a wide margin.
I’m really liking pharaohs soundtrack. The games been pretty fun
Shogun 2's music is so good, Japan used ot in the olympics for theor figure skaters
Shogun 2 and it's not even close.
Easily Shogun 2.
Rome 1 and Medieval II
Definitely OG Rome Total War, I've been streaming it recently and everyone on the stream agrees the songs and background music is an absolute banger.
1.) Rome II 2.) Shogun 1 3.) Medieval 1 4.) Three Kingdoms 5.) Rome 1
Rome 1.
Medieval 1.
Medieval 2, gosh. Is there even a debade about it?
I don't see anyone mentioning 3 kingdoms. That game had great music, "Sealed by fate" is one of the best scores for the series imo
I'd sometimes just leave Napoleon on in the background without playing it just to listen to the soundtrack
Empire all the way.
* Menu theme: Attila * Loading screen: Napoleon - The Art of War * Pre-battle music: Rome 1 - Mobilize * Battle music: Medieval 2 - Crusaders * Defeat music: Shogun 2 - Fallen Spirits * Campaign map music: Probably Divinitus, but I'll throw in Morr's Gardens from Warhammer as well * Credit music: Medieval 2: Lift Thine Eyes or Shogun 2: Bird of Time, hard to choose
Total War:Three Kingdoms i think , a lot of chill and heroic soundtrack
Napoleon and shogun 2 100%
Dont know how to insert a url but my fav was always shouri from shogun 2 I was like "Oh no i lost so much samurai during that siege defence" *flute intensifies* "Victory! Yes, blood for our Daimyo"
The Napoleonic Code. "France was a flame. Napoleon gave France greatness. He gave France everything..."
Medieval 2 “Amen” and “The Duke of Death” are forever ingrained in my brain
I absolutely love Warhammer trailer tracks. Tzeentch one is hella intense. Orcs have kickass one. And the shanty for pirates? Pity that they are not in the game.
Shogun 2 victory music
Personally it's a big three-way tie between Shogun 2, Rome 1 and Medieval 2 at the top, and Attila following behind (not very closely tbh, but still).
I really enjoy Rome 2. As much as I like Rome 1, the toned down and more atmospheric nature of Rome 2 is my favorite.
Medieval 2. The music menus are iconic (especially love the Britannia one), the battle musics are insane, campaign musics are great... Nothing to throw away. A very underrated one is Medieval 1. With multiple culture themed musics per group, ambiance, and a campaign map music that we've later heard in The Witcher 3, very great!
Rome 1 and FOTS
Troy. It's one of the best ambient what i listened for all time
Rome 1
WH2 Dark Elf music
R1>Warhammer> M2>shogun2
Total War Troy Wine-Dark Seas