If I wasn’t restricting each series to only having one addition to this list, multiple spots would be occupied by the iconic work of Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori throughout the Halo series. Choosing the best Halo soundtrack is a contentious endeavor, because each game has an individually stirring sentimental value and preferred atmospheric sound to players.
For me, Halo 2 and Halo 3 are personally near and dear to my heart, as they were the first soundtracks I ever purchased. Both could occupy a top 5 spot on this list. Halo 2 gets extra points for unique, bombastic collaborations with Breaking Benjamin and Incubus, Halo 3 for polishing many of the themes introduced earlier and elevating them to epic echelons.
Ultimately, Halo Reach tops the list for me, though I put Halo 3: ODST just behind it. I could go off on ODST, all I’ll say is that it is a dazzling gem I’ve listened to countless times. Halo Reach though, narrates the ferociously tragic storyline with emotional waves of warm brass, kickass kick drum guitar distortion, heart-rending string arrangements, spectral vocals and perfectly timed piano solos.
There are many callbacks to previous Halo tunes without relying on the ubiquitous Halo theme overture. Special shoutout to the Reach track “From the Vault,” treating fans to a medley of pieces gathered from different games in the series. “Tip of the Spear” “Long Night of Solace” include dramatic high and low points, respectively, but the rest of the soundtrack is unceasingly cinematic. For me, Halo Reach is definitively up there as one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time.