So, anyone still remember Halo: Reach? Of course you do! I know I certainly do (…I’m not the only one, right?) I’ve often said that Halo 3 is my favorite of the entire series, and for the most part, that’s true. Halo 3 gave me some of my fondest gaming memories, and was my very first foray into the world of online multiplayer. However, if I’m to be completely honest and fair, Halo: Reach is probably the best of the series. It’s story was involved and dramatic, its gameplay evolved the Halo formula without breaking it, and oh the customization options! This is a game that was an is near and dear to my heart, and it all started with one piece of music.

(Video by YouTube user: julian117)

I love how much this piece revs one up for action! The undertone of military determination; the tragic piano flourishes; the understated intensity that suffuses it…it’s all just wonderful! It’s a piece that seems to describe both the challenges a Spartan in the Halo universe has to confront on a daily basis and the qualities these super soldiers employ to overcome them.

I remember playing this game eagerly awaiting the scene it carried, almost certainly expecting some sort of dramatic battlefield moment. But…that scene never came. I played through the entirety of Halo: Reach without hearing it. As it turns out, “Up Hill Both Ways” is a bonus track made to round out the game’s soundtrack. This struck me as rather odd at first, because I’d actually heard the song long before the game came out. It was part of one of the game’s first trailers, the first one to give us fans a glimpse of the game’s new multiplayer features.

(Video by YouTube user: Bungie)

I still absolutely love this trailer, but it’s the song that’s really managed to stick with me over the years. It’s a great piece that deserved more than to be relegated to promotional material and the end of the game’s soundtrack compilation. So please, take a moment to listen and appreciate it for the excellent track that it is! It needs the love! 😀

Know any themes that you feel didn’t get the attention they deserved? Why do you think they deserve better?

Lede image by Flickr user: commorancy (cc)