Topic: "The Dragon Returns" - Castlevania Lords of Shadow Sequel (HERE BE SPOILER INFO)

[Intersection]

It's a very nice theme, for what it is.
But, of course, is was made-to-order for the trailer, so it doesn't have the depth or the substance we'd expect from that piece. It's pretty far from the visceral impact of SCIV's Dracula Battle theme. Still quite enjoyable, though.

[Rugal]

meh

[Flame]

Probably one of the best Dracula themes ever, I rank it up there with IV's.

Isn't Dracula's theme in SCIV just the game intro theme?

It's a very nice theme, for what it is.
But, of course, is was made-to-order for the trailer, so it doesn't have the depth or the substance we'd expect from that piece. It's pretty far from the visceral impact of SCIV's Dracula Battle theme. Still quite enjoyable, though.

seems that way. That said, It's likely not a battle theme at all. probably play during cutscenes or non battle moments in general. I'm wo0ndering if Victor will have his own battle theme though.

I don't know about you, but I fail to see how SCIV's Dracula theme has "Visceral Impact". It feels just as much like a Cutscene piece as this one does. (because it is)

[Kingshango]

Sounds like something that fit right into a Castlevania intro. Figures considering this theme plays in the main menu.

[Lelygax]

Isn't Dracula's theme in SCIV just the game intro theme?

1st phase uses the normal stage music from this area, 2nd phase (skull face) uses Simon Theme, so you are more or less right I think.

I dont think this LoS2 Dracula's Theme is the best theme of all times, I prefer Dance of Illusionsm Riddle or even Vampire's Stomach.

[Intersection]

Isn't Dracula's theme in SCIV just the game intro theme?
It feels just as much like a Cutscene piece as this one does. (because it is)

No, it's far more than that, although it is teased in the game's intro. It's a full battle theme, one you hear in the throne room, during your fight with Dracula.
Dracula Battle: Super Castlevania 4 Music

I don't know about you, but I fail to see how SCIV's Dracula theme has "Visceral Impact".

Ah, maybe I didn't choose my words right. It's eerie, unnerving, yes -- but it also has that capacity to seize you, to take hold of you, to instantly draw up emotion... It's rather difficult to explain; but that's more of what I meant by "visceral impact".

I'm wo0ndering if Victor will have his own battle theme though.

I certainly hope he will. If he doesn't, he'd certainly be the first...

[Flame]

personal opinion then. The Dracula theme in SCIV is definitely eerie, but I think it works better in the intro cutscene. It REALLY makes an awesome atmosphere what with the fog and all. But as a boss the,me it's a very passive theme, which makes it not that great for me.

And it's actually the stage theme for the final flight of steps into the keep... I don't think that counts as a Boss theme. That's like counting Sigma's first form theme in X6 as Sigma's theme, when it's used in the stage right before the boss.

IMO Simon's theme is the real Dracula battle theme.

That's one thing that always sort of bothered me about SCIV. Such great music... But yet... It doesn't have an actual REAL boss theme for Dracula... It uses the intro/castle keep theme and then Simon's theme. What gives? they run out of money at the last minute on music?

[Belmontoya]

I don't really think these themes are comparable.

SC4's music is a legend. It's like the Beatle's white album of video game music.

LOS and LOS2 music is delicate, and very introspective to Gabriel. It's a completely different approach to creating video game music.

Comparing the music of these two games is like comparing apples to oranges.

Obviously this new version of Dracula's theme is a beautiful piece. Why not appreciate it for what it is without trying to draw up broken comparisons just to take it down a notch?

You don't have to lower your expectations to appreciate the work of Oscar Araujo; you have to shift them.

[Kingshango]

Jeff's right, besides Dracula's theme new theme is not meant to be battle music like SCV4's was. It's eerie and sets the tone for the game as it should, it definitely better than the epic LotR sounding main menu theme in LOS1.

[flyingchai]

It's just his theme, which will occur again in other tunes throughout the game, much like the main theme did in LOS1.
Dracula's theme is heard again in "Return of Final Confrontation," but with a significantly different feeling to it.
This 2-minute piano version represents the tragic Dracula in a state of despair and without power.
The version in the "Return of Final Confrontation" belongs to the Dracula that's back at his Ultimate Badass state.

[e105beta]

It's just his theme, which will occur again in other tunes throughout the game, much like the main theme in LOS1.
Dracula's theme is heard again in "Return of Final Confrontation," but with a significantly different feeling to it.
This 2-minute one represents Dracula in a state of despair, powerless, tragic.
The version in the final battle music belongs to a Dracula that's back at his Ultimate Badass state.

I really liked the chunk of it we hear in "Return of Final Confrontation". It added a little bit of flavor to the extremely bombastic Satan battle theme.

[Maedhros]

Pretty great melody on this music.

[Flame]

Jeff's right, besides Dracula's theme new theme is not meant to be battle music like SCV4's was.

I still don't consider it battle music, but that's just me. I dunno what the devs thought when they composed it.

[Intersection]

And it's actually the stage theme for the final flight of steps into the keep... I don't think that counts as a Boss theme. That's like counting Sigma's first form theme in X6 as Sigma's theme, when it's used in the stage right before the boss.

IMO Simon's theme is the real Dracula battle theme.

That's one thing that always sort of bothered me about SCIV. Such great music... But yet... It doesn't have an actual REAL boss theme for Dracula... It uses the intro/castle keep theme and then Simon's theme. What gives? they run out of money at the last minute on music?

SCIV isn't the only game to have done that. In fact, many CV Dracula incarnations have been given different themes for their different forms.
Among the more famous ones, there's Nothing to Lose and Black Night in CV, Dance of Illusions and Proof of Blood in CoTM, A Toccata into Blood Soaked Darkness - Metamorphosis to the Black Abyss of Death in CoD... And CV64 and LoD have a whole slew of them.

So it's far from being an isolated case.
As for SCIV, since Simon's Theme is, well, Simon's theme, it isn't hard to tell that Dracula Battle is Drac's "REAL" theme. And it plays throughout most of Simon's final battle.

[The Silverlord]

I still don't consider it battle music, but that's just me. I dunno what the devs thought when they composed it.

I think what they did there is tremendous: eerie side being Dracula’s theme, with the player also drawn back to and reminded of the prologue and Dracula's resurrection—the reason for the quest; Simon’s Theme: culmination of the adventure, and rather than Dracula being centre stage, it's Simon.  Dracula’s destruction is at hand.