Topic: SHOCKING NEWS: MercurySteam/Konami initally had Yamane's music for LoS...

[Maedhros]

The Lords of Shadow 2 soundtrack just oozes a love for Castlevania, even if it isn't the same type of music as what Yamane put out. I'm not surprised to hear that Oscar is a fan.

Besides a few specific ones, I don't agree. Is the same thing LoS did and doesn't sound like anything that this series ever had.

It fits LoS, but doesn't fit the series as a whole.

[Mike Belmont]

Besides a few specific ones, I don't agree. Is the same thing LoS did and doesn't sound like anything that this series ever had.

It fits LoS, but doesn't fit the series as a whole.

This ^^^. I think that its pointless to compare both music styles. As I said, LoS music is not bad, its simply belongs to the game that represents.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

The fact that there's people eagerly seeing ways to mod the PC versions of these games in order to change the music is a testament to how much Alvarez's decision to change the style does not mesh well.

[Anglachel]

I think we got some good tracks from the series, like "Daemon Lord." But I really wished for a LOS take on Dance of Illusions or Bloody Tears.

[e105beta]

Besides a few specific ones, I don't agree. Is the same thing LoS did and doesn't sound like anything that this series ever had.

It fits LoS, but doesn't fit the series as a whole.

To clarify, when I say that it oozes a love for Castlevania, I don't mean that it hearkens back to pre-LoS style music.

Unlike the LoS soundtrack, which while well composed lacked a strong identity, the LoS2 soundtrack knows what it wants to be and captures the atmosphere and feeling of Lords of Shadow 2 very well, and I personally believe that, in general, Lords of Shadow 2 felt more atmospherically similar to a "traditional" Castlevania despite its flaws. IMO, it's a strong compliment to a new take on Castlevania, rather than the backdrop-y music that LoS had.

[beingthehero]

The fact that there's people eagerly seeing ways to mod the PC versions of these games in order to change the music is a testament to how much Alvarez's decision to change the style does not mesh well.

Having LoS + CV Arcade's music = excellent

[Maedhros]

To clarify, when I say that it oozes a love for Castlevania, I don't mean that it hearkens back to pre-LoS style music.

Unlike the LoS soundtrack, which while well composed lacked a strong identity, the LoS2 soundtrack knows what it wants to be and captures the atmosphere and feeling of Lords of Shadow 2 very well, and I personally believe that, in general, Lords of Shadow 2 felt more atmospherically similar to a "traditional" Castlevania despite its flaws. IMO, it's a strong compliment to a new take on Castlevania, rather than the backdrop-y music that LoS had.

And that's exactly what I disagree.

[e105beta]

And that's exactly what I disagree.

Care to elaborate? Color me interested.

[Maedhros]

Castlevania wasn't about atmosphere through music. The music in Castlevania was upbeat, catchy, an element to keep the player engaged in what matters in the series: the gameplay. It wasn't made to really fit the narrative or evoke the mood of the player (even though they always tried to make it fit the area or the "theme" of the game).

LoS 2 is pretty moody, atmospheric. It works on the type of narrative LoS have, but it's simply too different from whatever Castlevania have done in the past. Nothing wrong with that, I just don't like these type of soundtracks in any media (movies, series, games). If it isn't melodic, then I'll probably forget it after I finish the game (like I already did for this game, while I can still remember any melody line from a music in the other games, with exceptions of course).

[DragonSlayr81]

Personally, I don't think they tried hard enough, and before you jump on me for this, this is what I mean. I fail to believe that there were NO situation where Yamane's music fit the game(or at least, that STYLE of music could've been used). Music can be used for different things. I'm not saying, where a touching, emotional scene is playing out to ramp up the guitars and dance beats, but surely there were parts in the game where her style COULD work. I believe there are situations for every thing. There are times where it's better to go the atmopheric route, and there are other times where it's best to pump up the adrenaline.

[Anglachel]

I do think that there are tracks from Yamane that would work in LOS. Wouldn't "Dracula's Fate" from Aria of Sorrow fit pretty well? Or "Successor of Fate?" Maybe not at the same rate, but I feel those compositions would fit nicely.

[e105beta]

Castlevania wasn't about atmosphere through music. The music in Castlevania was upbeat, catchy, an element to keep the player engaged in what matters in the series: the gameplay. It wasn't made to really fit the narrative or evoke the mood of the player (even though they always tried to make it fit the area or the "theme" of the game).

LoS 2 is pretty moody, atmospheric. It works on the type of narrative LoS have, but it's simply too different from whatever Castlevania have done in the past. Nothing wrong with that, I just don't like these type of soundtracks in any media (movies, series, games). If it isn't melodic, then I'll probably forget it after I finish the game (like I already did for this game, while I can still remember any melody line from a music in the other games, with exceptions of course).

I think we misunderstood each other. When I meant LoS2 was more traditional than LoS, I meant as a game, not in it's music.

If you're someone who desires all of your music media to be heavily melodic, then it makes sense that you wouldn't like the LoS soundtracks.

[Flame]

Castlevania wasn't about atmosphere through music.

Maybe not as a whole, but SCIV definitely tried going down that road, to much success. And that's the kind of DNA I see in the LoS series' music. The only difference being that IV still had stage by stage music, despite being very moody and ambient in a lot of the soundtrack, while LoS goes full movie and has almost no level specific music, except for Vampire Killer in the Music Box.

That said, I can agree that LoS2 has IMO, a stronger soundtrack than LoS1, although I still like both. LoS2 definitely sounded more like a dark gothic game. And I think the chanting in a lot of the music really gave it that almost Gregorian quality. The fact that there was also synth involved also gave it a bit more variety and depth to it aside from just being bombastic music. There also felt like there was MUCH more violin than LoS1 which was MUCH more trumpets and other such wind instruments. In general I like LoS2's composition and instrumental choices better. I mean, themes like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ATsvuJ1Nzk

Are just amazing, and IMO, just as worthy of the Castlevania name as previous OST's. Dracula's theme itself with it's piano, goes without saying. or the Gardens theme. LoS2 has much more memorable music than LoS1 overall, even I can admit that.

Feels to me like with LoS, by trying to "establish the pre Dracula world" they really weren't able to establish a very solid identity in tone OR music, since by MoF it's all different, and LoS2 follows MoF's suit.

[Munchy]

this should be the official theme song for the castlevania dungeon forum

Let's Listen: CV Harmony Of Dissonance - Merchant's Theme (Extended)

Can someone write rap lyrics to go with this? Preferably about selling lots of things but only buying those dumbass gems?

Interesting. Araujo certainly sounds like a nicer guy than Alvarez.

[DragonSlayr81]

Maybe not as a whole, but SCIV definitely tried going down that road, to much success. And that's the kind of DNA I see in the LoS series' music. The only difference being that IV still had stage by stage music, despite being very moody and ambient in a lot of the soundtrack, while LoS goes full movie and has almost no level specific music, except for Vampire Killer in the Music Box.

SCV4 set up the atmosphere, but also added some hints of Progressive Rock into the mix(some give me a Rick Wakeman feel). In a way, it was the best of both worlds, which is what I want to see in more "cinematic" CVs. You can have atmophere building music, as well as something more pumping. Many people credit the whole "epic" sound of cinematic music to Hans Zimmer, but even he has a heavily diverse style. He can do epic, and in the same time, switch to something heavily earwormy and melodic, then switch to something electric, driven by guitars and rock. I don't believe there is just ONE style that can only work. It's a matter of careful choice. You can go purely cinematic, but just because you CAN doens't mean you SHOULD, nor does it mean it's the ONLY way to go.