Topic: What type of music should the series go with?

[beingthehero]

So recently we've had Judgment's heavy rock, LoS's ambient music, and OoE's psuedo-poppish vibe. I kind of miss SotN's symphonic-metal and classical vibe, really. The songs were memorable without sounding bland a la Judgment, nor somewhat forgettable like Lords. Of course, some people prefer the well-done Super Castlevania IV mood Lords' music has.
What are your thoughts?

[Ridureyu]

All of 'em.

[Neflyte]

Never met a CV style of music I disliked, but I'm partial to Curse of Darkness as far as the overall style goes. The heavy rock style is quite good as well, I'd love to hear some SCV4 tunes done in that style.

[Chernabogue]

All styles, depending on what is going on in the game and what atmosphere you're looking for.

[X]

The only music I can't get by is LoS. I still can't hear anything SCV4 about it. The rest of the series is all good.

-X

[DragonSlayr81]

All of 'em.

Yes! I don't get some people who only think one style should be reserved for the series. Some people act like putting in some rocking tracks will take away from the epic orchestral ones, like the balance would be off and the world would end because of it. I think CV's at it's best when it uses a variety of styles. SotN is probably a great(if not, the best) example of this. You have rock driven songs, orchestral songs, ambient songs, the plethora is pretty great. It's similar to the FF series. People might say what they will, I totally loved Uematsu's range of style. He'd be including techno beats, progressive rock, classical waltzes and rockebilly in his OSTs. It gives soul to the game, IMO. It's part of what I believe makes a game's identity. There are so many good styles the CV series has used over the years, but a bit of all those styles adds to what the general musical identity of the CV series is. I like epic, sweeping orchestral scores, but I don't think CV should solely dedicate it's musical front towards that direction while forsaking the other styles that are just as important to it's "sound". Some of the best composers are those who can show that they got the chops to work in many different musical genres. I respect those types of composers more than ones that just style in their safety zone. It shows their growth, appreciation and understanding of different styles.

[uzo]

Lords does not have SCVIV's musical style at all.

SotN had the most variety, I liked that. Lament's was also great. Good atmosphere. SCVIV has a very special place in ym heart though. The best mood out fo the entire series I believe. Musically, astonishing, especially considering they have just 6 channels to work with. It was also a first gen SNES game. It has better music than some death bed entries. Just listen well to the tracks. The complexity and technique is just simply amazing.

[Vampire Killer]

I'm voting that they use good music

[PFG9000]

So recently we've had Judgment's heavy rock, LoS's ambient music, and OoE's psuedo-poppish vibe. I kind of miss SotN's symphonic-metal and classical vibe, really. The songs were memorable without sounding bland a la Judgment, nor somewhat forgettable like Lords. Of course, some people prefer the well-done Super Castlevania IV mood Lords' music has.
What are your thoughts?

Does anybody really think Lords of Shadow has some similarity to SCV4's soundtrack?  They remixed one tune to the point where it was barely recognizable.  What else is similar?  Super Castlevania IV's soundtrack is a masterpiece cherished for decades after the game came out.  Can you really say the same for LoS?

[Kingshango]

Does anybody really think Lords of Shadow has some similarity to SCV4's soundtrack?  They remixed one tune to the point where it was barely recognizable.  What else is similar?  

Well it did have this song too but it plays only twice in the game though.

Courtyard: Castlevania Lords of Shadow

Other than this song and the waterfalls no other song is memorable(except Belmonts theme, that's the best song in the game.)

As for my answer, I vote for all of them.

[Mike Belmont]

Yeah, LoS doesn´t have much SCVIV music in it. I remember when MS promise (that´s what I understand) Super Castlevania IV music in his game. Then we have the trailer only some people can watch, and then we all see that trailer a few days before the release... but that music was exactly the intro for SCVIV, not an arrange, nor an orchestated one. Sad... The only tracks, anyway, I like from LoS OST was The Hunting Path, Belmont Theme, and Final Confrontation (a really nice piece ). But only that.

In answer to the question of what type of music should the series go with, I think is okay with the Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness for console games, and Order of Ecclesia and the other DS ones for the handhelds. But, I think they should not abuse of heavy metal rock style (like Harmony of Despair). No more Hollywood-esque movies soundtracks (like Lords of the rings or Dark Knight), because they only serve as ambience music. But, for me, Castlevania are synonimous of really catchy music (Wicked Child, Bloody Tears, Simon Theme, Opposing Bloodlines, Iron Blue Intention, The Tragic Prince, Garden Forgotten by Time, Balhjet Mountains, Dance of Illusions, Toccata into Bloodsoaked Darkness...). Maybe someone will say "Meh, we are in the XXI century, we don´t need that antiquated music. We are now in new days, were movie-esque award winning videogame music rules!!!!!"

In LoS, I miss the piano, more violin, pipe organ, chuch bells, you know, that music and that effects that makes Castlevania to have that catchy and ambiance music to play. Even boring (to some people) games like CoD have excellent music. Maybe the only CV´s that have music I don´t like are Legends and Harmony of Dissonance (most of the OST)...

[Dremn]

As long as it sounds like Castlevania music I don't care what direction the music in future games take. Lords of Shadow really didn't sound very Castlevania like at all, with the exception of a couple SCIV heavy rearrangements.

[K.G. Morder]

"Variety is the spice of life"

All of them served their purpose. Castlevania is known for it's gothic classical music. LoS's music sounded very epic and movielike. and them classic chiptunes were nice too. theres no reason we cant hodgepodge all of them for when necessary.

[Dark Nemesis]

I'll say something like that:

Castlevania 64 OST: 06 - Watch Tower
VGM 144 - Castlevania 64 - Stairway to the Clouds
Castlevania OST - Underground Tunnel
Castlevania OST - Third Struggle - Dance of Illusions

Oh god, i really love that soundtrack!!!

[Nycterida]

Symphony of the Night had it all, and all DS games essentially followed that formula.Order of Ecclesia had some rock tracks too (like that in the Armoury stage). I think the styles heard in the last three DS games work fine for the 2D platformers.

As for a MercurySteam sequel, I think certain classic themes could be integrated with Oscar Araujo's "film score" approach. I may be wrong, but IMO tracks like "Vampire Killer", "Beginning" and "Bloody Tears" are a bit like themes or leitmotifs that could be integrated into Araujo's music. For me these three tracks from the NES era have always been Castlevania's musical identity. This might be a silly comparison, but they are what the "Force Theme" or the "Imperial March" are to Star Wars.