This is, of course, a great choice. I love this soundtrack. That last track you shared was the first to make me realize that strings and electric guitars sound great together.
OST So Good! #4: Castlevania-Symphony of the Night
|
 On 02/04/2022 at 10:49 AM by The Last Ninja See More From This User » |
Playstation, 1997
Composer: Michiru Yamane
Castlevania music across the board is excellent, so I had to think a little bit about which game to do here. But of course, I went with the obvious choice. Honestly, it’s hard to beat SotN, which elevated Castlevania music to a whole new level. Yamane is on fire here, creating songs that don’t sound like they’re in a video game at all, and also using real instruments for the first time (take that, Nintendo 64!). Some songs are atmospheric and creepy, but others are loud, exciting, and extremely fun to listen to. Here are five songs from the OST that I really love.
Dracula’s Castle
I love how mysterious the beginning of this song sounds. It fits the vibe of Castlevania so well. Then the melody begins and has a melancholy adventurous feel to it. At 51 seconds the theme becomes more heroic and exciting, crescendoing into an inspiring theme. But then the mysterious part comes back and doubles back before going into the melody again. It’s the perfect blend of mystery and adventure which fits the mold of Castlevania so perfectly.
Marble Gallery
This song is cool because of the strange instruments that are used. It seems that Yamane used some kind of harpsichord for the melody, backed up by percussion and organ. Then a strange techno sound takes over, but it works because it makes the song sound otherworldly. It’s a great melody as well. Yamane would reprise this theme in a slower, calmer theme called “Tower of Evil Mist” (which I also really like).
Lost Painting
Once again, this one starts very mysterious before going into a calming theme that is accented by light beats and staccato strings. The melody is very enjoyable to hear. The second half of the song goes into a slightly more grand direction and becomes more hopeful. The melody slowly winds its way around before ending in a satisfying way. It’s quite beautiful, and doesn’t sound like a song you would hear in a video game.
Dance of Pales
Another slower one, but that’s just fine. It starts off with a piano carrying the melody, then strings take over. The song flows so well due to its subtle nature, and is indeed a waltz, something you might hear in a ballroom. At 2’06” the song suddenly becomes more exciting and sweeping in scope before looping. It’s once again a very methodical and beautiful piece of music.
The Tragic Prince
This is the final boss theme, and Yamane doesn’t hold back as electric guitars take a violent hold of the melody. Strings masterfully back up the guitars, and at times take control with emotional gusto. At 1’26” the guitars punctuate the song with a new rhythmic section. The song then moves into its second half, which allows the strings to take the melody. Now the guitars are crunching in the background (and horns are accentuating the action too). At 3’29” the guitars seemingly go crazy, which is the climax of the song before looping. This is a fantastic boss theme. It’s intense, grand, sweeping, and it all comes together perfectly.
Also check out: any other Castlevania OSTs (they're all good)
You can download this OST here
Comments