I liked the soundtrack to Shovel Knight so much that I bought it on CD at PAX one year. And I only buy game CD soundtracks if I REALLY like the music. Makes sense that a Mega Man game music composer helped work on this, since the soundtrack definitely has a Mega Man quality to it.
OST So Good! #14: Shovel Knight
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 On 02/18/2022 at 10:08 AM by The Last Ninja See More From This User » |
PS3/Wii U/3DS/Xbone, 2014
Composers: Jake Kaufman, Manami Matsumae
Everyone knows Shovel Knight. It’s been ported to just about everything since its release in 2014. I would say that this is one of the best games in the last decade, and the music helps a lot on that regard. Jake Kaufman is one of my favorite VG composers; he’s done music for a lot of WayForward games (Shantae series, Might Switch Force games, Duck Tales Remastered, Contra 4, Double Dragon Neon), and his style is really upbeat and fun. For Shovel Knight, they also brought in Manami Matsumae, who did the music for Mega Man, Mega Man 2, and Mega Man 10. While Kaufman does an excellent job with 8-bit chiptunes, it’s great to have someone who actually composed for the NES. Shovel Knight’s chiptune music is some of the best I’ve ever heard.
Strike the Earth!
This is the theme for the opening level, and also the main theme of the game. It’s completely fun and adventurous. The rhythm never stops, even accenting the song at moments with a pulsating sound. This is pure Kaufman goodness. It allows you as the player to get the sense of the kind of game you’re in for—a really good one!
Lich Yard
This is Spectre Knight’s level. Once again, this song is extremely catchy and upbeat. It still has that adventurous feel, but it’s slightly darker and more mysterious. The melody is very strong, and the second half of the song goes into a different direction, which is so great! It’s hard to explain, so you just have to hear it for yourself.
The Requiem of Shield Knight
Here’s a song that’s much slower, more akin to a lullaby. Shovel Knight’s backstory with Shield Knight is really touching, and that’s what this song conveys. The song is sad, yet hopeful at times, and very beautiful. The melody is simple and yet works very well for what this song wants to accomplish. I just love those 8-bit sounds!
The Destroyer (Tinker Tank Battle)
The boss themes in the game are all specific to their knight’s theme, which is great. This is the second phase of the Tinker Knight battle, in which you fight a giant mech. It’s tense and tough, which is exactly what the song conveys. The successive beats throughout the song are excellent, and the sense of dread never stops. The long shrill notes also help to convey that “Oh crap” feeling. Also notice the SFX, such as the explosion sounds. Nice!
Iron Whale
I’m guessing that Matsumae did this song, but I can’t say for sure. It’s very reminiscent of a Mega Man song. This is basically an underwater level, and the music conveys that very well with a more slow and wavy feel. The melody here is very good as it’s always moving and sounds interesting. The 55-second mark is when the song sounds most like a Mega Man song, which is really great! If you compare this song with Bubble Man’s theme from MM2, you’ll notice some similarities (which is why I think Matsumae did it).
Also check out: any of Kaufman’s other OSTs
Download this OST here
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