After listening enough The Soundtrack is simply uninspired.

[Hela]

I've been playing Castlevania games a long time, starting with the very first one on NES. I loved Lord of Shadows because it felt more like classic Castlevania, which I prefer over the Metroidvania explosion after Symphony of the Night, though i still love those games, but Lord of Shadows felt more like Castlevania than any of them. And Lord of Shadows 2 is a bit less like that, but still very much that castlevania, progression through monster-land to fight evil feel, turned on it's head because of obvious reasons but, point is, One thing has consistently bugged me about both of these games.

The Soundtrack. Now I love big orchestral soundtracks as much as the next girl, but sometimes I think an Orchestral soundtrack, while appropriate, can really end up making a game less for it especially when one of the mainstays of Castlevania has been an Iconic, awesome soundtrack.

So far, Both games soundtracks have greatly dissapointed me. It's not because it's not well done, it is. But with a couple notable exceptions, Both games have incredibly lackluster scores. It sounds good, it's well written, it's played well it mixed well, but half the time even if I'm listening to it I can't really find anything distinct about it, or interesting. And that's just dissapointing. Almost none of the music in this game stands out and it was more or less the same for the first one. None of it's very inspired.

What I mean by this is, Yes, it's beautifully orchestrated, but so is practically every single big budget movie, game or TV show these days. Having an ochestral score isn't enough in a series that has music as one of it's most iconic features going back to the first game in the damn series. There's simply no excuse for it Aside from one of the slow piano themes or leifmotifs that play during the opening menu, None of the music I can recall really, none of it stands out, or leaves any sort of an impression and that is not a good thing. It's bland, it's boring and it makes the game weaker for it.

Think of any other game like this or unlike this that has an ochestral score or an original soundtrack, and I bet you that if it really stood out you can think of just the name and start in your head hearing the music for it, and plenty of it, When I think Castlevania? Bloody Tears, Vampire Killer, Simon's Theme, Dracula's Castle this ♥♥♥♥ comes to the front of my mind, When I think of Lord of Shadows I think of that slow little piano thing and nothing else, and only for the briefest parts of the game.

Now watch this:
Devil May Cry: If you've played any of those games, you IMMEDIATELY starting hearing the Death metal combat music starting off in your head, ESPECIALLY 3, and 4.

How about Assassin's Creed? Or Dragon Age? Or The Witcher? Or The Elder Scrolls?

I bet you with EVERY one of those if you're even slightly familiar with the music started going off in your head. now other than that piano liefmotif , can you remember any music at all from Lord of Shadows 1 OR 2? I bet not.

And that's a problem, Orchestral soundtracks must be distinctive or they sound like every other damn orchestral score out there. There has to be something to set it apart or it's just boring, Forgettable, Bland and none of those things are words that should *ever* Be used to describe music in a castlevania game It needs a powerful, recognizable, inspired, and most importantly MEMORABLE theme for the combat, for the big cinematic wide angle scenery porn shots, for cut scenes ,the music should have you excited, interested. What would Star Wars be if it just had some bland ass orchestra score, instead of the Iconic scores of John Williams? An Ok sci-fi movie missing a lot of the magic.

That's what is missing for me here.

[Wolf873]

I tend to agree and disagree with you. I myself am more of a synth-based music lover, for example Tangerine Dream or Airwolf, old references but you get the idea. My opinion is that synth-based music is far more versatile than orchestral music to convey a particular mood or feeling, of course that's not always true, sometimes orchestral scores manage to give us a distinctive melody than electric music can't. I have not played the original Castlevania games, only those following SOTN. And to be honest, I think your opinions are largely based on what you were exposed to first in terms of Castlevania series. I never particularly found any of the soundtracks from Castlevania series memorable, sure they have that underlying rhythm that a person can hum; however, they never left a lasting appeal on me on par with say Airwolf theme which too is synth based. The examples you mention, I went ahead and listened to them, and to be honest they sounded mediocre save for Dracula’s Castle theme (SOTN right?).

Regardless, they don’t sound like that to you because you grew up with them, since you are a fan of the series I gather, whilst I am not. I love the games, and LOS is the only installment that has ever had me excited for Castlevania as they were being released. I tend to think the orchestral score composed by Oscar is noteworthy and deserves open adulation. Like with any movie or game, not all of the scores of one installment will be appealing: only a handful or even less than that. LOS has Final confrontation, Chaotic battle, Titanic struggle, Dracula`s throne room (the last half) and Love theme which I find distinctive and easily identifiable with the title. Even Satan`s theme`s last minute used reworked version of the Final confrontation theme from LOS1.

LOS as a reboot set out to present Castlevania differently, with orchestral embellishments. This kind of presentation was not suited for classic style of Castlevania music. I do recognize that this series has a peculiar style when it comes to music, but that was not appropriate for this installment. I do agree that orchestral scores if not handled properly tend to sound similar to each other, bearing no individual identity. There are many pieces from LOS I don`t even give a listen to, however, there are some that give LOS a grand appeal, more so than I have ever heard in Castlevania history! Listening to Titanic struggle and Final confrontation theme was expressive of an epic and cosmic series of events which I felt for the first with this series as a whole! So I wouldn`t disregard the soundtrack by any means, it has both the good and the bad, what doesn`t? However, my central point is, we love what we have been exposed to first. When something new comes along, we may love it or hate it, but in our hearts we would always prefer what we grew up with, no matter how cheesy or corny it may sound.

[Crusta]

It's the story of Dracula. I think it wouldn't worked well with a catchy ost like the previous titles. It needs to be epic and Konami told Oscar Araujo so. "It needs to be less effeminate" they said. After LOS1 Konami said "nice, but in the next one be even less effeminate" (lol)

I agree that LOS soundtrack doesn't deliver that sweet, remarkable catchy feel of Japanese composition ( comes to mind...Aquarius, Simon's Theme, Forest of monsters, heart of Fire, Tower of Dolls, Moonfight, oh there is so many... anything from SotN, CoD and OoE).

For one side is sad we didn't get that feeling in LOS, but from the other i think the catchy Japanese ost wouldnt work well in the visceral history of the Belmont's manace, and Oscar Araujo compositions are simply bombastic, tragic and epic that suits Gabriel very well.

[A Slipstream Sloth]

I disagree quite heavily with it not being 'memorable'... That's something I heard quite a bit with the first game as well, and given similar reasons. But I simply can't forget the Siege Titan fight music, the Toy Maker fight(some of the best executed Crescendo's I've heard in years), Castle Dungeons(the somber strings fit the 'woeful prisoners' of the dungeon so well), City in Flames(which quite honestly feels like some of the great classical composers of the Bach/Mozart kind were 'ressurected' from the dead to put together that track, or Oscar was possessed, it seems more than just an 'homage' to them, it feels like it is one of them.

Only 4-5 of the tracks,out of the 30-something on the extended track list, seem to not stand out, and they're primarily 'fight against basic enemies' music).

Catchy and memorable are 2 different things though(Catchy can be memorable, and vice versa, but are not 'inclusive'), and Orchestral is not one to lend itself to being catchy(generally Movie composers like Hanz Zimmer and John Williams go for that stuff, and sometimes it feels...like all their soundtracks are the same because of it.) Better orchestral music for me, moves away from trying to be catchy for the sake of catching the ear, and instead compliment and fit a scene as much as possible, rather than try to overtake it(which is one reason I don't like some of the examples you listed from:P). In this case, we have music tailored for scenes, not music made for itself. The thing that makes them memorable is both of them together, the memories of both coming alive when hearing the music after having finished the game.

Anyways, I will agree, the 'piano' bit from the main menu is catchy more than memorable for it's influence in the game,b ut then again, it's primarily detached, used multiple times throughout the game and duing the main menu.

[Tychoid]

Sounds like orchestral music just isn't OP's thing, which is understandable.

What Slipstream said, basically. (Toy Maker is fantastic!) I think Oscar Araujo made the right choice with going for a harmonic style rather than melodic. Just because something is easy to remember, or does its hardest to catch your attention, doesn't make it good. Most of the LoS score is definitely more subdued. I found myself noticing it far less while actually playing the game. But listening to the soundtrack outside of the game (as I currently am while writing this) is another thing entirely.

The majority of the score has an unprecedented amount of instrumental detail for a video game soundtrack. The cool little metallic xylophones or whatever were pretty neat touch for setting apart present day vs castle hallucinations. I felt the music for LoS 1 & 2 was totally spot on. Even dragging the game up a couple (or couple dozen) levels with it. Totally Castlevania music.

[necroidus]

Originally posted by Wicked ♥♥♥♥♥ of the West:

can you remember any music at all from Lord of Shadows 1 OR 2? I bet not

Anyone else really captivated by the prologue intro theme where they reveal Gabriel sitting on his throne as Dracula? While I'm at work I keep hearing that piece in my head! Soul stirring stuff.

[Gackt the Immortal]

I really like the Dracula theme and the many variations of it. I do not like it when games blast Hollywood trumpets and horns and tubas at you. It's obnoxious. Whilst I do like harmonics and ambience in games that are more about immesion, action games are always best with a booming, melodic sountracks for me.

[A Slipstream Sloth]

Originally posted by necroidus:

Originally posted by Wicked ♥♥♥♥♥ of the West:

can you remember any music at all from Lord of Shadows 1 OR 2? I bet not

Anyone else really captivated by the prologue intro theme where they reveal Gabriel sitting on his throne as Dracula? While I'm at work I keep hearing that piece in my head! Soul stirring stuff.

YESSS, I know the feeling. I also often had the trailer music from the E3 reveal trailer going ibn my head leading up to lords of Shadow 2's release, XD. Sadly its not on the soundtrack(most 'early' trailer music isn't)....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GidX-USbo

[Tychoid]

Ya, thats a great track. Not sure if it has an official title, but "The Dragon Returns" seems to pop up the most.

[Crusta]

When he states "I'm dying for a little drop of blood" and the bombastic Combat II theme kicks in, is simply something i'll never forget.

[Gackt the Immortal]

Edit: Wrong thread!!!

[DJMatus]

"Combat II theme" what a memorable title that shows passion and inspiration, not like "Vampire Killer."

[Hela]

This is bloody tears Orchestral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jqjNscJsqI

This is an orchestral arrangement of the NES version of "Vampire Killer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxhOndjPRQ0

Orchestral arrangement of Simon Belmont's theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oa6-NoeXXs

Now honestly, can any one here honestly say there's even one piece on either soundtracks for LOS and LOS2 that comes anywhere close to living up to this?

It's like comparing this any sci-fi theme to Star Wars.

[kgsfrog]

I really liked the soundtrack in LOS1. To me, the soundtrack in LOS2 was lacking by comparison. In LOS1, I associated the music with specific areas or events and they really evoked feelings within me, whether it was a haunting sadness, or a trumpeting call to battle. Also, the emotions elicited by the music felt very appropriate for the situation/environment. LOS2 soundtrack for me was for the most part, forgettable.

[Tychoid]

ehhhh, original castlevania stuff is great, but it doesn't directly translate well with an orchestra. Its almost everybody playing the exact same note on different instruments. Instrumental music ≠ orchestral music.

That Bloody Tears rendition is particularly awful.

I love all of the original Castlevania music, but without heavy modification, they are better suited in their original form.

But, that doesn't mean they can't be adapted for an orchestra well... eg. Oscar's take on Belmont's Theme from LoS 1 soundtrack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Uqy9L_xtk

[necroidus]

Originally posted by Crusta:

When he states "I'm dying for a little drop of blood" and the bombastic Combat II theme kicks in, is simply something i'll never forget.

THIS! The demo/prologue was really epic IMO. I had no intention of buying this game when I first downloaded the demo.....it was just a ruse to expend some extra bandwidth I had for that month, but wow the music was definitely one of the factors that made me buy the game.