Video Game Battle Themes go Head to Head

Great music can transport you, but it's the unique elements that truly elevate the experience.

Welcome to a very rare Saturday stream! Today is going to be a video game music battle featuring battle themes against themselves. I will be here in my fancy pants, and I can't help but wonder why I am breathing so loud. Just to clarify, I don’t smoke or snort cocaine. I have my handy dandy iPad ready, and we are going to be listening to, looking at, and judging the music.

I already mentioned that we will be battling for 32 rounds of video game music themes against each other, and I am very excited about this! We will dive right in, and I will try to spend about two to three minutes on each single track. The mods have informed me that the songs they’ve chosen can be fairly long, so I will do my best to not yap too much in between.

As always, thanks for being here! This is a big stream day, and this VOD will be available as a video later this week. Either Nathan or Chaz will be editing it—hi Chaz, hi Nathan in the future! Let’s get it done. Hello on Twitter, SLX; hello on YouTube; and hello to my very loyal crew over on Twitch.

Now, let's get started! I hope you all sleep well. Here we go! First up is Baldur's Gate 3: The Legacy of Ball versus Valkyria Chronicles: Desperate Fight.

As the music begins, I love the heavy use of brass in this track, especially the fantastic lower brass. The sharp rhythm is really captivating, and there’s some unique percussion in here as well. I particularly love the bells!

The mods just informed me that they literally had to go through 230 submissions, so a big shout out to my wonderful, fantastic, supportive, and lovely mod team. I appreciate you so much for setting this up for me and reminding me that we needed to do one of these. My heart is yours—not parasocial!

Some things I really liked about that track include the male chorus, which was super strong, especially in the lower register. The emphasis on that strong low brass is not uncommon in video games, particularly in battle music, but I must say that the low brass here was wonderfully pronounced. The heavy emphasis on the tubas and trombones created a sound that felt almost like it was pressed into the music—it was really powerful.

Additionally, the fun and unique percussion added a nice touch. I don’t actually know the names of all the percussion instruments, but it had a sound reminiscent of bongo drums, which I thought was really nice to include. Overall, it didn’t give me the feeling that a lot of the... [the transcript continues]

=> 00:14:51

Great battle music combines powerful low brass with rhythmic energy, creating an unforgettable emotional journey.

In discussing the track "Parasocial," there are several aspects that stood out. The Male Chorus was particularly strong, especially in the lower register, which provided a powerful emphasis on the low brass. This is not uncommon in video games, particularly in battle music, but the low brass in this track was wonderfully pronounced. The heavy emphasis on the tubas and trombones created a sound that felt almost pressed into the music, resulting in a really powerful experience. Additionally, the unique percussion added a fun element; while I don't know the names of all the percussion instruments, the sound reminded me of Bongo drums, which was a nice touch.

This track differed significantly from much of the rest of the "Baldur's Gate 3" soundtrack, which often leans towards a medieval soundscape or a lighter tone. Instead, this was one of the more interesting tracks I've encountered from that soundtrack. The chase aspect of the music felt like a cat and mouse scenario, which was quite engaging. However, I did find myself getting a little distracted and bored in the middle. Overall, I would describe it as a great battle theme and a phenomenal one at that.

Moving on, I mentioned to Suzuki that I was considering starting to play "Black Desert Online." After watching some gameplay for "Crimson Dawn," I felt intrigued and wanted to give "Black Desert" a try.

Next, I listened to "Valkyria Chronicles: Desperate Fight," which presented a very different musical experience. The initial trumpet enthusiasm was particularly striking, with a sharp rhythm that conveyed a sense of hope, suggesting that luck is on our side. This emotional theme was prominent throughout the piece, driven forward by the melody. While the piece is rhythmic, it’s important to note that rhythm and melody go hand in hand.

Interestingly, this piece was composed by the same individual behind Final Fantasy Tactics, which adds an exciting layer to its significance. There’s also a recent gacha game that features this composer, which I found intriguing. The combination of rhythmic energy and beautiful French horn melodies, mixed with string sections, created a captivating sound, even though it was MIDI and not actual instruments.

As I reflected on both tracks, I found it challenging to choose a favorite. My mind was telling me no, but my body was telling me yes. Ultimately, I appreciated both tracks for different reasons, but I leaned towards "First Lessons Are Tough." While I rated them both around six out of ten, I felt a stronger connection to the legacy of the music.

=> 00:21:05

Sometimes the toughest lessons lead to the most interesting choices.

I heard something at one point that really made me feel like we got to get going, you know what I mean? So, it's cool. Now, of those two, which would I pick? Which of these is the best? I'm kind of neutral on both of them. My mind's telling me no, but my body, my body is telling me yes. I'm going to go with the first; lessons are tough. I like them both for different reasons, but I am a melody snob. However, I also liked the low men. They're both kind of the same; they both rate as six out of tens for me. I think I'll go with the legacy of... oh God, I think I'll go with the legacy of ball. I found him more interesting ultimately than Dragon's Dogma.

Thank you for those five gifted Subs; I appreciate you!

Now, the electric guitar in this particular edition is phenomenal. Yeah, I'll look it up on YouTube.

Oh, what do I do? Mods, thanks, coni.

I mean, it's an easy choice, but let's listen to Honkai Star here too. The thing about this particular track, hold on... where are we? I made that mistake once the first time we did this. The thing about End of the Struggle, this particular version from Dragon's Dogma that I really love, is the frenetic energy in it. It's a fantastic battle theme, one million percent. What's really cool about it is just how dense and dynamic this piece is. When we have chorus drums, like a drum set, it's very abnormal; we don't really hear that when we have a purely classically based sound.

Now, obviously, this borrows quite a bit from Carmina Burana. If you don't know Carmina Burana, you should know it because pretty much any battle theme from any game is basically based off of it. How many times can I say Carmina Burana? All told, it's a great piece; it's frenetic, it's fun, and there's a lot of different push and pull. There's also a lot of interesting borrowed moments, you know? There's trading off with different instruments, and there's that lovely trumpet melody section before it's taken away by... I forget what strings come out after. There's also a really beautiful woodwind interlude that's just lovely. The electric guitar is, of course, amazing; I think that's a genre blend that's really cool. To me, that's like Peak battle themes; it will be very hard to beat this one in my mind.

But let's listen to Symphony Number Eight: A Thousand Sons from Honkai. I've never heard this before... oh wow!

Holy...

Not a fan of that ending.

Well, okay, this really appeals to me for multiple different reasons. First of all, the choral work is phenomenally well done. There's a lot of doubling in here, which really adds to the grandiosity of it. Of course, we have the organ, which is the main focal point of this piece, providing the main support.

=> 00:28:39

Music is a powerful force that can evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds, blending classical elements with modern sounds to create something truly special.

I am not a fan of that ending. However, this piece really appeals to me for multiple different reasons. First of all, the ch is phenomenally well done. There’s a lot of doubling in here, which really adds to the grandiosity of it. Of course, we have the organ, which is the main focal point of this piece and serves as the main support system in terms of accompaniment.

I would have liked the piece to have been a little bit more developed, similar to the Dragon's Dogma theme. I think this piece is much more of a vibe. Additionally, what’s really interesting about this A Thousand Suns piece is that it is very, very heavy, and there is almost this oppressive quality that comes through with it. I love the synth Electronica elements; I found those to be really, really special.

This is the kind of electronic music that I like—if it’s going to rely on classical musical elements, I prefer it when it assists those rather than tears them apart. So, to me, this was wonderful. I think Dragon's Dogma is phenomenal; this end of the struggle is a full package piece that is really, really good.

As for A Thousand Suns, at least this version that I have, whether or not it is like an entire phase with multiple different tracks, this is what I have to go off of. So, I think of the two, structurally, end of the struggle is a bit more finished based on what I have here. However, the sound quality in this is phenomenal, and the sound quality in this is so special as well.

If I had to choose, this is really hard. Actually, both of these last two options have been difficult. I like both for different reasons. So, what am I basing my criteria on? Is it just likes? No, it should be based on how much I feel galvanized into going into battle. It should be based on the way that I perceive the instrumentation; it shouldn't just be based on my personal preferences.

I think, based on the instrumentation and the galvanizing effect, oh God, no! They both offer different strengths. These are such good themes, and I like both so much. I was shocked by A Thousand Suns; it caught me off guard, and I liked how clean it was. On the other hand, I know end of the struggle quite well, and I love the melody. I’m a melody simp, a melody glazer, if you will, as the kids would say.

What is this? Oh, this is Ark Knights. What is this? This is the people’s boss theme.

Why does it do that? Alright, hold on.

No, I don't want to listen to that yet.

The people’s boss battle theme sounds like some folk instruments are in here.

Aru is a top-tier instrument in my opinion—so melodic, especially in the upper register.

There are fantastic sorts of drums in here as well.

Oh my God!

Again, the drum set is fantastic.

There’s a little bit of piano in here, and no vocals.

Fantastic double vocals; it’s an AR and vocal duet here. It’s so cool!

A wa, that’s...

=> 00:35:04

Music has the power to evoke deep emotions, blending desperation with purpose in ways that resonate profoundly.

[Music]

The fantastic sort of drums in here create a captivating atmosphere. There is a lot of energy, and oh my God, the fantastic distortion adds to the excitement. There's even a little bit of piano in the mix, and notably, there are no vocals present at this moment.

However, the fantastic double vocals emerge, showcasing an AR and vocal duet that is incredibly cool. Applause follows as the music unfolds. What a great piece! It’s a wonderful mix of desperation, purpose, and pursuit. This nuanced emotional piece features a terrific blend of the AR and the vocals at the end. As you may have noticed, the vocals actually got louder in the mix, and by the end, as we ascend to the upper register, they are being doubled by the AR, along with some instruments underneath. Yet, it’s the vocals that are really cutting through.

I mean, Ark Knight's music is really hard to beat. Gacha games, in particular, have a unique soundscape that is exceptionally well produced. I’ve become good friends with many of the composers, and their passion for composing is truly inspiring. Their speed in composing is impressive as well. I had a really cool interview with Obadia that I need to upload soon. He mentioned that he can write a piece of music in a day, which is astonishing. The level of intuition they possess when it comes to music is remarkable. They receive briefs that help guide them, which I find really interesting.

That piece was mesmerizing, and I loved it so much that it would definitely go into my personal list. Moving on, we have Xenosaga, which is going to be hard to beat because it features some gorgeous music.

[Music]

The sound is obviously much more mellow. I love the true Latin influence; I’ve never heard it before, but you can tell it has a different vibe than Ark Knights. This music is sumptuous, again really heavy on the melody and strings.

[Music]

Applause follows as we take turns between the violins and the strings, which serve as the main melody focus, shifting between the chorus. It’s also cool because the chorus is only female dominated. Now, the chorus is actually the thrust of the piece. Isn’t that cool?

[Music]

I thought it was a really attractive piece. My instinct was to say it had poise, but I’m not sure that’s the right term. I think the track was very mellow, almost to the point that this fight feels less desperate and more reflective. It’s like a commentary on the circumstances at hand, reminiscent of the line, “You were the chosen one, Anakin.” When we listen to this track, it doesn’t feel aggressive; instead, it evokes a sense of contemplation about what we are going to do. You said we were capable of great things, and now look at the situation we find ourselves in.

There’s almost a guilt sound that permeates the music, which I believe is partly due to the strings and, of course, the sopranos that are marking the piece. I’ll just scroll further down, sorry.

Of the two pieces, though, People S is by far more interesting to me. Oh, God! Let me just bring that up so it’s ready to go.

Clash artifacts of...

=> 00:41:06

Music can evoke deep emotions, making us confront our past and the weight of our choices.

The phrase "the you were the chosen one Anakin" evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and emotion. The sound of the track feels subtle rather than overwhelming; it creates an atmosphere of contemplation. It prompts the listener to reflect on the journey, asking, "What are we going to do?" This sentiment resonates with the idea that we were once capable of doing great things, yet now we find ourselves in a different place. There exists a guilt sound throughout the piece, which can be attributed to the strings, as well as the soprano voices that mark the emotional landscape.

As I continue to explore, I find that of the two, the piece by people s is by far more interesting to me. Let me just bring that up so it's ready to go. The track Clash artifacts of features an intriguing blend of sounds.

The next piece, from the Trails series, specifically Trails of Azure, introduces an interesting super subtle dissonance. This dissonance feels like it accompanies a very intense villain, creating a sense of tension. The mix of the organ with traditional elements, alongside hard rock, adds a unique flavor to the composition.

I particularly enjoy the cool melody line and the nice harmony created by the dual guitars. The constant propulsion underneath the music is captivating, and I love how intensely the percussion is working, especially the double bass drum.

As the piece progresses, there are moments that feel like they are descending into madness or even hell. The use of augmented chords adds an interesting twist, and I find myself hoping for a resolution. When it finally resolves, I feel a sense of relief. This track is a beast and a half; it’s the kind of song I would play for someone who isn’t a gamer or hasn’t played video games in a long time. It packs a punch, and there’s almost too much to say about it.

I loved that track so much that I didn't even mind that it looped; it was simply satisfying. Now, I wonder how the next piece, Clash artifacts of chaos Unstoppable, will top that. The style is quite similar, and the gorgeous string chords underneath create a beautiful soundscape. The repetitive rhythmic motion combined with the beautifully done chorus makes for an engaging listening experience.

=> 00:51:20

Great music can loop endlessly and still feel fresh, blending nostalgia with modernity to create an unforgettable experience.

There is so much to say about the track that smacked me, but I will keep it brief. I loved that track; it was so satisfying that I didn't even care that it looped. It was great! I don't know how in the hell this next piece is going to top that, but let's give it a try.

This is Clash: Artifacts of Chaos with Unstoppable. It's cool and has a very similar style. The gorgeous string chords underneath create a lot of repetitive rhythmic motion, and of course, the chorus is beautifully done. Here, we are not totally dissimilar; we are descending down again, similar to what we had with the Azure Arbiter.

The rhythm is really cool, especially with the horn proclamation. I find this piece very intriguing. I like very much that they chose to use real instruments; it’s obviously a labor of love. The track Unstoppable really emphasizes the feeling of having a chance at victory, even though it’s still an impossibly difficult fight. The rhythmic identity of this piece is really fun.

Does it compare to Azure Arbiter? No, it doesn't, but they are both very good. Now, moving on to CrossCode and Cachina: Crime Machine, I am curious about what this means. Why do we say "ads removed" when I have YouTube Premium? Well, if that’s what we have to do the entire time, then so be it.

I’ve heard this before, so let me grab this. Oh my God, this is an awesome soundscape! It’s beautiful how it’s both melodic and rhythmic at the same time. I really liked how predictable that was, which may come across as a negative thing, but I actually felt quite positive about it. It was repetitive but never overstayed its welcome, which is very challenging with video game music. Sometimes, music does overstay its welcome, but this was fun.

I loved the energy of it, of course, and I love the synth elements. It had that nostalgic sound quality from the SNES time period, but it also clearly had some modern approaches to its compositional language. It was much cleaner than that sort of sound and was just a very bright piece, even though it was a battle theme.

I've been meaning to play CrossCode, but I’m not sure if I will like it since I’m not a big puzzle person. Now, let’s listen to Cry Machina. I just heard this the other day on the Patreon live stream; this is Fight Third De. It’s cool to have a battle theme start slow.

It’s pretty bold to choose a slower piece to represent a battle. This one has a lot of depth to it, with gorgeous cascading violin notes.

=> 01:02:36

Sometimes the most powerful battles are fought in silence, where every choice weighs heavy and every note tells a story.

Right, let's listen to Cry Machina. I just heard this the other day, actually, on the Patreon live stream. This is Fight Third De, I think I heard this before.

The music starts off cool, with a battle theme that begins slowly. It's pretty bold to choose a slower piece to represent a battle. This one has a lot of depth to it, featuring gorgeous cascading violin melodies.

As I listen, I notice there’s some rhythm in there, and it’s quite fascinating. This is the second time I've heard it, and I think what's really audacious about this piece is that it is a battle theme. Yet, what's interesting is that it has very minimal forward momentum when it comes to rhythm or tempo. What we end up with is actually more of a ballad piece, which feels reflective about a decision or choice that has to be made.

The piece is fully textured, with a very big sound that is evocative. It reverberates in a funny way, reminding me a little bit of A Sacrifice of Tradition from Ghost of Tsushima, where a decision has to be made, and it’s going to be a bad choice no matter what you do. Both pieces present a kind of struggle between two bad choices, which makes it really hard to choose.

One piece is wonderfully bright and has a repetitive nature that enhances the experience, while the other is deeply emotional. In this particular case, I’m going to go with Cry Machina because I appreciate the slowness of it. It’s just really hard to find battle themes that are truly slow. Even though I love the CrossCode soundtrack—it's phenomenal, by the way—and I'm planning on playing it just because of the soundtrack, in this instance, I would go with Cry Machina.

Now, let’s see if we can actually use this app for the Shingai and Ms. Oh wow, it works! Imagine that!

The music plays, and I hear a counter tenor. Holy [__], wow, that's a counter tenor! That's crazy; I've never heard this in any video game ever. The fantastic brass back there is impressive. This goes hard as hell!

It's a duet with a tenor and a counter tenor—that's crazy! I've never heard of a counter tenor in a video game before. Wow, nice!

There’s a pullback that could be a mezzo, not a counter tenor, but it has a male quality to it. I really enjoy the clash between these two voices. The electronic elements give me Metal Gear Solid vibes, and there are gorgeous upper horns in there as well.

There's wonderful voice leading between the two voices, and a great rhythm too. I love the nice back and forth with the trumpets.

The resolution is nice as well; I always hate when they blueball you at the end. That’s really the dominant of the chord. What a great piece! It makes me want to play Code Vein now. I don’t want to play Code Vein, but that track and Memories of the Lost are really compelling.

=> 01:10:13

The magic of music lies in the seamless transition between head voice and chest voice, creating a captivating sound that resonates deeply.

Two

[Music]

The voices in this piece evoke a sense of love for the electronic elements, giving me Metal Gear Solid vibes. The gorgeous upper horns add to the experience, creating a wonderful voice leading between the two voices, accompanied by a wonderful rhythm as well.

[Music]

There is a nice back and forth with the trumpets too, which adds depth to the composition. The resolution is quite satisfying; I always hate when they leave you hanging at the end. The dominant chord of the piece is quite striking. What a great track! It makes me want to play Code Vein now. Although I don't actually want to play Code Vein, the track and the memories of the loss that I've heard make me feel that way.

That's very interesting. For those of you who don't know, a counter tenor is a male singer who sings in the upper register, often using falsetto. This technique is usually associated with Handel's music and falls within the range of a mezzo-soprano, but it is performed by a male singer, typically a baritone, who has a falsetto extension.

It's fascinating because many tenors, which is the highest male voice type, don't actually possess the falsetto extension. For example, in my training, I focus on singing very high notes using my entire body. Flipping into the head voice is challenging for me because it involves a different technique.

You may not have been here for the head voice discussion, but just for clarity, let me explain. When Glenn Close sang the national anthem, she had to switch into her head voice. This illustrates the difference between head voice and chest voice.

Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and remove your hats for this is the Star-Spangled Banner. As she starts to reach the top of her range, we can observe that she is nearing her limit. At this point, we cannot continue singing in the same manner; we need to switch into head voice.

In vocal singing, your voice resembles an hourglass. The lower register is like the booty—nice and thick. As we ascend into the middle register, it becomes tighter, resembling the constriction of an hourglass. This area is known as the passo, which means "passage" in Italian. Here, consistency is crucial, and we must switch into head voice because the upper register opens back up.

However, there is a critical moment when you need to make that switch. If you don't, you might hit what we informally call the wall. The wall is where your voice can splat out, which is what we are experiencing here.

Now listen to this.

[Music]

That was all chest voice, which is still good. Now listen to how she switches. This part of the Star-Spangled Banner is very belty. Here we go, and now she makes the switch into head voice. It’s too high for chest voice alone.

The reason she can reach those high notes is that she switches into head voice. Head voice and chest voice are two distinct sounds. There are more complicated aspects we could discuss, but for now, let's keep it simple. Essentially, this is the difference between head voice and chest voice.

Counter tenors, which I won't play an example of due to copyright issues, are remarkable because they can maintain their head voice throughout their performance. Most counter tenors are indeed tenors.

All that said, it's pretty cool to hear this, whether it's a mezzo-soprano with a decent voice or a counter tenor. When the video comes out on the channel, I’ll have them mute it or remove it, but it's definitely an interesting topic to explore.

=> 01:14:48

The magic of music lies in its ability to evoke deep emotions, whether through powerful melodies or the intricate interplay of voices.

The difference between head voice and chest voice is an interesting topic, especially when discussing counter tenors. I'm not going to play an example because it's going to get dinged; well, CrossCode is actually copyright unfriendly anyway, so that's already on the list. When we switch into head voice, what counter tenors do so well is that they can stay in head voice the entire time. A counter tenor would be a tenor; almost all counter tenors are tenors. All that to say, it's pretty cool to hear this because either this is a mezzo-soprano with a decent voice or it's a counter tenor.

It's okay, guys, because when the video comes out on the channel, I'll just have them unfortunately mute that or just remove it. But it's all good; I'm glad to listen. I'll listen to CrossCat any day of the week, but that's material Collective, and I'm pretty sure they're kind of funny with their copyright policies. I could reach out to them, and maybe they can whitelist it. Anyway, all that to say, there are really interesting things happening with that Code Vein track and some really interesting voices. That may be my favorite of the day.

Now, let's check out The Gift of Life from Aon's Devil Gundam battle in Mobile Suit Gundam: True Odyssey. I like that melody; it's fun. I'm a melody man, and I really like a melody no matter how simple or complicated—something singable. Wow, nice counter tenor all the way up to the top!

However, I'm not a fan of that section; it feels very basic. Don't get me wrong, I do like the melody and the piano accompaniment mixed in with some of the horns. I also appreciate a bit of the Sci-Fi elements as well. So, there is this feeling of, well, I have to fight this battle because it's a really important task. For context, your friend Aon has been captured and forced to power not just a pilot but power with her own life force—the terror that is the Devil Gundam. It's a nightmarish combination of biology and technology. Yes, I mean, it's like, I don't want to do this; it's against my will. Please help me; please protect me. There's definitely that sound quality in there.

But if we're talking purely about something that's really deep and interesting to me, Code Vein will be that all day of the week, you know what I mean? This was an S+ tier on my ranked Elden Ring boss choices. So many interesting things are happening in this piece. I love how the strings take over, and I love the chants in there.

What an incredible piece! There’s a middle section that I just go nuts about; it's such a simple little melodic thing. I love this! This is actually one of my favorite FromSoftware tracks, I would say. I would love for this to go head-to-head; I don't think it would beat out Ludwig the Holy Blade or Lady Maria—most of the Bloodborne heavy battle themes. But Divine Beast: Dancing Lion is probably one of four battle themes that I think are the best in Elden Ring. That's going to be tough for the rest of this competition, but Gravity Rush 2 and Gravity Rush in general have phenomenal tracks, so I'm really intrigued. I've never heard this before; I love that heavy sound!

=> 01:24:03

Great music can elevate any experience, but sometimes it’s the simple melodies that resonate the most.

There’s a middle section that I just go nuts about. It’s such a simple little melodic thing. I love this; this is actually one of my favorite FromSoft tracks, I would say. I would love for this to go head-to-head. I don’t think it would beat out Ludwig the Holy Blade or Lady Maria, most of the Bloodborne heavy battle themes. However, Divine Beast: Dancing Lion is probably one of four battle themes that I think are the best in Elden Ring. So, that’s going to be tough for the rest of this competition.

But Gravity Rush 2 and Gravity Rush in general have phenomenal tracks, so I’m really intrigued. I’ve never heard this before. I love that heavy accenting; it does kind of feel like we’re flying, huh? Wow, the trade-off with the horns is impressive. It’s 6 minutes long—oh wow, how else is it going to develop? There’s really nice trading around other instruments, and there’s a cool bass in the background too, really sustaining us.

You can hear the strings and some piano in there, and it’s repeating rhythmically. Okay, I think it’s repeating. Unsurprisingly, it’s pretty effervescent for Gravity Rush 2. It’s a really nice piece; I think the trading off of instruments is really cool. The general vibe is really fun, especially for galvanizing and getting us into the flow of battles. There are far better tracks from Gravity Rush and Gravity Rush 2 that I’ve heard that would have worked better in a context against something like this.

Let me just fast forward a little bit to hear if there’s an ending. Oh, it’s not a loop! Okay, oh that’s fun—really wonderful accents there in the trumpets. That’s pretty; wow, very flowing there with the rhythm. Thank you, and sorry about that; I didn’t mean to shortchange whoever had requested this or put this in as their submission. Thank you for the mods for including it. I think it’s so bright, and I think it really highlights—oh man, what’s the name of the main character? I think it really highlights that personality. Even though it’s a battle theme, it’s just a really, really fun theme.

I think it’s beautiful, and it’s fun, but compared to Divine Beast: Dancing Lion, it just doesn’t really land the same way for my personal taste. But it’s good; I think it’s a little repetitive. That aside, I think the trumpets and the horns are really fun, and the sharp rhythm, like I mentioned, is all great.

Okay, ooh, Subo de Plata—yeah, I really love the dual guitar situation here. Catos Fola is phenomenal. The fantastic snare in there too—oh, it goes up; that’s cool! It repeats higher.

Oh man, repeating like that, sliding up in that electric guitar—the guitar harmonies in here are just so terrific. The mixture of the two is fantastic.

=> 01:32:53

Music can evoke deep emotions and memories, transforming the ordinary into something profoundly beautiful.

The music experience begins with a fantastic snare that captivates the listener. As the sound progresses, it goes up, creating a cool effect. The music repeats higher, adding to the overall depth of the piece. The applause that follows signifies the audience's appreciation for the performance.

The excitement continues as the listener expresses admiration for the guitar harmonies, describing them as terrific. The mixture of sounds creates a unique auditory experience. A reset in the music brings a fresh wave of energy, eliciting more applause from the audience.

The listener is particularly moved by a whale sound, which they describe as incredible. They confess their adoration for the Spanish soundscape, especially when it evokes classic Spanish folk music. This sound resonates deeply, feeling visceral and raw. They share a personal anecdote about their experience with the game Blasphemous 2, noting that they didn't finish it but loved what they played. Although they are not the biggest fan of the Metroidvania genre, they find the music in both Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2 to be profound. In fact, the music is so moving that they almost cried while playing, describing it as gorgeous. They commend Kados Fola for being so talented, claiming this may be their favorite Indie soundtrack.

As they transition to the next piece, titled Floating Island Fight, they remark on the nice heavy brass that adds richness to the music. The listener is intrigued by the super dissonance present in the piece, appreciating the boom boom boom rhythm. They highlight the great piece that this track represents and reflect on the mature sound of the series, particularly comparing it to their memories of Spyro from the PS1 era. They acknowledge that while the games may not be well-received, the soundtrack is genuinely phenomenal, featuring orchestral writing that could easily be performed in a Symphony Hall.

The listener then shifts focus to Hollow Knight, expressing their love for the buildup in the track. They reminisce about not having played the game since 2018, and they appreciate the wonderful tremolo that leads to a big drop in the music, further enhancing their listening experience. The applause that follows signifies a shared appreciation for the artistry in the performance.

=> 01:40:56

The soundtrack of a game can elevate the experience to a symphonic masterpiece, making you feel emotions you never knew you had.

Apparently, the games are quite poopy, but the soundtrack is honestly genuinely phenomenal. The orchestral writing is of such quality that you could hear it in a Symphony Hall, and people would be like, "Oh, what's this?" Of course, it’s going to play "plasmas" and "sealed vessel."

I love the buildup in this track. Man, I haven't played Hollow Knight since 2018. The wonderful tremolo builds up to this big drop here. Applause fills the air as the music plays, and I can't help but appreciate the piano accent.

I literally don't even remember the context of this, even though I played it. I know you eventually open the sealed B, so I remember doing that, but I don’t recall where this plays. This was pre-analyzing video games; it was way before I was just playing passively. I mean, I know what you're describing, but I don't remember seeing it. It's just completely out of my mind.

The gorgeous strings are so bleak, oh man, there’s just such a swell. It’s nice because it’s just repeating a melodic idea, and repeating melodic ideas is what makes them memorable, besides the size. I think I need to replay this. I think I'm at the point where I need to replay it. The gorgeous piano here does something really special. I’ve listened to this before; the beautiful sustained high upper string notes, along with the piano and flute, showcase a brand new day—a beginning of a new dawn, maybe even. There’s a beautiful little duet here with the piano, but we never lose sight of that sadness, you know?

Yeah, that’s great. I really think it’s time for me to re-experience Hollow Knight. Is this a game that you would want to either watch me stream, have me play on my own, or, you know, I guess those are the two choices? I’ve been debating streaming it, but it would just be quite a big commitment, time-wise. It’s been a minute; it’s so good.

I did finish Katana Zero, by the way. I loved Katana Zero! Right now, I'm playing Saabi post-Katana Zero, and it’s a really, really good game. Katana Zero was a vibe and a half; I loved every second of it.

Applause fills the air again as the Children's Choir joins in. What a cool song! I love the drums; they add so much to the piece. This is so hard, like the breakcore—is that what this genre is called? Breakcore, but the classical choral sound is very pure. The Children's Chorus sounds very classical, sort of a bakan movement, and it’s terrific when mixed with just...

=> 01:49:58

Music is a powerful blend of emotions and complexity, where every note tells a story.

I love the drums! What a cool song! Sorry, this is so hard. Like, the breakcore—uh, is that what this genre is called? Breakcore. The classical choral sound is very, very pure, and the children's chorus has a very classical sort of bakan movement. It is terrific, mixed with just fantastic drums and an almost hip-hop beat.

So, paired with Sealed Vessel, it's really tricky because Sealed Vessel is such a wonderfully emotional and violent, classically written piece. This is actually genuinely probably the hardest one I've had to do because both are interesting. Hollow Knight is a little bit more complex, but complexity shouldn't be a reason to justify one over the other. God, that's hard! I do like both for different reasons. Oh my goodness, I find Luna set a little bit more unique.

Oh, Kings! Cool! This is the Beatles. They don't have export; it's the same sound quality as "You Never Give Me No Money." What a great moment in this game! I want to replay this too on YouTube because we lost my stream on Twitch. Talk about high stakes! It takes the Kobayashi sound and just makes it so much more—well, it modifies it slightly and has Jose's real voice in it.

It couldn't be anything like Kobayashi, but it does borrow the classical music elements of Ace Combat that make that soundtrack so unique and then dials them up to like 100, which is really cool. It's gorgeous because you hear the sadness and the death in the strings despite the breakneck speed.

Look at the really nice harmony in there with a subtle—not a big—distance between those two notes. Now we're getting melody and doubling in the voices and in the horns, where before we've had it mostly in strings. I love the crunch of the—not the similarity to arrange—the crunch of the jet engines. There’s a little bit of sci-fi in there, and a little bit of tension in the notes here.

I love the twinkling! Oh sh, sh, sh! I swear it's the Beatles; all I think is the Beatles! It's the same interval. There's a wonderful drone in there as well. I mean, what a great piece! There's very little to say about that besides how phenomenal it is. It's got such a wonderful mixture of instrumentation in there, and it's really just a terrific piece of music. Really, a terrific piece of music—the battlefield flower from White Night Chronicles.

=> 01:58:13

Great music transcends genres, blending unique sounds to create unforgettable experiences.

Oh!

The music begins with an enthusiastic atmosphere, accompanied by applause.

I swear it's the Beatles; all I think is the Beatles. The music has a wonderful drone in there as well. I mean, what a great piece! There's very little to say about that besides how phenomenal it is. It's got such a wonderful mixture of instrumentation in there, and it's really just a terrific piece of music—really terrific.

Moving on, we hear the piece titled "The Battlefield Flower" from White Night Chronicles.

Oh wow, that's really pretty! It feels more like a funeral march than anything else, like a funeral song. This is a boss theme or a battle theme that is magnificent.

The audience responds with applause, expressing their admiration.

Wow, where can you play this? What game? What system is this on? The music transitions into a nice synodation.

The response reveals that it is on the PS3.

Oh!

The music continues, and the audience is captivated by the sounds.

Wow, nice space!

The music is attributed to Level 5, and the audience expresses their love for it.

As the music plays on, the audience continues to applaud, enjoying the performance.

What is that instrument back there? I love the percussion in here!

The music features a gorgeous tremolo in the strings as it swells, creating a beautiful atmosphere.

The audience responds with more applause, clearly enjoying the experience.

Uh, definitely a boss theme!

The music transitions again, and someone comments on the theme of Kings.

I mean, what a cool theme! I don't love when the drums come in. I thought the beginning with the violins was super unique, especially the string quartet. However, as we dive into the rhythm section, I kind of felt like, okay, I've heard this before. But then, as we proceeded, there were a bunch of fun elements like syncopated rhythms. The percussion was front and center for a moment, which was refreshing.

Yeah, Kings is great because it does a great job of putting you in a sense of desperation. It's like a stacked piece of music with lots of interesting different rhythms and instrument combinations.

The audience reacts with excitement.

Oh God, this person could not have a more Italian name than me—Johan Carlo Kazaf Franka!

The music transitions again, and someone mentions Cuphead.

Wow, funky! This must be a snow level from the DLC.

The audience responds with applause, appreciating the sound.

Yeah, I actually love this!

The music has a kind of sultry feel, and the rhythm is captivating, with a little bit of recording in the background.

As the piece continues, the audience is enchanted by the marimba or possibly the xylophone.

Nice crescendo there! There's a wonderful muted trumpet in there as well, and I love how crazy that marimba is going in the back.

Oh man, the stank on this soprano sax!

The music creates a chaotic atmosphere, and the audience responds with applause.

It is chaos, isn't it?

The performance concludes with more applause, leaving the audience in awe.

Natural!

The music fades out, bringing the experience to a close.

=> 02:07:38

Music has the power to inspire and evoke emotions like nothing else.

I love the marimba here, or it might be the xylophone actually. The nice crescendo is wonderful, and there’s a muted trumpet in there as well. I love how crazy that maro is going on the back. Oh man, the stank on this soprano sax is incredible. It is chaos, isn't it?

What a fun track! Oh, I love that. Oh, thanks, Marl! You're welcome. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. All right, let's listen to this. What's up? Oh, I've never heard the arena theme here.

Oh no, I have heard this. Isn't this the Cotto?

The strings come in with the horns. Yeah, I love this song; I’ve heard this a bunch actually.

Hey, I really have to finish Rise. I just love this melody so much. The chanting and all the different Japanese instrumentation in here make it a very special track. This one, in particular, has a real bite to it—a real sense of like, "You can do this!" This focus is very inspirational.

That was not hard at all; that was a very easy decision. A risky bet and squeak it in two interesting...

Hey, wait! Oh, I know what this is! Wait, isn't this the song that Chrissy Costanza sings? Yeah, give it all you've got, and then this is the Savage version but...

Now this is breakcore.

You know, I actually prefer the original. I don't dislike this piece; I like the fast rhythms of this section, but compared to the original, it doesn't have the oomph that Chrissy's voice brings to it. And it's not just because we did an interview together or what have you, but there's a real power in her voice that I feel is getting a little bit lost in the electric guitar. It's a different kind of power. But yeah, it's pretty cool. I definitely prefer the original though. It's a neat song.

All right, how about this? That's so cool! This is the same thing as like T Roa song Weare or something. It's like a box.

I can't wait for this! Holy... I can't wait for this remake to come out in March. It's like straight up just classical music with a bit of...

Wait, this is an actual piece of...

=> 02:17:39

Music has the power to evoke emotions and memories, shaping our experiences in ways we often overlook.

I feel that the electric guitar is getting a little bit lost; it's a different kind of power. However, I definitely prefer the original version. It's a neat song, though.

Transitioning to another topic, this is so cool! This is the same thing as like T Roa's song "Weare" or something; it's like a box. I can't wait for this remake to come out in March. It's like straight-up classical music with a bit of a twist.

Wait, this is an actual piece of classical music? The harmony of the strings is something I've never heard in my life. That was amazing! I don't know if that's a real song or not, but I love the fact that it sounds like something we would absolutely hear on the classical stage.

As the music continues, I love this shout-out! Oh yeah, nice! That keeps it from getting boring with cool vocals. The arpeggiation is fantastic! I love that.

In terms of repetition, that's repetitive in a good way. I loved that; it was awesome! I just started playing Tunic last night, but I was falling asleep, so I didn't really get into it. However, the Tunic soundtrack is a must-listen. It's great for cars, driving, or commutes.

Listening closely, there's almost like a twinkling sound in here, which is really cool. It sounds like a big circle too. I've been really impressed by Tunic's soundtrack. It's crazy; that's a boss theme!

The music transitions, a little augmented there. I like both of these themes so much! Obviously, the contrast is quite jarring, but the piece that's most intriguing to me is the Tunic piece. Although I enjoy the high-octane feeling of the Tekken 7 piece, Tekken's piece is right in your face, while Tunic is a little bit more philosophical.

It really depends on your mood, I guess. Right now, I'm in a philosophical mood, so I think I'm going to pick Tunic. I would have picked both, frankly, but oh yes, Secret of the Obscure is good; it's a really fun expansion.

Shifting gears, Guild Wars 2's music has slowly been ramping up. I love the horns and some of the intense brass. I just put in 155 hours in Guild Wars 2 earlier this month. I got the sky scale and all the mounts. I'm just taking a little break, but then I'm going to come back.

=> 02:27:55

Guild Wars 2's music is the perfect background score for your adventure, subtly enhancing the experience without stealing the spotlight.

Right now, I'm in a philosophical mood, so I think I'm going to pick two. I would have picked both, frankly. Oh yes, Secret of the Obscure is a good, really fun expansion.

Guild Wars 2's music has slowly been ramping up, and I love the horns and some of the intense brass. I just put in 155 hours in Guild Wars 2 earlier this month. I got the sky scale and all the mounts. I'm just taking a little break, but I will come back and keep going. I love it, though; I think it might be my favorite MMO right now.

This is a cool battle theme because it's heavy and has a lot of movement to it. There's some percussion, of course, but in general, Guild Wars 2 is free to play. I just got up to level 60. The cool thing is you don't have to grind for the legendaries—that's the best part. I meant level 80, excuse me. I love my sky scale; it was worth it.

What a neat piece this is! PSO has some pretty awesome stuff, again with another Celtic vibe. That's really cool. The harmony here is interesting; the men in the background are actually super subtle. This is a very low harmony, and there are nice triplets in there too.

It's weird; I'm kind of neutral on both of these. One of the things that I actually love about Guild Wars 2, having played 155 hours of it, is that a lot of the music is not in your face. A lot of the music is really subtle. What I mean by that is that in MMOs like PSO, Final Fantasy 14, and WoW, the music serves a really specific purpose. I feel like Guild Wars 2's music doesn't obstruct the gameplay experience. As you're playing, you're hearing music, but you're not like, "Ooh, this is the music for XYZ place." It's kind of just there.

This makes it seem like a negative, but it's actually a positive because it's just not melodically driven. In contrast, WoW's ambient music is really about the place, and Final Fantasy 14's music is about you and your relationship to the place, as well as the people and society involved. It's weird because Guild Wars 2 is very much in the background, even with these B themes, so it kind of fades.

I made a video about it, but I haven't uploaded it yet; it needs to be edited. In the video, I express that I'm not crazy about Guild Wars 2's music, but I like it because it's really nice. The city of Tyria is probably one of my well-loved tracks; it was in my desert island tracks video that I made today. I would put that in my top 100 tracks of video game music history.

I also need to listen to more of it, but it has a little bit of that Skyrim ambiance where it's there but not there. In contrast, Fantasy Star Online's music is in your face. It is nice melodically and interesting, but halfway through, that was a long four minutes. Our first singing was shared by one of my patrons, Vard, and what a stunning piece that is. Our first singing is a stunning piece for some random VR game.

Of the two, I have a hard time with this one; this one is kind of a throwaway for me, if I'm honest with you. Even though I'm obsessed with Guild Wars 2 and I love it, I think I'm going to go with the melodic elements of this and choose PSO.

Now, moving on to 13 Sentinels and Battle Cats, I started playing the other day.

=> 02:34:55

Music can elevate a game, but sometimes it just doesn't hit the right notes.

The music from Fantasy Star Online is quite in your face, and while it is nice melodically and interesting, I found that halfway through, it felt like a long four minutes. Our first singing was shared by one of my patrons, Vard, and what a stunning piece that is. It’s surprising that it comes from a random VR game. Between the two pieces, I have a hard time with this one; it feels kind of like a throwaway for me, if I'm honest. Even though I'm obsessed with Guild Wars 2 and I love it, I think I’m going to go with the melodic elements and choose PSO over 13 Sentinels.

Moving on to Battle Cats, I started playing it the other day, and I find it to be a really neat game. I have to actually lock in with it. The music builds nicely, creating a great ambiance. Is this the music that plays when you're in that grid where you can see the city? This piece is also composed by Hitoshi Sakamoto, and wow, the grunge is sick! I can't help but wonder why the characters are nude in Sentinels.

As I immerse myself in the music, I realize that I need to focus. The vibe is intriguing, especially with the interesting class of sounds. The music has a slightly syncopated rhythm, and I notice that both tracks have a sort of repetitive motion. Obviously, the Sentinels Aegis Rim track had a bit more emotional oomph, but the rush sound effect of this piece was also pretty interesting. I really liked the choice of instruments; it feels much more playful and engaging.

As I approach the last of the 16 rounds, I reflect on how this has been on my to-do list to play. The strings in this track are lovely, and I find it to be an interesting pairing between Stellar Blade and this piece, even though they are not dissimilar. The way the music unfolds is captivating, and I’m listening intently. There’s a nice counter melody in the strings that comes up, adding depth to the piece.

However, I must say that I liked the first two and a half minutes of this track, but as it progressed, it felt like it just repeated a lot. It’s cool how they are mixing in some classical elements with modern sounds; I always love that combination. Overall, it’s a pretty cool sound, but it didn’t really go in the direction I was hoping for. The drop was interesting, but I was expecting more EDM elements.

=> 02:48:02

Music has the power to blend the old and the new, creating a soundscape that resonates deeply, even if it doesn't always go where you expect.

I really enjoy this track, especially the first two minutes and a half. However, as it progressed, it felt like it just repeated a lot. It's cool how we're using classical elements mixed with modern ones; I always love stuff like that. Overall, it’s a pretty cool sound, but it didn’t necessarily go in the direction I wanted. The drop was interesting, but I was hoping for more EDM rather than the electric guitar aspect. I mean, it's fine, and in context, it’s probably phenomenal. This track is still on my big list to play, but it’s tough because it’s going against one of my soundtracks of the year. We’ll see where we land here in a second.

This is the most classical track in the entire game.

Stellar Blade
I can't talk about it too much because I don’t want to spoil it, but there are some really interesting musical elements that connect to the plot. Here, this is really cool; this is the main theme of the game.

Here in a second, celebrate is probably my game of the year in terms of sheer variety and polish. We’re about to get to the main theme, and this is really cool. Here it comes! We recap the beginning with really nice harmonies mixed with the altos and the tenors. The strings come in, and we swell.

Swelling—here's the main theme! There’s a little bit of dissonance here. Here we go!

There’s nice unison movement here. We’ve heard this theme throughout the entire game, so when it comes in here, it really hits.

There’s so much joy in that, actually. There’s a reason why there’s a male and a female voice in here as well; it’s all connected to the plot. Hey Matt, what's up buddy? The composer for Warframe is casually chilling in the Twitch chat.

Anyway, you're procrastinating writing more Warframe music by watching a video about me talking about battle music. Stellar Blade easily has probably my soundtrack of the year. This is the most operatic. There’s another one here; I have a video about it called Demo Crawler. It’s really, really cool and sung by Pernell, who is a YouTuber and a musical artist involved in video games and video game music.

The rest of the soundtrack is so varied; it has some hard rock, some electronic heavy metal, and definitely a lot of EDM. There are just wonderful, wonderful vocals. I really liked a lot of what I heard here.

Personal bias—oh, that’s tough. I’m going to go here. Oh, you’ll have to try and come up with number two. Well, Warframe—oh yeah, that’s right, 1999 could... there’s time. Oh man, this is tough!

[Music]
H
[Music]
In this round, I’ll be doing some skipping as I start to pick up what I’m hearing. But since we’ve already done a pass, let me just...

[Music]
The real fiddling here is like real, like pressing into things and causing a sort of otherworldly sound.

[Music]

=> 02:56:09

Sometimes the most intriguing sounds come from unexpected combinations.

I really liked a lot of what I heard here. However, I have a personal bias, and that's tough. I'm going to go with number two. Well, Warframe—oh yeah, that's right, 1999—could be a contender. There's a lot to consider here. Oh man, this is tough.

In this round, I'll be doing some skipping as I start to pick up on what I'm hearing. Since we've already done a pass, let me just say that the real fiddling here creates a pressing into things and causes a sort of Otherworldly sound. When the vocals come in, it adds another layer. Yeah, that one's tough. Oh Matt, I forgot to tell you that I shared the fragmented one with my composer friend, Greg W maker. He had a lot to say about the fragmental one. I think it's on the channel if you want to check it out. It was really cool to get his perspective from a composer who works in all sorts of genres.

Alright then, I want to listen to this. Oh man, this is so hard. Of these two hero pieces, one is such a phenomenal, energetic, wonderfully composed piece with so much wonderful instrumentation and a lot of Chinese elements. It's really cool. On the flip side, Soo Plata is such a mournful piece; it carries a real sense of responsibility in the sound. There’s a feeling of needing to fight, and it evokes a serious emotional press. Oh man, but her piece is such a wonderful journey. I'm just going to go on instinct.

Now, for Blasphemous versus Define Beast—I do love this part. This song is so cool. I'm going to pick Lucid from Luna because it does something very different than I've ever heard before. Even though I love Divine Beast, Dancing Lion, and the power I feel from it, Luna is more intriguing to me because of the mixture of the Children's Choir and the fast jungle sound.

Oh wow, that's a funny matchup. I love Kings. I love the brass so much. I'm sorry about the Tunic soundtrack; they're both so good, but the Tunic soundtrack is so interesting and special. The fact that it's both ambient and has forward drive is so intriguing to me. At this current moment in time, I might say that tomorrow I could easily tell you that the legacy of ball is way more interesting, but the Tunic soundtrack is really special, so I'm going to choose that.

Oh wow, this is a choice and a half. What a great track! This might actually bring me to play Honai Star Rail to hear this in context. It's definitely Monster Hunter Rise; I love that melody so much. Oh, very similar.

Thanks, Dr. Mam. I appreciate that. I'm glad that watching the channel has made you appreciate music more. That's all I can really do, you know what I mean? That’s really the goal. I don’t get me wrong; I love that track, but it just gets a little bit too long to get there. It plays better in context. Anyway, now, okay—these two are going to be interesting as they are very similar.

=> 03:05:26

Music has the power to galvanize your spirit and elevate your battles.

In this stream, the host begins by expressing a desire to play Honkai: Star Rail and mentions the context of Monster Hunter Rise, stating, "I love that Melody so much." The host appreciates the audience's engagement, saying, "Thanks Dr. Mam, I appreciate that. I'm glad that watching the channel has made you appreciate music more, and that's all I can really do, you know what I mean? That’s really the goal."

The host continues discussing the music, noting that while they love the track, it can feel a bit long before reaching its peak, adding, "It plays better in context." They then transition to discussing two similar tracks, expressing enthusiasm with phrases like, "Oh, that's such an interesting track. They're so similar."

As the music plays, the host highlights a particular song, stating, "I think it's S in S in. It's such a special and unique song." They express their enjoyment of a playful battle theme, saying, "I genuinely think that's a really playful and fun Battle Theme."

The stream experiences a technical issue when the host's camera dies, prompting them to apologize and resolve the situation. They reflect on the discoveries made during the stream, noting, "This was such an interesting disc Discovery for this entire stream. This one really stood out to me as so incredibly particular."

The host then announces the winner of the video game music Battle Theme battle, declaring, "The winner of that video game music Battle Theme battle was, of course, Monster Hunter Rise." They describe the theme as "so good," emphasizing its strong Japanese instrumentation and incredible melody.

The host elaborates on the theme's impact, stating, "Galvanizing means to carry through to pick up your weapon and say, 'Damn, I'm going to absolutely fight this battle.'" They explain that "Galvanize means to shock or excite," and express gratitude for the audience's submissions, thanking their moderators for their support.

As the stream concludes, the host encourages viewers to stay tuned for future content, saying, "Stay tuned for the next one." They also mention an upcoming live stream in two hours, where they will react to music from Creamfields, the UK's biggest electronic music festival, adding, "That is, of course, a sponsored stream by Hoo Verse itself." The host wraps up with a friendly farewell, saying, "See you later, bye!