Dude Bloodborne soundtrack is just one of the best in gaming history Lady Maria, Amygdala, father gascoigne, and the first hunters OST is just amazing they all are!
I Love the contrast between the two tracks, you have no Idea how this tracks impact on the gameplay. Basically the first track is when Ludwig is completely Lost in his beast form (all he does is scream like a damn horse and hits you with his deformed legs and arms), this changes in the middle of the fight, when Ludwig regain his conscience for a bit and wields his holy moonlight blade. At this point the second track starts playing and the dance begins, not between you and Ludwig, but between him and his sword. Its a really powerfull moment (since Ludwig is referenced throughout the hole game) and those tracks suit the fight so well man.
I love it because the first part is so eerie an horrific, and the second part sounds such a combination of sad and triumphant. He looks so grotesque, the worst afflicted beast so far, a seemingly tragic fall from grace for one of the only true heroes in the game, but then Ludwig does what no one else has ever succeeded in doing, mentally recovering from the Beast Plague, and stands up and wields his legendary sword for one last epic fight. It's amazing.
@@AtlasBenighted The transition from the first to the second part of the song, with the dissonant choir that slowly becomes more and more and more harmonic before the ”mad waltz” seriously almost made me cry when I first fought Ludwig! It has a very nice cutscene when he regains his conciousness after finding his beloved sword once again, and a striking quote that is etched into you as a player. ”Ah, you were at my side all along... my true mentor... my guiding moonlight.” Get’s me every single time!
The choir's lyrics from the song are from the perspective of the sword to Ludwig. Based on how the lyrics are saying all these nice things about him, it can be assumed it wants to give him a proper final battle with you
Died to Ludwig 100s of times tryna beat him on ng+7 and now I know his moveset like the back of my hand. His theme still gives me shivers and never fails to hype me up while fighting him. All time favourite soulsborne boss fight & theme
“It sounds like a waltz of death” I couldn’t help but smile when you said that. Ludwig had me dancing around like a ballerina when he pulled out his sword.
Huh. Never actually paid close attention to the ost because I was too busy getting force-fed my face through my asses newly acquired second opening. So damn good.
I love that you compared this song to a "mad waltz". That's exactly what the boss fight for this song feels like. Waltz of death works to, because this boss tends to kill players....a lot.
@@nahuel3433 and the moonlight sword clears his mind and gives him sanity so the song literally is a mad waltz because it represents ludwig resisting the blood, and madness, and thus retaining his honour
The soundtracck for this game was recorded by a real orchestra, not computer generated. Somehow it sounds better, and also kinda matches the theme of the game.
I love when you talk about a "waltz of death" with the Holy Blade. You are, essentially, dancing with Ludwig during the battle to avoid his attacks. I often am dancing around him in a circle to avoid his sword strikes.
This IS how a lot of Bloodborne's boss fights go. Artful whirling about an arena, landing and evading blows through a careful study of the opponent and understanding of their rhythm. Lady Maria's fight is the best example of this IMO, but it's a theme that carries through the entire game
@@dylanehooverlibrarian7026 Don't forget about the blood, splashing everywhere, while you and your enemy rip into each other like mad beasts. It's enough to make a man sick...
Bloodborne and Dark Souls music always gets me emotional. Playing cello for 10+ years and loving these games helps me to appreciate the music immensely, since I have a strong mental connection to it.
Would be so incredible if one day you reacted to "Skeleton Lord" theme from Dark Souls 2. It's not a very popular composition but I always was considering it a little hidden gem. It's extremely dynamic, complex and pretty short so it doesn't take much time to react to it.
this boss theme is incredible. reflecting not only the lore behind the boss but the tension the player feels from the entire game building to this moment. the chaotic first phase eventually being harnessed and focused just like ludwig in his beastial form reclaiming his determination and gaining a semblance of his former glory.
The whole Bloodborne ost deserves breakdowns, and I know most people will demandw Laurence, Gerhman and Lady Maria ost, but here are some less popular but still amazing (some even better than the fan favourites imo) other specific recommendations for you: Living Failures Queen of the Vilebloods The One Reborn Ebrietas, daughter of the cosmos Father Gascoigne Amygdala Terror Moon Presence The credits theme song once you finish the game Love your style. Just suscribed.
Comparing to a mad walts is so accurate, because it fits perfectly the fight. At the beginning, Ludwig is bestial, you can see the undertone of the waltz and nobility but it's hectic, you can sense it all the time that something is wrong. Then BOOM, that transition hits and now you face the noble hunter Ludwig the Holy Blade of the Church, his moves become coordinated and rhythmic, forcing you to "dance" to the Holy Blade's waltz of death if you want to prevail. Edit: and it's amazing your analysis nailed aspects of the fight just from the OST, that is the mark of a really good and memorable soundtrack.
My favorite of this theme is the distinction between his first phase and his second phase. His first theme is telling of him as a beast, but his second theme is grand. A glimmer of his former self. A shred of humanity comes back when he wields the moonlight greatsword and stands upright. If you haven't already, you should definitely look up some ludwig boss fights. Everything clicks together once you see his theme tying into his boss fight.
you talked about it sounding a "mad waltz" i love that you noticed this, since Ludwig is actually a hunter that is constantly dancing between humanity and madness, and has gone so far deep into the "waltz" that he has turned into a huge disgusting monstrous creature.
Please react to more of BB's soundtrack. The OST is second to none. They even have footage on youtube where they filmed BTS footage of the recording. You will surely not be disappointed and i hope to see more BB content as your new subscriber :) If I can make a recommendation i hope to see you react to the theme of "Gehrman, The First Hunter". Its the Final Boss of the Main Game and the Build up will hopefully blow you out your seat :D Cheers and greetings from germany!
I'd never forget the moment his attacks syncs up with the cymbals in the song. It feels like you're fighting a former hero (which is so far a fitting name for Ludwig because he is formerly a hero) instead of the mad beast you're fighting for the whole first half.
The transition of the accursed theme to the holy blade theme, I think is one of, if not the best symbolic and cinematic moments in the souls series; the scene where he spies the blade both the cello subsides and the choir intermission begins, marking the moment of clarity and respite the blade gives ludwig from his blood-drunk madness, as well as marking that the power of the "guiding moonlight" is equally intoxicating as beasthood, this transition parallels the long running theme in Bloodborne of the precipice humanity dwells on, liable to succumb not only to the temptations of the bliss and ignorance in regressing to beasthood, but the frenzied pursuit of insight and transcendence
By this point you've likely been recommended the entire Bloodborne OST, but I'll cast my vote for "Cleric Beast" anyway. Very interested in music theory and how it applies to music I enjoy, so I appreciate that your content exists. Subbed.
The majority of Bloodborne tracks are incredible. The tracks with lyrics, which are in Latin but there's some translations available, essentially tell the story of the boss you're fighting. Once you have the gist of their story, it makes the song (and fight) that much better. I regards to The Accursed and The Holy Blade parts of this, the first half of the fight is against a corrupted beast version of Ludwig. The ominous tones help signify that. The Holy Blade is him regaining his sanity, and the battle becomes and epic struggle between two hunters.
@@jamesgames3043 depending on the type of person you are you will become a different type of beast. The more blood you indulge in the more horrifying you become. Ludwig found the sword in an ancient crypt and it contained a voice that drove him to complete madness and eventually he lost his humanity to devolve into a beast. No idea why a horse, I guess the symbolism is that he used to be a guiding companion for the church hunters, and horses are companions for us and they help guide our paths sometimes. Otherwise? It’s probably a reference to the horse from berserk who tries to do questionable things.
@@loukes7758 wow! This is very informative! Thank you! I’m still clueless as to why a horse, but I can see the rest are too. Amazing symbolism if that’s the case though!
@@jamesgames3043 he used in the old blood. Generally the more powerful a person was in the church, the larger and more grotesque they became when they transformed, eg Cleric Beast, Vicar Amelia and Laurence
The lore behind this theme makes it so much better, in the first half he’s a beast and in the second he’s a true man. Going from his lowest to his highest point in one track, it’s incredible
I'd HIGHLY recommend the demon of hatred OST from fromsoftware's newest game, Sekiro: Shadows die twice. It's got the same chaotic, bittersweet and emotional feeling to it, especially since the backstory and hidden plot twist of the boss is so tragic and well done. I won't spoil anything, but it perfectly represents the unleashed misery and rage of the man it used to be. And most importantly it makes you feel absolutely terrified the entire time.
I love how the song divides Ludwing bieng the accursed and Ludwing being The Holy Blade. "Aah, you were at my side, all along. My true mentor... My guiding moonlight..."
"It's like a mad waltz." Seeing as how Ludwig became mentally insane to the point where he was hardly human anymore, and the second half of his fight being a dance between him and his guiding moonlight, I'd say you hit the nail on the head.
Dunno why this appeared in my feed. Glad it did! Also the fact you nailed the song without knowing the context in which the song plays is a testament to your knowledge and the composers skill. Instant subscribe!
@@AtlasBenighted you're most welcome! There are a lot of people in this world but not everyone is blessed with the gift of understanding the language of music. Lol you're one of the lucky ones. 😉
Just so you know, the version you listened to technically isn't the official track, it's been looped in a few different places by the uploader. The upload from dudewhereismyspoon is the track from the official release.
@@anti-ethniccleansing465 It doesn't, no. I also just remembered this is actually two separate tracks on the OST - Ludwig, the Accursed for the slower, more ominous part, and and Ludwig, The Holy Blade for the epic stuff.
@@spinky2234 I see. Thx for the downlow. P.S. does that mean that you were wrong about the looping, or it does loop as well as being two different tracks?
“Sounds like a walts of death” oh man the tension of dueling Ludwig was such an amazing experience in bloodborne. If you have never played bloodborne, it is such an amazing brutal game. I wish I could play it again as if it was the first time again.
Its not just a boss, its one of the hardest boss those devollopers made. So i understand the tension buildingn since it will be a very tense moment in your playtrhough if not THE MOST tense moment in the game.
I hope you watched the gameplay of this boss battle my friend because it will definitely give you insight into why the track was split into two parts. In the start of the battle, Ludwig is a beast charging at the player without thought. Then in the second half, he regains a bit of his humanity as he gazes upon the holy blade! It's awesome! Good take btw. You knew it was a boss battle.
Honestly, you could probably make an hour long video on the entirety of the Bloodborne soundtrack. It's incredible and each song fits its designated boss perfectly. What makes the soundtracks so intense in-game is not just that the fights are pretty tough and fast paced, but also the lack of music during the level. Outside of a boss fight, there's no music, except for in one place called Yahar'gul. Also, there is a "Behind the Scenes" version of the Cleric Beast theme (which plays during two boss fights) where you can see the chapel the orchestra played the soundtrack in. It's awesome!
The best thing about these soundtracks is that they pair with the feeling of the fights themselves, making it feel even better to the adepts of the game
I am so glad I stumbled across this breakdown! You've earned yourself a subscription, sir! Your breakdown hits upon a few key notes of the piece's implementation in the fight itself...the introductory phase absolutely plays tempo headgames with you to mirror the unpredictability of the boss as he is still ruled by the madness of beasthood (at this point, his health bar denotes him as Ludwig the Accursed) After the mid-fight point, where the choir solo marks the transition into fighting Ludwig as the Holy Blade (his in-game name changes here as well), he regains the dignity, honor, and sanity of a Holy Swordsman, and combats you with his senses in tact. I love that you described it as more sober, because that perfectly describes the transition of the battle into an elegant waltz by both participants. This is my favorite From Software track of all time because of how it almost single-handedly controls the change in ambience....you picked up on the the nature of the shift with presumably no gameplay or knowledge of the fight, just the music alone. It's such an effective piece. If you have even a passing interest in video games, consider watching a video of the encounter and see how your observations play up with the visuals of the battle
Thanks Steve! Yeah I've never played this game. Also videogames are a big part in my life, the thing is I've been a PC gamer all my life, so I've missed a lot of things over the years in consoles! Hopefully that can change
Funny you mention "dance that sends you to afterlife", because in-game you, as the player, are the one to dance with Ludwig, the boss, and send him to afterlife. (well, more like to eternal rest from afterlife, but that's just nitpicking)
Actually, from all the creatures, hunters and another "living" beings in the hunter's knightmare, I believe that Ludwig, Simon, Hakamura and the dude in the lower cell are the only real living beings that were dragged to the nightmare without dying, what's even worst (except by Simon that was trying to uncover the Truth about the Fishing Hamlet) that they're trapped in a fucking purgatory without being dead, just suffering more than the Hollow Hunters that already passed away a long Ago because they really feel everything there and know that, If they die to something of the nightmare, their souls will be trapped forever until someone stop the Kos curse
This is just straight up the best song in the game. This + the atmosphere of the boss arena + Ludwig revealing the Holy Moonlight Greatsword has to be one of the greatest moments in gaming bruh
You were right about it being a fight, and a boss. Did you happen to look it up? It's one of the most intense boss battles in a game full of intense boss battles. One of my favorite fights, despite being one of the bosses I had the most trouble with, and the song is my absolute favorite. Gives me the skin tinglies every time.
I like this song because it sounds like someone of high standing, gets slowly descended into madness. And then at the end it’s like the whole host of events are also mad
"mad waltz" is like perfect description because ludwig regains his humanity for a second but decides this is his last frantic moment as a human to fight so he fights crazy/desperate but in a human way compared to his previous behavior as a horse monster.
"sounds like a mad waltz" I mean if that's what you call front rolling out of the way of Ludwig's sword and his mangled donkey kicking horse body then yes a waltz indeed.
Listening to it is one, watching it with the cutscene... the timing of the transitions, such as this one, is amazing. Lady Maria as well. It’s great alone, but if you watch the actual fight after, you’ll see that the transitions are timed perfectly
“It builds up the tension, then releases it, then builds it right back up” Me, thinking of barely catching s breath between dodging crushing dive bombs and bull charges: ...sounds about right. I love how just from listening to and describing the music, whether intentionally or not, you’re perfectly describing the feel of the actual fight it plays for; both a sign of how well the track fits its purpose and how much you understand it from just a first listen.
You absolutely must breakdown Gehrman's theme! Its the very few ost that i always come back to listen to and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Anyway, subbed and looking forward to more reactions :^D
I don't know about anyone else, but the feeling I get listening to this track describes the character of Ludwig perfectly. As it starts you feel the tension and the horror, and once it ramps up it becomes something simultaneously horrifying and fantastic, a monster but also someone who was once great.
Dude Bloodborne soundtrack is just one of the best in gaming history Lady Maria, Amygdala, father gascoigne, and the first hunters OST is just amazing they all are!
Well, I don't know about that, but this track was fantastic!
yeah the ost is great
No it’s heavily underrated, its too good
Gehrman cleric beast they are badass
DUDE Living Failures 'cmon!
Laurance the first vicar is in my opinion the greatest track in bloodborne,and is very deservant of a breakdown in my opinion
Give Kabuk a like!
@@AtlasBenighted you NEED to do it.
1000% agree.
Indeed
SPREAD THE WORD...FEAR THE BLOOD!
I love how bloodborne still getting some love
I can see the game has a very passionate following
Yea it really is one of the best games out there.
@MrWereverForever True
Part 2 never
Dude I haven't even played Bloodborne and the soundtrack alone has me with such a huge boner that I'm studying the lore of the game.
I Love the contrast between the two tracks, you have no Idea how this tracks impact on the gameplay.
Basically the first track is when Ludwig is completely Lost in his beast form (all he does is scream like a damn horse and hits you with his deformed legs and arms), this changes in the middle of the fight, when Ludwig regain his conscience for a bit and wields his holy moonlight blade. At this point the second track starts playing and the dance begins, not between you and Ludwig, but between him and his sword. Its a really powerfull moment (since Ludwig is referenced throughout the hole game) and those tracks suit the fight so well man.
You are absolutely right, I have no clue 😄
I love it because the first part is so eerie an horrific, and the second part sounds such a combination of sad and triumphant. He looks so grotesque, the worst afflicted beast so far, a seemingly tragic fall from grace for one of the only true heroes in the game, but then Ludwig does what no one else has ever succeeded in doing, mentally recovering from the Beast Plague, and stands up and wields his legendary sword for one last epic fight. It's amazing.
@@AtlasBenighted The transition from the first to the second part of the song, with the dissonant choir that slowly becomes more and more and more harmonic before the ”mad waltz” seriously almost made me cry when I first fought Ludwig! It has a very nice cutscene when he regains his conciousness after finding his beloved sword once again, and a striking quote that is etched into you as a player.
”Ah, you were at my side all along... my true mentor... my guiding moonlight.”
Get’s me every single time!
I was gonna comment something like this but you summed it up. Best boss fight ever for me
The choir's lyrics from the song are from the perspective of the sword to Ludwig. Based on how the lyrics are saying all these nice things about him, it can be assumed it wants to give him a proper final battle with you
Bloodbornes old hunters DLC the living failures has one of the most epic choir segments ive ever heard Ludwigs is a close second
Living Failure was requested but is not getting a lot of traction. Give Sam a like!
@@AtlasBenighted living failures please.
Laurence is so phenomenal as well!
Update: just seen that he has a video covering Laurence, HYPE
"it sounds like a mad waltz" "waltz of death" you have no idea how true those statements are
You are right, I have no clue
Died to Ludwig 100s of times tryna beat him on ng+7 and now I know his moveset like the back of my hand. His theme still gives me shivers and never fails to hype me up while fighting him. All time favourite soulsborne boss fight & theme
@@AtlasBenighted his actual boss fight follows suit with that claim, it is indeed a waltz of death. My favorite boss fight in any game personally
“It sounds like a waltz of death”
I couldn’t help but smile when you said that. Ludwig had me dancing around like a ballerina when he pulled out his sword.
Catchphrase!
Huh. Never actually paid close attention to the ost because I was too busy getting force-fed my face through my asses newly acquired second opening. So damn good.
😆
I love that you compared this song to a "mad waltz". That's exactly what the boss fight for this song feels like. Waltz of death works to, because this boss tends to kill players....a lot.
Alrighty then!
I know it took me a few days to get past it myself.
Not just that but he "dances" with "his true mentor, his guiding moonlight" the moonlight greatsword that he finds again in the middle of the fight
@@nahuel3433 and the moonlight sword clears his mind and gives him sanity so the song literally is a mad waltz because it represents ludwig resisting the blood, and madness, and thus retaining his honour
Alot is an understatement LOL
The soundtracck for this game was recorded by a real orchestra, not computer generated. Somehow it sounds better, and also kinda matches the theme of the game.
Usually when it’s not computer generated it sounds better
That's great. The cello is kinda of the giveaway for me
What do you mean "somehow"...?
‘Somehow’ lol
@@Eorzat I guess he means "difficult to put into words", not as in "unexpectedly".
I love when you talk about a "waltz of death" with the Holy Blade. You are, essentially, dancing with Ludwig during the battle to avoid his attacks. I often am dancing around him in a circle to avoid his sword strikes.
Alrighty then!
Pretentious comment
This IS how a lot of Bloodborne's boss fights go. Artful whirling about an arena, landing and evading blows through a careful study of the opponent and understanding of their rhythm. Lady Maria's fight is the best example of this IMO, but it's a theme that carries through the entire game
@@dylanehooverlibrarian7026 Don't forget about the blood, splashing everywhere, while you and your enemy rip into each other like mad beasts. It's enough to make a man sick...
@@schmebulockjizz braindead comment
You should definitely listen to gherman, the first hunter. This is bloodborne’s best track.
More Bloodborne could happen
Bloodbornes Ost is just one of the best
Same opinion.
Ahh it’s Ludwig for me lol
It's just so much more, boring
Bloodborne and Dark Souls music always gets me emotional. Playing cello for 10+ years and loving these games helps me to appreciate the music immensely, since I have a strong mental connection to it.
That's great mate! I can see it!
Would be so incredible if one day you reacted to "Skeleton Lord" theme from Dark Souls 2. It's not a very popular composition but I always was considering it a little hidden gem. It's extremely dynamic, complex and pretty short so it doesn't take much time to react to it.
I often like underdog songs. Give Кащей a like please!
dark souls 2 has amazing and underrated soundtracks and i love everything in this game
@@Drenosir burnt ivory king is a fav of mine.
@@itachileesan I'll check it out thanks didn't listen to it yet
@@Drenosir please do, be interested to hear your thoughts
You should react to Laurence's theme too!👀
Give Vermilion a like!
Yeah and Maria , also the first hunter. Ummm and amygdala.... Just react to all Bloodborne soundtrack 🤣
Slave Knight Gael from Dark Souls 3
Gherman the First Hunter from Bloodborne.
Gael so far winning!
YES GAEL
@@AtlasBenighted gael's song is really cool, but the fight is probably the best of the dark souls series as well
Pontiff Sulyvahn
this boss theme is incredible. reflecting not only the lore behind the boss but the tension the player feels from the entire game building to this moment. the chaotic first phase eventually being harnessed and focused just like ludwig in his beastial form reclaiming his determination and gaining a semblance of his former glory.
The whole Bloodborne ost deserves breakdowns, and I know most people will demandw Laurence, Gerhman and Lady Maria ost, but here are some less popular but still amazing (some even better than the fan favourites imo) other specific recommendations for you:
Living Failures
Queen of the Vilebloods
The One Reborn
Ebrietas, daughter of the cosmos
Father Gascoigne
Amygdala
Terror
Moon Presence
The credits theme song once you finish the game
Love your style. Just suscribed.
Thanks mate! Yes, Lady Maria is getting a lot of traction!
No-one gives credit to the early bosses like the Demons in DS and the Cleric Beasts. They still sound great in my opinion
@@wurmturm love those ost, and the Gargoyles one. Cleric Beast is one of Bloodborne's iconic themes, that's why I don't put it in my original post.
@@mirayoquese8608
Puedes?
@@anti-ethniccleansing465 sorry, I'm spanish and the spelling checker goes wild sometimes hahaha
Comparing to a mad walts is so accurate, because it fits perfectly the fight.
At the beginning, Ludwig is bestial, you can see the undertone of the waltz and nobility but it's hectic, you can sense it all the time that something is wrong. Then BOOM, that transition hits and now you face the noble hunter Ludwig the Holy Blade of the Church, his moves become coordinated and rhythmic, forcing you to "dance" to the Holy Blade's waltz of death if you want to prevail.
Edit: and it's amazing your analysis nailed aspects of the fight just from the OST, that is the mark of a really good and memorable soundtrack.
I just thought of something. Would you like to die dancing? 🕺💀
@@AtlasBenighted yes, but only to this song
Haha, don’t pick on Walt. He’s back on his meds dammit! Don’t call him “mad.” So rude.
Yo dude, You absolutely NEED to listen to "God Shattering Star" from Fire Emblem Three Houses. I would love to see your reaction.
I see those likes! Give Zoidberg the love and this could happen very soon!
L
The fact that he somehow describes the fight from hearing the song just shows how well made it is for Ludwing
My favorite of this theme is the distinction between his first phase and his second phase. His first theme is telling of him as a beast, but his second theme is grand. A glimmer of his former self. A shred of humanity comes back when he wields the moonlight greatsword and stands upright.
If you haven't already, you should definitely look up some ludwig boss fights. Everything clicks together once you see his theme tying into his boss fight.
I did!
you talked about it sounding a "mad waltz"
i love that you noticed this, since Ludwig is actually a hunter that is constantly dancing between humanity and madness, and has gone so far deep into the "waltz" that he has turned into a huge disgusting monstrous creature.
I love that! Sometimes I feel like that, only the monster lives inside 😄
"This is so creepy, and I love it" Basicly Bloodborne
Please react to more of BB's soundtrack. The OST is second to none. They even have footage on youtube where they filmed BTS footage of the recording. You will surely not be disappointed and i hope to see more BB content as your new subscriber :)
If I can make a recommendation i hope to see you react to the theme of "Gehrman, The First Hunter". Its the Final Boss of the Main Game and the Build up will hopefully blow you out your seat :D
Cheers and greetings from germany!
Thanks Mike! More BB will happen!
Hey bro I love your videogame reactions so much.its amazing! If you could react to "Laurence the first Vicar "of bloodborne that would be so great!!
Yeeeessss!!!!
Please give TuxedoSnake a like!
I SECOND THIS AND I LIKED
This song made dying to Ludwig over and over again worth it
You should definitely listen to The living Failures, its one of the best OST in all the game, but look for the full version.
That one is building up!
@@AtlasBenighted wow, Thank you! You won't be disappointed, it's a wonderful OST :)
"sounds like a.. mad walts."
Me: IT IS. His swings really link up with choir at this point.
So I've been told!
I'd never forget the moment his attacks syncs up with the cymbals in the song. It feels like you're fighting a former hero (which is so far a fitting name for Ludwig because he is formerly a hero) instead of the mad beast you're fighting for the whole first half.
"Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moon light?"
Boom
Love that dude.
The transition of the accursed theme to the holy blade theme, I think is one of, if not the best symbolic and cinematic moments in the souls series; the scene where he spies the blade both the cello subsides and the choir intermission begins, marking the moment of clarity and respite the blade gives ludwig from his blood-drunk madness, as well as marking that the power of the "guiding moonlight" is equally intoxicating as beasthood, this transition parallels the long running theme in Bloodborne of the precipice humanity dwells on, liable to succumb not only to the temptations of the bliss and ignorance in regressing to beasthood, but the frenzied pursuit of insight and transcendence
By this point you've likely been recommended the entire Bloodborne OST, but I'll cast my vote for "Cleric Beast" anyway. Very interested in music theory and how it applies to music I enjoy, so I appreciate that your content exists. Subbed.
Thanks mate, but I don't do breakdowns in the context of music theory. I didn't go to music school. Everything I know is self-taught!
The majority of Bloodborne tracks are incredible. The tracks with lyrics, which are in Latin but there's some translations available, essentially tell the story of the boss you're fighting. Once you have the gist of their story, it makes the song (and fight) that much better. I regards to The Accursed and The Holy Blade parts of this, the first half of the fight is against a corrupted beast version of Ludwig. The ominous tones help signify that. The Holy Blade is him regaining his sanity, and the battle becomes and epic struggle between two hunters.
Ok, the Latin lyrics have left me intrigued!
How tf did he become that horse creature?? Just beat the game and it’s DLCs and I was so fucking confused!
@@jamesgames3043 depending on the type of person you are you will become a different type of beast. The more blood you indulge in the more horrifying you become. Ludwig found the sword in an ancient crypt and it contained a voice that drove him to complete madness and eventually he lost his humanity to devolve into a beast. No idea why a horse, I guess the symbolism is that he used to be a guiding companion for the church hunters, and horses are companions for us and they help guide our paths sometimes. Otherwise? It’s probably a reference to the horse from berserk who tries to do questionable things.
@@loukes7758 wow! This is very informative! Thank you! I’m still clueless as to why a horse, but I can see the rest are too. Amazing symbolism if that’s the case though!
@@jamesgames3043 he used in the old blood. Generally the more powerful a person was in the church, the larger and more grotesque they became when they transformed, eg Cleric Beast, Vicar Amelia and Laurence
As I was scrolling through the comments and noticed that you replied to a lot of them and I think that’s cool since most other UA-camrs don’t do that.
They are missing out then 😄
The lore behind this theme makes it so much better, in the first half he’s a beast and in the second he’s a true man. Going from his lowest to his highest point in one track, it’s incredible
I'd HIGHLY recommend the demon of hatred OST from fromsoftware's newest game, Sekiro: Shadows die twice. It's got the same chaotic, bittersweet and emotional feeling to it, especially since the backstory and hidden plot twist of the boss is so tragic and well done. I won't spoil anything, but it perfectly represents the unleashed misery and rage of the man it used to be. And most importantly it makes you feel absolutely terrified the entire time.
Sekiro getting traction!
The best part about these OSTs is that ALL of them are live recordings with a full orchestra and choir! They put so much work into this soundtrack!
Hey you should listen to The Last Mission from Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Keep giving the likes to unnamed person and this could happen sooner than you think 😉
"It sounds like a mad waltz. It sounds like the waltz of death."
That's about how the fight goes, yep!
My favorite game of all time and the only game where I can actually sit back and listen to the OST in awe.
That's great!
Yup, best game ever
I love how the song divides Ludwing bieng the accursed and Ludwing being The Holy Blade.
"Aah, you were at my side, all along.
My true mentor... My guiding moonlight..."
This is the single best soundtrack ever written for a game. And Bloodborne is full of emotional soundtracks
Bold statement 😬
@@AtlasBenighted I would make such a statement if I didn't have a lot of games played under my name
idk about that man
I love how most music professionals refer to the "waltz or waltz of death" i love it
I didn't know other composers said the same thing, that's great! There's concensus then
Can you react to Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower OST ?! How is changes to the choir in Phase 2 of the Boss Fight is amazing.
Lady Maria getting traction!
I forgot how awesome this track is, it's so complex. Lady Maria's theme is probably my favourite though.
Lady Maria has a lot of traction
"It sounds like the waltz of Death"
That's exactly what happens...
Oh god the flashbacks of this boss. Each drop is a reminder of pain and suffering.
"It's like a mad waltz."
Seeing as how Ludwig became mentally insane to the point where he was hardly human anymore, and the second half of his fight being a dance between him and his guiding moonlight, I'd say you hit the nail on the head.
Dunno why this appeared in my feed. Glad it did! Also the fact you nailed the song without knowing the context in which the song plays is a testament to your knowledge and the composers skill. Instant subscribe!
Thanks mate! That means a lot!
@@AtlasBenighted you're most welcome! There are a lot of people in this world but not everyone is blessed with the gift of understanding the language of music. Lol you're one of the lucky ones. 😉
that was awesome, thanks so much :D I think you would also love Bloodborne's living failures, it has a beautiful crescendo. :D
This song is an absolute masterpiece.
W
Bro, watch gameplay of the boss fight, you'll see just how perfectly this music fits with the boss fight.
Just so you know, the version you listened to technically isn't the official track, it's been looped in a few different places by the uploader. The upload from dudewhereismyspoon is the track from the official release.
Thanks mate
I was wondering why it cut off so abruptly at the end. Hopefully the true version doesn’t do that??
@@anti-ethniccleansing465 It doesn't, no. I also just remembered this is actually two separate tracks on the OST - Ludwig, the Accursed for the slower, more ominous part, and and Ludwig, The Holy Blade for the epic stuff.
@@spinky2234
I see. Thx for the downlow.
P.S. does that mean that you were wrong about the looping, or it does loop as well as being two different tracks?
@@anti-ethniccleansing465 The upload in this video has been looped/edited in some weird places, and is both tracks put together.
“Sounds like a walts of death” oh man the tension of dueling Ludwig was such an amazing experience in bloodborne. If you have never played bloodborne, it is such an amazing brutal game. I wish I could play it again as if it was the first time again.
react to laurence the first vicar ost
Give ReiGen a like!
Bloodborne vídeo, starts with Diablo Tristam theme
Nice vídeo dude!
You got it!
"It sounds like a mad waltz! The waltz of death!" THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, YES! Fear the old blood!
Its not just a boss, its one of the hardest boss those devollopers made. So i understand the tension buildingn since it will be a very tense moment in your playtrhough if not THE MOST tense moment in the game.
Yeah, everything aligns!
@@AtlasBenighted Yes either the composer is a fan or a genius OR BOTH !
18:21 "The Dance that will send you to the afterlife."
Yep, sounds like the Ludwig fight indeed.
Thank you for listening all the way through before doing the analysis!
Oh yeah, I don't like to pause it. Thank you for watching!
I hope you watched the gameplay of this boss battle my friend because it will definitely give you insight into why the track was split into two parts. In the start of the battle, Ludwig is a beast charging at the player without thought. Then in the second half, he regains a bit of his humanity as he gazes upon the holy blade! It's awesome! Good take btw. You knew it was a boss battle.
I been debating with the idea. The thing is I want to play the games and don't want to spoil them!
Honestly, you could probably make an hour long video on the entirety of the Bloodborne soundtrack. It's incredible and each song fits its designated boss perfectly. What makes the soundtracks so intense in-game is not just that the fights are pretty tough and fast paced, but also the lack of music during the level. Outside of a boss fight, there's no music, except for in one place called Yahar'gul.
Also, there is a "Behind the Scenes" version of the Cleric Beast theme (which plays during two boss fights) where you can see the chapel the orchestra played the soundtrack in. It's awesome!
"there's an order in the chaos" I think that it suits perfectly with the character
It's so beautiful it make me cry
The best thing about these soundtracks is that they pair with the feeling of the fights themselves, making it feel even better to the adepts of the game
This came in my recommendations, and honestly I’m glad. Great video, gonna have to watch a watch more, thanks!
Thank you mate!
LAURENCE Next its a masterpiece my favorite videogame music off all time
More Bloodborne will come
I am so glad I stumbled across this breakdown! You've earned yourself a subscription, sir! Your breakdown hits upon a few key notes of the piece's implementation in the fight itself...the introductory phase absolutely plays tempo headgames with you to mirror the unpredictability of the boss as he is still ruled by the madness of beasthood (at this point, his health bar denotes him as Ludwig the Accursed)
After the mid-fight point, where the choir solo marks the transition into fighting Ludwig as the Holy Blade (his in-game name changes here as well), he regains the dignity, honor, and sanity of a Holy Swordsman, and combats you with his senses in tact. I love that you described it as more sober, because that perfectly describes the transition of the battle into an elegant waltz by both participants. This is my favorite From Software track of all time because of how it almost single-handedly controls the change in ambience....you picked up on the the nature of the shift with presumably no gameplay or knowledge of the fight, just the music alone. It's such an effective piece. If you have even a passing interest in video games, consider watching a video of the encounter and see how your observations play up with the visuals of the battle
Thanks Steve! Yeah I've never played this game. Also videogames are a big part in my life, the thing is I've been a PC gamer all my life, so I've missed a lot of things over the years in consoles! Hopefully that can change
"Waltz of death" is damn appropriate to describe bloodborne's combat system too.
Waltz of death is an apt description of fighting with Holy Moonlight Ludwig
Funny you mention "dance that sends you to afterlife", because in-game you, as the player, are the one to dance with Ludwig, the boss, and send him to afterlife. (well, more like to eternal rest from afterlife, but that's just nitpicking)
Oh yeah, I get it
Actually, from all the creatures, hunters and another "living" beings in the hunter's knightmare, I believe that Ludwig, Simon, Hakamura and the dude in the lower cell are the only real living beings that were dragged to the nightmare without dying, what's even worst (except by Simon that was trying to uncover the Truth about the Fishing Hamlet) that they're trapped in a fucking purgatory without being dead, just suffering more than the Hollow Hunters that already passed away a long Ago because they really feel everything there and know that, If they die to something of the nightmare, their souls will be trapped forever until someone stop the Kos curse
This gave me a whole new appreciation for the music in this game, thank you.
13:12 you wanted to say HEROIC. The second part feels heroic.
You earned a subscriber, my guy
Thanks mate!
This is just straight up the best song in the game. This + the atmosphere of the boss arena + Ludwig revealing the Holy Moonlight Greatsword has to be one of the greatest moments in gaming bruh
You were right about it being a fight, and a boss. Did you happen to look it up? It's one of the most intense boss battles in a game full of intense boss battles. One of my favorite fights, despite being one of the bosses I had the most trouble with, and the song is my absolute favorite. Gives me the skin tinglies every time.
Hey Harui, I didn't look it up. Just had a hunch that it was from the composition 😁
I like that you played the tristram theme from diablo in the beginning! Respect!
You got it! 😄
Bloodborne has such good music. It 's so scary to me but i come back for the music alone
That's great!
Can't wait to hear what the Demon Souls remastered soundtrack will be like!
I saw the trailers and it looks amazing
Dude the fight IS a mad waltz, your word choice is on point
I like this song because it sounds like someone of high standing, gets slowly descended into madness. And then at the end it’s like the whole host of events are also mad
a waltz of death is the perfect description for this piece
"mad waltz" is like perfect description because ludwig regains his humanity for a second but decides this is his last frantic moment as a human to fight so he fights crazy/desperate but in a human way compared to his previous behavior as a horse monster.
yes and you fight him in circles (atleast some people) which is also like a waltz but yeah i really like the description of a mad waltz!
You should look into the dancer of the boreal valley boss music the boss's attack patterns match up with the timing of the song
the souls series has never failed to make a solid soundtrack, the tracks all fit the themes of their games and bosses so well
I'm about to find out!
@LinkPrettyAss Yeah,Sekiro music wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination but...It wasn't as great either
You don't fight Ludwig, Ludwig fights you
Dude, gherman's soundtrack is the best. Full of feelings
It's getting traction
Really happy you reacted to this track, as always loved your breakdown
Glad you enjoyed!
"Sounds like a waltz of death." Well, that's pretty much an accurate description of the fight with Ludwig :p
The after Ludwig switches into second phase, the brass leads the way then at then end of the phrase, the strings take over and play the same melody
"Sounds like a Mad waltz/Waltz of Death"
That's essentially what it is. A dance between a hunter and a mad Old Hunter.
I love how you can hear the song regain it's humanity
"sounds like a mad waltz" I mean if that's what you call front rolling out of the way of Ludwig's sword and his mangled donkey kicking horse body then yes a waltz indeed.
Listening to it is one, watching it with the cutscene... the timing of the transitions, such as this one, is amazing. Lady Maria as well. It’s great alone, but if you watch the actual fight after, you’ll see that the transitions are timed perfectly
Yeah, I know the gameplay enhances everything
“It builds up the tension, then releases it, then builds it right back up”
Me, thinking of barely catching s breath between dodging crushing dive bombs and bull charges: ...sounds about right.
I love how just from listening to and describing the music, whether intentionally or not, you’re perfectly describing the feel of the actual fight it plays for; both a sign of how well the track fits its purpose and how much you understand it from just a first listen.
Thanks mate!
I always get goosebumps when I listen to it
"It sounds like the waltz of death."
You have no idea how accurate that is..
You absolutely must breakdown Gehrman's theme! Its the very few ost that i always come back to listen to and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Anyway, subbed and looking forward to more reactions :^D
Thanks mate, that one as been requested a lot so it's prob happening!
I don't know about anyone else, but the feeling I get listening to this track describes the character of Ludwig perfectly. As it starts you feel the tension and the horror, and once it ramps up it becomes something simultaneously horrifying and fantastic, a monster but also someone who was once great.
One of my top favorite pieces of music in video game history and love that there are 2 halfs in this music like the epic boss fight