Also Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Hiroshi Okubu, Junichi Nakatsaru etc composed music for Tekken games too. Those soundtracks are also quite epic.
@@its-amemegatron.9521 so are you telling me "Too bad buddy, this twisted game needs to be reset. We'll start over from ZERO with this V2. Entrusting the future to the next generation" is not part of the soundtrack?
@@rarewhiteape not as epic as ace zero but ya a challenge on ace difficulty... Still think the ending on ace 4 and zero are the most epic 5 was not so mutch fun but not challenging.. 4 you had to run down a Barrel of a massive railgun ment to shoot astroids and in zero had to run a gauntlet of undergeound network to destroy multiple V2 rockets then fight pixy woth the Morgan and had to play chicken to shot out its engine air intake to defeat him. Taking out a massive war satellite the size of a city pice by pic is sadly not as fulfilling. And dont get me started on 7 what pissed me of is the first dlc aircraft cant fit underground *wtf* man!
@@demonlordotrt754 What you mean doesn't fit underground? Yeah the Raven has a ridiculous wingspan (tho the wyvern im sure is still bigger) but you can fly that thing just fine in the tunnels. Also come on... you don't "play chicken" with Pixy, you have an epic goddamn jousting match between two knights.
@@demonlordotrt754 the Raven can fit through the tunnel. It is a very close thing but it is possible. Also @grace calis the Raven is wider then the Wyvern with wings extended by a decent amount.
AC4 will always have my heart, nostalgia goggles may be involved, but it is a damn good game. That said, I absolutely think the story of 5 is better. The music? Kindof tough. I'd have to listen to the OST of both back to back to really make a call.
@@Ikrit122 It's not even my favorite, but for some reason the one for the mission with all the harriers (the one in the mountains the second time Stonehenge is firing on you) always stuck with me. Again, it's the first Ace Combat I ever played so obviously it left a massive impression. The cathartic orchestral stuff with the choir in 5 and Zero really did illicit some powerful emotions though.
@@Ikrit122 At the end of 5, hearing all your wingman telling you they have your back, and then hearing them shouting out "fox X!" or "maneuver Y!" at triple the frequency of the other missions is so powerful and really gets your blood pumping. I actually felt like part of the legend Razgriz!
Fun fact about AC7's Daredevil track (the one he let play way longer then he normally lets things go): It was completely scrapped and remade, rushed last minute to fit the fights timing and events. And it's one of the best pieces in AC7, and one of my favorites in the series entirely. The people behind Ace Combat are amazing.
TRPSnow I’m late, but the whole reason behind it being scrapped was because it didn’t give the composer goosebumps just from hearing it, and wasn’t good enough for him to consider art fitting for the climax of the story. People have said that the reason it’s called Daredevil is because of him doing one of the most unthinkable things and redoing and rushing through the main piece of the soundtrack just before it was released, like a true daredevil. You probably knew that, but I gotta make sure people know just how crazy Kobayashi is.
@@AVerySexuallyDeviantOrange I remember reading a story about how apparently Kobayashi received the call that Daredevil was needed as the deadline to complete the soundtrack was rapidly approaching and everything else was already pretty much done, and he just nodded and said "Okay." No complaints, no hesitation, and he then proceeded to write one of, if not the best song in the game.
Focus on my beloved AC and its music aside, I have to commend you on your presentaiton. I could not be any more of a layman in music and all the formal terms flew over my head, but the underlying concepts came across clearly regardless. That is a tough sell. Fantastic.
I couldn't have put it better myself. While I am by no means a musician, I can understand what I am hearing and then relate that back to what he said. This presentation was absolutely out of the park and has enlightened me to a whole other side of music: music theory. Like he said multiple times, I have heard these examples in music before. Now I can understand what it looks like on paper and how it works mechanically to make the feel-goods in my ears
Justin not even close, Halo doesn’t have the soaring melodies huge orchestral Latin scores Halo soundtrack is good and tribal but not even close toe Ace Combats quality
Halo OST is awesome but for the most part it's much more for the nostalgia and its importance for the games industry. The theme though.. gets me everytime!
Thank you so much for taking on my patreon suggestion! AC's soundtrack is incredible and I'm glad you're helping it gain some more recognition! Nice touch adding some of my other suggestions to the beginning and end of the vid. Briefing 2 and Blockade are incredible tracks too! Also you didn't realize it, but Aug 19, 2019 is a huge day in AC7 history as the Stonehenge Defensive occured.
Thank you for making this suggestion! This series was my childhood starting with AC4, and I've never been able to get enough of the games or the music. Hearing just what makes it so great is an absolute treat.
Ever since i was 18 i listen to ace combat in my car, am 33 now still awesome thats why i dont want it to die, other games be like 3 songs and done just bcuz its a 10/10 game but AC is 7/10 so nobody buys it.... They dont know that they are missing bout 50 great songs from AC that never dies
@Rashad Harris Agreed bro... Music especially Ace Combat Soundtrack Orchestra is at another level... its carry player/pilot emotion to the game.... and for your passion in orchestra.... Don't Stop Brother.... bring life and joy to this world
Ace Combat 7 has certainly brought a fresh taste of gaming into my life, I'm definitely gonna hunt down the other legacy games like 4, 5, and Zero since I have a PS2.
@221b I always considered ground impact death and restarted.. I didn't intend to continue and catch a stray bullet ending my mission. Thought it was odd they made that a feature above Easy difficulty.. I fully expect to be at 50% from a strafe run and dead from a single missile on Ace.
WHAT I wasn't expecting this Thank you for releasing a music theory video and recognizing Ace Combat. I always saw Ace Combat as something unrecognized in the popular media. I love your channel and I love this game franchise. Thank you
Ace Combat is such an underrated series, and it's soundtracks are always spectacular. Thank you so much for giving them more of the recognition they deserve!
I wasn't aware of Ace Combat or it's music... But damn if that ain't some epic stuff right there! Music like that really gets your blood pumping. I can imagine the hype you get when you start a mission and a track like that starts. Glorious.
The context in the missions take them to whole other levels. With the exception of "First Flight", the rest occur in the endgame or major turning points in the stories.
Oooohohoho m8 if you want a perfectly timed scene with music. Check ace combat 7's mission 19 when the second part starts. I wont give spoilers. But you'll see whem it happens
At this point, probably going to get lost in the comments, but one other part of Daredevil from AC7 that I found amazing regarding rhythm was the lead in to the climax section of the song, when all of the percussion and pads drop out, the strings do their build up, and then dead silence for a moment. The solo female vocal that leads into the climax does a wonderful syncopation just adds *that* little bit of extra tension to give so much more oomph when the rest of the arrangement kicks in a measure later! That and the way it fits into the actual mission with the shield on the arsenal bird permanently dropping made this moment in AC7 truly epic
I love it, you totally think the Cm is gonna go straight to F, but nope, Edim7 comes in to build up the tension to F even more, and then the F doesn't even feel quite right because of the third in the bass, which makes you want to hear a Bb WHICH YOU DON'T GET because of that sneaky DM coming in, it's brilliant harmonic progression.
@@MisterAppleEsq I think what really gets me about it is the fact that it lasts for 2 bars, and most of the other chords in the progression were like 1 bar. Staying on a dim7 chord for that long is ballsy and I love it.
@@PhoenixFlight94 I'd use spongegar, personally. You're on the chord that most wants to resolve to F, but instead you go to a chord that wants to resolve to F even more. Great use of the diminished chord to delay release of tension.
I legitimaly shed a tear went i played mission 19 Daredevil on AC7... damn, it matchs went the shields of the Arsenal bird wears down, Keiki Kobayashi is a beast.
Dude. My heart started beating so fast. It was so emotional and epic! I just love that mission so much. He is an absolute beast at composing this music
Listening to all this it's finally becoming clear to me what exactly it is that makes Ace Combat music sound so unique and recognisable to me. It's all these intricate rhythms, this driving beat, with on top of it these long, soaring notes, usually either horns or choir. I love it so much.
Thank you for the Ace Combat love!! I did some voice over for the most recent Ace Combat, and I was very taken aback by how lovely the music is. My character is part of Sol Squadron, and their theme never fails to pump me up. Great analysis!! Cheers!
I wouldn't usually write a sappy comment like this, but Ace Combat Zero is a game that meant and still means a lot to me. Thanks for covering this topic.
I've been WAITING for this! Ace Combat may be my favorite soundtrack of all time - absolutely classic and criminally unknown in the larger gaming sphere.
Oh my god... Words can't explain the incredible feeling it is, after many replays, understanding each time a little bit more of the composition. Your explanations are simply amazing and clear, appealing to the well trained and even the untrained ear. Damn this feels amazing
One of the things I find most impressive with Ace Combats soundtrack is how good it is over time. Like Ace combat 4, 5, Zero, 6, and 7 all have extraordinarily good complete soundtracks for the entire game and each are almost totally different from each game, like different style or focus. That is the sign of a truly great composer and series that it can be that consistently good without basically "repeating the magic" of the previous soundtrack
Kobayashi’s style is a amalgamation of old and new styles. Synth is used complimentary to the strings, horns and vice versa. It’s a style that I’m surprised isn’t used more often.
You want some oomphy solo, check out Comona from Ace Combat 4. I get a feeling someone just wanted to assblast some guitar like they did back in Ace Combat 2 for one mission, so they did. Note the song plays over a mission that's essentially a massive airforce-v-airforce dogfight over a tiny island spaceport to give it some context.
It legit gets your heart racing. It's a fact that music does so, this changes the way you play naturally the same way as having music while driving does. I love the visual of the notes you do.
I like it when bands such as Vulfpeck have multiple guys using one small part a what would be put together one whole drum set. You got one guy jamming with the hi-hat and another on the bass drum and snare. It makes it so that you can have one idea going on and layer it. I didn’t think about the layering idea until this video, but it gives me even more appreciation. A good example of this is in the song “Dean Town”.
This was one of the most fascinating things I’ve seen on UA-cam in a long time! I’m a huge ace combat fan and always adored the soundtracks...you totally did them a lot of justice and broke them down to music theory in a way that let me appreciate them in ways I never thought about! Thank you!
Recognition of Ace Combat’s AMAZING soundtracks aside, I thought it was really cool how you were able to break the music down into a science, showing what makes the songs so unique and fun to listen to. While I’m no expert on music, and I don’t understand most of the terms used, it was interesting to see how the beats come together to make amazing rhythms in the soundtrack. Awesome job on the video, and thank you for giving this highly underrated soundtrack some spotlight!
I heard Zero recently, and I wasn't familiar with those soundtracks before either but man are they good. I was kinda surprised to see that shortly after I discovered them, you suddenly put up a video on them.
Having Ace Combat as one of my all time favourite soundtracks, this was quite a treat. Now can't wait for you to tackle Aion's soundtrack. It surely deserves it's whole X-parts series.
AC5 I have fantastic memories. I'm a Navy Brat, my dad served in the navy for 26 years as a aviation mechanic, so he has a knack for anything to do with fighter jets, helicopters, etc... back when Ps2 was the thing, I remember him bringing AC5 home and he was just consistently playing it over and over enjoying it. And my 7 year old self would watch with eyes glued on the screen and the music being ENGRAVED into my mind... god the music... so amazing. Because of that, to this day, AC5 will ALWAYS be my favorite in the series- music, gameplay, and especially the friggin music!
Same here! I played AC5 during Christmas holiday out of boredom and it ended up giving me the best of my gaming nostalgia (along with Resident Evil of course!). "The Journey Home" and "The Unsung War" really kick!
It’s nice to see Ace Combat’s music get a highlight. It’s damn good. I’m surprised though that you don’t have a Fire Emblem video on your channel. What they’ve done musically is nothing short of grand.
Thank you (and that Patreon dude) for giving this game's OST the recognition it so rightfully deserved! I'm glad to finally understand why it was so addicting! Amazing series.
Thank you for covering Ace Combat! This series has, for the longest time, been pumping out absolutely stellar music to go along with the action it puts the player through. It was awesome seeing the music broken down and explained as to why it often feels so rousing.
I can understand why. Not because it's not great (it's awesome!), but because it's conceptually and fundamentally different from the rest of the series, with almost no orchestral elements, and thus simply did not fit into the overarching theme he's analyzing here. That, and the Patreon request didn't mention it.
@@TugaAvenger I had to hit holy trinity, 6 and 7 given much more of an audience for those. X is just too narrow for this channel for a request of it to have any hope of it being made.
Ace Combat franchise in general has a lot of masterpieces but for some reason "End of Deception I & II" always stuck to me. Mostly because Fenrir is the most terrifying fucking enemy I've ever faced in AC
Absolutely love this, always a huge fan of ac especially for the music, everytime you introduced a new rhythm i knew excatly what song you were going to mention, the music is so distinct and I'm happy you helped me understand it more!
@@TugaAvenger Oh i'm sure but playing it would be bittersweet at best due to shit that's happened recently. Like I've wanted to be a pilot for a long time now, all because of this series, but Its slim chances I wont be medically disqualified to fly.
@@Yee-Haw_Bird Same here. But do still go in for your medical. If you're in the U.S., even if you do fail your third class medical (which does not expire anymore, see "drivers license medical certificate," ) you still have some chance at getting a special issuance.
Thank you to both 8 bit music theory and the patron for requesting this. I have been waiting for an analysis of ace combat's soundtracks since 2004. There is truly moving music in this niche yet incredible series and I am glad to see it being appreciated.
I've only listened to a few Ace Combat songs (after absolutely falling in love with Megalith Agnus Dei) but I think they're really cool. It's also always nice when these videos deal with a soundtrack I've actually heard before xP
@@L4Vo5 If you can, try to play the PS2 games :) they are arguably the best of the series and a lot of fun. Cheesy, but fun stories and amazing music that makes playing feel all the better
You're not gonna believe this, Jean-Louis. 8-bit Muisc Theory reviewed Ace Combat Music! This didn't just turn my rough day around, this made my week!!! I'm so happy that you were able to take such an amazing, depth analysis of my favorite game series music. I can only hope one day you'll return to Ace Combat the cover more of the amazing tracks and themes present in the series, but for now I'm extremely content. I was just a man when 8-bit music theory reviewed ace combat... But I remember that made my week... And in turn how I learned to greater appreciate musical art...
Holy Ace Combat is one of my all time favorite franchises ever. Thank you for showing it some love. I just have one question that went unanswered. How does the missile lock on alert fit into these songs?
Thanks for talking about this gem of a series. Ace Combat 3 also has some great songs, but since its the future, the ost is all cool electronic beats and rhythms.
I love Ace Combat. Played this series all the way back in Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. Zero is probably not just one of my favorite AC tracks, but one of my favorite tracks of all time, easily in the top 5. I find it interesting how the tracks get more frantic and more complex the further into the game you get, and how the music mirrors the action and stages of a fight on screen. It's not just good beats, it's beats that correspond to the game itself. Which is fantastic game design. Thanks for the video! It was AWESOME.
You've explained rhythm better than any teacher or music theory youtuber I've ever learned from. Thank you for that! I'll definitely be using this new knowledge in the future!
You sir just gave one of the best video game soundtracks not only a shout out but gave new light and appreciation to it! As a former strings player, I'm just glad to see my favorite OSTs get some spotlight! Now scuse while listen to Ace Combat OST for the 50th time XD
It's no surprise that Daredevil is so incredibly bombastic. That song literally saved the game and shaped the final release version. It carries the entire series on that single sequence.
Man, this channel is lit. Most of music theory channel i found doesn’t really touch much about rhythm, and how it related to the composition. Finding this channel really completes the missing parts that I’m looking for. Even though you only do video games musics, you still teach more than other music theory channel I’ve been. Keep up the good work!
As a huge AC fan I say thank you for giving it's music some well deserved recognition! _That_ part in the Unsung War still gives me the feels... always wait for it before finishing off the SOLG.
Thank you so much for this video, I've always viewed the music in Ace Combat a serious strong point in all of their games apart from the unique world and storylines.
you're theory about the music influence in the game are amazing, but what more amazing for me is that you transcript entire instrument in the music just for this content. that sick
I find this fascinating. I enjoy "Liberation of Gracemaria," but that build-up always seemed more interesting than its horns' melody was worth. The melody was this slow tune made of sustained whole notes, yet somehow felt incredibly exciting and engaging. I honestly hadn't thought of looking at the rhythm of the strings. Honestly, I appreciate this piece even more now because the music reflects the pilot's situation. The flight is (for the moment) stable and level, like the double whole note melody, but inside below the surface, the pilot is feeling his own heart pounding with excitement. Brilliant.
Liberation of Gracemeria, I feel was designed so that the build up is meant for the early objectives and to get you pumped for the rest of the battle. I know that by the time Liberation reached the second half the song I'd have already finished my first objective and already well into my second objective when it hit which usually ended up with me over the heart of Gracemeria.
Awesome video! I wanted to contribute a small piece of info on the tresillo rhythm you mentioned since I'm puertorrican and I'm pretty familiar with it. Tresillo literally means "triplet" in Spanish, and the rhythm you mentioned (dotted eighth note, dotted eighth note, eighth note) is called "tresillo elástico" which literally translates to "elastic triplet". This rhythm is used all over Latin music, especially in salsa and the puertorrican Danza or the Cuban Danzón. Hope that was informative!
I'm glad to see Ace Combat's music is finally getting more recognition. It gives a slight possibility of finally breaking the glut of seeing the same Zeldas, Marios, Halos and Final Fantasies whenever "good video game music" is mentioned.
I dont know if this is a newer addition but the longer music examples is really nice. Not being familiar with the music means you get a much nicer feel for the context of the piece. Thanks man!
I don't know how popular some of the tracks are in AC7, but I loved Archange, it made it feel like such a heart-pounding showdown against a truly unstoppable foe. I need to get around to purchasing the games I haven't played, namely Zero and 4 sadly.
Liberation of Gracemeria is just such a wonderful piece of music. So calm, but so stirring. When it hits, you'Re just going "LETS FUCKIN' DO THIS" in front of your TV.
Fascinating indeed. There is so-so much more to music than just sounds. It's pitiful when most people never bother to learn more about it and listen to the same genres or even the same band for years.
Me: *Not knowing a single thing about music theory*
*Nods in agreement*
Over half of my life I was doing music and I still learned new things watching this video.
Ave Belka!
@@zakiakbarrasdi9351 Belka did nothing wrong
For Yuktobania!
Ave Belka!
This video basically feels like a well-deserved love letter to Keiki Kobayashi and everyone else who worked on the music in the Ace Combat series.
Thanks mobius 8 very cool
The series has an excellent roster of composers, Mr. Kobayashi in particular. They've all done exceptional work over the years.
Mobius08 Mobius 8 on standby
Also Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Hiroshi Okubu, Junichi Nakatsaru etc composed music for Tekken games too. Those soundtracks are also quite epic.
@@Hamza8349 Don't forget Soul Calibur!
As an Ace Combat fan, I want to say thank you for bringing some attention to the series.
The game looks awesome!
@@sveinungnygaard1505 All AC games from 4 onwards (excluding Assault Horizon) are incredible
Haha the music is great
@@PhoenixFlight94 Ace combat 3 is really good too bro. Don't sleep on it just because it's for ps1.
OkonkwoPlaysBass cough assault horizon cough cough
"There are songs like you in every generation, and I've written every last one of them." -Keiki Kobayashi, probably
Facts
Kinda close to mr x
@@blackman7166 It's a music joke...
@@toonistiny I know I’m just saying that the quote he said was from mr x which kinda look cool tbh with ya.
You forgot to talk about how the missile warning sound provides even more rhythmic dissonance in Daredevil-
Oh. Wait, that's NOT part of the song?
you can think that it is, but the warning tune is not there in the official release
I was going to said that hahaha
@@krebsfish5035
What do you mean "Here comes the snow" and the V2 launch sounds aren't part of Zero?
@@its-amemegatron.9521 so are you telling me "Too bad buddy, this twisted game needs to be reset. We'll start over from ZERO with this V2. Entrusting the future to the next generation" is not part of the soundtrack?
@@bruvaguren494 Pixy is part of the soundtrack. What, did you think those Spanish guitars were playing themselves?
11:47 You know he's got mad respecc for the composition when he transcribed almost an entire minute of music and just let it play uninterrupted
He didn't play the drop in that song though, so I'm a little miffed. But still happy this amazing series is getting more recognition.
Now listen to that song while you're deep into an intense mission and you've got 10% health left.
Yeah. AC7 is a special thing.
@@rarewhiteape not as epic as ace zero but ya a challenge on ace difficulty... Still think the ending on ace 4 and zero are the most epic 5 was not so mutch fun but not challenging.. 4 you had to run down a Barrel of a massive railgun ment to shoot astroids and in zero had to run a gauntlet of undergeound network to destroy multiple V2 rockets then fight pixy woth the Morgan and had to play chicken to shot out its engine air intake to defeat him. Taking out a massive war satellite the size of a city pice by pic is sadly not as fulfilling. And dont get me started on 7 what pissed me of is the first dlc aircraft cant fit underground *wtf* man!
@@demonlordotrt754 What you mean doesn't fit underground? Yeah the Raven has a ridiculous wingspan (tho the wyvern im sure is still bigger) but you can fly that thing just fine in the tunnels. Also come on... you don't "play chicken" with Pixy, you have an epic goddamn jousting match between two knights.
@@demonlordotrt754 the Raven can fit through the tunnel. It is a very close thing but it is possible. Also @grace calis the Raven is wider then the Wyvern with wings extended by a decent amount.
It is perfectly reasonable to play Ace Combat just for the music. Ace Combat 4's soundtrack is absolutely incredible.
AC4 will always have my heart, nostalgia goggles may be involved, but it is a damn good game. That said, I absolutely think the story of 5 is better. The music? Kindof tough. I'd have to listen to the OST of both back to back to really make a call.
I loved 6's soundtrack more than 4's, mainly because I prefer orchestral to electronic. There are some really classic pieces in 4 though.
@@Ikrit122 It's not even my favorite, but for some reason the one for the mission with all the harriers (the one in the mountains the second time Stonehenge is firing on you) always stuck with me.
Again, it's the first Ace Combat I ever played so obviously it left a massive impression. The cathartic orchestral stuff with the choir in 5 and Zero really did illicit some powerful emotions though.
@@Ikrit122 At the end of 5, hearing all your wingman telling you they have your back, and then hearing them shouting out "fox X!" or "maneuver Y!" at triple the frequency of the other missions is so powerful and really gets your blood pumping.
I actually felt like part of the legend Razgriz!
@PlainSimpleTailor Yeah man, that's the good shit.
Fun fact about AC7's Daredevil track (the one he let play way longer then he normally lets things go):
It was completely scrapped and remade, rushed last minute to fit the fights timing and events.
And it's one of the best pieces in AC7, and one of my favorites in the series entirely. The people behind Ace Combat are amazing.
TRPSnow I’m late, but the whole reason behind it being scrapped was because it didn’t give the composer goosebumps just from hearing it, and wasn’t good enough for him to consider art fitting for the climax of the story. People have said that the reason it’s called Daredevil is because of him doing one of the most unthinkable things and redoing and rushing through the main piece of the soundtrack just before it was released, like a true daredevil.
You probably knew that, but I gotta make sure people know just how crazy Kobayashi is.
Pretty sure it's why they delayed it
I cry every time the vocals hit when that shield drops.
@@AVerySexuallyDeviantOrange I remember reading a story about how apparently Kobayashi received the call that Daredevil was needed as the deadline to complete the soundtrack was rapidly approaching and everything else was already pretty much done, and he just nodded and said "Okay." No complaints, no hesitation, and he then proceeded to write one of, if not the best song in the game.
Ace Combat Music getting some recognition hell yeah gamer 👏
Aces rise up
We are a rare species UwU
@@hieuuc2539
UwU = 500$ Fine
@@michaelstodovski2219 OwO
@@lowintellecttrash6737 *10 million DOLLARS Penalty!*
Focus on my beloved AC and its music aside, I have to commend you on your presentaiton. I could not be any more of a layman in music and all the formal terms flew over my head, but the underlying concepts came across clearly regardless. That is a tough sell. Fantastic.
You here? Jk, its an Ace Combat Video so...
Glad to see you have Wifi at New Arrows Air Base.
Tuga!!!!
I could hear the Arsenal Bird's shields failing just from hearing his explanation on AC7's piece.
I couldn't have put it better myself. While I am by no means a musician, I can understand what I am hearing and then relate that back to what he said. This presentation was absolutely out of the park and has enlightened me to a whole other side of music: music theory.
Like he said multiple times, I have heard these examples in music before. Now I can understand what it looks like on paper and how it works mechanically to make the feel-goods in my ears
You won't believe this Jean-Louis! All of them have cross rhythm insignias!
You're my hero for today. Just please don't come home with me.
Best comment, you win
Gene get a grip! You've got to take over conducting!
Sweep them from our symphony
*Plays Prelude*
Me: Ace Combat's music is good
8-bit Music Theory: Ace Combat's music is SCIENTIFICALLY BRILLIANT!
How it feels to be an Ace Combat fan:
...
...
...
...
"THERE ARE DOZENS OF US!"
1000's now with the new ace combat installment.
We're out there, but we only come out when the world witnesses a great change.
@@juliahenriques210 A demon from the northern sea...
It's the best series I've ever played and I played lots of em, I don't know people don't know about it
I considered myself an AC fan when I woke up and hear missile warnings.
Ace Combat's soundtrack is damn near unparallelled in gaming.
Halo.
Justin not even close, Halo doesn’t have the soaring melodies huge orchestral Latin scores
Halo soundtrack is good and tribal but not even close toe Ace Combats quality
Halo OST is awesome but for the most part it's much more for the nostalgia and its importance for the games industry.
The theme though.. gets me everytime!
Touhou
Lukas I.V that’s the main thing, nostalgia but it isn’t nearly as rhythmically interesting or asepic as Ace Combats pieces
Thank you so much for taking on my patreon suggestion! AC's soundtrack is incredible and I'm glad you're helping it gain some more recognition! Nice touch adding some of my other suggestions to the beginning and end of the vid. Briefing 2 and Blockade are incredible tracks too!
Also you didn't realize it, but Aug 19, 2019 is a huge day in AC7 history as the Stonehenge Defensive occured.
Thank you for making this suggestion! This series was my childhood starting with AC4, and I've never been able to get enough of the games or the music. Hearing just what makes it so great is an absolute treat.
@@jordananderson2728 maybe a follow up on AC4 tracks is needed ;). I suggested Agnus Dei. Glad many key tracks made it into the vid though!
@@PhoenixFlight94 I would love to hear an analysis on that, or The Unsung War - probably one of my all-time favourite pieces.
you're our new hero
Near the border is my favourite track from any ac game
Ever since i was 18 i listen to ace combat in my car, am 33 now still awesome thats why i dont want it to die, other games be like 3 songs and done just bcuz its a 10/10 game but AC is 7/10 so nobody buys it.... They dont know that they are missing bout 50 great songs from AC that never dies
agree lot of gamer not giving ACE COMBAT love that it deserve...
@Rashad Harris Agreed bro... Music especially Ace Combat Soundtrack Orchestra is at another level... its carry player/pilot emotion to the game.... and for your passion in orchestra.... Don't Stop Brother.... bring life and joy to this world
Ace Combat 7 has certainly brought a fresh taste of gaming into my life, I'm definitely gonna hunt down the other legacy games like 4, 5, and Zero since I have a PS2.
27 here. Been listening since i was 12.
Some of the best music in video games ever!
And that's why I don't play the games but have entire playlists of the OST
"There are musicians like you in every generation, and I've felled them all."
- Mihaly A. Shilage
Soundtrack list:
0:04 - Briefing 2 - Ace Combat 5: Unsung War (Ace Combat 5: Squadron Leader in EU)
0:59 - Briefing 1 - Ace Combat 5: Unsung War
2:26 - Liberation of Gracemeria - Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
5:28 - Zero - Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
8:39 - First Flight - Ace Combat 5: Unsung War
10:33 - Daredevil - Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
12:41 - Blockade - Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies (Ace Combat 4: Distant Thunder in EU)
Hero!
first flight has always been my favorite
Zero
Liberation of Gracemaria hits home for me.
A note that First Flight is an arrangement of Blockade.
The real soundtrack to AC6 is [Missle lock]
MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP
Or AC7 mission 19 on Ace
The WMD mission on Ace except you fight all the pursuers instead of trying to run for the border
flashtirade OR the Ace of Aces Aigaion mission.
Idk why but for me I can't imagine anny ac song without this sound anymore, I think it adds more to to the track
OkonkwoPlaysBass that was hell for me
I feel like you could do a 2 hour video on the music of Ace Combat. You’ve literally just scratched the surface.
@Ryan628jpn In AC7 you can scratch the surface and still be in the air, albeit with 99% damage.
@221b I always considered ground impact death and restarted.. I didn't intend to continue and catch a stray bullet ending my mission.
Thought it was odd they made that a feature above Easy difficulty.. I fully expect to be at 50% from a strafe run and dead from a single missile on Ace.
Syneios Oh dear god I could not imagine the AA dealing 13 per hit. Are you trying to give me PTSD from my alternate universe self?
Must admit that Ace Combat since 04 has great soundtracks
That Sly Cooper/Katy Perry/Flame meme is what I needed today, thank you
🔥🔥
What I missed that?
@@cypronis3294 0:52
Lol found it. Awesome
"So, Have you find rhythm to drive music yet? Buddy."
i can imagine Kono walking into the studio and saying those words to Keiki
WHAT
I wasn't expecting this
Thank you for releasing a music theory video and recognizing Ace Combat. I always saw Ace Combat as something unrecognized in the popular media. I love your channel and I love this game franchise. Thank you
Ace Combat is a perfect representation of quality > quantity.
“Those who survive a long time [[making UA-cam videos]] start to think they’re invincible...”
“...I bet you do too, buddy.”
It's time.
There's no mercy in war, people live and people die, that's all there is to it.
That’s what v-2 is for
You and I are opposite sides of the same coin.
When we face each other, we can finally see our true selves. There may be a resemblance, but we never face the same direction.
He talked about "Zero"! I think this may be the best boss song in video games period.
Agree.
And best game in the series.
I thought it was in the Final from Bowser's inside story.
Then I played AC0.
I'd even put it over megalovania
Who know, the Last boss is ex wingman
Intense of duel tho
Ace Combat is such an underrated series, and it's soundtracks are always spectacular. Thank you so much for giving them more of the recognition they deserve!
I wasn't aware of Ace Combat or it's music... But damn if that ain't some epic stuff right there! Music like that really gets your blood pumping.
I can imagine the hype you get when you start a mission and a track like that starts. Glorious.
The context in the missions take them to whole other levels. With the exception of "First Flight", the rest occur in the endgame or major turning points in the stories.
AC7 came out earlier this year for PC/XBone/PS4, you should pick it up. It's really fun.
Checkout Archangel, the track from AC7 my personal favorite. AC4 for the PS2 is a good starting point if you want to play them
Ace Combat games have awesome music.
Oooohohoho m8 if you want a perfectly timed scene with music. Check ace combat 7's mission 19 when the second part starts. I wont give spoilers. But you'll see whem it happens
At this point, probably going to get lost in the comments, but one other part of Daredevil from AC7 that I found amazing regarding rhythm was the lead in to the climax section of the song, when all of the percussion and pads drop out, the strings do their build up, and then dead silence for a moment. The solo female vocal that leads into the climax does a wonderful syncopation just adds *that* little bit of extra tension to give so much more oomph when the rest of the arrangement kicks in a measure later!
That and the way it fits into the actual mission with the shield on the arsenal bird permanently dropping made this moment in AC7 truly epic
Yes. Especially when it times perfectly with the Arsenal Birds shields going down
Daredevil alone and Daredevil in context is like night and day
It feels appropriate to lock on with my 8AAMs and wait until the shield drops. It just feels *right.*
12:04 I want an entire damn 8 bit-music theory thesis on that Edim7, oof. This video was sick.
I love it, you totally think the Cm is gonna go straight to F, but nope, Edim7 comes in to build up the tension to F even more, and then the F doesn't even feel quite right because of the third in the bass, which makes you want to hear a Bb WHICH YOU DON'T GET because of that sneaky DM coming in, it's brilliant harmonic progression.
@@MisterAppleEsq I think what really gets me about it is the fact that it lasts for 2 bars, and most of the other chords in the progression were like 1 bar. Staying on a dim7 chord for that long is ballsy and I love it.
The emojis are the technical term for how Edim7s feel in this context?
@@PhoenixFlight94 I'd use spongegar, personally. You're on the chord that most wants to resolve to F, but instead you go to a chord that wants to resolve to F even more. Great use of the diminished chord to delay release of tension.
Hehehe, 118 Likes.
I legitimaly shed a tear went i played mission 19 Daredevil on AC7... damn, it matchs went the shields of the Arsenal bird wears down, Keiki Kobayashi is a beast.
Dude. My heart started beating so fast. It was so emotional and epic! I just love that mission so much. He is an absolute beast at composing this music
YES YOU TALKED ABOUT ZERO
Any AC vid about music damn well better talk about Zero!
Hell yeah! Was also hoping for some Unsung War, but I'm happy with the Zero analysis.
FINALLY SOME ATTENTION
AND DAREDEVIL TOO
@@joshy-noha that and Angus dei
Ace Combat Zero has beautiful flamenco guitar in tracks like: "Zero, and Epilogue" I love the track "magic spear" from Ace Combat 7
Three of a kind from AC7 really stands out to me.
Plague Doktor Magic Spear is amazing. It’s still my favorite AC song besides Blockade, although all the soundtrack is equally as amazing.
The Epilogue in AC:Z has got to be my favorite song in the series, it's just so beautiful.
4:00 - C∆9(#11,b9) ... "I have no idea what's happening."
Top shelf editing.
Listening to all this it's finally becoming clear to me what exactly it is that makes Ace Combat music sound so unique and recognisable to me. It's all these intricate rhythms, this driving beat, with on top of it these long, soaring notes, usually either horns or choir. I love it so much.
ace combat AND 8bitmuscitheory? OMG mu heart
I love your profile pic, mate.
Thank you for the Ace Combat love!! I did some voice over for the most recent Ace Combat, and I was very taken aback by how lovely the music is. My character is part of Sol Squadron, and their theme never fails to pump me up.
Great analysis!! Cheers!
I love how archange and sol squadron have the exact same beginning but then split very hard into two different moods
If I may ask. Which character is yours?
@@annamills7560 Wit
@@AMTRAX Jeez!! Sol 2!
@@annamills7560 yep!
Zero is one of the best pieces of music in video game history.
I wouldn't usually write a sappy comment like this, but Ace Combat Zero is a game that meant and still means a lot to me. Thanks for covering this topic.
I've been WAITING for this! Ace Combat may be my favorite soundtrack of all time - absolutely classic and criminally unknown in the larger gaming sphere.
Oh my god... Words can't explain the incredible feeling it is, after many replays, understanding each time a little bit more of the composition. Your explanations are simply amazing and clear, appealing to the well trained and even the untrained ear. Damn this feels amazing
I'm super happy to see this! Ace Combat soundtracks are super underrated. They build up an epic feeling like no other.
Ace Combat 7’s choir sections are probably my favorite parts of the game, the transcription at 11:47 is just an example of AC games at their best
One of the things I find most impressive with Ace Combats soundtrack is how good it is over time. Like Ace combat 4, 5, Zero, 6, and 7 all have extraordinarily good complete soundtracks for the entire game and each are almost totally different from each game, like different style or focus. That is the sign of a truly great composer and series that it can be that consistently good without basically "repeating the magic" of the previous soundtrack
Kobayashi’s style is a amalgamation of old and new styles. Synth is used complimentary to the strings, horns and vice versa. It’s a style that I’m surprised isn’t used more often.
I have no idea about what you said but I still have tears in my eyes because Ace Combat's music is so good.
nobody:
plane game sound tracks: *epic synth solo*
You want some oomphy solo, check out Comona from Ace Combat 4. I get a feeling someone just wanted to assblast some guitar like they did back in Ace Combat 2 for one mission, so they did. Note the song plays over a mission that's essentially a massive airforce-v-airforce dogfight over a tiny island spaceport to give it some context.
Once you get familar with the controls and learn more air maneuvers and then hearing the music in the background, it's one of the best gaming moments.
The soundtrack of this whole franchise is underrated as hell if you ask me...
Without a doubt
Poor Ace Combat, overshadowed by Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid. It sucks.
@@a.p.6580 I can understand why though. They're also pretty good and their franchises are more popular
Airplane combat is not for everyone sadly, also it’s pretty challenging for the journalists who review most games.
@@a.p.6580Honestly, Ace Combat does what Metal Gear does, but Ace Combat does it so much better.
oh my god i never expected you to make an ace combat video good shit dude
At 4:02 when stanky chord voicing comes up, "I have no idea what's happening". Thats most of the time how i feel when i watch music theory videos.
That's okay my dude. Just like ASMR, there are certain chords than give us that lil 'tickle'.
It legit gets your heart racing. It's a fact that music does so, this changes the way you play naturally the same way as having music while driving does. I love the visual of the notes you do.
I like it when bands such as Vulfpeck have multiple guys using one small part a what would be put together one whole drum set. You got one guy jamming with the hi-hat and another on the bass drum and snare. It makes it so that you can have one idea going on and layer it. I didn’t think about the layering idea until this video, but it gives me even more appreciation. A good example of this is in the song “Dean Town”.
Rods’ Vidjas YES, i was hoping someone would bring up Vulfpeck!
This was one of the most fascinating things I’ve seen on UA-cam in a long time! I’m a huge ace combat fan and always adored the soundtracks...you totally did them a lot of justice and broke them down to music theory in a way that let me appreciate them in ways I never thought about! Thank you!
Area B7R: * "ZERO" starts playing *
Random Pilots passing through B7R: Hehe, I'm in danger!
*Cipher is watching.*
All pilots when they here Three Strikes is in the air:
Haha, I'm in danger!
"They all have Ribbon Insignias!"
That would be *Contact*
@@insertcolorherehawk3761 no wait, he might be referring to SP mission. You're both right!
Recognition of Ace Combat’s AMAZING soundtracks aside, I thought it was really cool how you were able to break the music down into a science, showing what makes the songs so unique and fun to listen to. While I’m no expert on music, and I don’t understand most of the terms used, it was interesting to see how the beats come together to make amazing rhythms in the soundtrack. Awesome job on the video, and thank you for giving this highly underrated soundtrack some spotlight!
I heard Zero recently, and I wasn't familiar with those soundtracks before either but man are they good. I was kinda surprised to see that shortly after I discovered them, you suddenly put up a video on them.
Look for archangle,sol squadron,daredevil for AC 7
@@eugenlovin6788 will do. I always appreciate suggestions on stuff like that.
Having Ace Combat as one of my all time favourite soundtracks, this was quite a treat. Now can't wait for you to tackle Aion's soundtrack. It surely deserves it's whole X-parts series.
so happy seeing you break down Ace Combat's amazing soundtrack, a fantastic game series with some of my favorite 'final boss' themes
AC5 I have fantastic memories.
I'm a Navy Brat, my dad served in the navy for 26 years as a aviation mechanic, so he has a knack for anything to do with fighter jets, helicopters, etc... back when Ps2 was the thing, I remember him bringing AC5 home and he was just consistently playing it over and over enjoying it. And my 7 year old self would watch with eyes glued on the screen and the music being ENGRAVED into my mind... god the music... so amazing.
Because of that, to this day, AC5 will ALWAYS be my favorite in the series- music, gameplay, and especially the friggin music!
I hope you got Ace Combat 7 and have become a fan of the franchise now.
Same here! I played AC5 during Christmas holiday out of boredom and it ended up giving me the best of my gaming nostalgia (along with Resident Evil of course!).
"The Journey Home" and "The Unsung War" really kick!
Friend: Yo thats some powerfull music, from what game it is? A rpg or something?
Me: Plane game
11:55 yes, that Dm fakeout is indeed SICK
It’s nice to see Ace Combat’s music get a highlight. It’s damn good.
I’m surprised though that you don’t have a Fire Emblem video on your channel. What they’ve done musically is nothing short of grand.
I need to play Ace Combat just because of the music.
Go and get an old PS2 and the holy trilogy of ace combat 4, 5 and zero.
Then get a ps4 and get Ace Combat 7.
@@SaltyGamer777 I just may have to get I believe it's on sale this week
@@lobostroke4387 Perfect
you all forgot the AC6 from XB360. it got some badass soundtrack too although the story was bad
Thank you (and that Patreon dude) for giving this game's OST the recognition it so rightfully deserved! I'm glad to finally understand why it was so addicting! Amazing series.
Thank you for covering Ace Combat! This series has, for the longest time, been pumping out absolutely stellar music to go along with the action it puts the player through. It was awesome seeing the music broken down and explained as to why it often feels so rousing.
Oh man, I wish he talked about Ace Combat X 's soundtrack.
I can understand why. Not because it's not great (it's awesome!), but because it's conceptually and fundamentally different from the rest of the series, with almost no orchestral elements, and thus simply did not fit into the overarching theme he's analyzing here.
That, and the Patreon request didn't mention it.
@@TugaAvenger I had to hit holy trinity, 6 and 7 given much more of an audience for those. X is just too narrow for this channel for a request of it to have any hope of it being made.
He forgot "Grabacr" from AC5.
@@Malick-ix9io can't have them all. Still happy most major tracks were mentionedm
Ace Combat franchise in general has a lot of masterpieces but for some reason "End of Deception I & II" always stuck to me. Mostly because Fenrir is the most terrifying fucking enemy I've ever faced in AC
Absolutely love this, always a huge fan of ac especially for the music, everytime you introduced a new rhythm i knew excatly what song you were going to mention, the music is so distinct and I'm happy you helped me understand it more!
Seeing this pop up in reccomendations almost brought a tear to my eye. Still need to play AC7
By all means do, it's a phenomenal game and a love letter to all that made AC great.
@@TugaAvenger Oh i'm sure but playing it would be bittersweet at best due to shit that's happened recently. Like I've wanted to be a pilot for a long time now, all because of this series, but Its slim chances I wont be medically disqualified to fly.
@@Yee-Haw_Bird Same here.
But do still go in for your medical. If you're in the U.S., even if you do fail your third class medical (which does not expire anymore, see "drivers license medical certificate," ) you still have some chance at getting a special issuance.
@@Yee-Haw_Bird there's also the option of going for your sport pilot if you live in the states
@@Yee-Haw_Bird have you played it yet?
"Tresillo sandwich"
Good to hear from you, Long Caster ;)
Ace Combat music is the greatest music of all time. I have been a long time Ace Combat fan and I am glad to see an AC music piece analyzed!
Thank you to both 8 bit music theory and the patron for requesting this. I have been waiting for an analysis of ace combat's soundtracks since 2004. There is truly moving music in this niche yet incredible series and I am glad to see it being appreciated.
Since 2004 is 15 years!
I've only listened to a few Ace Combat songs (after absolutely falling in love with Megalith Agnus Dei) but I think they're really cool. It's also always nice when these videos deal with a soundtrack I've actually heard before xP
Try playing the holy trinity (PS2 Ace Combat games) or just look up Ace Combat 7. They are absolutely good games
@@bigdoggo5827 Hmm, I see that 7 is on Steam, meaning I can play it on PC... I might give it a go!
@@L4Vo5 If you can, try to play the PS2 games :) they are arguably the best of the series and a lot of fun. Cheesy, but fun stories and amazing music that makes playing feel all the better
You're not gonna believe this, Jean-Louis. 8-bit Muisc Theory reviewed Ace Combat Music!
This didn't just turn my rough day around, this made my week!!! I'm so happy that you were able to take such an amazing, depth analysis of my favorite game series music. I can only hope one day you'll return to Ace Combat the cover more of the amazing tracks and themes present in the series, but for now I'm extremely content. I was just a man when 8-bit music theory reviewed ace combat... But I remember that made my week... And in turn how I learned to greater appreciate musical art...
Holy Ace Combat is one of my all time favorite franchises ever. Thank you for showing it some love.
I just have one question that went unanswered. How does the missile lock on alert fit into these songs?
So in laymans terms Ace Combats OST is F*****g amazing (i have played and beat every ace combat game except the air combat)
Ace Combat 5 is my favorite game of all time. Thank you so much for making a video for me to completely nerd out about!
It's up there for me too. Metal Gear Solid 3, Majora's Mask and Ace Combat 5 are my three favorites.
Ok... But have you heard 444? A mother-f'in masterpiece.
True!
Thanks for talking about this gem of a series. Ace Combat 3 also has some great songs, but since its the future, the ost is all cool electronic beats and rhythms.
I love Ace Combat. Played this series all the way back in Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere.
Zero is probably not just one of my favorite AC tracks, but one of my favorite tracks of all time, easily in the top 5. I find it interesting how the tracks get more frantic and more complex the further into the game you get, and how the music mirrors the action and stages of a fight on screen. It's not just good beats, it's beats that correspond to the game itself. Which is fantastic game design.
Thanks for the video! It was AWESOME.
You've explained rhythm better than any teacher or music theory youtuber I've ever learned from. Thank you for that! I'll definitely be using this new knowledge in the future!
You sir just gave one of the best video game soundtracks not only a shout out but gave new light and appreciation to it! As a former strings player, I'm just glad to see my favorite OSTs get some spotlight!
Now scuse while listen to Ace Combat OST for the 50th time XD
Jets just screamed by overhead during this video.
Nice planning.
YES! I was hoping you would do this, one of the best group of soundtracks for a series ever
It's no surprise that Daredevil is so incredibly bombastic. That song literally saved the game and shaped the final release version. It carries the entire series on that single sequence.
Man, this channel is lit. Most of music theory channel i found doesn’t really touch much about rhythm, and how it related to the composition. Finding this channel really completes the missing parts that I’m looking for. Even though you only do video games musics, you still teach more than other music theory channel I’ve been. Keep up the good work!
Bruh, could we get an acknowledgement for "Archange" in AC:7 Skies Unknown?
Yes!!!! Milhay's theme!!! That and sol squadrons theme
As a huge AC fan I say thank you for giving it's music some well deserved recognition!
_That_ part in the Unsung War still gives me the feels... always wait for it before finishing off the SOLG.
Could we get a complete breakdown of The Liberation if Gracemeria?
Thank you so much for this video, I've always viewed the music in Ace Combat a serious strong point in all of their games apart from the unique world and storylines.
omg I never had an idea music behind Ace Combat series was this complicated and interesting
you learn something new everyday, huh
you're theory about the music influence in the game are amazing, but what more amazing for me is that you transcript entire instrument in the music just for this content. that sick
I find this fascinating.
I enjoy "Liberation of Gracemaria," but that build-up always seemed more interesting than its horns' melody was worth. The melody was this slow tune made of sustained whole notes, yet somehow felt incredibly exciting and engaging. I honestly hadn't thought of looking at the rhythm of the strings.
Honestly, I appreciate this piece even more now because the music reflects the pilot's situation. The flight is (for the moment) stable and level, like the double whole note melody, but inside below the surface, the pilot is feeling his own heart pounding with excitement. Brilliant.
Liberation of Gracemeria, I feel was designed so that the build up is meant for the early objectives and to get you pumped for the rest of the battle. I know that by the time Liberation reached the second half the song I'd have already finished my first objective and already well into my second objective when it hit which usually ended up with me over the heart of Gracemeria.
Yeah my original request was regarding how the build up of tension and release worked in the song. See the screen snip at the end. Still a great vid!
Awesome video! I wanted to contribute a small piece of info on the tresillo rhythm you mentioned since I'm puertorrican and I'm pretty familiar with it. Tresillo literally means "triplet" in Spanish, and the rhythm you mentioned (dotted eighth note, dotted eighth note, eighth note) is called "tresillo elástico" which literally translates to "elastic triplet". This rhythm is used all over Latin music, especially in salsa and the puertorrican Danza or the Cuban Danzón. Hope that was informative!
I'm glad to see Ace Combat's music is finally getting more recognition. It gives a slight possibility of finally breaking the glut of seeing the same Zeldas, Marios, Halos and Final Fantasies whenever "good video game music" is mentioned.
Was recommended this by a friend as a long time Ace Combat fan and you did not disappoint. Now I know why I enjoy these tracks so much. :)
11:55 "This Dm Fakeout Is Sick" is the best musical notation I've seen. Why aren't you writing the scores?
I dont know if this is a newer addition but the longer music examples is really nice. Not being familiar with the music means you get a much nicer feel for the context of the piece. Thanks man!
I don't know how popular some of the tracks are in AC7, but I loved Archange, it made it feel like such a heart-pounding showdown against a truly unstoppable foe. I need to get around to purchasing the games I haven't played, namely Zero and 4 sadly.
Liberation of Gracemeria is just such a wonderful piece of music. So calm, but so stirring. When it hits, you'Re just going "LETS FUCKIN' DO THIS" in front of your TV.
Fascinating indeed. There is so-so much more to music than just sounds. It's pitiful when most people never bother to learn more about it and listen to the same genres or even the same band for years.
Now I can finally explain people why Ace Combat has the best music by linking this video!