Line #2 AwesomeMusic/ShadowHearts


1	The ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' series has incredible music. It might be best described as the result of putting the emotive and situationally-iconic music of traditional JRPG soundtracks into a blender along with the hellish noise horror of ''Silent Hill'', turning it to "Liquify," and pushing the "On" button.
2
3	* ICARO, a recurring leitmotif of the series that's given its own unique interpretation with every game:
4	** [[https://youtu.be/Xt2tz9u-4po ICARO ~ Song of Spirits]], the main theme of the first game, is a chilling vocal piece that sets the tone of the game quite well.
5	** The first game also has a [[https://youtu.be/Wf7RQcZUM4c “Beated”]] version, which ditches the vocals in favor of flutes, electronic and acoustics, and it works surprisingly well.
6	** [[https://youtu.be/7CszQ-gTqr8 ICARO Again]], the opening of Covenant, remixes the original theme into a much heavier rock track, closing with some beautifully airy strings and light percussion.
7	** Covenant also has a wonderful [[https://youtu.be/qzwqRjdcbkA piano arrangement.]]
8	** [[https://youtu.be/d9hpXGgzu-c From the New World]], the opening of the titular game, once again remixes ICARO into a heavier rock song, but with more of an almost old-west flair.
9	** [[https://youtu.be/27G_n0M4VmA Et Unam -Chant of ICARO-]], the title theme of From the New World, is a more tribal version, starting softly before ramping up in intensity.
10	** From the New World also has an [[https://youtu.be/ASowtdslYnE acoustic version]], blending it with some excellent string work.
11	%%* Along with that, elements of ICARO can be heard in tons of other songs across the series. Here are just a few examples:
12	%%** [[https://youtu.be/-idnGju24Ig Opening Demo I]], [[https://youtu.be/TkFv7ti9m94 Star Shape]] and [[https://youtu.be/vVwo5EqzrD8 True Voice]] from the first game.
13	%%** [[https://youtu.be/zctOtRixeVk Deep Meditation]], [[https://youtu.be/aglybwFTwEE Sadness Mood]] and [[https://youtu.be/EiWYksq4e6I Prelude]] from Covenant.
14	%%** [[https://youtu.be/YAOAL9da76o Great Ghost Dance]], [[https://youtu.be/GaLd0n_KPAE Un Gemito Dell’estinto]] and [[https://youtu.be/N1lFMWODRdQ La Sirene]] from From the New World.
15	%%* [[https://youtu.be/Es1uNda4p8o Ladder to Heaven]].
16	%%Why are the above examples awesome? A list of titles is not context, and neither is a video link.
17	* [[https://youtu.be/aa0mfu5wZdw Imbroglio]]. Not only is it one of the best final boss themes ever, but one of the greatest battle themes ''period''.
18	* [[https://youtu.be/LYiwMd5y78E The Three Karma]]. A strange song (even more so than Ladder to Heaven, which is already pretty strange), but nonetheless intimidating, dramatic, and glorious. The [[https://youtu.be/wgWfdjUwpME arrangetracks version]] also qualifies.
19	* [[https://youtu.be/8MRHV_Cf41E Final Battle (Lady Tears II)]] is nothing short of brilliant, mainly due to the initially chaotic and fast-paced tune soon becoming more sombre and melancholic, highlighting the turbulent rage and sorrow the final boss experiences.
20	%%* ''From the New World'' gives us [[https://youtu.be/Mo6k_26lzAU Sabbath Demon Banquet]]
21	%%* [[https://youtu.be/CGPlwYWYGLs Star Shape.]]
22	%%What about them? These are zero-context as written.
23	* Every game has equally kickass "normal" battle themes:
24	** "[[https://youtu.be/D8rIVqZs6y4 Brain Hopper]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/hxe0UdE34x8 Near Death Experience]]" (First game).
25	** "[[https://youtu.be/-p_SFBS-UCc Vicious 1915]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/OAPY19v_BPw Deep in Coma]]" (''Covenant'').
26	** "[[https://youtu.be/uJY6j8sEv5I Dead Fingers Talk]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/YaVgfR0HMHg Mauve]]" (''From the New World'').
27	* The themes when a character goes berserk certainly show the feeling of madness:
28	** "[[https://youtu.be/5v4bVuVcV1c Ghosts Jogging]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/NUDq8BcJnwI Special Short Cuts]]" (First game).
29	** "[[https://youtu.be/If2pXI5mKbA Swoop!]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/Hd_yeh30hSw Concon Ticktin Con Ticktin]]" (''Covenant'').
30	** "[[https://youtu.be/a2MAK0Ub8Yo Gestalt Collapse]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/b_tzno01sh8 Bailar]]" (''From the New World'').
31	* In addition to the battle themes, they each have amazing boss themes:
32	** "[[https://youtu.be/uZMQsHaNTfA China Ogre]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/7urA6KYvSrQ Demon's Jig]]" (First game).
33	** "[[https://youtu.be/zGKEqK4hq0o Glint of Light]]", "[[https://youtu.be/ex6ulpbhO3M Hardcore to the Brain]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/xsDUEPvuVyI Battle with the Fallen Angel]]" (''Covenant'').
34	** "[[https://youtu.be/rf89XYPUslw Le Gran Luxe]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/Jx41neNYvsk Electric Hallucinations]]" (''From the New World'').
35	* Like the battle themes, they have their own berserk tracks:
36	** "[[https://youtu.be/KpZgoVWkfyg Melt Down]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/L0a1edZ0cjY Sicking Fucking]]" (First game).
37	** "[[https://youtu.be/UoUNAzHoRao Crack Your Body]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/JEwJ3-bdDLo Getting Nasty]]" (''Covenant'').
38	** "[[https://youtu.be/iKjG4FJNvJI A Silver Smile]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/N3GBqJdeIJ4 Auditory Hallucinations]]" (''From the New World'').
39	* The World Map themes are calm, and soothing, and amazing:
40	** "[[https://youtu.be/idev11nFZTQ Blow Up]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/jw5HiwrztE4 Atmosphere - Blow Up]]" (First game).
41	** "[[https://youtu.be/4f6siAA3C9M Old Smudged Map]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/2THfbRNfofs Grey Memories]]" (''Covenant'').
42	** "[[https://youtu.be/SVXBev2RNmY The Mother Earth]]" (''From the New World'').
43	* Every game has a signature town theme for their continent:
44	** "[[https://youtu.be/Y1TEvNyBWj4 Heaven - Kunyang Kunyang (Fengtian)]]", "[[https://youtu.be/ankqjBDMMrA Sea- Highnoon Fish (Dalian)]]", "[[https://youtu.be/bx9XO98Won0 Swindler - Shanghai Mood (Shanghai)]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/BZhh36w5gnU C-I-T-Y (Prauge)]]", "[[https://youtu.be/hIP05cMZw3E But-Dad-Dead-Bed (Rouen)]]", "[[https://youtu.be/GpGSOqDny80 Vitamin Metropolis (London)]]" (First game).
45	** "[[https://youtu.be/n_0iEKU6gn0 Town of Twilight]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/S2b632ubAVs Rising Sun]]" (''Covenant'').
46	** "[[https://youtu.be/B56jMq985b8 Moon Shine]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/DNUxL0OnNcA Rum and Tequila]]" (From the ''New World'').
47	* The first dungeon in ''Covenant'', Apoina Tower, has a tune that gives a sense of mystery and intrigue as Nicolai and Karin delve into the story. [[https://youtu.be/CvAtNteWnhk Death is the Great Leveller]] is remarkably chilling and creepy.
48	* As a counterpoint, the scene when ''Covenant'''s final dungeon becomes available is accompanied by the beautiful "[[http://youtu.be/NXjaKhGLkXw ~The Fate~ Cluster Amaryllis]]," a tune that starts out tranquil and then grows in power as Yuri calmly confronts the game's final boss. After Yuri is filled in on the EvilPlan, the boss then summons the dungeon and serenely tells Yuri that they will be waiting at the end.
49	* Not to be outdone by its more famous descendants, ''Koudelka'' had some very atmospheric tracks.
50	** "[[https://youtu.be/7UqXVvfvV2k Requiem]]", which ''opens'' the game, is a lonely ''a cappella'' hymn which is a good parallel to Koudelka's own isolated existence.
51	** [[https://youtu.be/eJsCLoz-dF4 A live version of "Incantation"]], in contrast to its grossly ill-fitting game version, truly sounds like the boss theme it's supposed to be. It really underscores how much vocals can add to a song.
52	** [[https://youtu.be/yZqS-HRVTQs There's also the "Demo Mix" of Incantation]], which is a slightly remixed version of the Live version with different vocals and slightly different instrumentation, and it's just as good, if not better.
53	** While the battle themes may be hit-and-misses, [[https://youtu.be/foSu7jxwctA&t=202s "Kiss Twice",]] the final boss theme, is [[SadBattleMusic both sombre and beautiful]], especially when considering that it represents how James being forced to destroy the unholy body that once belonged to Elaine, the love of his life, and finally put her soul to rest.
54	** [[https://youtu.be/5eVouDu6HTc Dead]] is a beautifully somber strings piece that sets the mood well as Koudelka drunkenly recounts her tragic past to Edward.
55	* Alice's theme, especially its [[https://youtu.be/6Pw8Dyd9XB8 piano version]], is remarkably melancholy and speaks to her character.

Context AwesomeMusic / ShadowHearts