Awesome Music / Castlevania

Deborah Cliff isn't the only place where you might want to bang your head.

Castlevania has a proud tradition of Awesome Music. All the versions here are the originals (when available), since there's enough remixes out there to choke a horse.

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The Big Three

• "Vampire Killer", the first stage music from the first game. This one has been used quite a bit since then, to say the least. Here you go. "Vampire Killer" from 25 different games. Since two games have two variatons, it results in 27 Vampire Killer themes in about 24 minutes. And yes, it includes Resurrection.
• "Bloody Tears", from Simon's Quest and Haunted Castle. You don't have to like the games to like this one.
  • The IIDX Version is also really good.
  • The Super Castlevania IV version, played at the second-to-last stage (the Clock Tower), is particularly cool.
  • All versions from Dracula X games are great. Check the PC Engine version, the SNES version and the orchestrated awesomness from Dracula X Chronicles.
  • The rockin' Symphony of the night version.
  • Judgment's version, where Carmilla uses it as her theme.
  • Gothic Metal version!
  • Also the Arranged version and the SC-55 version from Castlevania Chronicles.
  • The addictive Dawn Of Sorrow version.
  • There's actually three versions in Castlevania: The Arcade, the second of which is an odd but somehow memorable version that is minimalistically comprised of only drones from two choruses. It's worth a listen or two.
  • "I terrify them. Sypha disorients them. Alucard goes over the top." And the audience bows.
• "Beginning", the first stage music from Dracula's Curse. The last of the Big Three opening tunes.
  • The Famicom version is even more densely scored, thanks to the VRC6 music chip.
  • A peppy, upbeat remix plays in the first level of Kid Dracula.
  • The Super Castlevania IV version of the song, which plays in the second section of the last stage.
  • The Dracula X versions are especially awesome.
  • Here's a 16 bit remix used in ROM Hacks of Super Mario World, which fully uses the SPC 700 chip's capabilities to make an orchestrated version that rivals the best official versions in clarity.
• S.S.H.'s "Travel Demon" medley is a 7-minute-plus metal remix with music from the first four games (including the "big three" mentioned above).

Castlevania (1986)

• "Stalker", so cool they used it twice.
• "Wicked Child". If you don't like beeps and boops, try the metal version from our friends at Overclocked Remix. Or the Arcade version.
• "Walking on the Edge" is the first track in the game that really amps up the tension in its composition. So much so, that when brought back for Castlevania: The Arcade, it played into its grandiosity with a foreboding orchestra.
• "Heart of Fire", an epic track before fighting Death itself for the first time in the franchise history. For an equally awesome remix with "Don't Wait Until Night", go to the Aria of Sorrow section.
• "Poison Mind", the music for every boss battle aside from Dracula, may be simplistic, but it has a very gothic tone to it and really helps sell the feel of fighting monsters. This goes for Dracula's second phase music ("Black Night") as well, as it's essentially a sped up variation of "Poison Mind".
• A notable remixer Goat was re-arranging the Castlevania III soundtrack. When he got "Deja Vu", which is essentially "Vampire Killer", he decided to create a medley of the whole original Castlevania soundtrack: Scourge of 1691. And it's Awesome.

Simon's Quest (II)

• "The Silence of Daylight", aka the town theme from Simon's Quest, is the first tune you hear when starting the game and boasts a catchy melody with just the right amount of tension to make the player anxious to hit the road to the rematch with Drac. There have only been two semi-official remixes of this piece, both from the Akumajou Dracula MIDI Collection. Sadly, it doesn't appear that a version of this has ever been used in an actual game since Simon's Quest itself, although "Don't wait until night" from Haunted Castle (re-used in Aria of Sorrow) takes a few hints from it.
• "Message Of Darkness". Imagine listening to this at two o'clock in the morning, with the only light being your TV screen. Ah, memories.
• "Within These Castle Walls", the theme for the ruins of Castlevania as Simon makes his way to the final showdown with Dracula, may just be rising and falling arpeggii, but the "echo" effect makes it every bit as haunting and unsettling as the build-up to the game's finale should be.
• Let's say it together guys: "What a horrible night to have a curse!" But what awesome music to accompany that curse, simultaneously creepy and adrenaline-pumping.
• "Dwelling of Doom", the frenzied mansion theme, really gets your blood pumping as you make your way through the maze-like mansions and is just begging to be reused in a future game.

Haunted Castle

• "Cross Your Heart", originally from Haunted Castle. It was also remixed for Dracula X.
  • "Crucifix Held Close" from Portrait Of Ruin. Arrangement.
  • 8-bit VCR6 version.
  • This version from the arcade game.
• "Clocktower's Fear", stage 5. Very often gets misnamed as "Underground Melodies" and vice versa, as the comments of the now fixed videos shows.
• "Don't Wait Until Night". It's an awesome song. If you're looking for the same song combined with "Heart of Fire" from the NES and MSX Castlevania, look the Aria of Sorrow section for more information.
• "Sent To The Devil's Requiem", the hi-score list theme. It's unfortunately a wasted song, but this remix made for Adventure Rebirth certainly isn't.

Dracula's Curse (III)

• The US and the Japanese versions of the soundtrack sound different since the former lacked the VRC6 chip which gave extra sound channels for the Famicom. Opinion is divided on which version is better, though most listeners agree that each version has at least some tracks which sound superior to their counterparts in the other version (for example, "Beginning" and "Mad Forest" are widely regarded as superior in the Japanese version, but "Rising" is regarded as superior in the American version).
• "Overture" from Castlevania 3 never seems to get the attention it deserves; its weird time signature is a particular selling point.
• "Clockwork", the relentlessly energetic Block 2 (Clock Tower) theme. Since you'll be spending twice as long in the Clock Tower as you will be in any other level (once to go in, once to get out again), it's fortunate that it has such excellent music. The Judgment version is an orchestral remix that maintains the upbeat tempo, encapsulating Grant's new characterization as a flashy Fragile Speedster who, though a Deadpan Snarker, can be deadly when serious.
• "Mad Forest", the theme from the forests in Block 3; Japanese version for extra awesome. Castlevania Judgment version for extra EXTRA awesome.
• "Dead Beat" provides an appropriately tense atmosphere for Block 4 (the caves) on the Alucard path.
• The eerie, minimalist "Nightmare", which plays in Block 5 in the Alucard path.
• "Demon Seed", which plays on Block 6 of the Alucard path. Damn if this isn't unbelievably creepy for 8-bit.
• The sinister "Anxiety", which plays on Block 4 (the Ghost Ship) on the Grant/Sypha path and Block 7 on the Alucard path. A well-named track likely to inspire that feeling in the player.
• "Rising" plays on the Grant/Sypha path in Block 5, which rather appropriately features a vertical autoscroller, and creates a real sense that the game's tension is building.
• The equally appropriately named "Stream" plays during Block 6, the "water level", on the Grant/Sypha path, and keeps the energy of both the game and the soundtrack flowing.
• "Aquarius", the intense Block 7 stage music on the Grant/Sypha path, and its remix from Circle of the Moon. The Harmony of Despair version gives the song a nice rock remix.
• "Riddle" plays during Block 9, the second to last section of the game, and is as frantic as late game music should always be. Order of Ecclesia accordingly uses this song at the game's Brutal Bonus Level.
• "Clockwork Vampire", Dhsu's remix of the Castlevania III clocktower theme, is simply epic.
• "Flashback", the beautiful credits theme. Totally worth it after beating this game.

Legends

• "Meet Lord Dracula (Meeting With Dracula)" is a greatly underestimated song from an unfairly shunned game. Assuming you don't mind Beeps and Boops, you might find yourself hypnotized by this one.
• "Banquet of Spirits" has a somewhat mournful, yet classy tone to it. Like the above (and most of Legends' music) it can easily stick in your memory.

The Adventure / Belmont's Revenge / The Adventure ReBirth

• "Battle of the Holy", one of the only worthwhile songs in the god damn hard Castlevania Adventure, Christopher Belmont's debut game (The final stage theme, "Revenge", being the other.) Yep, the game may be frustrating. But that piece of music pretty much makes up for it. The extremely catchy "Death Fair" makes one of the most diabolical stages in gaming history much more tolerable.
• They improved on Christopher's awesome with his next game, Belmont's Revenge. Here's "Original Sin", a great badass tune that just tells you that Chris has come a-knocking, and he's out to get Dracula for taking his son.
• The absolute best piece, by far, from Belmont's Revenge has to be "Praying Hands", though New Messiah, "Ripe Seeds", and "Psycho Warrior" deserve a mention as well. Also, even though "Illusionary Dance" may be the ultimate official theme for Dracula, "Sons of Satan" is a good runner up. And then there's "Chromatische Phantasie", the theme for the battle against Christopher's son, Soleiyu. It is amazing that the original Game Boy was capable of such awesome.
• Here comes The Adventure: ReBirth! Yes, it's filled to the brim with remixes from other games, but they're awesome remixes, with 'Retro' written all over them. All of them are arranged by Manabu Namiki, known for his arranges for Konami's other ReBirth games and his legendary Shoot 'Em Up soundtracks. "Reincarnated Soul" from Bloodlines, "Lullaby Sent to the Devil" from Haunted Castle, "New Messiah" from Belmont's Revenge, "Final Road", A.K.A the X68000 Load BGM, "Aquarius", "Yet Another Vampire Killer Remix", "Demonic Revival" from Haunted Castle, "The Last Fight" also from Haunted Castle for the boss theme, "Riddle" from Castlevania III, and lastly, "The End of Day" from Belmont's Revenge. Shame "Battle of the Holy" isn't there, but as previously mentioned, that was one of only two worthwhile songs in the original game anyway.
  • Although that "Battle of the Holy" doesn't appear in game, it appears in the soundtrack inside the Akumajou Dracula Another Medley, along with a version of "Lost Painting" from SOTN, all in good ol' 90's arcade-styled splendor. You can listen to the medley here.
  • This fan's rendition of "Battle of the Holy" ranks alongside the one they actually put in the game.

Super Castlevania IV

• "Theme of Simon", from Super Castlevania IV. Used for a Theme Music Power-Up during the Final Battle and as a "stage complete" Sting (see first 4 seconds of link) throughout. Also appears in Portrait of Ruin, as well as Bloodlines and Castlevania Chroni cles. And there is this awesome arranged version as well.
• Dracula's theme from Super Castlevania IV. A very creepy little piece.
• Super Castlevania IV's Room of Close Associates. The term "close associates" here refers to the Boss Bonanza of Slogra, Gaibon and Death whom you must defeat before you can face Dracula, and the frantic haunting piece certainly helps set the atmosphere.
• "Clockwork Mansion" from the same game. Slightly repetitive, sure, but very original, creepy and tension building.
  • Not complete without this.
  • The Circle of the Moon version of this is pretty awesome as well.
• Secret Room and the super awesome Ending.
• The library stage (7). Different to most of the soundtrack, nice and ambient.
• It's been written that the "Submerged City" theme was the most complex piece of 16 bit music ever composed. It's Bach meets Jazz meets Funk, all awesomely blended together.
• And in between the above two, "The Waterfall". Minimalist piece that will remind you of dark, dank, ruins.
• This piece of music from Stage 6-2 totally feels like a symphony. It starts with the swinging chandeliers and just blows your mind onwards, adding both stress and awesomeness to the sequence.
• Treasury Room, the theme of Stage 9. A long and complex tune that starts out slow and progressively becomes more intense as the drums appear.

Akumajou Dracula X 68000 / Castlevania Chronicles

• In addition to having the original X68000 and Arranged version of the soundtrack, the remake also had the recordings of the CM-64 and SS-55 external midi versions (the second disk on the playlist). And the original X68000 could support other midi devices. If the arranged soundtrack sounds familiar in style, you can thank Sota Fujimori for that.
• The Boss music, "Creatures in the Depth", a fast-paced, menacing tune with an excellent bass line, which amps you up for a fight no matter the version. Original, SC-55, and Arranged.
• "Thrashard in the Cave", the stage 2 music. The original and SC-55 versions are intense rock/metal-sounding tunes that would be right at home in a Mega Man X game, whilst the equally awesome arranged version uses a chill Drum and Bass style, unusually for the series.
• "Tower of Gears", the Clock Tower theme, is a crazy song that fits the insanity of its stage like a glove. Original, SC-55, and Arranged.
• "Moon Fight", whether in its Original, SC-55, Arranged or Dracula X Chronicles version, is always an intense and catchy tune that pumps you up for the stages it plays in.
• "Etude for the Killer". The Original and SC-55 versions put more emphasis on action and electronic sound, whilst the Arranged version plays up the creepiness and baroque inspiration of the tune with appropriate instruments, but it's always a menacing, excellent track.
• The Dracula theme, "You Goddamned Bathead";Original, SC-55, and Arranged. On top of having a funny name, it's a fast-paced, catchy electronic tune that sounds unusual for a Castlevania track, but no less awesome for it. The Arrange version even starts off with a short but sweet organ intro.

Rondo of Blood / Dracula X / Dracula X Chronicles

• Bloodlines, from Dracula X: The Rondo of Blood, which is also used as Richter's theme.
  • The Harmony of Despair version mixes it with "Blood Relations" from Symphony of the Night, and it is epic.
  • The Pachislot version of Divine Bloodlines is perhaps the best one.
  • And now, there's the version featured in Castlevania: Nocturne.
• Cross A Fear from Dracula X: Rondo of Blood (PC-Engine) rocks so hard when arranged.
  • Let's face it, the original .
  • Chronicles version.
• "Illusionary Dance", the Final Boss theme from Rondo of Blood. It's been used as Dracula's theme almost consistently ever since that game.
  • Here's the Judgment version...
  • And the Dracula X Chronicles version...
  • And the Symphony of the Night version...
  • And the Dawn of Sorrow version. A particularly chilling yet awesome take on the theme considering the player will only hear it as a battle BGM if Soma finally gives in to his powers.
  • There's also the version from Castlevania 64, and the one from Circle of the Moon.
  • Castlevania: The Arcade features this version, which adds epic vocals.
  • Naoto Shibata, from the Japanese metal band Anthem, recorded an upbeat metal cover of this song, as well as a few others.

Bloodlines

• "Reincarnated Soul", from the first stage, the ruins of Dracula's Castle, sets the tone for the new adventure with its excellent use of Genesis's chiptune. Brought back in The Adventure ReBirth, again for the first stage.
• "The Sinking Old Sanctuary". For those who like the Circle of the Moon version, you can hear it here, and for those who like the Legacy of Darkness version, here it is.
• "Iron Blue Intention", from the Munitions Factory, is considered by many to be the game's signature tune. Using the Genesis/Mega Drive's Yamaha soundchip to its maximum potential, the track mixes classical composition with hard-hitting, metallic bass to create a catchy melody that will keep players tapping their feet while tackling Stage 4. Remixed thrice, once for 13th Street Portrait of Ruin, again for fighting Eric himself in Judgment, and finally as the theme for Dracula's Castle stage on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• "Calling from Heaven", the theme used for Castle Proserpina, hints at what's yet to come from Michiru Yamane. With harps accompanying the synths, you get a classical yet intense song that matches what players must feel when they're near the end of the game.
• The beautiful "Requiem for the Nameless Victims", which plays during the credit roll.
• After you beat Elizabeth Bartley in the final stage, "Dance of the Holy Man" (Simon Belmont's theme, introduced in Super Castlevania IV) begins to play. It's one of the four classic tunes included in the game's sound test, and Castlevania is well-known for reusing its most iconic tracks, but hearing it fire up in advance of the final showdown with Dracula himself is both unexpected and awesome for the first-time player.

Symphony of the Night

Some fans consider Symphony of the Night music as the pinnacle of Castlevania music, and the fact that we're practically listing every single track from the game here is just an example of justification.

• "Prologue", the opening level theme. Very rockin'.
• "Moonlight Nocturne", the intro theme before the title appears (between the Prologue and the actual game), and one of the most freakin' epic and ominous intro themes in existence.
• "Nocturne", a solemn, beautiful vocal hidden track that becomes all the better if you can understand the lyrics. This English version of it, from a later rerelease, is one of the rare examples where a translation of a Japanese song manages to preserve both meaning and rhythmical/intonational structure, and is at least as good as - if not better than - the original.
• "The Tragic Prince". Possibly the single most rockingly awesome piece from Symphony of the Night; just get past that sneaky intro that lulls you into a placid state before pounding you with the most incredible guitar riffs. Amazing. In Harmony Of Despair, it has been renamed as "Pitiful Scion".
• "Door of Holy Spirits", the background music to the Reverse Colosseum. Not for the musical quality, but for how it takes an otherwise-plain-looking area (albeit upside-down) and turns it into scary.
  • "Wandering Ghosts", the normal Colosseum's music, is pretty awesome too, with a rather funky beat to boot.
  • The same could be said for "Heavenly Doorway". Possibly the creepiest song in all of Castlevania.
• "The Door to the Abyss"; it's just demented.
• "Dracula's Castle". Rocks in an '80s synthesizer sort of way. Harmony of Despair welcomes us back to 1997. Manly Tears optional.
• "Lost Painting", the surreal, ambient number that plays in some areas of the Inverted Castle.
• "Final Toccata". Admittedly, Youtube's limited audio here doesn't quite do it justice, but you have to love such a multilayered decadently evil-sounding organ-tacular 5/4 time track. Seriously. Some tropers may find it driving them insane - it does play almost everywhere in the Inverted Castle - but it's still fantastic.
• If you think "Final Toccata" is the paragon of evil-sounding organ, try Chaconne in C Moll! It's exclusive to the Saturn version of the game, sadly - it plays in the Haunted Prison, one of the two Saturn exclusive areas of the game. But this music more than makes up for it; it's practically Ominous Pipe Organ embodied.
• "Marble Gallery" and "Crystal Teardrops". Also, two of the best boss themes ever, "Festival of Servants" and "Death Ballad". Then there's "Rainbow Cemetery", which plays in the Catacombs, and "Curse Zone", which plays in the Reverse Catacombs, both of which have this distorted, other-worldly feel to them.
• "Wood Carving Partita" As can be seen from the huge list above, it's cruel to try and pick only a subset of the awesome tracks in SoTN, but it's simply impossible to ignore the haunting strings of "Wood Carving Partita", played in the Long Library.
  • "Festival of Servants" returns in Harmony of Despair to shred your flesh from your bones. Fitting considering the boss of the stage it's for is Beelzebub.
  • As does "Lost Painting" and "Death Ballad".
• The end credits song "I Am The Wind" is a really perfect song for Alucard, it's a song that will really touch your heart and emotions when you first hear it. It's a shame that later versions of this game have replaced it (such as the PSP and Xbox 360 versions). Of course the ending theme they replaced it with, "Mournful Nocturne", is far from bad.
• "Requiem For The Gods", the chapel theme, plunges you straight into the atmosphere of a cathedral.
• "Dance of Pales"^note A mistranslation of Dance of Pearls; the track is also known as "Waltz of Pearls". is a delightful waltz as you enter Orlox's Quarter. The playful, light piece led by the piano is the perfect backdrop to flying across the corridors with the full moon in full display.
• Back in the days when CDs were used as storage for game data, developers would often include warnings on the discs just in the event of someone actually putting them in a CD player. However, if one were to put Symphony of the Night in a CD player, then one is treated to a Dummied Out track after Alucard's warning. Cool Easter Egg, even if many do not know of this track's existence.

Castlevania 64 / Legacy of Darkness

• The opening theme to Castlevania 64 has a violin version of "Bloodlines" (Richter's theme) from Rondo of Blood with the child character Malus. Of course, it gets a bit creepier in hindsight when you find out a bit more about the kid...
• The game's main theme, "Castle Center". First heard when choosing your character in 64, and several other times throughout the game, a perfect theme to get you pumped up for the coming adventure.
• The Level 3 stage music, Annex Silent Madness, fits the Villa area perfectly, giving it an aura of mystery, and is even better if you played Legacy of Darkness...
• The merchant's theme, or simply "Renon", the theme for the Jean Reno-inspired Demon merchant with whom you strike a deal with. A deliciously quirky, mysterious piece of music.
• "Invisible Sorrow", the theme for the Reinhardt-only level, the Underground tunnel. A very atmospheric, haunting song to keep you company while wandering the Arachne-infested tunnels.
• Showdown with Death is a very emotional piece of music that plays over a cutscene. It really captures Rosa's tragic sacrifice and the depth of Reinhardt's righteous rage.
• Reinhardt's end theme, aptly named "Schneider's good ending", an uplifting theme that rewards you for vanquishing the dark Lord Dracula once more. Truly gives you a feeling of accomplishment and provides an epic conclusion to the story.
• Carrie's good ending is slightly more bittersweet, but an amazing send off.
• Legacy of Darkness offers its own rendition of The Sinking Old Sanctuary which plays on the Art Tower level, exclusive to Cornell's path.
• Finally, Castlevania Judgment gave us Cornell's theme, "The Wolf Revealed", in and of itself a love-letter composed of three of the game's themes: "Castle Center", "Renon", and "Toothed Wheel".

Circle of the Moon

• Awake! This is one of THE quintessential tunes.
• "Proof of Blood" from Circle of the Moon. Easily one of the more memorable final boss music pieces in a Castlevania game.
• The title screen has a truly haunting tune, perfect for setting up the mood of the game.

Harmony of Dissonance

• "Successor of Fate", the theme of Juste Belmont. Despite the limitations of the game, this track sounds as beautiful and epic as you'd expect from a castle entrance theme.
• "Chapel of Dissonance". The use of the GBA's weaker sound channels hardly detracts from the awesomeness of the game's music. If anything, it gives the music an eerie aura.
• "Vampire Killer 2K2", aka Michiru Yamane puts "Vampire Killer" and "Clockwork" together, with extra awesome.
• "Dark Door", in stark contrast to much of the game's lush, gothic compositions, is a primitive, minimalist piece that excels at pumping up players for the boss rush mode.
• "Prologue", which plays at the opening scroll and serves as Evil Maxim's theme - its gloomy tone sets the mood for Juste's adventure.

Aria of Sorrow

• "Heart of Fire", Julius Belmont's theme. It takes a song from the obscure arcade title Haunted Castle, a song from the original Castlevania of the same name, and puts them together in one rockin' medley. You hear it in the battle with him, and again in Julius Mode, in the Castle Corridor in place of the regular Castle Corridor music. The Harmony of Despair version turns the awesome up to 11.
• "Top Floor", and the regular Castle Corridor music, musically setting Soma up for the journey ahead. Harmony of Despair gives us the awesome remix of the latter.
• Aria of Sorrow has one of the best Clock Tower themes out of the series as well.
• Hammer's shop has this awesome theme. Why they didn't reuse it for Dawn of Sorrow is a mystery for the ages.
• "Sacred Cave", the theme to the Forbidden Area. It's a very calming and nice sounding track, with a mysterious sound to it.
• "You Are Not Alone" a short piece that plays at the most heartwarming moment, where all of Soma's friends root for him when he's about to destroy Chaos, the castle's source of power and evil.
• "Requiem For The Dark Souls", the arranged version of the chapel theme, in (oddly) Lament Of Innocence official soundtrack. All those choirs...

Dawn of Sorrow

• Dawn of Sorrow was pretty much full of awesome music, but especially "Condemned Tower" and "Cursed Clock Tower".
• "The Pinnacle" and "Into the Dark Night". Harmony of Despair version of the latter.
• It's actually very ironic to hear "Vampire Killer" playing on your first playthrough since Soma is Dracula's reincarnation.
• "Pitch Black Intrusion" has to be the most splendid CV theme ever. Remixed in Harmony of Despair.
• "After Confession", the theme of the Dark Chapel. The Harmony of Despair arrangement is widely considered a vast improvement over the original.
• "Piercing Battle Fury". Keep in mind this song plays for what is chronologically the final boss of the entire Castlevania franchise. It delivers.

Portrait of Ruin

• The OST contained two discs: One with the original DS music, and the other with the arranged music, or rather the originals before they were converted to DS.
• Portrait of Ruin brought us "Piercing Silence" (or the Harmony of Despair version too), one of the two boss themes which plays for the Wake-Up Call Boss Dullahan and the more classic bosses, like Death and Medusa. It pratically screams "you're fucked" and warns you that no, this Metroid Vania is NOT that easy.
• "In Search of the Secret Spell", played in the Underground Pyramid in the game's second version of the Egypt aesthetic. The way this blends with the flickering, almost magically-charged backgrounds and foregrounds in the area creates an atmosphere that's bloody brilliant. Much like "Shin Onigashima" from Brawl, it may surprise the listener that it is remixed from an 8-bit game that was never released in the US. (It starts at 3:13.)
• Despite the slew of excellent tracks in the game, its crowning achievement is easily the theme of the final battle, "Banquet of Madness". If it wasn't made apparent that you're about to face what could be the most spectacular battle in history by the fact that Death and Dracula are tag-teaming you, much less by the fact that, halfway through the fight, Dracula uses his soul-stealing powers on Death, essentially the keeper of souls, transforming into a hideous beast with all the power that implies (including a one-hit kill), the haunting tune that accompanies this epic showdown will do the trick.
• "Invitation of A Crazed Moon" (or check the Harmony of Despair version). Like all Castlevania first stage music, it is awesome in its own way, and most importantly it doesn't get old, considering that we will visiting that particular area a lot.
• "The Gears Go Awry" is, hands-down, the best clocktower-level theme in the series.
  • Here is an orchestral version of it.
  • Even the DS version is just plain awesome!
• "The Hidden Curse" is also pretty nice, as is "Overture", a Castlevania III remix. "Hidden Curse" received a remix in Harmony of Despair.
• Chaotic Playground, one of the series' theme of a demonic circus fair, fitting for Nation of Fools, where you face not only clowns and harlequins, but also the place's bizarre gravity.
• "Gaze Up At The Darkness". You've fought your way through four of Brauner's paintings and most of Dracula's Castle. You have now arrived at the Master's Keep. What greets you is this upbeat and triumphant score, accompanied by a heavenly choir, celebrating YOU as you smite the Forces of Darkness on your way to stopping Brauner and saving the world!

Order of Ecclesia

• Order of Ecclesia has longtime Castlevania composer Michiru Yamane and another Konami composer, Yasuhiro Ichihashi, continuing to provide us with damn amazing scores, such as Ebony Wings, "Sorrow's Distortion" (Albus's theme), and "An Empty Tome" (the music for the first part of Dracula's Castle).
  • "An Empty Tome" is also the intro theme to the game as well.
  • Ebony Wings is one of two tracks that received extended arrangements on the Harmony of Despair soundtrack. Unlike the original, this version is a completely heavy metal arrangement used for a stage where Death himself is the boss that takes cues from Superbeast by Rob Zombie. This is made blatantly clear in the extended version, where the 2nd loop transitions into a riff heavily reminiscent of the song.
• "Dissonant Courage", one of the boss themes, will likely set even the most anti-digital headbanger off with digitized drumming, a jaw-dropping bass and one of the catchiest melodies ever. And then came the arranged version that is even more headbanging.
• "An Empty Tome" is particularly awesome not just because of the song itself, but because of how it was used, making it one of the best examples of this trope. The music starts playing at a moment where the main character has just defeated a difficult boss, lost a lot of her friends, and is finally venturing into Dracula's Castle to finish things. And when you do enter the castle, you discover that it's about as big as the rest of the game combined, and it's also the most difficult area yet, as opposed to every other Metroidvania so far, where you start off in the castle. The sense of accomplishment in reaching this level, combined with the music, made this one of the best moments in gaming in 2008. And then Judgment adds 110% more electric guitar. Surprisingly, it works.
• "The Colossus", one of the best final level themes ever. Harmony of Despair version, now with more rockin' out.
• "Chamber of Ruin", a boss battle theme from within the castle. As one of the comments on the video states, the first 40 or so seconds symbolize the threatening nature of one of the bosses that uses this theme, and then suddenly a mad beat kicks in symbolizing Wallman's flamboyant silliness.
• A theme barely heard in the game, but "Lone Challenger" is awesome anyway.
• The theme for Minera Prison Island, "Rhapsody of the Forsaken" is one of the better early game themes.
• "Order of the Demon". They did the unthinkable by replacing "Dance of Illusions" as the Dracula Fight music, and then surprised everyone by having their replacement be one of the best final boss themes of all time. Harmony of Despair then gives it another jab.
• "Lament to the Master", the theme for the battle against Barlowe, really captures the mood of the fight.
• "Emerald Mist" captures the state of the world in one of the first outdoor stages in a Castlevania in a long time. Its somber nature really makes one feel truly alone.
• "Wandering the Crystal Blue" (and its remix version dominated by piano), the theme for calm waters of Somnus Reef, and another of Yamane's Waltz on Water themes, quite reminiscent of her previous "Sinking Old Sanctuary".
• "Jaws Of The Scorched Earth" is a very serene and melancholy-inducing theme. Also note the awesome bass part towards the end.
• "Edge of the Sky", also sometimes known as "Lapis Lazuli-colored Virgin", a melancholic, even tragic, composition, as if foretelling a farewell.
• "Unholy Vespers" has ominous and chaotic pipe organ fitting for a catacomb that's full of reanimated dead. The part at 0:52 really takes the cake.
• "Tower of Dolls". As soon as the intro to the Mechanical Tower has finished playing, you are greeted with this atmospheric masterpiece. Originally appearing in Akumajo Dracula X68000, this version is a haunting piece of music with a beat that you can bop your head to. This track evokes the mood of massive gears grinding in a place where time does not flow as it should. The first main part is backed by a ghostly vocalization, while the second part goes really well with the background that shows time moving impossibly fast. A fitting track for Dracula and Death's Clock Tower!

Lament of Innocence

• The game may be accused of suffering from a poorly-done Video Game 3D Leap, but no one can deny that Lament of Innocence has some great themes, such as "Melancholy Joachim", "Lament of Innocence/Leon's theme", "Bizarre Room", "House of Sacred Remains", "Dark Night Toccata" and, of course, the absolutely epic remix of "Dracula's Castle" and "Black Banquet" from Symphony of the Night: "Castlevania Reincarnation".
• This is Death's only chance to be a final boss to date, and with it comes a suitably atmospheric theme: "Evil's Symphonic Poem". The Judgment version also incorporates the classic boss theme "Poison Mind", complete with counter-melody.
• Both "Dark Palace of Waterfalls" and "Ghostly Theatre" are wonderfully atmospheric and fitting to the locations where the pieces belong to.
• "Anti-Soul Mysteries Lab", an epic and incredibly memorable techno track.
• "Fog-Enshrouded Nightscape". A perfect blend of creepiness and serenity.
• "Admiration Towards the Clan" plays over the credits, and heralds the beginning of the Belmont legacy by including the melodies of "Vampire Killer" and a major-key variation on "Bloody Tears." It's enough to make you cry.
• Prison of Eternal Torture, the theme for the superboss The Forgotten One, starts off with a foreboding tone that you're about to face something so horrifying that it is sealed deep inside the castle, before the main verse plays as you frantically try to beat this gigantic menace.

Curse of Darkness

• "Abandoned Castle ~The Curse of Darkness~" is the first stage music that the game greets you with and it is both haunting and blood-pumping.
• "Eneomaos Machine Tower". A flawless combination of tragic and epic into one musical piece. And there's the ticking clock sound at the end of the loop....
• "Baljhet Mountains", The glorious atmosphere that has such a strong, mysterious and yet heroic vibe to it makes it one of the best songs in the whole game. The guitarist Husk by the Geek also made a fantastical rock cover of the track that fully attempts to give the same vibe, while focusing guitars instead of a piano.
• "A Toccata into Blood-Soaked Darkness" is amazing. Listen closely to how many layers of choral action there are, and get goosebumps at the sudden triumphant major chords.
• " Young Nobleman of Madness/Insane Aristocracy" (title depends on translator). Dig the Queen-esque guitar licks, the tie-in to the tune in the idling cinema, the chanting - Isaac has the best boss-theme after Dracula.
• "When you're fighting Trevor Belmont, the music has to be awesome. It has to be... legendary. I know! We'll call it 'Belmont the Legend'!"
• "Legion and Nuculais" is an excellent song, certainly worthy of fighting a huge ball of corpses, and then one of the hardest bosses in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.
• "The Visitor in the Silk Hat". It's probably one of Yamane's best compositions.
• "Mortvia Aqueduct". One of Yamane's 3/4 aquatic music that is so good to listen to.
• In contrast to "Mortvia Aqueduct"'s gloomy atmosphere, "Mortvia Fountain" is an upbeat Latina dance track that sure makes you want to dance along (just be mindful of the monsters).
• "Garibaldi Temple". A very regal piece, with its prominent harpsichord highly reminiscent of Yamane's previous "Wood Carving Partita".
• The serene "Garibaldi Courtyard" is reminiscent of Lament's "Fog-Enshrouded Nightscape": a solemn piece for a side area connected to a main area that has a more bombastic theme (compare "Fog-Enshrouded Nightscape" with "Garden Forgotten by Time", and "Garibaldi Courtyard" with "Garibaldi Temple").

Harmony of Despair

• The main menu has a mysterious, eerie feel to it with the chanting, and that is awesome.
• Along with remixes of some recent 'Vania tunes, there are also brand new original tracks. The stage 3 theme, "PHANTOM OF FEAR".
• "CRIMSON BLOOD", possibly the best new track of the entire game. It is, sadly, unused throughout the course of the game - unless it is chosen as a stage or boss music in the options screen (it works very well for the final boss beatdown).
• "Tanz mit einem Clown" is pretty good as well.
• Harmony of Despair finally gives "Nothing to Lose" an awesome remix, which was also used for Dracula's boss fight in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Judgment

• The gameplay in Castlevania Judgment may not be up to snuff, but the music is still as good as ever: "The Darkness of Fear", the game's main theme.

Pachislot

• "Trezire De Spirit" may just be one of the most epic Castlevania (or for that matter all video games in general) songs to ever exist, if not THE most epic. Bafflingly, the song was created solely for a Pachi-slot game!
• "Reinlich" from the second Pachi-slot game isn't too bad, with its vocals.
• The Pachislot version of "Divine Bloodlines" is perhaps the best one.

Resurrection

• Too bad the game itself got cancelled but we did get to hear "Have Mercy" at least.

Lords of Shadow

• Composer Oscar Araujo gives us "Besieged Village", "Final Confrontation", and "Belmont's Theme" among other pieces of awesome. Notably, the final boss music even has a bit of "Beginning" from Castlevania III towards the very end (begins approximately at 5:30).
• These two ambient pieces suit the overwhelming amounts of Scenery Porn in this game perfectly. The first piece is actually a remix of Super Castlevania IV's "The Waterfall".
• The Dracula boss theme which mixes a mostly ominous beat with a heroic orchestra backing it, then you realize the ominous beat is getting stronger...
• Boss fight music really can't get much more epic than this.
• The trailer for Lords of Shadow 2 is set to this amazing number.
• The melancholic track Trevor's Final Approach, which plays when Trevor reaches the stairs to the Mirror of Fate (where Dracula's waiting). It fits, considering how that ends.
• Lords of Shadow 2 has the melancholic Dracula's Theme as its main theme. It seems to be getting some vibes from The Emperor's theme, which only makes it more awesome.
• One of the most epic boss battle themes is when you fight against Zobek, aka Death himself!
• Next Stop: Castlevania is a lovely piece that tells a dramatic fight and struggle with the demons on the train to get your destination before they can crash the train.

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