Awesome Music / Mary Skelter

aka: Mary Skelter Nightmares

With the Mary Skelter trilogy being based off of fairy tale motifs (and made by Compile Heart), there should be no surprise that the music will be as divine as the Prison Tower it is named after with insane amounts of hype. Warning: There'll be lots of mentions of violins.

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Mary Skelter: Nightmares

• It only seems fitting to start with the opening, Arakajime Ushinawareta Bokura no Ballad, or just Our Last Ballad for short. The full version starts off pretty gentle, with the occasional Gratuitous English here and there, before proceeding to blow your minds with the most hype build up... probably ever (not even to the chorus, just to the rest of the song) and continuing to be hype as hell for the rest of it. The actual opening starts with the hype notes. Earphones really outdid themselves with this.
• The track you'll probably hear right after, Beginnings, is a surprisingly peaceful sounding lullaby for a game that's part Survival Horror. Not like it ruins that though. If anything, it adds to the sheer feeling of wrongness seeping through every crevice of the Jail.
• The theme of the City Streets area, Labyrinth, sounds like something you'd hear in a circus. Aproppriate enough for an area that's this colorful.
• Lullabies for Tombstones, the theme of the Graveyard, is, appropriately enough for its name, yet another lullaby-esque track, though this one is more outwardly spooky compared to "Beginnings".
• The music that plays in the Downtown area, Distorted Reality, is an incredibly eerie track that simply tells you to get away from the enclosed streets and back alleys as soon as possible. The parts of it that sound like doors certainly don't help.
• Otaru World, the traditionally Japanese theme of the similarly traditionally Japanese Temple area.
• The theme of the Dorm area, Children's Night, is quite eerie and mysterious, fitting for both the area's general spooky atmosphere and the fact that this is a player's introduction to Gretel.
• When walking through the Waterside, you'll be followed by Mirror Sector, which, while relatively soothing, holds a certain sense of isolation. Fitting, considering that this area is home to Rapunzel, who's original story self is probably the most isolated being in the universe.
• The Floor Here, the theme of the optional Underground Cavern, sounds suitably mysterious for an area which the Blood Team, or even the Dawn as a whole, knows nothing about.
• While a name like "Sleeping City of Ice" may be somewhat odd for a music track for a level with no ice in it (specifically, the Station Grounds), it doesn't change the fact that it is beautiful. It is also, once again, quite mysterious, apt for the area where Snark makes his first appearance and Red Riding Hood's trust in her "Dad" is thrown into question.
• The music which plays during the party's ascent through the Jail Tower, Drive of Speeding, is quite fast-paced for an area theme. And considering that at this point, you're probably approaching the game's climax, it makes a lot of sense for it to be quick, as if to say "Hurry up, you're so close to the end!"
• Soldier of the Wind, the first battle theme. Fast paced and has a nice rhythm to it for when you have to beat the snot outta some Marchens.
• Democratic Fairy Dance, the battle theme for the second half of the game. Just as awesome as Soldier of the Wind for all but one of the same reasons.
• The theme for when you fight the Jail core guardians, Urge to Freedom, is a great introduction to the franchise's now-signature violins.
• Encounter accompanies moments of being chased down by a Nightmare, heavily amplifying the chase's inherent sense of dread...
• ...But on the other hand, if you had already destroyed the area's core, thus making the Nightmare no longer invincible, when you are thrown into a chase with it, you'll be greeted by Metallic Bow Fight. Yet more amazing violin work, as well as a signifier that the once indestructible monstrosity that you had feared more than fear itself is now nothing more than a really strong Marchen. Emphasis on "really" though, cuz they ain't going down without a fight!
• The theme of the giant Nightmare battles (and, by extension, the Final Boss) is the incredibly fast-paced, intense, and generally threatening Divine Banquet Holding Justice. Emphasis on the "divine" part of it when it comes to the Final Boss, as this essentially involves you facing down a god (Snark as the Jail Nightmare) while getting the assistance of another god (Hikari).
• The incredibly heavy Dead Zone usually plays during incredibly tense situations. In every single one of them, it amplifies the tense atmosphere to an amazing (and somewhat uncomfortable) degree.
• Swirling Mist is essentially the "something is terribly wrong even for this place" theme of the game, heavily amping up the shock factor of most any plot revelation that is backed by it. Especially when Gretel friggin' bombards you with them.
• As hilarious as it may be for the tutorial music to be called SKIP, it's safe to say that you'll probably do the exact opposite of what it tells you to do and stay on the tutorial screen longer just to listen to some chill tunes.
• HYPELINE. It's Rapunzel's theme, and is, appropriately enough, probably the happiest track in the entire OST for this game. Just too bad it was only played in one event...
• Sad Rain is a sad song that plays when sad things happen. Yeah, you can probably tell at first glance how suitable it is for the scenes it plays in.
• While it is kinda sad that Skelter never gets used as a battle theme, it still gives you a far higher degree of than usual after destroying the now-permanently breakable parts of a Nightmare. It also makes the moments where it doesn't play (in particular, the scene after breaking Hansel's parts) hit that much harder.
• The track Freedom of Spirit, the theme of the Liberated District, gives you a surprising feeling of safety for still being in the Jail, as well as telling you that you will make it out of this alive.
• Prisoner is used when you're in most any of the Liberated District's facilities other than the rooms for your party members, and is, once again, quite chill.
• Yes, the theme for the... somewhat questionable purging minigame is called Catharsis. No, it does not make the track itself any less easy on the ear.
• Yorokobi Nouta, the credits theme. Who knew mashing together a bunch of classical music and giving it vocals would make for such a sweet, soothing song?

Mary Skelter 2/Remake

• While not exactly topping the first game's opening, Witchcraft - Theophile no Kiseki, the opening of this game (once again by Earphones), goes in a very different direction, going for less hype factor and more... general unease. And hot damn do they succeed in pulling that off despite their songs generally being cheerful as all get-out.
• Inception is this game's version of the first game's Beginnings, though this one has a much more hopeful tone to it.
• Every single one of the alternate music variants. They all either expand greatly on whatever made them great in the first game, or made a different kind of change that didn't detract whatsoever from their awesomeness.
• Starting off with the actually new pieces of music, Underwater is the theme of the Aquarium Ruins. It's generally quite a chill music track, which goes perfectly with the vaguely serene setting.
• The theme of the Art Alley, Chaos of Montparnasse, is yet another more traditionally Japanese piece of music. And not only is it beautiful, but it also fits surprisingly well due to it essentially being Otsuu's area (you know, with how Crane's Return of a Favor is her fairytale basis?).
• This game's Jail Tower theme, appropriately titled Tower in the Mist, is a far more oppressive music track than the previous ascent music. Whereas the message of that one was essentially "you're almost there", this one's more like, "you will die, and there is nothing that will change that". And surprise, surprise, they do.
• The theme of the Metropolitan Office Jail Tower, Majestic World, is tense and fast-paced, but also hopeful, as the Blood Team races towards the top to more properly resurrect Little Mermaid with the Witchcraft.
• The first battle theme, Purple Flight, is similar to the previous game's "Soldier of the Wind", being an incredibly ass-kicking inducing track that may as well be your boss music to the poor Marchens in front of you.
• Then we have the second battle theme, Beautiful Warriors, which rocks just as hard, and also has the violins, which make any Mary Skelter OST better. Sadly, however, it comes right before...
• ...Hero of Prisoners, the third battle theme and what many may recognize as the MS2 trailer music. And good god almighty, did they choose a great track to show off the game with, because it may just be the absolute best of the standard battle themes in this game. Also, once again, the violins are beautiful.
• The final standard battle theme, Sprint, is quite upbeat, once again uses the violin quite beautifully, and is generally a great battle theme for the endgame. (Though "Hero of Prisoners" is still better.)
• When you fight the core guardian Marchens this time around, you'll be greeted by Quantum Mechanics, which is yet another beautiful violin-involving piece that once again pumps you up to kick the Marchen's butt and get rid of another Nightmare's immortality.
• This game's Nightmare chase theme is Rave of Nightmares, which cleverly makes you freak out by making the sound appear to have screwed up. Now you have to worry about both the Nightmare and whether or not your game just straight up broke! Fun!
• Just like in the previous game, there is a track specifically made to signify that it's about time you got some sweet revenge on the Nightmare that tormented you throughout your entire treck through an area. This time, however, it is the absolute, unquestionable hype-fest that is One More Red Nightmare.
• And then, we have the final boss theme, Bloodstained Soldier, which is an incredibly awesome climax to the battle OSTs... but then you realize that it's a remix of Soldier of the Wind. And also that you're fighting against the original Jack and Alice. Yeah... Oh well! It still makes both this track and "Soldier of the Wind" even cooler!
• In the final battle for Nightmare Otsuu's memory, you are greeted by the incredibly upbeat and hopeful NINGYO. The only question is... why must this be the only way for the English players to hear Little Mermaid's song!?
• This time around, during tutorials, you'll be listening to Fiction, a track that's just as chill as "SKIP", albeit in a completely different (though still awesome) way.
• Catastrophe takes the place of "Swirling Mist" in this game as the "something's going very badly" theme, which not only amplifies the tense atmosphere of the scenes it's played in, but also has a part that sounds like something straight out of Date A Live (which is great, 'cause that series has quite a few amazing tracks itself).
• Conversations for Girls sounds very upbeat and absolutely adorable, especially when backing the Blood Team's off-battle antics.
• Tears of Heaven is a beautiful piano piece that plays during scenes where the girls are wondering about the future, and what will happen when they finally escape. Sadly, the writers had other plans, and every single one of those hopes was dashed in the end.
• Tales of Hameln, the theme of the New Liberated District, is probably the absolute most uplifting track in the entire game. Fitting, when you consider its alternate name of the Hameln Liberated District.
• At the Time of Departure sounds incredibly soothing, not hurt at all by the amazing piano work at play.
• And here we have yet another very peaceful-sounding track in Green Butterfly, accompanied by even more beautiful violins.
• Then there's Sweet Dreams, a chill track that really does feel it can chase all your nightmares away. (Not the ones with a capital N.)
• The credits theme, Future Thief, is absolutely heartwrenching in the context of the game's ending.

Mary Skelter Finale

• Once again created by Earphones, Katsubou no Dillema is an opening theme that just screams "Grand Finale". Not only is it hype as hell from start to finish, but the full version also includes parts that are very clearly inspired by the previous two openings. What a way to begin the end.
• The main menu theme, Wonderous Stories, is just as beautiful as the previously mentioned Beginnings and Inception, with the adition of sounding like a music box (not helped by the sound at the start being reminiscent of a wind-up key).
• The first area theme you'll probably hear, Chain Reverberation, the theme of the Jail Tower of Judgement, is at once both adventurous and unsettling.
• The Guillotine, the theme of Leichhardt Island, entirely sounds unsettling as heck.
• The theme for the Eisern Jail Tower, Eisen Fraulein, sounds very different from most other area themes. Seriously, who brought a DJ over to this place? Not that we mind it, since it still sounds great.
• March to the Stand is the theme of the Grave Jail Tower, sounding quite fitting to the Amusement Park of Doom that you've just ended up in.
• As the theme for what is probably the creepiest area in this game, the Jail Tower of Salvation, Hangman's Arm is suitably freaky, the peaceful jingle adding to the horror rather well.
• The theme for when the three teams explore the Devouring Armada Tower, Danger Line, is a modern rock opera that gives an appropriate feeling of finality to going throughout that overgrown Tower and getting this whole shindig over with.
• Starting off this game's battle themes, Storm Thunder is a fast-paced violin piece that, once again, shows that you're ready to kick some Marchen ass six ways to Sunday.
• On the other hand, Slashing, the second battle theme, switches out most of the violin for what appears to be electric guitars. Quite upbeat too, for a track that backs one side cutting the other to ribbons.
• The third battle theme, Ice Edge, is a much... sharper take on the violin. Doesn't make it any less cool though.
• Noble Battle Dance, the fourth battle theme, is yet another beautiful violin piece that feels a lot more elegant than the previous two. May thee be reminded that elegance and adrenaline are not mutually exclusive.
• The fifth battle theme, Bowing Hero, is this game's version of "Hero of Prisoners" in multiple ways. Great trailer choice, beautiful violin work, possibly the best standard battle theme in the entire game, etc, etc.
• Brave Men Road, the final standard battle theme. A violin-powered hype machine through and through, despite suffering from the "Sprint" problem of coming after the long since decided best standard battle theme.
• The theme for the core guardian battles, Enigmatic Motion, is simultaneously both exciting and soothing, as if to tell you that you will get through this, so there's no need to be so tense.
• While Glitter may be a bit upbeat for a Nightmare chase theme, it still carries the obligatory feeling of tension that comes from being chased by an invincible juggernaut of a monster.
• The theme for the now-actually-killable Nightmare battles, Untouchable Grooving, uses the violin a teensy more sparingly without losing energy. Also, no, the name isn't a lie, you can legitimately groove to this.
• When the Blood Team initially gets utterly destroyed by Guillotine, you can hear Light of Strength play in the background. Not only does it make you hyped for the eventual rematch, but it keeps you both hype and on your toes during the subsequent battles against the Genocide Pink. As always, the violins help a lot. This becomes Harsher in Hindsight when you have read the prequel or fight them in a second playthrough, since it also foreshadows their tragic fates as well as the brokenness they had to endure.
• When you finally face off against the master of the Massacre Pink, Yuuto Gatou, you will be greeted by Herculean, which, while having a bit of a slower start, is by far the most epic of the final boss themes for the franchise while keeping up the violin greatness. A perfect piece to set giving that bastard the trashing he deserves to.
• Even though it's no longer a tutorial theme, "SKIP" makes a glorious return, the slower pace at the start not detracting from the chill vibes one bit.
• "Dead Zone" also comes back, carrying even more eerie under- and overtones than before.
• Once again, the game follows the trend of putting such sweet, chill tunes in its tutorials that you don't exactly want to skip over. This time, the job's given to Talk To You Later, which does it quite amazingly.
• The game's hub theme, Imaginator, is an incredibly soothing tune that encourages you to keep going, and to help the team win whatever twisted game the world set them to.

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