Unpopular opinion but Dragon Lord Placidusax is one of my favourites. The way the tension builds and releases like a storm and all the traditional elements of it are awesome to listen to and suit him perfectly. My favourite along with Radahn.
Before seeing the video, my top 10 favorites are: - Rykard (second phase) - Mogh/Godfrey - Placidusax - Elden Beast and Radagon's theme - Godrick - Godskins - Renalla (With sweetings singing) - Ancestor Spirit - Fire Giant Let's see how Marco can break those down!
1000% agree, not sure if this is just me but everytime i listen to the drop at 12:34 i get completely choked up and breathless strange how music can do that
I wanted to make a comment that gives credit to which of the game's five composers did which piece on this tier list, so here it is. Shoi Miyazawa: Godrick the Grafted Beast Clergyman (Maliketh) Mohg, Lord of Blood Starscourge Radahn Omen Illusion (Phantom Mohg) Fallingstar Beast Tai Tomisawa: Astel Godfrey Godskin Apostles Dragonlord Placidusax Lord's Apparition (Phantom Godfrey) Erdtree Avatar Tsukasa Saitoh: The Final Battle Morgott, the Omen King Margit, the Fell Omen Yoshimi Kudo: Lichdragon Fortissax God-Devouring Serpent (Rykard) Yuka Kitamura: Fire Giant Malenia, Blade of Miquella Regal Ancestor Spirit Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon Black Knives
its really a testament to how good the OST is when you see how many different opinions people have on their favourite tracks. My personal favourite is probably Maliketh's
The trumpets kicking in at Phase 2 are so triumphant. The perfect Morale boost for somebody who just started playing Elden Ring like “GOOD JOB! You’re doing it!”. Something that definitely is powerful for a new player to motivate them to continue improving in order to finally beat the first boss.
Fortisaxx-S - Pretty much the same reason, those 16th runs where the entire orchestra is in sync at such a speed and such aggressiveness and accuracy.. IDK what it is but those runs they just get me so pumped up. Just expressing pure sorrow and frustration with bombastic explosions, and because I know the story between Fort+Godwyn I almost DON'T want to fight him! Like you said, He's screaming. Mogh-S Evil Waltz from your bloody uncle who knows maybe a little too much latin, but that doesn't matter because WOW does that 3/4 ((or some weird 6/8 it's been too long)) swing back and forth. It's inviting, but EVIL. It could have been Astel levels of dissonance but they went with something that represented him, the culture he's created, and the love that he has (I want to say that's why it's a waltz, the Dynasty is about sharing blood, or love, and that Mogh would give us this). It's a biiiiiiiiiiig courting dance and I'm here for it.. Also the vocal arrangement is just 😩👌 Elden Beast-S I want to believe that this is a sort of reprise for Radagon, it's filled with cosmic sadness that's expressing it's discomfort and desire to live one of the ONLY fights where the boss actively takes distance and retreats. We get to do it ALLLLL the time, and this thing it's trying to maintain whatever reality it's instilled. This fight solo is almost impossible to experience without casually shedding a tear or two Godfrey- S I'm extremely biased because I'm a trumpet player haha that trill with the half valves is perfect and there's also bits of other brass that just showcase this back and forth rock. Had this song appeared AGAIN, like, anywhere as a duplicate, it would significantly reduce Radahns-A+ Man I must be deaf as hell for not hearing the triplets in Radahn's, that brings it up to A+ maybe even S . This piece I have wanted to like more , even on on the 15th play I love the vibe and story that the song+arena brings, into hearing triplets and his soldiers chanting, you can't beat that for a honored war general. Radahn's is really really underrated IMO, and IIRC he's also had the most notable boss changes so i imagine a looooot of opinions are affected by that (hopefully not me lmao). I do like that compared to Godfreys (Godfrey was Radahns idol), Radahns is WAAAAY more tame. So doing it in the right order if we are to believe Godfrey is stronger than Radahn, the Song certainly gives those vibes
Radahn's theme is very much "the final march of the greatest warrior," and the last segment of the theme very much speaks to me as this great warrior regaining his sanity for just a few moments, and fighting with the skill and fury of his previous self.
I didnt like Godskins phase 2... UNTIL i saw how it was used in the Godskin Duo fight. In that fight, phase 2 doesnt begin when either of the godskins phases. It begins when a godskin first respawns into the battle. When i saw that moment happen in game, and the music swelled, i was genuinely terrified. The horror i was hearing had become real. THATS when godskin became S tier for me.
What I love about Radahn theme is that you can put it into the Hobbit: battle of five armies, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Minas Tirith, 300: The Spartans vs Persians and any other war, and it just works. It's just pure Epicness.
Overall, your choices of the boss themes for the tierlist is the same as me, I totally agree, Except just Morgott, who, imo, deserve a B. When you put Fortissax's theme at S tier, I was so happy ! I feel like a lot of people underestimate this Masterpiece. This theme, especially the phase 2, tear out your soul from your body and take him out to a new, epic and chaotic universe. It's by far my favorite of the game.
I recommend listening to Alex Moukala's "Elden Ring Theme in 15 Styles". His varying arrangements of the main theme are enjoyable and strikingly different interpretations. Plus, it's short and sweet.
When I saw Mohg going to A, I said to myself: "Ok... I'll forgive you this time. But if you'll put Rykard into something lower than S I would call a police"
Oh my, when I First heard elden beast's theme outside the game I had shivers on my FINGERS, I was on the point of crying from the sheer Power of the emotions of that song. Fromsoftware always puts out some music that reaches deep into my heart and the moments this music gave me I will never forget.
53:10 What everyone is probably looking for, ‘The S Tier’, I was listening to this earlier and was wondering if you had reviewed it, and low and behold, I had to look deep into the meatball archives to find this one. There’s so much emotion and power in this that it demands authority and respect. 😁
Hey Marco, great video as always! i would love to see you do something like this with the other souls games as well at some point. they also have a lot of music i think you would enjoy. cheers
Astel's theme is actually from "Saturn, the bringer of old age", one of the most horrifying theme from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst. Fromsoft borrows a lot from Classical
Surprised that Rennala's theme is so low in your list, it's S- to me, probably due to how music touch different sensibilities and evoke inner flows. In the same ways, Daughter of the Cosmos is also S-tier to me :s
I have to put Godrick in S. I think it's an incredible composition, fits the boss perfectly. I find the main theme/Radagon theme slightly overrated. I don't think it matches the best the game has to offer in terms of composition. Plus, it's really short. My S tier themes are Mohg, Godrick, Godfrey, Fortissax, Godkins and Rykard/God-Devouring Serpent.
I think The Final Battle is easily S tier as a whole, with both parts included (Radagon and Elden Beast). The drop is unexpected and incredible, the transition godly, I'm sure it would make a whole crowd jaw drop if played divorced from Elden Ring. I don't understand why Marco cut it in two. Regarding Godrick, I agree wholeheartedly on its more than deserved S tier, even taken separately from the game.
Best OST in the series hands down, It has literally EVERYTHIN i want from a soulsborne track, ambiant tracks, somber/sad tracks, varied instruments and layers, different composition etc... Also man some of the chatters got terrible opinions! Placidusax and Renalla are A+ for me.
Ngl the elden ring ost is some of the weakest in the series. Bloodborne, dk3 and sekiro are waaay better. Speaking of terrible opinions , we have yours as a prime example.
S - Radahn, Radagon, Mohg, Godskin, Godrick (I pay attention during the game and often listen outside the game) A - Rykard, Godfrey, Placidusax, Fortissax (I pay attention during the game and rarely listen outside the game) B - Astel, Fire Gaint, Maliketh (I pay attention during the game) C - Malenia, Margit, Fallingstar Beast (I almost don't pay attention during the game) F - Regal Spirit, Renalla. (I never pay attention during the game) Me opinion
Only thing that really hurts is Placidusax being in C. While not the most catchy song, the entrance is impeccible and draws you into feeling of awe at something extraterrestrial but grand. The dissonance created from the overlapping harmonies make it so fleshed out and makes me as the listener inferior to what would be in front of me. It gives me goosebumps everytime. And I'll admit, the song isn't spot on every second it lasts, but its entrance and overall atmosphere is only in the same league as Elden Beast. A teir at least (my opinion)
My top ten are 1:Lich dragon, 2:GodSkins, 3:Margit the fell omen, 4:Final battle, 5:Godrick, 6:ErdTree Avatar, 7:Malenia, 8:Beast Glergyman, 9:Radahn, 10:Godfrey/Mohg/any of the dragons.
Something I noticed is that if you listen closely to Godfrey's second phase soundtrack, you can kinda hear the music saying "Godfrey." Same with Radagon, but it sounds like the music is saying "Radagon Red Mayne." A neat little detail.
I'm afraid I have to disagree with your qualification from the theme of the Fire Giant. It's the best theme of the game. Like the last movement of Saint Mathew's Passion by Bach, I mean the poignant feeling of that theme is absolutely fantastic. That composer put the heart into the piece, the drama, the tragedy, and the Fire Giant's might... Subbed thought interesting channel.
I actually never really paid attention to the Elden Beasts soundtrack even after 4 play throughs. I now have a much greater appreciation for it. S tier song for an F tier boss
Yeah fr, it's such a let down after fighting Radagon. It's not even that it's hard, it's just too fucking slippery and runs whenever you're just about to hit it
Everyone seems to dislike Placidusax’ theme but for me it’s S because I find the soundscape so unique and interesting plus I like awe and terror in music
I 10000% agree about Elden Beast. If there’s one piece that is the pinnacle of Elden Ring, everything the game symbolizes, and even life itself beyond the game, it is this track. An emotional and beautiful masterpiece that is difficult not to embrace you deep in your soul every time.
Imo godskin noble is the most boppin' sound track but mohgs is just the best. Couldn't listen to it everyday if i wanted to but it has the most emotion and the most appealing melody and i jzst love iz
Maliketh's theme is my favorite, I feel that it perfectly conveys the anguish and desperation of Maliketh to protect the rune of death with his life. Probably the theme that best matches whith his character
I feel like the whole of the Elden Ring OST is an overall downgrade compared to other Fromsoft games, but the ones that slap go fucking *bonkers*. My favorites are, in order: -Ancestral Spirit (It's so awesome to me because it's such an outlier, it makes you feel like what's going on with it is really disconnected from the Erdtree, and it's just different from anything else Fromsoft has ever done but in an awesome way. I loved it even before hearing the second phase, due to the bug that only looped the first phase track during the fight) -Lichdragon (Just god-tier all around, they went *hard* with the organs) -Godskin Apostles and Mohg (both are evil in musical form, epic and nerve-wracking, especially Mohg and his transition to phase 2) -Radahn (An anthem to send off a god among chads, awe-inspiring and reverent just like the festival celebrating the man himself) -Godrick (It's made a lot better by the spectacle of the boss fight; very fitting for the first big plot-point boss, especially the beginning of the second phase) -Malenia (if only because those first few notes are PTSD inducing lmao, seriously though it's very good, not too nerve-wracking so as to not add to the stress of fighting the boss) -Elden Beast/Radagon (I never really heard these because I was so focused on beating the final boss lol - I love how it calls back to the menu theme. Speaking of...) -The menu theme (Simply iconic, one of the few times I held back my excitement to play the long-awaited game: to enjoy its menu theme) I also like Astel quite a bit, if only because I like the otherworldly, eerie cosmic vibes that fit the boss - also it's cool to note that Fallingstar Beast shares the same opening notes with that song, which is a neat little detail. But I agree it's not really an easy listen - it's definitely more impactful during the fight.
Some songs that are an S for me inside the game are only an A or a B when simpy listening to them. Like Godfrey's theme, somehow the Ta-daaam! parts lose their punch outside of the fight.
Astel D Elden beast A Fire giant B Godrick the grafted b Godfrey B Lichdragon S Melania B Godskin apostles B Radagon rated S Maliketh A Mohg S morgot the omen king B dragon lord A Rykard S Ancestral spirt B Renala B Rahdon A lords apparition D Morget the fell omen B Omen illusion C Falling star beast C Erdtree avatar C Black knifes B
Theres an argument made that Eldenbeast was supposed to be a field boss instead of being right after radagon yet was supposed to come from him still. I need to find the source but if its true it makes a lot of sense as a dragon like battle in a sea
just watched and didn't get to stream but thats okay - i can acquiesce to Godfrey's them being ranked mid to low because while im biased to godfrey lore i suppose the theme gets repetitive quick despite being packed with virility - i've said this elsewhere and i'll say it again: Radahn's 2nd phase makes me think that its a beloved sendoff from every soul in Redmane who loved their lord and wanted to give him the warrior's death he deserved - tbf lots of the themes in Elden ring are rather frantic for me and i've yet to get into them. However, while i was initially neutral on Fortissax, when you pointed the rapid violin it reminded me of the rapid violin in Gael's soundtrack
My favorites Malenia, Radahn and godskin apostles are my top favorite the others are fantastic of course but the three I have said are on a different level for me
honestly, margit's got no business being that good. same goes for tree sentinels, which sadly got no love here? the power of their glorious theme is too much to be contained, hence it wasn't played on stream.
Godrick's teme reminds me of Ludwig, both of them a malformed monster, multiple limbs, where limbs ought not be, but under that there's physical might. The difference is in characters themselves, Ludwig is a great man who was turned into this accursed form, Godrick is a pathetic man who tried to achieve greatness by grafting others onto himself.
I think one mistake I make when listening to music such as boss themes and what not, I default want to think it's a song to depict the players fight against the boss, when I think the way I should be viewing the themes as more of a piece written to, at most, let you know how fucked you are as the boss in question is so nightmarish or powerful, etc., etc..
A pity that erdtree sentinel wasn't on the list. As the first great enemy player encounters, he and his theme could be the most impressive among all. I set his theme a ringtone for one of my aggresively talkative friend, every time he calls in it gives me a mini jumpscare.
13:38 Yes this is the part where the goosebumps are guaranteed 35:50 funny thing is I still wasn’t able to find Forti. I just don’t know how to get to him and I don’t want to look it up😂 1:05:40 aaand my all time favorite
My list would be something like: Elden Beast - *S* (the only one that truly deserves excellence imo) Malenia / Radahn / Regal Ancestor Spirit / Godskin Apostle / Mohg - *A* (Good to listen on their own, even without the fight) Maliketh / Rykard / Godrick / Fortissax / Margit - *B* (Nice ones in their own bossfights, atmospheric stuff) *C* or lower for the rest.
Great list, I personally would have moved Malenia down one and Godrick up one but just a personal choice really. Also, despite the simplicity of the composition I really do think the second phase of Radahn surpasses every Souls soundtrack, including even the best of Bloodborne. The amount of emotion in that piece is just insane, I love it so much.
