Hikari is not a character in the game, but is a synonym for the main character's name Lucia meaning "light." I will be vague for those that are interest in getting into the game's plot, this song is about Lucia struggle, both internal and external. Lucia at this point has her resolve to protect her team knowing what the price is. And like you say Marco when the tone changes, Lucia completes her mission collapses smiling. The ending to me is bitter sweet.
Fortunately it doesn’t stay depressing. Also I’m pretty sure Hikari is Luna’s and Rosetta’s theme when they’re distressed as well, but it might just be Lucia’s overlapping Into their screen time.
When I played through that part, the tone change part of the music actually bugged and continued playing even after I finished that part of mission and started overlapping or overriding other BGMs (including the main menu). Frankly I wish that was intentional, that it would continue to play for a time instead of other songs just to let it sink in for a while. For once a "bug" actually enhanced the emotional moment instead of ruining it.
I think this track captures battle on several levels, the first two are the quickness and force of it, and when the vocals kick in you get the feeling of triumph, maybe of tables turning. And then at the end though, the piano with the very same vocals gives you the sense of melancholy. After the battle, you mourn the lost and the fallen, perhaps even mourn the very necessity that brought this conflict to violence in the first place. I haven't gotten to where this track plays in P:GR but to my understanding 'Hikari' is not actually a character but rather the anglicized spelling of the Japanese word for 'light'.
PGR downloaded?! We got him bois. Its frightening how you managed to get the atmosphere of the fight and what happens already, but since you're trying the game, the added context will hit you more.
@@castronimussi6050 here some spoiler for ost in future chapter so that you can find it more easily, Moon - ch 13 Lamia - ch 15 Last resort - ch 19 Exorcism - ch 20 Revelation - Error IF 2 (if i don't mistaken)
to be more precise her "old self" she has a backup of her old memory, but it's as if she is just looking at other people memory but according to asimov on latest story, she is gradually getting the familiarity of her old memory
@@dimasargawardani1373 I feel you... The old save you had is what you *SUNK* untold hours to reach a certain point, where you had ups and downs in your journey... An irreplaceable partner in this story...
This music is so... Special. It's just like you said; it's strenght. Lucia is throwing litteraly everything she had, every fiber of her being to save the three most important people she had in the world... She's not going to just die, she's going to vanish and forget everything she had lived until that point, and restart from zero. And she has absolutely no doubt about doing it, because of how much those three mean to her. She knows that they will be there for her, to make new memories with her... But she has to pay the ultimate price in order to be able to live this next "Life". And the last part, you understood it so well... Everyone has been saved, and Lucia is resting in the back of the person she loves the most. She even starts repeating their name and saying how it tastes "sweet". It's a very powerful scene, and made me fall in completely love for this game.
"Hikari" plays during the climax of one of PGR's story arc. The protagonist, Lucia, braces herself to fight a battle she knows she won't live through. Her last stand. It's a battle that's critical for humanity's, and the player's, survival in the post apocalyptic setting of PGR. This is in contrast to the goals of the villain, who instead of saving humanity, just wants to allocate resources to build a city that serves as humanity's gravestone. The opening sequence of Hikari is when Lucia asks for your, the player's, as the one who she cherishes the most, permission to enter the battle fully knowing what the ending will be.
I always felt like the choir that comes in at 2:34 represents all of the countless dead (because the majority of humanity died in the Punishing), whom the Tabula Akasha is supposed to memorialize, saying they side with Babylonia: having humanity move on and not endlessly mourn for the past
This game for sure has so much good music tracks. Design, gameplay, story and characters are good too btw. I hope that someday you may listen all of them)
I unfortunately cannot hear this song without thinking of Max0r's Incorrect Summary of Elden Ring, but that said, his videos have introduced me to a lot of great music. Love the breakdown as always!
Due to how you reacted to "NARWHAL" and this one song of Hikari, I'd actually recommend you listen to "Lamia" from the Punishing Gray Raven soundtrack as well. It's a boss fight song that hasn't come out on the Global version of the game yet, but it's epic nonetheless. Edit: 3:19 - Your observation is pretty on the dot with the game in general I think. The basic theme of the game is "there is this big bad virus that kills humans and corrupts machines to want to kill humans. Most of humanity is gone. How do they possibly fight it? Turn Humans into machine-like Constructs, cause the virus can't corrupt human minds, so building a machine around their mind gives them massive protection against every MAJOR advantage the Punishing Virus has over them." And overall, the idea that people CHOOSE to replace every part of their body with synthetic and artificial material just to stand a fighting chance against this nightmare virus to re-take Earth from it is just so insane of a step that it shows what humans are truly capable of psychologically.
At the start to the middle, it's a battle going on At the end, it's the end of not only the song, but the old self of Lucia for (SPOILERS) she had made the decision to sacrifice her memories to fully activate her Plume frame, which is the Lucia frame we see in the Hikari video of VSS Let's be depressed forever :)
If I recall, this is when Lucia chose to give up everything and basically be reborn so she could become strong enough to protect the player and her team.
I'm highly recommend you to listen to Fate/Grand Order Original Soundtrack V track 1(Genjitsu), track 31(Aesc), track 32(Coronation), track 35(Demonic Hound), track 36(Fantasy), track 37(The moment a Planet is born) and track 38(The End)
While Narwhal is more like the 'entry point' for PGR, Hikari serves more like the 'first summit' of PGR, serving as the theme for the first climax of the game where "this is when we go all out" for Lucia, one of the main characters. Personally to me, it evokes a sort of 'fight with all you got' imagination within me. It's so cool and full of hope at the same time.
To me, I feel like Hikari encapsulates Lucia's character development. From getting beat-up by Alpha in the beginning to being triumphant in the end. I feel like it's her song and she's the one singing. Hikari is an emotional roller coaster in a few minutes of music. Being said, I feel like Vanguard Studios' rendition of a German opera entitled "Sie Liebten Sich Beide" for PGR will be up your alley as well. And just a heads up if you decided to try PGR, they call it the Dark Souls of mobile. You'll love it if you want a very skill based game with dark and mature story line. I bet you'll be surprised by the 3 ping system, that's why I think it's a cross-over of a souls game and candy crush. 😂 Thanks for this review as always.
That was a really good examination of Hikari! I’m glad Punishing Gray Raven is getting more attention from people who don’t know about the game. Hikari is probably the most iconic track but PGR has so many more tracks that are really good, I always have a few on replay on my SoundCloud when I’m playing other games. I feel like there’s still so many people that don’t know about the game. I hope one day it becomes more popular or just as popular as Mihoyo’s Honkai and Genshin.
The amount of emotion behind this doing is something indescribable. Its...so powerful. The vocals arent a choir of solemn voices, it's power. Pure, primal power. And in the end...it still has that silver lining...realizing there's always an end to it. I love this track so much... The actual story for this track is even sadder. The best way to describe it without spoilers is the death of a loved one.
This song was first introduced in the Kowloong Metropolis chapter, where Lucia goes through quite a lot. It shifts her character from someone who is stone cold, cares about getting the mission cleared while being inwardly deeply caring about her whole team to someone who outwardly expresses her care, worry and even sadness from the situation she’s put in while retaining her prior qualities. It’s definitely a song that shows her inner turmoil and her growth as a character. What she goes through during this chapter could kill her but she’s prepared for that. As for what she goes through, you can all go and play/watch a playthrough of Punishing: Gray Raven 🤭
0_0 wow. Never heard of this game before and was not expecting this BANGER. Just oh man starts of with some awesome drum and bass techno part with an Erhu (love erhus btw) and then some beautiful vocals. Just so fricking awesome.
And more of PGR! This feels like a birthday present for me! Thank you! This song will always be special in my heart Hikari is great, all about this song is the moment, is beautiful without it, but when it plays in the story is simply incredible. Cause for the first time in the game, is YOUR theme that is playing. Up until this point in the story it has been always the boss who has the music, NARWHAL (the other theme you reacted) is roseeta (the horse girl) for an example. In this case at the start of the fight the boss music plays just like always, is a struggle, but midfight Lucia finally understand herself and find something worth living, dying and Fighting for And then the music changes, now is her theme playing and starts with a burst of power, you are now the boss, and just like the burst in music you feel it too, you feel inspired, invencible, unstoppable, now the fight is not a struggle, is a fight you can't loose But then the fight ends, you have won, you can rest, but is a bittersweet end, you win the fight, but loose the war, yet, you are Happy, Lucia won in what she believed, and now, she can rest, knowing that when she closes her eyes she will finally be at Peace Hikari means light, and Lucia, the protagonist her name means light in latin, this is her theme, her struggle and her strength And I love that you give it such a good reaction! Hope you like the game!
the thing about hikari for me is not only for Lucia,the first upbeat melody shows how brave the constructs are and ready for anything but starting from the beat drops, it's about how they must accept their fate on battlefield even knowing how strong the enemies are and will fight on until their last moment.
One of the chilling parts for me is pretty much at the beginning. The echo-ey sound gives the feeling of grandness; or just a tremendous obstacle overtaking the field. Then in a few seconds at 0:35, more sharper sounding drums and the Japanese instrument kick in saying "Hey focus on me. I'm over here. Let's do this."
The scene this song is from is quite powerful, think sacrificing your memories in a desperate attempt to gain the power required to protect the person most important to you
I play pgr global 1st day of release and it's ost make me see gaming to another lvl usually i would just turn off the game sound and play but pgr ost is soo good it makes the battle more enjoyable
The middle section represents brief defeat with a little bit of hope, it's like a flashback during a tough fight and the singing represents hope and not giving up. Lucia is the fighter and Luna is the hope.
I always thought when describing music, that you needed to reference in an almost historic fashion. Instead in college I would describe a piece of music through emotions and scenes which my lecturer seemed to really like that approach. Making people feel something through music is something I can't help but continue to be fascinated by to this day, and being able to communicate these feelings still brings me joy to this day. In essence, I love what you do here! Seeing you describe things in a similar fashion, it's like unlocking a part inside people, and turns "why do I feel" into something more conclusive, except for the rare pieces we cannot describe fully, which are my favourites!
Two tracks of PGR! I’m stoked that the music is resonating with you! One of the main drawing points of the game is the music and I can attest that it was what drew me and many other players into the game. Would love to see you stream the game like Genshin and Elden Ring.
Marco, what happens when you get someone who makes videogame music, to compose an entire world through multiple albums over the course of years. A world unseen, however FELT with every fiber of the being. You get Taishi. I IMPLORE YOU to listen to the music of Taishi / Compellege. Phant 1 - 3 and Phant Solo 1-3. By far one of the BEST experiences I've ever had with music. Soundscapes, emotions, creativity abound. Music so complex and powerful. I believe it deserves to be shared more and more.
If I had to recommend somewhere to get a befitting introduction, Phant Solo III would be amazing. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tMvGGQZHMjc.html
Never played this game, but the soundtrack slaps so much, it's insane. It's wild how the songs can convey so many different emotions, the determination, pride and violence, but also vulnerability and exhaustion. So fascinating. Regarding dance music being played in a symphony hall, not exactly game music but I think the only time I've seen anything close to that was when way back in 2010 Neatherlands symphonic orchestra interpreted songs by trance dance DJ Armin van Buuren, all songs in full orchestra + some very nice electronic elements, which was super cool. "In and Out of Love" and "Wall of Sound" from that concert are very nice examples, if anyone is interested!
New player here! Just started playing because of this video, and I must say I love everything about the game. I'm just regretting that I haven't played this earlier. The music and the analysis are phenomenal.
5:58 "No-one's died nessecarily." Oh but she did, in a way. this video contextualizes it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dsHQPUrVi48.html Hikari is the song that plays when Lucia goes into fight Hikari means Light in japanese. This song has so many layers, it's true. There's so much that go together to bring in that feeling of desperation. The rise and fall of the instruments. The subtle sounds, stretching out the erhu to make it sound like failing metal. The frantic strings also contribute to this, bringing a near horror vibe. Hikari is truly a masterpiece. There's so many layers and Ghostfinal made them all work together! And the lore makes this even more stark: Qu is a Transcendant (infected) ruler of infected androids. She believes humanity's time is past and it shouldn't reclaim earth. She has cornered you, the player. Lucia (Light, in latin, just as Hikari means light) is one of the best fighters of Grey Raven and Babylonia, who are trying to retake earth. However, she's not at her best: Due to some memory editing attempts by Babylonia (to cover their own mistakes), she's not at her full potential anymore. So they need to merge a backup of her pre-collapse self to regain those combat abilities. But you're in trouble, so Lucia has to fight before the final adjustments for the merge are made. A snippet of the 2nd part of Hikari plays before the fight: as she tells you that it's okay, she won't disappear because everyone will remember who she is. Qu is dismissive of a "mere construct" The fight starts, and this song plays: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RHu804DrBZc.html English: "Puppet Song" It's much calmer than Hikari, but contains some motifs that reappear. Qu apologises for underestimating Lucia and then says that she'll be serious. Lucia is pushed back by Qu's power, and says "if this is the only way". Hikari starts. This desperate fight as Lucia gives her all to the fight. Not trying to hold onto anything, her memories being deleted to make her a better fighter. After, the 2nd part plays again. Her plan was to leave here with you, presumably holding onto some of her old memories. But they're gone now, given up for the fight.
Marco, again just hits it out of the park. Hikari is the Japanese word for "ray of light". This track epitomizes the main protagonist of Punishing Gray Raven which is Lucia. It tells you her story in the form of this song. She is searching for her own meaning of strength, and that strength was with her all along, that glimmer of hope that she can look up to in moments when all seems lost. Good stuff! Now, you just made me wanna play PGR even more!
slight spoiler the story that goes with this song is one of the most heartbreaking moment for me, for what Lucia give up just for us as the the commandant.
@@fahrurrozy9901 yeah teared up at that point, having her burn up her memory for us and spending her final moments with us before her memories fade away.
I won't spoiled you if you really want to play PGR and know more about the songs, the backgrounds and its characters (constructs). But, when you get to play this song's chapter named Kowloong Metropolis, it would really hit you hard when the moment comes. I'd really like to watch you react to more of PGR and Vanguard Sound music like Dream with you, Wraith, Lamia, Dust, Moon (CN version), 风的视线 (sight of the wind) and more of their work.
Well this is unexpected! This is one of my favorite song in the game and it is accompanied by a great boss fight too. If you want to check the game out, now might be the best time because the game just got a new patch yesterday
I'm so glad you reacted to this track, it does such a good job of portraying the story well and sounding so awesome. Punishing Gray Raven has some of the best soundtracks in my opinion and they never fail to impress me :)
Punishing Gray Raven is one of my favorite mobile games, right along side Girls Frontline. The soundtrack of the game has always been super super well done (and I’m not even a big music guy myself but I still absolutely love all of it), the gameplay is simple but still fairly fun, and the story is phenomenal. I want to say that many AAA console/PC games don’t hold up to the level of OST and storytelling games like Punishing Gray Raven and Girls Frontline have.
I really reccomend that you listen to, Lamia, which is another OST from Punishing Gray Raven! Vanguard Sound, the studio responsible for PGRs soundtracks always never ceases to amaze me with each new song release.
As someone who experienced this moment in game, without spoiling too much, all i can is that the music compliments the settings so well. It's exactly as you said, the feel of power and determination. Your interpretation is spot on but you missed one on the last part. The determination to push on even if it means sacrificing the very thing that defines you as a person. The memories... Every single treasured moments with your loved ones. She will protect them no matter the cost. Even if it means that she will forget them. So the last part is for the moment she rests, forgets, and resets anew
Thanks for sharing your impressions, they were very insightful as usual. This game has an impresive OST and every time there is a new track it doesn't seem to let up. Hikari is a beatfiful track on its own right but in my opinion it isn't the best example of GhostFinal's style, for that I encourage you to check "Last Resort" , "Lamia" and "dust" , he is a sound designer first and formost, and it shows in the way he integrates the expected enviromental sounds from the game level into the music.
Oh well not technically wrong tbh. Lucia means Light in Latin and Hikari means Light in JP. The first half of this song is for the boss fight Lucia vs Qu/Gabriel. The second half is when she losing all her memories due to the side effects of that new frame "Plume" because it contains all the datas from Alpha-the original Lucia (just like when you're forced to reboot your computer cuz of viruses). She knew that she will be "dead" if she uses that frame, but she takes that, to save her der Commandant (us Players) and the future of humanity. She knew the Lucia after Reboot will no longer be her but a whole new Lucia with both memories of her and Alpha. The last moment of her when she calls Player's name instead of just "Commandant" over and over was really hurt and i know you could feel it by just listening to the song.
Hikari is significant in that it plays during a part of the game when well... She didnt even think about it and if anything was glad for it, that she had a chance to save someone by only paying the price. The song starts energetically since she has no doubts only purpose and new strenght. Slows down as the threat is gone but the price has come. Can no longer stand so she is carried nby her teamates to the person she was protecting. They talk about the past and future. In one of the very few moments she has done so in her life she smiles and then loses the last of herself. N.A.M.E is a song about her and the thing she held onto as she lost herself and one of the last things she said, the name of the person that found her.
I have play this game like 1 year, and I always inspired by this character theme song. It's like @MarcoMeatball said it's like the will of humanity itself is mention in this music that's represent hope for the future. This song is the best of the best to inpiring all of you to live every second of our live till the end of our life.😇
Even the Character is also have the same characteristic as the song, thank you @MarcoMeatball for the describing this music throughly. By the way you should try the character of this theme song, I know you will like this Lucia Plume Battlesuit.😆😆😆
Oh yeah, BTW I also have 1 Punishing Gray Raven song you should Review and maybe it will caught your attention like Hikari. This is the Link : Lamia (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-J9IwRWu70NQ.html)
Punishing Gray Raven is one of the best games I’ve ever played. It’s remained normal until chapter 12. Chapter 12 (where Hikari comes from) was when the story changed forever. And it only gets better from there. Cant wait for Chapters 19 and 18.
When max0r used this song in his Elden ring part 1 video it sounded so powerful and made that part one of my favorites. Punishing Gray Raven truly has some god-tier music and i might not know the game itself but even without context this music is truly incredible and i love it
Hey glad to hear you're thinking about trying out the game. These songs hit different when you have the context, though that goes without saying. I enjoyed your analysis and your interpretation of what scene the song paints for you and seeing how close you get with just that information. It's amazing how much you can infer just based off the music.
I’m so glad you decided to give PGR a chance. “Echo Aria - Main BGM” is by far my favorite from PGR, if you see this, please give it a listen :) it’s right up your alley and I’m curious your thoughts. Nona Oraboros is also very beautiful, but more EDM.
Ah. Hikari. one of the best in the PGR soundtrack. It does starts up with the spirit of a warrior, and ends with a melancholy feel of ease, peace and lost. Also, Hikari actually have 2 version. The first is the one you can find in their official channel, while the other I believe is their Album version which have a bit more extension in its first part. If you want to get into PGR, had to warn you that the game is as the title saids, can be 'Punishing' because of its fast paced combat and hard bosses. Which is why there is a section where you can challenge bosses from easy to very hard difficulty. The good news is that the Gacha in this game is very customer friendly and as a F2P players, I could get the character I want easily. Although, do a bit of research with the gacha as some people accidentally roll for the wrong banner and the reason is hard to say cause I'm not good at explaining. Overall, Thanks for this your review on the song. Definitely one of the best I've heard in this Game.
I first heard this on maxors elden ring video and HOLY SHIT this just BRINGS SO MUCH out in me I can FEEL my soul trying to reach out and become larger it’s just SO FUCKING INTENSE
Yo Marco! If you have time you should listen "LAMIA" always from Punishing: Gray Raven. The first time i've listened to it, I was speechless; simply beautiful. Keep up the good work! ;) \o/
I like how he pretty much nailed what this song was about without even knowing the game. It sure was about Lucia's determination to survive or rather make her team survive, no matter the cost. And oh boy was that a price to pay. And yet she still smiled in the end tho.
Hikari tell a story vy itself and thats what catches my eyes when the event dropped, although not out yet pgr did another even where they put their own spinoff to :sie liebten sich beide" it's honestly ones one my favorite aside from last resort and narwhal
One of my favorite genres is artcore, which I believe was popularized by rhythm games; It is a combination of modern electronic beats and classical instrument melodies. They're usually fast and exciting, but a regular paced one I recommend is 宵の袂、夜と二人 by Feryquitous.
Kinda funny how this song is now also associated to the conqueror of the stars radahn thanks to max0r....I unironically blast this everytime I get to fight him as a summon. It's unironically fun seeing the vocals go hard the moment the starscourge comes back crashing down and the emotional 2nd half when the stars resume their movement.
Hey Marco, I have a suggestion, now that you've played through most of PGR´s story, would you ever think on making a second reaction to these songs but now that you have the knowledge and context of the story? maybe talk about how it meshes with the characters or setting? Just an idea! I think it would be cool to watch.
Lucia's story is so sad. I advice you to follow each character's story, they are all worth it. My personal favorites are Lucia-Alpha-Luna story combined(they are related), Rosetta story, and Selena story.
Please do more from Vanguard Sound! I personally recommend Mythoclast / Shark and Sea / Reunion from Girls' Frontline they all share the same leitmotif. Another favorite of mine from the same game: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-j_9iSwgRuZI.html
To summarize it. Lucia obtained a new frame(her body, she's a human turned robot aka construct) to fight against Qu(a strong enemy). Reaching her new peak, defeating QU to rescue commandant(the player) but the cost of her memory(which she is willing to sacrifice) since her new frame hasn't fully calibrated yet for her. This game teared me up big time tbh. Also, try to listening to Dust and sie liebten sich beide No need to review, just listen to it.
