OK, time for another post and this one is a bit different as I will take a look at my pick of my favourite themes from the original Dark Souls, or if you like Dark Souls 1 and I will be looking to do this with the other games in the series that includes Bloodborne (can't speak for Demon's Souls though).
Now I must admit this is a bit of a trickier list for me to compile as I personally think that the original Dark Souls soundtrack was frankly the weakest of the three Souls games (not counting Demon's Souls again here). Having said that however there are still some very fine themes in this game for sure.
So, with that said let's take a closer look at my pick for the top 5 themes from the original Dark Souls...
5. Four Kings
So, at No.5 is the Four Kings theme, which is one of the later bosses in the game and they can be pretty challenging it has to be said. And this track really has a sinister feel to it and I always really liked the way it kicks in and you can feel the intensity of it right from the get go as this is always a pretty intense battle. Written by Motoi Sakuraba, who was the main composer for the original Dark Souls game, he employs his usual heavy choral themes and some pretty intense and dramatic sounding strings.
So, the track for me really gives off a sense of an adrenaline rush when you are facing off the Four Kings and its certainly one of the best tracks from the soundtrack.
4. Great Grey Wolf Sif
At No.4 is surely a fan favourite, which is Great Grey Wolf Sif that remains one of the most poignant boss fights in the game as you fight the dog of its once beloved master, Artorius and this theme certainly captures its poignancy. The theme itself is more reflective than the others and is a nice break from the more choral heavy stuff in Sakuraba's other themes with some female operatic singing (by the way you can probably tell that I am no music critic!).
So, the Great Grey Wolf Sif theme is a fan favourite no doubt and it has good reason for it being so as it certainly is one of the most memorable themes from the game.
3. Ornstein and Smough
At No.3 is of course the theme belonging to the single most infamous duo in the Dark Souls series, Ornstein and Smough and its certainly a very fine one that stands out well from alot of the other themes in the game.
The theme again comprises of some fairly heavy male choruses but its also a good mix of orchestration too and I always liked how this theme kicked off and what you could describe its actual "chorus" being its best part as you try and take down the mighty duo. And the theme incorporates itself very nicely into the actual battle itself and never feels out of place (like just maybe one or two boss themes in Souls series might do maybe???).
So, again its pretty memorable theme and one that stands in the game and is worth putting on the list at No.3.
2. Knight Artorius
At No.2 is the theme for the DLC boss, Knight Artorius and this is definitely one of the standout themes from the game and the start of the theme is so recognisible to any fan of the Souls series.
The theme itself really has a strong sense of foreboding and is pretty haunting sounding as you are taking on a tormented knight, corrupted by the abyss who was once one of the prestiged knights of Lord Gwyn. So throughout you have a theme that deals with that conflict of Artorius's anguish, which you certainly get from his howls throughout the boss fight in between spraying abyssal fluid everywhere! Honestly that dude Artorius needs to get that seen to as he left quite a mess! ;-)
Anyway, so yep that all said (and frankly not much said about these themes I have to say) Knight Artorius theme is an excellent one and is easily one of the best in the game.
So, at No.1 is....
1. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder
Yes, so at No.1 is the theme for game's final boss, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder and it is frankly the best theme in the game by a country mile and one of the very best from the entire series.
And what is so surprising about this theme is you are going in to face the final boss of the game, step in through that fog gate and you expect a big dramatic orchestrated piece of music to finish things up... but instead you get this really sad and poignant piano piece as the great Gwyn proceeds to kick your ass with his big flaming sword! And I must admit at first I thought: wait THIS is the final boss theme of the game??? I initially felt it was not suited to the fight at all but on later reflection, I think its perfect for the fight as it signals the end of an era for Gwyn and he fights to try and cling onto what he had built and here you come to take it over.
As for theme its just a beautiful, haunting piece of music and the simplicity of the piece also it makes it even more effective and it shows that you don't always need big booming orchestras and choirs singing in the background, somtimes just one piano can evoke much more emotion and it sure does with this track.
So, for me Gwyn, Lord of Cinder's theme is hands down the best theme in Dark Souls 1 and it packs a big emotional punch and more than deserves to take the top spot here.
Right, so that's it for my pick of scores from the original Dark Souls game, next up will be my pick of my favourite tracks from Dark Souls II, which will be a top 10 list given the large amount of bosses in the game and for me overall its a much stronger score than the original (just my opinion of course!).
So, until then its bye for now!
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