[GOTY 2019 #8] Best VGM 2388 - Bloodstained : Ritual of the Night - Gears of Fortune

Views: 5929
Likes: 268
Dislikes: 1
Comments: 32
Published on February 16th 2020, 11:05 pm

See also:
Best VGM 2299

A collection of my favorite videogame music. Note that most of them are from games I played so I might miss some great ones from games I never played.

PC / Switch / PS4 / XB1
Bloodstained : Ritual of the Night (2019)
Gears of Fortune
Ryusuke Fujioka

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SupraDarky
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SupraDarky
Bandcamp: https://supradarky.bandcamp.com/
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/SupraDarky

Comments

SupraDarky on February 16th 2020, 11:06 pm
As I thought before playing this game, this turned out to be a true IGAvania in an awesome but maybe too safe way. There have been many amazing Metroidvanias the past years, but IGA still has his unique touch when it comes to the immense variety of battle mechanics. The fact that there are so many shards (if you played the Castlevania Sorrow games, think of them as souls), each able to go up in rank and grade, makes it almost overwhelming. It's basically a huge sandbox with hundreds of toys. I can imagine the team having fun trying to find new shard mechanics. The music by Yamane is solid but far from her best work and the level design is what I found too safe and slightly unmemorable. I will always prefer a beautiful 2D game than 2.5D. Apart from that, the one negative that stands out is the fact that the game is too easy, which prevented me from truly having fun with the various mechanics and find the ones that work best. I felt overpowered to the point that I would beat bosses before I could even see all their moves. The Hard difficulty should have been the default one. In the end, it's just good to have IGA back doing what he does best.

Replies

Gaming will NEVER be good again on February 16th 2020, 11:13 pm
Still haven't played this game because they butchered the Switch version.

SupraDarky on February 17th 2020, 12:21 am
@Gaming will NEVER be good again Yeah I did hear the Switch version was not great, I thought they would have patched it by now.

Patzerli on February 17th 2020, 12:22 am
I had so much fun with it and I hope IGA won't stop with Bloodstained. I backed the game with much money and I would do it again

Korji on February 17th 2020, 5:23 am
Ooo yikes, I must be garbage then. I’ve been struggling throughout the entire game on NORMAL. I have been playing through the game blindly, but compared to the only other Metriodvania I’ve played, Hollow Knight, I remember dying way less on my first run and I think most people consider that game to be harder. Assuming you’ve beaten Bloodstained, I’m curious as to how you beat the final boss (for true ending; I’m getting ptsd of radiance all over again) because I’m currently stuck on that. The first phase is really long and by the time I reach the second I either have no mana or am super weak that I die in two or three hits. You got any tips or suggestions for weapons and crystals, or should I just grind until I’m a certain level before trying again?

ShadowBaofu on February 17th 2020, 8:41 am
I didn't end up struggling until I played Hard and Nightmare. Then I really got into it because it reminded me of playing Order of Ecclesia and the countless tries it took to get medals from each boss.

Myth0s on February 17th 2020, 9:44 am
normally disagree with you, but this time in my opinion you checked all the boxes as to why bloodstained was alright, but leaves a lot for future entries to get more correct. will definitely play anything with IGA's name on it.

RealLoader on February 17th 2020, 11:05 am
So basically, play this game in hard mode and you are good, right?

Christian Guzmán on February 17th 2020, 10:42 pm
@Gaming will NEVER be good again the switch version works fine now, and the team continues improving it

Burkhart von Klitzing on February 24th 2020, 8:25 am
@SupraDarky Oh, it was already patched. Seems like the other guy didn't get the memo.

TimBagels on April 10th 2020, 2:04 pm
@Korji I know that this is over a month old at this point and you definitely already beat the game at this point, but I'll chime in that if you get the electric magic Crystal from one of the bird enemies, you can craft an entirely new Crystal from it that is lightning standing in place above you. Upgrade it to rank 7 or 8, and it will basically melt everything in the game. Alternatively, one of the two directional beams (void beam off abyss dragon, light beam from crafting) are also super powerful.

Korji on April 10th 2020, 2:17 pm
TimBagels Yes, I did beat the game already, but this is good to know in case I want to play this game again so thanks anyways.

NSXTypeRGTRLM on April 16th 2020, 3:22 pm
I'm looking forward to playing it! I just bought it. Thanks again for your thoughts on the game and of course snippets from the soundtracks from multiple games.
Saint Boot on July 18th 2020, 10:40 pm
This game really did my girl Dominique dirty. :(
Cauli Flower on June 25th 2020, 12:20 pm
The beginning of that riff is identical to the motif in Masashi Hamauzu's Unlimited Saga score. I almost thought I was hearing Battle Theme #1 for a second since they both use the solo violin as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTj4n0L9Uh0
シロガネ山レッド on February 21st 2020, 7:20 pm
Magnificent
Ahmed360 on February 18th 2020, 3:07 pm
I miss this game... Genuinely felt sad once I finished it :-(
Comrade Weeb on February 17th 2020, 7:17 pm
My favorite piece from this game. It has a similar feeling to Ys, but the composer never composed for Falcom.
liwo on February 17th 2020, 5:03 pm
wonderful
rlifeh on February 17th 2020, 5:20 am
try listen to "Astellia OST ● S BGM LOGIN"
drunyon214 on February 17th 2020, 5:10 am
It's interesting that you first thought this theme was composed by Yamane, because that's often what I've thought about the previous DS IGAvanias-- that Yamane composed the entire soundtrack, but I later found out that probably the majority of my favorite tunes in those games were NOT composed by Yamane, but instead by her co-composers, who don't really get much credit (such as Invitation of a Crazed Moon, The Gears go Awry, A Clashing of Waves, Pitch Black Intrusion, Dracula's Tears, Into the Dark Night, Basement Melody-- all among my favorites, and not composed by Yamane).
drunyon214 on February 17th 2020, 4:57 am
Just finished playing through this game, and I had a blast with it. Really loved it. I can never get enough of IGAvanias. You're right that it's too easy, though. The Rhava Bural just makes the game far too easy. Looking forward to playing through it again on a harder difficulty, though.
xSayPleasex on February 17th 2020, 3:35 am
Top 3 song off the OST for sure. I very much enjoyed Bloodstained and would look forward to another entry from IGA and the crew!

Replies

Daniel Ramirez on February 17th 2020, 4:31 am
What is IGA

xSayPleasex on February 17th 2020, 5:55 am
@Daniel Ramirez Short-hand name for Koji Igarashi the lead producer/writer/creative for most castlevania games since SotN and now Bloodstained

Daniel Ramirez on February 17th 2020, 7:52 pm
@xSayPleasex thanks
EpicOtter on February 17th 2020, 12:08 am
What a great track this is! I haven't even played the game, but this is definitely beautifully crafted
David E. on February 16th 2020, 11:48 pm
#FucKonami
GenericSoda on February 16th 2020, 11:45 pm
This track is absolutely my favorite in the game. Shame it doesn't get more play in comparison to other songs.
Immoral Flame on February 16th 2020, 11:15 pm
This is definitely in my top 5 songs of the entire soundtrack. I was a bit surprised when I found out it wasn't composed by Michiru Yamane.

Replies

SupraDarky on February 17th 2020, 12:20 am
That's interesting, I assumed that this game was fully composed by Yamane but it's not the case. I updated the description.

jb1980ist on February 17th 2020, 4:46 am
I wish it were. A lot of the weaker tracks weren't hers.
BigGahmBoss on February 16th 2020, 11:07 pm
First?