@@PostMesmeric people are just afraid to let down their persona and genuinely enjoy something that is campy. So many people say Devil May Cry is "amazing trash" because they cant admit to themselves that you can be silly and fun while telling a really compelling and emotional story.
I've never understood how people could call games or music like this campy, corny, or obnoxious. Like how? It's just pure hype, adrenaline-induced badassness to me. Not to mention so fucking cool.
I know music that is trying "too hard". But when they know what they're doing, it all the more elevates the quality. Yes it's a bit cheesy, but that is also what I enjoy about power metal: It knows that it's over the top, and deals with it.
It is literally the definition of campy and that is why it is so fun. Its strength is that you can't help but take it seriously in the moment because of how well it's sold.
@@9volt65 But what even is the definition of campy? This song just sounds badass. I take it seriously even when I'm listening to it on my playlist because it just sounds so good...
@@lonewolf9578 thats not a wooosh,i understood the joke redditor,but anyway,good luck trying to get the 100000% useful updoots haha very funny take my reddit gold stranger.
Something that gets passed over a lot is how clever the lyrics really are Yeah, they're edgy and over-the-top, and it's clear that they match the personalities and ideals of the bosses *But* what people don't often notice is that the lyrics also serve as a reflection of Raiden as well, and this goes for the vocal tracks outside of boss themes as well. It's no accident that the Winds of Destruction have tragic and sordid pasts mirroring and eclipsing Raiden's own. The OST of Rising is a musical journey of Raiden's self-realization as a warrior, punctuated by conflicts of identity and purpose expressed through combat with others sharing his struggle on some level. This soundtrack functions not just to accentuate the gameplay and narrative, but to express part of that narrative in and of itself. And at the end all these parallels are laid bare as It Has to Be This Way is the most transparent about being a theme for both Armstrong *and* Raiden, and Armstrong leaves Raiden with his parting words that "deep inside we're kindred spirits, you and I." It's almost criminal how goddamn good this soundtrack really was.
Collective concious is already a connection between Raiden and Armstrong, before the story even says it out loud. The song is about giving up your free will to a higher power, something that Raiden not only thinks a "typical politician" is after, but also exactly the *opposite* of what Armstrong's true vision is. It's Raiden not seing the full picture of Armstrong, but rather projecting the values he opposes onto Armstrong
@@Leffrey Collective Consciousness could also be interpreted as an amped up take on Raiden's thoughts about U.S. culture in a world after finding out the truth about the Patriots, and ultimately how Armstrong in that moment fits into Raiden's worldview.
It kind of sucks people don't about the 3 battle themes compared to the boss themes since they do a really good job of capturing his descent from an optimistic "protector of the weak" mindset to a more cynical "I'll kill anything that gets in my way"
"Stranger I remain" is my favorite song... But like... the entire soundtrack is amazing while having a strong narrative, so you can hit random in this game's OST and I'd still be just as happy.
Every time I listen to the soundtrack I find another song that I really like. At first it was “rules of nature”, then it was “only thing I know for real”, “it has to be this way”, and “stranger i remain”. Every time I listen to it i remember jumping on missiles in the RAY fight, swords deflecting and clashing in a desert duel with Sam, Armstrong lifting and throwing massive chunks of metal, mistral’s wild whips and bouncing blades
THE LYRICS STOP WITHOUT THE SWORD??!! amazing video by the way, more games should look VERY closely at MGR and the way it built hype and spectacle, very few have been able to replicate this
every boss theme turns the lyrics on or off depending on whats going on. the only ones im not sure of are the two metal gear fights but im fairly sure they do it too.
@@leigonlord5382 Rules of Nature vocals kick in when you throw the Raya and jump on the missiles Excelcus vocals kick in whenever you cut its legs in the Zandatsu part and when you flip it
I never really paid attention to that "It has to be this way" loses the lyrics when you lose the sword, but i did notice that the metal gear you fight before that to "collective consciousness", it plays the lyrics while your in blade mode, but as soon as you leave blade mode the lyrics stop again.
It's amazing how this game took the "at least a new 3D Sonic game means a new killer butt rock soundtrack" audience and threw them a playable bone. I mean, when I saw this game I thought "I am the only Raiden fan and they made me a game I'm not even capable of playing" but listening to the soundtrack got me so pumped I bought it anyway and now I can even play Bayonetta. I bet if you took a survey asking how many people bought this game on a whim after bootlegging the soundtrack you could single handedly prove that "music piracy" provides a net benefit to the collective artistic endeavor.
Its funny how my favorite franchises happen to be because i was exposed to their music first minus Sonic as the character is what got me into the series.
If we count the soundtrack as part of the game proper, then the stories are told. Not in visual, not in dialogue, but in the track accompanying their final moments.
Be honest, you can not hear "RULES OF NATURE" without getting the sudden urge to cut metal gear ray in half all over again, and you just read that as if the actual song was playing in your head- Is it campy? Yes. Sometimes preachy to comedic effect? Definitely. Have you played it over and over again from beginning to end until you've asked if you have a problem? You're goddamn right you have. And if you say no to any of the above, you either haven't played the game or you're lying to yourself- I bet you are about to play the game right after this video. And not only that, you're gonna watch that same guy petting the cat during Monsoon's speech again because you can't help but be amazed at the level of detail of this seven year old game that is capable of blowing your mind with a god damn cat-
IMO the same goes for the storyline. Yes it's silly and campy, just flat out hilariously dumb at many points, but it has great characters and still legitimately explores very interesting ideas. It's certainly deeper than virtually every other game in its genre like Bayonetta, DMC and the like.
one thing that is said about the soundtrack is that it reflects how the bosses are feeling, and yeah thats true, however there is some creativity when it comes to the lyrics im talking about the vocal tracks that play during normal combat, aka Dark Skies, Return to Ashes and A Soul can't be Cut. dark skies i think is the weakest song in the soundtrack in terms of composition, but the lyrics actually foreshadow the final confrontation with armstrong, with lines such as "It's in the way we exploit the weak" and "Now find, find your own path". dark skies also gives us proof into raiden's character arc throughout the game. people say that the writing is a little off after the monsoon incident due to monsoon just being some rando member who showed up and changed raiden's character with one speech, and that raiden doesnt commit to it until the very end. while that is respectable, there are a few problems with that. 1. It's preceded by Sam revealing to Raiden he's no less of a murderer than he is. 2. Monsoon has basically the same ideology as the Patriot AI, which probably caused some memories from Raiden's past to resurface, opening his eyes to the fact that he's been manipulated again. 3. Dark Skies actually reveals what happens in Raiden's head after the Monsoon battle. the lines "No, no turning back, now! Now find, find your own path, But don't give into wrath" are important. you see, while raiden does accept that hes a soldier and his brain is wired for violence, he doesnt completely give in as he still wants to pursue his ideals, that being saving a bunch of brain children. the next one is Return to Ashes. this one im unsure of, but i think i have the idea behind it. i think its supposed to be raiden's thoughts on the state of the world, and pondering how much he will have to fight until he can finally rest. it highlights the reasons i bring up these songs because theyre very integral to raiden's character arc, basically being introspection. The last one is A Soul can't be Cut, and this one is even more tricky. the best i can make out about it is that its a reflection of both sam's and raiden's personalities, with the reference to a mirage being linked with sam not knowing the reason he fights, as well as the whole "carving your own path" theme present throughout the entire game. this comment is way too long but in conclusion, these songs dont get enough praise for how good they are, which is a non gamer moment. oh yeah, and this was a good video and all
this deserves so many more views. fantastic analysis. it bugs me when people just call this "stupid buttrock" as much as some of that is true, lol, its still a soundtrack does what it can to match the tone and mood of the game and the particular stage or enemy. its almost on movie or tv level of character themes and action adaptability.
Honestly I think you analysed the OST greatly, as I truly think the boss themes go perfectly in-tandem with the characters that relate to them. Other shows such as RWBY does something similar, though with almost every song in the soundtrack as they have has lyrics that have some meaning to the character, even backstories. But MGR has that unique feeling, the culmination of gameplay, music & characters together is why it grew on me. Great video btw Post! :D
i just realized watching this, that the lyrics in music, is similar how high level warriors can read their opponents soul during combat.(it sounds anime as fuck but it is a real phenomenon) So that's like their thoughts, emotions that they otherwise pour in their weapons/attacks is being heard/read by Raiden. Man the more time passes the more of true Genius of MGSR is revealed. And Armstrong battle, why there is no Armstrong song, is cause Raiden realizes he is fighting basically his reflection, they're "kindred spirits" which Jack felt instinctively, and the reason during Armstrong's fight both songs are about Jack is because he has an inner dialogue with himself, the real person he fighting right there at that moment, isn't Armstrong, it's Jack himself. He is fighting his "Jack the Ripper" side. That's just.... genius.
I SWEAR, Metal Gear Rising's music composition is something that DESPERATELY needs attention in today's gaming culture, and should be a staple example of how to implement music into your videogames!!! I see no excuse why more games don't do their music like this.
I always felt like there was something really special about the presentation in the Mistral fight and its music, so I'm glad you were able to fully phrase it
Cheking up after a while Alex, you're doing a hell of a job. Shared this with a friend who's trying to get visibility with a gaming channel. The journalist in you, man. And the music fan. :)
Love when osts compliment the boss fights, not only it makes them more memorable but they serve a point into getting into the opponent's mindset, it shows glimmers of how their personality is or even their inner thoughts. In todays industry is hard to find gems like these anymore and its sad to see that every year less and less effort goes into making memorable experiences.
I like it a lot too. It amazes me that if you listen closely, it manages to balance some really soft, melodic sounds with probably the most aggressive drums in the game
I don't know how I found your video anymore. But MGR:R was, and to this day, still is, one of my absolute favourite games, and soundtracks to boot. It's an absolutely awesome and eclectic mix which sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. To this day I cannot listen to any one of these songs without breaking into song myself. Thank you for doing it justice with this analysis.
Every great game soundtrack needs a "Rules of Nature" moment, a moment where everything just comes together perfectly so early on that you're at least intrigued to know more
“It has to be this way” feels more like Raiden’s theme than Armstrong’s. The title shows that Raiden knows he HAS to do this, and the lines “I carved my own path; you followed your wrath” is about how Raiden has always been struggling, where as Armstrong had it great but wanted more and more.
Watch Rycluse's analysis on Senator Armstrong. He brings up the point that Armstrong doesn't have a song that talks about how his story or true ideals, despite having two songs dedicated to him.
Don't forget that Sam's theme "The Only Thing I Know For Real" did the same thing "It Has To Be This Way" with the lyrics disappearing when Sam/Raiden loses their sword
I think you didn't give enough credit to the lyrics of "I'm my own master now". The ideas in it really come as a cherry on top of all the ideas in the game especially if you include DLC.
Nice vid, it's great to see another person's appreciation of this soundtrack in such a nicely presented video, That soundtrack was alot of fun, so many nice little touches too, Rules of Nature was a very welcoming tune to start the story, the build-up, the tempo and that great crescendo when the lyrics kicked in, it well worthy of memeing! Something I also liked with the music's plot progression was with both versions of A Soul Can't Be Cut (quite possibly my faves on the OST) , the standard platinum version plays after Raiden reaches a certain point in his development and is a lot more ruthless than when he started. Then there's the DLC version of the song for Jetstream Sam's story which is exactly the same except for the vocals are different as the lyrics are sung by the same vocalist who does Sam's theme tune (The Only Thing I Know For Real) instead. Also the final Armstrong boss in this DLC story has Collective Consciousness (the penultimate boss theme) playing through it before the battle ends. This could just be reusing assets, but it can also suggest that Raiden is re-treading the same path Sam did before facing Armstrong and failing, which also adds more value to the final boss theme (It Has To Be This Way) as Raiden progressed further than Sam could on the same journey and it adds value to Sam himself in the main campaign when you replay the story again. Sam and Raiden were two sides of the same coin making them suitable rivals and this made A Soul Can't Be Cut that much more effective. (That and it's a great theme tune for slicing your enemies apart to!)
The only sountrack getting close would be Devil May Cry 5 and i'm sure it's taking a page out of rising's book how to build hype with including lyrics at the right times to increase the hype.
Well DMC started the whole genre that MGR is a part of, so of course they'd have musical similarities. Silver Bullet and Bury The Light especially are probably the closest to MGR in terms of just aesthetics.
Using DMC 5 was probably not the best, I only remembers the characters songs, but all the boss fights ones? None at all, and let me say, I loved the game. I think DMC3 or 4 are better examples tho, in 3 the songs can be read as bullying the enemies, or the player when is not doing the super stylish combos lol
@@Bane_Amesta Yup, even DMC3 & 4 had that. And Doom 2016 did it, and NeiR Automata to a degree, and DMC5 as well, but MGR really takes the cake for that connected soundtrack.
I will always remember playing this Game the first time, every encounter was a blast because the music fitted so well in every scenario! It has to be this way and Stains of Time are true Masterpieces! The rush in every fight is almost unmatched for me :) To Bad there will never be another MGR :( i would kill for a new one :D Great Video, finally someone who got the right words to explain why the music was so good, keep it up!
The soundtracks made the boss fights what they were. I agree with everything you said, im glad someone else finally sees my vision of what a good soundtrack is. Music in boss fights need to match whats going on in the fight and thats how you make the player feel awsome and connected to whats going on.
Dude, this material is amazing. I love the soundtrack in Metal Gear Rising and you explained the aspects of music that I couldn't imagine. You really surprised me here. Awesome job buddy.
the lyrics of the song in the themes of the bosses are a reflection of the thoughts or history of the bosses, as if it was a way to extend and better explain the existence and mentality of the villains
The constant boomer-tier nagging is so jarring and I dont think I've ever heard any of those things said about this soundtrack. Like another comment pointed out, comparing to DMC, it feels like repression and non-acceptance of the innate ridiculousness of this game. Just because it's wacky, or edgy, doesn't mean you can't take it seriously.
Rules of Nature might be the most memed of the OST. To a degree where it has become a soundtrack to surpass Guile's Theme. But the entire soundtrack is great. Yes, full of meme-worthy moments, but at the same time great and enjoyable music on it's own. And never forget: *MEMES, THE DNA OF THE SOUL!*
I play all these games almost daily, I’m a huge Metal Gear fan but i haven’t played Rising yet and it looks so good, the OST has some of my favorite songs ever
"The War Still Rages Within" is a personal favorite of mine. It's more subdued and mysterious than other tracks, but its swells retain the energy and power of the entire OST. Well worth appreciating.
I think the fact that I had never played the game and had only really seen things relating to Armstrong, but still had a good idea of who the bosses were and what they were like just from listening to the music says a lot I believe
2+ years to late but I love how Sam's boss theme tells this story of a warrior lost in his lust for battle,forgetting who he once was and even beginning to hate himself once he realizes how far he's fallen but being unable to stop himself from fighting unless he's stopped with force. Sam was 100% my favorite character and I could imagine in alternate timelines him and Raiden could have been an amazing duo both as warriors and as friends
Sam's role as a rival always stuck in Revengeance. Throughout the whole game, he really embodies the parallel to Raiden's position, so it's cool to see how much he resonated with players.
an awesome OST for an absolutely awesome game, the best thing about the whole package is the fact that it never takes itself seriously, mainline MGS games never really took themselves too seriously either and it wasn't all that uncommon to find a goofy moment here and there, I'm so happy that people are finally learning to appreciate this masterpiece, it broke grounds when it came to the action genre in general and took it a step further in a direction never thought to be even possible, this game to the action genre is what Doom Eternal is to Doom 2016 and the FPS genre in general.
The boss fights and their music are meant too work together. If you listen too just the music or play the boss battles without music, its not the same. Its a greater than the sum of its parts situation. Whenever I'm listening too these songs I'm not thinking about the lyrics or the beat, I remember the adrenaline pumping combat I felt and that was exemplified I felt when first listening too them.
MGR:R is by far my favourite Platinum game, and its amazing soundtrack is just one of the reasons for that. There are numerous songs in this game that bypassed that threshold of just being good music and have made their way into my playlists to listen to when doing other things. Something a lot of modern artists can't even manage.
Are you really not going to talk about how Monsoon's theme "splits in pieces" like he does? Really?? When it says "have disappea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-red" to be precise. I always found that detail majestic. But kudos for noting the part of Sam's sword, I have never noticed that bit and it changes the meaning of that song dramatically.
I’m glad people can appreciate the soundtrack for how brilliant it is, Christopherson held nothing back when making the songs and when combined with the gameplay, they really shine. Even on their own though, they still bang. All of the Maniac Agenda mix is in my playlist.
Can I get a shout out for the full 4CD OST release that included the mix of each bosses instrumental theme into their vocal themes just as the game mixed them during the boss phase transition? Because I know it existed, however it seems to have been nuked from the internet... Except for those evil torrent sites I have only heard rumours about, apparently.
I think "It has to be this way" also serves as telling the listener that Raiden and Armstrong aren’t that different, with the lyrics "In the end, I realize you are just like me, trying to make history."
The dialogue between Armstrong and Raiden only tells half the story. It takes the soundtrack, and how it is applied, to fully understand that it's not only a battle of fists, but of ideologies.
The music is what brought me into the game and made jetstream sam one of my all time favorite characters, even though there's hardly enough we've got of him as a character 15:44 they're very much so inseparable, half the time i hear a song i boot up the game and rematch the boss
I disagree with the "so bad it's good" mentality in this case. The music isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, the appeal is that the music itself is very over the top while the vocals go more in depth about the characters the music plays for. Being so bad that it's good would imply that the music isn't *designed* to sound the way it does, it very much is, and would legitimately *be* bad if that wasn't the goal in mind when making the soundtrack.
wow, I didn't realize the lyrics stopped if you didn't have sam's blade in hand, incredible! but... I'm still sad no one ever talks about the credits music, The War Still Rages Within, specially as it's one of the calmest songs in the game
"The War Still Rages Within" is underrated. It's not as in-your-face as the other tracks, but it acts as a pretty satisfying closer that lets the listener/player catch their breath after wrapping up the game. I also like how the instrumentation swells back and forth throughout, giving the song a kind of ebb and flow.
@@PostMesmeric thank you for replying! It's one of my favorites from the game, especially since the lyrics delve a little bit into Raiden's inner struggle Unfortunately the probability of a sequel coming is very low, but I'd love to be able to see more of how he'll deal with his own Jack The Ripper persona, the morality of all his actions, the PTSD, his family... well, the war that rages within him I dunno, the song feels bittersweet and optimistic at the same time for me, don't know how to explain that... Raiden goes through a lot but he will still fight, even if it's internally but that's just my interpretation and I might be wrong xD
The fight might be over for now. The world is saved? But that doesn't mean there isn't more boiling. Having a rather calm song for the credits fits perfectly with the narrative, just like any other part of the soundtrack. Every boss had their song telling their story and perspective. And this one, this one is for Raiden.
Amazing analysis dude, it's glad to see metal gear rising praise, it easily has one of the best soundtracks in a video game out there, up there with dmc 5 for me
The Only Thing I Know For Real really shows how Sam is just a pure organic man save for his right arm and how the arm is like a burden to him and when Raiden knocks the sword out the first time he feels alive having to rely solely on his robotic arm and then when the lyrics kick back in it’s the same but Sam feels alive and it’s the only thing he knows for real
My thoughts on the vocals not being present in the parts where the blade is separated from Raiden is in my theory, a representation of The Spirit of Sam being bound to that blade. Every moment the blade is in the hands of Jack it is Jack having his mind leveled out, he is no longer pretending to fight only for the weak, or to sate his bloodthirst that was instilled in him when he was a child soldier, but it is the balance between those two places. He comes to terms with his demons, that he loves to fight and thats why he fights for those who cant fight for themselves. It is the connection of body and mind, and the lyrics are a mirror to Sams last will, and the connection between Raiden Sam and Armstrong all being very similar to eachother in some way, but mostly being more like Raiden than Sam is like Armstrong and vice versa, which is really what the song is about. Raiden has already come to terms with him and Sam being warriors and being a lot more alike than Raiden wants to let on, with him discovering why he fights (once obtaining Sams sword) he integrates Sams fighting stance and wears a smile for the fight that is to come against The Senator. After the fight, he realizes that the Senator to some degree was trying to better the world, and passed on this will to Raiden, who after his many battles and learning moments has discovered that in order to do what must be done to make the world a better place, he has to continue to cut his own path without the worry of cutting others along the way
"So bad its good" would imply that the music was bad in the first place. Its great!
Trust me, I've heard plenty of folks say the music is "so bad it's good." Couldn't disagree with them more.
@@PostMesmeric people are just afraid to let down their persona and genuinely enjoy something that is campy. So many people say Devil May Cry is "amazing trash" because they cant admit to themselves that you can be silly and fun while telling a really compelling and emotional story.
@@KingJobber talking about devil may cry or the reboot? Everyone loves devil may cry
@@makairidah8354 there are people who hates on it
@@tabkg5802 as some one who likes Devil May Cry and liked the reboot. all i ever hear is people bitching about the reboot
I've never understood how people could call games or music like this campy, corny, or obnoxious.
Like how?
It's just pure hype, adrenaline-induced badassness to me.
Not to mention so fucking cool.
I think they just want to sound more mature than they actually are.
I know music that is trying "too hard". But when they know what they're doing, it all the more elevates the quality.
Yes it's a bit cheesy, but that is also what I enjoy about power metal: It knows that it's over the top, and deals with it.
Its campy, or rather it would be if it wasnt sold so well
It is literally the definition of campy and that is why it is so fun. Its strength is that you can't help but take it seriously in the moment because of how well it's sold.
@@9volt65 But what even is the definition of campy?
This song just sounds badass.
I take it seriously even when I'm listening to it on my playlist because it just sounds so good...
"so bad it's good" I've never heard anyone say this about the soundtrack
So good its good more like
Yeah the soundtrack is fire it’s not bad I don’t get why he said that lol
Bad is short for badass
@@Dankboi68 2 words 2 completely different meanings though
It's so badass, it's good.
The Metal Gear Rising soundtrack is actually what brought me into the game itself.
Same
Me to
Lol Playstation all stars battle royale got me into riden then into mgrr and then metal gear
Same. Particularly Stranger I Remain
same
Of course the soundtrack is edgy. It's a game about swords!
but its still my favourite ost in any game
Not only swords but about politics
@@SolarBoy204 woooosh
@@lonewolf9578 thats not a wooosh,i understood the joke redditor,but anyway,good luck trying to get the 100000% useful updoots haha very funny take my reddit gold stranger.
and a Gun Sword Sheath
Something that gets passed over a lot is how clever the lyrics really are
Yeah, they're edgy and over-the-top, and it's clear that they match the personalities and ideals of the bosses
*But* what people don't often notice is that the lyrics also serve as a reflection of Raiden as well, and this goes for the vocal tracks outside of boss themes as well. It's no accident that the Winds of Destruction have tragic and sordid pasts mirroring and eclipsing Raiden's own.
The OST of Rising is a musical journey of Raiden's self-realization as a warrior, punctuated by conflicts of identity and purpose expressed through combat with others sharing his struggle on some level. This soundtrack functions not just to accentuate the gameplay and narrative, but to express part of that narrative in and of itself.
And at the end all these parallels are laid bare as It Has to Be This Way is the most transparent about being a theme for both Armstrong *and* Raiden, and Armstrong leaves Raiden with his parting words that "deep inside we're kindred spirits, you and I."
It's almost criminal how goddamn good this soundtrack really was.
Collective concious is already a connection between Raiden and Armstrong, before the story even says it out loud.
The song is about giving up your free will to a higher power, something that Raiden not only thinks a "typical politician" is after, but also exactly the *opposite* of what Armstrong's true vision is. It's Raiden not seing the full picture of Armstrong, but rather projecting the values he opposes onto Armstrong
@@Leffrey Collective Consciousness could also be interpreted as an amped up take on Raiden's thoughts about U.S. culture in a world after finding out the truth about the Patriots, and ultimately how Armstrong in that moment fits into Raiden's worldview.
It kind of sucks people don't about the 3 battle themes compared to the boss themes since they do a really good job of capturing his descent from an optimistic "protector of the weak" mindset to a more cynical "I'll kill anything that gets in my way"
"It has to be this way" is still in my playlist. Such an amazing song.
"Stranger I remain" is my favorite song...
But like... the entire soundtrack is amazing while having a strong narrative, so you can hit random in this game's OST and I'd still be just as happy.
Freefork same dude
Standing here i realise
YOU ARE JUST LIKE ME
TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY
@@monsoon7591 But who's to judge
The right from wrong
SunDowner's theme starts playing
Raiden get ready to fight
One of the best moments
"kids are cruel Jack, and I'm very in touch with my inner child" (epic music on background)
Such an amazing moment
You can be crueler than that jack!
{Grunts and attachs Bloodlust} I'll split you in two!
I still have all the boss themes on my phone lol.
Frank West is it possible to find the boss themes on iTunes? I've been looking for weeks
@@gameslasher8097 just mp3 download it on TH-cam, copy and paste the URL
Same here haha.
We all do
“If you are ready to kill for your ideals, you MUST die for them”
Mistral
Every time I listen to the soundtrack I find another song that I really like.
At first it was “rules of nature”, then it was “only thing I know for real”, “it has to be this way”, and “stranger i remain”.
Every time I listen to it i remember jumping on missiles in the RAY fight, swords deflecting and clashing in a desert duel with Sam, Armstrong lifting and throwing massive chunks of metal, mistral’s wild whips and bouncing blades
and Red Sun as Sundowner keeps smacking us with pillars
and Stains of Time as you kick Monsoon into a building.
Collective Consciousness is slept on imo
@@dignelberrt IKR
The hot wind is blowing is also pretty good
THE LYRICS STOP WITHOUT THE SWORD??!!
amazing video by the way, more games should look VERY closely at MGR and the way it built hype and spectacle, very few have been able to replicate this
The lyrics also stop when Sam is unarmed during Raiden vs Sam!
Now imagine I played this game for 80 hours and didn't notice that fact at all D:
every boss theme turns the lyrics on or off depending on whats going on. the only ones im not sure of are the two metal gear fights but im fairly sure they do it too.
@@leigonlord5382 Rules of Nature vocals kick in when you throw the Raya and jump on the missiles
Excelcus vocals kick in whenever you cut its legs in the Zandatsu part and when you flip it
If I remember correctly they blend the song together so that certain parts of the song play at certain places in the boss fight too
I never really paid attention to that "It has to be this way" loses the lyrics when you lose the sword, but i did notice that the metal gear you fight before that to "collective consciousness", it plays the lyrics while your in blade mode, but as soon as you leave blade mode the lyrics stop again.
That also happens in the fight with Sam. The lyrics stop when he loses his sword midway in the fight.
Every single boss fight has parts where it uses the version with lyrics and the version without, I'm pretty sure
It's amazing how this game took the "at least a new 3D Sonic game means a new killer butt rock soundtrack" audience and threw them a playable bone. I mean, when I saw this game I thought "I am the only Raiden fan and they made me a game I'm not even capable of playing" but listening to the soundtrack got me so pumped I bought it anyway and now I can even play Bayonetta. I bet if you took a survey asking how many people bought this game on a whim after bootlegging the soundtrack you could single handedly prove that "music piracy" provides a net benefit to the collective artistic endeavor.
Its funny how my favorite franchises happen to be because i was exposed to their music first minus Sonic as the character is what got me into the series.
Also, the villains' songs tell their respective character's story, who are rather underdeveloped in the game proper.
If we count the soundtrack as part of the game proper, then the stories are told. Not in visual, not in dialogue, but in the track accompanying their final moments.
Be honest, you can not hear "RULES OF NATURE" without getting the sudden urge to cut metal gear ray in half all over again, and you just read that as if the actual song was playing in your head-
Is it campy? Yes. Sometimes preachy to comedic effect? Definitely. Have you played it over and over again from beginning to end until you've asked if you have a problem? You're goddamn right you have.
And if you say no to any of the above, you either haven't played the game or you're lying to yourself-
I bet you are about to play the game right after this video. And not only that, you're gonna watch that same guy petting the cat during Monsoon's speech again because you can't help but be amazed at the level of detail of this seven year old game that is capable of blowing your mind with a god damn cat-
"i bet you are about to play the game right after this video"
Me:*sad broke noises*
RULES OF NATURE!!
And they run when the sun comes up
With their lives on the line
ALIVE
IMO the same goes for the storyline. Yes it's silly and campy, just flat out hilariously dumb at many points, but it has great characters and still legitimately explores very interesting ideas. It's certainly deeper than virtually every other game in its genre like Bayonetta, DMC and the like.
@@nichtsisthier339 For a while
NO CHOICE
Gotta follow the laws of wild
ALIVE
With their lives on the line
NO CHOICE
Out here only the strong survive
If you pay Close attention, then the Vocals also stop when you disarm Sam in Raiden vs Sam fight!
one thing that is said about the soundtrack is that it reflects how the bosses are feeling, and yeah thats true, however there is some creativity when it comes to the lyrics
im talking about the vocal tracks that play during normal combat, aka Dark Skies, Return to Ashes and A Soul can't be Cut. dark skies i think is the weakest song in the soundtrack in terms of composition, but the lyrics actually foreshadow the final confrontation with armstrong, with lines such as "It's in the way we exploit the weak" and "Now find, find your own path".
dark skies also gives us proof into raiden's character arc throughout the game. people say that the writing is a little off after the monsoon incident due to monsoon just being some rando member who showed up and changed raiden's character with one speech, and that raiden doesnt commit to it until the very end. while that is respectable, there are a few problems with that.
1. It's preceded by Sam revealing to Raiden he's no less of a murderer than he is.
2. Monsoon has basically the same ideology as the Patriot AI, which probably caused some memories from Raiden's past to resurface, opening his eyes to the fact that he's been manipulated again.
3. Dark Skies actually reveals what happens in Raiden's head after the Monsoon battle.
the lines "No, no turning back, now!
Now find, find your own path, But don't give into wrath" are important. you see, while raiden does accept that hes a soldier and his brain is wired for violence, he doesnt completely give in as he still wants to pursue his ideals, that being saving a bunch of brain children.
the next one is Return to Ashes. this one im unsure of, but i think i have the idea behind it. i think its supposed to be raiden's thoughts on the state of the world, and pondering how much he will have to fight until he can finally rest. it highlights the reasons i bring up these songs because theyre very integral to raiden's character arc, basically being introspection.
The last one is A Soul can't be Cut, and this one is even more tricky. the best i can make out about it is that its a reflection of both sam's and raiden's personalities, with the reference to a mirage being linked with sam not knowing the reason he fights, as well as the whole "carving your own path" theme present throughout the entire game.
this comment is way too long but in conclusion, these songs dont get enough praise for how good they are, which is a non gamer moment.
oh yeah, and this was a good video and all
also Raiden talks very differently in codec calls ever since he meets Monsoon, and questions himself MULTIPLE times
That was, a lot
What else can be said? This game just rocks, audio-wise and gameplay-wise. Watching this makes me want to replay this game again.
If we're lucky Konami will sell the whole Metal Gear IP to Sony.
the only problem with metal gear rising is that is way too short
MGR's soundtrack was awesome. Watching this made me want to play the game again.
Dew it!
this deserves so many more views. fantastic analysis. it bugs me when people just call this "stupid buttrock" as much as some of that is true, lol, its still a soundtrack does what it can to match the tone and mood of the game and the particular stage or enemy. its almost on movie or tv level of character themes and action adaptability.
I don't think I can pay attention to this video if I'm just gonna be singing the lyrics the whole time
I don't have the willpower
Honestly I think you analysed the OST greatly, as I truly think the boss themes go perfectly in-tandem with the characters that relate to them. Other shows such as RWBY does something similar, though with almost every song in the soundtrack as they have has lyrics that have some meaning to the character, even backstories.
But MGR has that unique feeling, the culmination of gameplay, music & characters together is why it grew on me.
Great video btw Post! :D
i just realized watching this, that the lyrics in music, is similar how high level warriors can read their opponents soul during combat.(it sounds anime as fuck but it is a real phenomenon) So that's like their thoughts, emotions that they otherwise pour in their weapons/attacks is being heard/read by Raiden. Man the more time passes the more of true Genius of MGSR is revealed.
And Armstrong battle, why there is no Armstrong song, is cause Raiden realizes he is fighting basically his reflection, they're "kindred spirits" which Jack felt instinctively, and the reason during Armstrong's fight both songs are about Jack is because he has an inner dialogue with himself, the real person he fighting right there at that moment, isn't Armstrong, it's Jack himself. He is fighting his "Jack the Ripper" side. That's just.... genius.
the moment stains of time begins to play as you start the fight with monsoon is one of the most memorable moments of any game for me
I SWEAR, Metal Gear Rising's music composition is something that DESPERATELY needs attention in today's gaming culture, and should be a staple example of how to implement music into your videogames!!! I see no excuse why more games don't do their music like this.
You got what you wanted
MGRR's OST is one of the best i have ever listened to, its fuckin outstanding, and i am ashamed it took me 7 years to get to playing it
I feel like the rising soundtrack was in a way a precursor to the doom 2016 soundtrack where the music and the gameplay went hand in hand
I always felt like there was something really special about the presentation in the Mistral fight and its music, so I'm glad you were able to fully phrase it
Great analysis on a godtier soundtrack. Each track is such a banger.
Btw your voice reminds me a bit of Solid Snake.
Cheking up after a while Alex, you're doing a hell of a job. Shared this with a friend who's trying to get visibility with a gaming channel. The journalist in you, man. And the music fan. :)
Love when osts compliment the boss fights, not only it makes them more memorable but they serve a point into getting into the opponent's mindset, it shows glimmers of how their personality is or even their inner thoughts. In todays industry is hard to find gems like these anymore and its sad to see that every year less and less effort goes into making memorable experiences.
finally someone that made the in-depth view that this amazing soundtrack really deserve
"Stranger I Remain" is by far one of my favourite songs to come from gaming. Period.
I like it a lot too. It amazes me that if you listen closely, it manages to balance some really soft, melodic sounds with probably the most aggressive drums in the game
"So bad it's good?" Since when, anybody who actually listens to metal can tell you this is some great stuff.
Absolutely.
How is this soundtrack "so bad it's good?"
It's just good. Highly HIGHLY good.
@@imarock.7662 Exactly. Let those fucking kids listen to their shitty rap. Here we listen to good music. METAL.
@@stavroskoul732 I agree.🤘🏻 It fits so well.😋
I can imagine the type. Probably someone that already has a narrow definition of enjoyable music
Imagine if you start to play 'Rules of Nature' mid surgery and the doctor turns you into a cyborg.
I just love the mgrr osts, all of em
yoooo, this video deserves much more views!! Such a great analysis yooo
I never noticed that detail about the lyrics in It Has To Be This Way being tied to Sam's sword.
Same thing applies to Sams fight if I remember correctly, if you knock his sword away the vocals stop
I don't know how I found your video anymore. But MGR:R was, and to this day, still is, one of my absolute favourite games, and soundtracks to boot. It's an absolutely awesome and eclectic mix which sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. To this day I cannot listen to any one of these songs without breaking into song myself. Thank you for doing it justice with this analysis.
Every great game soundtrack needs a "Rules of Nature" moment, a moment where everything just comes together perfectly so early on that you're at least intrigued to know more
“It has to be this way” feels more like Raiden’s theme than Armstrong’s. The title shows that Raiden knows he HAS to do this, and the lines “I carved my own path; you followed your wrath” is about how Raiden has always been struggling, where as Armstrong had it great but wanted more and more.
Watch Rycluse's analysis on Senator Armstrong. He brings up the point that Armstrong doesn't have a song that talks about how his story or true ideals, despite having two songs dedicated to him.
That's why "Collective Consciousness" plays in the Jetstream Sam DLC rather than "It has to be this way".
Don't forget that Sam's theme "The Only Thing I Know For Real" did the same thing "It Has To Be This Way" with the lyrics disappearing when Sam/Raiden loses their sword
People thinking something being edgy automatically makes it bad are smooth brains
Been so long when I played this game. I forgot how great it was. I need to replay it.
Means you can experience it all over again!
This is one of the best videos I’ve ever watched keep up the more than excellent work
No matter what, everytime you get the boss to their last legs and the vocals kick in
Fucking so good
I've been waiting years for someone to make this exact video
I think you didn't give enough credit to the lyrics of "I'm my own master now".
The ideas in it really come as a cherry on top of all the ideas in the game especially if you include DLC.
DMC 5 bury the light reminds me of mgr soundtrack. I hope we get more of this kind of video game soundtracks in the future
Stains of Time is still one of my favorite video game songs of all time, with that, the gerudo valley theme, and BFG Division
This game's soundtrack is really the best I've ever heard in terms of how much attention was given to the details and how much it fits the game itself
Nice vid, it's great to see another person's appreciation of this soundtrack in such a nicely presented video, That soundtrack was alot of fun, so many nice little touches too, Rules of Nature was a very welcoming tune to start the story, the build-up, the tempo and that great crescendo when the lyrics kicked in, it well worthy of memeing!
Something I also liked with the music's plot progression was with both versions of A Soul Can't Be Cut (quite possibly my faves on the OST) , the standard platinum version plays after Raiden reaches a certain point in his development and is a lot more ruthless than when he started. Then there's the DLC version of the song for Jetstream Sam's story which is exactly the same except for the vocals are different as the lyrics are sung by the same vocalist who does Sam's theme tune (The Only Thing I Know For Real) instead. Also the final Armstrong boss in this DLC story has Collective Consciousness (the penultimate boss theme) playing through it before the battle ends. This could just be reusing assets, but it can also suggest that Raiden is re-treading the same path Sam did before facing Armstrong and failing, which also adds more value to the final boss theme (It Has To Be This Way) as Raiden progressed further than Sam could on the same journey and it adds value to Sam himself in the main campaign when you replay the story again. Sam and Raiden were two sides of the same coin making them suitable rivals and this made A Soul Can't Be Cut that much more effective. (That and it's a great theme tune for slicing your enemies apart to!)
The only sountrack getting close would be Devil May Cry 5 and i'm sure it's taking a page out of rising's book how to build hype with including lyrics at the right times to increase the hype.
DMC5 only has 1 song that is even close to MGRR. I can't remember any of the OST except devil trigger and legacy
DMC is like heavy metal and this sucks :v
Well DMC started the whole genre that MGR is a part of, so of course they'd have musical similarities. Silver Bullet and Bury The Light especially are probably the closest to MGR in terms of just aesthetics.
Using DMC 5 was probably not the best, I only remembers the characters songs, but all the boss fights ones? None at all, and let me say, I loved the game.
I think DMC3 or 4 are better examples tho, in 3 the songs can be read as bullying the enemies, or the player when is not doing the super stylish combos lol
@@Bane_Amesta Yup, even DMC3 & 4 had that. And Doom 2016 did it, and NeiR Automata to a degree, and DMC5 as well, but MGR really takes the cake for that connected soundtrack.
I remember the moment i said that i love this game, the mistral fight, the moment the lyrics kick in such a good fight
I will always remember playing this Game the first time, every encounter was a blast because the music fitted so well in every scenario! It has to be this way and Stains of Time are true Masterpieces! The rush in every fight is almost unmatched for me :)
To Bad there will never be another MGR :( i would kill for a new one :D
Great Video, finally someone who got the right words to explain why the music was so good, keep it up!
The soundtracks made the boss fights what they were. I agree with everything you said, im glad someone else finally sees my vision of what a good soundtrack is. Music in boss fights need to match whats going on in the fight and thats how you make the player feel awsome and connected to whats going on.
I knew it, another Rising video starting with “Stains of Time” it simply is a glorious song.
Dude, this material is amazing. I love the soundtrack in Metal Gear Rising and you explained the aspects of music that I couldn't imagine. You really surprised me here. Awesome job buddy.
the lyrics of the song in the themes of the bosses are a reflection of the thoughts or history of the bosses, as if it was a way to extend and better explain the existence and mentality of the villains
The music matches the in-game events and the boss themes give insight to the characters and themes
The constant boomer-tier nagging is so jarring and I dont think I've ever heard any of those things said about this soundtrack.
Like another comment pointed out, comparing to DMC, it feels like repression and non-acceptance of the innate ridiculousness of this game. Just because it's wacky, or edgy, doesn't mean you can't take it seriously.
This game' ost defined a meme era. Also, Stains of Time is still playing in my playlist 7 years after.
Rules of Nature might be the most memed of the OST. To a degree where it has become a soundtrack to surpass Guile's Theme.
But the entire soundtrack is great. Yes, full of meme-worthy moments, but at the same time great and enjoyable music on it's own.
And never forget: *MEMES, THE DNA OF THE SOUL!*
I play all these games almost daily, I’m a huge Metal Gear fan but i haven’t played Rising yet and it looks so good, the OST has some of my favorite songs ever
Stranger I remain the theme where you fight Mistral is easily the most underrated song on the entire soundtrack but the whole soundtrack is beautiful.
"A Stranger I Remain" is one of my favorites on the tracklist for sure.
Don't sleep on the end credit theme. The war still rages within is easily top three from the ost (1. Stains of time)
"The War Still Rages Within" is a personal favorite of mine. It's more subdued and mysterious than other tracks, but its swells retain the energy and power of the entire OST. Well worth appreciating.
Top 3 best
1: It has to be this way
2: The only thing i know for real
3: Red sun
I think the fact that I had never played the game and had only really seen things relating to Armstrong, but still had a good idea of who the bosses were and what they were like just from listening to the music says a lot I believe
14:04 That's the peacewalker theme!
the moment i first realized that it was the biggest shock ive felt about a video game i stg
2+ years to late but I love how Sam's boss theme tells this story of a warrior lost in his lust for battle,forgetting who he once was and even beginning to hate himself once he realizes how far he's fallen but being unable to stop himself from fighting unless he's stopped with force. Sam was 100% my favorite character and I could imagine in alternate timelines him and Raiden could have been an amazing duo both as warriors and as friends
Sam's role as a rival always stuck in Revengeance. Throughout the whole game, he really embodies the parallel to Raiden's position, so it's cool to see how much he resonated with players.
Bury the Light brought me back to the MGR soundtrack and I could thank it enough. Seriously, the OST is such a goddamn masterpiece
an awesome OST for an absolutely awesome game, the best thing about the whole package is the fact that it never takes itself seriously, mainline MGS games never really took themselves too seriously either and it wasn't all that uncommon to find a goofy moment here and there, I'm so happy that people are finally learning to appreciate this masterpiece, it broke grounds when it came to the action genre in general and took it a step further in a direction never thought to be even possible, this game to the action genre is what Doom Eternal is to Doom 2016 and the FPS genre in general.
My favorite part of all the boss fights is when the lyrics hit, it's so fucking hype
Great video my man
i remember playing this game when i was younger
Okay, but unironically this ost goes really faking hard
Also, the Sword flying out of his hand stopping the lyrics is the same thing that happens in the Jetstream Sam Bossfight
The boss fights and their music are meant too work together. If you listen too just the music or play the boss battles without music, its not the same. Its a greater than the sum of its parts situation. Whenever I'm listening too these songs I'm not thinking about the lyrics or the beat, I remember the adrenaline pumping combat I felt and that was exemplified I felt when first listening too them.
TH-cam algorithm led me here. So damn happy
MGR:R is by far my favourite Platinum game, and its amazing soundtrack is just one of the reasons for that.
There are numerous songs in this game that bypassed that threshold of just being good music and have made their way into my playlists to listen to when doing other things. Something a lot of modern artists can't even manage.
Are you really not going to talk about how Monsoon's theme "splits in pieces" like he does? Really?? When it says "have disappea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-red" to be precise. I always found that detail majestic. But kudos for noting the part of Sam's sword, I have never noticed that bit and it changes the meaning of that song dramatically.
Brilliant, perfect analysis. Mirrors my thoughts exactly.
It's about fucking time this game blew up
They done an amazing job, cause this OST freekin' SLAPS!!!
I’m glad people can appreciate the soundtrack for how brilliant it is, Christopherson held nothing back when making the songs and when combined with the gameplay, they really shine. Even on their own though, they still bang. All of the Maniac Agenda mix is in my playlist.
Probably a big reason as to why Metal Gear Rising is my all time favorite game
Can I get a shout out for the full 4CD OST release that included the mix of each bosses instrumental theme into their vocal themes just as the game mixed them during the boss phase transition?
Because I know it existed, however it seems to have been nuked from the internet... Except for those evil torrent sites I have only heard rumours about, apparently.
I think "It has to be this way" also serves as telling the listener that Raiden and Armstrong aren’t that different, with the lyrics "In the end, I realize you are just like me, trying to make history."
The dialogue between Armstrong and Raiden only tells half the story. It takes the soundtrack, and how it is applied, to fully understand that it's not only a battle of fists, but of ideologies.
The best thing about the bosses music is when the vocals kick in at the climax of the fight
The music is what brought me into the game and made jetstream sam one of my all time favorite characters, even though there's hardly enough we've got of him as a character
15:44 they're very much so inseparable, half the time i hear a song i boot up the game and rematch the boss
I disagree with the "so bad it's good" mentality in this case. The music isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, the appeal is that the music itself is very over the top while the vocals go more in depth about the characters the music plays for. Being so bad that it's good would imply that the music isn't *designed* to sound the way it does, it very much is, and would legitimately *be* bad if that wasn't the goal in mind when making the soundtrack.
wow, I didn't realize the lyrics stopped if you didn't have sam's blade in hand, incredible!
but... I'm still sad no one ever talks about the credits music, The War Still Rages Within, specially as it's one of the calmest songs in the game
"The War Still Rages Within" is underrated. It's not as in-your-face as the other tracks, but it acts as a pretty satisfying closer that lets the listener/player catch their breath after wrapping up the game. I also like how the instrumentation swells back and forth throughout, giving the song a kind of ebb and flow.
@@PostMesmeric thank you for replying! It's one of my favorites from the game, especially since the lyrics delve a little bit into Raiden's inner struggle
Unfortunately the probability of a sequel coming is very low, but I'd love to be able to see more of how he'll deal with his own Jack The Ripper persona, the morality of all his actions, the PTSD, his family... well, the war that rages within him
I dunno, the song feels bittersweet and optimistic at the same time for me, don't know how to explain that... Raiden goes through a lot but he will still fight, even if it's internally
but that's just my interpretation and I might be wrong xD
The fight might be over for now. The world is saved? But that doesn't mean there isn't more boiling. Having a rather calm song for the credits fits perfectly with the narrative, just like any other part of the soundtrack. Every boss had their song telling their story and perspective. And this one, this one is for Raiden.
Amazing analysis dude, it's glad to see metal gear rising praise, it easily has one of the best soundtracks in a video game out there, up there with dmc 5 for me
woa i never notices the lyrics fade when raiden loses the blade
The Only Thing I Know For Real really shows how Sam is just a pure organic man save for his right arm and how the arm is like a burden to him and when Raiden knocks the sword out the first time he feels alive having to rely solely on his robotic arm and then when the lyrics kick back in it’s the same but Sam feels alive and it’s the only thing he knows for real
I just love how the tracks are about the bosses, also they're good overall.
Remember that the guy who made the music for this game also made the music for Toontown.
A Stranger I Remain is still one of my favorite video game themes I've ever heard.
How do you define "edginess"? Please don't let it turn into a buzzword that just means "X takes itself seriously and I don't like it"
My thoughts on the vocals not being present in the parts where the blade is separated from Raiden is in my theory, a representation of The Spirit of Sam being bound to that blade. Every moment the blade is in the hands of Jack it is Jack having his mind leveled out, he is no longer pretending to fight only for the weak, or to sate his bloodthirst that was instilled in him when he was a child soldier, but it is the balance between those two places. He comes to terms with his demons, that he loves to fight and thats why he fights for those who cant fight for themselves. It is the connection of body and mind, and the lyrics are a mirror to Sams last will, and the connection between Raiden Sam and Armstrong all being very similar to eachother in some way, but mostly being more like Raiden than Sam is like Armstrong and vice versa, which is really what the song is about. Raiden has already come to terms with him and Sam being warriors and being a lot more alike than Raiden wants to let on, with him discovering why he fights (once obtaining Sams sword) he integrates Sams fighting stance and wears a smile for the fight that is to come against The Senator. After the fight, he realizes that the Senator to some degree was trying to better the world, and passed on this will to Raiden, who after his many battles and learning moments has discovered that in order to do what must be done to make the world a better place, he has to continue to cut his own path without the worry of cutting others along the way