A New Step for Pokémon Sound Design - Pokémon Legends: Arceus

[@petershillito]

One of my favourite things in Legends Arceus are how the Poke balls look, act and sound compared to "modern" balls mass-produced by Silph Co. We've all seen how they have a bamboo design, and they're hand crafted from apricorns (which was established in Gold/Silver with Kurt being the one person who still hand makes poke balls from apricorns), but the modern day balls are very robotic, with lights on the button to confirm a successful capture alongside more electronic noises, etc. The balls in Arceus have a metal latch to manually keep them shut, and have a small firework that pops out to confirm capture, the sort of firework people could make by hand. The game is full of some really thoughtful world building and I loved every second of it. Thanks for the video Scruffy.

[@Raven-626-]

This is a bit of a spoiler but there's also a certain type of Pokeball you get around the end of the story that's interesting. When you use it to catch a Pokemon, unlike the other "old" Pokeballs in Legends Arceus, it instead mirrors the behavior of a "modern" Pokeball. It does 3 shakes, then emits a pulse of light to confirm a catch.

[@petershillito]

@@Raven-626- omg yes of course. such a great way of adding some climactic tension in that moment.

[@BonaparteBardithion]

Fireworks are such a great way to get that audio/visual feedback players are used to while still being diagetic. Then they reused the built-in launcher by turning it on its head for rockets in the trade animation.

[@bessieburnet9816]

The click of the modern Pokéball capture was very satisfying, and the fireworks of the ancient Pokéballs is equally satisfying

[@pkepix5405]

MODERN BALLS!!

[@inactivecosoekvjsz]

the delays on each 12/8 chord add so much more than what people might think. I very much appreciate you taking notice to that

[@Trazel_Apeally]

I liken it to how after running laps in Gym classes, you run a slower and much more paced out lap to wind down and help relax your body after extraneous exercise. I often find myself falling asleep to Hisuian Jublife's theme when playing PL:A at night, just because of how relaxing it is.

[@329link]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the sound effect for shiny pokemon. It's such a distinct and exciting sound that's deliberately designed to alert you to the shiny pokemon's presence, even from a distance. It plays as soon as the pokemon is loaded on the screen (even if it's behind something or on a cliff, out of the player's vision), and makes it really difficult to miss a shiny appearance if you play with sound on. Maybe it's just me, but I love what they did with that.

[@willirwin4528]

it's not exactly when it is loaded on screen. I have recognized a shiny before the jingle plays and sparkles show(it was a psyduck and i love its shiny so i recognized it immediately). But the fact that it is so distinctive and it plays even if you can't see the pokemon is very appreciated. there are sounds in the game at a similar register and tone but as far as i could tell, none of them progress upwards and if they did move up it was a very earthy tone instead of the twinkly jingle.

[@ThatsJustTammy]

The best part is that there are two different jingles for when you send a shiny you own out and when a shiny spawns so that you don’t mistake one for the other in the off chance you send one out the moment one spawns or you mistake your own for a wild one

[@justalpha9138]

I got a shiny Shinx during the very beginning of my playthrough and it was so awesome. It's one of my current team members as a Luxray.

[@Samookely]

hearing that shiny jingle is so exciting, and it really helps you not miss one if you stop right when you hear it and then save. Shiny hunting in general is very fun in this game, with shiny alphas being a thing

[@siilverREAL]

@@willirwin4528 yeah, reminds me of when i found my shiny gyarados. it was the one flying around obsidian fieldlands and i wasn't close enough to trigger the sound and without any feather balls so i was like "oh. a red gyarados. cool" completely forgetting it wasnt a scripted encounter like in the Johto games. then the shiny sound played and i remembered what game i was playing and the panic *immediately* set in 😭

[@knipfer454]

Scruffy’s visual aesthetics have no business being this good as an audio-focused channel.

[@LARAUJO_0]

Ikr, it's insane! Especially at 2:03 and 5:05

[@11equalsfish]

I think Scruffy started from general game explaining before music. His style matches the quality of the games, so his video has a very connected presentation. I honestly didn't notice until your comment.

[@SirPembertonS.Crevalius]

The aesthetic of Scruffy's videos are so visually pleasing, along with the topics and explanations. 11 minutes passed like it was nothing.

[@buizelmeme6288]

Is that an inflated Swampet in your profile pic? Lamo

[@Boooo]

based profile picture

[@elfilinamie1326]

Aww, yeah, agreed ^^ I getcha!

[@fellll9774]

Jesus christ, I see you everywhere, I remember you in that one half life sfm video and a few others

[@tiddly5]

that was 11 minutes long?????

[@connor4wilson]

Love the little jingle the game makes every time you capture a pokemon. The sound design of this game really carries a lot of the weight of what makes the game so good, you don't get caught up waiting to see if something works because the sound effect immediately tells you if you were successful or failed, and you can just keep moving on your way.

[@BonaparteBardithion]

Regardless of sound design, being able to walk away without waiting for results is a big part of what makes that work. It really improves the pace of an otherwise repetitive experience.

[@jayglenn837]

Pokemon Arceus was the first pokemon game i actually played myself, instead of watchig others play. I'd read the manga, but that was it. It's one of my favorite games i've ever played. My fav musical part of the game was how Jubilife's theme changed over time when making progress.

[@lrgogo1517]

The presentation of these keeps on freaking evolving. He straight-up animated Pokémon in this one

[@reddog1281]

One of my favorite parts of P:LA was the Hisuian Avalugg fight, the scale of this 40 foot tall monster makes you feel in actual danger. Also the rushes of wind makes you feel more in danger on the tiny ledge you are put on!

[@AssassinDXZ]

This was my first Pokemon game ever, and I gotta say, one of the things that stood out the most was the music. Still get chills when I hear that transition when you send out a Pokemon to fight a stunned noble boss. You get those Pokemon vibes from the original TV show that I loved so much as a kid, so freaking cool man.

[@KingKirby24]

Totally agree that's a nice detail I don't really hear too many people talk about

[@kaitlynweeks4143]

"For starters..." It is indeed the little things that make things so great. Keep up the amazing work Scruffy!

[@emmalucas4177]

I didn't actually know that the Azure Flute was never released! As a kid I didn't have a way to get the event pokemon and just used an action replay to unlock them haha

[@bup_dnq8440]

I'm literally playing that game right now and I was so happy to see this notification I've never been a lot into pokemon but Legends Arceus is definitely my favorite one

[@Ribiveer]

I'm loving this new animated Scruffy! Walking around the environments of the game they're talking about... Having your avatar really be there, makes it feel really grounded: like at 4:11 when they put their hands on their ears to hear the sound while demonstrating the concept of 2D sound is such a lovely detail. It reminds me of a comic called Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, in that the narrator talks from the medium that is demonstrated. I'm a big sucker for that kind of stuff!

[@dab9862]

When I first time played pokemon legends I knew you were going to make a video about it it really is genius

[@aperry3869]

I adore these types of videos you make. Not only does it make me appreciate a game more, but even in real life; taking a moment to just stop and listen the sounds. You're video's quality are insanely high and I'm baffled that they are free to watch. Fantastic video!

[@redicarus505]

2:41 Pokemon Sun/Moon were actually the first main series games (at least) to add pokemon cries to the ambiance of a location. One that I can name off the top of my head, just from how memorable it was to me, was from Wela Volcano Park and being able to hear Fletchling's cry.

[@BonaparteBardithion]

I became deeply familiar with Eevee's cry shaking in the grass while searching for them. I was so disappointed when Let's Go opted for the voice acted name-as-cry option and glad to see it return in PAL.

[@mrsuperheatran2794]

I think Fire Red and Leaf Green (or even Ruby and Sapphire) or the were the first. I swear I've heard wild Pokemon in some of the routes before.

[@providence1517]

@@mrsuperheatran2794 No, you're right, they did have Pokemon cries in the grass occassionally in FireRed and LeafGreen. I heard it myself.

[@duplollamaree1250]

asa PLA enjoyer I love love LOVE this video. all the little bits you pointed out are some of my favourite parts of the game's atmosphere! one of the few things I wish they'd improved on with the sound though is that the overworld music doesn't really blend that nicely. one moment I'll be jamming to the Cobalt Coastlands music, but then the moment a machop sees me the music is GONE and I am FORCED to listen to that DAMN "ooooh you're being chased!" music until I beat it up or hop onto a noble to get away. it's just not yummy. (also, I'd recommend pronouncing "arceus" with the hard c. it can kinda sound like "arse" otherwise, and I being from the UK was giggling the whole way through hehe)

[@notquitenil]

That's a major gripe I have with a lot of open-world games, actually. Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact, PLA, even all the way back in Skyrim and Morrowind. They have this beautiful overworld music, only to constantly interrupt it with combat music that completely disrupts the experience and puts the BGM on cooldown again. It's tragic. And unfortunately for that second bit, Arse-eus is the official pronunciation.

[@vanquish1333]

I think some of my favorite musical references in this game are the opening to origin Dialga/palkia’s theme being the music from the cutscene where Cyrus summons Dialga/palkia, as well as the very end of Volo’s theme being the jingle that plays at the end of the idle start screen movie for Pokémon platinum, indicating that Giratina is coming.

[@ZiozoneEmperor]

I really apreciate you describing how detailed the sound design of the game is, it was really cool to notice how they used several past themes and variations to create such a natural and cozy environment, but studying it like you did enhances the experience even more

[@TeamFlameLeader]

Amazing breakdown scruffy! I love this games music and references. Dude when I heard jubilife villages full theme I was sooooo nostalgic

[@bessieburnet9816]

Just, the music changes when you're being chased by a Pokémon or when an Alpha is near. Like, it really just establish the fear and dnager of these Pokémon, and why NPCs in the modern day insist we must have a Pokémon on us. We're to used to automatic battles. These things wanna kill us. And those Alphas. The music is like, "You are in danger. Run while you can, kiddo." Well designed. Brought the game to life, definitely.

[@tristanneal9552]

For all the things you can say about this franchise, Pokemon has always had kickass music

[@TayoEXE]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed these little details that made the Pokemon world feel like a real, breathing world full of wild animals. You know much more than I would though!

[@halowing101]

They really outdid themselves with the referental theme's, especially Volo's - the amount of streamers and players I've seen absolutely *freak out* when that piano starts playing is *insane*

[@LandonEmma]

Scruffy! I can hear the intro now! It says "What I Love" AMAZING! Taking the subject of your video and putting it into your intro!

[@Commander_Appo]

Yo, I just started rewatching your videos again. Awesome that you’re doing a Pokémon video

[@RealRaizo]

Scruffy, I just want to say your animation skills have improved so much, and your content is so entertaining. Even at the start, your art was still quite good.

[@starwolf8149]

Then SV came along and all the magic and excitement that Arceus gave is simply not present. It just shows that if you put different people in charge the game can be beautiful

[@V.U.4six]

SV takes some notes from PLA but still mixed a lot of the classic gameplay and whatnot which is why I want more entries for “Legends” games They don’t need to confine to the classic Pokémon style and can be their own thing

[@starwolf8149]

@@V.U.4six Agreed, I want Legends Johto since story wise it would make sense as both regions are connected lore wise

[@dimetrodon2250]

They were developed at roughly the same time, so the same teams were rarely working on both games. Thats why so many features in one game were absent from the other.

[@TheAnimationStationTAS]

Always nice to see a new Scruffy video, always very relaxing.

[@rickytickybobbywobbin7430]

I don’t know much about music theory (if that’s what you’d call it) so a lot of the things you said about chords went over my head. I’m OCD with what you might call an obsession with the number 4. Someone suggested to me that I’d enjoy putting that energy into listening to music, and after taking the time to actually pay attention to things such as tempo, I’ve loved small details like what you called the 13/8 in Jubilife’s new theme. I never would’ve known how to explain it to anyone who knows sound design the way you do, but I would’ve described it as “there’s a short pause before the next line of music and I think that makes it sound better than without it”

[@jblen]

Whats this? New scruffy upload? And it's more music theory? Excellent.

[@shadowd151]

The Jubilife Village theme made me fucking cry the first time I heard the third extension. It is so good.

[@AzureLlama]

Fun fact: the thing with Jubilife has actually been done once before in a Nintendo Published game. In Xenoblade Chronicles, as you rebuild Colony 6, the music slowly rebuilds itself as well. (Copied from a post on the Xenoblade Wiki) Reconstruction start (0%, level 0): Colony 6 - Silence Reconstruction reaching 25% : Colony 6 - Restoration Reconstruction reaching 50%: Colony 6 - Hope Reconstruction reaching 100%, reconstruction achievement: Colony 6 - Future

[@BlitzGruen]

while playing i didnt notice these details really exactly as what they are and what they referenced always but i certainly felt a strange tone of familiarity, which this video shows perfectly why and i absolutely love how it was explained, thanks for this great vid.

[@aaronvanhemert9809]

I could watch these all day

[@bananabike279]

Great video! I never really understand all the in-depth music jargon, but the presentation is always so nice in your video's. Especially in this one with the 3D parts!

[@trashelf3435]

i know nothing about music but scruffy's videos videos always put a smile on my face

[@misirtere9836]

An entire video about Legends Arceus sounds with absolutely no mention of Alpha Froslass? For shame. I'm literally shaking and crying right now.

[@LukeFlavel]

Really digging the animations you're putting into these videos

[@Selphie]

This game is so awesome a truly fresh Pokémon experience.

[@spore4ever91]

The coastlands theme has a lot of references packed into it, including the National Park from Johto, and route 210 in Sinnoh

[@woutkruijer9946]

The production quality on this video is great

[@bl00dberry]

there's a reference to the gear station theme with ingo, i can't remember where it is in the game but it's definitely there.

[@salamencerobot]

The difference between the original and alpha pokemon cries is very similar (I'd say identical but I haven't studied it) to the cries heard when you dynamax a pokemon in swsh, which is a neat touch since the games are in the same generation

[@OmenBurst]

god the graphics made for this video are so good

[@DMacB42]

It’ll be interesting to see where Scarlet and Violet take some of these smaller technical and QoL features

[@Tekkobra]

It's always a good day when we get a new Scruffy video

[@The_Did_it_to_Em_Society]

Very well made, not even a pokemon fan. I like the animation especially, very good

[@althrouve007]

Fantastic video , very insightful and quality content! Kudos!

[@Namadu7]

For the record, most of the variations on Pokémon cries were around as early as Pokémon X/Y - they were heard in Pokémon-Amie! :D Not all of them, though.

[@megvstheuniverse]

New What I Love!! Let's goooo!

[@AyoitsGhosty]

Id love an in depth look of the tarrey town music evolving over time in botw

[@the.hex_x]

I loved this video so much! I'm agree with everything, this game surely does some sound justice

[@lol1013]

Great video man! You should more of those!

[@ma.2089]

Stuff like this is why Shinnoh is my fav region. Besides nostalgia, of course. In a way, it ties w/ gen 1’s Kanto when it comes to hidden content. The music def supports the mysterious and otherworldly vibe present in shinnoh and johto

[@GlitchCityMissingNo]

BABE WAKE UP NEW SCRUFFY VIDEO JUST DROPPED

[@_wheat856]

YEAHHHHH SCRUFFY AND POKEMON, MY FAVOURITE THINGS

[@ac3theartist225]

oh man, there were TONS more musical references than the ones in that chart. Maybe I'll make my own version, hahaha.

[@AdrianHereToHelp]

It's always a good day when Scruffy releases a new video essay

[@typhoonlava6488]

3:00 those different types of cries are reused from poke amie. Though the attacking sound was made by smacking or making them upset on the app.

[@Hipesque]

Always a treat to see a new video, Chatot best boy!

[@Blaynus]

Damn your videos are TOO GOOD!!!

[@Linventor]

Always a pleasure.

[@SolaceRaptr]

Such pleasant music in this game. Would love to see you break down some of the Monster Hunter music sometime. It's cool how the monster's attacks line up with the music, allowing you to strategize

[@keybladesrus]

It's amazing how much of an improvement PLA is in so many areas, and depressing how little I trust the next games to retain any of it because Game Freak is Game Freak...

[@no-jy9yc]

BABE WAKE UP SCRUFFY UPLOADED

[@MrPatrickguy]

so excited to watch this :)

[@sinj0hh]

I wish I could find the sound effects for this game somewhere. The music files are easy to find, but things like the catch fireworks or the "item get" sound at 4:33 are damn impossible still. Sucks, cause that item get sound would 100% be made my text tone if I could find it anywhere

[@watchfulseal8042]

I think you should take a look at the sound system in Dead by Daylight. While it can be as buggy as the rest of the game, it might be the most immersive (and scary) sound system in recent history. (of course disregarding VR games :P)

[@faithseden293]

Could you talk about Chicory’s music/sound design? It’s really good and it would be nice for it to get some recognition. 😊

[@hunteracquired]

Yey new post :3

[@flying_redkite]

Soooo interesting!

[@Dschoanig]

Some of these things should be the norm in triple A titles but Gamefreak thinks otherwise I guess

[@bluescreening]

omg new intro!!!!

[@PokeRedstone]

Everyone talks about Legends Arceus being "centuries" ago. Its about one.

[@brim4452]

It's a start, but these are things they could've implemented in the first place

[@alexiaatheducc]

scruffy you are very inspiring

[@pokechatter]

This has been a great video. I’m surprised that I hadn’t even thought about the time signature in Jubilife Village myself… b A small nit pick is that the time between the setting of this game and the modern games is at most a couple decades over a century, not “200+”. More like late 1800s colonization of Hokkaido.

[@samwright6853]

honestly once arceus was announced I understood why they brought the hammer down hard on pixelmon.

[@theroomofwall1162]

It would be nice to see how he would explain terraria audio

[@spooxtheskeleton]

Isn't rubato usually played so that all the barlines land inline with the tempo and you mess with the time between? It's name literally means *stolen* time. I think the performers are still using a bit of rubato, but the longer chords should probably just be notated with a fermata.

[@lucyvalis9740]

I love these videos! It be amazing if you took a look at Omori and its soundtrack

[@_wheat856]

Not nessecarily sound design but the journal also gets more damaged and weathered as you progress through the game

[@henrekester5702]

scruffy vid yooo

[@pikachuhvc3676]

Hey, I think it would be really cool if you did a music theory type video on music on omori!

[@tototootootwotwo]

I really don't like this game, but there's at least a little more to appreciate about it now.

[@bogdanradosavljevic9943]

7:52 what's this song called?

[@NicolasDarknessWolf]

Scruffy is getting closer and closer to becoming a vtubee

[@jackthesmoltangerine]

Btw, even tho the developers of 2/3 of these games suck, can you talk about Tattletail, Poppy Playtime, and Bendy?

[@Sillybutts]

Very nice!

[@averagestupidbeing4704]

Yeah a good video for a good Pokemon game ... finally

[@tiddly5]

great video as always also you should really sell { ? I ♥} merch i and many others would definitely buy it

[@Two-HeadedBoy]

I'm probably not the first person to say this, but Pokémon Sword and Shield actually has itemized sound control, but it's hidden behind finding a random NPC who gives you an item that allows you to do so.

[@MarcusTalks1]

Yeah really weird why they did that

[@LycanMOON]

Wait really? I feel like i know what it is but I just forgot-

[@MarcusTalks1]

@@LycanMOON some weird guy in Motostoke gives you a pair of “Hi-tech earbuds” which is a key item, but is not usable as an item. It adds option in the sound settings.

[@Castersvarog]

God I fucking hate that they did this. It was honestly a stupid idea

[@supra_sr]

Yeah I'm still not over that, such a weird decision.

[@ComradeSeanski]

love your presentation style, makes it really easy for people who know nothing about sound design to follow along

[@whatamidoing725]

My favorite part about the sound is how the pokemons cries are varied and arent always the same and they happen in battle when they do their “warcry animation” it makes them feel animal like, like a dog growling when warding off another dog. Or an intimidation display, it just makes them feel more alive audibly i hope they keep them doing that in scarlet and violet

[@angellisanguyen9426]

9:18 That entire melody was used for the Gamefreak logo as well and I was surprised to hear it used beyond the title screen. Using it for summoning Arceus makes it feel like Gamefreak is the actual "god" of pokemon, and Arceus is their avatar.

[@bessieburnet9816]

Right?! The start up sound effect for the original game used for that?! Perfect!

[@elfilinamie1326]

WHAT Woahh, that's so cool!

[@joseybowen666]

There's something small in Giratina's theme, specifically when entering their second phase, the "heart beat" percussion stops and mimics a flatline on a heart monitor. Only for the beats to suddenly return back from the dead and pick up a rapid pace to signal the phase change. It signals the surprise of something dead coming back to life, like a battle you thought was over only for it to have another phase.

[@salamencerobot]

Oh that fits very well with giratina's ghost type

[@geothepoly]

That was kind of in older versions of the theme but not as well executed as they did in PLA

[@linkthepringlesman3951]

That “unused” track from Red/Green was used in a later Pokémon game. In fact, it was used in Diamond and Pearl. It’s the Clefairy bonus round from the slots, very fitting fir the Clefairy Moon Festival

[@ma.2089]

It’s cool that the unused tracks appear in later games. Nice for ppl who search for unused content to be rewarded for later releases in a way

[@legendarysoil1064]

You know it’s a good day when scruffy uploads, I really appreciate the recognition that you give to the dedicated sound designers of video games