Castlevania 3 Soundtrack Remastered (Akumajō Densetsu Hybrid Mix)

[@kufkzxkxzvkdvkxz]

Prelude is by far the most unappreciated song in any CV game, and this entire soundtrack doesn't get the love it deserves. CV3/AD has the best music of the entire NES/Famicom lineup. It changed my expectations of musical quality, in video games. Konami might have forgotten how to make a good game, but this is a reminder of how great they really were, back then.

[@thenoseguy]

FRRRRRR

[@amaulana090]

Frankly I think Prelude is _the_ example of NES music. I rarely heard the track before this video, and yet that sound track felt so familiar.

[@thenoseguy]

Came back to this video again to rekindle my love for Prelude

[@EverythingBagelSeasoning]

Same thing with overture..

[@knightmare39]

​@@EverythingBagelSeasoning At the very least, Overture got reused in Portrait of Ruin.

[@kirbypufocia]

oh my god thank you everybody

[@squeegeemcgee]

you're a fucking madman, this shit is crazy. this has immediately become one of my favorite OSTs to listen to.

[@juankgonzalez6230]

No. Thank YOU. This was awesome from start to finish

[@GrOuNdZeRo7777]

No thank you, oddly the most faithful rendition is this IMO, How did you accomplish this?

[@kirbypufocia]

@@GrOuNdZeRo7777 a lot of patience! i ripped each channel from each song, figured out by ear what combination sounded best for each one and just adjusted volume data and panning for everything. a couple songs required even more work (different lengths / different BPMs between versions etc); i spent around 6-8 months on everything between that and my full time job at the time

[@joethebro35]

This trilogy, the nija gaiden trilogy, and blaster master are the best nes soundtacks....a few honorable mentions come to mind though.

[@DrossRotzank]

Amazing work.

[@SuperSpeedWeed]

Si, así es.

[@sebastianadventurex]

Viejo sabroso

[@Hyodou-Chan]

Dross que haces acá?? xd hombre de cultura.

[@nearlawliet4468]

¡...!

[@jpablogonzalez7668]

que grande

[@Chyrosran22]

This is outstanding. I feel like the one who did this truly understood what makes both versions great.

[@IAMSolaara]

Ay waddup

[@kirbypufocia]

thank you i’m a big fan of music

[@babypinksnail]

Not the person I expected to see on this video

[@Chyrosran22]

@@babypinksnail You didn't expect me to have good music taste? :p

[@babypinksnail]

@@Chyrosran22 Nah I'm just so used to seeing you solely as the keyboard guy lol.

[@las4gna84]

I like how CVIII have so many holes where you can die that the music that plays when you lose a life is literally called "Ooooops!"

[@5434345]

This Is SPARTA! Knockback Into VOID!

[@DeimosComaBlack]

Holy shit "Epitaph" sounds just monstrously ominous when both renditions are combined.

[@SupermanNew52]

It's amazing.

[@johnnynorrisjr.39]

Agreed, that is some Freddie Kreuger shit right there

[@RetrOchannel]

Sounds like doom metal lol

[@jorts_master69]

I wish it had shown up in more of the games. Perhaps it would've made a good song for visiting a sinister shopkeeper in a metroidvania title.

[@dayru_ru]

@@RetrOchannel beat me to it lol

[@alaeriia01]

The counter-melodies in Beginning and Mad Forest are instant eargasms. Clockwork perfectly captures the feeling of heavy machinery doing its thing, and this mix makes me fully appreciate Rising and Stream. Now I want to loop together Beginning-Mad Forest-Aquarius-Deja Vu.

[@ColonelPatchy1]

Alex Snitzer The way the bass and upper melody jump toward each other in contrary motion on the first two notes and then descend/ascend away from each other in a scale fashion in Mad Forest is one of my favorite moments in the soundtrack.

[@hollyfindlay4051]

Not gonna lie... I think Mad Forest is the best song in the franchise, so I loved how well this mix handled it.

[@lyricsghost2547]

My favorites as well

[@E_-_-]

Beginning and Mad Forest are beyond amazing. The complexity is incredible for NES tunes. It's like crack for my ears

[@ethans9379]

I really love Beginning and Mad Forest

[@MrNorbert1994]

Hearing the arps from the NES version in Rising and the VRC6 bass at the same time, makes me say that this is the definitive version for this track! :D

[@xinfr4z893]

I agree. It's truly awesome

[@IKONIKBeats]

Hey bro check out my Castlevania 3 vrc6 "Pressure theme" when you get a chance =) kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3TOnKKojN6Mp68

[@GMKalandar]

impressive indeed o.o

[@ColonelPatchy1]

Yes. I think the arpeggios in Rising sound better in the NES version but this hybrid just takes it all to a new level

[@thebarbaryghostsf]

I was just noticing this myself right now lol

[@flaviocimolin8810]

8:32 the combined waves made it sound like an accordion. it's magical!

[@trancingdeeper]

Nightmare really is the best of both worlds, so bone chilling with the meat of the VRC6 chip with the extra harmonies and fullness of the triangle wave of the NES. EDIT: Also I adore how extra melodic the bass is in Deja Vu (Vampire Killer) with the triangle wave. Honestly the combo of sawtooth and triangle adds so much fullness into the mix, it's crazy how they work in tandem so well together.

[@xTerrySunderlandx]

Mad forest mixed is simply INCREDIBLY, the NES version has actuallty added things to compensate the extra channels lack, but listening this with the VRC6 AND the arps from NES is really impresive, specially if you think of the sound capabilities of that time. This is trully a masterpiece

[@alvaroluffybr]

01. 00:00 Prelude 02. 01:42 Epitaph 03. 02:30 Prayer 04. 02:42 Beginning 05. 04:39 BOSS FIGHT 06. 05:47 Stage Clear 07. 05:53 Destiny 08. 06:26 Clockwork 09. 07:55 Mad Forest 10. 09:28 Anxiety 11. 11:39 Rising 12. 13:25 Stream 13. 14:43 Dead Beat 14. 16:16 Nightmare 15. 17:50 Encounter 16. 18:32 Aquarius 17. 20:03 Demon Seed 18. 21:35 Deja Vu (Vampire Killer) 19. 22:38 Riddle 20. 24:07 Pressure 21. 24:45 Overture 22. 26:49 Big Battle 23. 28:09 Bigger Battle 24. 29:26 All Clear! 25. 29:36 Evergreen 26. 30:43 Flashback 27. 31:56 Ooooops! 28. 32:00 Game Over Here hope u guys like it.

[@kaiquedomingos6271]

Thanks alot buddy

[@Isoquant]

This is so helpful but also laid out in a very aesthetically appealing way. I nominate you as official KZbin track lister guy.

[@kirbypufocia]

truly the mvp of every comment section, thank you for your service

[@joaozinhogameplays3128]

I see

[@guillaumegalienne6351]

21:35 Deja vu (Vampire Killer) so good I imagine the joy of people playing the III and suddenly hearing the iconic music of the I.

[@TheSignOfTheX]

Clockwork is simply a masterpiece in this mashup version, the two types of soound combine perfectly and complete eachother.

[@jacknedry3925]

Dead Beat is also great!

[@blizzard4224]

Beginning is such a great track and it's only enhanced by hearing a mix of both versions!

[@IKONIKBeats]

Hey bro check out my castlevania 3 vrc6 "Pressure" remix if you get a chance

[@IKONIKBeats]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3TOnKKojN6Mp68

[@BaldCape9]

Prelude is the most beautiful track

[@hollyfindlay4051]

@@BaldCape9 Prelude is definitely nice... I think the highlight of the soundtrack (and actually the franchise, imo) is Mad Forest.

[@Tannlore]

I always felt something... something.. was missing from all these songs. I loved them growing up, but to hear them "complete" like this... I'm in music nerd heaven! Thank you!

[@MistSonata]

1:57 This Dracula must be a very jolly fellow.

[@SeasonedKale]

WAIT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE A LAUGH? I never knew..... thats spooky

[@OnTheRide1]

@@SeasonedKale dude yeah its a laugh lol. It creeped me out as a kid.

[@TheBanishedWind]

Why do people say that's Drac's laugh when it's Death that uses it in-game...

[@ValenceFlux]

This soundtrack is still so catchy to me. Sometimes instrumentals can say more than words.

[@davidprodigy5833]

2:42 Beginning ---hadn't heard that in a long time...epic

[@佐藤正雄-b2d]

悪魔城伝説をCastlevania3に作り替える時にちゃんとNES音源用に音楽をアレンジして違和感を無くそうとするKONAMIのクリエイターの愛が窺えますね！

[@mish1195]

Aquarius sounds genuinely fantastic when both renditions are combined, Mad Forest too, but I might be biased since that's my favourite track in the entire OST

[@paldinox1]

Aquarius is absolutely the standout track in this mix.

[@CorbelanIV]

This "Rising" version is melting my face from eargasms. Holy crap. 10/10

[@cheesburgr]

Incredible delight; thank you for doing this and explaining the differences so thoroughly in the intro.

[@thecritters8933]

this is a work of art, a gift to all of us castlevania fans. thank you!

[@ScylfingHelm]

Man this would be incredible as an organ duet.

[@BoshiYoshi]

Incredible. I'm so used to the original NES versions that I'm blown away by how much better these are. Really need extended versions of them because they're just too short here! I could easily listen to 30 minute loops of ones like Aquarius, Mad Forest, Beginning, Vampire Killer, Stream and Clockwork.

[@michaelm5405]

A....Amazing. My heart STOPPED. For thirty two minutes, and twenty five seconds. Only to be startled awake, gasping, by the rhythmic pulse of moonlight, within. YOU did this to me. For that, I thank you.

[@kirbypufocia]

Michael M thank YOU man wow what a compliment

[@SpiralPegasus]

@Zoe Kin If his heart stopped for over thirty minutes he'd be dead, so I guess not

[@IndieGamerRetro]

9:28 I never realized that song is called "Anxiety". That gives me anxiety just listening to it. Great job on the remakes.

[@ryanglaser5336]

Estrogen levels rising

[@JRoqqs25]

Update: I just realized Bigger Battle has louder parts like you're fighting for your life

[@kirbypufocia]

yess i wanted the second one to sound way more dangerous, glad it came through!

[@rbledsaw3]

Whoever disliked this needs to re-evaluate their life choices

[@Krystalmyth]

Oh my god look how they complement each other so well in Beginning during the breakdown. I'm like, wow... it's like this is truly the definitive version of the song.

[@childofcascadia]

Hearing those extra channels for the first time with that much clarity on such familiar and nostalgic songs blew my mind.

[@ZrogiX]

Hearing Aquarius with all those harmonies...music heaven

[@please_eject_the_disk]

The single most important thing that this gets correct is the highlight of the arpeggiated chords in "Rising". Having the straight chords from the FC version is good, but on their own they sound way out of place. The NES version has a nice faux-reverb effect going on that fits.

[@sheeplessinohio]

Adam D Couldn’t agree more. When I was playing the FC version a few weeks ago, I got to this level and anticipated that part in the track, only to be like “what... what is missing here?” I realized I’d been listening to this hybrid soundtrack far more than the other two on their own. :P

[@kirbypufocia]

aw man adam i’m so glad you agree, it’s the only thing i didn’t like about the fc version!

[@div-64]

Fantastic idea. Sounds just lovely. Could be a held in history as a significant, recognized observation of the music.

[@div-64]

Cept for maybe the arp added in Rising 😜🧡

[@CHURCHISAWESUM]

The best version of Beginning I’ve ever heard

[@RAVETOR]

24:46 Things are about to get serious.

[@tyetnic]

I like how this version of Overture has both the huge chords of the Fami version and the oscillating notes from the more limited NES version. Both together work very satisfyingly.

[@JJ-qo7th]

3 is better in some ways. Densetsu in others. This is better than both in more ways than the others have combined.

[@nemesis041]

I feel like the OST for this game should be both these OSTs merged together. They sound heavenly when played in unison. If this game ever gets re-released, that's what they should do. Why pick one awesome soundtrack when you can have both and enjoy a euphoric eargasm?

[@Azel954]

This. I wish I could play a version of the game with these specific arrangements.

[@JayByrd83]

And if they ever do decide to do a re-release, then please, make it so that the characters you play with don't share a life bar with each other. Like TMNT 1 for NES.

[@jeremyfultineer7]

I never really liked "Anxiety" but your creation here makes it something almost entirely different. I remember hearing the Akumajou Densetsu version of "Clockwork" on a bonus disc a friend got with his copy of SOTN and at the time I didn't realize the Japanese cart had used a different sound chip. I kept rewinding that one (he copied it to tape for me) and the additional layers in that song just blew me away. "Overture" always stood out to me when I was younger, it was so ominous yet pretty. I feel like you brought true justice to these tunes for sure. Man, sometimes the internet is a magical place hahaha

[@JRoqqs25]

This hybrid mix is a BEAST especially Epitaph, Beginning, Boss Fight, Nightmare, Aquarius, Riddle and all the way to the final track!

[@JavierMercedes]

Man, what a great piece of content, I did my senior capstone project in college on chip tune music and this game on the nes vs famicom because of stumbling across videos like yours. Keep it up.

[@Disembow1280]

A capstone about chiptune music?! Damn, I went for the wrong degree haha

[@tommymorgan3749]

It would be really cool to hear Simon's quest the Us and Famicom version mixed as well.

[@retro3188]

Yeah, and maybe the original! (Go, Simon.) For CV1: The entire soundtrack (+Vampire Killer-Ending (MSX)) For CV2: Bloody Tears Monster Dance Within These Castle Walls Last Boss Requiem Game Over

[@davidsoundremixer.7861]

22:38 Riddle is a master piece.

[@livvy94]

This sounds amazing, thanks for re-mastering this great classic!

[@Spindaboy]

Eyyyy I remember you! Fancy seeing you here :3

[@JB2X-Z]

He just reposted the whole thing from someone in Bandcamp

[@kirbypufocia]

@@JB2X-Z he asked me first it's all g

[@VideoGaming4Dummies]

The mashup of these different versions... it's like they complete each other here. Awesome work!

[@crank7283]

YES ! ! ! This is like Neuromancer finding Wintermute, like Vegeta fusing with Goku, like Kakashi making up with Obito! So long I have waited for this union. *cries tears of joy*

[@derthevaporeon]

Until this day, I find it jarring that Riddle's first part in the NES version doesn't loop like in every other version. Cartridge size skill issue back in the days?

[@NonFatFroggo-hw3ls]

DRACULAAAAAA IM COMING TOOOO YOUR CASTLE

[@JaredThe]

Man, imagine something like this with the FDS vs. NES versions of other osts. That would be epic.

[@SofaCitySweetheart]

This is awesome, have always preferred the Japanese version and now we have the best of both worlds! Thanks for all the hard work.

[@Atma505]

It's great to see people with enough of a desire to hear stuff like this, that they'd go through a soundtrack and badass-ify every single track... just awesome work. Thank you so much for posting this for everybody to hear.

[@kirbypufocia]

thank you! I'm really glad other people like it as much as I do :)

[@mrfcauthen]

Gaaaahd Overture is so beautiful 😭

[@Disembow1280]

Frank C Yes! Melodically, dynamically and even "mechanically" with its crazy time signatures, Overture is the best boss theme in Castlevania, and it's not even close.

[@cyan.6399]

@@Disembow1280 Close to what?

[@JLSXMK8]

Woah; You are so flippin' right it's not funny.

[@mrfcauthen]

@@Disembow1280 WELL SAID

[@ProjectDevilEye]

The mix of the two Rising tracks just feels like what the track SHOULD have been entirely.

[@mataogearsky5353]

Also, can I just say how cool it is that you matched your background/history text to Prelude? It makes me feel like I'm reading the scrolling story from the game.

[@brandonespinoza9279]

Despite being near the end of the NES's life cycle, Castlevania III proves that it can go as hard on its soundtrack, as it should rightfully so.

[@EggChen6DemonBag]

This is amazing! As a huge Castlevania fan, I'm glad I came across this.

[@turbochop3300]

This is absolutely fantastic! Every single gripe I have for either version of the soundtrack is addressed here. The triangle channel was woefully underutilized in the Japanese version, replaced instead with a sawtooth that, as you mentioned, overpowers everything else. Phenomenal work, sir.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

To access Sound Mode: on the title screen, press A, B and Start all at once. When the Sound Mode screen appears, press Up or Down on the control pad to go through the songs heard in the game, and press B to play. Press A to stop.

[@topramen5344]

This is the most underrated castlevania imo

[@phuturephunk]

Oh my.. I always wondered what would happen if you layered parts from the NES and FC versions together and here it is. So crispy! I love this!

[@blakenaftel3637]

I have always long considered that even though the NES soundtrack is technically less robust, because it came a almost a year after the SFC soundtrack, the composer had spent the ensuing 9 months letting the soundtrack run through his head, brainstorming new ideas, and took advantage of the opportunity to actually flesh out the melodies, despite the new limitations. That's what makes this arrangement important. In Overture for example, only the NES version has that moment where the triangle channel adds its own component to the chord progression (e.g. 25:08). That by itself makes the NES version of this BGM superior to the SFC original. So it's nice that we don't need to choose.

[@Superfission]

It seems like this channel has been inactive for a while, but I always find myself coming back to this video because it is just so good! Does anyone know if there are any other retro game soundtracks that got a similar treatment? Not just Castlevania, but the Simon’s Quest OST would be awesome to hear, for sure!

[@mikeskis9657]

And here I thought that the orchestrated version somebody did years ago was the definitive version of this album and you bring this to the table. bravo I say!!

[@saitou210637]

とても綺麗な矩形波ですね。

[@jrvegeeta]

This is absolutely fantastic. A true gem.

[@Valcarius]

11:40 - Rising is still one of my fav. video games tracks. Well done!

[@Disembow1280]

Such a boss upload! What I never get tired of is the sense of chilling relief the Picardy third gives me at the end of "All Clear". So satisfying

[@eriks8382]

this game is fucking ruthless

[@JayByrd83]

You ain't lyin'!! 😅

[@scoutfears7803]

Thank you very much for creating this comparison and orchestrating it’s success in sound mapping. Many thx m8!

[@crank7283]

Thank you for the link to Kirby's bandcamp. I just bought it and gave him some much deserved cash.

[@fritzeyok]

this brings me back 30 years ago

[@vdogaymer]

Love how you arranged these, I can't believe how good they sound.

[@The_Flying_Penguin]

Would love more like this! Thank you!

[@The_Flying_Penguin]

The quality is wonderful.

[@EGmusic-rn222]

wait a minute, if CVIII takes place BEFORE CVI, *how can it be deja vu if it hasn't happened yet?*

[@DeimosComaBlack]

Because we've heard it before and we're all time-travel wizards :V

[@Cereza64]

Sentient Toaster Igarashi’s Castlevania canon wasn’t established when this game was made. That and the deja vu aspect is for the players who already played Castlevania 1

[@bottle9]

in the CV3 manual it says its a prequel for CV1 so it has nothing to do with igarashi's canon ------- I guess is just for the players who played cv1 before

[@giovannyalpizar5351]

If you heard or played Vampire Killer, then you can think: “Wait, have we seen this type of level before?”.

[@egmusic1925]

OK, so Deja Vu actually applies to NEW experiences, making this title completely appropriate

[@absmustang]

Those compositions where master pieces at the time. I’m glad they are becoming recognized and saved from being forgotten. I can only imagine how the original pieces actually sounded when the artist composed them. It must have been heart wrenching to hear them reduced to what these 8bit machines could handle. Nevertheless that was some of the best music I had heard at the time. Still is.

[@sleighte]

A friend once said: "CV3 makes me sad. Some of the melodies/harmonies are missing from Akumajo Densetsu, and while I understand that it's because of the 2A03 channel limitations, it doesn't make it right."

[@kirbypufocia]

i am honored to have the opportunity to comfort your friend in these trying times

[@detectivesky6123]

I sought out an akumajo densetsu rom specifically for this reason

[@Eight-Bytes]

"Rising" sounds absolutely wild with both styles. The overall tone of the music is just incredible. Would have been the best sound out of the NES if it was possible to have this good quality music back then.

[@JizzburnGigaqueer]

Truly this is the ultimate version of this soundtrack IMO. Kirby really did the compositions justice

[@quadpad_music]

He didn't make this though! Check the description ;)

[@JizzburnGigaqueer]

@@quadpad_music Noted! Thanks for pointing that out.

[@quadpad_music]

@@JizzburnGigaqueer - Oh wait, Kirby did actually do this. I got confused, sorry xD

[@NyxHarmonia6976]

@Dave Hanson *gasp* A Nonbeliever!

[@kirbypufocia]

ty!!! love your name

[@thebarbaryghostsf]

This is a really interesting video. I just spent like 3 years working on CV covers for a 30 song album. It's intriguing to hear the parts I never knew were in these songs! Great job!

[@GDLenter]

Awesome! Learned a basic version of Evergreen, and now can fill in the blanks thanks to your vid -- really appreciate it!

[@RodimusPrimal]

Great work. I just played through the NES version getting 3 out of the 4 endings so far (working on Trevor alone) and I love the soundtrack of the game. I know that people say the Famicom soundtrack is better, and in some cases it is, but the limitations of the NES actually delivered a fantastic version too. The ONE song I think that the NES does better is Pressure, probably because of the faster tempo. Descending on that stage with the platforms, trying to get past the pendulums without getting knocked off by a freaking bat and making it to Dracula without being low on health was a real challenge for sure. The Famicom version of that track doesn't deliver in terms of....pressure. However, I have to say overall, this mix is awesome!

[@kgrfirdjy]

absolutely gorgeous! I have had this game's north american soundtrack stuck in my head for most of today.

[@JAVIERRODRIGUEZ-ct5wr]

Gorgeous

[@sguinn91]

Wow. Just wow! This sounds incredible!

[@설재훈-k9g]

듣기 좋네요..

[@justanotherlikeyou]

Thank you for putting this together. It's truly wonderful. Memories of a simpler better time in life

[@grumblekin]

This is amazing with a good pair of headphones.... Wow.

[@redinthesky1]

Making my nostalgia better than it was is a dirty trick, congratulations

[@Dullrig]

God, this is amazing.

[@patcahill3724]

02:42 OMG! BEGINNING SLAPS SO HARD THIS VERSION AS ALWAYS!

[@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus]

Yeah Never gonna give you up. Why’d you look down here?

[@patcahill3724]

@@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus I love never gonna give you up it’s my favorite song! I like rickroll!

[@lightelos]

i love it ! amazing work here! congratulations!

[@dannylopez821]

Amazing sountrack one of if not the best ive ever heard from a nes game incredible what they were able to do with such limited tech great job remixing this i truly enjoyed it thank u

[@linoxyard]

You did a great job! Amazing mix indeed

[@JB2X-Z]

Holy SHIT Aquarius!

[@adelberthartwell2622]

What a fun listen. Gives all of our classic favorites more depth without straying from the original. Whoulda thunk!

[@rigeoff]

Great Mix! Mad Forest level is one of my fav in game soundtracks and was thrilled to hear the Famicom Castlevania 3 soundtrack with the enhanced sound chip.

[@MrEdhm]

Excellent.

[@AvroBellow]

To date, Evergreen is one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of music that I've ever heard and I played Castlevania as a boy. NES games had such incredible soundtracks like Castlebania III, Blaster Master, Faxanadu, StarTropics, etc.

[@CorbelanIV]

Agreed, and they still hold up so well to this day. It's truly remarkable.

[@jopesol7765]

Wow epitaph is so heavy. Sounds metal AF

[@Nackhael]

This is a jewell