Dragon's Dogma OST: 2-02 Despairing Combat

Dragon's Dogma soundtrack.
All songs composed by Takayoshi Makino and Rei Kondoh except where noted.

[@theradams97]

Grimgoblins... Fairly sure im not alone when i say the first time i saw them i mistook them for goblins, went full leeroy jenkins, and got absolutely slaughtered

[@Gormathius]

Now that's the true meaning of going Leeroy Jenkins!

[@yugiohguy]

Are those the unique goblins that spawn in Bitterblack?

[@Gormathius]

yugioh guy Those are Greater Goblins. Grimgoblins are the ones that appear post-game.

[@thepowah4734]

I nearly got stomped to death by a grimgoblin the first time I fought a group of them

[@jaredmink9860]

Bruh i remember fighting them for the first time and getting knocked down and literally curbstompped by a group of them kept amashing the help command and my pawns all just left me there and let it happen. It was so rude . I felt like batman after he got his shit rocked by bain

[@Pamjamelia]

Those saurians in the well... oh God.

[@jaydevile8795]

Hit its tail! It seems to be its weak point!

[@Qururuka]

The theme of entering the well as a level 8 fighter on hard difficulty where even a pathetic tail slap will instantly kill you and you have no ranged attacks and have to rely on your dumbass hired pawns to cast frazil then slowly walk towards them all the while being drenched so you're in pitch darkness. I love this game.

[@psychocrysis2]

This should really play when you face the bandits in front of the Witchwood. Saurians? No problem as long as you get behind them since they are pretty slow. A fighter bandit though will literally tank hundreds of blows and proceed to stunlock you to death with one sword combo. And even if you somehow get past the first one. The group at the rock has THREE OF THEM.

[@1EpicCarlDude]

....on hard mode that is....

[@kotzebrecher]

Hard mode was implemented really shitty sadly. Just made the game tedious, not more interesting.

[@deandrethomas9703]

kotzebrecher your stats must have been trash my dudes. Hard Mode was great

[@kotzebrecher]

I am not talking about my experience with hardmode, I am talking about the implementation. Giving everything just a bunch of extra stats is really stupid since it only makes the early game harder and doesn't affect the realy late game by much. Just increasing stats by a flat amount is a really lazy way of implementing hardmode. I mean, sure, you can beat the game when starting in hardmode, but it is not that much fun to have to reload 20 times just to get the perfect fight with that bandit group and survive. I am not playing DD to fight bandits, I play it to fight dragons. Sure, the late game is improved as you don't kill stuff too quickly (unlike outside of hardmode), but then again if you think the enemies die too quickly you can always use a weaker weapon instead. Look at other games, like monster hunter. Enemies do not only get a stat boost in higher levels, they also get more attacks and there are other changes that increase the difficulty.

[@CrescentoAngelo]

I just played this game for the first time and those bandits really wrecked me! Had an epic re-match with them later and took them down.

[@MuraCasardis]

It happens very rarely. It usually happens when the level gap between you and the monsters are big, and it stacks together. For instance, you may not get this music when facing a single ogre at level 10, but if a horde of undead joins the battle at the same time, this music kicks in. Same for the Cassardis well quest with the saurians. You may hear the music when you start the battle, but after reducing their HP, the music will go away. It's very contextual.

[@TheWalterGS]

Or make all the enemies in the place goes after you, since more enemies spot you it will increase the difficult and make the music "starts burning like a fire". For example: when all the grimgoblins spots you the music will add more intruments because the fight has been increased. This does not work with Bosses.

[@TheWalterGS]

The music is sometimes more common on Hard mode.

[@grosslyincandecent7520]

Played for me during an immense 3 Ogre versus Level 20 party battle in the Quarry. Clairvoyance saved my life that day...

[@MushroomMapleChannel]

You agroed all 3 of them?

[@an_ordinary_goose]

@@MushroomMapleChannel you can definitely aggro 2 of them at least if you aren't careful. The third, I think is behind the locked gate, but if it was opened prior, the ogres can easily dash through with a pawn in their hands.

[@LifeCupNoodles]

Ahh a fellow Assassin user

[@heavenlysteel8337]

@@MushroomMapleChannel you cant aggro all 3. They run back to their spots once they're too far from it.

[@juglovesyou]

*ＧＩＶＥ ＮＯ ＱＵＡＲＴＥＲ*

[@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ]

Just wait until you're on Bitterblack Island.

[@loganfarley129]

Obi-Wan Kenobi when I first fought reaper he killed all my pawns in one hit and with daimon he killed my group in ten seconds...90 levels later and it took me an hour to kill him

[@slenderhatesmillennials195]

Combat:Meh you got this,Tense Combat:alright bro get serious,Despairing Combat:Don't even try JUST RUN

[@LifeCupNoodles]

I think the more understandable version of this comment is Combat: An easy foe Tense Combat: We will struggle with these foes Despairing Combat: OH SHIT YOUR A LEVEL 5 AND YOU JUST MET AN OGRE IN THE EVERFALL FUCKING RUN

[@desvati4074]

I never heard this song a single time during my playing of the game... I feel slightly cheated right now.

[@acefreak9561]

prolly played on easy then cuz this plays a lot on normal

[@debatenothing5676]

@@acefreak9561yeah, this was playing when i was fighting a gore chrimera, it plays when youre fighting something that takes like more than 10 minutes to kill

[@thelegendaryevergas]

This song Plays when you’re underleveled for an encounter. You weaklings.

[@lewa3910]

This was me for until i reached gran soren, then went north west for the 1st night. And ran into wight. 1st death. Such a realisation that actually made me take the pawn system seriously as i still had Rook from the beginning

[@zrord2951]

​@@thelegendaryevergas i think i will return to beat this game only in level 1..

[@michaelrichard7211]

When this jingle comes on as you venture into direwolf territory you can practically hear "Turn back. You are not worthy." in the back of your head. Direwolves are the least of your concern in those parts.

[@orion9630]

I actually don’t remember. What’s the actual threat again?

[@michaelrichard7211]

@@orion9630 at least one Chimera. Snow harpies fly, put you to sleep and their screams hurt early on. Freeze you if you get hit with it enough. If you go far enough, bandits that put the sword and shield one in the pass to the west to shame. And thats just the daytime.

[@joolsmacgrools1288]

​​​@@orion9630it only really applies if you're early game, and especially as a caster and especially more on hard mode. But essentially, it's direwolves along with a copious number of snow harpies along with the occasional cyclops, or more commonly a chimera, or more less commonly, a griffin. Other than that, a knowledgeable fire user can easily roast all of the above with not much trouble provided they can avoid getting hit too many times, or in some cases at all. But you definitely want to pick your spots.

[@CALLthaDoctah]

Taking on those Saurians at level 5 in Cassardis Well. First time I heard the song. Made the fight all the more enjoyable.

[@RejectedInch]

Oh my...the one shotted me so many times.

[@lenguamastero]

i wish this plays in dd2

[@217adaptiveperspective]

"Stand Firm, an Eliminator comes..."

[@SuperDeathgun]

This is the perfect song to play at the chamber of fate

[@michaelrichard7211]

Wholeheartedly agree, at least on the first time in. Had the group with the gorechimera. Got blasted off the regular Chimera via Hellhound blast; dragged by another, through oil, followed by a comestion from a Wight because of course. Still being dragged, into exquey (death spell) shortly before it was triggered while the Hellhound chewed on me. Buy me dinner first!

[@RedStar441]

@@michaelrichard7211 Chamber of Fate moment

[@aoshibi4084]

I remember hearing this when I was just trying to find loot near the quarry, that Chimera slaughtered me in just seconds

[@emperorflick]

I don't remember there being a chimera near the quarry though

[@an_ordinary_goose]

Might be mixing it up with the area of the forest near the abbey? Unless it's a lategame spawn

[@joolsmacgrools1288]

There's definitely a chimera near the quarry. I think it's north, a short distance away and accompanied by a pack of goblins.

[@heavenlysteel8337]

@@emperorflick There's a Chimera in an area of Wilted Forest which can be accessed by climbing the rocks from the quarry.

[@angelo-cranel-san2351]

What the enemies hear when i come after defeat daimon😂

[@Dark_Soul_X]

Just bought this game from PSN for a little over ten dollars a few days ago. Pretty much said why not when I saw the price, considering it's held with such high esteem, and the character customization and freedom of choice with combat classes was what really drew me in. I did a lot of running around and exploring with the first character I made (started on another after reading some info on proper builds), and GODDAMN I'm shocked that this theme didn't play when I ran into those fucking bandits by Witchwood. I thought I was gonna be able to crush them as easily as I'd been crushing everything else that had been standing in my way prior, but the game was like, "Nope!" Most of those guys weren't much trouble, but that goddamned Fighter-type...That was a boss battle in disguise. That motherfucker was charging through arrows like they were pebbles, overpowering the fighter-type pawn that had a whole foot and like two hundred pounds of pure muscle on him, and the only thing that would disrupt his stride were the fireballs I kept launching into his face. But he WOULD! NOT! GIVE UP! After about five minutes of intense battle that saw my pawns dying time and time again and me spending a lot of it on Death's door myself, I finally took that bastard down, and I REJOICED. I leveled up after killing him, so it really did feel like I just went through a boss battle. And then I ran into that bigger group by that big ass rock. And again, I dwindled that party down to one. That one Fighter-type. And me and my pawns got our asses kicked. Again. It was mainly my pawns this time since they were doing their jobs and keeping the heat off me while I cleared house. And then it happened. That one bandit who obviously missed his calling as this game's protagonist cut the Strider and his opposite Fighter-type down, leaving me and my backup mage. She didn't even last a second against the fury that arose within him, that fire that burned hellishly hot at the sight of his fallen comrades. He was over half dead himself, but like his twin brother, HE! WOULD NOT! GIVE UP! And if he was going to die, he was gonna make damn sure he took me with him. I don't know what happened to him after the Game Over screen popped up, but he sure as hell succeeded at killing me, and how! I was almost about to let loose another series of fireballs, and BOOM! Stinger (fuck "Blitz Strike", that's a fucking Stinger) right to the face, one hit kill from full health! I just ran right past those bastards on the retry, hoping that Witchwood wasn't actually the complete death trap it appeared to be. But when I got there, I encountered a new enemy. One that wasn't quite as bad as the one that had just slaughtered me, but one that was still up there: Navigating through that damned forest. *Cue Despairing Combat* It's still the best RPG I've ever played, though. I've pretty much just made it to Gran Soren, but I still feel that I've played enough of this game to love it. Here's hoping for a sequel.

[@JohnDoe-on1bd]

Dark Soul X those very same bandits made me throw my daggers in for sword and shield just so I could also stab them the way they did me

[@an_ordinary_goose]

Those bandits are notorious for wiping a lot of players - people have suggested waiting till nightfall to go that path since they get replaced by wolves then, but they can be just as annoying

[@WarteryMind]

One of the few times I've heard this song was going through the Ancient Quarry. I was fighting a ogre, and the song switched to this. I was like"Hang on, this is Despairing Comba-" And then the second Ogre spear tackled my main Pawn. Needless to say, I left the area.

[@IIIIIVEERATIIIII]

this is (or should be) the theme of that one bandit standing right at the top of the hill where they drop the boulder when you're like level 6 just exploring and have no idea whose neighborhood you're about to enter

[@Gatx104]

Fighting an Eliminator, Elder Ogre and a Living Armor is thrilling especially if you're trying to go toe to toe as a warrior.

[@vinylscratch735]

fun fact: I beat them as a warrior and it felt very challenging but rewarding, idc about the spoils the battle was worth it

[@izanagi21ify]

The most memorable moment that this music played for me was when I entered that BBI room filled with Garms, sorcerer Pawns and two condemned Cyclopes for the first time. My pawn and I got gnawed/clobbered with a giant spiked mace/Maelstrom'ed a couple of times attempting to clear that room lol

[@artgripwillrut]

This song is the game's way of saying, "RUN! YOU AREN'T A BITCH, JUST FUCKING RUN!!!" If you hear this and win, it was based completely on you being a badass, because you didn't have the stats.

[@alexarchermalecuteassassin831]

This song is so badass

[@elcareemojifome5562]

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. (Perfect timed block)

[@l-shadow1775]

This is a fine piece of epic music thou it sucks once you're over leveled u dont hear this music again until u fight the bbi enemies that escaped to gransys

[@Gormathius]

I do believe this is what I heard in the catacombs when taking on the living armours.

[@SerenityScore]

it plays when you challenge an enemy the game considers to be too high-level

[@Gormathius]

***** That's never happened from what I remember, but I'm pretty sure it plays in the scenario I mentioned. The other Bitterblack enemies in Gransys too, but I find the living armour encounter the most noteworthy. Strangely, while the soundtrack is way older, it sounds like it was made specifically for that encounter.

[@SerenityScore]

there has to be a really significant jump in power level between you and the mob. hearing this in the base game is exceedingly rare but it can happen

[@yugiohguy]

+Serenity Score I'm pretty sure that in BBI the ost that plays when you fight a enemy that is too high level is desperate battle and there isn't a theme that plays in the main game when the enemy you are facing is too high level

[@SerenityScore]

There's a separate soundtrack for Dark Arisen stuff, which has its own combat tracks.

[@humrH2360]

I remember trying to tackle the saurians in the well when I started. *sob*

[@lynxprower]

This played for me when i decided to kill the bandit chief at lvl 10, I almost didn't manage it and I knew how underleveled I was but this song was too epic to die while listening to.

[@Railgun_Enjoyer]

Weird... I only heard this theme when I fought the Gorecyclops in Soulflayer Canyon, and the Eliminator in the Tainted Mountain. And that was when I was already Lv.200.

[@Examinatio]

Ysah it plays for all of the Bitterblack Enemy spawn missions in Gransys. It also plays for the two Living Armor in the Catacombs and the Pyre Saurians also in The Tainted Mountain.

[@FrostyFin]

This played when I was at Everfall fighting Gore-Chimera, Chimera, 2 Wrights and a crapload of Hellhounds. It was pretty tough. :P

[@JennaLouiseXO]

Thought it would be a good idea to take on the Saurians in Cassardis Well at level 6... took me a good five minutes of jumping on a ledge, shooting a few times, jumping back down to save my pawns and repeating but this song made it totally worth it.

[@Cid_Estheim]

Good for you, we're above level 50 (far above) killing assassin's, hydra's evil eyes, and Ur-Dragon's. Thanks for playing.

[@pacigisto]

This is such a good song and wonder how long it's been since I heard it in game. At and round max level, the game rarely considers the threat level severe enough to play the track. It's a shame. :(

[@LisssardManN]

more games need osts that can vary like this, really was ahead of its time

[@Bagman07]

I remember playing the Cassardis level against the saurians as a level 4 just to hear this master piece, without the pawns I wouldn't have beat them

[@albinogingerblackman7739]

Rgh... are we even hurting it?!

[@yaldabaoth2507]

Fighting saurians at level 6 with 2 pawns and shitty equipment.

[@dragonieprayer]

beginning, its like they are singing: ahhhh do-re-mi.... ahhh XD

[@ChaotisRavendark]

You'd have to be fully prepared, well equipped and have a good team in order to take that chamber on, otherwise you can kiss your butt goodbye. Otherwise, I fully agree, this song is perfect for Chamber of Fate.

[@heavenlysteel8337]

First time I played, I thought this was just the theme for Ogres since it fits so well. It kept playing for me cause I took on the quarry Ogres pre level 10 just so I could get the Bronze armor from Alon cause it looks pretty cool.

[@MuraCasardis]

With the tier 3 rings for Arc of Deliverance, Corona Slash, and Indomitable Lunge (though I don't use the last one), it makes it even more fun. One of the most satisfying vocation to play as for me, personally.

[@theradams97]

started again completely, from lv 140ish (don't want to be overpowered for dark arisen) and heard this when ambushed by the iron hammer on the way to the witchwood

[@blaby4ever]

dosent it look like one of the guys in the picture is flipping off Grigori the bald head pony tail

[@Demonlord242]

This played while going up against my first Orge... Read your comment while looking for songs in DD for the hell of it. The second I read it, the orge tackled me and threw me off a cliff.

[@Deathfromtheright]

i've never heard it yet either but if I did it sounds like I'd suddenly get so much better to fit the mood XD

[@Vokoca]

Haha, first time I heard this was when I decided it was a wonderful idea to go expore right after somehow managing to run to Gran Soren. Let’s just say I learned rather quickly just why crossing a river can be really dangerous...

[@MrCjlauer49338]

Jesus those fucking corrupted fighter pawns in Bitterblack Isle. Fuck the strider class, bring a set of sorcerers and a mage with you.

[@blaby4ever]

that gratifying moment when your whole party is pouncing on one tough ass enemy!!!!

[@kaustubh8543]

This way arisen.... 😎, now attack, I'll strike the weakest,

[@MuraCasardis]

For those who has DA and liked this song, they will rejoice over this little news: You can get boardquests to fight certain BBI monsters on Gransys, including the Eliminator and Living Armor. When fighting them in Gransys, Despairing Combat WILL play, regardless of your level (I'm level 200 with a full party and this song still plays). It's awesome hearing it again while fighting.

[@basedkira]

DUAL OGRE at the Abbey when i was a level 15 warrior, lol, it was fucking awesome though

[@Kusiruukku]

Depends on ur level whether they're "weak" compared to you, I personally explored alot at the low levels and wen't to places with op enemies, and quite honestly it was awesome..

[@GothicXlightning]

this is 1 of the super epic ones I been trying to find, is in my playlist of best soundtrack I ever heard now, I wish I could give d 1000000000000 likes ^ ^. never forged this song wen ever you get in mayor overpowered trouble, you know like those kind of enemies that you have to run or die. I usually fight them till they kill me.. but now that I am lv 200 this song wont play anymore :(( that is tragic, I wish it was also on dark arisen dlc, it will suit perfectly, also reminds me of FF7 Movie

[@Kusiruukku]

Fighting enemies that are waaayyyy over ur level is the most fun

[@selfishmoose]

In game informer, two of the writers had DD in their top 10. It is in the top 50 games of the year ( I have no idea of what number it is).

[@ultimaaxe]

Only time I heard this song was when I was new to the game and decided to explore up the dirt path into bandit territory after killing the hydra instead of going to Gran Soren. First bandit group past the rolling boulder played it. Was only like level 3 or so. If you don't hear it early on like I did, it's very unlikely you ever will, because past that point you began to poke around and gain levels quicker than the game can keep up with.

[@blanketray6050]

Finally, a challenge!

[@SHRUIKEN67]

I've never heard this play when fighting Direwolves, only Hellhounds. But I think it depends on your level vs the enemies level or something like that.

[@Johnny2142T]

yes. And they used the stairs and long falls to their advantage

[@MauriceShamell]

Not kidding there... especially a certain necromancer and his 'pet' OMG!!

[@RyujinX6]

You'll probably be happy to hear Capcom has decided to release a hard mode alongside a "speed run mode" for the game, then. In addition, they're working on an expansion titled "Dark Arisen". The name sounds a bit generic, but it definitely has potential...

[@misehricem]

I FINALLY FOUND THIS SONG

[@vincentlau6325]

When you are fighting a literal army of dire wolves trying to protect some guy you are escorting

[@ananousous]

There can be no hope in this hell, no hope at all

[@lynxprower]

Is there any chance anyone would make an extended version of this?

[@DevilBuster3]

The DLC consists of quests and armor... There's nothing that makes the game harder unless I run around naked. And there was an update that adds Easy mode to the game. From what I understand, this music plays when you have a very small chance of winning an encounter.

[@DioDinero]

Do deep trouble at the lowest possible level (I think it's 4), run past/around all of the saurians, and this will kick in.

[@MrEvilproductions]

Normal combat: Yeaaaaah! This: Ok, this is close. This'll be hard. I am ready! Ok, a pawn is down. I still have anoth... shit, she's down. The main pa... ok, 8 against 1. I can do it. I CAN DO IT. FOR I AM THE ARISEN AND ARISENS DO NOT GO WIT... *game over* FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCK!

[@Cid_Estheim]

level 88 i change between, assassin, magick archer, ranger, and sometimes mystic knight, (rarely strider)

[@BobOofinson]

In bitterblack isle, this is the battle theme for me. *ouch.*

[@DevilBuster3]

Wow holy crap. This theme is awesome - but I never heard it play. Reading from the comments, seems like I have to be against all odds if I want this to play...sucks, cause I won't ever hear it again unless I wipe my character... :(

[@dragonredux]

If that true then this should have played when I got ambush by fighter bandits and my party died repeatedly

[@Vilverna]

I completely forgot Trixie's last name was Lulamoon

[@RaxusXeronos]

comes on if you face an enemy that much higher level than you. Pretty much lets you know you're pretty much fucked.

[@TheWideMurloc]

Hmm don't recognize this song when does it play?

[@blaby4ever]

Kinda reminds me of when I get my ass kicked in the game, pawns down and forced to use cureitives every 5 seconds.

[@aizenps3]

female pawn gets knocked down Arisen shouts: NO!! slashes hobgoblins in slow mo while Chimera chase arisen in the background

[@Valosken]

When does it even play? I've never ever heard it...

[@pascallefebvre196]

It plays when you're having a really, really, really hard, impossible combat. I've never heard it when playing though

[@SATO88947]

this seems kind of like the right thing to hear from saurians...

[@StubbornCapy]

I've fought every monster in Dragons Dogma and I have never heard this, and I mean Every. Single. One. And I've done every mode. Hell, I even killed Death himself, THREE times! Either there are some areas I'm not aware of or I'm fighting all the weak trash >: /

[@christiandinu2694]

if you let your group die off this will start to play :)

[@AscendedMastery]

Sounds Berserk-ish. That's a good thing.

[@phoenixpoole7667]

Garms. That’s all I could say.

[@BoydTheMilkmanX]

How do you manage to do that?

[@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ]

Or Death.

[@biggles982]

This theme is literally missing from the soundtrack.

[@SerenityScore]

+SWAGOTH BELMONT japanese soundtracks: 5cds, every song from the game american soundtracks: 1cd, 70 minutes of music if you're very lucky

[@SerenityScore]

+SWAGOTH BELMONT japanese soundtracks: 5cds, every song from the game american soundtracks: 1cd, 70 minutes of music if you're very lucky

[@biggles982]

***** Looks like they cheated me off my pre-order.

[@WheresThaHate]

and it just HAD to be the best song

[@Blindkill11]

HAH! you say Despairing combat wants to make you run and think you are way in over your head. well i use this song to my advantage and i get a rush of adrenaline when knifing the shit out of something really difficult. I'm a level 14 Assassin taking on cloaked Saurian... :P

[@pascallefebvre196]

Played when Guards were chasing me at Gran Soren after (SPOILERS) I defeated the dragon. I just followed my instincts: RUNNNNNNNNNNN!

[@elyrium8745]

Pascal Lefebvre when this played when you were chased by the guards, you must have been underleveled as fuck

[@pascallefebvre196]

Taylor Geffken I don't know, I was level 57, but there were like 15-20 guards chasing me .-.

[@nutera2028]

The guards immediately outside of the gate are low level, but the ones in the merchant area are absurdly high-level, hence why the track plays when they start getting into the mix. (You can notice the difference immediately when you attack them, too - they just have so much HP!)

[@pascallefebvre196]

Nu Tera Ah I see! Thanks for the info!

[@Lightshock16]

Combat - Don't Let down your guard, but you should be fine. Tense Combat - Thing's just got Serious. Despairing Combat - Run. FUCKING RUN. Your in WAY over your head Sunshine. Althoguh to be fair, unless your purposely avoiding fights or just plain bad at the game, you shouldn't hear this song much, I haven't yet.

[@WheresThaHate]

it also comes if there are a lot of monsters that are high level but you need to low level which sucks cause the game was kinda easy

[@Johnny2142T]

sorry, I didn't mean to sound like an arrogant jerk, my weakness are those bandits right before bluemoon tower, They are like hyper advanced mutated bandit archers that are just the bane of my existance.

[@Vokoca]

Pff, anyone who hasn’t heard this in the game at least once is playing it too safe. Where’s the fun in that?

[@DevilBuster3]

I did 5 new game +'s.

[@Johnny2142T]

how did hobgobblins ever out do your squad, they are so weak.