Opera Singer Hears Pokemon Music for the First Time in 20 Years

[@MarcoMeatball]

So...What's next?

[@TornaitSuperBird]

Listen to more Kirby music. Highly underrated.

[@MrPuddle01]

Legacy of Goku 2 and Buu's Fury have amazing title themes!

[@Xellerator101]

@@TornaitSuperBird I second the kirby music such a good ost

[@johntrollski]

Dying light 1 has an amazing soundtrack by Paweł Błaszczak. It's has hints of Witcher(" he worked on the some tracks before") but it fits the theme of isolation, uncertainty and dread. The best zombie soundtrack I have ever heard!

[@CaelanBassett]

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

[@OniLink147]

So you're half right with the Champion Cynthia theme. She is an absolutely brutal opponent, but also outside the context of battle, she is super kindhearted.

[@DumbChaoticPhoque]

Yup especially when I saw her in undella town

[@fabrizioorpianesi6670]

@@DumbChaoticPhoquethe Undella Town jumpscare

[@BearInThaWoods]

There's an unspoken story that Cynthia's team composition that describes her as a character. Her Pokemon are all rare or require a lot of time and effort to build to the level that she has brought them to. Her Roserade requires a rare stone that you must spend time digging in the underground to find (or else you must find it in the post game). Her Gastrodon is the west sea variant, which are encountered in the game at a lower level as Shellos. That implies she raised it from a young age and traveled to where you find her in the East, where the Pokemon league is. Her Lucario is a rare pokemon to the Sinnoh region (where Diamon, Pearl, and Platinum take place) and the player can't even obtain the pokemon outside of a single egg you are given. It cannot be found in the wild otherwise. Her Milotic is an extremely rare pokemon from Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald versions where you have to fish in a randomly decided spot on a specific route to catch a Feebass. Then you have to raise it's beauty level or use a rainbow scale to evolve it. Her Garchomp's pre-evolution, Gible, is a rare encounter in a single room at the back of a winding cave that can easily be missed if you don't put the effort to go hunt for it. Then you have to raise the pokemon from it's encountered level, between 15-17, and raise it until it finally evolves into Garchomp at level 48. Her Garchomp is also almost perfectly trained as a fast attacker, which takes a ton of effort to do. Finally her lead pokemon, Spiritomb, is an excessively rare pokemon that takes a ton of time to catch. First you have to find an Odd Keystone and place it at the Hollowed Tower, then you must meet and talk to 32 unique people (using a system that is no longer available and impossible for emulator players without much setup and headache) It's one of the most difficult pokemon to obtain and in the game that it debuted in it had no weaknesses at all. Throughout the game it is shown that Cynthia is a well-researched, knowledgable, and kind-hearted person. She explores the land of Sinnoh and carries a wealth of knowledge about the history and legends of the region. She also assists the player in stopping Team Galactic from releasing the pokemon equivalent of Satan, Giritina, on the world. All in all Cynthia's reputation for being a strong trainer is well deserved. She essentially traumatized an entire generation of gamers with her team.

[@Rageouz]

brutal for 10 year olds

[@ShinxBOOM247]

​@Rageouz lol yeah. Her team has a lot of tough mons, but the trainer AI in gen 4 is hilariously broken and will just pick moves at random. She just has so many power houses (and is high leveled compared to eerything else in the game) that she destroyed unprepared kids atound the world

[@Daemondog]

Marco can pick up the fear without even knowing just how stressed the Cynthia battle makes you

[@themothreborn]

b2w2 when u walk into that house......

[@DrVerz-lk7vs]

@@themothreborn not just that house, but THAT house...

[@axdwy]

Cythias music always gives me ptsd

[@Kyddious]

That fact that even Non-Pokemon players can just feel how **Dangerous** Cynthia is without any context makes it all the more clear she's still the peak of pokemon no matter what they're trying to do with newer characters

[@BeregisAggro]

@@axdwysince its triggered by things related to cynthia would that make it PTCD (post traumatic cynthia disorder)

[@Solipsis31]

"closest thing to evil in pokemon" Ghetsis theme in the corner: "bridges fingers evilly"

[@BJGvideos]

Can't be--he never pulls his right arm out of his robe.

[@lancerhades971]

hate that guy, and his impossible Hydreigon. man was straight gonna murder us

[@Solipsis31]

@lancerhades971 lol, its so funny that out of nowhere they give us this man who will kill a child, then we never see that kind of villain again. I love Ghetsis

[@m05513]

@@Solipsis31 In fairness, Lysandre (Team Flare) was literally going to kill everyone in the world who didn't pay enough money to enter into his pyramid-scheme-death-cult, and when it fails he tries to turn the superweapon that was going to commit multiple genocides against solely the player.

[@reaperofthings]

⁠@@Solipsis31in the very next generation they gave us a man who wants to kill everyone on the planet and a king who killed hundreds of Pokémon to fuel a nuke to kill more people and Pokémon. The generation after gave us a human equivalent of a Yuki Onna cryogenically freezing Pokémon and storing them all in her home. They did give us that kind of villain again. They were blatant about it.

[@truegreen7]

My dream would be to help curate and join in on an eventual PART 2 to this, almost like what Roger did a few videos back.

[@Mirakai647]

I would love to see that!

[@lulufortytwo3884]

Glad a poketuber is here! It would be great to give some context for people who might not know all the games :3

[@andresmiltongutierrezorteg2764]

Would definitely want to know your suggestions

[@zombiesxaliens]

TRUEGREEN COLLAB YES PLEASE

[@deaddead698]

YES

[@sonickoki9803]

For some context, Volo's theme is the evil version of Cynthia's theme

[@Delta_064]

Technically according to the chronology Cynthia's theme IS the non-evil version of Volo's theme bc belonged to Volo looooooooooooooooong before Cynthia's parents even born

[@sonickoki9803]

​@@Delta_064.... you know damn well what I meant!!!

[@Delta_064]

@@sonickoki9803 Yeah, I know. xp

[@heyitsgabe1093]

I was hoping he would pick up on that, but he's not nearly as familiar with the Cynthia theme as the fans are, we've had around 18 years to get the song ingrained in us.

[@BBrawler101]

@@heyitsgabe1093 18 years and trauma from going through that brutal battle with Cynthia too :') I remember seeing all the poketubers freaking out once they made the connection haha.

[@artemi7]

Cynthia's theme is really is her throwing off the veil. She's been elegant but helpful all game until then, but now... It's time for her to put you to the ultimate test. And she's not holding back. Don't disappoint her!

[@MattTOB618]

That last part of your comment feels like a "Check" dialogue from an RPG, and I like it.

[@Neo-Metal17]

I definitely disappointed her on the first go.

[@Kegdrinker]

I still remember how me and Torterra had to overwhelm her trough brute force and the amount of consumable's used to keep our team healthy, her team being among the best pokemon the generation had to offer, capable of even threatening the gods of time and space that you've captured earlier as part of the game's adventure, her signature Garchomp is almost designed specifically to pose a threat to both with its aggressive dual typing and well balanced stats. Best way i could describe Cynthia's opening and theme is that Gamefreak really wanted to nail down a true and proper "final boss" theme that could outshine Steve's theme that was the most popular final battle theme in the previous generation, not only did they succeed in this goal but they made it too well, it's easily considered one of the best themes of all time by many. And it made sense, the overarching goal in any pokemon game is to become the region's champion and defeating the currently reining champ brings you to the games credits. Cynthia represents one of the best that the series has the offer, and she acts rightfully so both in battle, while outside of battle she's one of the most intelligent and kindhearted characters around in the series, and she's made several cameos in future games and in the anime all thanks to her massive popularity among fans.

[@artemi7]

@@Kegdrinker the only thing I don't really like about her battle theme is that it really should have continued to use the piano in some form during it. Even if it was just a background element, I think it would have tied her intro theme into her battle theme very nicely

[@DuckDoolittle]

@@artemi7My headcanon is that her Garchomp is playing the piano

[@Ivory_]

you've really opened the floodgates now. be ready to hear requests for pokemon music for years and years

[@Kill0rGurke]

Time for a new Channel MarcoPokeBall😂

[@excalibursonic32]

Smhmh he is a Sonic channel now

[@wesleyjudson599]

Victini's theme. Also, the haunted mansion and/or giratine's battle theme.

[@thend4427]

​@@wesleyjudson599victini has a theme?

[@Arkouchie]

He did sonic too, he's clearly okay with poking hornets nests of music

[@flookaraz]

You can tell how good Area Zero is because you perfectly described Area Zero without ever seeing it, just from the music.

[@AofCastle]

Man imagine if the game was given the time to be polished as it deserves.

[@IapetosGaming]

​@@AofCastle That's pretty much every Pokémon game since X and Y. I mean the leaks have shown how amazing X and Y were going to be, but they probably had to cut a lot of it due to time constraints. It's so sad, because you can see that the devs want to make these absolutely amazing games, but can't realize a lot of the things they want to do because of the time pressure

[@joelsoderholm183]

​@@IapetosGaming Sun and Moon to me are the opposite. They're finished and polished but without the same passion of other games. They're still my faves tho lol

[@somerandomgamer8504]

​@@joelsoderholm183S/M, yeah. But US/UM, I really love.

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@AofCastlevery shallow perspective There are more important things like personality lore sound track atmosphere etc

[@omegaglacial]

5:07 Oh boy, if you think THAT is the closest to evil in Pokemon, wait until you hear Ghetsis battle theme...

[@HoodlumCallum]

it's so awesome to see someone who knows what they're talking about appreciate video game music

[@MarcoMeatball]

❤️ appreciate it dude

[@desraedos-h8o]

Absolutely nailed Zinnia. She's testing you to see if you're worthy and happy she can go all out while doing so.

[@aniruddhadutta4692]

He got it so spot on like I was shocked! I'm surprised that not many people noticed it

[@desraedos-h8o]

@aniruddhadutta4692 I think they got distracted by the prior equally impressive miss on Cynthia

[@ranol602]

The way you described Cynthia's theme, lol. That isn't how the character is outside of battles, but you absolutely nailed how the battle against her feels, though🤣

[@mariothane8754]

The embodiment of elegance and dignity turned fierce in the midst of battle.

[@FlickTakFlakAttack]

Player: "Let's do this Empoleon!" Cythnia: "Garchomp! Show this child the Gen 4 meta!"

[@neo7538]

Tbf, her theme only plays when youre about to or begin battling her

[@Kyddious]

I love how the ONLY thing he's gotten wrong on Cynthia is that she was evil. He nailed tf outta her to the T

[@add8chicken]

I love Area Zero because it’s hyped up the whole game and when we finally enter it for the first time and that music hits, it sinks in that this place is dangerous and alien compared to the rest of the game’s region. Really was the highlight of the most recent game for me!

[@preston_s.]

Same! Scarlet and Violet was a step up in story and music in my opinion (despite its many flaws), and Area Zero had me awestruck.

[@wildbard4112]

​@@preston_s.S/V has the best story since Gen 5

[@BJGvideos]

It's a place that doesn't want you to exist. Even experts in the area have gotten killed down there, and you're a gormless teenager who's only going down there because someone asked nicely.

[@JesseNightingale]

I am happy to see that other people agree with me that S/V has the best story since gen 5 lol

[@bonjouritsready]

It was pretty much the only good part of the game for me

[@jdcgc64kirby]

Im surprised your first reaction to volo's theme wasent, " isnt this just cynthia's theme again?"

[@JeanKP14]

Because it isn't!

[@insertnamehere1398]

I'm surprised too he JUST listened to cynthia's theme aswell

[@Dirakiaa]

@@JeanKP14 It... is tho? Its her Piano with parts of her Battle THeme mixed in (even the Violin of him talking before the Battle is part of Cnythias Battle Theme heavily slowed down) Theres only a rather short Part in Volo's Theme that is actually original

[@JeanKP14]

@@Dirakiaa yes, its an arrangement of those two songs, but it is not LITERALLY the same. Lol. Same leitmotifs, different song than either of those with the way it is constructed and the emotions in it

[@JeanKP14]

I feel like he did not notice it was an arrangement because he got so into the piano LOL

[@Delta_064]

I love how whoever put the hoenn video in the third song didn't even bother to put a gameplay of a real 3rd gen game and just played pokemon quetzal which is a hackrom XD

[@neo7538]

Same. I was like "wait..... I dont remember having this pokemon (yet)" 😂😂

[@hmmmuffin]

They also used footage from the wrong Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game for both PMD tracks.

[@manupm9161]

​@@hmmmuffin The same goes for Zinnia's theme, that uses footage of the original gen 3 games, even though she doesn't exist in those games

[@BJGvideos]

@@manupm9161 And in that footage they named their character Hareta, who is a LUCAS expy from a DPPt manga

[@GKplus8]

It was interesting to see the Area Zero observations, as it's meant to evoke a "Journey to the Center of the Earth" vibe, and the Area 51 "containment" vibe was spot on.

[@madnessarcade7447]

“Closest thing to evil in Pokemon” he knows Pokemon has villains right

[@foggy8298]

You’re answering your own question man. he obviously doesn’t

[@geraldthegoose1685]

You know I was thinking "its been 20 years so cut him some slack" but then I remember how iconic team rocket is even for people who don't engage with the series

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@foggy8298I was trying to be cheeky

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@geraldthegoose1685although he does say “Cynthia is more classy than the other trainers” How would he know since he hasn’t played the other games 😅

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@geraldthegoose1685basically

[@metalgamerjonny6410]

0:34 elite four battle pokemon Black/White 3:59 Cynthia Encounter 4:46, Cynthia battle 10:37 sotopolis city pokemon R/A/S 13:11 area zero pokemon Scarlet/Violet 18:53 route 10 pokemon Black/White 23:00 on the beach at dusk pokemon mystery dungeon 27:28 zinnia battle music pokemon Omega ruby/Alpha sapphire 32:18 dialgas fight to the finish pokemon mystery dungeon 35:49 volos battle pokemon legends arcaeus

[@kohaiame2691]

Thanks, your comment should really be pinned.

[@TheRedstonian]

Specifically, PMD2, the Explorers series for both tracks.

[@retroreset8140]

Bro you gotta listen to Ghetsis' and N's Theme from BW and BW2 ONG this is about to be so exciting

[@NoShotTwoKill]

I second this

[@ActualBlueBlu]

DEEEEENNIS

[@TheEvilRayquaza]

Yes, this! We need this analysis

[@andresmiltongutierrezorteg2764]

Yeah I´m looking forward to these themes in particular, I find interesting that Guetsis 1st battle theme is among the longest before it loops, I think dialga and palkia is also long too now that I think of it. But what I´d like to see is him comparing the originals villain leaders themes with their remixes in USUM

[@thend4427]

Hope he makes a part 2 in the near future

[@Manuel1112221]

Cynthia is legitimately one of your staunchest allies within the Diamond/Pearl/Platinum games, and even when you find her as a cameo in other games she is super nice and kind. She dresses quite elegantly, and she introduces herself not as the Sinnoh Pokemon League Champion, but as a student of myths and legends. In fact, iirc you only know she is the League Champion you've been aiming to defeat from the beginning of the game when you enter her arena. It's just, when she's serious, she's serious. It's been 18 years since Diamond and Pearl came out, and to this day she is considered one of the best and hardest encounters across all generations. She pulls no punches, she will bring her all to bear against any challenger. All limiters are gone. There is no mercy. Cynthia is the GOATest Champion and to this day none have really come that close to her mystique. Also I should point out that Volo's theme is the melody of Cynthia's encounter. That's because Volo is her ancestor, some 200 years back. And yeah, he's a conniving bastard. One of my favorite villains in a side game. :D

[@fidelcashflow4940]

Cynthia is definitely one of the scariest opponents in pokemon, but funnily enough she's actually very caring and almost motherly outside of battle, a guiding hand for the protagonist for a lot of the story. But if you want to be champion you have to challenge her and win, and she's not going to hold back at all. She ended a lot of people's winning streaks, definitely goes down as one of the best champions for the main series, I'd say her character is implied to be a bit of a battle junky concealed under all that Class and calm presence that she normally has.

[@GKplus8]

Yeah, it's definatly a "time to show you why I was the mentor character" vibe

[@Yasha_U]

she's definitely a battle junkie. why would you go to undella for a vacation and whoop the first person coming into your villa, lmao

[@deviwaazaa]

While new games have made it canon that she's not the strongest champion in lore, she absolutely is in gameplay. It's why she's the most revered even to this very day.

[@AshtonMonitor]

Marco, your description of On the Beach at Dusk brought tears to my eyes. It brought back the emotions I felt when I heard it in the game. The description of it being a conversation is so perfect, because it’s both that and the wish to have that. If I could describe any game series as being inherently a duet, it is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. The focus on the relationship between the hero and their partner/friend is a constant theme in these games, always the two of them against the odds. And the music so often reflects this, feeling like a conversation between the two, or a letter or message from one to the other.

[@Gryphonzwing]

Yeah, but he was showing the wrong Mystery dungeon game.

[@AshtonMonitor]

@ that doesn’t really matter. The music is what’s important for the video. The music is what I’m commenting on. I’m not sure what you thought being a nitpick under my comment was going to achieve?

[@overfailed3639]

This is such a great way to describe the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, thank you!

[@deaddead698]

Some Area Zero fun facts: This is one of the songs composed by Toby Fox and arranged by Go Ichinose, one of the main musical minds at Game Freak. ALSO, the main leitmotif of Area Zero’s melody is the main Pokémon theme’s melody, so it’s supposed to give you a sense of familiarity while being extremely unfamiliar, unsure if the creatures down there are even Pokémon

[@Delta_064]

God how I love when Toby pulls out the leitmotifs and makes the best songs ever made, how can I forget how in the previous game he put a leitmotif from a *web series* from an album about *male pregnancy* to a song from the battle tower and nobody asked him anything or noticed

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@Delta_064no one noticed that one of the moments from the tune from Area zero is a sample of Rick and Morty

[@tkrdelta]

It's still funny to me that Ichinose randomly picked the programming job at Game Freak to apply for, interviewed by Tajiri and hired as part-time, then somehow joined the sound team and eventually became the sound director. I guess that's life when you actually have talent...

[@liamwhite3522]

Really? What part of the main theme does it quote, because I never noticed that area zero and the main theme shared anything

[@deaddead698]

@@liamwhite3522the main melody itself from all the way back in Pokémon Red to now! Listen to the main theme from Red, then listen to the Area Zero theme immediately after!! Take note of the melody! It’s pretty much the same, but in a slightly different rhythm

[@wyattmcgahey3035]

A little thing about the music from Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games is that they utilize a lot more game specific leitmotifs than the mainline games (though more modern games are starting to get that quality). It adds a lot of the themes and especially Dialga's Fight to the Finish where you're not just listening to a hype theme, but a theme that has been built up for throughout the majority of the game before it.

[@syloui]

Explorers in particular even has duets and triets for specific characters' narrative arcs that play over their cutscenes. It's truly magnificent in it's entirety

[@Crazed3raser337]

Really like how you focus on the vibes and emotions that the music is trying to convey, like to use the Black and White Elite 4 track as an example, yes, it is supposed to sound tense, you are up against four of the strongest trainers in the whole region, but you also noticed the optimism bits, because at the same time it is supposed to be a challenge you overcome, and not just an overwhelming sense of dread and oppression. Good stuff!

[@Jzwiz]

so glad you did dialgas fight to the finish theme. personal fav specially when you're in game and get why its so intense

[@wikiuser92]

I personally prefer Super to Explorers, even if the Explorers games are genuinely good.

[@xailonut8763]

​@@wikiuser92I'm sorry brother but he didn't ask don't piss in his cereals

[@wikiuser92]

@@xailonut8763 Hey, I didn't say I hated Explorers or even call it a subpart game, just that I have a different favorite.

[@terapziegames]

@@xailonut8763 chill

[@wikiuser92]

@@netyokai That's your opinion.

[@mythicaltechwizard]

FIRST SONIC MUSIC AND NOW POKEMON MUSIC?!?!? LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

[@lightsen]

I would love to see more of this, I was really moved with your comments on music that is so dear to me. Thank you for your insight!

[@MarcoMeatball]

My pleasure lightsen :)

[@lightsen]

@@MarcoMeatball forgot to drop my ideas for my favourite picks! I'd love to see Anistar city for a non battle theme, and for battle themes, I'd pick Team Aqua & Magma Leader Battle Music from omega ruby and alpha sapphire. A villain theme that is shared between two very different characters, which I think makes it quite interesting. thanks again!

[@SuperHexer123]

Yeah Volo is up there as one of the most cunning villains pokemon, and probably the second most brutal. Also being Cynthia's ancestor he has her theme and when most people heard the piano at the start they immediately feared what was coming. The man is absolutely deranged by the end, summoning the equivalent of pokemon Satan to and i quote "Strike us down" and is in the hall of fame for "difficult pokemon fights". Honestly if he had a knife on him I wouldn't put it past him to try and stab us after he loses to us. Lastly, if I'm to throw my hat in the ring for pokemon tracks, I would recommend the Sada/Turo fight theme from scarlet/violet. It instantly shot up to one of my favorite tracks the moment I heard it and Toby fox did a phenomenal job. It also links tot he Area zero theme. If you don't want an action track I also recommend "Dont ever forget..." from the mystery dungeon games. AKA the song that emotionally destroyed a generation /j.

[@lulufortytwo3884]

That Volo fight took me an hour but I did it first try! I know a lot of people ran out of potions and revives so I was quite proud of myself. But yeah, when I heard the music and saw the first pokemon I was screaming. It was diabolical.

[@Rosiee892]

For me Volo is #1. 6 vs 8 and the team is Cynthia minus Milotic? No breaks? Diabolical and I’m here for more of that in this series.

[@swordsmancs]

I started tearing up the second I read “Don’t ever forget…” ‘Emotionally destroyed a generation’ is incredibly factual

[@KiRIOTom]

@@swordsmancs me too! The sole title of the song is capable of made me in tears ahahah

[@pikmints]

The National Park song from Gold/Silver/Crystal will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart. Would love to see him check that out.

[@origamicake]

Holy crap, your analysis of On the Beach at Dusk is so spot on, especially considering the themes of past and future in PkmnMD time/darkness/sky, good lord... And for Dialga's fight to the finish, you're also so spot on! Though actually you're fighting against Dialga haha, but Dialga probably has the same feeling as you do, both sides believe they're trying to save the world, but Dialga's vision has been distorted. All those songs still make me cry even so many years after I played them, and this made me appreciate the music even more You absolutely have to do "Don't Ever Forget" from the same series, that was the song that made a generation of children cry

[@JohnstoneYT]

I absolutely loved this video! If you ever look into more Pokemon music, I'd love to hear your thoughts on 'The Heartwood' from Legends: Arceus, compared with Eterna Forest from Diamond and Pearl. It's easily one of my favorite pieces from the franchise, and hearing the inspiration from Eterna Forest made me really admire their effort in trying to tell you in-game that "You're in this part of ancient Sinnoh right now"

[@DrGamer365]

Absolutely based Johnstone take (Eterna Forest makes me cry regularly it's SUCH a beautiful piece)

[@FizzieWebb]

ooof, the shivers that hit me as soon as On the Beach at Dusk plays... I love that track. PMD music for story beats is... so incredible, Gamefreak's composers can nail a vibe for an area better, but I think Spikechun soft's can nail story vibes flawlessly. I think another great track to hear after that is Memories Returned, the credits theme of Explorers of Sky since One the Beach at Dusk is one of the first tracks you hear in gameplay, and the Exploration team theme, which is the title theme of that game.

[@wikiuser92]

He should listen to PMD music from other games too. Preferably Super, if you ask me.

[@etherious6224]

@@wikiuser92 Dark Matter phase 2 is one of my favorite MD songs. That one I really hope he listens to at some point.

[@wikiuser92]

@@etherious6224 I agree. That's a masterpiece of a boss theme.

[@dantefredul6326]

@@wikiuser92 stop nuthugging

[@wikiuser92]

@@dantefredul6326 ??? What did I say wrong? I was being perfectly polite.

[@deiondre0]

5:08 “Closest thing to getting evil in Pokemon” *DENNIS intensifies*

[@Brightmoon01]

For Dialga's Fight to the Finish specifically, I'd point out the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are very good with using leitmotif to connect certain emotions and story beats. The game has one for it's main story - a leitmotif of the track 'Time Gear' - that is used repeatedly throughout the game. It's used in DFttF. You go into this fight knowing it is the final challenge. The music of the dungeon leading up to this fight uses a slow, tense version of this leitmotif. It's ingrained in the player's mind that this sequence of notes means 'important'. That connection to prior tracks, to the prior events of the game, elevates the song to really feel like this is the end of the journey. Just one last fight to finish it all.

[@juanc.metrocroix0000]

He has to hear Ultra Necrozma's and Pecharunt theme man, they'r some of the best

[@ArctiVax]

mochi mochi

[@EnmaSatoru]

Mochi mochi

[@imamagicalpotato]

mochi mochi

[@captiansansanvich8863]

Mochi mochi

[@Fwuffy_Cuddles]

Mochi Mochi

[@gossiperzoroark9629]

I wonder if he’s heard Giratina’s theme Especially given the sheer juxtaposition between each version and the themes used by the rest of the creation trio (Dialga and Palkia)

[@WhyYouWahYoo]

I love the echoes on the percussion in Area Zero, it truly sells this vast expansive creepy underground place, also you NAILED the Area Zero vibes. That place is the scardest I’ve ever been playing Pokemon, yet also the most in awe I’ve ever been playing Pokemon

[@zacharydobbins6267]

On the beach at dusk… gives me memories… you nailed it bro

[@Falconwing51]

You were spot on with the Elite Four theme, they're four of the five strongest trainers in the region. Every game (apart from gens 7 and 8), the main goal is to beat the 8 gyms, then you can challenge the Elite Four, and then the Champion. Cynthia's pretty much the opposite. She's the region's strongest trainer in gen 4, but she's actually a really kind character who researches the region's mythology in between battles. She's so famous because of how many people had trouble with her fight back when gen 4 first came out, her team is very well balanced. Iirc someone made a video essay around why the fight's so infamous, but I don't remember their username. Sootopolis has such a fun, relaxing vibe imo. It's the last full city you go to before fighting gen 3's elite four, and almost gives me the vibe of "You've gotten this far, now have a rest before the upcoming challenges" While trying not to spoil too much, Area Zero is a place you can only visit after you've become champion. Depending on which game you're playing it's full of either ancient beasts or futuristic android pokemon. It's a very dangerous place, but your journey's led you there. Route 10 always used to trip me up. It's from gen 5, but it reminds me a lot of gen 6's music with the accordion. Haven't played through gen 5 fully in a good while, but iirc, the evil team's caught the legendary dragon of truth or ideals (depending on the version), and you know you'll have to fight them soon, so your friends test your strength. It feels kinda bittersweet? PMD music is always amazing. I haven't played PMD2 in a while, but from what I remember, On the Beach at Dusk normally plays when your partner is talking about their dreams for the future. Zinnia's theme is one of my absolute favourite songs in the series and you were pretty much spot on with the vibes. Zinnia is a character you meet a few times after you become champion. She's testing you, to see if you're worthy of using the power of the legendary pokemon her tribe worships to save the region from a giant meteor. There's this kinda reluctant feeling, Zinnia's plan was to do this herself, even accepting that she might die in the process, and then Rayquaza chooses the player instead of her. There's a time crunch, but it just adds to the moment if that makes sense? Dialga's Fight to the Finish is another one of my favourites. Explaining the whole story would make this comment even more wall-of-texty, but in short there's an overwhelming pressure to win. Dialga is pretty much the God of time, but has lost his mind, driven only by his instinct to survive and turning into Primal Dialga. One of your friends sacrificed himself to let you get to this point, and if you lose, the entire world will be frozen in suspended time. You even get taken to the future at one point, so you've seen the apocalypse that awaits if you fail. Volo is Cynthia's ancestor, which is why their themes sound so similar. Through the main story, he pops up from time to time to give you advice, even helping to guide you when you get exiled from the main village. Then in the post game, your goal is to collect all of the elemental plates - artifacts from the Pokemon world's God. You've collected 17/18 of them, you go up to some ancient ruins and then Volo in his determination to meet Arceus, betrays you, trying to steal the plates you've collected already. If you haven't overlevelled too much it's a difficult battle, usually being a series of trade-offs (you beat one of his pokemon, he beats one of yours). Then after you win, he jumps you with a two-phase legendary boss fight without giving you chance to heal, basically making his fight a 6v8.

[@蜘蛛蜂-m2z]

Love the analysis of "On the Beach At Dusk". Describing it as two halves is perfect, it fits perfectly with the dual screen nature of the Nintendo DS it's being played on. Also with how the cutscenes will utilize both screens to show the scene on the beach on the bottom screen, then the bubbles floating by the ocean horizon on the top screen. It is a song that encapsulates the very nature of its existence. Truly beautiful!

[@rokkraljkolesa9317]

fun fact: the japanese title for the Elite Four translates as _Four Heavenly Kings_ , and the Gen 5 (Black, White, B2, and W2) theme for them _really_ highlights that status in particular as another E4 theme, the one from Gen 7 (Sun, Moon, UltraS, UltraM) is similar in the feeling of "So, you have chosen *death."* a special mention to the generic Legendary Pokemon Battle theme from Gen 5 (later used for some specific groups from the games as well), another great battle theme and finally, I'd also recommend Ghetsis' battle themes being listened to back-to-back, to really highlight how he's changed between the games context for the above: Ghetsis is a villain in charge of basically Poke-PETA in BW 1, with all the hypocrisy that comes with the real life organisation, while in B2W2 they go full terrorist mode and Ghetsis has gone a little crazy from having lost to _a child_ and about to _lose to another one_ also, he's the only villain who has outright attempted to kill the player in the main series, using a _legendary dragon of ice_ to do so before the battle

[@justkerv]

Four Heavenly Kings sounds so fucking badass lol.

[@rokkraljkolesa9317]

@@justkerv which is why I included that fact

[@raccoonchild]

​@@justkerv Yep, it comes from Buddhism.

[@piggnut18]

I think Cynthia's theme is designed to fully portray her prowess and persona in a pokemon battle: Ever-ready, powerful, confident & merciless. It shocks us because the prelude to this, the aporoaching theme, hints at Cynthia's elegance and class, which we know it well from our encounters with her outside of battle. She knows she is powerful and won't go down easy.

[@Yasha_U]

and her overall encounter with us, the player, she's very kind as well as highly helpful. there are hints to her prowess but you never truly know the scale, until you realize she's this towering overwhelming, brutal fighter, behind all that class and elegance

[@LuvableKiwi]

My favorite tidbit of info about Cynthia's intro track is that it's an Aria - specifically a very difficult piano piece meant to be played to show off your skill. The moment you meet her in the champion room she slaps that in your face and the general feeling you get is "oh no"

[@cinnabonbons]

You GOTTA do the Giratina battle theme, especially the Legends Arceus remix. It's peak, I fear.

[@Brianycus]

32:17 the moment the first notes played, I teared up. This was my very first Pokemon game ever and reaching this moment after hours of being in that world of Pokemon at the age of 9, I felt like it was me on that journey and now im about to finish what I started.

[@WRENCHDOGS]

i find it very cool how you described On The Beach At Dusk as a very "past and future" kind of song, because past and future are a very heavy part of the PMD Explorers plot

[@AntlionUncletruthin]

Listening to Area Zero with Marco got me thinking... and bear with me cause I have to give some background. I know a lot of people are unhappy with the direction pokemon games (and many others) are going especially as I hear over and over that they are more hand-holdy than ever and are designed for an extremely young player base in mind, even though many Pokemon fans are the people who were kids when the gameboy color came out. However, I am so very appreciative that even though Pokemon designs their gameplay and story around their youngest audience members, they still treat them with these extremely intelligent musical tracks. Area Zero is a perfect example, there is a lot more depth to the song than you would expect from a cutesy game for kids.

[@shockzz1234]

I will say, i did actually really enjoyed S/V's story. I thought it had a surprising depth to it, and the characters too (Arven especially has become one of my favourite Pokemon characters). I hope they keep going in that direction story/character wise rather than....whatever the fuck SW/SH were in that regard lol.

[@BJGvideos]

@@shockzz1234 It kinda felt like they took the criticism of SwSh having a weak story and decided to make the best damn story they possibly could, throwing all their effort into it...including effort that could have been used to do bug testing.

[@FonVegen]

@@BJGvideos Writing and bug testing aren't done by the same people. I do think they put more of an emphasis on the story, yeah, but the company just didn't leave the technical devs enough time to fix the mechanics. Gotta love that three-year release cycle for new generations. (Yes I'm aware that gen 10 probably already started development before 9 even came out, but what I'm saying is that there wasn't enough time, not nailing down exactly how much time they had)

[@BJGvideos]

@FonVegen I'm aware they're not done by the same people.

[@caydengarvey657]

As a music teacher myself, looking back on Pokemons music from generations ago with my friends was really enlightening, seeing how smartly composed it all is. Sinnohs music theming is very chill and matches the cold and lively setting. Pokemons music is masterful.

[@rangerhalt5211]

I'm always so impressed with how on point you are about what's going on during these themes

[@feeblecursedone2540]

3:58 Press this to feel stressed.

[@kristopherwillis8075]

Till this day 😭

[@WilliamTheWatchful]

Just a normal day at the beach and AAAAAAHHH!!!!

[@bagarcia09]

I WANTED TO ENJOY A RELAXING TIME AT THE BEACH TWICE

[@shiburu]

super happy to see mystery dungeon here in the line up! both musical choices still make me want to cry eventhough its been over a decade since i first played it.... PMD has a pretty emotional story, so i think the musician did a wonderful job invoking my tears from my eyes every single time

[@TheRealXentos]

Anyone else heard the Garchomp scream coming out of your memories when Cynthia Theme review came up? Im scared.

[@sp10482]

Damn it makes me appreciate all the Pokemon themes so much more, since Pokemon music really tells a story in the theme itself even if you haven't played the game, I really like that about it and it is totally seen in the video as well. Great video!

[@wingfreedom21]

Area Zero is one of my favorites. It was such a surprise when you first entered Area Zero that I just stood there listening to it for a while.

[@CelixRose]

Dialga's fight to the finish is such a powerful piece when you see the context of it. Once you know the context, the theme has a sense of "I have to do this, or else the whole world is doomed" sort of vibe. The high flute parts is the adrenaline of the player pushing past their boundaries (in context of emotions when fully immersed into the story) to achieve victory.

[@exedra8649]

Oh man the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Games (especially the first two) are some of my favourite games to date. Brilliant musically.

[@foggy8298]

Fun fact; Area Zero, as well as many other songs in Scarlet/Violet, are composed by Toby Fox, the composer (and writer, designer, and almost everything else) behind Undertale and Deltarune. Toby Fox’s “job” is composition, Undertale was originally just meant to be a passion project lol

[@user-jh3sm7vp7e]

I've heard toby fox composed some songs for pokemon, but I didn't know which, so it was pretty funny when I heard the area zero on marco's video and thought "dude, that reminds me of chrono trigger, is this toby fox" and it was him

[@Delta_064]

​@@user-jh3sm7vp7e Fun fact, he also worked on the previous game, on the battle tower theme of Sword and Shield, but what not many realized (or at least not at the Pokemon Company) is that the main leitmotif of the song comes from the album "The baby is You" from Homestuck, that talks about... "particular" topics that shouldn't be in a pokemon game

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@Delta_064​​⁠no one noticed that one of the moments from the tune from Area zero is a sample of Rick and Morty

[@MattTOB618]

​​@@user-jh3sm7vp7e Toby Fox's contributions to Pokémon so far include: _Sword/Shield:_ Battle! Battle Tower (composed/arranged - this is the one that uses the Homestuck leitmotif) _Scarlet/Violet:_ Battle! Tera Raid Battle (composed/arranged) Battle! Area Zero Lab (composed/arranged) Battle! Academy Ace Tournament (composed/arranged) Area Zero Theme (composed by Toby, arranged by Go Ichinose) "Academy" leitmotif (melody composed by Toby, adapted into one of the game's major leitmotifs by the other composers/arrangers). _The Indigo Disk DLC_ End Credits Theme 2 - Celestial Remix (Remixed by Toby)

[@BJGvideos]

@@MattTOB618 Thank you. A lot of people think he did the whole score but he reeeeeally didn't. Oh he arranged the ending theme of the second DLC as well, since it's a remix of the base game's credit theme. And also he did the score to a Game Freak game called Little Town Hero but that's basically the only thing anyone knows about that game because absolutely nobody played it.

[@mylesmoody2853]

0:35 The flashbacks... The horror...

[@Jarvice]

I'm still super obsessed with Zinnia's theme. Such a unique vibe with those violins, accordion and that marimba melody in the background.

[@VileOkami]

I listen to the smash version all the time.

[@Kehy_ThisNameWasAlreadyTaken]

Can't believe you passed up Mirror B's theme. It's flat out the BEST

[@Nathan55411]

You really nailed On the Beach at Dusk. It was literally a song that played once at the start of the game and once at the end of the game, literally a book-ending song that was very reflective

[@Melody-to8wg]

I am so glad you did Dialga's fight to the finish, but you should really take a look at some of the HeartGold/Soulsilver and Platinum ambient themes. Snowpoint city is absolutely beautiful. A lot of the route themes from those games are great. Mystery dungeon themes are fire too!! Please do more than just Dialga's fight to the finish

[@Melody-to8wg]

Also hearing On the Beach at Dusk again was so unexpected I literally cried. The mystery dungeon games were such gems.

[@Charziken]

Dialga's Fight to the Finish remains my all time favorite fight theme from a Pokemon game. It's part of a trio of songs found within the final dungeon that (in my opinion) all signify a different level of intensity with how much time you have left. Temporal Tower is fast paced, energetic, and signifying you need to reach the top before time runs out. You're on the clock and it won't stop for anything. Temporal Spire slows down almost to a halt comparatively, it's saying you're nearly out of time. Then you get to the Pinnacle, where Fight to the Finish plays, and you know that you're *out* of time.

[@alexemp6201]

If you hadn't noticed, Volo's theme takes a lot from cynthia's encounter and battle theme, for reasons I'll not explain to you (you should really play pokemon brilliant diamond or shining pearl and then legends arceus), and this made the fans scream both in awe and in terror let me tell you that. I'm so glad you made this video, I loved your reactions to many of the themes that made my childhood and my overall 2nd favourite theme of all time, Zinnia's battle theme. Your perspective felt really precious especially because you got so many things right and it was simply a trip down memory lane, like telling a friend the epic story that is pokemon, at least when it tries xD. Thanks a bunch

[@madnessarcade7447]

Pla is first chronologically so there’s that way also

[@alexemp6201]

@madnessarcade7447 I think it's more important to get the references in legends arceus from the originals but that's just how I see it

[@eddie-roo]

I’d say just emulate platinum. BDSP are… not the best games. Plus, it’s literally just DS code running on the switch.

[@alexemp6201]

@@eddie-roo I think that BDSP are completely acceptable for someone who didn't play the originals and, in this case specifically, the decompressed musics can do a lot

[@eddie-roo]

@alexemp6201 they are not properly balanced to account for the mandatory whole team XP share, tho.

[@Pr1zzm]

Loved your book analogy for "On the Beach at Dusk." What a beautiful way to describe the melodies interacting.

[@missymeowstic1147]

So happy to see you reacting to Pokemon music! There’s definitely some really good hidden gems in there. I’d love to see you react to N’s battle theme from Pokemon black and white as well! And ultra necrozma’s theme from ultra sun and moon!

[@missymeowstic1147]

Also gonna add in Giratina’s theme and Ho-Oh’s theme! There’s just so many good ones!!

[@abhiveerbirdi9377]

About route 10, this track plays into the main plot of black and white. This is one of the final areas before you battle the elite 4 and the champion, but you are yet to solve the crisis and fight N. The entire time between you being the chosen one and you collecting the rest of the gym badges and having to fight N(the main antagonist of the game), this track plays as a nice relaxing melody, but it also motivates you and reminds you what you're fighting for. The peace of this world, and your friends who started their journey alongside you.

[@leifenigmar1363]

I didn't know the name of the track that is On the Beach At Dusk... But the second I hear those first few notes, I cried, just because that game holds such warm and fuzzy memories... Seeing you jamming out to one of my favorite final boss themes also made me so happy, mystery dungeon needs more focus again.

[@gatr2897]

Man I'm so glad you've finally done a video on Pokemon, the music is so so good Unova's elite four theme is so freaking crazy, I think one possible source for why it would be THAT tense is that in the story of Black and White there's more stakes to beating them than just becoming the champion. You're kind of in a race to beat them first with the antagonist of the game who is trying to separate people from Pokemon, it's a world defining conflict. Unova's Elite Four is also just really really strong, they're probably my favorite in the series and they're some cool characters too, they show their personalities off well. When Cynthia battles it's like a switch flips in her head. She's outwardly a very kind and friendly person, dare I say she's a bit of a nerd too! She's got a big thing for archeology and history, but when she fights she is COLD and very brutal, and her ace is the Land Shark Pokemon Garchomp, which, if you've seen or known anything about that Pokemon, it's brutal. She's not evil though, BUT her ancestor Volo definently is lol. Sootopolis City is built in what I believe is a crater formed by massive meteorite in the ocean? It feels like a real vacation spot for sure. In a game with a lot of red and beige rock textures this place stands out to me due to having white rock. There's also a nice area of vegetation around the middle, and then the very center is a big body of water. You first arrive there during a moment of chaos in the story so it's a little bittersweet I'd say. I need to restrain myself talking about Area Zero lol, when I first heard that big drop in game MY JAW dropped, I've rarely felt such awe in a game. Area Zero is an enormous crater in the center of Paldea, which is a region based on the Iberian Peninsula. It's a place where the past, present and future quite literally converge due to an alleged time machine at the bottom. It really doesn't feel like anywhere on Earth down there, it's like being in the Farlands in Minecraft, the geography is just ridiculous, it looks more like Xenoblade than real life lol. One of the best songs in the game definently, and I also like the wild battle theme in Area Zero, it's basically a pumped up version of this song. Pokemon Black and White is probably the most beloved game, I myself played it as a kid and it's just something else. It's the first game in the series that really reigns in the exploration aspect in exchange for offering a more compelling story and man they won on that trade with this game. The presentation and atmosphere of the game are also just phenomenal. Route 10 represents the final stretch of your journey in this game. The stakes are getting really tense, by now you've learned that you will be part of a 1-on-1 conflict that will decide the fate of all people and Pokemon, so Route 10 is a theme of retrospection of your journey so far and the convictions that brought you here, as well as anticipation of fighting with those convictions on the line. Don't know much about Mystery Dungeon, but I've heard this theme it's very pretty :) Mystery Dungeon is known for really tugging on your heartstrings in a pure, childlike way. I might have more to say for Dialga's Fight to the Finish. Zinnia's is an emotional battle that really chokes me up. Her story is about generational trauma and also in my opinion, about feeling helpless in the sea of other voices in the world. Zinnia's ancestors had to endure a battle between Groudon and Kyogre, THE Pokemon that expand the land and fill the seas. They called upon the Guardian of the Sky Rayquaza to quell them. Thousands of years later and a threat looms over humanity again and Zinnia, a Lorekeeper of her people, is determined to stop it. She acts alone and could be perceived as the villain if she weren't so right about everything. She believed she'd be the hero to call to Rayquaza to save the day again but it ended up being the player, which she accepts. This fight is her testing your ability to wield Rayquazas power, and once you go off into the final conflict, she vanishes by the time you return. She likely left to go and finally be free of the trauma of knowing what's coming, the world is now safe again. Pokemon has a lot of sportsmanship, absolutely. A core aspect of the series is the shonenesque drive to improve alongside your Pokemon partners and your human rivals, and it serves to make the dynamics between each character feel more powerful, I really love it. Mystery Dungeon is a wildly different series to the main series, there's no trainers it's just you, in the body of a Pokemon, going on a journey with other Pokemon party members you recruit, and it's a very personal and emotional story each time. I've never played Mystery Dungeon but the battle with Dialga really speaks to me. Just you and your friend, two normal Pokemon, standing up to a rampaging angry Dialga, the Pokemon that rules over time. It's definently a time to put everything on the line, and I love how that mindset comes out in the music, it's a climactic theme but it's not bombastic so much as emotional. Man, you didn't catch it, did you... Volos theme is a CHILLING callback to Cynthia's encounter and battle themes. Volo is Cynthia's ancestor from a couple hundred years ago, and he is just pure evil. He starts off completely unassuming, just a member of a group of travelling merchants, but he proves especially knowledgable on the myths and folklore of the Hisui region. Turns out, he orchestrated the entire conflict of the game by teaming up with Giratina, the Pokemon that rules over antimatter and the Distortion world, he's the reason Arceus called the player back in time to save the world, Volo was going to capture Arceus's power and use it to recreate the wholr universe. It makes you wonder if Cynthia's kindness is a facade... At the very least I'm nearly positive they made this story and this song in response to how immensely popular Cynthia's themes are lol, very wink wink nudge nudge from them to us. Volo uses a team of Pokemon almost identical to Cynthia's too, And he's even stronger than she is, AND when he loses he starts CHEATING and calls forth Giratina as his SEVENTH Pokemon even tho 6 is the max??? Like I said, just pure evil. The fight is absolutely positively brutal, you'd be hard pressed to beat it first try even if you had a bunch of powerful legendary Pokemon by your side. I definently spent a long time on it. PLEASE keep going with Pokemon, it's a treasure trove, man I'm so excited to see what you hear next. I'll drop some ideas in the pinned comment but off the top of my head, I mean, honestly you might as well just either listen to Pokemon BWs OST or just do a full playthrough on your channel, because what a game man, I think it would be so interesting to watch you play it as blind as possible.

[@RainbowAceOfSpades]

Finally a Pokemon music video! Been waiting for one and hope to see more. Now, I would love to see you showing Pokemon music to other people who haven't heard it!

[@azjl9553]

Your description of zinnia having integrity and respect yet is being scary in the battle is crazy spot on

[@gamerkingdom1442]

Dude, you have just entered a new rabbit hole of music. As a player since the very beginning, about 1/4 of my favorite songs of gaming is from Pokémon. You’re in for a TREAT!! EDIT: You want evil villain theme!? THE GHETSIS THEMES!! He has 3 variants, and all of them are amazingly EVIL!!

[@laggalot1012]

4 variants, actually, if you're willing to count Pokémon Masters! That arrangement is really great, too!

[@rosiem1526]

Another layer to the Mystery Dungeon songs you don't get here is the use of leitmotifs, because the melody from On the Beach at Dusk is a mellowed out version of the title card's explorer's match. And Dialga'a theme had a motif that is everywhere in the lead up in all sorts of different moods, so it feels like the true culmination of the adventure. Gah. PMD: Explorers had no right to be as good as it was.

[@zacharydobbins6267]

Cynthia as a character= angelic mommy. Cynthia in battle= biblical T-Rex

[@starofaetherius]

biblical T-Rex is a HILARIOUS way to describe anything at all and i love this

[@BJGvideos]

Angelic mommy? She's a massive dork, and better for it

[@smugsona]

Holy hell, very on point about On the Beach at Dusk.

[@PkmnVGMRestore]

Cynthia isnt a bad person, she's just scary because of how powerful her team can be Volo is Cynthia's evil ancestor btw, he literally wants to kill you

[@x3SayuriChan]

Really impressed how you interpreted Dialga‘s fight to the finish so perfectly. Yes it‘s a fight that‘s both hopeful and determined but also desperate and with doubts to overcome. It‘s a fight where you know that if you win you will die but if you lose the world will end. That music encapsulates the determination to win for a better world regardless of your own fate perfectly. It‘s also the fight at the end of very difficult dungeons and fights beforehand so this music really screams „this is it.“

[@bloodclaw123]

Youre part right with Cynthia. So, outside of her fight, Cynthia is known as graceful, kind, elegant... shes a lover of history and pokemon, and a truly kind heart. In battle, however, shes known to be a terrifying force to be reckoned. She is, to this day, considered one of, if not -the- hardest battle in pokemon history. A true harbinger of death for your team (and your nuzlocke run.) As for Area Zero, it is the mythical 'forbidden land' of Scarlet and Violet. The center of the massive crater at the center of the region. Its the setting for the final story beats of the game, including pokemon that are literally prehustoric, or hyper-futuristic, versions of other pokemon. Its almost portrayed as a magical place, unknown to the world, and full of wonder and unknown discoveries. So, you are spot-on. Dialga's Fight to the Finish is the final boss of Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky. It is the pinnacle of your journey, two adventurers against a corrupted God of Time. Its... such a beautiful theme, and if you fail, the world falls into a dark, timeless hell. Its very much a desperate fight. Both sides believing that if they lose, the world ends. Volo's theme is special to us older pokemon fans. Legends Arceus is set in the past, in what eventually becomes the Region that Diamond and Pearl take place in. Volo is Cynthia's ancestor, and even uses almost the exact identical team she does, but he is the primary antagonist, as hinted by the more evil sounding theme. As such, his theme is actually a more orchestral, revised version of Cynthia's Approach, and his prelude theme is, again, a slower remix of Cynthia's theme. Its absolutely a song that struck fear in yhe hearts of long-time pokemon players when we got there.

[@davzek7932]

Dialga's Fight to the Finish is both epic and sad, the fight takes place against the legendary pokemon mastering time who is corrupted by an unknown force whose only will is to annihilate the world by freezing it in time and the fight takes place while the world behind gradually freezes, after having lost a companion on the way who sacrificed himself and above all, knowing that the two protagonists will have to separate after that (the reason, I leave it because it is better to learn it yourself if the desire to play it takes you) but this fight will have an unhappy end no matter what happens and this is felt in this fight which mixes determination and sadness.

[@VegViking]

National Park & Ecruteak City - Gold/Silver/Crystal (check out Braxton Burks versions of them and other Johto pieces as well) Mirror B Battle - Pokémon XD Valley - Pokémon Snap

[@plentyofmagoes1143]

This! All of this! National Park and Ecruteak city are two of the best from the series!

[@Akira-2001]

I 2nd this, National Park and Ecruteak are masterpieces

[@bestiadisatana8492]

31:45 this part is actually zinnia's leitmotiv. You can find it in "zinnia's encounter theme" and "lament of the falling stars" too (the latter of which is one of my all time favourites)

[@franciscojaviermendezrinco1902]

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon are of my favorite games, and Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky is my favorite game. A game that more than focusing on mechanics it focused more on story. You play the game and the music at the end will make you cry hard. At the Beach at Dusk is one of the soundtracks that play at the beginning of the game. Dialga's Fight to the Finish is the music of the final boss of the main story. It makes you feel that the stakes are high because in story you are not just fighting to beat your opponent, you are fighting to prevent a horrible fate from happening, is upbeating because despite the stakes being high and against you, you can still do it. And Dialga is not an easy fight, with his signature move, Roar of Time, it can wipe you out it it takes you by surprise or weak after another attack, our if you aren't strong enough.

[@user-jh3sm7vp7e]

finally I found a comment about Mystery Dungeon, explorers of sky is peak pokemon writting

[@nickbullinger141]

On The Beach at Dusk is a perfect example of bookends in storytelling, the classic Hero's Journey, then a return to home

[@franciscojaviermendezrinco1902]

@@user-jh3sm7vp7e the peak of the peak.

[@wikiuser92]

To be honest, Super was a better game, in my opinion. The partner was really well written, the final boss felt genuinely intimidating, and the Expedition Society was a much more pleasant place than Wigglytuff's Guild, to name a few reasons.

[@Syvi.]

​@@wikiuser92 Super isn't a bad game but Sky is just in a league of it's own imo. The soundtrack, story, characters, dungeons, postgame. It's a very full game with lots to enjoy even after the main storyline. I agree with the partner being a weaker part though I'd say every other element is above Super, especially the soundtrack. Though I noticed a trend is that people tend to enjoy whichever game they play first the most.

[@voidinkedpen]

You nailed Zinnia's entire vibe so easily its crazy how you could pick up how she is just from her music alone

[@Faraday.K]

Pokemon Black and White had a chunk of diegetic music in it in the form of musicians you could talk to who would add instrumentation to the songs according to the player's proximity to them. It wasn't a major theme in the story or anything, but the music in those games definitely seemed to take more of a front seat compared to the generations preceding it.

[@madnessarcade7447]

SV same

[@soopakoopa6461]

The Dialga theme hits even harder when you play the game and hear it at the end of a 20~ hour playthrough. It's the culmination of a motif you've been hearing all game in explorers of sky, and since the title screen before you even start the story in the original time and darkness. To be honest, it's a game I highly recommend for both the plot and to see a music expert take notes of the soundtrack along the way.

[@TheRGuyRock]

I actually found your channel a week ago from your Sonic video and was upset when I searched for Pokemon on your channel and found nothing. I was hoping you would react to Cynthia’s theme. Glad it came to fruition.

[@falcon10649]

I love how close or spot on he is to so many of these

[@Venemofthe888]

Route 10 Music is the last route of the main game where there is a lot to the story like your character is off to stop the main villain but its such a tall task and also is a inkling that your adventure is also slowly coming to a end too

[@andrewwilliams8951]

I just love how he nailed how On the beach at dusk is used.

[@The_Pikaboi]

Utterly nailed what Area Zeros vibe is meant to be. The serenity of its idyllic landscape with the unease of its otherworldly inhabitants

[@thinthle]

24:24 Such fitting words for a game about explorers of time

[@yayayayayaya8140]

legendary Pokémon battle theme from Pokémon black! they play with the tempo a lot in that song it’s great oh and the lake theme from platinum, probably my fav music of all time

[@Turnute]

I’ve been watching for a long time, and it’s always been a dream of mine for you to listen some pokemon! This series has some absolutely amazing music, there is so much that I’d want to recommend for a part 2 ❤

[@rinhayashi8949]

So fun fact about that last song; In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the game takes place in the distant past of Sinnoh which is the region for Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Many of the characters are presented as direct ancestors of characters in the Sinnoh region, which is hinted at by their appearances and importance. In this case, Volo is meant to be portrayed as Cynthia's ancestor, and as such it seems they did somewhat of an arrangement of Cynthia's theme as Volo's theme!

[@marshtomp8]

I'm so thoroughly impressed with just how well he was able to figure out exactly what Area Zero is all about just fron the music alone. You got pretty much every element about it spot on. I would suggest Champion Leon's theme for the next video

[@OuterWildin]

Some other Pokémon tracks that I’d recommend: Vs Champion Steven from ORAS Vs Champion Kieran from SV Vs Ai Sada and Turo from SV Dark Matter Battle (both phases) from Super Mystery Dungeon Tree of Life:Roots from Super Mystery Dungeon Snowbelle City from XY

[@wikiuser92]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one here who likes the music from PSMD. Explorers is good, but Super will always be my favorite PMD game.

[@BJGvideos]

@@OuterWildin vs AIs also needs to come with a caveat that their existence and the story around them is perhaps the biggest twist in the entire game

[@zizou41dz]

He also need to react to archie/maxie and hoenn elite 4 from rse and oras

[@jimmbobqbob]

I would also like to throw coliseum and XD GoD into the mix, especially Mirror B battle music

[@guywhodoesstuff7302]

He ever end up checking these out in a stream or sum?

[@edwardwilson7459]

Cynthia is not only one of the hardest fights in pokemon she's in lore one of the top trainers to ever battle in the world, regardless of timeline. She's a champion of champions, and at that moment, even though she's your friend, she's also now your opponent, and there's only thing left to do. FIGHT.

[@Delta_064]

Cynthia is like Sephiroth from Final Fantasy, you CANNOT escape her, if you try to play another game you will surely meet her too (I hate you Undella Town's Wrong House jumpscare), Even trying to travel back in time 400 years before she was born you still meet her ancestor and he does something worse to you than she would do to you (If she had her Garchomp was called the Devil himself, he LITERALLY BRINGS OUT SATAN ITSELF AND WITHOUT IT BEING A NICKNAME OUT OF FEAR, HE BRINGS OUT THE LITERAL MF DEVIL ITSELF)

[@edwardwilson7459]

@Delta_064 She even makes a surprise appearance in the Infinite fusion fan game 🥲

[@Arkouchie]

She's canonically #2, just behind Galar's Leon.

[@edwardwilson7459]

@Arkouchie they've traded wins across various tournaments, so they're both absolutely the top of the mountain.

[@vgcbeta]

The way you nailed Area Zero left me speechless, please do a part 2! I would love to hear your thoughts on the Final Boss theme from Scarlet and Violet.

[@Suirioujin]

Oh can't wait to watch thus tomorrow CYNTHIA THE DREAM CRUSHER nah really when you don't know what you're up to, you WILL loose

[@antoinedefaye4653]

That's the first time I watched one of your videos, and I love that you (almost) get exactly every meaning of every music. Already love your work man !

[@MarcoMeatball]

Welcome aboard!