Opera Singer Reacts: Kings || Project: Wingman

[@JosePavli]

Hey man! Someone pinged me and I’m glad they did. Your reaction made my day, I absolutely love seeing fellow musicians reacting to my music. Thank you for your kind words, glad you enjoyed it! Cheers 👊🏻

[@NimaSimba]

You dropped this 👑

[@markosnjegota1376]

You created an awesome soundtrack for an awesome game. Thank you

[@ryanschulte3742]

👑👑👑👑

[@MarcoMeatball]

Hey Jose! Fantastic stuff!!!!! Thanks for coming by ❤🎉 I’m a big fan 🙏😩

[@veridan2582]

Just... holy shit, dude, I've had this on so many times ever since I heard it. Freaking fantastic work!

[@FinalWarrior591]

"Zero" is about two brothers-in-arms jousting over their beliefs. "Kings" is about two maniacs knife-fighting over a dead city.

[@Sentinel_CYN]

Accurate comparison.

[@jimmyseaver3647]

"I've never seen a character based solely around projection." -- Max0r

[@zorn2017]

Honestly max0r is just cringeworthy

[@readytopay6969]

​@@zorn2017 I got it! You hate max0r, that's why you hate memes, but why?

[@AHappyCub]

​@@readytopay6969cause he's a sad little man who doesn't like people having fun with memes

[@TheLoneGamr]

@@zorn2017You’re wrong.

[@AutismoTheGrand]

Reminds me of Iguasu from Armored core 6 only with way more confidence and prestige

[@mikoirl]

"The human spirit to overcome obstacles." Well, in the case of Project Wingman, it's the spirit of an inhuman pilot overcoming O R A N G E

[@Krescentwolf]

Defeat FANTA!

[@galm2pixy666]

And R E T I N A D A M A G E

[@metalgearexcelsus]

And *『 K I N G C R I M S O N 』*

[@zorn2017]

Memes really ruined this game.

[@machination2166]

the spirit of an inhuman pilot overcoming *30 Gs when you hit that AOA limiter*

[@tardlord4725]

Zero: Two heroic knights fighting for what they believe. Unsung War: Four great warriors made into legends. Kings: Two lone kings fighting for the dead land they call their own.

[@metalgearexcelsus]

As a bonus: Chandelier: a hauting child choir about overcoming the turmoil. Likely from the POV of Estovakians. Mrs. Krista Yoslav: about Markov's inability to cope with his wife's death and throwing himself into a revenge scheme, even if it means his own death. Also entirely on Russian. Megalith (Agnus Dei): *plane Jesus.*

[@Kagekatsu1]

@@metalgearexcelsus Hush: The ultimate question of Man versus Machine shall be decided in a final battle for the fate of the world.

[@metalgearexcelsus]

@@Kagekatsu1 _THAT_ kind of Ace Combat 3 tracks (Morceaux, Lithium, Zero-Sum, etc.): unlike the other sci-fi music in the game, they're extremely eerie and distorted, with the feeling that something is off about the game. Last Refuge, Sunset Glow and End of Deception: vibin'. Sulejmani / War-Torn Radiance: > Can't say anything about Fighter's Honor, though, because the lyrics are inaudible.

[@judahboyd2107]

Virgin mercenary dog vs chad schizophrenic fed-poster

[@sandakureva]

If Zero is a final sword fight between two former friends, and The Unsung War is an epic about 4 heroes being forged... Kings is a knife fight between the last two guys fighting over a pile of rubble that used to be their home.

[@miss_bec]

I remember reading a comment on the official Kings video that I really like that I'll paraphrase here: this song - and the mission it plays in - is the anti-Zero. In Zero, it's an energetic dance building to the famous Latin Choir in all the best AC songs, the backdrop to a last battle for humanity between two estranged best buds, plus it's got a very clear progression from start to finish which reflects the mission and its context perfectly. A beautiful song for a beautiful ending. Kings is the absolute opposite of that. There's no beauty in this song, just a lot of raw emotion. The whole song has a gnarly bassline, often distorted. It's energetic, sure, but where Zero is elegant, Kings is incredibly messy (but in a good way). The progression of the song is also quite messy, as it's a huge collection of leitmotifs from other songs in the game stitched together vaguely increasing in tension. All this comes together to pair fantastically with the mission and its context: in Zero, the song plays at a critical moment of the prevention of international catastrophe; in Kings, the catastrophe has already happened, and its all around you both in the clouds and covering the ground - all that's left for you to do is enact some kind of retribution. It's the anti-Zero, and Jose Pavli couldn't have picked a better vibe.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Wowwww!

[@Sintarzus]

I'm kinda late, but, Bec, please search the Crimson vs Pixy edit. Their banter WORKS FLAWLESSLY. Antagonists of Zero and Wingman are so morally opposed, it feels intentionally written.

[@thunderspear2251]

I think one of my favorite summaries of the two fights is: Zero is a duel between two honorable knights, each fighting for a different kind of peace. Kings is a back-alley knife fight between a vigilante and a maniac, one fighting for deranged vengeance, and the other fighting out of obligation.

[@NikkOcello17]

​​@@thunderspear2251 are we sure it's only obligation for Monarch? Also, are we sure Cipher and Pixy are honorable knights? I mean, the entire game is based on the ace style

[@icehoof]

​@@NikkOcello17 There was no obligation to Cascadia in that kill No honor left in that country to find, only ash, and my team was laying in it

[@cipher66th88]

"What are you fighting for, Merc? Blood? Gold? A broken throne? I will bury you so completely, the Earth will turn over a thousand times before your body is dug up." EXCELLENT composition by Jose Pavli. Man is a legend now in the AC community for this!

[@wardog0086]

He's put himself up there with Kobayashi, Marty, and Mick Gordon with a single soundtrack. Masterclass stuff.

[@CruelestChris]

"So I'll be dug up in a little shy of three years?" "What? No, shit, um...Why do you have to be so damn literal?" (Also watch the version which replaces Monarch with Pixy, as it is demonstrably better)

[@MrDalisclock]

@@CruelestChris it is hilarious putting those two together. Especially since Crimson is kinda insufferable with his "You made me do this!" Unhinged ranting.

[@ResidentEddy]

Crimson 1: "What are you fighting for, Merc? Blood? Gold? A broken throne?" Monarch:"Motherfucker I just wanted a premium Presidian slushie, and you fucking blew it up!!"

[@dawndarklight44]

Crimson is so edgy.

[@Ikcatcher]

Project Wingman is basically one big love letter to Ace Combat. Kings is how I think the track Zero would be like if it was more tragic and somber and didn’t have Spanish guitars.

[@CaptainCiph3r]

It's this game's version of Megalith from AC04

[@donnycorn3086]

I mean, Crimson 1 did something Pixy can't, and what it is now between Mornarch and Crimson is just damage control. There is nothing to save anymore.

[@MrPikaGammer]

They avoided the Guitars because they wanted something that stood strongly opposed to Zero, considering this isn't about two former friends. It's about bitter rivals pushed to their moral edge.

[@FyebriesRolandia]

Someone said it well in Kings' original video Zero is two Honorable Knights jousting. Kings is two godforsaken thugs having a backalley knife fight.

[@monitorlizardkid8253]

@@FyebriesRolandia More like "two nobodies, fighting over nothing" well, not exactly nothing, if it were nothing, I would have no reason to root for monarch, and as it is, even when I'm not the one playing I am making up(or stealing) all kinds of fan quotes from monarch such as: "its true, I have blood on my hands, ...BUT YOU"RE DRENCHED IN IT!!!" (who here knows where that fan made quote comes from?)

[@IncogNovah]

It hits different when you're hearing the rapid beeps of missile alerts, the pounding of railgun fire and the enraged ramblings of a man who's lost everything alongside the bumping soundtrack The "second half" of the song, Coronation, also really helps set the tone as you turn the tables against the one you're fighting God I love this game lmao

[@Sm00k]

And no RIO screaming in the backseat>3

[@Aereto]

​@@Sm00k Only so few can handle literal minutes of High Gs

[@ItsDaKoolaidDude]

Gets even better when you can get a "warning" screen before its *_your_* character's symbol to appear. *_YOU_* become Crimson-1's final boss. And him screaming about how you're beating him just adds more flavor to it.

[@viperoneprod4653]

*THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP*

[@ryanschulte3742]

“You're a slave to history. Even after Calamity, you fight against the only order that can guarantee the safety of your people. You, solely, are responsible for this,” the song starts with this voiceover and ends with “Monarch...when you hear the thunder...when the storm...comes for you...remember me. “ Crimson 1 federation ace ( PS he nuke a city)

[@FirefoxEzo]

Twice

[@ryanschulte3742]

@@FirefoxEzo The first one was the Federation the second one was just himself

[@FirefoxEzo]

When i doubt blame crimson 1, just as woodward would have.

[@Jester456]

From his disintegrating aircraft, falling out of the sky, he looked up and said, "remember me.." Soaring above the devastation he caused and the friends I had lost, I glared down and declared, "No."

[@volpe7436]

He dosen't just nuke a city he nukes a city so hard another city on the opposite side of the world also explodes

[@Sparking_Ram]

The most stand out moment of the fight is definitely when you finally get the boss's health to zero, all music cuts out, the bar refills, your own health bar appears next to his, and there's no music for the rest of the fight. Just jet engines, missile lock on pings, and occasional machine gun bursts.

[@Jc88500]

The music doesn’t cut out when you get to that point. Kings is just replaced with the much quieter and somber track called Coronation.

[@marrqi7wini54]

There is music on that phase. This is the song. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHK8ZaGLfq59ppI

[@woestijn_uil]

Further still, when you're flying on harder difficulties... and you watch as everything disappears. And you know longer know who's in what state. And you simply dodge and weave. Hoping to get that finishing hit before they do... with no idea of who's closer to it.

[@memesrdreams4854]

One thing that Jose Pavli, the composer himself, has said, was that the soundtrack to Project Wingman was a culmination, starting with the very first, Bankrupt Sea, and ending in the final two tracks of the game, Presidia, and this track, Kings. With each song, each mission, something new is tossed into the pot, or something that's already in the mix, such as one of the game's lietmotifs, gets iterated upon. It builds up to everything surging back together during Presidia, the track for the penultimate mission, and then gets bathed in a sea of nuclear orange fire for the finale, Kings. Except Kings isn't really the final track. That honor goes to Coronation. One has stood, the other fallen, along with all they were fighting over to begin with.

[@Scientist118]

The skies burned in rage for a day that should have ended in glory, now in ashes and flames. Two armies came to end what had began on this battlefield with dreadnoughts finding solace in the blue abyss, airships scattered across the city, and the streets shadowed by a duel above. Friend and foe watched as fate hinged on two men engaged in vicious combat, each striking with swift precision and grace beyond compare. Yet, whenever their blades clashed, it was as if they heralded the gods of war. It was at that battle that a mercenary became a king and a peacekeeper transformed into a war monger. A contract to complete, a kingdom to save, and a vengeance to be fulfilled.

[@idriscorvus2237]

A pride ruined turned into insanity blinded crusade

[@weir-t7y]

This is beautiful man, fantastic prose

[@Jakeverhart]

I swear his ability to digest and “read” music is incredible. To give such an accurate description of the level this song comes from with no knowledge is next level

[@MarcoMeatball]

❤️❤️❤️

[@dinkeycat]

This just shows 2 things: 1) Marco is an amazing musician 2) the composer (Jose is I think the correct spelling, but I might be missing an accent) is also an amazing musician

[@TFZoia]

Alternative title for the music: Orange Daredevil

[@johnnychopsocky]

Alicorn, but the ocean is nuclear fire

[@DemonOfRazgriz8492]

@@johnnychopsocky zero, but V2 hit its mark💀

[@Pantsthief-gk8vu]

Alternative Alternative title: Nuclear Tantrum

[@galm2pixy666]

Zero but the guy liked borders this time

[@metalgearexcelsus]

Malebolge, but there's more than Marcoss Massacre.

[@aquila519]

"The human capacity to endure" That is a excellent and simple way to not only describe the song, but the entire story. Project Wingman throws a devastating war plus geothermal bombs that can cause a geothermal tectonic disaster at you. The main character has to endure an inhuman amount of suffering during the entire game, both physical and mental, and this song really describes the amount of hell Monarch is enduring but still pushing through like the absolute badass he is.

[@MarcoMeatball]

❤️

[@acKarasawa]

Next video on Project Wingman, the 1-year Anniversary Live Orchestra Special? :D There's just something about hearing Kings, Peacekeeper II and the 1-year Medley with actual horns and strings. Not to mention a live choir and the featured soprano absolutely KILLING her solos. Even if not for a reaction video, it's definitely worth a listen!...or 10, lol.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Well def listen to it!

[@dimaharbacki6628]

@@MarcoMeatball I strongly advice to check Coronation from the Wingman OST. It plays after Kings in game and it REALLY puts the whole picture together. It is a finale/aftermath theme. I would even call Coronation a different name - A King of Nothing. The track is really impactful, the last notes especially, they always cause a tear or two in my eyes.

[@bleepbloop8467]

Spoilers for PW I think the key underlying emotion is rage. First you got the rage from the antagonist, who’s mental state has degraded to the point that he restarts the in game equivalent of the apocalypse, which he then proceeds to blame you for. Then you got the rage coming from the protagonist/you. You’ve already fought this guy 3 times before, you don’t know if your team is alive or dead, he’s monologing about how everything is your fault and how you ruined his life while flying throwing the kitchen sink at you, and he even breaks the story structure. Crimson 1 is such an asshole that he ruins the good ending you should have had in mission 20 and makes the story continue for an entire mission (mission 21, which is also called Kings) and you hate him for every second of it. If you weren’t angry at him before, you are now. And one thing I’m surprised you didn’t mention is how chaotic the score is, which is very appropriate for the shit you have to do in order to fight crimson 1.

[@SubjectX07]

Nothing like doing eighty post stall maneuvers just to keep up with the son of a bitch.

[@Aereto]

And battle becomes extreme at the highest difficulty, where the developers adjusted the final mission in the post launch patches, and reserve special effects in certain missions at Mercenary Difficulty, including the finale. In Mercenary, the Federation dropped pretense of sending out unclassified units and deployed their bleeding edge tech against Cascadia to make a war just a suppression conflict that only you, as the player, made sure people know it's a full-blown war with a comeback from the Cascadian Defense Force.

[@SuperGLoad]

AND your waifu passes out from G-Loc

[@henrikskjolden]

@@SuperGLoad That's what really made me mad!

[@atlantiswolf]

I've never seen someone write a character based exclusively on projection before.

[@anlize3422]

Ah yes... The fight with Crimson... only this song can describe the rage that is shooting that forsaken bastard.

[@jamarswope2341]

Clicked SO FAST. This one is the inverse of all those empowering Ace Combat themes and it’s AMAZING. A duel above a burning city, in an orange sky, against a pilot filled with such distilled hatred you can’t help but be chilled to the bone…

[@fun_police8011]

This mf literally nuked 2 cities just to kill you. Crimson 1 needs some therapy man.

[@jocax188723]

Remember, in the World on Fire, War is Orange. On a fun note, Jose Pavli actually did a full breakdown of his entire soundtrack, it's very cool to hear how he uses the music to tell the story. It's on his channel - I strongly suggest checking it out. I won't spoil the plot, but to me, this song is my favorite, because the first time I heard it it managed to incite actual raw emotion out of me. It's like a dark mirror to Zero, a duel, not to honor a friend, but to hatred, to the death, having lost everything in a moment, due to one reason, one person. Also note that Jose put out an orchestral re-arrangement of this to celebrate PW's one year anniversary, and it somehow turns everything up to eleven. Truly awesome.

[@Jester456]

Crimson 1: "You drove me to this: this death and destruction over the Federation. Millions of lives lost... So many ghosts. Kill me, or be killed!" It really says a lot about a game when they can make you have a significant emotional attachment to its Big Bad Evil Guy. In Project: Wingman, that emotional attachment is pure, unbridled and unforgiving fury towards Crimson 1. This man and the authoritarian regime he stands for are single handedly responsible for the deaths of millions and a second apocalyptic event at this point in the game, just to repress a people that have had enough and dared to rise up and throw off the shackles of their oppression. And to top it all off, along with all the blame for the crimes he and his government have done to the world, he projects all of his hate, cruelty, and hypocritical ideas onto you, a mercenary (albeit an extremely good one) taking a paycheck to help out the little guy. Crimson 1 is a fantastic, cartoonishly evil villain at the end of the insane, orange coated roller coaster that is Project: Wingman that you love to hate. Dueling Crimson 1 above the flame engulfed remains of a city of millions after he unleashed a WMD that likely just killed everyone we've known and made connections with over the course of the game to this track is an amazingly evocative feeling for a game as over the top and utterly ridiculous as this. Much as with Ace Combat, without the music and radio banter this game would be a mere shadow of what it is, and Jose Pavli knocked it out of the park with this track in particular.

[@harithmuller1024]

Honestly, at this point Marco should go and either watch the scenes or just play them outright to really sell the grandeur of the tracks. Blind analysis like this is really cool and i love to see it, but having the song along with the best boss battle this side of the industry would be dope as all hell

[@MrPeanut624]

You did really good in your analysis, really nailed a lot of points (especially the organ). It sounds like megalith, it sounds like zero, it sounds like the unsung war, maybe even like archange...but there is no ace combat mission that comes close to what this song represents.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Pretty wild

[@AplReach]

I said it once, I now say it again: This one is an evil twin of "Daredevil". If the latter sets the tone for a hero that saves the world, "Kings" makes you realize that there are nobody left to save and now only one thing remains: to rain vengeance upon the one who caused the devastation that claimed all the lives. And it's beautiful in its violence and tragicness!

[@Echo1608.]

OH HOLY SHIT! IT'S TIME FOR PROJECT WINGMAN! Kings is THE final boss music for this amazing game, Jose Pavli killed it so much with the soundtrack. And it's amazing to see your reactions to it. As a member of both the Ace Combat and Project Wingman communities these videos are ALWAYS a treat.

[@swvwc8393]

Kings, Presidia, King's Court, Coronation, and a bunch of others from this game are some of the best orchestration I've ever heard.

[@RS-ob8mx]

What’s amazing is he describes the mission fundamentally without playing the game but just by listening to the song. That in and of itself speaks to how well this was composed and the mood it set. Period. That’s how good this music is for the game

[@RakaAvali]

This track PERFECTLY embodies the term "Pyrrhic victory"

[@chrisn676]

I own a copy of "Project Wingman", but I haven't played it: I didn't enjoy wrestling with the play controls, I didn't enjoy the lack of checkpoints, and when you have two kids and no free time, "ain't nobody got time for that". So I had never heard this song before. So, Marco, I just wanted to thank you for carrying on that most sacred tradition: introducing other music nerds to mind-blowing new work.

[@MarcoMeatball]

You’re welcome! And that’s what I’m here for :)

[@metalgearexcelsus]

Did you even go past the first level of the game? Just curious.

[@Suceni]

@@metalgearexcelsus personally i beat it, but i do want to know how many players didnt get to see the 2nd half of this game because of the skill difficulty, which is a bit saddening But it makes sense because take it with a grain of salt, but the first couple missions are a bit boring. The planes you get are somewhat demotivating and the music could be better, but me, i still really love the game. i need to replay it one time

[@Aereto]

It is definitely built for more experienced players. I played this in both gamepad, and HOTAS controls that ramps up the difficulty control-wise. Unlike Ace Combat 7, the HOTAS controls are fully mappable.

[@alephkasai9384]

I honestly preferred to play this game on M&K rather than controller. There's a sort of snappiness to M&K and how turning the camera is much easier feels more natural that I simply gravitated to using M&K over a controller. Although tbh I never really found the game too hard, on mercenary its adrenaline inducing but otherwise it wasn't that bad. Then again I did have experience playing AC5 and 6 so maybe that's why?

[@DEDomain]

WOOOOOO, YES BABY I'm so happy you did this, Marco. This song plays during the most tense moment of the game, where you face off against your arch rival over the city you were fighting for just 5 minutes ago. Only now, there is no city left to take back. No people to welcome you back home, nothing but the orange hue of destruction and the sparkles of your nemesis' plane rocketing past you. Everyone you knew is gone. It's just you and them. 1v1. I'll simplify the explanation of this for you. If Zero from Ace Combat is an honorable duel, Kings is a goddamn knife fight.

[@jcbq01]

A knife fight. In the back alley of the burning home you both shared

[@memesrdreams4854]

Another comment on the video for Kings put it well: If Zero is Snake Eater, then Kings is The Only Thing I Know For Real.

[@DellKaGor]

Crimson is such a great antagonist. Monarch single-handedly destroyed Crimson’s world and the order he’s worked so hard to maintain, and you can just *feel* his descent into madness because of you. Zero was honorable and even a little sad, but Kings is the most perfect, hate-filled way they could’ve ended the story.

[@DEDomain]

@@DellKaGor He really is. God, I love this game.

[@CrispyGFX]

Oh shit! We're doing project wingman? Watch the live performance that came out not too long ago!!! They introduced a vocal chorus to the soundtrack, including an opera singer! You'll love it!

[@MeepsGO]

This is a hoot to watch, Kings is such an amazing track its been a weekly listen since it dropped. Just so many layers that just don't stop. Its legit hard not to be moved to tears by it

[@fear606]

Both Crimson (Antagonist) and Monarch (Protag) have their own styles to their themes. As the game progresses, Crimson's sounds more and more aggressive and villainous, as Monarch's becomes more heroic. Until you meet 1 on 1 and the themes clash and blend. They are different, yet one in the same. 2 Kings fighting for what they believe is rightfully theirs, and only 1 can take the throne. It's a perfect culmination and a huge stand out in any game I've played and one I will ALWAYS remember.

[@SeikerHikaru]

Awesome to see you reacting to this Marco. Jose Pavali did an amazing job with Project Wingman's soundtrack, it REALLY sells the narrative of the game even with how little it tends to say. Honestly, if I were to describe Kings with a few words... it'd be fury. I won't spoil it, but Kings is the track for the final mission, which is an air duel against a single target (if you're below Mercenary mode anyway), and to say as little, this song captures that feeling of pulse pounding ANGER the events leading up to that final duel bring about. It's freaking amazing.

[@Suceni]

BIG SPOILERS Who else wants Marco to play this on stream once?? Its an absolute masterpiece of a boss battle, pretty much the best boss battle ever. A fascinating enemy, skies turned to hell from the endless fire, onlookers gazing at the war torn sky, its so good. Whole game made by 3 people. “Here we are, fighting for Cascadia's soul. That's the deal you made, right?” Excuse me if i said things already said, havent even finished the video but i just have to share this. I’ll probably edit this to add more stuff if i have to. Cheers Edit: The three quick notes you occasionally hear represent Monarch and his team, a 3 person strike team. The 3 thing melody that goes down and down, dunno how to describe it, but i believe its the sky theme. Notice how you only hear it once here? I assume its because of the absolute chaos in the area. Two titans fighting in a city destroyed by cordium bombs, the sky filled with fighting. Edit 2: Crimson one is a crazy psychopathic maniac who blames you for his nonsense. Hes a character you absolutely hate, he hates you. Why? He nuked his home JUST to have a duel with you, then blames you for the pain he caused. Did i mention Jose, by himself, on a mac, made this soundtrack? Im sure you know. Edit: T H U M P T H U M P T H U M P T H U M P Crimson, final stage, fires like 5 or so railguns, but he also has these orbs that damage you, and when they evaporate, the explode to- you guessed it- railguns. Op. Edit: His quotes are fascinating. When he says “…whoever wins is the best pilot.” he means it. Best pilot in the whole world. Crimson was thought to be #1, then this goofy random mercenary shows up, wreaks havok within his squadron, then Monarch is now the guy that “crimson was talking about.” Amazing. Edit: The final mission (this whole thing) Is terrifying. Imagine being a pilot mercenary, about to win back your capital to win the war, everythings good, then boom. In an instant the whole place gets nuked, everyone (except the navy, which is literally one stolen ship i kid you not) is dead. Its just you and Crimson. But, after you finish the fight, finish coronation, that absolutely amazing piece you need to follow this video up with, its just, empty. You are the last living thing there, a sense of nothingness surrounds you, and you just fly off into the distance. Theres nothing left after Crimsons final words, “Monarch…….. When the storm comes for you… when you hear the thunder, remember me.” I think that quote was a warning to Monarch, a sign to not go down the same path he did. It could be anything. And can we talk about “the deal?” it was a part of a mission where Hitman team (monarchs) receives a mystery suitcase. Its labeled as “too powerful”, but its never revealed. Terrifying.

[@LiteBosmark]

It's a pretty thrilling boss fight as long as you don't use anything with rocket pods

[@calamitousenigma9052]

Hard disagree on it being the best boss battle ever, even if you only meant it in the realm of flight games or even just in PW. It's... too long, frankly. It's not even hard, he just has way too much health unless you use Glass Cannon. His attacks aren't really threatening either, the only hard part of the boss fight is landing hits through his magic AoA Limiter spam and whittling down his huge amount of health. I'd say Crimson Team's earlier battles and Frost's first fight (Midnight Light) are more enjoyable. They don't have nearly as much HP and are either against a squadron or a single enemy that doesn't constantly spam the AoA Limiter.

[@Suceni]

@@calamitousenigma9052 Nice points but i think crimsons battle is very fun, the music (obviously the environment and how cool everything is makes it very nice

[@LiteBosmark]

@@Suceni until you completely violate him with the Accipiter and there's basically nothing he can do about it I think the most memorable part of this fight is the music, I don't think the fight itself would be half as good without Kings

[@danielm.595]

The community thinks that the suitcase could have carried three things, either it had the plans for the PWM-MK1, the command of the country (though this one is the lowest on the possibility list) or new identities for the entirety of Sicario, though the majority seems to agree that it had the schematics for the super plane, which matches Prez reaction and our fight against Crimson 1 in the final mission.

[@Jc88500]

Pixy: You have to joust me like a knight to kill me. Crimson 1: Ever wonder what 3d bullet hell feels like?

[@CheemsofRegret]

9:53 the rival squadron, Peacekeeper Squadron, has organs play in their main theme.

[@thexlonewolf671]

Glad you enjoyed the song! This is easily ranks among my top 3 best boss themes in any video game. Also up there is the boss theme for Rhulk and Alak-Hul from Destiny 2: the Witch Queen. If you want to react to their tracks as well, their titles are "The First Disciple" and "The Lightblade."

[@VinylDashMusic]

I would love to see you react to Showdown from Project Wingman as well at some point, one of my personal favorites. Also, the producer of this Jose Pavli has a two part series on his KZbin channel where he breaks down how he made the soundtrack and you might like that.

[@atigerclaw]

"What do you have to show for yourself, merc?" "Blood?" "Gold?" "A broken throne?" "I will BURY you, SO COMPLETELY..." "The Earth will turn over a thousand times before your body's dug up."

[@M4st3rDuck]

What I love about this piece is that it doesnt really mimic ace combat music, but contrasts it. I wont spoil the game in case you get the chance. The beginning feels very somber and tragic. Then it picks up and while keeping that tone it starts to feel more heroic but also desperate to me, as if to say "we have no time to think about whats happening, we have to do something NOW!" It is so jam packed with layers you need a microscope lol. It is a great piece and the rest of the OST holds the same depth and quality.

[@Yellow13Firestorm]

"You can't run. You can't hide. I will bury you so completely, the earth will turn over a thousand times before your body is dug up." Not sure if this quote has been posted, but this is one of the more memorable quotes from the fight.

[@HmmHmm-ve7ou]

You mixed up two quotes "You can't run. You can't hide. You made your decision long ago, you can't back out of this deal!"

[@naudio1806]

I saw this as a comment once but they said "Zero is an honorable duel while kings is a bloody knife fight"

[@IansMentalOmega]

Here we reign, Kings of Nothing, Nowhere, and No One, Locked above a dead land, Fighting for the corpse of what we lived for and loved. Blow upon blow falls, Yet we fight on, all for naught but ash, For there can only be one. Only one can claim the throne, And yet what is there to rule? All that is below us is a hell of our making, A grave for our hopes and dreams. We embrace our primal nature, Our ancestral calling beckons us onwards. Our only audience in this dace is the Reaper, And he will claim one of us. Here we fly, we Kings of Oblivion, The waltz is nearing its end. As the sky and land turn to orange and red, We ready for the final attack. One shall stand, one shall fall. And in the ashes of all that was, We make our curtain call. And when we reach the end, All shall call us, Kings.

[@jaroftar]

The organ is a fun little thing The leitmotif it plays is "Peacekeeper", made that way to sound professional, being more classical than simply orchestral, it is structured, this are not mercenaries like the player character, they are professional pilots That leitmotif was attached to Crimson Squadron, leader of wich you fight during this song But if you pay a little attention, the organ is in the back, nearly silent, and then it just disappears until the song loops again, as the last spec of sanity in Crimson 1 fades, his only motivation not being his professionalism or love to his country, but pure and raw hatred

[@Thesnakerox]

The melody in the first 30 seconds of the song perfectly captures how one feels at the start of the fight: "Oh my god...what has he done to this place?!"

[@SpectreMkTwo]

I just finished this game and as my first flight sim/ dog fighting game i gotta say. I understand the obsession with flight sims now. Especially when this gem of a game exists. Crimson, Prez, the entirety of your team. The terrain. THE ORANGE. THE MISSLES EVERYWHERE. ITS EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED. Project Wingman is GEM. It leaves me begging for more. And that fight with crimson. BRAVO

[@songnonymous1045]

Now that you've seen this. Do Coronation. It's the sequel to Kings.

[@NotShalune]

Yesssss, I've been waiting for this soundtrack since I found your channel

[@KingMakerRook]

If you loved this then check out how hard it hits with its follow-up track, Coronation, added on. Kings plays for the first stage of the boss-fight against Crimson One, but Coronation plays when you’ve effectively won the duel and have put him down. He’s audibly coughing up blood, screaming in frustration, and telling you things like “go in for that kill, you dog!” all the while this incredibly somber strings solo piece is fading in and out. It’s a lament not only for this man who lost everything, but a lament for the world he lashed out at because of it

[@airbro1215]

Monarch, ...when you hear the thunder,... ..when the storm... comes for you... ...Remember me. 👑 ✈️ 🔥

[@gorogorogoro-chan]

Oh now we ABSOLUTELY need a reaction to the live anniversary concert

[@WorldOfMinds]

DAREDEVIL: Hype that will only keep building, higher and higher. It never goes lower. You know you're THE best. KINGS: Even if you are that good, what did gaining that strength cost you? You know you're THE best... But what does being the best bring you in a war?

[@DarwinAwardWinner]

The amazing thing to me about the PW soundtrack is how much it reminds me so strongly of Ace Combat's music style while at the same time having its own clearly distinct style.

[@aidenreed680]

Wooooo yeah this is one of my favorite songs from project wingman, glad you're reacting to this

[@thegoods1r694]

I love this song because of the leitmotifs fight each other, just like you and Crimson ingame. the dark, descending, maddened violin is Crimson, and you, Monarch, are the rising violin, soaring to meet his challenge. two kings of the sky, opposite, yet two sides of the same coin, fighting over a ruined land and as always, I love your reactions Marco! can't wait until you take a listen to Professional Execution

[@Jc88500]

This one comes pretty close to beating ZERO as my favourite final mission/ace duel track in AC/PW but while Zero is about stopping a nuclear apocalypse, Kings is revenge for a volcanic apocalypse. A 3d bullet hell over the burning ruins of your capital, a battle between two kings of the sky. You should check out the Project Wingman live orchestra from a few months back! Other ones from PW that deserve a listen are: Peacekeeper I, Peacekeeper II + intro, Presidia, and my favourite large scale aerial battle track from AC or PW: Showdown.

[@ForcedHandleName]

To me, 'Kings' says "I have nothing left to lose but my own life". 'Coronation' asks "But was it worth it?"

[@saint_luiz]

Marco, I love to see how accurate your readings are! I am genuinely impressed! I love your work, and I wish I had more time to watch you.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Glad to have you around when you’re able!

[@OOZ662]

Another commenter mentioned it earlier, but LEITMOTIFS, MAN. This song is the whole game's soundtrack cleverly smashed into a frantic theme summarizing the whole story you've played through so far. So many endgame themes focus on progression or moving forward or breaking through to a better place; Kings uses their themes to focus you on the friends you've lost and the dirtbag right in front of you who took them away.

[@naighto2502]

I like how you caught the sadness on the piece really quickly! It took me more than one try to realize that it is actually really sad. Some spoilers for the game I have finished Project Wingman, and I definitely can say that it was quite an experience. After listening to Kings by itself and the version where someone put Crimson 1's dialogues over it, it truly hits me that Kings is absolutely majestic, yet it is also a somber melody for the dead. What is left at the end? What are we fighting for? Nothing is worth protecting anymore because there is nothing else left. Two souls left, shoving a knife at each other on a charred battlefield, with the moans of the dead haunting over them, fighting over a nonexistent purpose.

[@sandakureva]

It's sad and kinda angry. That's what gives it its punch

[@badasstasticusbadass4908]

Jose Pavil is such a crazy mad lad, he was able to put some many tones from several different songs of this game and merged them into one single epic song that is Kings for the final battle against the most brutal and vicious pilot that the Federation has ever produced, Crimson 1.

[@definitelynotanork9520]

I forget where I heard this but I once heard someone describe kings and the boss battle that it accompanies an act of determination. The war is already over, everything has been done, it’s simply monarch and crimson fighting, no longer any goals, just determination. Crimson has lost all his marbles and destroyed basically everything, his plan (if you can call it that) is done, and this final fight is his final act of determination

[@atigerclaw]

My favorite part of this track is the part at 2:47. That escalating rhythm with the arpeggio joining it, followed by the descending rhythm. Like two aircraft ascending on burners, circling each other in rolling scissors, getting locks, missing the shots, and snapping around on each other into a spiral dive, as the camera work pulls back to show how much distance they've covered in the sky while we were 'close' to them.

[@TiernanWilkinson]

The introduction to the piece does have an almost regal feeling to it, a nostalgia for a certain grandeur that sounds almost like the opening to an old classical ballroom piece, right off the bat, but then it hits with that minor key that denotes it going sour, then the sort of frantic drums kick in; I love this piece too.

[@ArcaneRequest]

Yes! I've been waiting for this since you did Ace Combat Zero's theme. Kings is one of the best "oh shit" tracks I've ever heard. :D

[@driftingnitro6490]

The organ and its menacing nature is spot on for the leitmotif of the antagonist. All his songs use the organ strongly. And its definately dichotomy of triumph but the sadness of loss in one. Also glas to see Jose stopped by in the comments!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Yea!!!

[@cybersilver5816]

Nothing sets the tone for this song better than the opening monolog from the main antagonist "You're a slave to history." "Even after Calamity, you fought against the only order that could bring peace to your people." "You, solely, are responsible for this..." The entire game's soundtrack builds up to Kings, the amount of leitmotifs and ostinatos that join together as one in this song is outstanding. For those interested, the whole OST is worth a listen. Heck, or you could just play the game or watch a no commentary playthrough to get the full emotional impact of the song.

[@DellKaGor]

Kings is honestly my all time favorite orchestral piece out there. It’s fast, intense, grandiose, and reflective. Not to mention the emotional impact from all the leitmotifs, combined with Crimson’s monologue. You really nailed the analysis, this song is a culmination of everything we as the player, and our protagonist Monarch, have been working towards. Crimson, who is our arch nemesis, is the final obstacle of the game. I’m really happy to see you enjoyed kings as much as you did. Jose is a musical genius.

[@brachydios1230]

I've watched all your Ace Combat related reactions and loved every single one of them, your ability to extrapolate scenes and stories from just music alone is awesome to listen to, and your reaction during the music itself is very entertaining

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you!!!!!

[@Malikhy613]

My birthday is tomorrow; I swear this is a great early birthday gift, Hope you have a great time with the rest of the OST when you get around to it!

[@MarcoMeatball]

❤️❤️

[@ZR-cj2fm]

As someone who beat this Rollercoaster of a game on Mercenary, I can say that the baller soundtrack was metal AF and fueled me during my final battle with Crimson 1.

[@Dragonspirit223]

Now I'm not a composer, I'm just a singer in college, but apparently someone in the official video found out we start in A key, it shifts to C, and ends in E. So as the song progresses it spells ACE. Pretty neat

[@critzhater8680]

Other games: War is hell Project Wingman: War is *Orange*

[@calamar8199]

hell yeah one of my favourite OSTs of all time

[@TugaAvenger]

Ooooh I'd been waiting for this!

[@Quacktical]

Zero is a honourable duel. Kings is a bloody knife fight.

[@indecency5882]

this song aint a duel, its a knife fight between two of the sky's most powerful crackheads

[@Pajac-rs3uh]

,,When you hear the thunder, when the storm comes for you. Remember me"-Crimson 1

[@jpscarborough4765]

I think best way i heard kings describe was "A knife fight for the world in phone booth whilst said phone booth is falling from orbit"

[@scarletcloack4853]

I love this piece so much and since ace combat ost isn't available on Spotify anymore for some reason I listen a lot to this ost on repeat. Definitely look at Showdown, and my other two favorites are Peacekeeper I and II

[@jaxongraman9546]

You really feel the music hit when playing or watching the mission....it hits harder, I flew so much better when being able to hear it

[@jacemoon4997]

Jose Pavli is an absolute legend! The Project Wingman soundtrack is one of if not my favorite video game ost ever

[@honjohorikoshi]

Wow....................................................... That was spectacular, I can't believe I haven't listened to this before! Thank you to whoever recommended this song and thank you Marco once again for your reactions. Just seeing your peer passion in your expression is a joy and I've got to say I was having a blast as well. As always keep up the great work so that more people can continue to appreciate more music.

[@MarcoMeatball]

I’m so glad I could expose you to something new. That’s always my goal! Which is why I don’t focus on one game 🙏

[@yoshida.azumi.]

Oh dear, this theme.... It still triggers my fight or flight response. Full on PTSD & muscular spasms. Reminds me of Red Comet, Full Frontal's theme. Very similar, songs made for absolute apex predators.

[@anormaldude127]

10:25 exactly it is a dual against 2 most talented pilots who are arch rivals in opposing forces.

[@PitviperXD]

You know a game song is amazing when nearly two years after I first played and finished the game the final boss fight music instills all the emotions I felt the day I fought the final mission. The song so perfectly captures the feelings of devastation, loss, and rage I felt during the mission. A duel between the kings of the skies at the end of the world.

[@comandarpotatoe]

I audibly gasped when I saw the notification. I hope Jose Pavli sees this or someone links this to him because this is priceless! If you want to, how about Peacekeeper 1 and 2 also from project wingman?

[@DEDomain]

Absolutely this

[@shovel662]

I’m just here to watch you dramatically flail around. I too have done the funky chicken.

[@MarcoMeatball]

😀😀😀

[@lyrarain-kfpsecurityoffice8884]

As the name suggests for this piece, two kings battle against each other to see who will rightfully rule their domain and they'll either succeed or die a martyr. God I love this.

[@DoujinDude]

Cascadia is in Ruins. The War has been Won. The Deal will be Honored [CONTRACT COMPLETE] \\Funds will be Distributed\\ In Ace Combat, power is a force to create legends, to save those who need saving and find the tomorrow where a brighter future lies, people fight to become heroes and arrive home with honor.... In Project Wingman power is a force to be abused and the weak are victims of heroes that fight for petty glory and selfish paychecks.... Kings aren't there to protect, they're there to be feared. When the Coronation begins, everyone bows. Either from allegiance or to keep their heads.

[@DEDomain]

Now *THAT* is a awesome explanation.

[@tangero3462]

The events that unfold in the final mission of Wingman are very jarring and I find that the score to the final fight is such a perfect emotional guide to the encounter. When played together with the track that immediately follows, Coronation, it puts a weight on your chest. It’s a heavy melancholy, a reflection on the outcomes of your actions, and it makes you see a hint of yourself in the adversary. This score doesn’t get talked about enough and I’m thrilled you offered your thoughts on it

[@356Krisu]

Jose Pavli also released a short documentary about the soundtrack on his channel!

[@DiabloDelMer1]

Man, something I truly do love about this song, especially in the final part, is how pained the brass and string instruments often sound. It creates this overwhelming sense of regal power and dread what wipes away the frantic pace of the music that came before it, like you're lowly dreg caught between the fury of two humongous titans; and - in a moment of raw clarity - you comprehend just how much destruction they've brought to bare. Kings is the perfect title for this song given the story of the game, but if I had to name it without knowing the context, I'd have called it "Precipice of Annihilation".

[@hacoberthejacober3345]

The fact he never listened to presidía is almost criminal

[@Echo2-2]

I love Project Wingman, thank you for this!

[@ryanschulte3742]

10:27 Kings is The final mission a project wingman where is just you (Monarch) vs crimson 1 with no help from allies or enemies, its a 1v1 to see who rule the country.

[@RazgrizKnight]

this song makes me wish i had the cash to shell out to get this game. I grew up playing Ace Combat. 5, Zero and 7 had GORGEOUS soundtracks. Project Wingman sends shivers up my spine and i've never been able to enjoy the game. But, that will change next paycheck (hopefully). I may be 2 years late, but I live for these games and i live for this intense music.. Update 10/14/2022 : I have now purchased the game. Let the fires of hell douse the lands as the sky burns a glorious crimson.

[@Ben_Jammin94]

I get a kick watching you react to the music. There’s been a few times where it looks like you want to join in and starting singing. And holy crap, this song is amazing. I feel the intensity as soon as the song started. I’ll definitely have to check out Project Wingman just so I can listen to the song in the way it was meant to.