Opera Singer Reacts: Shara Ishvalda Theme || Monster Hunter

[@MarcoMeatball]

Every single comment: he’s following you the player..he stares at you. You’re all awesome

[@shaynenelson6373]

Because he literally does. Shara is terror.

[@pixy9328]

I just find it amazing that you essentially called it out thru the music alone

[@ThyeKokorow]

I think It Is a suona and that maybe Is chosen for the voice and oboe sound alike, they are masterpieces... Like dizhis or guengeung (Like the buzzing flute from Korea, seem to me the name but maybe Is an half way with that and the Korean koto) that make the noise and i think they are disposed "unholyly" ahah

[@ThyeKokorow]

Maybe with progressions on the sixth being a seventh diminished to be maybe on a "exotic Major" like B Major or even like Ab Major to get again to C passing from A Min in those like... Moment of pause

[@ThyeKokorow]

Like finally i know the actions i am doing or Like... Finally you are knowing... Or maybe both then ☺️☺️☺️

[@el_guapo1318]

"doesn't it sound almost like it's looking at you?" Yes. Yes, he is. Directly at you. At all times. He is not looking at your character, mind you, but at the person on the other side of the screen.

[@MrKing-qd7gi]

Yah I remember my first time fighting him running back at him right at the start of phase 3(?) and I seen those crazy eyes staring right into my soul. It actually freaked me out a little bit and caught me off guard. Pretty cool design decision.

[@GewaltDusk]

And I love that it's not looking at the character its directed at the camera at you the player and it is a beautiful small detail.

[@MysteriousStranger50]

This is a proven myth, no, hes not looking at the player.

[@mkv2718]

Huh? People have tracked it’s eye motions, it looks right at the center of the screen, at least as much as the movements of its eyes will allow

[@cameronday1883]

The eyes are concave , so they appear to always look at you. So the same effect is achieved, just not rigged

[@Gigastro]

The Shara hunt was pretty much "wtf is this monster" at first phase, and "WTF IS THIS MONSTER" at the second phase

[@joehutchcraft1675]

I would love honestly to travel back in time just to re-live that exact moment, especially when those eyes pop open. Pants were shat.

[@antthefool7637]

Had such an otherworldly presence.

[@anubismaat2813]

He’s definitely fun.

[@CannibalTacos]

Especially the bit in part 2 of the fight when Shara opens his eyes and stares into your soul

[@athos9293]

Yes, like Nakarkos

[@denatajasper]

Funfact. Shara's second phase has these "wing-hands". They are based on the old Japanese garden rake, which shape the gravels in a zen garden. As Shara shapes the very continent with its power.

[@dumbsterdives]

late but it also draws some comparison to sand mandalas, hence the buddhist/hindu imagery in the armor and weapons

[@fantasyfan1018]

Dude is accurately describing Shara through it's music this is insane

[@YoloDennis]

This shows both the incredible writing AND the incredible feel for music this guy has

[@Rat_Fบcker]

that why game music is on another level it's not just message from composer to audiencd it's intepretstio of the story that composer try to tell the audience

[@StormRiderEvo]

So fun fact: At some point during the Shara Ishvalda fight you do get to see its eyes and after a while come to a horrifying realization. They’re watching you. Not your character, YOU. It’s attacking your character but staring at the camera the entire time. This thing was powerful enough to disturb the natural ecosystem, cause unnatural earthquakes, create intense shockwaves through vibrating the air and earth and break the 4th wall.

[@Reineerus_The_Rat]

How have I NEVER noticed that? I must've been too focused on the hunt but now I'll be looking for that

[@frostyboi9461]

It's even worse when you topple it(and I think when you kill it, it's been a while since j have hunted it) because it will maintain it's fixed gaze into your camera.

[@rustyleche]

Thats my favourite detail on the whole series, a monster who is looking at you, the player. So ominous that he can sense the hunter is not the real fighter, but its being controlled by something else. Also the idea of it being able to look at a hunter's soul, which in a sense is yourself the player.

[@aiden6559]

@@frostyboi9461 that's disturbing, the eyes will still follow you even though Shara is dead?

[@nikkan3810]

@@aiden6559 yes, they sort of have that like, concave illusion quality to them. There are sculptures that utilize this effect.

[@OneToxicPixel]

As many other have noted, Shara Ishvalda, once it opens its eyes, follows the camera of the player it is currently focusing on with its eyes instead of the hunter itself. It has been theorized that this is meant to show that Shara Ishvalda looks into the soul of the hunter, which would of course be the player in front of the screen, lending itself more towards the theory of "Shara Ishvalda is meant to portrait a god of some kind" which I think is really cool.

[@frostyboi9461]

I'm going to correct you on something, it watches all of us. during a multiplayer hunt against shara ishvalda every hunter will perceive its eyes as looking at them.

[@sevirakalau2171]

It's eyes are set up in such a way that it's always looking at whatever is looking at it, if you think about it this is a REMARKABLY effective defense mechanism for anti-predation. As a shara without its armor is EXTREMELY vulnerable. However many predators prefer sneak attacks and an animal that is always looking at you means you never have the element of surprise. The shara however isn't actually intentionally looking at you, like other monsters it's focus is on the hunter .

[@Mare_Man]

@@sevirakalau2171 The moment you set eyes on the Elder Dragons is the moment any ideas of natural evolution and ecology go out the window

[@OneToxicPixel]

@@frostyboi9461 thank you for correcting me, actually didn't know that! :D

[@sevirakalau2171]

@@Mare_Man Indeed, but they all do follow logic in their own world. How it works makes no sense to us but for them it does. The animals are REAL ENOUGH that we can infer things from them. There is no way kushala should be any to fly and control wind but it is explained in the lore in a way that makes sense. While we can't apply our rules to them 100% it would also be wrong to not apply them a little bit. The only species that defies all logic is the Fatalis family. Everything else has some logic behind it.

[@delphynenull2136]

To add some context to the “divinity” in Shara’s phase 2 theme (incidentally, titled “A Single Bloom In An Eternity”), Shara’s visuals, armor, and weapons are all themed after buddhist iconography and visuals, and its eyes once open follow not the player character, but *the camera*, implying the enlightenment thereby associated with it allows it to see not simply your character but *you, the player*.

[@lokid.3043]

At first I was so incredibly disappointed in shara cause after all that build up throughout the story it just turned out to be a gigantic rock potato, but then the transformation phase came and I was just blown away both mentally and ingame lol

[@agssilv5919]

Same till i saw the eyes oh hell naw

[@alephkasai9384]

I was honestly really confused on what I was really fighting, it was alien and it didn't even look alive. Then second phase came and oh my I think I remember silently screaming

[@justanotherLunny]

I was like "Oh wow that's a really cool like... lion rock golem thing!" it did start to wear off a bit but then the rocks fell... and I was at awe, specially seeing the moves and then the eyes

[@MidnightDrake]

BLOW ME AWAY ONLY THE STRONGES-

[@archange8030]

Once those rocks came off and he opened his eyes I knew this was going to be a tough fight. Overall it was an amazing fight and it humbled me so much because if you understand what Shara is supposed to represent (basically an unstoppable force, in my opinion) it’s humbling to know that even the mighty can fall

[@zaxbitterzen2178]

As ironic as it sounds this theme just screams "Monster!!!" more than most of the other tracks lol. Like its so full of suspense and disturbing chords like you're fighting a proper beast vicious, voracious and intimidating.

[@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ]

I’d say it makes me think less of beast and more some horrid, demon. Monster Hunter has no shortage of themes that fit with ‘monster’ but Shara’s is one of the very few that comes across as disturbingly otherworldly.

[@narenthebeesechurgerman422]

@@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ which definitely fits his design

[@TheBlindWeasel]

To me the chimes and flutes going that hard in phase 2 tell me "you're fighting something divine and bigger than yourself" but the drums of the hunter keep fighting back

[@zaxbitterzen2178]

@@TheBlindWeasel We hunter's are almost stupidly persistent lol

[@VENOM-lp3qf]

Makes sense the eyes actually look at you not your hunter it looks at your screen so makes sense that it’s has suspense and horror to it.

[@superslash7254]

So fun callback to what you mentioned at about 4:00: Shara Ishvalda has been running rampant throughout Icebourne without anyone realising it, causing destructive seismic events at various key points in the story campaign. Right before this you fight Ruiner Nergigante and then, when Shara Ishvalda shows up, the First Tracker says that it's something "too big for us to take on" and urges everyone to escape and retreat. Your character strides forward calmly as your partner tells the Tracker that you're the only one who CAN handle this, saying you're "a master hunter of the Fifth Fleet", the very best they have. It's a fitting and touching call back to the beginning of the game and one of the pivotal narrative moments in the path your character takes. Unlike a lot of games in MHW/Iceborne the supporting characters actually react to you as you progress in the game. They grow to respect you and eventually recognize you as the Sapphire Star that Lights the Way.

[@requinorex3250]

Really good comment

[@crazykim]

Bruh. I didn't think I'd get emotional over a comment of a game I thought 'dI only ever feel "YE DIE YE GIMME LOOT YE BETTER BE GEM YA F---" over. Weird. But thank you.

[@Gwynsladle]

@@crazykim farming for golden rathian gem was the cringest for me x'D

[@wesleyward5901]

Our cgaracter rlly think they the protagonist.. Well, they are, but kinda stupid to try and fight a mountain while the floor beneath them is collapsing. It also pisses me off at how everybody turns up at the end after we kill it, like thanks, didn't need the help any way.

[@tuukkamatikainen3389]

And after that our hunter just trips and falls like an idiot, kind of proving the subtext about humans being arrogant and trying to control the environment, even though we are "protecting" it. Good stuff, if you ask me

[@thereptile9467]

Fun fact: The wind instrument in Shara Ishvalda's theme appears to be a Suona, a classical type of Chinese horn/flute that also appears in other SEA cultures. Though some have otherwise said it's a Shehnai or a combination of the two. Now, the interesting about the Suona part of it is that the instrument is one of the loudest, to the point it was used as war horns at one point. The predominance of the tune is why the Suona is used in the most important ceremonies of one's life, birthday, weddings, and even funerals. You hear the Suona through the happiest times, saddest occasions, life, and death itself, and the sound of the music will change with your perception. It is a sound that is both happy and sad, both dreadful and pleasant. This is a duality that is very much evident in Shara Ishvalda, a monster that is both grotesque and unhinged looking, but also beautiful and graceful in its own way. Coupled with the element that seems to be from the Shehnai as well, the sound becomes something fit for the embodiment of a god, as the Shehnai is an instrument that has ties with Divinity. It invokes the feeling of a god of destruction and rebirth all in one, something with a mind that is not entirely earthly but also a body intrinsically tied to the cycle of creation and death. Also, for those who haven't noticed the various holes Shara Ishvalda has on its body, mainly around its chest and shoulders, those are where it inhales air to power its wind attacks. In a way Shara Ishvalda *IS* a wind instrument, one that is both elegant and lethal.

[@boredofcorn3151]

Best comment I've read in ages Edit: I had to be brief at the time, will still be pretty brief; the description of the Shehnai, which I knew almost nothing about apart from the name, was really moving and wonderful. I had long noticed the wind instrument-like body, and felt that also tied it to what wound up being the Shehnai.

[@superslash7254]

Shara Ishvalda's gear also all has a very strong east and southeast asian aesthetic to it, very fitting.

[@Rainyjax]

I'm pretty sure it's a Pungi, a classic Indian instrument. It'd sure make sense, considering Shara Ishvalda is designed with strong Hindu themes.

[@XonixDerps]

@@Rainyjax hindu and buddha :v

[@sythrus]

Wait, so... shara is a hunting horn?

[@aiden6559]

When you mentioned the Insanity of Shara Ishvalda, and it's faint air of divinity in the second phase, something suddenly clicked in my head. This will a be something of a MH history lesson, but I'll make sure to keep it short. In your personal quaters in Astera, there is a storybook that tells of how the world was created by five Dragons. The final bosses of MH World and Iceborne, Xeno'jiva (baby Safi'jiva) and Shara Ishvalda are supposedly related to two of the dragons or are said dragons themselves (It is never officially stated but the community just accepts it as fact due to the uncanny similarities.) Anyways, the five dragons created the world by literal becoming the natural world, rain and rivers, the forest, the land, the stars, and in Shara's case, the mountains. I think that as the mountains, Shara Ishvalda would oversee all the events that have occurred through the history of MH's world, yet be unable or simply choosing not to interfere with the affairs of mortals. In my mind, the madness stems from having seen all the evils of the world and knowing that nature is chaotic. It's kind of like a, "Knowing and understanding so much that you lose your sanity," dynamic. Yet the scary part is in spite of that, Shara Ishvalda maintains a somewhat controlled disposition, It's movements are very precise it's and attacks have a rhythm to them (albeit one that can easily be broken to catch you off guard.) There is a method to the madness, to put it simply.

[@GeneralIVAN894]

That is a wonderful study it reminds me with the crimson hunter in the previous instalments when he says the hunters must prepare to face those that have created and destroyed the world by sending you to fight special monsters

[@gamercorner6612]

Not to mention that Shara takes heavy inspiration from Buddhist and Hindu iconography

[@sebastianbronowicki7073]

Huh, now that you mention it, doesn't that mean that Amatsu and Ceadeus would be two more? If Xeno is lifeforce, and Shara is land, then those two could very well symbolise air and water, in that order. If we are to go for the fifth one completing the classical elements quartet, then we could well also have something like Dire Miralis or Zorah Magdaros represent fire.

[@Atoll-ok1zm]

Shara was such a fantastic fight. The mystery of the first phase, and the big reveal into the real fight. Then the eyes open and they *fucking follow you* it's so creepy. Super memorable final boss, especially with the religious symbols (Buddhist?) sprinkled into it. The eight wing-fingers, the eight fold path. His armor is done in the style of Buddhist statues.

[@childethetoysalesman2968]

a detail i'll like to add, it doesn't follow your character, it follows your camera specifically, it knows about you as a player, because shara ishvalda is the only monster in the series that ec ver achieved enlightment

[@Solaris2000APB]

@@childethetoysalesman2968 thanks.... that makes my nightmare of it worse now.

[@Sojo214]

@@Solaris2000APB I remember realizing it during a knockdown after I had just landed a TCS, and turning my camera from the somewhat awkward view I had pushed into to do the quick combo, to look at it more directly... and seeing the eye roll over to continue staring at my character... Bravo Capcom, what a great damn game.

[@saceurai6629]

@@seal6015 yeah, that's the neat part. Every other monster actually react to the whereabouts of the character, searches for them, and some can even be observed to be looking directly at the character, following them. But the Shara just stares deadly into a single spot, without its eyeballs moving or blinking. It's just there. Human mind is used to normal behaviours animals make, and whenever something does any action that is deemed abnormal, the uncanniness makes it disturbing and unsettling. That's why I love the dead eye design XD

[@niox1920]

@@seal6015 when it's dead the eyes don't follow you though

[@borealis1370]

2:41 "it's almost like it's looking at you" For real I systematically wonder if it's the first time you listen to these songs when you react to it because it's always so damn accurate

[@MarcoMeatball]

It truly is

[@grimacetexas9719]

It just shows how much talent the composers had, they make the music just like the monster, you dont need to see the monster to know its fking huge and dangerous.

[@dudeguy1894]

I just love how musically deep the Monster Hunter soundtrack is. Each Elder Dragon's theme perfectly encapsulates its personality, lore, and everything. Velkhana's theme has a really interesting blend between elegant piano melodies and militaristic march rhythms. Shara Ishvalda's theme has the weird Middle Eastern-sounding instrument that sounds like a beautiful singing voice, but with an overlay of madness/insanity to it. Fatalis's theme is the embodiment of pure, unrestrained evil. Chameleos has a really mischievous "prankster"-type theme, occasionally breaking out into a fuller orchestra to remind you to not underestimate it, as it's stillone of the most dangerous creatures in the world. And then there's Ibushi and Narwa. There's so much emotion in their themes that I almost didn't want to slay them.

[@MarcoMeatball]

absolutely.

[@natsukikruger94]

I've been waiting for this one. Shara is by far my favorite elder just by the range of emotions I felt when I was fighting it. To the "oh, you're just a rock monster" and then to the "....what are you doing?" And lastly to the "Dear God wtf are you?!" I had goosebumps the entire time and I remember my teammates geeking and freaking out about sharas creepy eyes. Shara will give your hunter a full workout with how much running you do just to get away from his sand bombs.

[@malpheus4299]

The reveal of the true form is still one of my absolute favourite hunts to this day.

[@mechchococh.4313]

Compare to the FEAR when fighting Fatalis For Shara, its more like awe, you feel like you're fighting literally NATURE itself

[@natsukikruger94]

@@mechchococh.4313 I was more honestly annoyed with fatalis more than anything. Trying to break his head twice so that he can stop breathing his blue fire made the experience a chore, even more with farming end game gear. I did it solo so I managed somehow.

[@SchradeDemise]

@@natsukikruger94 you only need to break his head once to prevent blue flames. Breaking his head twice guarantees the evil eye drop and reduces his fire damage even more. Switch axe is the cheesiest weapon to break his head. I had to learn it from scratch just to beat him when he was just released. Use part breaker 3 and tool specialist 5 for maximum cheese. And bring temporal and rock mantle so you can stick to it without getting thrown off. Rinse and repeat until victory. When you memorize his movesets, you actually have lots of safe openings during his attacks. Especially the cone fire. Each weapon has different opportunities for head damage so you gotta learn your weapons strategy.

[@natsukikruger94]

@@SchradeDemise I haven't touched world since rise and I already farmed his full set. There's no need to return to world. I'm fully aware of the cheese as well. I was mainly speaking before the time that knowledge was available.

[@karaarcadia]

That transition between phase 1 and 2 still gives me goosebumps. Fighting this giant stone behemoth, breaking it piece by piece until it crumbles into dust and all you see is the tip of it's fleshy head peaking out of the dust clouds before the silhouette of something else. The music goes quiet and the handler in disbelief: "That was just it's shell!?" the music blasts into phase 2 with this wingless dragon, still raising its 8 fingers lets out a roar so loud it literally destroys the walls of the arena revealing it's true from. This creature is so powerful it can crumble mountains into dust and during the whole of phase 2 it shows. There is some true horror when fighting Shara Ishvalda but it is a spectacle to fight him as well and the music really adds to that fact.

[@prawn1717]

The fact that you picked up on the music "looking" at you so early on is fucking NUTS. Shara's eyes are hollowed out, creating an optical illusion that the monster is staring into the Hunter's camera throughout the fight. Your reviews are unparalleled dude!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thanks!!!

[@ImpassiveCanine]

I love how the music in Monster Hunter just oozes with personality, it's an essential part of thoroughly enjoying each hunt.

[@theinspiredgamer1949]

I remember fighting this boss for the first time and how absolutely blown away I was by the Phase 2 reveal. Not to mention just how LONG it took me to get all the materials for their armor and weapons (that scalp was an absolute pain in the ass to get)

[@PingusTingus]

He's pretty based, also frostpunk moment

[@nimbusws2566]

Hehe. Blown away.

[@MrChefRat]

The eyes opening didn't scare me intill I realized the eyes don't follow the character they look at the camera the hole fight its awful and I love it

[@arapaimagold8088]

Meh, tenderplate is easy with HBG.

[@zorro8027]

The scalp was annoying but us hammer mains got it almost every run😂😂 (Don’t even mention the bow gun users)

[@LynIclucia]

One cool thing to note that also adds to the "horror" aspect of this fight is once you realize exactly what Shara Ishvalda represents in nature. Aside from Fatalis, who embodies the concept of destruction itself, Nergigante, the cleanser of ecosystems, and Xeno/Safi the power of evolution and pure energy, all the elder dragons in world represent a specific aspect of the destructive power of nature: Kirin lightning, Teostra and Lunastra fire, Kushala Wind, Vaal Hazak death itself, Kulve taroth essentially geothermal activity, Velkhana ice, Namielle storms, and Alatreon the full force of nature. Shara, on the other hand, wields the power of the literal earth that you stand on, with enough power to turn solid rock into essentially quicksand with just the power of its seismic vibrations shaking the air and causing that sand to erupt and throw you multiple feet into the air. You aren't fighting against something nature can use to kill you anymore, you're literally fighting ***nature itself***. You were spot on at 11:27, especially given that all of the weapons you craft from Shara's parts invoke religious symbolism in their designs and sometimes, even in their names. Case in point, the insect glaive is shaped like an elaborate khakkhara and the greatsword's name is quite literally "Immovable Dharma". Shara Ishvalda *is* the earth: immovable, indestructible, and unending.

[@thewrathofgog6749]

He looks at the camera instead of the hunter. What an insane final boss.

[@peepoo2049]

Actually, shara dosent actually look at the hunter Its amazing design really by the designers at capcom, its actually an optical illusion, because the eye isnt actually flat, but rather concave, in a way that makes the eyes look like their looking at you Its really interesting, look it up!

[@ultimamage3]

@@peepoo2049 OP said Shara looks **at the camera** instead of the hunter. Imagine "Akshually"ing something that wasn't even said. 🤓🤡

[@thewrathofgog6749]

@@peepoo2049 yes... that's why I made the comment and said that he looks at the camera?

[@kuroganekaze]

@@ultimamage3 and being wrong about it too lmao.

[@jaeger8078]

You'd wish he is the final boss when u face fatalis

[@connorryan2715]

Extremely underrated track in my opinion. There’s a lot of really cool ideas that the composer blended brilliantly. It feels terrifying, and crazed, and grand, and regal, and deific without feeling all over the place. I love that single instrument that kinda almost sounds like a female vocalist, sounds kinda middle eastern but I’m not entirely sure. It’s got this divine, yet, almost alien and insane sound to it. And I am a huge sucker for massive thundering drums. They are a very easy way to get me to like a piece of music

[@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ]

Is it underrated? No idea why, it’s such an incredibly distinct and eerie theme.

[@connorryan2715]

@@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ I don’t hear anyone really talk about it, or Shara all that much.

[@simonholmqvist5475]

@@connorryan2715 i think no one really talks about Shara cause they felt Shara was less of a final boss compared to other MH games, which i'm kind of inclined to agree because of the first phase being very slow, predictable and boring but the soundtrack is genuinely awesome.

[@tordix4467]

The "dissonant" sound at 0:30 and throughout the song is a shehnai - a double-reeded wooden flute with a brass bell used in a lot of traditional Indian music.

[@natural8677]

3:59 I love it when monster Hunter puts a main theme in to acknowledge how far you have come as a player and this is the climax of everything you’ve been through

[@maggie6152]

Shara's theme is based on Indonesian Gamelan--an ensemble containing metallophones, gongs, and more--which has a very unique style of tuning that developed thanks to the isolation of Indonesia. It is holy music and each instrument has a "male" and "female" counterpart with slightly different tuning and together it sounds like haunted windchimes! In shara's phase two, the quick, repeating "xylophone" mallet instrument is one of the metallophones used in Gamelan music. It's suuuper fascinating from a music theory perspective and each island in Indonesia has its own style and twist on the Gamelan. It's also been featured in other games, such as Super Mario 64's Boo's Mansion, Super Mario Odyssey's Lost Island, and the music for the Adabat levels in Sonic Unleashed.

[@Onion_Wolf]

The composers for MH is insanely talented, I never miss the yearly orchestra since they started doing live tickets.

[@albal156]

As far a I know it sems to be multiple people composing all the tracks for Iceborne and World.

[@BlazingGlaceon]

Horror is right, if you've ever fought this damn thing solo. It certainly earned its final boss status in World lol Also, Murmurs From the Land Forbidden is my favorite World track. Would love to hear your thoughts on that one.

[@epicdhh]

I just recently beat shara ishvalda, and that is exactly it. In the first phase i thought I was fighting a rock monster, nothing new, just a heavy armored elder dragon causing earthquakes, but the music, I cant help shake the feeling that there is something hiding underneath it, something more monstrous. When the second phase kicked in and saw the absolute majestic horror of a monster I was in awe and scared. But as a hunter i needed to do what i always do no matter how big a monster i am fighting, push forward and hunt them down.

[@drgonphart5415]

I really really love how it seems like we are hearing the different perspectives of the battle. You'll hear the bloodlust and rage of Shara in one part (2:17), then next you'll hear the determination of the hunter (3:47). But then when it goes into the second phase, you can sort of feel Shara's rage (9:54) transitioning into it feeling like Shara is like "this is getting real" (10:03), and then the hunter's terror and panic (10:12). I just think it's amazing how they capture the emotion of the entire battle no matter which side we are part of.

[@Persesemi]

1:56 "feel something staring at you" fun fact. Phase 2 of Shara's fight, the monster is tracking the camera movement, not the hunter. So it's basically staring at you, the player, all the time.

[@sitnspin1819]

As a long time horror fan? This tickled my Spidey Senses! With all horror music? I close my eyes to see what the music makes me think of outside of my synaesthesia. The first thing that instantly popped into my head was a montage of all the old Universal greats. Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr, Lon Chaney, Evelyn Ankers, Claude Rains, and Boris Karloff. The Hammer Horror crowd burst straight into my head. Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Martine Beswick, Ferdy Mayne, Hazel court. There was a moment where an almost cartoonish sound was played and I immediately imagined Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. I now have a full day of movies lined up because I *need* watch them now!

[@michaelnadler2732]

I didn't see anyone of the other comments mention this but the part that begins at 1:24 always reminded me of the theme from the Halloween franchise. The way it feels like it's creeping on you and helps build the sense of unease as you fight? *chef's kiss*

[@Ferodra]

I absolutely love Shara's theme. It constantly has some sort of lingering horror while feeling familiar and even somehow a bit calm at some points - which quickly turns into "Oh my god, what the f is happening now?" It even reflects the experience of fighting Shara for the first time perfectly. It's masterfully put together

[@danielaxc2900]

"It's almost like a hehhHHH" seems like the perfect way to describe Shara tbh.

[@abadidea5984]

It's interesting that Marco managed to pick up on that subtle "serene" element of phase 2; a lot of Shara Ishvalda's imagery is based on Buddhism, from its lotus-petal shaped scales to its peach-golden colors, even its armor sets and weapons are based on depictions of Buddhist deities. The Phase 2 song is called "A Single Bloom In An Eternity", and the transition between Phase 1's rocky form and Phase 2's fully revealed form represents an "awakening" of sorts; the Shara Ishvalda builds up those rocky layers from burrowing through the earth causing seismic activity in the islands, and after peeling away what must be _centuries_ of ancient earth from its body, it emerges as though waking from a long slumber. It is also apropos that the phase 1 song represents sheer brute terror; Phase 1 Shara is little more than a moving mountain, aiming to crush you with its sheer girth and size. But in Phase 2, its true power is revealed not to be sheer mass and strength, but through a subtlety that is easily mistaken for stillness; by utilizing concentrated microvibrations with its wing-fingers, it can crush stone into sand with as little as a touch. The instrument choice and the composition style between phases 1 and 2 really capture this element of awakening, rebirth and enlightenment, but _never_ fails to remind you that you are facing down a *monster* and it is going to eat you.

[@broseph2890]

Fun fact, when fighting Shara Ishvalda, unlike other monsters who focus on the hunter in game, Shara Ishvalda's eyes are always focused on the center of the screen, following it everywhere, past the hunter and onto the player implying he knows

[@peepoo2049]

Its actually an optical illusion! The eyes stay still, but because of the way their designed (theyre not flat at all!), It creates the optical illusion of sharas eyes looking directly at you!

[@superslash7254]

@@peepoo2049 It's not an optical illusion, they literally do move and you can get the camera flying around and prove it.

[@goofyahhvalstraxproductions]

@@superslash7254 somebody tested it and it is indeed an optical illusion caused by how the model is, it's probably intentional though

[@superslash7254]

@@goofyahhvalstraxproductions Nope, it's objectively physically moving. You can see the red pupil physically moving in the socket and going under parts of the skull model: i.imgur.com/kZipNsk.png kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWaYdY2orKebd7sm42s

[@goofyahhvalstraxproductions]

@@superslash7254 iirc it's all an illusion, there was a video explaining that it is an optical illusion by putting it into Blender (I think) and move the camera, and despite the fact that there shouldn't be anything moving, it still moved, meaning that it is most likely an illusion, sadly I can't find that video rn

[@MrMisterMisterMr]

About that strange instrument used all throughout Shara's theme, I'm almost certain it's a Shehnai, a double reed woodwind instrument from Western India. It's used predominantly in Hindu functions, and Shara Ishvalda is very heavily based around Hindu iconography and legend. It's second phase theme's name is "A Single Bloom in an Eternity," with Shara itself taking the role of the lotus (literally blooming from its rocky carapace for its second phase). Shara Ishvalda's Japanese name is "An Ishvalda"; "An" is Sumerian for Heaven, and "Ishvalda" is based on the Hindu god Shiva's Buddhist name: Ishvara. Shiva is depicted having a third eye, one that can see that which isn't physical. Shara starts off its second phase with its eyes close, but has a sort of "soft transition" into a third phase where its eyes open and it begins unleashing more devastating attacks. In this "open eyes" phase, the eyes actually track the player and not the hunter, as if Shara can see the player, who it knows it's actually fighting. All of these reasons and more are why Shara Ishvalda is one of my favorite bosses in MH history.

[@虎瀬野]

that kind of trumpet are exist in most south east asia...since this buddhist theme i 100% sure that thai insturument...and metallic percussion is more like indonesian gamelan....

[@pnutbteronbwlz9799]

I love how expressive and emotional you are. You are unapologetically yourself and I love it. It helps to make me feel like I can be myself even if it is expressive.

[@MarcoMeatball]

That’s so kind to say

[@princetbug]

One thing Monster Hunter's music always gets right is that the composer(s) know exactly when to bring in the familiar tunes. The main theme from the game and Proof of a Hero being especially noticable. I really love how much MHWorld used its main theme. It is *everywhere* and there is no way a player wouldn't be familiar with it by the time they face Ishvalda. It's a memory of "home" in this context, enough to give that moral boost a hunter needs. It's always in those huge fights that feel like some insurmountable task against a beast multitudes larger than yourself they decide to say "you can do it! the world is counting on you!" with the powerful brasslines and those familiar melodies.

[@Mosaiiic]

Omg yesss Awe is a perfect description, 11:52 , Hunters respect monsters SO much, awe is perfect.

[@RedaiRmal]

I love seeing the expressions of classically and professional musicians while listening to some of these incredible video game tracks. As well as the interpretations they feel, and tell us. So charming to watch. If you do more Monster Hunter music, you're in for a treat.

[@MarcoMeatball]

There’s a lot here!

[@galadrinihrinor4863]

@@MarcoMeatball I have a great suggestion The theme of ibushi from monster hunter rise Or the rampage theme from the same game

[@gaddiusgaddium9082]

2:40 Funny you say that, Shara is one of two, coutnt em, TWO monsters in the entire series whose eyes track THE CAMERA and not the player model on screen. Super soul crushing when it seems like they're reading your mind.

[@icehoof]

"It's like it's looking at you" "Like something really isn't right" "These tinges of insanity" You are very right, out of all of the monsters in this series, there are many monsters that feel angry, but few come as close as shara ishvalda to making me think "this thing *HATES*, and wants me dead more than I can comprehend from a monster" Edit- on a side note, he should listen to the true shara ishvalda song...gas money

[@AmariTakahashi]

Shara is by far one of my favorite hunts and one of the major reasons why I go back to play Iceborne to this day. I will say though, your comment of "I don't play by the rules" made me realize that this thing fights like virtually nothing else in the game. Which just makes me appreciate it even more

[@hyrix6668]

Fun fact, this Monster is based on the Buddhist god if I recall correctly? Which is where you hear that Holy like sound mix in! And that "looking at you" quote is so spot on! Since during the 2nd phase, they'll open their eyes to stare at you. Your hunter? Nono, You! The PLAYER behind the screen, they KNOW you're the one controlling the Hunter they're attacking

[@pranav_k__]

there is no god in buddhism

[@Atoll-ok1zm]

Part of why shara is so memorable is that it has this sort of mad god vibe. Like this thing is more than an animal, this is a force of nature. Ancient beyond understanding with the power to shape the very earth to its whims. It is utterly inconprehensible to the human mind almost in an eldritch sort of way. Its so much greater than a mere mortal could ever comprehend.

[@Zurui1150]

Shara Ishvalda will always be my favorite Elder Dragon. This beast genuinely surprised me with its second phase and when it opened its eyes the hunt got more intense for me. The music is such a blast to hear while fighting this monstrosity. Sharas design is one of my favorites and never gets old for me.

[@thenewmegatronthekingofdar3982]

Shara ishvalda is know as one of the 5 monsters that basically created monster hunter. But at some point of time shortly before it was discovered or something. He eventually began to develop or lose his third eye. A third eye in this scenario means a being that sees beyond and that's what shara ishvalda can do. Sometimes it even seems like he can hear you in game or well. Everything

[@SirGarffington]

Half the reason why this franchise does it for me is because of it's music, and how every piece of music does justice for the monster's personality.

[@Mega_Croissantamence]

The eyes are an optical illusion. They’re concave in such a way that it *looks* like it’s looking at you, but it’s not really. A clever way to still horrify the player without actually breaking the 4th wall.

[@tangled_shoelace]

I just love how expressive you are with describing music. You’ve changed so much since I first found your channel :)

[@MarcoMeatball]

Aw! Thank you.

[@tangled_shoelace]

@@MarcoMeatballthank YOU for always improving my day

[@indomleon]

I love how you predict so much about the monster from just the soundtrack presumably without having fought it

[@Ranzord95]

the mystical/trascendetal aspect makes sense, a running theory in the fandom is that shara ishvalda has a "third eye" in the hinduist/buddhist sense the way its eyes are modeled, once they are open they are always facing towards the camera instead of the hunter, and people theorize this was made to represent shara ishvalda has reached enlightement and is aware that it exists inside a videogame, the hunter being a mere avatar of its real enemy, so it looks straight into the camera to face _you_

[@Morfelion]

@MarcoMeatball around 2:40 you mention how the music makes it feel like the monster is looking at you. The funny part is, it is. It is never looking at the player character. It is always aiming its eye at the camera. YOU. This becomes way more apparent in the second phase where you can see the eyes. Edit: saw comments mentioning this already, frick

[@attackmanatee02]

I love that you said it doesn't play by the rules because it DOESN'T. The whole second phase it states at the camera, like it knows exactly where you are and that it's not fighting the hunter, but the player. If you knock it to the ground and start wailing on it, it doesn't ever blink or look away from the camera the whole time. It's so creepy to watch

[@Crypticdragon1]

I also have to say, I love how much you get in to the tack. The bobbing and facial expressions are fun to watch.

[@gajeel9798]

I feel its also an reference to sharas origins, being a budda like entity the lotus on its armor and skin, the frill of its wing fingers coming together to form the great many arms of the budda and that claronet playing like a snake charmer it all culminates into the mix of the hunters power, which creates this dynamic of "you are the only thing that stands in the way of this land destroying monster" the power of the trumpets and drums clashing with the clarinet theme for ishvalda is just beautiful

[@entr0pydee]

Loved how checking the replays on this video showed the start of second phase the most replayed like "what is this guy gonna do when second phase hits XD"

[@MarcoMeatball]

😂

[@Noroh____0]

one thing I noticed for the first time watching this is that the violins play a tune reminiscent of the opening of *Halloween* for a good chunk, just slowed and pitched down. I watch on 2x speed so hearing the song like this for the first time made it really stand out. That is probably why there is such a feeling of tension throughout the piece.

[@irequirecaffeine]

god if i could go back and hunt shara for the first time all over again, i would. i remember repelling ruiner nergigante and i was like, "that.. was actually easy, why was that easy?" and then something even bigger shows its nasty head. all i could think was "what the hell is this massive boulder i'm fighting" before i realized i was definitely chipping away at what seemed to be a shell of some kind. and when shara finally reveals itself in the second phase, you're suddenly met with that feeling of "this is it. this is what every hunt was preparing me for, this is where every weapon, every piece of armor, everything and everybody who has helped me, this is where it all matters most." and the music, good lord, the music couldn't do a better job at representing that. i'm getting chills just remembering it lmao.

[@Dawn-zc4ok]

Something I wanna add about Shara is that, iirc; Shara is throughout Iceborne's campaign (the expansion it was released in) is causing disasters due to some sort of song/cry it's spreading through the world, almost like a birdsong that is upsetting the ecosystem. It's not really revealed that Shara is the culprit until the end of the campaign either. So it's pretty fitting that Shara Ishvalda's music is so threatening and dread inducing. Also as someones else in the comments pointed out, Shara uses wind based attacks, by absorbing the air through pores on the wings and the jetting it back out in giant streams or spheres, making Shara the instrument itself. Which I think puts a nice bow on the themeing Shara has.

[@creativeanimus]

The wind instrument on 0:53 contributing to the weird soundscape is called a "zurna" :) It's a middle eastern instrument with origins going back to regions like Iraq and others. In this composition it adds to the disorienting and ominous feel with the tones it hits @MarcoMeatbal, also providing a call-back to West Asian, Eastern, and desert themes

[@danielr5817]

I love every little comment and his visualization of the monster that Marco makes. Listening to the theme by itself without the sounds of the monster and the fight during gameplay really got me vining with the song like Marco did here hahaha

[@thickums5344]

The music made me feel like I'm in a battle that shouldn't even be achievable, that this is the ultimate threat and this your only chance.

[@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ]

Honestly found Shara’s first form didn’t do its theme justice. While unusual for Monster Hunter, it was a huge, slow rock monster. Pretty ho-hum. Second phase, especially the first few seconds after the reveal of its true form was excellent. The way the music kicks back in, Shara’s roar, and its overall appearance was all perfectly put together. Also, your comment at 1:56 was especially on point for Shara. During phase three, once it opens its eyes, if you look closely you can see they track your own view. They aren’t staring at your character, they’re staring at YOU through your screen. Just a bit more to add to how creepy this monster is.

[@TheGeckoGuild]

Ever since getting back into the games I've been watching these videos, and I have to say thank you for making me so passionate about the music. It has completely amplified my love for the series in a way I didn't think was possible.

[@MarcoMeatball]

That makes my heart happy. Thank you!

[@andrewboyer7544]

Music and sound design in World was 10/10 much like the rest of the game. Easily one of my favorite games of all time. Kulve Taroth was mind blowing music which was composed by the same guy who covered Nobou in the ff7 remake.

[@halapenopepper]

Shara Ishvalda is one of my favourite fights in the whole series, and the music is a BIG part of that! thanks for covering!

[@wrasse1155]

I think the best feature of MH's music is that the tracks can tell a lot about the monster's qualities. In terms of the appearance, behavior, and symbolism. This video really captures that!!

[@dudeguy1894]

8:50 "I'm GoNnA fEaSt oN yOuR sKiN!" ~MarcoMeatball, 2023

[@gamerkingdom1442]

Quite frankly, my favorite ICEBORNE battle. Capcom nailed EVERYTHING about it! Even more than GAISMAGORN!!! And yeah! The music works so well! The mystery of the first phase, the intensity of the second phase! It’s so freaking good!!

[@Desbiscuito]

just found you from youtube recommended and i cannot believe how perfectly you can vocalise the emotions portrayed in the music, I've been playing monster hunter for nearly 20 years and the music has always stood out to me above so many other games, movies etc

[@HarryPotter-uv8yp]

He is the Song of the Earth. The wind that tears through the mountain. None escape his Eye.

[@randomanun4278]

All of the handcrafted detail that went into world still has me amazed years after its launch.

[@zaydon5281]

My favorite part of the song is phase two when Shara Ishvalda "Voice" starts singing the main theme, gets you thinking if it's as monstrous as we think.

[@alexandergarfield1561]

One of the best things about Monster hunter, about every monster gets their own music that fits them pretty well.

[@hifzuddinmortza7755]

Fun fact: During his second phase where he open his eyes, he directly looking at you instead your character you play.

[@tengrex]

This breakdown video is awesome. I love all the info as you breakdown the music. And i am the 2000th like to this video.

[@colebailey2578]

Definitely a musical horror. The damn thing was initially thought to be some sort of earth monster, but instead he's a vibration monster. He literally produces vibrations so potent they cause seismic activity, leveling a mountain in seconds. That's a horrifying amount of power. Now for the scary stuff; when the rocks that he's covered in fall off, his true form is shown, and his eyes will constantly be staring. Not at the hunter, but at YOU. He will be staring at your damn camera

[@JasonPootis]

“Tenderize” “Tenderize the face” “Why can’t we fight something cute for once”

[@Ajehy]

You get Shara’s whole psychotic vibe perfectly…heck, it seems to possess you! You ok, Marco? 😂

[@ragon7863]

not only is Shara Ishvalda one unique and fun fight, the theme is so fucking good

[@dragondadvillaro7975]

all these comments about him "looking at you" *Phase 2.... he looks at the player*

[@seccogabrielq]

Its such an experience hunting this monster!! The song, his roar together with the music, the visuals!!! Omg its a plate full for anyone!

[@binlo9959]

The Zinogre, Velkhana, and Raging Brachydios themes from MHW are also excellent! I believe the Raging Brachydios theme is one of the only non-elder dragons to have a vocal chorus in its theme as well which is pretty cool

[@shagarumedic]

I absolutely adore this theme! It’s so weird and unique compared to other MH themes, it stands out and perfectly displays Shara’s alien aesthetic. Also I love how seliana’s theme is worked into the song (the part you discuss at 7:08) Not to mention the brief appearance of light that’s passed on in phase 1, following the tradition of having the main theme worked into the final boss’! It sounds so triumphant and out of place in the song because it’s representing you, the hunter, and your resolve to stare down death itself; to face impossible odds with bravery and guts at your side. And that’s why MH has some of the greatest soundtracks ever made; most of it displays the terror of the monster you’re facing yes, but there’s also the upbeat parts that motivate you to keep going

[@Arothewinddragon]

You remind me so much of my old music teacher, he was SO passionate about his work and made every song we played feel like an actual adventure. He was able to pick apart music and point things out just like you can, and it made the pieces all the more impactful and thought provoking. You’re a lot like him and your passion inspires me!

[@MarcoMeatball]

:) happy to hear that!!!! That makes me happy.

[@Pakthon]

one of the few times where I feel the scale of the monster and glory of its form outpaced the fantastic sound scape behind it. A great video thank you Mr. Marco once again.

[@meridianpuppeter]

The reed instrument with that very nasal piercing tone is most probably either Zurna, a double reed wind instrument that is fairly common in Eurasia, Western Asia and North Africa or an Egyptian version of the zurna called Mizmar. I always loved Shara's theme because of this specific instrument because the sound it makes is so unique and it really stands out in the music, and I was kinda surprised to hear it consider it we do use it quite a lot in folk Greek music as well. That 'insanity' you mention is probably because of simply how piercing and almost invasive the sound is. It's kinda like it pierces through your skull and spears right through your brain. The fight is even creepier because on the second phase of the fight, Shara's eyes actually follow the camera position instead of the actual player character, so it's like the boss is looking right through the screen at the player.

[@NeocrimsonX]

The theme matches its unnerving presence so well I'm glad you gave it a listen I've grown to love shara and now it's in my top 10 favorite monsters.

[@benny3911]

If i remember correctly Shara Ishvalda is a sound dragon and throughout the game he drives monsters into frenzies with his songs. So personally i think his soundtrack is kind of a human interpretation of that song, the unsettling rage, bloodlust and confusion it instills in its victims.

[@melanor5690]

I adore the Shara Ishvalda fight! That moment of him bursting out of his rock shell, the "Oh god, what is he doing??" when he sinks into the sand, and the EYES that follow your camera instead of the character?? The whole experience was fantastic.

[@mrfancypants3423]

fun/horrifying fact: when you say that it feels like Shara is looking at you, HE IS, Shara is constantly making direct eye contact with the CAMERA the entire fight, he's not looking at the hunter, he's looking at YOU THE PLAYER have fun with that knowledge :D

[@zegamingcuber857]

man if i hadn't already seen what the second phase looked like i would've been shocked and terrified by it

[@sorathesapphirestar8107]

Yo, I’m really happy you did a video on this track! This is one of the best themes in all of Monster Hunter imo.

[@TheWorstPartyMember]

I always loved that little marimba (or whatever that instrument is) bit. Especially the quiet version that plays when you're at the camp.

[@mrfits9953]

If MHW is on the table I'd recommend taking a look at the Glavenus or Brachidios themes. Yes I might be biased because they're my two favourite songs and a pair of amazing fights but I think the themes fit their respective monsters perfectly especially Brachi (the giant explosive boxer dinosaur) his theme is literally called "Brutish Indigo" and there is no better two word description for him😂

[@chongjiayuen7324]

To top the theory of Shara's design is a monster based on a God being, its armor set is a resemblance of Tang Sanzang or the Longevity Monk, which is widely worshipped by Buddhist as it often described as a god of protection.