Phantom Blade Zero is Going to be INSANE || Trailer Music Breakdown

[@KokotoHero-N3]

That metal fusion popping off made me go from "yeah this game looks alright, maybe I'll fit it into the 2000 others games I want to play currently" to "Yeah this is a release date purchase" real quick.

[@timchronis1584]

That shift into the second phase was insane. You might be thinking of the Erhu in that metal section. There's a traditional song played with it called racing horse where it really does sound like a neighing horse.

[@DeadEye364]

His reaction to that drop was amazing.

[@YYY-t4t]

The instrument which makes string sound in phase two called 二胡 （Er Hu）,a Chinese traditional instrument.

[@frostmourne1986]

I know this is not the focus of Marco's channel, but goddamned the sfx, especially the Wuxia ones. Cloth flaps, sword whistles, and even the sword clangs are distinctively the Wuxia kind.

[@dbznarutofanatic]

This trailer is a masterclass in showing off how much music can enhance the scale of what you're playing. Even in the relatively enclosed space of this boss arena, the guitar entrance into phase two makes the fight feel like its size has increased ten times over.

[@DeadEye364]

Not only that but its the puppet master's puppets are now in control and it feels "wrong" highlighted by that drop, which then goes into a whole new genre of music

[@jcaesar19871]

And it's not even the game's final form. lol

[@GrayderFox]

Aw man. I missed all those cool details you went into with the musical qualities evoking certain things. I got to experience this trailer all over again via your reaction. X) Thank you.

[@antonyip]

You should listen to "Ambush from Ten Sides". It is a famous Chinese pipa piece. Taking the struggle between Chu and Han as the theme, it depicts the fierce battle situation of the Battle of Gaixia. It is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese national music and contains almost all the techniques of pipa playing. You will find that in this video, much of the music comes from our traditional music, where the pipa is used to convey the atmosphere of battle, tension, and suspense.

[@geraldthegoose1685]

Games looks great BUT THE CHOREOGRAPHY THO. I read this from a comment on the trailer and it said that the person who is in charge of the choreography is actually someone who works on kung fu movies and yeah i can definitely tell

[@bakutie]

yep at the last section I immediately thought oh someone on their definitely team knows their shit

[@zuriyel5368]

Yeah, the guy who came up with the moves for this game is Kenji Tanigaki, who's been Donnie Yen's right-hand man since the late 90s. Also the only Japanese guy in the Hong Kong Stunt Association.

[@thinhquanq.7019]

​@@zuriyel5368Bro, is that the guy who direct action scenes for Rurouni Kenshin live action???? If that's true, then this game is must buy for martial art lovers

[@ItchOnMyBack]

Donnie Yen's choreography team also in this project from what I heard

[@riemaennchen]

The second phase music slaps so hard. I was already interested in this game. But now I am sold!

[@ChaseYu]

8:30 this sounds is from erhu, if I’m not mistaken. The sounds that before the heavy metal. 8:48 yep that is from Erhu, the 2 stringed Chinese instrument.

[@sodathejunker]

So the term we use in animation for underscoring synced music to actions on screen is “Mickey Mousing”, since it was kind of started with classic Disney animations. Over time as video game soundtracks were able to become more dynamic, it became a bit more common place in cutscenes to heighten things like thrill and tension. Obviously those feelings can be equally conveyed with soundscapes or even full scoring. However with dev teams on the smaller side it is VERY likely that the lead sound engineer is also a part of the music team if not a lead there as well, so often they are guiding the foley artists or doing foley work themselves… …and in those situations you get to have a lot of genuine fun blending sound designer with sound tracks to make truly immersive experiences. I don’t work in game design anymore but god that was one of my favorite things to do when we worked on dynamic soundtracks. It’s far more rare in gaming than in film scores and that makes it more rewarding.

[@sodathejunker]

…also Sanxian I think is the instrument Marco was thinking. Guzheng is beautiful and sounds like it’s being used too, but it’s a bit different instrument.

[@MarcoMeatball]

It’s such a terrific thing when everything coalesces and such a true “video games are special” moment every time for me personally

[@DeadEye364]

Oh, I didn't know there was an actual name for that. I always called it audio visual synchronization.

[@sodathejunker]

@@DeadEye364so here’s the neat thing: that is also a VERY real term and on display right here in the trailer too. If you listen to the sound of the footsteps and sword swings of the enemy, they synchronize with the music in such a way that they almost become a part of the music. The rustling leaves or wind alongside woodblocks, etc. That would be AV synchronization, it’s more of a video production “in DAW” term, like quantizing the soundscape. However the music reflecting back on those sounds, the strings mimicking the footsteps, the percussion accenting the hit contacts, the woodblock mimicking a snapped twig… that’s “Mickey mousing”.

[@rodrigomoreiramedeiros3232]

The sign that a game is good: This gentleman goes from 0:04 "I'm more interested in knowing about the music." To 1:49 "Shocked gasps." The rest is history. 🎉

[@ChaseYu]

This game is the Wuxia genre, and Wuxia is actually more than just martial art, if you wanted to get a better reference to what Wuxia is, movie like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers etc would give you a little idea of what it is. Also 1:43 that’s the Big Dipper ( 7 stars as mentioned in the beginning )

[@maximilianocarrion1599]

Just so you know Marco, this is NOT a soulslike. The devs specifically said that they wanted Metal Gear Rising/Devil May Cry combat mixed with Souls level design.

[@Abunai_Gaming]

I'm so excited for this game, it's so cool. Music, visuals, gameplay, I can't wait to see more.

[@haruthefrog]

I was waiting for you to hear the 2nd phase music LOL it's crazy isn't it I am so damn excited for this game ever since the 1st reveal, I have a similar anticipation towards it that I've had for Stellar Blade when it was re-revealed

[@koagz]

I love that especially in Phase 2 they just use and GO HARD on every string instrument they got for the string boss.

[@HouseOfHagnos]

I couldn't help but be reminded of camellya from wuwa with the way the puppet fights in the second phase

[@pipi9280]

This game looks so badass, can't wait

[@umbradread8703]

I'm so glad you checked this out

[@jianliwu1953]

Dude, I immediately thought about you when first watched this trailer, especially when the second phase kicked in!

[@GissingHsu]

That decending cat meowing killed me.🤣🤣

[@drgonzo123]

I was just talking about this the other day. I'm a musician and gamer, and agree with you both are equal in my eyes, but while I'm playing a video game I'm concentrating so much on what I'm doing that I don't actively listen to the music, but my brain absorbs it. So when I go back and listen to the OST later it fills me with such emotion and puts me right back into that world and moment of my life. Music is 50% of why FF7 is my favorite game of all time and will still cry when I hear certain tracks.

[@SolidSnake240]

Also there's gonna be multiplayer dungeons, boss rush modes and a rogue like mode. Cant wait for this game. The combos look so fun to pull off

[@Lincy7734]

As a metal head that second phase hit me, i was oooohhhh yeeeah this is the stuff. I am also a fan of music that mixes different element in general so when the mix of chinese instruments and metal started playing i was very excited!

[@AsPeCt4392]

Ooooh yes I was hoping for a reaction to this one. Let’s gooo

[@evil_cupcake2386]

7:54 that hurricane of emotions is absolutely *chefs kiss*

[@N.Backstabber]

Great reaction video, Marco. Your analysis is on point. BTW, so far you're the only one who pointed out that the string is mimicking horse neigh at 8:55. It's a rather common practice in Er Hu(the string instrument used here) performance.

[@shahs1221]

YES! I was so excited for you to get to this! This will be akin to Metal Gear Rising: Revengence, DMC and Ninja Gaiden in terms of combat so there's less resource management and more pure action! Soulslikes are great and all but I'm happy we're getting more character action games in the vein of those games and this one is capturing that essence so well!

[@BOT-ye6tj]

The job that combines interests and expertise is the best job in the world.

[@derdiedaswasndas]

dont forget the fact that they let a fckn giga chad play this fight to perfection. My guy hit every parry and every dodge into the perfect finish.

[@alphaomega1969]

God damn Holy shit!The adrenaline and testerone are super charged of excitement, is this another big game coming from china!? I almost swalowed my tongue in awe, Magnificent!! PEAK!

[@zanzibar4730]

Shamizen Metal exists Marco, and it's freaking glorious

[@Ehverette]

Never knew an Erhu was capable of making those sounds lmao. sounds like the instrumentalist is absolutely just sawing the strings down. holy shit is sounds cool.

[@jcaesar19871]

Yeah, this game looks SICK. I was already sold on it months ago, but this amplifies it. lol

[@tianhongyu-by3zn]

I would recommend Marco to watch some Hong Kong Wuxia movie, and this game soundtracks and gameplay are highly influenced by those movies.

[@AegisKHAOS]

The music combined with the combat in this boss fight REALLY makes it feel like I am watching a wuxia fight scene from 90s Hong Kong movies. Definitely feels more Swordsman I and II or Dragon Gate Inn than a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. For later wuxia films after the 90s, I am also getting 14 Blades vibes as well. Either way, watching the trailer makes the action look FUN, especially phase 2 with the electric guitar and the reverse uno puppets becoming the puppeteers. I feel the music in this trailer compared to past trailers made an already unique boss fight stand out even more.

[@natsu_1325]

This game and crimson desert are on my 2025 watch list. 🔥

[@MarcoMeatball]

YUH

[@nos8141]

The "Chinese shamisen" usually referenced As the Sanxian。Guzheng and koto belong their own group。 The second phase music uses Erhu with very iconic horse hectic pitch、as well as Matouqin ( Inner Mongolia instrument) which has very strong sound compare to violin、is perfect more metal and electronic 。Is also called Morin Khuur internationally and in Mongolia。 Basically、there is an entire chinese equivalent of orchestra。

[@blueveil3277]

0:18 Iirc one of the devs said this isn’t meant to be exactly a Souls-Like despite having a few similarities, rather, its more inspired on fast action-focused games such as Devil May Cry.

[@MuraCasardis]

Souls games seem to have made a lot of people forget the classic early 2000s action games design, such as Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden and DMC.

[@WanshiLucidDreamer]

I swear eastern indie devs are real hero in this gaming space

[@bakutie]

holy the sound when the body is being lifted is the creepiest thing I've heard

[@dirgaen]

Chinese aaa games are going crazy bruh, I just wish I could get in on xbox

[@Thick-xia]

Hope you have a good day sir 😊

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thanks for the well wishes!

[@Thick-xia]

@MarcoMeatball your welcome sir. Always amaze by your work. Keep it up sir.

[@DeadEye364]

One of the reasons I love video game music so much is how versatile it is, not just in terms of genre/style bur also in how it is applied. To clarify what I mean by "applied", It can enhance story beats or just straight up tell a story, it can empower you in the moment like an epic boss fight or shifts your emotions to harmonizes with the story or actions happening in the moment. One of my all time favorite OSTs in gaming is "The Decisive Collision" for the Trails games. Throughout the games I felt its meaning almost evolve, the emotions I felt changed with each game and I find it almost profound how much the story impacted the way the song resonated with me. You should totally check out the ost from the series, over 15 years of some absolute bangers.. Id defiantly recommend you listen to Unfathomed Force.

[@MarcoMeatball]

I’m actually slowly making my way through the series this year - I’m in chapter 2 of trails

[@RedHornSSS]

I think they are using a duo of Mongolian Horsehead fiddle & Chinese Erhu for the metal part of the track.

[@laushong]

Actually the special string instrument for second phase is called Morin khuur, which is Mongolian origin. One of its most signature techniques is to mimic horse neigh. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morin_khuur

[@Craft2024-xs1jf]

the insrtument you mentioned at phase two which sounds like horse neighing, it is "Erhu fiddle" (a traditional chinese string instrument).

[@MarcoMeatball]

I’d never heard it do that before!

[@Craft2024-xs1jf]

@@MarcoMeatball strongly recommend "horse-racing"（赛马 in Chinese）and "Moon Reflected on Erquan"(二泉映月 in Chinese)

[@zl5667]

6:52 your head on enemy body lol

[@geraldthegoose1685]

Definitely hyped for this game iirc the devs said the game has soulslike design with combat akin to ninja gaiden and mgr

[@wongkoewei9829]

Traditional Chinese/HK tend to use music instruments to sound the movie sound effect. It's kinda like traditional Chinese Opera?

[@lower7961]

wuxia（武侠）

[@sailer.x1240]

二胡可以做出很尖銳恐怖的音效，很適合做出妖怪大笑的恐怖效果。 另外還有用到嗩吶。

[@nil3010]

Camelia after shee over clocks over 9000

[@xiao-tianxu9113]

I think they are using a special Chinese instrument, Ma Tou Qin (literally horse head violin)

[@Gevra]

>Enters the second phase >Chinese strings instrument goes wild >Realizes the boss stage uses strings 💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥Holy.... Dope MC gameplay aside, this boss design are so unique! From the first stage the way they use the star constellation formation and then going to second phase where the rest of disciples marionette their fallen teacher then everything goes chaotic is crazy!

[@bakutie]

i saw the word snake and thought omg new snakeeater trailer? 😭

[@LUCAS420BLZ]

Phantom blade zero is one of my most anticipated games to release (ofc not forgetting Gta 6)

[@Xardas742]

Marco! Sorry the question is kinda unrelated, but do you have any plans on listening to more World of Goo soundtrack?

[@moonboy8552]

Marco, you gotta play it! I heard they're putting difficulty options in the game so I'm assuming it shouldn't be rage inducing at all.

[@brolydz5400]

This game is absolutely not a Souls Like ! It's been told to be more of a Devil May Cry type of gameplay, just destroy enemies and have fun. (To me as long as there's no stamina that prevents me from spamming my attacks and dodges I'm happy)

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank god for that

[@minthantmaung8643]

Hi Marco, nice video as usual, but this is isnt a souls like, i can tell cus of some light indicators enemies have when they do some attack, along with an intricate combo and dodge system and the fact that there is no stamina system makes this more of a hack n slash style lije ninja gaiden paired with sekiro style parry system, topped with a Chinese Wuxia flavor!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Phew

[@blastromo]

Marco, do you have any plan(s) to do a reaction/in depth analysis on Civilization 7 main theme "Live Gloriously" and maybe each country/civ theme? I feel like it would make for an entertaining video. Love your channel btw!

[@MarcoMeatball]

That’s the plan - closer to release

[@hatguyfan22]

Year of the Snake??? OOOOOOOO

[@ChaseYu]

It’s the Chinese New Year thingy.

[@hatguyfan22]

@ yep I know! I love dragons and snakes, so I know this year belongs to the Snake. I’m glad there’s a game based around it

[@MrKylljoy]

@@hatguyfan22 not sure that the game is BASED around the snake. I think they just took the opportunity to show things in the game that are snake related (the two weapons he uses)

[@Rashimotosan]

FYI it's not a soulslike and will have difficulty options

[@ShadanAbufasha]

can u lesson to detective conan main theme and every movie's credits song from the series? pls

[@TAIWAN-CLUB]

🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤新年快樂

[@zhaf]

This is not a souls like. This is a Ninja Gainden/Metal Gear Revengence like :DDDDD

[@samy0shadow]

2nd phase music reminds me of MGR

[@Bloodcrave87]

Chinese samisen is 琵琶 pi pa rather than 古筝 gu zheng no?

[@sstandby]

I wonder If the dev of this game knows about Doors OST...

[@izumolee6714]

If you like Ninja Gaiden, DMC, Sekiro, Metal Gear Revengence combat with level design from Souls games this will definitely tickle your senses. From what i hear & read from people who actually played at Gamescom the gameplay is as you see it. It's very parry & dodge focused so skilled players will feel like an invincible bad ass.

[@Celica_42]

I would if my Amd 3250u integrated graphics laptop can run this. Where I needed to beat Romina without looking her.

[@elentari15]

Hi Marco, I love your videos and wanted to recommend you one of my favourite songs, maybe you'll like it too. :) Not for a video, just for listening by yourself, it's a very angelic and uplifting song, though I don't know how accurate the Italian is ^^; It's "Haru tsuge ~Raggi di Primavera~" by Shikata Akiko: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJXWfIuJqq6VhZI All the voices you hear are her, she takes ages to record an album, because she all voices in every song, the "choir" and background vocals in her songs are all her. :D

[@MarcoMeatball]

I listened. It’s lovely. Thank you.

[@exceedcharge1]

gimmiegimmiegimmie

[@Crown1098]

its a bamboo sound ... on indonesia we have angklung that musical instrument have been made by bamboo ... maybe if u play it it doesnt sound like it ... but the original is from bamboo itself that have been modified with some traditional music at eastern especially chinese and japanese

[@Luulloh]

Can you please check out Rayman Legends? I think you'd love the soundtrack

[@kuruiui]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4WcemmrrNWjqNk

[@kuruiui]

cn drums are actually used a lot in Cn folk music, such as the following video, which gives people a very solemn feeling

[@Aiyume897]

Adding good videogame music to an already good game is like the meme of that one guy spreading salt on top of a steak 😌🤌

[@小桥流水-b6q]

I'd like to introduce a piece of music called War Horse Galloping, and you'll know kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpjSpYmKoLmGrdEsi=jlDaQ2NV2A2uj_wm

[@tyrant3191]

reminder to everyone that, despite how much sony wishes it wasn't so, this game IS coming out on PC same day. even though the trailer only says playstation, it's just sony lying by omission to make people buy it on console.