Super Castlevania IV OST: Stage 3 The Submerged City (3-3)

[@sammoon8014]

I still can't believe that bass if from an snes game :O

[@Goreface69]

+Sam Moon I'm sure it's a sample that he downconverted. MIDI was easily accessible to the composer I'm sure!

[@systemafunk]

Most music on the SNES is essentially MIDI, but programmers could put in their own instrument sounds, meaning it could definitely be a downconverted sample. Though this sounds good enough quality it was probably specifically made for the game.

[@AlfonsoSRT]

You gotta play some MegaMan X then.

[@TristanPR77]

The sound chip of the SNES was made by Sony. Pretty amazing.

[@jimmywhite6863]

Listen to some themes from Rockman & Forte or Bass' theme from Mega Man 7. Snes can pull off some damn good bass.

[@SparkyMK3]

Where to even START with this song?! The inspired killer combo of a calliope organ, stand-up bass, flute and drums? The offbeat time signature (6/8, 6/8, 7/8, 5/8)? The piano chord changes? That it's a marriage of Bach style composition with jazz, funk and tribal beats in a gothic horror themed game, yet doesn't feel remotely out of place? The early attempt at surround sound mixing? (Listen to it with headphones!) This is easily one of the most inspired songs ever put out by the SNES!

[@tofu916]

I LOVE how you broke it down! A like for you! 👍

[@biancaduvall7183]

I wish game soundtracks could also get Grammies.

[@Contrapposto94]

I love the way you broke this down, and also how you specified the type of organ used, definitely off to check out more of that sound. But what an ear and analysis! Glad you exist to make comments like this!!

[@Jaydoug99]

its always 6/8

[@CyanideSublime]

Our generation will find a way. Boomers are losing their grip on the culture.

[@DIVISIONBYZEROE]

THIS IS A CERTIFIED HOOD CLASSIC

[@OjibweCree]

Indeed.

[@steveafanador6441]

Lmfao 😂😂

[@andylabardy242]

A certified classic ANYWHERE, really ;)..........Lol

[@Eliburgo]

Damn where'd you find this 😳

[@ETJUEGA]

Only real naggers know

[@Lusolveinians]

That flute part... OMG i can't get enough of it.

[@joshuahenry7965]

Makes me want to grow a goatee

[@wozthescott2804]

Joshua Henry LMAO

[@DIVISIONBYZEROE]

Flynn Lurai that shit slaps harder than my dad

[@cultofjenova5653]

It's fucking wild how hard they went with a video game track in 1991.

[@seanyoung9014]

This whole soundtrack goes hard AF. Every song is on this level.

[@TheLordEmperorBlkrse]

Japanese composers have always been mad lads/lasses when it comes to VG osts

[@joshuahenry7965]

The upright bass and flute playing is reminiscent of a PBS special, "... and now, back to Exploring in the Submerged City with Dr. Simon Belmont."

[@lambda494]

Thank you, Joshua-- *Simon death sound*

[@island3609]

@@lambda494 yay

[@spacewastrel]

Yes! I'm not the only person who thought that :D

[@joshuahenry7965]

Lol

[@Lazaro38Roca2]

Sounds like PBS channel 13 ny transit 🗽 commerical with jazz performances Lol

[@mannholloway]

This right here is one of, if not THE greatest videogame musical compositions of all time.

[@johnsorrow1987]

Facts!!

[@awaxinthewest]

Agreed!…the best!

[@gjtrue]

Listen to this song with earphones. The beginning starts from the left speaker then slowly moves to the right. That's impressive for a SNES game! Such an early one at that!!

[@jacknedry3925]

F-Zero’s Port Town has a great stereo effect as well Also, right to left? It goes left to right.

[@GamerWordDotNet]

You'd be shocked to learn this game actually has surround-sound.

[@joshuahenry7965]

It's an SNES banger

[@TheRetroMartin]

A great feat but also one also done a year earlier by TMNT fall of the foot clan on the Gameboy of all things. Part of stage 2s music would only play in one earpiece or the other. Some great stereo there.

[@ericandre5060]

There’s also a lot of songs from pop-n-twin bee that do the same thing. I’m surprised at how much can be done with what they had back then.

[@Phoenix10k]

The synthesized stand-up bass and flute solo in this song are frickin' godly.

[@vulkanosaure]

So jazzy, that composer can do anything

[@alienboya]

All these tunes make me remember of good times in my life when I was a teen. Fuck I really miss those days, care free.

[@pchien31707]

Just a little over twenty years since playing this game for the first time and the soundtrack still sounds amazing, What really blows me away is that when listening to the tracks of the game in order, I can still sense the story of the journey even without playing the game.

[@UNEVERMINE]

smooth jazz yeah paul

[@snehalchinagudabha9287]

yeah cool man

[@JD_0083]

The bass in this is incredible.

[@kennethclemons3415]

The Submerged City stage is the most memorable musical track that I truly admire with Super Castlevania. This track takes me back when I was playing this game when I was in my high school days of the early 90s! The background layout with the pink hue sky and buildings that blends beautifully within the stage is on point....MEMORABLE. The playful flute solo plays in sync alongside the organ with the jazzy themed atmosphere of the track which is so impressive until this day! This musical track sparked within me a greater appreciation to modern variations of smooth jazz music.

[@carbootstudios2459]

Those first 6 seconds man, so haunting...

[@alexweingart1650]

I'm bald now after that flute solo blew my hair to the back of my bedroom.

[@colonelleblanc2594]

Mood: You’re on balcony of an Eastern European castle, overlooking a forest and small village. You are there after some apocalyptic disaster forced you and some holdouts into hiding. This song plays in your head as you smoke a cigarette as the sun rises, wondering what the world has become

[@PhyreI3ird]

Man what a bizaare track. I bet the composer was told something along the lines of "I dare you to put a jazz tune into a gothic horror action game, make it work, _and_ put tribal beats and an organ in there for good measure." and the mad genius actually fucking did it xD I mean seriously this should be a genre of its own!! (Genre ignorance alert) If twangy guitars, fake southern accents and more twangy guitars can make up a genre, how the fuck can this not??

[@troywright359]

Videogame music really is a genre of it's own

[@austinh5399]

Yeah I whole-heartedly agree. In a world where our youth listens to ‘artists’ with skittles for teeth and no musicality, it saddens me that video game music isn’t more popular. It’s good stuff.

[@burtonrivera5253]

This where musical taste quality exceeds cultural equivalent of truffles and lobster, because this pretension is of a different order

[@lambda494]

This track alone made me appreciate both jazz and horror more.

[@kippicalequations9242]

Austin H if you like this stuff you gotta check out more jazz fusion, like The album “One Of A Kind” by Bruford, or The Chick Corea Elektric Band’s first album. Maybe even Tribal Tech or Weather Report, alot of mixing of these types of genres with a bit more rock influence

[@HeyLaserLips]

One of my favourite OST's of any SNES game. This is a perfect example of what the soundchip could do in the SNES. The Mega Drive had its moments like the Streets of Rage and Sonic games, but then when you hear this in comparison, it's a different world.

[@thomasdjonesn]

I still have this song play in my head from time to time. I bought the game new, a million years ago. Best ever.

[@seanyoung9014]

Same. I bought this game on day one and the soundtrack is still in my head all the time.

[@edusoares20]

I put it in the background while I play Vampire Survivors. It fit perfectly.

[@TheDanster4]

Such a fantastic jazzy piece!! It’s my favorite song so far in the game. I’m currently playing this game (thanks to the SNES mini!) and I’m currently (more like stuck lol) on this stage but I’m getting better each time I play! Shoutout to Masanori Adachi & Taro Kudo for a fantastic soundtrack

[@MarthiousKnowledge2]

Omgoshhhh! This Jazzy bass organ shit is fireeee! I can't forget this one at all!

[@jdrs4214]

One of the top Castlevania soundtracks in the history of Castlevania. Hands down!!! Who could forget about the groovy graveyard theme, the creepy ballroom theme with all those man eating coffins⚰️ and strange ghosts, the gold coins and jewels💎 level, the Boss themes, and that one theme (at the top of the castle 🏰), where you fight Grimmy and his henchdemons before you reach the Prince of Darkness himself. Sweet ass music🎶!!! The piano 🎹 that they practically used throughout this whole soundtrack is Godly.

[@redcrimson1028]

They killed the flute on this one

[@zenithquasar9623]

Jazz madness! I love it!

[@christopherelfers2078]

One of the greatest video game soundtracks. The piano chord parts in this remind me of some of the Mario Kart 64 music.

[@lambda494]

Makes me think of Dracula on stage on the organ in a club, a Gill Man on bass, a skeleton on drums, and Simon walking on stage for the flute solos.

[@brendachandler5821]

If i was in a club, and saw that, i'd be cheering my lungs out!🤣

[@lemusthealien]

Super ambitious for it's time. Been playing this for the first time and I thought it was a late snes game around 1995 or something but I was shocked to see that it was made in 1991.

[@campfortson4387]

This was a fucking LAUNCH TITLE. Absolutely insane.

[@wildwest1832]

Its crazy how good the SNES music holds up

[@primusautobot]

This is godlike

[@TristanPR77]

If they ever made a Castlevania movie and put his song on it I will just cry while watching.

[@mambaregime]

Or you could watch Hard Eight...and listen to Jon Brions version.

[@Anthony-gh5yu]

The nostalgia. This game was perfect. And the soundtrack is one of the best.

[@monkeychungus6675]

Best song in the game

[@CountOfMonteCristo_]

This song is perfect, it’s so beautifully atmospheric, I feel like I’m Simon Belmont kicking ass when I hear this in game, that’s the highest compliment I can give a song!

[@Catchoomy]

The upright bass is what really sells this to me

[@KhAnime]

Dat bass!

[@manujanitoroflunacy887]

Rather than kill any skeleton, this song makes me want to sit with them on a giant yacht and share a good bottle of champagne or a good vodka martini shaken, not stirred, while blah-blahing about good old times, life, whips, stuff..

[@manujanitoroflunacy887]

While sunbathing, of course. Have you ever tried to imagine a skeleton who wears a bikini ?

[@Barrylocke]

Manujanitor Oflunacy Maybe a nice massage? I feel like skeleton's under Dracula's employment get a lot of tension and stress they need relieved? What's that? No muscles to get tense or nerves to feel pain? Ah well, give 'em a massage anyways, they deserve it.

[@blacknikespurpleblankie1354]

Who stirs a martini?

[@waroonafreerider]

A shaken Martini is not a Martini, it's a Bradford.

[@Skuntac]

lol, great comment

[@danielmontoya6473]

Well I hate those fish throwing water through their mouths

[@WaveMaster1406]

xD

[@garonfilms]

I thought they were gleeking to be honest

[@lambda494]

Gill Men. And yep. Gleeking.

[@macblink]

I think they're Sahuagin

[@abigailg93]

While listening to this, I imagined an elevator sinking to the bottom of a deep body of water with its music still playing and Simon just swimming by.

[@ladiesmanturbosv2078]

real smooth and chilling sounds

[@djayjp]

THE FLUTE SOLO... WTF??? How is this even real...?

[@aaRulas]

0:00 - 0:05 the music is so "vampiric" i love it. Michiru Yamane is a great composer sadly we will not find this kind of music anymore on a Castlevania, because she left Konami.

[@TheTrueBro]

This wasn't composed by Michiru Yamane

[@SaikyoKoutei]

Now we don't have a new Castlevania either lol.

[@omikronweapon]

Why does my mind add an "OW!" soundeffect in every first five seconds of these tracks xD

[@robertthenerd8617]

I swear this makes you want to cry because it's sooo awesome and you will never hear music like this in today's games ever again.

[@Atma505]

Agreed that it's awesome, but tons of modern games are accompanied by outstanding soundtracks... Look at Cuphead, or Undertale, or Persona 5

[@caseystrange]

Somewhere in the mid 90s in October in an autumn afternoon. Got to have a sick day at school and rented a game at block buster. Good times. :)

[@multikamster]

I remember playing this game back in 1993 when I kid, I love this game. The soundtrack for this level is just incredible. The bass and flute combined together makes it so pure as it's amazing sound track. I feel really old whilst listening to this now on KZbin. I want to time travel, bit like the movie Hot Tub Time machine, and leave 2016 for good and revisit my teenage years compared to the boring old male fart in his late 30's I've become LOL!

[@M_Dutch97]

+Timothy Hart Brinstar: Underground Dephts is better imo. But one of the most atmospheric pieces ever is Kraid's Lair.

[@digitalrazorbladez]

same here i played this on snes when it was new back in 93 and always loved this music on this stage!

[@multikamster]

@@digitalrazorbladez Shame you can't buy the sound track music of amazon.

[@digitalrazorbladez]

@@multikamster just use clip grab..

[@harakiri8269]

Certified total banger

[@SuperBrictson]

love this song, that contrabass, piano, percussion in the chorus, especially the keyboards (maybe organ) and the flute!!!!

[@ff11dream]

This was scary, horrific and otherworldly at the same time!

[@xBINARYGODx]

All these years later I now realize my love for electronic music is thanks to Nintendo and Konami.

[@justinhunt1714]

Holy shit.... That's probably how it started for me too!!!!

[@chaotickreg7024]

It's why I love noisy electronic music with high bpm

[@SlyHikari03]

Same.

[@Bigbossloquendo]

And Sony Music Chip

[@Dravenbelmont]

And Capcom dude.

[@daddymonkey8710]

These tracks are bumpin. Turn that bass dial up & see what I'm talking about.

[@MorgenthauMusic]

The SNES sound is just incredible. And this game had incredible composers.

[@BladeShadowWing]

I just love the name "Submerged City"

[@LtCdrXander]

Seeing comments from 10 years ago alongside those from a couple months ago is a testament to how awesome this song is! I'm currently making a crappier version in base-version Noteflight. I'm just listening to this by ear and figuring out the parts. I got through the first bit and the start of the jazzy bop, so I still have a long way to go. This will be a fun project! I might make a video of it when I'm done, but with school having started, it might take a while. Not that you care, since A: no one will see this comment, and B: no one wants to hear a shitty version of a good song made by a random kid lol. Anyways, this song is amazing, and definitely one of my favorites from this game. I wish I grew up when this was coming out, but hey, I'm lucky that my dad is an E P I C gamer who introduced me to games such as Castlevania, classic Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, DKC, and many old games. I really wish Konami would release a new Castlevania game; preferably a sidescroller like the NES and SNES games.

[@Nick_TV_Producer]

I listened to your stuff and it's definitely not shitty versions of anything. Very good and interesting to see a young'un interested in the same retro music as us nostalgic old fossils.

[@jessecromwell1171]

Awesome jazz type track...that stand-up bass and keyboard absolutely fantastic 👏🏽

[@jessecromwell1171]

And when that flute hits...fire!

[@architech007]

Throthgar, son of Bothgar, descendant of Edgar, brother in law of Inar, second cousin of Falknar, slayer of Gulgar, the legendary Dragonborn hero brought me here

[@twistedmetal04]

dito, and now i feel stupid i didn't find these masterpieces of gaming history earlier on my own.

[@ramirezmejiaignacio]

Yes. Castlevania 4 OST is unsurpassed.

[@michaelbosscha4483]

I just realised that the original Brinstar is in here. I was listening a remix when clicked over to my mediaplayer to see if I had accidentally entered a metroid album in there as well, only to discover that I was still listening to Castelvania. That's one hell of a hat tip!

[@mikehill6448]

I still get goose bumps from this song just like the first time I heard it.

[@ThunderFist1978]

The calliope at the start always puts me in the mood to go to a carnival.

[@MattTheCompletionist]

DJCandyManMike It makes me think of a white void with a clown slowly sidestepping closer to the screen with a murderous grin on his face.

[@paolooo79]

This game's soundtrack was an eye opener for me. It made me realise what the SNES was capable of and abandon the plastic sound megadrive on a shelf collecting dust. Feel very fortunate to have grown up with my SNES.

[@Michaelmaddsicc]

Na man Sega had some incredible music as well.

[@Hausbrauen]

@@Michaelmaddsicc I was predicting to see a comment exactly like this IoI. I'll take the snes soundchip any damn day, but who cares? Folks are free to value what they like (or dislike).

[@joemuscarella2986]

This is the kind of shit that let the snes flex its muscles, I remember playing this on a projector with a soundsystem.. damn such great music from this game

[@JasonMescia]

This slaps so hard it’s not even real

[@BloodyHoneyBunny]

I hate this stage so much, but I love it also because of the music.

[@WaveMaster1406]

xD

[@MT-jd8pc]

Same I try to go through the game without dying but this stage is usually where the run ends

[@j.c.denton2312]

@@MT-jd8pc tbh i'm playing on the collection and quicksaving like a mf

[@humbertougenti]

This is a masterpiece...

[@ewrecked2416]

I played this for the first time a few years ago, this track gave me chills and still does.

[@danielsan484]

Lo que me encanta es su sonido estéreo woow. Escuchenlo en una sala de teatro donde haya las bocinas adecuadas y simplemente woow.

[@jimmyboe889]

im not the only one you like this song like one of the greatest. im glad

[@d.b.gaston665]

Having smooth jazz in a Castlevania game is so bizarre, but I love it.

[@volantera]

Forgetting things is good because it gives you a chance to see things from a different perspective when, and if, you remember them.

[@dxo8809]

If anyone with a band sees this. I’m begging you. Do an instrumental cover of this song. Real instruments. Jazz is up. This song is too good to be stuck in SNES sound font.

[@marcusmeins1839]

There is a cover kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6PXZXieeq2FhsU

[@imbored8649]

From Mega64's Castlevania video: "What the heell is goin on?!" *Boss (Carmilla) uses Sexy Dance* "I'm just tryin to find the ******* trolley!"

[@ericjackman1143]

Stage 3, part 3, in 3/4. I don’t think that’s a coincidence

[@staporinac]

I always thought of Manhatten transfer when I hear this score.

[@sirblackheart1425]

i just remembered this castlevania and just remembered this track...and love this track so relaxing💗💗💗

[@sk00ks41]

This is one of the best tracks composed on the SNES, hands down.

[@TheNewEmphinix]

The flute solo is the BEST!

[@troywright359]

I know SoN and Japanese castlevania 3 exist. Yet Super Castlevania 4 still has the best ost out of them all

[@LtCdrXander]

yeah, SotN's ost is great and it has some bangers, but not ALL of the songs are amazing, whereas in Super Castlevania 4, EVERY song is amazing and memorable!

[@Noah_Bristol]

It helps to count this as 6/8 + 6/8 + 7/8 + 5/8. Holy shit tho, this piece is so jazzy.

[@CreepCaIamity]

This is actually fire

[@LordAethrod]

favorite music in the game

[@jasonvancura2139]

I like the way the chords change in this song.

[@evilninja3000]

One of the best Castlevania games with music far ahead of its time/ platform.

[@stonethemason12]

...yeah im just gonna leave a reply on a 9 year old comment...but you know, this song was using the same chip for music as all the other snes games

[@Hausbrauen]

@@stonethemason12 ...no idea what point you're trying to make there. You're trying to be dismissive I think?

[@haneylooh]

why do i relate

[@lordskywalker7825]

Amazing track..cant believe im just discovering it now.

[@beastb83]

When I first got to this stage..the theme slapped me so hard in the face with that bassline...I died just to go to the options menu and vibe out for hours...

[@Vampirolol]

Sounds like something the Goblins would have made. The bass sounds like the one from Deep Red.

[@glenhaven721]

this level was absolute weirdness for me... all those fish men and floating eyeballs, and cant we all remember that dragon?

[@megamaniscoolrightguys2749]

What a masterpiece!!

[@AdrianoTheOne]

This sounds pretty unique tbh

[@ManCalledMif]

1:18 Ron Burgundy’s flute 😮

[@wozthescott2804]

One of the greatest Fucking themes in video game history

[@zemoG_ohcnaP]

Sounds like jazz.

[@remyparaskovia5499]

it is

[@OHG_Fawx]

I can moonwalk upstairs all day to this song

[@patbone1990]

sounds like a legit bass chello

[@aliencall]

pure progressive rock, amazing composition

[@TheOldskool2009]

Lum Invader i thought i was only one who like to moonwalk up and down the stairs! lol. Im going to download this game on Wii asap!!!! great game

[@snes.chalmers11-29]

Love the groove of it