The Musical Connection Between Soul of Cinder and Gwyn Surprised Me

[@nero1008]

Fun fact: Gwyn theme is played by not using any black button of the piano. He's the lord of light, so only white buttons.

[@lqg4395]

It's because Gwyn fears the dark do his theme avoid the dark keys

[@leschroder7773]

We love C major

[@lowgahn69]

His name also means White in welsh

[@SariaAK]

@@leschroder7773fun fact, Drake’s cover of this song was done in A minor

[@voidgivenfocus]

He's racist 🥹

[@memeweirdguyn.0019]

The boss theme that makes you go *"AHA! THIS IS THE END!!!!"* To *"Oh my God...this is the end...of everything...."*

[@cosmic2750]

Soul Of Cinder isn't Gwyn per se, but rather, Gwyn is a *part* of Soul Of Cinder. Soul Of Cinder is the culmination of all the lords of Cinder that have ever existed (and yes, that includes your own DS1 character as well), and that reflects in his first phase fighting style. Second phase, Gwyn himself awakens in the Soul Of Cinder, as a last desperate attempt to protect the First Flame. That is the very conclusion you can draw from the music too. When the 'plin plin plon' hits 'Soul of Cinder' starts fighting like Gwyn. This is what 'fan service' done right looks like.

[@askalon4558]

to be fair, your character in DS1 can refuse sacrificing himself, and there is no canon at to what happened. But yeah seeing the different builds in a kind of PvP boss to return to Gwyn style is a really great nod.

[@lynackhilou4865]

@@askalon4558 yes but the age of fire is still going by the time of ds3 , so the canon ending was linking the fire

[@askalon4558]

@@lynackhilou4865 Not necessarily, as there were other undeads looking to do the same things (think Oscar). Plus, DS3 is supposed to be so far in the futur of the serie the world slowly turned to ashes, and i doubt everyone was punctual to save the world. Its not clear how long the flame takes to fade, as even in the first game, people where waiting a long time for the chosen undead, so your character could have left and the flame been brought back by others. The path was open by then, since you used the great souls to open the way and killed Gwen..

[@IRrebel3]

@@lynackhilou4865 was it not stated that not choosing to link the fire does nothing in the greater narrative and the age of fire continues regardless due to the curse after a short time of age of dark? Only in ds3 did they finally found out how to break the cycle permanently in one of the endings as the tired world is in the middle of total collapse… Or am I misunderstanding something?

[@TheGuwrovsky]

Maaan, I don't know what is funnier :D That you called it "plin plin plon" or that I know EXACLY which musical cue you are writing about :D

[@DS_DoggerX]

Fun fact, the first 5 notes of the entire song are a Firelink Shrine motif that most people miss

[@MarcoMeatball]

Oh shit

[@m97polska]

Which Firelink Shrine?

[@DS_DoggerX]

@@m97polska ds1

[@Malkavius2]

I had to check this and holy shit it's true. This song is truly a loveletter to Dark Souls fans.

[@DS_DoggerX]

@@Malkavius2 I've never seen anyone talk about it either, which is weird. You'd think someone else would've heard it!

[@siragito405]

First phase : Heroic, Noble. Second phase : The First Sin

[@WillTBear1]

You have discovered what we in the Souls fandom calls: "Plin Plin Plon." This represents the first 3 piano notes you hear in Gwyn's fight in Dark Souls 1 that later appear in the second phase of Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3. After countless attempts to keep the First Flame ignited, this represents the end of an era in the Dark Souls franchise.

[@barrikade8886]

you cannot escape the plin plin plon

[@anthonyst-onge]

@@barrikade8886As they have said, « You can’t parry the feels »

[@barrikade8886]

@@anthonyst-onge they say that because they lack copium. Its not "being emotional" of its a skill issue

[@hanzosucks6813]

Plin plin plon hits different

[@emeraldknight2820]

For me this moment with SoC/Gwyn felt like a final rite type situation. Finally putting the Lord of Cinder and our past adventures to rest. That's my opinion on this fight and theme. I love this franchise so much.

[@primroan5354]

This is a meta boss. Both phases are meta commentary through gameplay. The Souls of Cinder itself looks like it's wearing a combo of elite knight sets from the previous souls titles. It uses tons of different builds w/ weapons, spells, miracles, etc from players. It's the personification of that one guy who beat DS with a magic build, a faith build, a strength build, a dex build. It's all of us. Then it turns straight into Gwyn again as the very first incarnation to link the flame. Seeing the developers intentionally craft something that evokes personal feeling, players facing a boss that basically says "hey, I'm you... from once a upon a time." I dunno. It's special.

[@TheFabulousRBK]

I didn't actually believe any of the news that Dark Souls 3 was the end of the series until I fought this boss. It was a hell of a fun boss but in a way it was a sad fight to go through.

[@HaruHoneybun]

@@TheFabulousRBK It hits you once you recognize the theme. The feeling of realization that this isn't just the end, but it should be the end. You have no more to give to this series, no more to gain, you now walk a life with this story becoming a permanent memory. Soul of Cinder is a reflection, and FromSoft gave it every measure of grace it needed to allow players to feel the resolve needed to finish the fight.

[@Brother_O4TS]

You forget pyromancy builds

[@supermelon-senpai8369]

@@Brother_O4TS the comment didn't say so, but the Soul of Cinder also uses pyromancy.

[@inconspicuousauthor5881]

A perfect way to end a game series

[@SpectralWaltz]

Yeah for all the long time fans, the *instant* that little three note piano 'plin plin plon' hits... After countless cycles, countless centuries of light and dark swaying back and forth on the brink, the very first Lord is **still in there.**

[@danieldancza6171]

"Huh that moveset looks familiar..." plin plin plon

[@Izyume]

*Grabs you* "Did he just Gwyn me!?"

[@Voidio2454]

Bro ds3 was my first souls game and those 3 notes still hit hard. Probably had something to do with the mood and lighting in the area but it was still awesome.

[@venomark7883]

Phase 2 huh? Who's it gonna be this time?.. Phase 2: plin plin Plon Me: *kneels and cries*

[@rayanessaidi1674]

Yeah it really hit me like : OH SHI- ! This is me ! The knight on the cover, the Soul of Cinder is me, but from the first game ! Is that what I've became after all these years ? I mean, I... *burts into tears*

[@driosefka]

A little experience from myself as I played through Dark Souls 1 and after that immediately through Dark Souls 3, hearing and seeing the phase-transition the first time was actually such a shock for me, that I just sat in front of my monitor like I was paralyzed or something, I literally couldnt move anything as I just watched how the Soul of Gwyn killed me with this OST and it was this exact where I realized that I will offer my whole life to Soulsborne.

[@prosketch95]

No dark souls 2? sadge

[@alexkochie9789]

Same. I saw that ds3 box art and heard all the hype about the series, or at least the first one. I had bounced off that brick wall once so i already owned ds1 and resolved to beat it before 3s release. Grinding through the game i learned how to play it and grew to love it (the way the vague lore and endless deaths make you as a player unwittingly follow the path of hollowing, going from enemy to enemy mindlessly killing until Frampt wakes you by giving you purpose, masterpice). Then getting to play through 3 with experiance and reaching that phase transition actually made me put the game down for the night. It was an emotional gut punch that to this day makes me tear up just a little when i think about it.

[@chilevrises6743]

​@@prosketch95 Majula & Sihn the slumbering dragon best ds2 themes

[@MattR8605]

I've seen so many people fighting this boss for the first time that just got stunlocked by that transition to the point that the were killed lol

[@mellow4984]

Yeah I had to take it in the first time I just accepted my death my jaw was on the floor

[@juanpejk]

The moment of realisation 6:14 is priceless. I love when a song carry on to other song to tell a story. Music story telling is a rlly beautifull thing.

[@TheHoliOne]

It was more around 6:00 when his changed that got me laughing. The moment it all clicked

[@rangedweevil6150]

The first "phase" of the track has always been really interesting to me because of how bombastic and final it sounds, without ever getting any resolution to that finality. It just keeps building up and building up and then being sent back to the beginning, a cycle that keeps perpetuating with no end. In my mind, it's indicative of the nature of the Souls games; an endless cycle of perpetuation that is maintained through sacrifice, never being allowed to run it's course into the next age. It's fitting, then, that the one who started the cycle in the first place, Gwyn, should be the theme that breaks the cycle and finally let's the song resolve. It feels poetic in a way, that it's only after facing the soul of the first lord, that the legacy of lords can finally be put to rest.

[@ygorschuma3059]

People always talk about the Gwyn's portion in Soul of Cinder's theme, but something else that almost everyone sleeps on is the fact that the Firelink's Shrine theme plays in the first few notes of the song aswell. Starts with Firelink, ends with Gwyn.

[@Waggendaily]

When I fought Soul of Cinder the first time I was like "I'm fighting myself you tricky shits" and then when Gwyn theme hit I broke down in tears because I knew that this was it, the world I had come to know and love was coming to it's final end, the finality of it all just hit me like a truck

[@NanoUchia]

I find it very funny when you paused right when phase 1 was over and gwyn's melody kicked in, then you went to listen to gwyn's actual theme, returned to soul of cinder and the realization when the transition happened was even more exciting. Love it.

[@MarcoMeatball]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@brainofmarcy]

@@MarcoMeatball For real I was losing my mind when you said you couldn't hear Gwyn's presence in the theme after that pause 😂I was so hyped to see your realisation. Your analysis goes so deep, meanwhile me and the other powernerds are giving it the, "was that the 'plin plin plon?!'"

[@p1ngerss]

really forcing the pogchamp face reaction though

[@philipp523]

When i was fighting the Soul of Cinder and then the second phase started...and i heard the first notes of the music...i started crying. It just was overwhelming. Gwyn, after so many years we meet again.

[@zeallust8542]

Gwyn may still be the single most worthy lord of cinder ever. He gave away everything to stave off the dark, and he had a lot more to give than your usual lord of cinder. As far as im aware, he wasnt even certain it would work.

[@Doomsong83]

Same. One of my favorite gaming moments.

[@DankyKang96]

@@zeallust8542He was, but man was he still an evil bastard for creating the biggest lie ever told just to keep the humans from ever getting their age of dark.

[@zeallust8542]

@@DankyKang96 Oh im not saying he was a good person, he definitely wasnt. Dude ruined the world lmao

[@DankyKang96]

@@zeallust8542 gotta respect the balls on the man though for going against the very fabric of the universe 😂

[@Seelensocke]

6:10 - There. This moment right there. Honest to God, never has any KZbin video managed to put THIS huge of a genuine, honest, satisfied grin on my face than right at this moment. The second it clicked for you was so, SO great to behold. As I've said before, the fact that how the musical pieces influence you can be seen and heard as it's happening is such a great quality that you possess. This moment has made me so happy and I genuinely thank you for sharing your emotional responses time and again. It's amazing. Cheers!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Aw Thanks Prime. Means a lot :)

[@Blandy8521]

It made me laugh and put a smile on my face for the rest of the video

[@kamika646]

Literal PogU moment

[@Moschel91]

That moment when Phase 1 is over, there's a huge explosion, Gwyn's theme kicks in and the Soul of Cinder starts using lightning attacks (which even Gwyn himself wasn't able to do anymore in DS1) might still be the most powerful moment I witnessed in my long Dark Souls carreer. Maybe the conclusion of Patches' story near the end of the 2nd DLC was close to it.

[@canadiangopnik7007]

then he gets Isekai'd to Elden Ring to kick the player off a cliff

[@Hellion6325]

@@canadiangopnik7007 Him fucking off from Radahn fight is so funny lol

[@Doomsong83]

I was literally moved to tears at this moment.

[@Oliver-Thyella]

@@Doomsong83Patches fucking off from Radahn’s fight? I mean, it’s iconic, but you you don’t have to go insane over that.

[@dreadlock375]

​@@Oliver-Thyellalet the man appreciate the immaculate act of fucking off

[@AegisKHAOS]

Soul of Cinder was the best form of fan service FromSoft gave us. He may not be considered the hardest boss, but fighting against basically a boss version of the player in the first half, and then follow up with fighting Gwynn in the second half was genius. A nice way of conveying the fact that the final boss is an amalgamation of all the lords who sacrificed themselves to keep the Age of Fire alive. The plin-plin-plon in the second half of the music only adds to the fight. It was genius.

[@Asfragged]

6:00 right there, the visible, "wait a minute...". love it.

[@JamisonthaBRO15]

I love hearing this song because every time it gets to the second phase, it becomes a moment of melancholy and nostalgia. "Oh. Hello, old friend..."

[@MrDekasOne]

Ever person who had played ds1 felt some kind of way once Gwyn's theme starts at the start of phase 2 and to see him start using Gwyn's move set as well, right in the feels

[@Yilue]

SUCH A BANGER. Just AHHH so much to say about this song. The first half is some grand, epic, scary and fiery duel to with this masked, human formed god who has skills of literally everything. Then the second half. Chefs kiss. You hear some piano keys tease you a little. And then you realise its gwyne theme as it fully transitions into the second half. Also in game the second phase of the soul of cinder is gwyns move set. Also the voilin in the second half with gwyns theme changes it in such a amazing way. Just speachless. Such an amazing way to end the series.

[@amscarpi]

Love how you paused to talk about the vocals right before the piano kicked in, perfect timing for you to go back to compare when you were seconds away from having that connection between the two show up

[@NobleLeader6]

My favorite thing about the SoC fight is exactly what you caught at 6:10. Here you are, fighting this incarnation of every soul to ever link the Fire. You've driven it into a corner. It falls to one knee, then stands and plants its sword into the ash of the Kiln of the First Flame, and with a great fire, transforms it into a new form, a greatsword. It unleashes a flurry of attacks, and almost immediately after, you hear Gwyn's piano piece break into this formerly epic theme. When I first heard those 3 notes, I stopped fighting back and just observed. Not only does the music take on Gwyn's theme, but the SoC begins fighting like Gwyn, using his sword and lightning like the Lord of Sunlight would have had he not become the Lord of Cinder. It was a fantastic moment that I'm not sure I'll ever have again.

[@REDACTEDJR]

Man I just love how you can see Marco connect the dots and ultimately realizes what it is, it's just great all around

[@AnriHarper]

The first time I got to second phase, and I heard the plin-plin-plon, and saw him start using Gwyn's moves, I was stunned and promptly died while I was about to start crying.

[@paradoxxis8612]

The symbolism in this song is phenomenal. Personally, my favorite element of it is the way the song winds down, a musical reflection of the fate of Lothric, and of the world. The first half of the song is triumphant, climactic, powerful, everything you expect a final boss to be. But the second phase takes you by surprise - and not just because of Gwyn. As you reach the second phase, as the Soul of Cinder embodies Gwyn himself in a final desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable, the song fades away. The vocals, the brass, the drums, they all disappear. The remaining instruments mirror the fate of the world itself. In the time of Dark Souls 3, the Age of Fire has been prolonged far beyond its natural end, the First Flame kept alive for far too long. Even linking the flame now barely keeps but a spark alive, as the world grows weary. The world was once great, once powerful, once triumphant. Now, it is cold, melancholy, barely clinging on at the behest of those afraid of the inevitable Dark. The music, too, desperately clings on to the legacy of the past in the face of an inevitable fate. Gwyn's theme, the legacy of Fire, is all that remains, and it too fades quieter and quieter, as a single bell repeatedly rings, a toll for the end of the world.

[@ambralemon]

This theme always makes me tear up. Once I got to Soul of Cinder's 2nd phase, my grip on the controller just weakened and I started absolutely WEEPING MY SOUL OUT, dying while barely reacting to the boss itself. The notes just took me out. Now I get chills every time the 2nd phase part of the song starts playing.

[@coobie3469]

I love the part where it's slowly getting more and more intense before it drops into the piano part. This piece is epic and sad simultaneously.

[@blue_ronado]

I was JUST thinking about this song, and now I'm seeing this pop up in my sub box. Excellent timing

[@Kasai606]

I love to rewatch these videos all the time, I just heard the piano notes again and got the biggest fucking chills. I've heard this so many times but it still gets me

[@guy7912]

For me, the music in Phase one is super action-inspiring yet tragic in a way (foreshadowing things to come?). I liken it to being the "Fantastical Battle of the Ages that is Tragic in reality." Like a Hero who has to choose between whats right for him or for the greater good; Which I believe suits very well. Then Phase 2 comes and makes my eyes wetter than Niagara Falls during a massive storm.

[@AR-bj5et]

Probably my fave video game track of all time. Dramatic grandeur of a final boss fight, the way it feels like a raging inferno slowly dwindling down to embers which finally go out in a faint smoke, the motif reference to Gwyn, it's absolutely perfect, especially representing the death of an era; this without doubt screams 'the end'. I'm not even a Fromsoft superfan, but man they smashed this out of the park so hard. Gonna suggest Knight Artorias again. I commented it before and I think you mentioned that you had plans to make one on his music but I either missed it or it's still somewhere down the list. Honestly, it might not be a bad pick for your halloween stream tonight! It's not exactly a horror track, but it has its unsettling moments for sure. Love what you do, man.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you ❤️ Artorias is in the waiting chamber otherwise known as my unlisted videos 😂

[@atomicbaconbits6695]

I've never been able to hear it, but I believe there is a motif to Artorias in Abyss Watchers. I might go back and try to find it.

[@genoesler7938]

@@atomicbaconbits6695 there most likely would be a motif to Artorias because it is heavily implied that He is what inspired the Abyss Watchers. Their concept was based on him and it is implied that they are heavily reverent of him. Although there is no direct contact between Artiorias and the Abyss Watchers

[@atomicbaconbits6695]

@@genoesler7938 Well, yes. I know the lore all too well. I just haven't listened for the motif, and with all the times I've listened to abyss watchers, I haven't heard it. And I know motifs, I can tell you every single motif to the song "Hollow Knight" in the Hollow Knight soundtrack. Though, that's not really relevant.

[@atomicbaconbits6695]

@@genoesler7938 I found it. It's the first ten seconds of each song are played on a different note, but it is the same melody.

[@Dr_Al_]

"It's soul-crushing to even listen to it." That is a perfect summary

[@lea-5082]

Your switching to Gwynn theme made me think it was that part already and your reaction to the actual piano part was great. You're completely right on the feeling of fighting Gwynn again , as the music changed , so does the boss. Making him fight similar to gwyn

[@sanfransiscon]

My favorite detail in this song is the violin's melody, which appears more prominently through vocals in the credits song. I personally interpret this as like a prediction of things to come as the Soul of Cinder sees the point of no return drawing closer.

[@queenvictoriann]

Soul of Cinder was like…a tragic homecoming for all of us, haha! The big swell in the first phase is so dramatic and anguished, but then it drops and we hear the three piano notes! We all just lost it 😅 Such a great tribute, and the ending of that song really sounds like a fire dwindling and fading out as the piano/violin combo gets quieter and more subdued. It’s one of my all time favorites. Thanks to Motoi Sakuraba and Yuka Kitamura for making the coolest musical original and tribute in the saga! I love how they linked it. (Linked…hehe…get it?)

[@JorgeCruz-ld5mp]

I love how this song starts epic and heroic and ends with that sad Gwyn notes

[@BrienneofDarth]

It was wild to me when you said you weren't noticing a melody in common, right after the piano notes that 100% immediately upon hearing them in Dark Souls 3 for the first time it clicked who I was fighting. That familiar, sad little bit of piano bringing me all the way back to the end of the beginning.

[@BrienneofDarth]

I figured you'd get there on a second listen.

[@novanation5870]

The same melody being used halfway in really brings in the emotions. Just thinking about the connection, and then the transition, and that it's THE end of Dark Souls, it almost makes me cry. Which is astounding because I'm not someone who is known to cry ever, yet this theme brings it in EVERY, SINGLE, TIME. The impact is felt within every fiber of my being, every bell struck, every string plucked, every key pressed. It all comes back deep inside your very being.

[@drdomvondoom9265]

This piece totally speaks to me, I went through 4 years of addiction, now a recovering addict, this drug was introduced to me by my Ex at the time, and having lost everything including her, there was this sorrowful bitter rage I dealt with, having come out of it with stage 3 heart failure. The song reminds me of that time where I was bitterly and with this impudent rage that I cast in all directions towards her, towards my parents, towards everyone that culminated in this depression and sadness, but still undertoned by that sad rage. A sense of failure, a sense of losing all that I cared about and having to shed that life, and essentially rekindle my own fire, a passing of one life to the next.

[@zaxbitterzen2178]

Lmmmmmaaaaooooo the moment Gwyn's theme hits you Marco I about lost it. Bare witness for the First Lord of Cinder is very much within the foe that stands before you!!!

[@MarcoMeatball]

😂

[@RasenCore]

The Soul of Cinder is basically the amalgamation of the souls and wills of the countless beings that gave their life to kindle the flame by becoming Lords of Cinder, with Gwyn being the first and most ancient. That's why in the first half it fights as "normal" Dark Souls "classes" since it's canon that many undead gave their life to the flame. It's an amazing wrap up to the cycles of kindling.

[@beardedzeus1337]

When I made it to SoC and heard the track start the story started unrolling itself. The beginning is epic to really set the tone that this is the final battle. This. Is. It. And during the transition to the second phase as the SoC is switching to Gwyns moveset the music switches to a more somber tone. Trying to make you understand what you're about to witness will rock you to your core. And then.... plin-plin-plon.... followed by desperation and it hits you... all at once... you realize for the first time.. exactly what linking the flame is... you realize the futility of your actions... of every Chosen Undeads actions. And of Gwyns.. a man that gave literally everything in order to link the first flame. And it no longer becomes a battle between you and a boss... it becomes you the player laying your best friend to rest.

[@yobogoya4367]

8:08 I am not moved by much. I'm pretty much the typical man with the emotions of a stone. I have over 7000 hours in the first Dark Souls. This song hit me like a bullet train. First and only time in Souls/borne that my cause of death was nostalgia. I was completely paralyzed when his moveset changed to that of Gwyn along with the piano beginning his signature opus. The song moves me to tears even now, having immersed that much of my life into learning the lore and experiencing everything the game had to offer me.

[@ParaVT]

8:05 I remember it so fondly. It was launch day of Dark Souls 3, me and my friend from college had both been up all day playing the game but he had gone to bed. I had my music low but enough that I could hear it as I played and just sat in the darkness of my room with just the game lighting me. And then I got here and I struggled with the first phase for so long until finally I hit that second phase and Gwyn's moveset came out and the music started playing and I....honestly...I wept. For me, Dark Souls was a game that really challenged me as a person and gave me something to be excited for. It was MY game, the one I could be proud of and have knowledge about. I played every game on release near enough countless times over. So for me, that music wasn't just a thank you for playing...it was almost a lullaby. It was the composer almost saying "it's okay, you can rest now" and it still means the world to me all these years later.

[@swauseguy9911]

I love watching your content. Im no expert on music but as somebody who likes storytelling and is aspiring to tell my own, I wholely understand the deep connection between music, and telling a story. I love music for this, and i enjoy a wide spectrum which includes your area of expertise. Loving this content as ive said, keep it up!

[@MarcoMeatball]

❤️

[@cRimson2cuRse49]

Found out you covered Darkeater Midir a few days ago and now Soul of Cinder? Such fantastic tracks. I’m eating good on DS songs in this channel.

[@zetta8277]

Imagine going through all the souls games and hearing those three notes, that broke me. Then after killing SoC and getting your ending you get the Epilogue theme which to me is the saddest theme in the series. The implication the theme has always makes me tear up.

[@Jinginator]

Soul of Cinder... What a guy. This one character, represents the first to link the flame, Gwyn the Lord of Cinder, represents you, as the chosen undead in DS1, continuing said flame, and not just YOUR DS1 character, but EVERY DS1 player's character that chose to link the flame. He flails around in reality, forcing himself to carry on until someone worthy (you and the community yet again) can finish him off properly. Yet in the end... your DS3 Character sits there, knowing full well the flame will fade despite new kindling. If you get help from you Fire Keeper, the flame still fades, perhaps new life is made, with new ages to come, but the flame fades. And there's a whole ending with the white eclipse looking thing that I'm still learning about but my point is, Soul of Cinder represents EVERY person that holds importance in the Dark Souls universe, and what hits home the most, is how he ties it all together, representing the most, how everything will eventually come to an end.

[@haschwell2757]

This is still my favorite soundtrack in Fromsoftware games. Such a simple callback to dark souls 1 but it also manages to be an incredibly complex piece of storytelling. Who are you fighting? Why are you fighting them? Will you become the next Soul of Cinder and history keeps repeating itself?

[@ryanschulte3742]

Day 32 of asking for riven of a thousand voices, and if I remember correctly the soul of Cinder is basically meant to be the combination of all the players that beat dark souls So you’re basically fighting you.

[@fraserking4747]

Hearing the connection between this boss and Gwyn makes it one of my absolute favourite tracks in the series. One last violent and angry gasp of one of the most important characters in the entire Souls trilogy. Then the track quietens down, we hear those familiar piano notes, and we realise we’re almost literally hearing history repeat itself. The end of the cycle is coming again, just like it did for Gwyn all those years before, and both sides know it. The Soul of Cinder, an amalgamation of Gwyn, of the hero of the first game, and all those Lords of Cinder, fighting and struggling against the inevitable. I couldn’t think of a more fitting send off for the series.

[@meticulousCheese]

Every time I hear Gwyn's theme and the beginning of the phase 2 Soul of Cinder theme *without fail* I'm wrapped in a soft blanket of melancholy and get chills that run to the base of my skull. If you ever want to know more about the story and world of the souls games, VaatiVidya is a wonderful story teller.

[@lassoedthesos5529]

Oh and sorry for not putting this on your most recent video(I'm exploring your content!) But you asked for 2 song requests on your patreon, and I forgot to put a second, if ya see this, my 2nd request this month of November would be Unleashed - Asura's Wrath. Fantastic game, truly

[@DireNecro]

I would really recommend you to listen to the epilogue/ credit OST for dark souls 3 , it's one that gets overlooked a lot due to people just skipping the credits and it not being a boss theme, i know you will enjoy it 😉

[@MarcoMeatball]

I got you Jordan.

[@MrAdamerry]

Yes that song is so geed i also recommend too

[@creepser1140]

I didnt know you could skip the credits

[@josephcoates4928]

7:09 You could say it’s raging against the dying of the light

[@Bloodbathx01x]

One thing I found absolutely genius was the dissonance the melody is fading as well as the first flame is fading, what this channel and many others has taught me is a story can be told throughout music yes, but in a style such as this.. its definitely a first for me

[@Dizzifying1]

When the phase changes in the Soul of Cinder fight and you hear the iconic 'plin plin plon' it is supposed to instill awe and terror in you. Causing the player to say hopelessly "No, not again!"

[@xaviendrake714]

(Doing the thing where I comment before watching) I noticed when gwyn's theme kicks in the main theme of the game can be heard mixed in with it. I highly recommend listening to the epilogue song (Specifically the ringed city version), such a beautifully harrowing piece about everything coming to a close. Honestly makes me cry sometimes.

[@zextax2680]

6:10 hah everyones reaction when they hear that for the first time... Man the nostalgia hits hard...

[@codyh0886]

I always thought of the end of the song like the call back to the ending of the first game by ending the true “dark souls” titled games. Not only do we fight an actual representation of the last boss but in a new format. You hear the classic plin plin plon to end our great journey thus far.

[@brub1738]

I started my dark souls journey with 3 so when I went to play the first game and heard gwyn's theme and started to go crazy when I realized how connected everything was.

[@woskre9155]

When you hear the plin plin plon it hits you right on the feels

[@Dante_Tim]

Soul of Cinder - the knight depicted on the DS3 covers - is a collective image - the spirit of not only Gwyn, but also all the Chosen of the Undead, who repeated the cycle of link fire before us. Soul of Cinder - fights with a twisted sword, which is used for the ritual of linking the fire. and in the course of the battle he changes this twisted sword to a variety of weapons (Twisted Spear, Twisted Curved Sword, twisted magic staff) and his attacks change accordingly. After the victory, the 2nd phase begins, and the moveset, and weapons and music - everything becomes very similar to Gwyn - first who link fire. The final boss of the Ringed City DLC is also very good. And in fact, he is the same seeker of the Dark Soul, like us, throughout all 3 games. A similar role was destined for Oscar in the first DS but his quest line was cut, in the end he just gives us instructions, estus and dies.

[@cryptidarchitect4578]

I’m new to your channel, but your passion and understanding in the videos I’ve seen has been wonderful to see! Your sentiment of wanting to hear this kind of music actually played in a symphony hall resonates so deeply with me, I played in an philharmonic orchestra for 7 years and always fantasized and dreamed of experiencing that kind of majesty around these songs. Can’t wait to see more of your content, thank you.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Amazing! Welcome! And thank you ❤️❤️🥰

[@LemonyGoose]

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO REACT TO THIS TYSM

[@soulstice94]

I legit cried on the 2nd half of the fight, being overwhelmed by nostalgia, excitement, and sadness to what was the end of such an amazing game series. Pairing Gwyn's music into the Soul of Cinder was a wonderful idea and lined up perfectly when he started attacking the player exactly like Gwyn did all those years ago from the first game. It really felt like a goodbye in a very bittersweet sort of way (even though we got Elden Ring) I'm even tearing up a bit now listening again, what a piece On top of what others have said, I really like to believe that we only here 1 solo vocalist because it's the end of the world and a fight between 1 human (player) and 1 entity being the Soul of Cinder.

[@Shinraui1243]

I love this reaction and channel. As someone with little experience in opera its great to have a more in-depth touch on these aspects of what is truly an under-appreciated art form in videogame music.

[@MarcoMeatball]

👋👋👋🙋🏻‍♂️ thank you

[@Stickarms99]

It was such a joy watching the lightbulb go off as you realized the musical connection. I can tell you that this boss fight brought many Dark Souls veterans (myself included) to tears, for that very reason. I always love watching someone else get to understand and appreciate what FromSoft did with this boss for the first time, I wish I could go back and fight the Soul of Cinder for the first time again. Just such an incredible boss from an incredible series.

[@MaxpowerHD95]

I didn't play any soulsborne game, but i read all the lore, and the music it's so accurate with the moment you encouter each boss that every time i listen again some song i can't feel emotional, some songs even change my mood and get me in tears, and this pice over here it's one of them.

[@nightmike7655]

At first I thought that it was a a missed opportunity that you aren't familiar with ds lore. But now I realise the value of it, because you are unbiased of the current hypotheses. The music tells us much, but we put in in place after we know the lore, specially in ds3. It's great that your views are actually valuable for the community!

[@laughincoffin9842]

Something i just thought of is the bell throughout the second half of the piece. While the second half of it is playing to symbolize all the lords desperation to protect the first flame, the bell tolls to the inevitable end that is to come no matter what they do.

[@laughincoffin9842]

The idea of the flame going out as an inevitable fate was actually shown in how the flame has been rekindled many times over the ages, it still grows weaker every time until dark souls 3 where you either rekindle it and all that's left is a tiny flame slowly burning out on the ashen one or you finally put it out and let the age of light come to an end.

[@Old_Shakes]

From software are just absolute artists in just every aspect of the design of dark souls. They tell the story in everything. And us as the player are indeed part of that story, not just through the player character, but because we are the player character.

[@AiroDusk]

Listening to this and thinking about it, I could imagine everyone that had linked the flame after being used as kindle knew it was a mistake and this was that silent rage of regret of not letting the flame fade but cannot due to everyone linking it thinking they're helping.

[@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain]

when you first hear the Plin Plin Plon, it`s a magical Dark Souls moment.

[@DuskWolf224]

I love seeing that moment of recognition in people's eyes whenever Plin Plin Plon drops. It's so satisfying! Thanks for listening with us, I really enjoyed it!

[@Mad_Peasant_King]

Hearing those three notes made me cry when I first fought Soul of Cinder and it was such a wonderful and heartbreaking moment for me because that symbolized that this was their send off on the dark souls saga

[@jessebridgeman767]

I will never get over how perfect the last motif is. It's practically begging to be put out of its misery and pulls no punches for how bad you'll feel doing it.

[@jarlsunshot5542]

I also adore the choice to put the 3 notes from Gwyns theme right at the start of the Elden Ring theme song to sorta show moving on from that while still keeping its motif, it’s a nice touch

[@trevorohman8196]

Watched my roommate finish DS3 last night, and I’ve been waiting for him to get to SoC for the whole time purely for the music. SO GOOD!

[@Molimo95]

I know nothing about music and screamed out loud when I heard literally the first note of Gwyn's theme in the Soul of Cinder soundtrack.

[@sirjj25]

I have played through all the souls games many times, and i remember when i first played ds3 and got to this fight, i was so enthralled when i found put he was using players move sets. But as soon as that second health bar appeared and he did gwyn's rush combo, i recognized it and then the piano kicked in and i realized he had reverted back to gwyn, and i just started crying. We all knew that ds3 was going to be the last of the souls games, and having you go back to gwyn one last time, it all finally hits. The soul of cinder fights with the power of every player that has ever played a dark souls game. This to me is you not only overcoming every other player, but this is you overcoming every one of your characters. Then when he realizes he cant win with power swapping between player move sets, he does what everyone would do in that situation, he goes back to the basics, and it makes for such an emotional fight. I never thought the series would end this way, but after this. I don't think it could of ended any other way.

[@canyouwriteanythinghere]

Man, your reaction to noticing Gwyn's theme in Cinder's is absolutely precious and probably the same every DS veteran had when they heard it, lol.

[@TheEpicGamer787]

You've recently been popping up in my recommendeds with some of DM Dokuro's music and this now. I really love your viewpoints on music! Sub +1

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you!!!

[@jackaboy7748]

WOW, I've been watching some of your reactions over the past couple days, absolutely love your content! so happy you reacted to this!

[@MarcoMeatball]

:) thank you!

[@nicholaswilliams4598]

The first time I got to the end of DS3 back on release and got to phase 2 it felt like I was punched in the gut. The repetitious cycle unending, the soul of cinder merely an amalgamation of all those who linked the fire after Gwyn doomed reality, ultimately. It all clicked. The end of the world, the weird fighting styles of phase 1, and ending with Gwyn. From where it began it must end. I did the Usurper ending as the Lord of Hollows, and even after doing the DLCs much later it just... fits. so well. Your interpretation was amazing to hear and you articulated what I was feeling so very well when engaging in that fight and hearing that score. wonderful.

[@Bread9867]

When i played through dark souls 1 and then immediately went through dark souls 3 and fought the souls of cinder when that phase transition hit i felt a chill run through my entire body and i froze i was like “oh my god” and then i died 5 seconds later because it distracted me that was an amazing experience and i would do many things to be able to do that again

[@Onikame]

Now ya gotta hear the ending credits song. (I forget the actual tital) same theme as this, but haunting and beautiful. The music in the Souls series defines the tone with perfection. A haunting, tragic, bleak , adventure.

[@Iso20227]

It was kinda funny. When I first heard the *plin plin plon* I just kinda froze where I was with my finger on the forward joystick. I basically accidentally dragged my face on the Soul of Cinder’s chest plate, and he took GREAT offense at that. He then combo’d me into oblivion, and Gwyn’d me to death. All the while, I was still just stunned by the emotional impact that three individual notes had on me.

[@xenocross6597]

The Soul of Cinder’s second phase is Gwyn himself, at his prime, essentially (as evidenced by the presence of his lightning). The Soul of Cinder as a whole is an amalgamation of everyone who’s ever linked the fire

[@legodofarkstrash9439]

honestly man, you described the feelings i felt upon hearing the 2nd phase theme kick in perfectly. i had to try really hard to hold back the tears upon hearing the piano the entire fight. all the memories i made while playing through dark souls 1 and 2 daily for years up until dark souls 3 came flooding into my mind. just like in dark souls 1, i played through dark souls 3 with my elite knight set and grass-crest shield which was always my go-to set. once i defeated the Soul of Cinder, i couldnt hold back the tears anymore and it was such an insane feeling. i never expected such a finale (before we got the dlc) to the dark souls trilogy and it was byfar the greatest end to any game ive ever played in my entire life

[@KapalAsin]

The plin plin plon never fails to make us sad

[@Fusi453]

Y’know- having played DS1 on my 360 at the age of around 9 or 10- when I fought this boss, I thought it was humorous that the final boss was “an over glorified npc”… then he started swapping weapons with a chilling sound accompanied, then it hit me: I’m in there! I was fighting every souls player in this fight over the future of this world- some fans didn’t want me to smother the flame- and it was satisfying once the realization hit. I got him to second phase and noticed his jump and plin plin plon right away. Seeing his combo, golden lightning attacks, music, and his sword swings startled me. I was shivering because I killed the very man who created the world and linked the flame so many years ago, and I just fought the fans to get to this moment- full circle. Here was the incarnation of Gwyn, protecting the flame from me once again. Once the final blow was struck, I didn’t really know how to feel. Life was shitty at the time and hearing those 3 notes made me have hard flashbacks to the first game and the fun moments I near forgot- Artorias, Manus, everyone I met and all the secrets I found… and it was coming to an end I felt was too soon. I summoned the fire keeper and just sat there, watching the credits roll with my hands on my chin, sat upright with the world I grew to love faded away. I was crying for the first time in about 3-4 years, and I didn’t know what to think or feel. It was a rush… I put the game down for a while and picked it back up to do its dlc’s and I felt like I was back in my prime(picked it back up after Elden Ring had been out for a few months). Friede, Midir, Demon Prince, Halflight, and Gael… Gael is an entirely different story- who I’m indebted to- which I won’t go over. All I’ll say is I really felt at home in this cold and harsh world. It somehow brought me comfort, despite being depressed and on the border of offing myself. It’s strange where we find comfort, y’know?

[@NO-su3mf]

Honestly had that same reaction when I heard that piano at the end of my dark souls journey, almost dropped my controller. Dark souls will always be my favorite game/s of all time, the gameplay the lore and story but almost most importantly its music is like nothing else. Love the content as always, very insightful and your passionate anylses are always entertaining. keep it up

[@MarcoMeatball]

🥲

[@SirYamazuki]

The Soul of Cinder music gives me goosebumps every time I play through this game without fail. I must've heard it hundreds of times by now, but it still continues to do this to me. I remember playing through Dark Souls 3 for the very first time, and hearing this, I actually cried, because I could tell this was the end of the series. This piece is so special to me. I'm glad you covered this. c:

[@corneliuslung3259]

My first play through of darksouls 1 was rough but beating gwyn at the end was super satisfying to the point where i said… “lets do it again”. Then after all these years, hearing Gwyn’s theme in the final fight with soul of cinder made me terrified

[@dumbsterdives]

My favorite thing about the Soul of Cinder is that theres hits of nostalgia and memories from the previous games even before Gwyn's theme hits, as in phase 1 it cycles through a few playstyles that the player can use too; a pure melee swordsman, a miracle casting spearman, a curved sword wielding pyromancer (who uses a buff you yourself can use as well as the beloved backflip ring from ds1), and a sorcerer that uses stronger variants of spells that you can easily recognize as ones youve used before.

[@dumbsterdives]

And of course, once youve exhausted the strength of all these different forms, it refuses to die, instead thrusting its sword (the same sword embedded in every bonfire youve ever rested at) into the ground and enkindling itself for one final stand, erupting in a burst of flame and then shifting into Gwyn's greatsword style supplemented with his legendary sunlight spears, even adding an attack where it launches one skyward to bring a hail of them down on you, like hes calling on his loyal knights one last time.

[@DragonSlayer3050]

the "plin plin plon" makes me tear up every time

[@RY903]

When you have the insight and go through soulsborne game again, it really hit different. Really love the way from software use music to tell story. So much love and passion, dark and sadness, and sound such beautiful too.