Konami Game Music: Classic Castlevania Original Game Soundtrack
Composed by | Ken-ichi Matsubara / Kinuyo Yamashita / Konami Kukeiha Club / Masahiro Ikariko / S. Terashima |
Published by | Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. |
Release type | Game Soundtrack - Official Release |
Format | 1 Digital - 27 tracks |
Release date | July 20, 2007 |
Duration | 00:24:45 |
Genres |
Overview
In 2007, Konami released digital albums featuring music from two of their most popular franchises, Castlevania and Contra, to overseas consumers. Classic Castlevania features the complete scores for the NES' Castlevania and Arcade's Haunted Castle (both known as Akumajo Dracula in Japan). While the music within is enjoyable, it may not be worth the heavy pricetag.
Body
The digital release opens with the complete original score for the NES' Castlevania. "Vampire Killer" is one of the reasons the score has gone on to achieve iconic status. Kinuyo Yamashita did a great job making this one of enjoyable, with its memorable melody and pop-inspired beats. What's more, it fits the game well by combining a sense of adventure with a sinister undertone while exploring the castle. It will certain endear most who enjoy catchy chiptunes. Another classic featured on the score is "Wicked Child", a fast-paced and hyper-melodic theme. Combining catchy hooks with considerable development, this piece is actually significantly elaborated upon from its original MSX version; there is a more punchy opening chord progression and richer sound programming.
Among the darker compositions on the score, "Stalker" and "Out of Time" are used in some of the castle's more formidable games. While these pieces are a little less direct, they still feature particularly memorable climaxes. "Walking on the Edge" is a great mood piece too, with its slow ominous chord progressions, though inevitably loses some of its effect out of context. While there is little gothic music here, the boss theme "Poison Mind" definitely set some precedent for later compositions in the series, despite its tragically underdeveloped nature. The score is rounded off nicely by the ending theme "Voyager", a softer and slower theme that will surely inspire lots sentiment and nostalgia for those who used to enjoy the game.
The ten minute score for the Arcade's Haunted Castle is featured during the second half of the release, complete with some long-winded translations that I'll ignore. Composed by Kenichi Matsubara, the music is more reminiscent of Castlevania II: Simon's Quest than the original Castlevania. The biggest highlight is "Cross Your Heart", which firmly asserts the gothic rock sound of the series. The harpsichord runs are a delightful introduction to the track, while the synth melodies are the most memorable and rocking on the entire album. In addition to stylistic continuity, the soundtrack features some identical themes with Castlevania II, most notably the rocking anthem "Bloody Tears" in a straightforward but solid arrangement.
The rest of the score for Haunted Castle is a mixed bag. Tracks such as "Revival Dracula", "Wedding March Tragedy", and "Dracula's Room" convey the intended mood in certain events, but are too short and generic to be of interest. Action tracks like "Devil's Resurrection" and "Final Battle" also make difficult stand-alone listening due to their repetitive elements. Thankfully, there are a few other highlights here. "Don't Wait Until Night" quickly builds into a whisteable pop-inspired anthem, while "Clock Tower's Beat" is quite immersive despite its abstract components. "Basement Melody" blends influences of both of these tracks, to create something that is simultaneously catchy yet moody. The score ends on a bright note with the funky jingle "Sent to the Devil's Requiem".
Summary
The scores for Castlevania and Haunted Castle feature plenty of highlights, most notably hyper-melodic anthems like "Vampire Killer", "Bloody Tears", and "Cross Your Heart". However, both scores aren't as impressive as successors like Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and Super Castlevania IV in terms of their ambient and action music. At 10 USD, consumers will have to pay a considerable amount to purchase this 25 minute release and are advised to consider the more encompassing physical commemorations of the series' classics instead.
Chris Greening
1~12: Castlevania
13~27: Haunted Castle
1 | Underground (Naming BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 00:30 | |
2 | Prologue (Start BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 00:09 | |
3 | Vampire Killer (Jyounaisennyuu BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 01:15 | |
4 | Starker (Tower BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 01:15 | |
5 | Wicked Child (Outdoor BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 02:07 | |
6 | Walking On the Edge (Underground BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 01:42 | |
7 | Heart of Fire (Dracula Castle Main Building BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 02:13 | |
8 | Out of Time (Clock Tower BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 01:22 | |
9 | Nothing to Lose (Last Stage BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 01:34 | |
10 | Poison Mind (Boss BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 00:32 | |
11 | Black Night (Last Boss BGM)Konami Kukeiha Club | 00:56 | |
12 | Voyager (Ending)Konami Kukeiha Club | 00:55 | |
13 | Revival DraculaKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:09 | |
14 | Tragedy Wedding MarchKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:18 | |
15 | Without Forgetting the CrossKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:54 | |
16 | The Satan's RevivalKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:53 | |
17 | Fight and AgainKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:07 | |
18 | Satans' LullabiesKonami Kukeiha Club | 01:05 | |
19 | It Is Not Possible to Return Any LongerKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:12 | |
20 | Tears of BloodKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:47 | |
21 | Melody of Basement Fear of Clock TowerKonami Kukeiha Club | 02:00 | |
22 | It Is Not Possible to Wait Until the NightKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:52 | |
23 | Room of DraculaKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:43 | |
24 | The Last FightKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:56 | |
25 | Ending Collapse of Satan CastleKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:10 | |
26 | Never EndKonami Kukeiha Club | 00:08 | |
27 | Lullaby Sent to SatansKonami Kukeiha Club | 01:01 |