What Makes a GOOD Leitmotif? | Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky

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  • Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
  • Leitmotifs are great. Drawing associations between different melodic figures and characters, places, or elements within a story are a great way to enrich the storytelling of a game while simultaneously giving players an easy way to connect with the music. All great leitmotifs are great musical ideas, but not all great musical ideas make great leitmotifs. Join me as I take a look at the leitmotif-heavy soundtrack of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky games to try and figure out what kind of musical ideas make for great leitmotifs.
    Notebook: www.themusicia...
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    #PokemonMysteryDungeon #Leitmotif #musictheory

Комментарии • 1,3 тыс.

  • @josephmurray5915
    @josephmurray5915 4 года назад +2403

    The sound tracks to these games are so underrated. They are so pretty.

    • @jacksonlovesnintendo
      @jacksonlovesnintendo 4 года назад +11

      #gocougs

    • @ericantillon8202
      @ericantillon8202 4 года назад +2

      Jackson 🙏🏽🙏🏽

    • @cocoahere875
      @cocoahere875 4 года назад +8

      That opening theme straight up sound like music from the start of an old movie

    • @kjl3080
      @kjl3080 4 года назад

      Yeah I agree

    • @Coolio_Ash
      @Coolio_Ash 4 года назад +10

      Honestly the whole early series is underrated.

  • @Jskid666
    @Jskid666 4 года назад +1925

    Yes!!! The best pokémon soundtracks are finally getting the respect they deserve!!! The Don't ever forget music still gets me to tear up.

    • @altos5069
      @altos5069 4 года назад +33

      Oh man, I'm tearing up just thinking about that song. xD ;_;

    • @hyperr799
      @hyperr799 4 года назад +34

      Agreed. Didn't help that I had to see my favorite pokemon crying at my death

    • @FizzieWebb
      @FizzieWebb 4 года назад +33

      Memories Returned, for that absolute gut punch.

    • @timegame8026
      @timegame8026 4 года назад +5

      Memories Returned..

    • @kevin13cabello
      @kevin13cabello 4 года назад +9

      I have only ever played sky so this is the first time hearing of I don't want to say goodbye.
      I looked it up and it's just called "Don't Ever Forget" in the sky version.

  • @calebangell77
    @calebangell77 4 года назад +3731

    The mystery dungeon series, especially the soundtrack, is truly underrated.

    • @shinigamimiroku3723
      @shinigamimiroku3723 4 года назад +42

      Really? Everywhere I go, I always hear how incredible the MD games and soundtrack are. Not quite with the rabidness of the Undertale fandom, granted...

    • @BHox01
      @BHox01 4 года назад +162

      @@shinigamimiroku3723 Really? Everywhere you go? The greater gaming community doesn't even know these games are good, or potentially that they even exist.

    • @MusicalRiolu
      @MusicalRiolu 4 года назад +132

      i wouldn't say underrated as much as it is unknown.
      pretty much every single person who I've seen listen to it has enjoyed it and acknowledge it as good.

    • @RogueRen
      @RogueRen 4 года назад +33

      I just hate how TPC has stabbed and mutilated the series into a "kid friendly" game that is so easy now that the newest games LITERALLY play themselves (L button to turn on auto mode)

    • @MusicalRiolu
      @MusicalRiolu 4 года назад +31

      @@RogueRen uhm
      can't you
      like
      not press L?????
      it like it's feature you can turn off, it's just there for people who want to use it
      it's like a counterpart to having an easy mode in the main menu, but in gameplay, and you still need to play battles out.

  • @Shymain
    @Shymain 4 года назад +1501

    It's perhaps worth noting that the third (sky) leitmotif is itself a variation of the main leitmotif from the original PMD games, which I think is pretty cool. It serves more as a motif for the whole series rather than just this game, which makes it even more emotionally resonant in moments like various of the ending themes.

    • @emmadraws14953
      @emmadraws14953 4 года назад +81

      YESSSS, I always called it "the rescue team main theme", because that's where it came from. I love it so much

    • @adamlee4218
      @adamlee4218 4 года назад +10

      I think i remember it in super mystery dungeon but do they use it in gates to infinity?

    • @Shymain
      @Shymain 4 года назад +20

      @@adamlee4218 I haven't played GTI yet, actually! So I'm not sure about that. But since I don't have a good response, here's a fun tidbit: Check out the Sky Tower theme from the original PMD games (specifically the bridge section around 2:00) and see if you can find anything that sounds familiar! I just noticed it while playing PMD DX a couple days ago, but I'm fairly confident that it actually contains a quite similar motif to the one used in Dialga's Fight to the Finish. Really cool how interconnected these soundtracks are!

    • @elsplorgo1547
      @elsplorgo1547 4 года назад +3

      Okay Edgeworth

    • @extremmefan7305
      @extremmefan7305 2 года назад +4

      @@adamlee4218 When my sis played Gates, I remember hearing a part of the opening sound like something I heard in Explorers's soundtrack a number of times.
      And given it was the opening, I'm going to assume that was the theme in question.

  • @csweezey18
    @csweezey18 4 года назад +2378

    It is my humble opinion that the Mystery Dungeon series (especially Time, Darkness, and Sky) are LEAGUES better than main series Pokémon. They are horribly underrated, unfortunately.

    • @shinydino
      @shinydino 4 года назад +22

      Satan Agreed!

    • @matthewv.g7594
      @matthewv.g7594 4 года назад +195

      That's not an opinion you just stating facts.

    • @antifascistamerican3782
      @antifascistamerican3782 4 года назад +61

      Pre-Gen VI, both series are neck and neck.

    • @AuraKumo104
      @AuraKumo104 4 года назад +110

      Unfortunately people seem to hate dungeon crawlers and care more about gameplay they like rather than story. PMD is underrated, because most people can't seem to get past the fact that they don't like dungeon crawlers and don't give it a chance. Most Pokemon fans only play rpg or jrpg games, so they don't pay attention to spinoffs that are different from the main series. PMD is kind of a niche series.

    • @JasonsHoerbuchstube
      @JasonsHoerbuchstube 4 года назад +11

      If Satan tells the truth, than it has to be MORE than true XD

  • @Linkchu
    @Linkchu 4 года назад +864

    When you have to limit it to 3 leitmotifs because the game has more than you can possibly cover in one video...
    My life may finally be fulfilled with this video released. This was something I never expected to get but it was without a doubt needed.

    • @AdvosArt
      @AdvosArt 4 года назад +81

      petition for a longer video with all the leitmotifs

    • @zekromplayspiano
      @zekromplayspiano 4 года назад +60

      10 hour full soundtrack analysis lets go bois

    • @Linkchu
      @Linkchu 4 года назад +12

      @@zekromplayspiano I'm down, let's make it happen.

    • @MusicalRiolu
      @MusicalRiolu 4 года назад +24

      when the motif content of your game is so good, a video called "what makes a good motif" didn't even need to cover the fan favorite.

    • @cantavanda
      @cantavanda 4 года назад +2

      Hello Linkchu!

  • @ShroomRPG
    @ShroomRPG 4 года назад +957

    The fact someone did all this with DS soundfonts in 2008 still blows my mind.

    • @karimari974
      @karimari974 4 года назад +5

      Laugh in Mozart

    • @ShroomRPG
      @ShroomRPG 4 года назад +226

      @@karimari974 DID MOZART MAKE HIS MUSIC WITH DS SOUNDFONTS? HUH? DID HE?
      I DIDN'T THINK SO, SMH

    • @n-2873
      @n-2873 4 года назад +5

      @@karimari974 smh

    • @aubreyh1930
      @aubreyh1930 3 года назад +38

      @@ShroomRPG yes he did how do you not know that smh

    • @heldon7951
      @heldon7951 3 года назад

      Tru

  • @GiroKuluBOWSER
    @GiroKuluBOWSER 4 года назад +343

    God it is about TIME that someone talked about this soundtrack, thank you so much for making this!!
    I still cry listening to the tracks from the end of the game, thats how impactful this OST is

    • @pekowhomst7994
      @pekowhomst7994 4 года назад +5

      I haven’t even played explorers but the soundtrack I can feel the emotion poured into the music nonetheless

    • @Zelinkokitsune
      @Zelinkokitsune 4 года назад +4

      Yea the those tracks really did forever entwine them with those events. They're damn chilling...

    • @khazaharto515
      @khazaharto515 4 года назад

      Have you heard Defend Globe?

    • @holyelephantmg8838
      @holyelephantmg8838 4 месяца назад

      You mean to tell me Dialga talked about this soundtrack.?

  • @eeeeggnog._.
    @eeeeggnog._. 4 года назад +694

    Surprised this didn't even cover the motif every fan of this game thinks of most. The melody in Time Gear, Through the sea of time, Temporal Tower/Spire, Dialga's Fight to the Finish, In the Hands of Fate.

    • @thebravegallade731
      @thebravegallade731 4 года назад +156

      this game, this SERIES, has WAY too many motifs and WAY too many songs using said motiefs to cover even a fraction in one video.

    • @Missingno_Miner
      @Missingno_Miner 4 года назад +61

      @@thebravegallade731 Still, rather odd not to use the best known motif in the game

    • @khazaharto515
      @khazaharto515 4 года назад +20

      @@Missingno_Miner well this is disscusion of a good leitmotif with an example of PMD song, instead of disscusion about PMD leitmotif itself

    • @Missingno_Miner
      @Missingno_Miner 4 года назад +22

      @@khazaharto515 You are totally correct, however I still feel it's rather odd to leave out one of the most instantly recognizable motifs in the game.

    • @Eclin
      @Eclin 4 года назад +8

      Don’t ever forget always makes me teared up

  • @AuraBOI
    @AuraBOI 4 года назад +1122

    I really REALLY hope we get an Explorers remake like the Rescue Team remake

    • @pokemind7159
      @pokemind7159 4 года назад +100

      I'd be so endlessly happy if that were to happen, would be the greatest moment of my life and that is truly no exaggeration

    • @brennanruiz1803
      @brennanruiz1803 4 года назад +82

      An Explorers remake will be what eventually gets me to buy a Switch.

    • @barmacidic2257
      @barmacidic2257 4 года назад +49

      AuraBOI honestly, I’d be happy if we got that, and we never even saw a glimpse of the Gen 4 remake.
      A Gen 4 remake used to be what I wanted, and felt was realistic, but now that there’s a Rescue Team remake, I care much less about Gen 4, and much more about having more people play this amazing game.

    • @firebubble2
      @firebubble2 4 года назад +7

      Pretty sure it's going to come, probably some time after the Gen 4 remakes maybe comes out :)

    • @FizzieWebb
      @FizzieWebb 4 года назад +36

      I'd like them to ditch the storybook artstyle, but as long as the story isn't altered, and the soundtrack is remastered faithfully, I will be really happy.

  • @Ham_991
    @Ham_991 4 года назад +236

    Time Sky Darkness? Explorers? Mystery Dungeon? 8 BIT MUSIC THEORY?!?! Count me in!

  • @actualizedanimal
    @actualizedanimal 4 года назад +289

    I love the way the Time motif is used in "Don't Ever Forget", one of the most emotional songs in the game. Up to that point in the story, the Time motif is used in mysterious and mystical contexts, but here it's just incredibly bittersweet.

    • @NitroIndigo
      @NitroIndigo 4 года назад +2

      Don't you mean the Darkness motif?

    • @Horystar
      @Horystar 4 года назад

      @@NitroIndigo Both are used, the time motif is a bit tweaked tho

    • @NitroIndigo
      @NitroIndigo 4 года назад +1

      @@Horystar Oh. I never noticed it.

    • @khazaharto515
      @khazaharto515 4 года назад +1

      U know Defend Globe?

    • @Horystar
      @Horystar 4 года назад

      @@khazaharto515 I haven't listened to it in a while

  • @anthonycasino8955
    @anthonycasino8955 4 года назад +201

    I love how the Sky Motif is also used in Wigglytuff's Guild, along with that "left, left, left, right, left" marching bass line.

    • @horrorfan117
      @horrorfan117 4 года назад +29

      I'm actually surprised it wasn't brought up as an example.
      Wigglytuff's guild is such a bop.

  • @nickbullinger141
    @nickbullinger141 4 года назад +456

    The climax of Time Gear sounds like Dialga's Fight to the Finish, and both sound like the Chrono Trigger theme, although that's probably a coincidence
    Edit: specifically the B section of Chrono's theme

    • @bengoodwin2141
      @bengoodwin2141 4 года назад +60

      Well, it uses the same leitmotif, it is the *time* motif after all

    • @WeazelGaming
      @WeazelGaming 4 года назад +51

      Not only Dialga's Fight to the Finish; Temporal Tower, Through the Sea of Time, and In the Hands of Fate all call back to Time Gear. Heck, there's probably more call backs to that specific melody that I'm not remembering. It helps connect all these themes and the events that occur as they play to one another, it's really cool!

    • @Shadox-yv8ms
      @Shadox-yv8ms 4 года назад +26

      Weazel75 Yeah Time Gear is the most used leitmotif in these games which makes sense considering its the most important item in the story

    • @TheJanny
      @TheJanny 4 года назад +13

      I've always thought the overall mood and atmosphere of the early mystery dungeon games feel very inspired by Chrono Trigger

    • @ArloMathis
      @ArloMathis 4 года назад +17

      I had the same feeling regarding the similarity to Chrono Trigger. TBH I think it's mostly due to both games using an ethereal, unstable feeling and a ticking type of rhythm to evoke their themes of time in general.

  • @vahto7854
    @vahto7854 4 года назад +79

    Me watching this video without any knowledge of music theory:
    "Ah, notes, i see. I collected them in Banjo-Kazzoie."

  • @jakepenndragon2670
    @jakepenndragon2670 4 года назад +136

    Both Temporal Tower and Temporal spite evoke unique emotions with the “time motif” with Temporal Tower evoking a pressing urge to get to the top whereas Temporal Spire makes you wait in anticipation as to what’s going to happen at the top. I don’t know anything about music theory but Mystery Dungeon does an amazing job with it’s score that I love

    • @antifascistamerican3782
      @antifascistamerican3782 4 года назад +3

      Jake Penndragon Music RUclipsr GlitchxCity likes to pepper the time motif in her Pokémon remixes.

  • @Antoras663
    @Antoras663 4 года назад +117

    Excellent video, I never even picked up on the “Darkness” leitmotif in the soundtrack until now! I do want to note that you didn’t cover the most significant leitmotif in the soundtrack, which is the second half of “Time Gear”, and appears in many tracks such as “Pokemon Exploration Team Theme”, “Through the Sea of Time”, “In The Hands of Fate”, “Temporal Tower”, “Temporal Spire”, “Dialga’s Fight to the Finish!”, “Ending Theme” and “Vast Ice Mountain Peak”. I also wanted to see you mention how the “Sky” leitmotif is used in the Ending Theme Intro and Ending Theme itself. The Ending Theme also feels like a strange omission from the video since it features many leitmotifs, including the main theme of the previous game, Rescue Team, and is itself a beautiful track. But it warms my heart to see the Explorers music analysed like this!

  • @buizelmeme6288
    @buizelmeme6288 4 года назад +168

    Also, can you make a “How PMD music makes you cry” Video?
    Just like the “How Pixar Music makes you cry” Video

    • @micmikhail
      @micmikhail 4 года назад +4

      Yes I want this tooooo!!

    • @serendrixsan9191
      @serendrixsan9191 4 года назад +17

      Bruh i cried so hard when my main character died after the dialga battle

    • @MusicalRiolu
      @MusicalRiolu 3 года назад +3

      it just does

  • @A_Player
    @A_Player 4 года назад +491

    I was literally JUST thinking about why there wasn't an analysis like this on the PMD soundtrack. Then I noticed that this was uploaded TODAY. My mind is officially blown.
    I don't know anything about music theory but I still find these videos interesting.

    • @renno2679
      @renno2679 4 года назад +1

      Theres another one made by someone else. I don't remember who tho lol

    • @turaychu
      @turaychu 3 года назад

      @Divvy Glazed what about me:3

  • @KMArrangements
    @KMArrangements 4 года назад +208

    Always loved this series and I'm incredibly excited that you covered the games music, there is such charm to its music that I can't get enough of it! Glad I could help you out a bit with my transcriptions! :)

    • @Pikanyaasan
      @Pikanyaasan 4 года назад +3

      KM Arrangements Thank you so much for requesting it! Despite having no background in music theory, I’ve always wanted a music channel to talk about PMD music and why it sounds so catchy, emotional, and memorable. Hopefully this won’t be the last 8BMT video talking about PMD. I’d love to see one on Super MD’s soundtrack, especially highlighting its use of rhythm shifts in the dungeon soundtracks specifically, and whatever else they use to make each dungeon sound so thematically unique.

  • @markdm1125
    @markdm1125 4 года назад +94

    Seeing this in my feed improved my day. Nobody talks about these game anymore. I wish they did.

  • @TytolisMemes
    @TytolisMemes 4 года назад +162

    Outstanding video! Very PMD.

  • @EruRoraito040
    @EruRoraito040 4 года назад +140

    I love how you grab this 2007 gem right when the whole world is like: "ANIMAL CROSSING!!" Another fantastic Analysis! I love this channel.

  • @tri-slosher
    @tri-slosher 4 года назад +50

    The soundtrack for the Explorers games changed my outlook on game soundtracks as a whole, and this video only heightens my appreciation for how well crafted the OST really is.
    Thanks for making a video on this masterpiece of a soundtrack!

  • @TheOnyomiMaster
    @TheOnyomiMaster 4 года назад +66

    Nitpick: "Life Goes On" is the ending theme for one of the special episodes, not the entire game, but I do agree that both "Life Goes On" and the regular ending theme use the motifs in ways that create a good "sendoff" effect.
    Also, some motifs you didn't discuss but that I think are very noteworthy (no pun intended):
    - The Dialga/Temporal Tower motif - used in "Dialga's Fight to the Finish", "Time Gear", "Through the Sea of Time", "Vast Ice Mountain", etc.
    - Motifs from Red and Blue Rescue Team (the intro and Pokémon Square themes) - reused in "Pokémon Exploration Team Theme", "Wigglytuff's Guild", "Top Menu Theme", "On the Beach at Dusk", etc. I'm actually really glad that the intro motif was used a lot in Explorers because it wasn't used much in Rescue Team at all.

  • @cloudeddaze9502
    @cloudeddaze9502 4 года назад +119

    I was almost crying this whole video. The music of these games means everything to how they’re pulled off

  • @AMTunLimited
    @AMTunLimited 4 года назад +155

    Somewhere, Sideways is getting incredibly aroused and he has no idea why...
    JK...I know he's got that notification bell. He knows exactly why

    • @lunarwaning
      @lunarwaning 4 года назад +11

      I swear I saw the notification and the it was a Sideways vid

    • @AtomicBananaPress
      @AtomicBananaPress 4 года назад +13

      @@lunarwaning nah sideways doesn't use the word leitmotif anymore. He's drilled it into our brains enough by now that we know what he's always talking about

    • @emerald6597
      @emerald6597 4 года назад +7

      @@AtomicBananaPress m u s i c a l i d e a

  • @ADayintheLifeoftheTw
    @ADayintheLifeoftheTw 4 года назад +51

    I don't know anything about music, instruments, song writing; anything. Yet I always enjoy your videos because of how passionate you are in explaining the topics and how you actively try and show explinations for the audience to follow along. Thank you for that. Keep up the great work.

  • @emmadraws14953
    @emmadraws14953 4 года назад +60

    YES YES YESSSSSS the PMD soundtracks getting the RESPECT THEY DESERVE

    • @TheHappyMadman
      @TheHappyMadman 4 года назад +1

      Hey I recognize you from Own Eye/Skarblown's stuff

    • @emmadraws14953
      @emmadraws14953 4 года назад

      @@TheHappyMadman oh haha you've seen my comments?

  • @emmbeesea
    @emmbeesea 4 года назад +131

    For a spin-off series, PMD has some of the best music in the franchise. So much character from different composers and arrangers to make unique and memorable music while keeping the grand adventure of catching them all from the main series of games.
    Absolutely wonderful.
    A friend of mine made an orchestral arrangement of "I Don't Want to Say Goodbye" and as a percussionist, I gushed over how much attention the mallet instruments get not just for the melody, but also the driving rhythm and harmony.

    • @timegame8026
      @timegame8026 4 года назад +3

      Who says a Spin off couldn't be a Masterpiece lol

    • @emmadraws14953
      @emmadraws14953 4 года назад +4

      Ooh can we have the link?

    • @Wurmze
      @Wurmze 4 года назад +2

      Honestly gen 4 in general has the best music in the franchise

    • @MrTalithan
      @MrTalithan 4 года назад +4

      There is a very good reason as to why many people consider the PMD series BETTER than the mainline games. The music is one of the pillars that support the claim. The second is the writing and characters. I have yet to confirm the third, but I think it's just the amount of Content they typically, especially Explorers of Sky's case, have.

    • @timegame8026
      @timegame8026 4 года назад +1

      @@MrTalithan well. Another thing is. It isn't the same mainstream 10 year old forcing animals to fight for money. (Dogfighting lol)

  • @Shymain
    @Shymain 4 года назад +52

    Man, every time I hear the re-arranged opening theme as part of the ending sequence, I get chills. EoS and co. have some of the best written music in video games and I adore the soundtrack.

  • @seththemage6029
    @seththemage6029 4 года назад +47

    I have never clicked on a video so fast in my life.

  • @123connorpoop
    @123connorpoop 4 года назад +576

    In "Time Gear," the B section has an amazing melody: there is a walk up from the tonic to the fifth and back down to the fifth an octave below with some leaps. This is a motif that is repeated in "In the Hands of Fate," "Through the Sea of Time (Grovyle's Sacrifice)," "Temporal Tower," "Temporal Spire," "Ending Theme," and of utmost importance it is the opening of "Dialga's Fight to the Finish!" This is my favorite motif of the game as it represents many different emotions while keeping the central idea of Primal Dialga encompassed within as the motif almost exclusively occurs during events that involve Primal Dialga.

    • @princekamoro3869
      @princekamoro3869 4 года назад +45

      It seems each of these games has one big motif like this that plays during crucial moments and ends up becoming the final boss theme. Run Away in PMD1, Time Gear in PMD2, Theme of Hope in PMD3, and Partner's Theme in PMD4.

    • @nk-62782
      @nk-62782 4 года назад +8

      I'll be honest, I didn't quite believe you, but I'm listening to each of these songs again and having my mind absolutely blown. Thank you for this insight!

    • @ThePikaPlayer
      @ThePikaPlayer 4 года назад +8

      I'm pretty sure this same melody is also used in parts of the Relic Forest theme from Pokemon Colosseum and the Credits theme from Pokemon Battle Revolution as well.

    • @ostsarahb7466
      @ostsarahb7466 4 года назад +6

      123connorpoop I love this melody! It might be my favorite in the game

    • @negspirito
      @negspirito 4 года назад +8

      Yeah, hard to believe that he didn't even mention the most prevalent motif in the game

  • @fakeadamlee
    @fakeadamlee 4 года назад +43

    Music from the explorer games really invited you into their world, miss playing this game for the first time and being a part of the guild

  • @harryrobinson6195
    @harryrobinson6195 4 года назад +43

    After growing up with the pure magic that is the PMD: Explorers of Sky soundtrack, this was truly a welcome surprise, another amazing video man :)

  • @SuperPaperPokemon
    @SuperPaperPokemon 4 года назад +35

    Guess who's happy that their favourite Franchise having any sort of representation? Me!

  • @altos5069
    @altos5069 4 года назад +66

    This video is a perfect example of one of the most powerful tools a composer/game has when constructing a leitmotif...
    ~ ding ~
    *REPITITION*
    :P

  • @PeppoMusic
    @PeppoMusic 4 года назад +35

    The new Animal Crossing New Horizons has very strong (well, interesting at least) usage of leitmotif in fairly large amount of tracks with a very wide diversity and in some, it's very subtle but definitely there, a lot more subtle than your examples given. It's definitely short and recognizable. Also, great vid!

  • @hh-dr4db
    @hh-dr4db 4 года назад +28

    8-bit Music Theory: Leitmotifs should be distinct.
    Uematsu: ascending melodic minor scale (Shinra theme)

    • @TimBagels
      @TimBagels 3 года назад

      Uematsu is just built different. He IS the exception

  • @fatestarne2694
    @fatestarne2694 4 года назад +67

    Sideways, is that you?
    Love these games so much, going as far as saying they are my favorite games ever. Thank you so much for this video!

  • @generalsweet8212
    @generalsweet8212 4 года назад +29

    That’s weird, I was just thinking about playing through this game again.

  • @NimbusAlamaa
    @NimbusAlamaa 4 года назад +24

    Explorers of Sky has been my favorite OST for years, thank you so much for doing a vid on it!

  • @TurtwigX
    @TurtwigX 4 года назад +25

    Whenever it's safe to hold a convention again, this'll be a part of my next Layering Leitmotif panel. I love how you really dig into the strengths of each leitmotif and show how versatile a melody can really be.
    And what a game to pull from. It's what sparked my love and fascination for Turtwig and Pokémon in general. Just thinking about it again is making me want to do a second playthrough~

  • @mysticat
    @mysticat 3 года назад +3

    just what i was looking for!

  • @pokemonkarma
    @pokemonkarma 3 года назад +4

    Take a drink everytime he says "sus".

  • @Ham_991
    @Ham_991 4 года назад +5

    Still so disgusting that IGN gave these games a 4.9/10.

    • @tristandell
      @tristandell 5 месяцев назад

      bro couldnt finish the forest section lmao

  • @t.b.cont.
    @t.b.cont. 4 года назад +57

    Everyone: the second coming of Christ
    Me: G(sus2)

  • @lineshawn4819
    @lineshawn4819 4 года назад +18

    I love how Primal Diagla's theme plays with the time theme and throws a bit of the sky theme in there too.

  • @nathan714
    @nathan714 4 года назад +14

    whenever i think of leitmotifs, i thinkof the one present in "dialga's fight to the finish" i have no understanding of music theory to tell you which note it is, only that it also appears in the "goodbye" in a far more somber tone than the adventurous one it has throughout the game making you feel like this departure is tied to the fight that just occured

  • @elkholm
    @elkholm 4 года назад +14

    Man, as someone who loves every little thing about music, and someone who loves this games soundtrack as well as the fact that it's my all-time favorite game, this was a heck of a thrill to watch.
    Keep it up. Music in video games get far overlooked as is!

  • @BlueGrovyle
    @BlueGrovyle 4 года назад +12

    Sacrifice and Dialga's Fight to the Finish share a pretty unforgettable motif.

  • @CrappyBlue
    @CrappyBlue 4 года назад +9

    this video made me so emotional. i played Explorers of Time at a really formative part of my life, and i haven't played through it in full in years, but apparently just hearing the music today is enough to make me cry.
    i'll take this moment to comment on another strong leitmotif in the soundtrack, one that actually comes up in the video at 17:40. this is a holdover from the first game, Red/Blue Rescue Team, and the way it's used between both games and as a connection point between both soundtracks gives it strong ties to the core concept of starting and adventuring as a rescue team. in the first game's soundtrack, it can be heard at the end of the title theme, and in general it seems like a minor, occasionally-recurring part of that game's full theme. in Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky, it's again found in the last 8 bars of the menu theme, but it's also prominently featured at the beginning of Wigglytuff's Guild and "Do Your Best, as Always!", the theme used for the player's home in the postgame.
    it's notable in contrast to the leitmotifs discussed in this video in one major way: where this video highlights leitmotifs that represent aspects of the narrative that come into contact with key events (the growing darkness, the loss and gain of time's flow), the "rescue team" motif is hinted at once in the menu theme before being firmly planted in the guild theme, which gets used at various points in the game to highlight optimism and determination from the protagonists. leitmotifs are often talked about in the transformative sense, where they are shaped and reshaped by their use in the narrative, but they can also be unchanging, unflinching themes and still be leitmotifs simply because they're attached to a particular idea and recur whenever that idea does.

  • @galebegnaud9447
    @galebegnaud9447 4 года назад +13

    All these comments are saying how memorable this soundtrack, and they’re right, this game was my childhood, and any time I hear the ost I’m flooded with nostalgia

  • @RyanLeach
    @RyanLeach 3 года назад +1

    Something about the Pokemon Exploration Team Theme at 14:31 reminds me of early They Might Be Giants, like Pencil Rain or something.

  • @TheVirtualRealityShow
    @TheVirtualRealityShow 4 года назад +3

    You have no idea how thankful I am that you've made this :') my new video intro that I'm adding to my upload later today uses pokemon mystery dungeon as inspiration. This soundtrack is everything to me, truly.

  • @heldon7951
    @heldon7951 4 года назад +5

    I'm so happy you did a video on my favorite game. :)
    Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky is truly an adventure. The music, story, emotions are just perfect and I'm so happy it's still getting some recognition 😢❤️

  • @spaceyalter
    @spaceyalter 4 года назад +7

    Options during quarantine: 1. Get homework done. 2. Learn how to play 8-bit Music Theory intro on piano. I'm leaning into #2 big time.

  • @megankarow2328
    @megankarow2328 4 года назад +7

    this game is the reason why i’m a music composition major! there’s so much love and care put into the ost and it shows with every note. i could talk about it for hours.

  • @murabitoreal
    @murabitoreal 4 года назад +11

    this is exactly why i love this game’s soundtrack thank you so much.

  • @pikmaniac2643
    @pikmaniac2643 3 года назад +3

    9/10, needs more Temporal Tower/Temporal Spire/Dialga's Fight to the Finish... the analysis is more than good tho.

  • @zorquil
    @zorquil 4 года назад +22

    Honestly, PMD has some of the best motifs and soundtracks in the whole Pokémon franchise. However, my favorite leitmotif transformation has to be "Magnagate" from PMD: Gates to Infinity. More importantly, the transformation of this motif when used in "Infinite Dungeon 2". In Magnagate, the feeling of the piece is more adventurous, excitement abound. Meanwhile, Infinite Dungeon 2 gives a more epic adventurous sound, with a more "finality" to it. I'm talking about the main motif that starts in the second chorus, and how the harmonic structure changes everything.
    ---
    In "Magnagate", it brings forth the adventurous sound by using a major sound. With the instrumentation, a lot of the sounds are higher pitch. The strings are soaring with or above the main pan flute, while the bells and snare roles emphasize beats 1 and 3 on the first measure and the first beat of the second measure, with the bass drum hitting beats 3 and 4. On the last measure of the 8 bar phrase, the bells strike on each beat while the snare mixes the roll and triplet figure by rolling the first beat and hitting the two other beats in the triplet form. The pulse throughout is given by the timpani. All together, it gives a huge adventurous vibe everyone getting excited for.
    However, in "Infinite Dungeon 2", when it gets to the Magnagate motif, the pan flute plays the same melodic idea almost completely identical to the one in "Magnagate" (with the only difference being tempo). But instead of the high strings giving a more joyous excitement, it plays its own countermelody that's a bit more hollow and sad. The snare is completely removed, instead replaced with a more striking sounding drum that emphasizes beats 1, and of 2, and 4, giving a bit more openness with a constant eighth note pattern. Each 8-bar phrase starts with a wail of a woodwind instrument. The pulse, once again, is given by the timpani. All together, it gives a more final dungeon-type sound.
    ---
    The other reason I love "Infinite Dungeon 2" and "Magnagate" is mostly due to the fact that it was the one that really introduced me to the power of a motif. Sure, there are other songs with motifs and the like, but when I first heard "Infinite Dungeon 2", I loved the sound of it, and when it hit the Magnagate part, it sent chills down my spine. At the time, I didn't realize it was a motif until one day, I realize "wait, that sounds familiar". So I listened to the whole PMD: GtI soundtrack until I found out where that part came from, and I was just completely dumbfounded and exhilarated that PMD was able to drastically change a motif's sound despite being almost completely identical!

  • @TheMaestroso
    @TheMaestroso 4 года назад +8

    Really surprised you didn't mention how the latter half of the time motif was integrated into the accompaniment in the Time Gears track. It's such a cool implementation!

  • @jblen
    @jblen 4 года назад +7

    This is going straight in the watch later because I need my brain to kick into gear before watching it, but for now all I have to say is that mystery dungeon EoT/D/S have such incredible OSTs and I'm so glad you're delving into them
    Edit: well, I came back and boy, I played explorers of time so the time motif really brings back a ton of memories. Saying that, I'm not sure if you were saying all three motifs appeared in all games, which if that's true then I just remember the time motif because it's the best one in my opinion.
    I do also feel like the 'sky motif' is the guild motif rather than the sky one, since it does appear in all three games for sure, and if my memeory serves correctly I think it's commonly used in association with the guild or wigglytuff rather than whatever 'sky' is meant to imply.

  • @frogabelle
    @frogabelle 4 года назад +8

    my eyes went WIDE when I saw you were doing PMD!

  • @BruceBoyde
    @BruceBoyde 4 года назад +11

    I think this is the fastest I've ever responded to a sub notification

  • @papaelf420
    @papaelf420 4 года назад +5

    The MOTHER series has so many good leitmotifs it's unreal.

  • @myrrical2203
    @myrrical2203 4 года назад +8

    I feel like I didn't realize how good the music and these games in general were when I was first played them

  • @AnthonyJohnson-zk7cc
    @AnthonyJohnson-zk7cc 4 года назад +9

    I've always loved your videos, they have really got me into music theory and i've started writing music and doing transcriptions because of it, your videos have been a huge inspiration to me and they cover one of the most underrated forms of music, video games!

    • @hashbrownslinging-slasher872
      @hashbrownslinging-slasher872 4 года назад

      Apind Bro, 100% in the same boat here.
      After I realized just how passionate his analysis were for all these great tracks, but how little of it I actually understood, I just had to delve in further.
      Now I’ve written tons of pieces that I’m proud of. Kind if incredible, really.

  • @egan452
    @egan452 4 года назад +7

    My favorite motif is the one from Through the Sea of Time. It's the one with the most emotional impact to me and is by consequence the one most associated with the game in my mind. It plays at both emotional highpoints and lowpoints, and I think conveys the courage the characters have to have.

  • @pmdmakesmecri2
    @pmdmakesmecri2 3 года назад +3

    I think you showed the normal credits in the background instead of the special chapter 5 credits (Life Goes On.) because spoilers

  • @chicle-_3536
    @chicle-_3536 4 года назад +7

    Perfect timing because I just finished this game like 2 days ago (including the special episodes)
    Truly a wonderful experience.

  • @GentlemanJaggi
    @GentlemanJaggi 4 года назад +2

    I don't get a whole lot of this music theory stuff but what I did understand is that this game's soundtrack is objectively excellent (although I of course already knew that!)
    Thanks for making this video and thanks to KM for suggesting this.
    PS: I love how excited you sound about "Life Goes On" at the end ;D

  • @FizzieWebb
    @FizzieWebb 4 года назад +6

    Seeing thing thumbnail: Oh, cool leitmotifs in pokemon, there are some pretty iconic ones.
    Reading the title: Exploration Team Theme, the best opening song Pokemon has ever had.

  • @usamimi-no-majo
    @usamimi-no-majo 4 года назад +4

    Dialga's Fight to the Finish! obviously uses the Time Gear motif throughout the entire theme, which makes perfect sense since, in essence, Dialga *is* the Time Gears. Temporal Tower does the same I believe, but it's a much heavier alteration. More noticeable again in the last ten floors.

  • @Luvutoo
    @Luvutoo 4 года назад +8

    I genuinely can't decide which OST I love more: Rescue Team or Explorers. PMD is the only series where I can't choose one over another

  • @Theaggyyu
    @Theaggyyu 4 года назад +5

    I very much enjoy this series so I'm thrilled to see my recordings of the cutscenes appear in this video! Thank you for talking about this amazing series

  • @PhoenyxRysing
    @PhoenyxRysing 4 года назад +4

    A bit surprised the "Temporal Spire" melody didn't crop up here, given its relation to the Time Gear themes, but nonetheless an excellent video from which I learned a lot--I love the music from the PMD series, but I would never have picked out the 'Darkness' leitmotif in all the songs it connects!
    (Which, actually, may partially explain why the games were named as they were...)

  • @kiro9291
    @kiro9291 4 года назад +7

    16:56 my heart melted from nostalgia
    thank you for doing this, I'm gonna go play the game again now
    edit: I felt genuine excitement and thrill through the whole video, this is my favorite video from you so far, best 23 minutes of my life

  • @larchego4938
    @larchego4938 4 года назад +30

    Actually been waiting for this for so long

    • @Hartono25277
      @Hartono25277 4 года назад

      I didn't even know I'm waiting for this

  • @forger343
    @forger343 4 года назад +5

    I'm surprised you didn't mention "Time" leitmotif as it's used in Dialga's Fight to the Finish

  • @HJHawley7677
    @HJHawley7677 4 года назад +7

    This soundtrack is so underappreciated. I wish Pokémon music got as much attention as Zelda and Final Fantasy music

  • @liamwhite3522
    @liamwhite3522 4 года назад +5

    My favorite game, AND my favorite music concept?! Hell yes!
    Edit: No damn way. I never clocked the Dark motif. It's so satisfying having it shown, and to have a motif to each version is great!

    • @liamwhite3522
      @liamwhite3522 4 года назад +2

      Now that I recognize the Dark motif, it's ALL OVER in Dusknoir and Palkia's boss themes, with an added walk down after the fact for added menace.
      And of course Dialga's theme includes the Time motif, and Sky too, I'm now discovering. God, this soundtack is so good.

  • @YoteFisk
    @YoteFisk 4 года назад +3

    I wont ever forget the music from this game (pun intended, if you know the track i'm referencing lol). A lot of the music still makes me tear up 6 years after playing the game.

  • @slavicsandvich5967
    @slavicsandvich5967 4 года назад +2

    PMD2 and have Paper Mario 2 in the intro.
    Both my favourite games ever.
    Thank you for pointing out just how well thought-out the OST is in this game(s)! I never noticed all those connections in the very first song!

  • @lineshawn4819
    @lineshawn4819 4 года назад +6

    I have waited for this moment my whole life

  • @Nyahahameha
    @Nyahahameha 4 года назад +5

    The leitmotif that stuck with me is the string of notes at 17:40. If I remember correctly, it was most prominent in Wigglytuff's Guild theme and also appeared in the Treasure Town theme. Memories of getting ready to explore the next dungeon always come rushing back when I hear it.

  • @derekw8039
    @derekw8039 4 года назад +3

    0:40 Oh, so THAT'S where that joke in Undertale comes from!

  • @MysticalHaloZ
    @MysticalHaloZ 2 года назад +2

    The best songs in PMD Sky, time and darkness is Through the sea of time and Don't ever forget
    Change my mind

  • @trombonekid1998
    @trombonekid1998 4 года назад +4

    Last year for my Theory IV class, I did an analysis of the leitmotifs in Dialga's fight to the finish. I had no idea just how interwoven those themes were in the soundtrack! This probably explains why I love this game's music so much.

  • @cydrofx
    @cydrofx 4 года назад +2

    Arata Iiyoshi is a musical genius. My favourite Leitmotif is the main melody for Temporal Tower and how it shifts and evolves as you climb the levels, Temporal Tower, Temporal Spire and Temporal Pinaccle

  • @stonethemason12
    @stonethemason12 4 года назад +10

    Right as i was writing a comment about motifs being memorable 😂

  • @Kingwut117
    @Kingwut117 4 года назад +3

    oh my god that intro music I'm legit gonna lose it

  • @damayonnaise
    @damayonnaise 3 года назад +4

    Thank you thank you thank you!!! I loved this video so much! I have always thought the music from these games and the rescue team games was absolutely phenomenal! The "sky" theme is also reminiscent of the theme from red and blue rescue team, which makes it even cooler! I cannot thank you enough for analyzing the phenominal music of these phenominal games! The music is so criminally underrated! By far, it's some of my favorite video game music of all time!

  • @Dirakiaa
    @Dirakiaa 4 года назад +2

    Okay, im just gonna say it how it is
    I guess you can call me extremely obsessed with the PMD Series, espicially with PMD2, but holy shit i didnt even notice most of those used Motifs and damn this Video made me appreciate the OST even more than i already do, which is something i ddint think would be possible!

  • @kavinaderrow3269
    @kavinaderrow3269 4 года назад +15

    I was just looking for something like this yesterday. I really love the Time Gear motif. It's in Temporal Tower and Dialga's Fight to the Finish, as well as Grovyle's sacrifice.

  • @Taevarth
    @Taevarth 3 года назад +1

    When a game manages to make it's music remembered and loved for the past 13 years, I think the composer should pat himself on the back.
    I wonder if he loved the music as much as we do.

  • @filippopratesi2997
    @filippopratesi2997 4 года назад +4

    I get chills every time I listen to tracks from these games. They're genius, if I may say so in my blissful ignorance of anything that is music theory

  • @diddydreamer
    @diddydreamer 4 года назад +2

    i REALLY love the hidden land/temporal tower/dialgas fight themes and that whole section of the game, i dont want to disappear, and of course the grovyle/celebi/dusknoir special episode.... ;o;

  • @Kitty_kisses97
    @Kitty_kisses97 4 года назад +4

    This game and its sound track have such a powerful effect on me, even all these years later.
    i was getting chills up and down my spine and I was also tearing up a bit.
    I'm so sad that these games are so underrated. They're so beautiful.

  • @ghostmell0sanimationchanne877
    @ghostmell0sanimationchanne877 3 года назад +2

    ngl i know nothing about music
    but i like your funny words magic man.