"A masterpiece, should be left well praised. Oh, I hear very well how the cellos vibrate so smoothly. Only a latin chorus will satisfy you now. Liberate you from your wild desire for more." -Lady maria of the Opera
I said it before in the last video, and I’ll gladly say it again: To me, the start of her theme feels very impersonal. She’s going to kill you, but it’s nothing personal. It’s routine to her, like a dance at a ball. A very deadly one for the Good Hunter, but an average Tuesday for Lady Maria. But then the phase changes. The Good Hunter has turned the tides. The choir kicks in and her focus is entirely on you. You are now an acknowledged threat to Lady Maria and can hear her thoughts, her curse as she decides to wield the Vileblood coursing through her veins for the first time in an age. Then phase 3 hits and you can hear the desperation. She knows she has to go all out to keep the Fishing Hamlet and Orphan of Kos a secret, and this angers her. You’ve forced Lady Maria to cast aside the last remnants of her already shattered pride to fully dedicate herself to killing you. And that is the beauty of video game music that I don’t think modern music can begin to match. It’s telling a story and letting you understand a character without even hearing them so much as talk. I still agree with what I said several months ago when, I’m pretty sure, I first discovered your channel. Lady Maria’s theme contrasts most music in From Soft history by being so impersonal at first and then shifting so dramatically into the choir when she finally takes notice of you, the Good Hunter. It’s part of the reason I love her and her theme so much. Everything, from the first two phases of her theme, to her dialogue, to her fighting style reflects Lady Maria’s noble origins and the routine Lady Maria has settled into during the Nightmare. She’s not really paying attention to you, only acting out the motions until the routine is broken and she actually *sees* you and recognises what’s happening. And the lyrics, I can’t tell if they’re mocking Lady Maria as part of Kos’ torment or pitying. It also feels like Lady Maria is always hearing these as thoughts in her head, either part of the depression that lead to her death still haunting her (ironically) or Kos’ own curse, punishing Lady Maria for her sins and having been lead astray in the first place. I love every bit of it more than I can put into words, especially the Insight we can gain from her theme as to the nature of Lady Maria’s character.
The Old Hunters has 5 boss fights, and all of them have some of the best soundtracks in video game history. Can't wait to see what they do with the DLC for Elden Ring.
@@Exel3nceelden ring kinda sucked for ost and bosses except for a few. I was so disappointed to find out that the only songs I really liked from the game were tree sentinel who is literally the first boss of the game, and the black flame priests or whatever they're called. I almost liked fortisaxx but found the organ too drowned out by the rest of the instrumentals. If you're gonna do a church organ, make it have godly presence. It's what they were built for. Compared to dark souls 3 main menu I was also really disappointed with the elden ring main menu. Shorter, less thematic, not as interesting of a style, no impressive vocals like what Yuka kitamura did as the soprano for the ds3 main theme, and it has a really obvious loop that isn't satisfying. A lot of people had a wow moment it seems when they got to radagon and the boss theme starts and it's the main menu theme. I was not wowed. I thought it was just lazy. "Really, just gonna recycle the main menu for the final boss. Lazy". Maybe my opinion would be different if I liked the song to begin with, because for all I know I could've gushed over ds3 if they did that for Gael or soul of cinder. But who can tell. I just know it left a sour taste in my mouth hearing radagons theme for the first time.
@@trevorveillette8415 calling it lazy just means you did not understand the obvious connection between the main theme (the elden ring) and radagon as radagon by the time we reach him actually IS the elden ring himself (literally showing you it glowing inside him)
@@trevorveillette8415the main menu for dark souls 3 was the final boss music called old king of the eclipse there are some differences but it’s mostly the same and I liked the theme for mohg
I just love how the song and fight feels like we’re in a classical ballroom dance. Even Lady Maria visceral attack feels how a lead dancer would bow/dip their partner.
I can barely put into words what I felt when facing her. She wasn't the hardest boss for me since parrying helps tremendously. But the intensity and dance like movements both hunters do while trying to dodge each other's attacks combined with the music just feels so astonishing. I was literally trapped in that moment until the fight was over. I wish you could just have a safe file to dance with her whenever you feel like.
Exactly! It felt like such class and majesty. It was like a duel/dance. Not a boss fight that you have to live up to but more like a rival that's your equal you have to contend with. Beautiful.
She taught me how to parry. I went through the game barely parrying anything until I got to her. I tried beating her without parries, but I just couldn't manage it. It's thanks to her that I was able to beat the Orphan of Kos. He took me absolute ages, but at least I could parry him by then and he pretty well telegraphed his attacks for me. The less said about Laurence the better though, lol.
@@SolaScientia I swear I had a ton of luck against both Maria and Orphan of Kos since I killed them both on my first try but both fights there was one moment that felt like I didn't deserve to survive being left with like a few HP.
@@zangy3748 That was me with Midir in DS3. I beat him on my first attempt. Admittedly I went into the fight straight from the Spear of the Church fight, so I was still embered. I did fine and then phase 2 hit. I moved out of the way of that first AoE he does right at the start, but I completely missed the wind up for the second time he did it. It hit me directly and I swear I was dead. I was in shock when my character stood back up. I've never chugged estus faster in my life, lol. I had so little hp from that hit that the bar looked empty. And this is with a pure melee build (running the Hollowslayer Greatsword, so I did this fight without any weapon buffs) with no magic at all, so it's not like it was Tears of Denial or something helping me. In my case, it helped that I knew what to expect going in and I stayed right at his head the entire fight. If he flew off I'd chase him down. I don't think he did the laser attacks at all. Being embered let me tank some hits that I wouldn't have otherwise done. I didn't ember for any main game bosses, but I felt I had to be embered for nearly all the DLC bosses (both DLCs). With the Orphan of Kos I survived phase 2 because I kept myself at full or nearly full hp the entire fight. That let me survive some hits that really should have killed me. With Lady Maria I just went for the parries, which felt a bit cheap to me. I had like 1 bullet left at the end because of all the times I'd screwed up the shot, particularly after phase 1.
Maria has a personal struggle, not only because of her regrets as a hunter, but also as a Vileblood. She does not like using her skills as a Vileblood, but she does when the secret she's guarding is being threatened.
Frustration, self-loathing, anguish and a burning drive to prevent great sins from her past from being uncovered. A corpse I may be, but a corpse I will make of you should you're twisted curiosity not desist. Let the weight of our darkness rest on my shoulders alone.
The explosive choir bomb when it shifts from first phase to second phase is unlike anything I have ever heard before or since. Given Bloodborne's lovecraftian inspiration, that drop genuinely feels like prying open something you shouldn't have and witnessing something human eyes were not made to see. And considering what Lady Maria is trying to prevent you from seeing, that is all too fitting. God Fromsoft kicks so much ass. I think it's between Fromsoft and Project Aces as the best two there is.
Don't count out Monaca. They're the studio that did all of the NieR series music. It's founded by keichii okabe and he's the main composer of the NieR series. The NieR games have what I consider to be the best music in gaming. I didn't like fromsofts music from pre bloodborne. Bloodborne and ds3 have great music, but I find fromsofts style of orchestration to be really overbearing at times with some songs. Their choirs can be too loud or can be shredding against the instruments in bad ways. But sometimes they do overbearing choirs well. Lady maria is definitely a great example of that. Although it is so overly loud with little to no way of hearing instrumentals that I do sometimes tune out of the song unintentionally because of there just being too much loud vocal work. But when the next movement of the song kicks in my attention snaps back because then I can tell again what's going on. My experience with fromsoft is very 1/3 scale. 1/3 of the songs in their games are great, 1/3 have potential and are interesting but not strongly liked by me, and the last 1/3 I just dont care for. I really like clean orchestration, and bloodborne definitely took the cleanest most well organized approach to orchestration that I've seen them do for their games. Songs feel different from each other and even the bad bosses have great songs like amygdala or the one reborn. NieR series ost has that perfectly clean orchestration I crave and it mixes it up between traditional orchestration and electric or digital instruments. Also isn't always full blown boss music. Tons of sad, ambient, depressing, chill, or just dramatic songs without being....boss music. I'd like it if fromsoft composed their music like how they did with bloodborne. Clean, very thematic and stylish, well balanced vocals and instrumentals.
the fact that this game doesnt get remastered, PC port EVEN A SEQUEL IS A CRIMINAL ACT to gaming community as a whole. The music, gameplay, art is chef kiss
Personally at this point I'd rather they didn't do a sequel. This game is perfect in every way. Good thing the game is absolutely close to being emulated perfectly.
Alex Roe did a fantastic rendition of Maria and Gehrman's themes mixed together and it shows how similar they are and really ties in their relationship to each other and the everlasting dream/nightmare. Such amazing craft and attention to detail from FromSoft!
Fromsoft NEVER officially releases the lyrics to their songs. It's unclear why, might be because development might lead to a narrative concept being slightly changed at the last minute while the OST lags behind, or it might be because they want to be mysterious. Anyway, what can be found o the Internet are fan transcriptions and they can sometimes be pretty shoddy.
From my point of view. It's best to keep the lyrics a secret, it creates a mystery to every soundtrack and gives a void like depth to the characters lore. It's a way to capture the curiosity about what she is keeping as her secrets. Something that intriguing to look upon as closely as we could.
From the building of tension to revelation on how much of a challenge she truly is, Maria is indeed worthy of her title and lore. Also Marco, will you go in depth for "Between Two Worlds" from Limbus Company? Or you might as well listen to "Fly My Wings" for it's new canto IV.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY suggest listening to the Moon Presence OST. I don't know why it is not as loved as other ones, but it's a little masterpiece to me!
Marco loves this song so much that we get a second analysis video :D Thanks for the vid Marco! Edit: I also find it sweet and sad that both Maria and Gehrman's themes start with the word Venator. Both are hunters and they are very similar and different at the same time.
Thanks for revisiting this piece, I 100% agree with you that this is the best song Fromsoft has ever written. Everything about it just speaks magnitudes to the situation. It's far too short for how beautiful it is
oh god yes, a second part. This song is by far my top 1 songs. Your previus video was so amazing explaining this... Only one song can reach this level, and it is Under Tides from Arknights. Skadi was so inspired in Lady Maria that freaking me out. Waiting too for a second part of that.
I thought I was losing my mind when I saw the title, because I swore you did a reaction on Lady Maria's theme. Then I clicked on the vid and you have opened my eyes.
One thing that I've seen in another breakdown of her OST is that there is no rest in this song. The theme never lets you catch your breath, it keeps going. The song never reaches its resolution. While that's very fitting for the battle itself, it also represents how there is no rest for Maria herself- she has to stand guard and protect that 'secret', going so far to using abilities that she hated using during the fight. Awesome analysis and video like always mr Marco~
I have to say, the OST of Bloodboorne always hits as hard every time I listen to it, especially the themes of the old hunters, and I listen to them a lot.
Just finished the SotE DLC. Doesn't even come close. Lady Maria is still the best piece of From Soft OST I've ever heard. Back in the classic days, this would comfortably be up there with the greats.
I love how you're trying your hardest not to get lost this time around. Well, i enjoyed your previous reaction too. But I'm glad that you went out of your way to go in dept for this one.
I love how there's a sort of finesse to the song, but also a sort of tragedy behind it at the same time. Even during the further phases where the choir goes all out, there's a hint of sadness in it. She's using all of her tools against you, you get to see the might of one of the old hunters, but at the same time, there's a sort of regret coming from her, when using that power. Maria resents her origins as a vileblood, and much preferred using the swords as her main weapons, so Maria finally letting go and coating those same blades with her own blood, that's her breaking all of her moral boundaries to stop you, using the same power she abominated to defeat you. At the same time that it's a mesmerizing view to see how she fights, it's tragic, there's despair behinds those actions, she doesn't wants you to go to the fishing hamlet and see all of the atrocities she and the other hunters committed in the past. It's a tragic story really, she regrets the things she did in the past, and her torture in the hunter's nightmare was having to keep watch of her biggest source of shame, for all eternity. Until you came along, while you get to see an once proud hunter take fight again, Maria is not the same hunter she used to be, you get to watch her become stronger but also more desperate as the fight goes, cast aside all of her moral values and embracing her origin as a vileblood, with the only intent of stopping you, at all costs, and all of that despair is reflected on her song, a dark tale, with a bittersweet ending.
Lady Maria is my favorite character and my favorite boss of all time. she has my favorite OST and lore, she is in my favorite game of all time, loove her💞
This is still one of my favorite theme's and boss fights in any game. I love how much of the fight is a dance and how we have to learn her moves and more dance to her tune than in most fights. The beast fights allow the player to stay very aggressive without much punishment, but all of the hunter fights (whether bosses or NPCs) require the player to be a lot more careful than the player maybe usually is. Likely because of how easily the player can be parried in Bloodborne versus in the Souls games. Maria, to me, is the culmination of all the hunter fights in the game; even Gehrman to an extent considering the DLC was released after the main game. Though Gehrman can be every bit as punishing as Maria. I did indeed die a ton to her, but she also taught me to parry. I'd gone through the game barely parrying a thing, but I had to learn for her fight. I also had to switch weapons from the saw cleaver to the threaded cane to keep up with her. What's also interesting to me is that nearly all my favorite boss fights the bosses do a sort of slow, casual walk to the player before they usually proceed to hand the player their head on a platter. All of those bosses are very skilled and confident in their ability to absolutely eviscerate the player: Lady Maria, Gehrman, Abyss Watchers, Pontiff Sulyvahn, Nameless King (phase 2), Dragonslayer Armour, Friede (even though I hate that fight), and probably others I've missed.
It warms my heart seeing people still in love with bloodborne as much as I am. I hope this games community of fellow hunters and scholars stays strong. Just remember to fear the old blood!
i love the ending too where the resolution never actually comes easily, its lasting and lasting, just one step more, one sword slash more. One more ounce of strength to go forward, just once more. Her resilience and stubbornness to not back down, not easily at all. It's really telling and beautiful
Just like Lady Maria herself, her theme also draws us in with it's tragic beauty. So good. Going to keep this ride going and watch your original reaction. 😁
I showed this song to friends that have no clue about bloodborne and they all said the same thing. This song invokes the feeling of commiting a heinous sin, either against someone or against oneself, which is so fitting when translated to lady marias story and feelings throught the fight.
Honestly, this piece was a major reason I kept replaying the DLC for Bloodborne... which if you haven't played... means going through quite a few hours of the base game before you can even access it... and then going through several difficult areas in the dlc, and 2 bosses just to reach her.
I love how this track blends well with her 3 phases....i have 300hours on bloodborne amd everytime i reach Maria i loose on purpose just to relive the moment and when i decide to kill her i feel sad amd melancholic. She s the only boss on the hundreds games i played that give goosebumps and grinds my heart to shreds
I was a musical neanderthal,but luckily to Marco i became such. . . well I'm still a newbie at that but still thanks Marco for introducing us to new bangers , and looking back at old gems.
I honestly wonder if the lyrics are meant to refer both to Maria and to other hunters. Evil blood = all hunters we meet are technically affected by eldritch blood, especially the “blood drunk” hunters of the Nightmare and the City. Roving blasphemers, sent to fight and die = the hunters of the various factions who were sent after the eldritch beings to try to obtain their secrets, especially for the Healing Church. Maria is trying to protect what’s left of the Fishing Village (and the “patients” she is guarding as well if I remember some dialogue correctly), because she knows that other hunters will be sent to hunt “secrets” again….and when our hunter shows up, to her, enemies are on the doorstep again.
I'm surprised you haven't done a reaction to the theme song of the Dragonslayer Armor, especially given how the first phase slams you with a powerful choir right from the start.
I would honestly love to say how much I love Lady Maria but I just can't find the words. I'll try though Not only do I love the story of the character as such, being almost the adoptive daughter of Gherman and the obsession that he developed for her, but I love everything that surrounds the character The massacre of the fishing village how guilt corrodes her and for this she committed suicide but the nightmare does not let her die, leaving her in an eternal cycle of death and resurrection to die again and the area of the fight is shaped like a coffin representing this The way the music is a reflection of what the character can suffer, she is the hunter and you are once again the prey. And I honestly don't know what else to say other than that I love this fight and story
To me it feels like she is welcoming death because she has had an eternity to consider the choices that she had to make, but at the same time her pride in her skills as a hunter won't allow her to do anything but fight with all of her might
hey you are listening to the shorter version. There is a longer version with a middle section that takes place during the 2nd phase. I highly recommend giving it a listen. Look for a video where this song is 4 minutes and 47 seconds.
I assume you dont really respond to comments this far back, but i see some basses in the background of your videos, and that one looks like it is maybe an ibanez headstock? Hard to tell but I would honestly love to see some videos talking about your bass playing and what not.
Her story is so sad and I really feel for her but at the same time her and the other hunters did some messed up shit and brought it up on themselves and in my opinion they got what they deserved.
idk if anyone else has said this. Didnt bother to look. Lady Maria says "you would do wise to not wake a corpse", or however its worded, because her and the old hunters woke a corpse of a greatone. that great one was Kos. final fight of dlc is orphan of kos. in the lore the hunters and scholars destroyed the area the nightmare represents with experiments done on the villagers by using blood and other things of Kos.
Might I suggest sampling some music from the Darkest Dungeon 1 and 2? Both are incredibly atmospheric games with a very talented composer at the helm and I'd be very interested to hear what you pick up from the music without knowing the context behind it. My personal favorites are Town in Chaos, The Final Combat, The Blasted Hearth (from game 1) and the Foetor theme, the Shroud theme, Traversing the Mountain and the Mountain Combat (from game 2).
Don't know if Marco takes suggestions from comments only, but I think it would be really cool to see some reaction and analysis of some of the tracks from the game Dauntless, specially the ones dedicated to the Behemoths, the monsters we hunt as players.
Lady Maria is pretty easy to deal with if you know how to Parry or if you use your guns a lot My first build was a Tank using the Hunter Axe Most of the time on bloodborne i just take Hits and retaliate with heavy strikes Maria was a challenging encounter to me And the music Omg Amazing
I am pasting this from Ludwig's video Surprisingly i found Ludwig (both Accursed and Holy Blade) and Lady Maria to be relatively easy bosses. Nontheless, i was at the edge of my seat because BOTH of the fights are a DANCE. First phase of Ludwig is a dance with death, you're a hunter, he's a beast. There's viciousness to it, both of you biting at each other's heels after dodging frantically, biting while being bitten. Second phase becomes a dance between two masters of the art. Ludwig with his holy blade of moonlight, us with our sheer fucking will to push forward. With Maria, it's right out of the door a full on assault at each other, cut while being cut, attack while attacked, rest, encircle, repeat. Some of the best fights in gaming history.
hey, I was wondering, have you happened to stumble upon the OST of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games? They have some great songs like "Hidden Lands", "Time Gear", "Second Dark Matter Battle" and "Temporal Tower" among many other great songs which I think you would find interesting ^_^
People have probably pointed it out already, but Maria and Gehrman's themes are similar, due in no small part to their respective apprentice-master relationship.
My only problem is that you used a chopped version, there's a whole section of the second phase missing. The chopped up version lasts 4:03, while the official lasts 4:47. I recommend in the future to look up the official ost in stores for the durations, since the usual that are posted on youtube and have the most views are taken in game, the loops are not properly linked and sections get lost during the phase change.
YESSS! Lyrics analysis! I love this. Can you do the same for other boss themes? For Example, OST of phase 1 and 2 of Azhdaha's boss fight from Genshin? I think you'll love it.
Unfortunately this is the looped version. The "correct" version, from start to finish, is this one: ruclips.net/video/i3bityYL1G8/видео.html Here you can also hear a woman's voice in the background from minute 2:30, which was unfortunately cut out in the version shown here. No idea why, but the version shown in the video, as well as the other songs from the DLC "The Old Hunters", are unfortunately often represented on RUclips.
Please Listen to “crimson bat” it’s an unused OST from dark souls 3 for the boss “Demon Prince”. It’s truly the best song I’ve ever heard from Yuka Kitamura.
Hhmmm no gerhman’s is still better the emotional roller coaster you go on and the pay off… its marvelous so beautiful and melancholic its just another level above all others
Laurence OST and Ludwig OST are both better imo, but this OST is a banger as well. Tons of good tracks in the various FromSoft Soulsborne games. Lorian/Lothric, Radagon, Godskin Duo, Slave Knight Gael, Father Gascoigne, Cleric Beast, could go on and on.
Yess, my favourite Fromsoft song revisited. I love Maria as a character and as a boss and her theme is part of the reason why.
"A masterpiece, should be left well praised. Oh, I hear very well how the cellos vibrate so smoothly. Only a latin chorus will satisfy you now. Liberate you from your wild desire for more."
-Lady maria of the Opera
I said it before in the last video, and I’ll gladly say it again: To me, the start of her theme feels very impersonal. She’s going to kill you, but it’s nothing personal. It’s routine to her, like a dance at a ball. A very deadly one for the Good Hunter, but an average Tuesday for Lady Maria. But then the phase changes. The Good Hunter has turned the tides. The choir kicks in and her focus is entirely on you. You are now an acknowledged threat to Lady Maria and can hear her thoughts, her curse as she decides to wield the Vileblood coursing through her veins for the first time in an age. Then phase 3 hits and you can hear the desperation. She knows she has to go all out to keep the Fishing Hamlet and Orphan of Kos a secret, and this angers her. You’ve forced Lady Maria to cast aside the last remnants of her already shattered pride to fully dedicate herself to killing you. And that is the beauty of video game music that I don’t think modern music can begin to match. It’s telling a story and letting you understand a character without even hearing them so much as talk.
I still agree with what I said several months ago when, I’m pretty sure, I first discovered your channel. Lady Maria’s theme contrasts most music in From Soft history by being so impersonal at first and then shifting so dramatically into the choir when she finally takes notice of you, the Good Hunter. It’s part of the reason I love her and her theme so much. Everything, from the first two phases of her theme, to her dialogue, to her fighting style reflects Lady Maria’s noble origins and the routine Lady Maria has settled into during the Nightmare. She’s not really paying attention to you, only acting out the motions until the routine is broken and she actually *sees* you and recognises what’s happening. And the lyrics, I can’t tell if they’re mocking Lady Maria as part of Kos’ torment or pitying. It also feels like Lady Maria is always hearing these as thoughts in her head, either part of the depression that lead to her death still haunting her (ironically) or Kos’ own curse, punishing Lady Maria for her sins and having been lead astray in the first place. I love every bit of it more than I can put into words, especially the Insight we can gain from her theme as to the nature of Lady Maria’s character.
Great explanation
Best comment
❤❤ p❤l❤lq
What i specially love about this is how the music grows as the combat evolves. They both match perfectly.
The Old Hunters has 5 boss fights, and all of them have some of the best soundtracks in video game history.
Can't wait to see what they do with the DLC for Elden Ring.
Hopefully Something better than the base game cause that was very Lackluster except for the main theme
@@Exel3nceelden ring kinda sucked for ost and bosses except for a few.
I was so disappointed to find out that the only songs I really liked from the game were tree sentinel who is literally the first boss of the game, and the black flame priests or whatever they're called.
I almost liked fortisaxx but found the organ too drowned out by the rest of the instrumentals. If you're gonna do a church organ, make it have godly presence. It's what they were built for.
Compared to dark souls 3 main menu I was also really disappointed with the elden ring main menu. Shorter, less thematic, not as interesting of a style, no impressive vocals like what Yuka kitamura did as the soprano for the ds3 main theme, and it has a really obvious loop that isn't satisfying.
A lot of people had a wow moment it seems when they got to radagon and the boss theme starts and it's the main menu theme.
I was not wowed. I thought it was just lazy. "Really, just gonna recycle the main menu for the final boss. Lazy".
Maybe my opinion would be different if I liked the song to begin with, because for all I know I could've gushed over ds3 if they did that for Gael or soul of cinder. But who can tell. I just know it left a sour taste in my mouth hearing radagons theme for the first time.
@@trevorveillette8415 calling it lazy just means you did not understand the obvious connection between the main theme (the elden ring) and radagon as radagon by the time we reach him actually IS the elden ring himself (literally showing you it glowing inside him)
@@trevorveillette8415the main menu for dark souls 3 was the final boss music called old king of the eclipse there are some differences but it’s mostly the same and I liked the theme for mohg
@@trevorveillette8415 goddamn I feel you
I just love how the song and fight feels like we’re in a classical ballroom dance. Even Lady Maria visceral attack feels how a lead dancer would bow/dip their partner.
I can barely put into words what I felt when facing her. She wasn't the hardest boss for me since parrying helps tremendously. But the intensity and dance like movements both hunters do while trying to dodge each other's attacks combined with the music just feels so astonishing. I was literally trapped in that moment until the fight was over. I wish you could just have a safe file to dance with her whenever you feel like.
Exactly! It felt like such class and majesty. It was like a duel/dance. Not a boss fight that you have to live up to but more like a rival that's your equal you have to contend with. Beautiful.
I found fighting with the Mercy blade most appropriate with her. The quickstepping attacks fits the "dance" between us and Maria
She taught me how to parry. I went through the game barely parrying anything until I got to her. I tried beating her without parries, but I just couldn't manage it. It's thanks to her that I was able to beat the Orphan of Kos. He took me absolute ages, but at least I could parry him by then and he pretty well telegraphed his attacks for me. The less said about Laurence the better though, lol.
@@SolaScientia I swear I had a ton of luck against both Maria and Orphan of Kos since I killed them both on my first try but both fights there was one moment that felt like I didn't deserve to survive being left with like a few HP.
@@zangy3748 That was me with Midir in DS3. I beat him on my first attempt. Admittedly I went into the fight straight from the Spear of the Church fight, so I was still embered. I did fine and then phase 2 hit. I moved out of the way of that first AoE he does right at the start, but I completely missed the wind up for the second time he did it. It hit me directly and I swear I was dead. I was in shock when my character stood back up. I've never chugged estus faster in my life, lol. I had so little hp from that hit that the bar looked empty. And this is with a pure melee build (running the Hollowslayer Greatsword, so I did this fight without any weapon buffs) with no magic at all, so it's not like it was Tears of Denial or something helping me. In my case, it helped that I knew what to expect going in and I stayed right at his head the entire fight. If he flew off I'd chase him down. I don't think he did the laser attacks at all. Being embered let me tank some hits that I wouldn't have otherwise done. I didn't ember for any main game bosses, but I felt I had to be embered for nearly all the DLC bosses (both DLCs).
With the Orphan of Kos I survived phase 2 because I kept myself at full or nearly full hp the entire fight. That let me survive some hits that really should have killed me. With Lady Maria I just went for the parries, which felt a bit cheap to me. I had like 1 bullet left at the end because of all the times I'd screwed up the shot, particularly after phase 1.
Maria has a personal struggle, not only because of her regrets as a hunter, but also as a Vileblood. She does not like using her skills as a Vileblood, but she does when the secret she's guarding is being threatened.
Frustration, self-loathing, anguish and a burning drive to prevent great sins from her past from being uncovered. A corpse I may be, but a corpse I will make of you should you're twisted curiosity not desist. Let the weight of our darkness rest on my shoulders alone.
The explosive choir bomb when it shifts from first phase to second phase is unlike anything I have ever heard before or since.
Given Bloodborne's lovecraftian inspiration, that drop genuinely feels like prying open something you shouldn't have and witnessing something human eyes were not made to see. And considering what Lady Maria is trying to prevent you from seeing, that is all too fitting.
God Fromsoft kicks so much ass. I think it's between Fromsoft and Project Aces as the best two there is.
Don't count out Monaca. They're the studio that did all of the NieR series music. It's founded by keichii okabe and he's the main composer of the NieR series.
The NieR games have what I consider to be the best music in gaming.
I didn't like fromsofts music from pre bloodborne.
Bloodborne and ds3 have great music, but I find fromsofts style of orchestration to be really overbearing at times with some songs. Their choirs can be too loud or can be shredding against the instruments in bad ways.
But sometimes they do overbearing choirs well. Lady maria is definitely a great example of that. Although it is so overly loud with little to no way of hearing instrumentals that I do sometimes tune out of the song unintentionally because of there just being too much loud vocal work.
But when the next movement of the song kicks in my attention snaps back because then I can tell again what's going on.
My experience with fromsoft is very 1/3 scale. 1/3 of the songs in their games are great, 1/3 have potential and are interesting but not strongly liked by me, and the last 1/3 I just dont care for.
I really like clean orchestration, and bloodborne definitely took the cleanest most well organized approach to orchestration that I've seen them do for their games. Songs feel different from each other and even the bad bosses have great songs like amygdala or the one reborn.
NieR series ost has that perfectly clean orchestration I crave and it mixes it up between traditional orchestration and electric or digital instruments. Also isn't always full blown boss music. Tons of sad, ambient, depressing, chill, or just dramatic songs without being....boss music.
I'd like it if fromsoft composed their music like how they did with bloodborne. Clean, very thematic and stylish, well balanced vocals and instrumentals.
Lovecraft isnt the true inspiration of Bloodborne
I really like the format of initial reaction & then later an actual breakdown of the track, best of both worlds
the fact that this game doesnt get remastered, PC port EVEN A SEQUEL IS A CRIMINAL ACT to gaming community as a whole. The music, gameplay, art is chef kiss
Personally at this point I'd rather they didn't do a sequel. This game is perfect in every way. Good thing the game is absolutely close to being emulated perfectly.
Alex Roe did a fantastic rendition of Maria and Gehrman's themes mixed together and it shows how similar they are and really ties in their relationship to each other and the everlasting dream/nightmare. Such amazing craft and attention to detail from FromSoft!
Fromsoft NEVER officially releases the lyrics to their songs. It's unclear why, might be because development might lead to a narrative concept being slightly changed at the last minute while the OST lags behind, or it might be because they want to be mysterious. Anyway, what can be found o the Internet are fan transcriptions and they can sometimes be pretty shoddy.
yes probably because if we have the lyrics of the music we can reconstruct the story better.
From my point of view. It's best to keep the lyrics a secret, it creates a mystery to every soundtrack and gives a void like depth to the characters lore. It's a way to capture the curiosity about what she is keeping as her secrets. Something that intriguing to look upon as closely as we could.
From the building of tension to revelation on how much of a challenge she truly is, Maria is indeed worthy of her title and lore.
Also Marco, will you go in depth for "Between Two Worlds" from Limbus Company? Or you might as well listen to "Fly My Wings" for it's new canto IV.
yes to between two worlds.
@@MarcoMeatball Oooh, that's exciting. Will be waiting for it.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY suggest listening to the Moon Presence OST. I don't know why it is not as loved as other ones, but it's a little masterpiece to me!
YESS, I suggested this after your lyrics dissection of Ludwig, thanks!!!
Thanks for the idea!
Marco loves this song so much that we get a second analysis video :D Thanks for the vid Marco!
Edit: I also find it sweet and sad that both Maria and Gehrman's themes start with the word Venator. Both are hunters and they are very similar and different at the same time.
Thanks for revisiting this piece, I 100% agree with you that this is the best song Fromsoft has ever written. Everything about it just speaks magnitudes to the situation. It's far too short for how beautiful it is
oh god yes, a second part. This song is by far my top 1 songs. Your previus video was so amazing explaining this... Only one song can reach this level, and it is Under Tides from Arknights. Skadi was so inspired in Lady Maria that freaking me out. Waiting too for a second part of that.
I thought I was losing my mind when I saw the title, because I swore you did a reaction on Lady Maria's theme. Then I clicked on the vid and you have opened my eyes.
:D
One thing that I've seen in another breakdown of her OST is that there is no rest in this song. The theme never lets you catch your breath, it keeps going.
The song never reaches its resolution. While that's very fitting for the battle itself, it also represents how there is no rest for Maria herself- she has to stand guard and protect that 'secret', going so far to using abilities that she hated using during the fight.
Awesome analysis and video like always mr Marco~
I have to say, the OST of Bloodboorne always hits as hard every time I listen to it, especially the themes of the old hunters, and I listen to them a lot.
Just finished the SotE DLC. Doesn't even come close. Lady Maria is still the best piece of From Soft OST I've ever heard. Back in the classic days, this would comfortably be up there with the greats.
nah SOTE has some bangers
I love how you're trying your hardest not to get lost this time around. Well, i enjoyed your previous reaction too. But I'm glad that you went out of your way to go in dept for this one.
I love how there's a sort of finesse to the song, but also a sort of tragedy behind it at the same time. Even during the further phases where the choir goes all out, there's a hint of sadness in it.
She's using all of her tools against you, you get to see the might of one of the old hunters, but at the same time, there's a sort of regret coming from her, when using that power.
Maria resents her origins as a vileblood, and much preferred using the swords as her main weapons, so Maria finally letting go and coating those same blades with her own blood, that's her breaking all of her moral boundaries to stop you, using the same power she abominated to defeat you.
At the same time that it's a mesmerizing view to see how she fights, it's tragic, there's despair behinds those actions, she doesn't wants you to go to the fishing hamlet and see all of the atrocities she and the other hunters committed in the past.
It's a tragic story really, she regrets the things she did in the past, and her torture in the hunter's nightmare was having to keep watch of her biggest source of shame, for all eternity.
Until you came along, while you get to see an once proud hunter take fight again, Maria is not the same hunter she used to be, you get to watch her become stronger but also more desperate as the fight goes, cast aside all of her moral values and embracing her origin as a vileblood, with the only intent of stopping you, at all costs, and all of that despair is reflected on her song, a dark tale, with a bittersweet ending.
Lady Maria is my favorite character and my favorite boss of all time.
she has my favorite OST and lore, she is in my favorite game of all time, loove her💞
I'm surprised you were able to hear the lyrics to this song.
Very impressive.
Meatball Moment: There's this constant feeling of rbbrbrbbbjjjdiiibbbbib
This is still one of my favorite theme's and boss fights in any game. I love how much of the fight is a dance and how we have to learn her moves and more dance to her tune than in most fights. The beast fights allow the player to stay very aggressive without much punishment, but all of the hunter fights (whether bosses or NPCs) require the player to be a lot more careful than the player maybe usually is. Likely because of how easily the player can be parried in Bloodborne versus in the Souls games. Maria, to me, is the culmination of all the hunter fights in the game; even Gehrman to an extent considering the DLC was released after the main game. Though Gehrman can be every bit as punishing as Maria.
I did indeed die a ton to her, but she also taught me to parry. I'd gone through the game barely parrying a thing, but I had to learn for her fight. I also had to switch weapons from the saw cleaver to the threaded cane to keep up with her.
What's also interesting to me is that nearly all my favorite boss fights the bosses do a sort of slow, casual walk to the player before they usually proceed to hand the player their head on a platter. All of those bosses are very skilled and confident in their ability to absolutely eviscerate the player: Lady Maria, Gehrman, Abyss Watchers, Pontiff Sulyvahn, Nameless King (phase 2), Dragonslayer Armour, Friede (even though I hate that fight), and probably others I've missed.
It warms my heart seeing people still in love with bloodborne as much as I am. I hope this games community of fellow hunters and scholars stays strong.
Just remember to fear the old blood!
My fave track from bloodborn gets revisited?! OMG Marco you're the best!
i love the ending too where the resolution never actually comes easily, its lasting and lasting, just one step more, one sword slash more. One more ounce of strength to go forward, just once more. Her resilience and stubbornness to not back down, not easily at all. It's really telling and beautiful
Just like Lady Maria herself, her theme also draws us in with it's tragic beauty.
So good. Going to keep this ride going and watch your original reaction. 😁
Oh man this song gives me shivers! Such an amazing piece of art!
I showed this song to friends that have no clue about bloodborne and they all said the same thing. This song invokes the feeling of commiting a heinous sin, either against someone or against oneself, which is so fitting when translated to lady marias story and feelings throught the fight.
Honestly, this piece was a major reason I kept replaying the DLC for Bloodborne... which if you haven't played... means going through quite a few hours of the base game before you can even access it... and then going through several difficult areas in the dlc, and 2 bosses just to reach her.
I love how this track blends well with her 3 phases....i have 300hours on bloodborne amd everytime i reach Maria i loose on purpose just to relive the moment and when i decide to kill her i feel sad amd melancholic. She s the only boss on the hundreds games i played that give goosebumps and grinds my heart to shreds
I was a musical neanderthal,but luckily to Marco i became such. . . well I'm still a newbie at that but still thanks Marco for introducing us to new bangers , and looking back at old gems.
I honestly wonder if the lyrics are meant to refer both to Maria and to other hunters. Evil blood = all hunters we meet are technically affected by eldritch blood, especially the “blood drunk” hunters of the Nightmare and the City. Roving blasphemers, sent to fight and die = the hunters of the various factions who were sent after the eldritch beings to try to obtain their secrets, especially for the Healing Church. Maria is trying to protect what’s left of the Fishing Village (and the “patients” she is guarding as well if I remember some dialogue correctly), because she knows that other hunters will be sent to hunt “secrets” again….and when our hunter shows up, to her, enemies are on the doorstep again.
can't forget , it was the only few beat drops that made Marco lose his mind.
I'm surprised you haven't done a reaction to the theme song of the Dragonslayer Armor, especially given how the first phase slams you with a powerful choir right from the start.
Soon
What a coincidence I just played bloodborne for the first time! The music of this game truly elevates every single moment.
Amazing to see and hear You break down this masterpiece, also I really really like your Latin singing👌
I would honestly love to say how much I love Lady Maria but I just can't find the words.
I'll try though
Not only do I love the story of the character as such, being almost the adoptive daughter of Gherman and the obsession that he developed for her, but I love everything that surrounds the character
The massacre of the fishing village how guilt corrodes her and for this she committed suicide but the nightmare does not let her die, leaving her in an eternal cycle of death and resurrection to die again and the area of the fight is shaped like a coffin representing this The way the music is a reflection of what the character can suffer, she is the hunter and you are once again the prey.
And I honestly don't know what else to say other than that I love this fight and story
This is how you do spectacle and fun, and not how elden does it. This is peak
I set this as my alarm tone after listening to it a few times
Top 5 songs. Ever. Period
To me it feels like she is welcoming death because she has had an eternity to consider the choices that she had to make, but at the same time her pride in her skills as a hunter won't allow her to do anything but fight with all of her might
even though i've never fought her, this has become my favorite soulsborne track by far.
hey you are listening to the shorter version. There is a longer version with a middle section that takes place during the 2nd phase. I highly recommend giving it a listen. Look for a video where this song is 4 minutes and 47 seconds.
I'm still waiting for that reaction to the burnt ivory king ost!
Lady Maria is my favorite boss in Bloodborne
My favorite boss freom Bloodborne. And the music makes it so much more.
Lady Maria is hands down the greatest boss fight in gaming history.
I assume you dont really respond to comments this far back, but i see some basses in the background of your videos, and that one looks like it is maybe an ibanez headstock? Hard to tell but I would honestly love to see some videos talking about your bass playing and what not.
Never got to play Old Hunters, not owning a PS. Still praying for Bloodborne PC port, just to experience Ludwig and Maria for myself
Bless-Femurs are my favorite part of the human body now ;)
Her story is so sad and I really feel for her but at the same time her and the other hunters did some messed up shit and brought it up on themselves and in my opinion they got what they deserved.
My idiot brain saw the word "astral" and thought this was a new Star Rail video.
idk if anyone else has said this. Didnt bother to look. Lady Maria says "you would do wise to not wake a corpse", or however its worded, because her and the old hunters woke a corpse of a greatone. that great one was Kos. final fight of dlc is orphan of kos. in the lore the hunters and scholars destroyed the area the nightmare represents with experiments done on the villagers by using blood and other things of Kos.
4:18 caught me lacking🤣🤣🤣
Might I suggest sampling some music from the Darkest Dungeon 1 and 2? Both are incredibly atmospheric games with a very talented composer at the helm and I'd be very interested to hear what you pick up from the music without knowing the context behind it. My personal favorites are Town in Chaos, The Final Combat, The Blasted Hearth (from game 1) and the Foetor theme, the Shroud theme, Traversing the Mountain and the Mountain Combat (from game 2).
Don't know if Marco takes suggestions from comments only, but I think it would be really cool to see some reaction and analysis of some of the tracks from the game Dauntless, specially the ones dedicated to the Behemoths, the monsters we hunt as players.
So darn great.
This song goes so hard
the best song ever made
Lady Maria is pretty easy to deal with if you know how to Parry or if you use your guns a lot
My first build was a Tank using the Hunter Axe
Most of the time on bloodborne i just take Hits and retaliate with heavy strikes
Maria was a challenging encounter to me
And the music
Omg
Amazing
Best game I've ever played.
I am pasting this from Ludwig's video
Surprisingly i found Ludwig (both Accursed and Holy Blade) and Lady Maria to be relatively easy bosses.
Nontheless, i was at the edge of my seat because BOTH of the fights are a DANCE.
First phase of Ludwig is a dance with death, you're a hunter, he's a beast. There's viciousness to it, both of you biting at each other's heels after dodging frantically, biting while being bitten.
Second phase becomes a dance between two masters of the art. Ludwig with his holy blade of moonlight, us with our sheer fucking will to push forward.
With Maria, it's right out of the door a full on assault at each other, cut while being cut, attack while attacked, rest, encircle, repeat.
Some of the best fights in gaming history.
you should react to the cleric beast ost, its one of the songs that carries very well the essence of bloodborne
I don't have a PS4 to play it, but this song is so sick.
hey, I was wondering, have you happened to stumble upon the OST of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games?
They have some great songs like "Hidden Lands", "Time Gear", "Second Dark Matter Battle" and "Temporal Tower" among many other great songs which I think you would find interesting ^_^
This and Gehrman's songs are my favorite.
People have probably pointed it out already, but Maria and Gehrman's themes are similar, due in no small part to their respective apprentice-master relationship.
On ghermans part there was a little more than a apprentice master relationship
My only problem is that you used a chopped version, there's a whole section of the second phase missing. The chopped up version lasts 4:03, while the official lasts 4:47. I recommend in the future to look up the official ost in stores for the durations, since the usual that are posted on youtube and have the most views are taken in game, the loops are not properly linked and sections get lost during the phase change.
YESSS! Lyrics analysis! I love this. Can you do the same for other boss themes? For Example, OST of phase 1 and 2 of Azhdaha's boss fight from Genshin? I think you'll love it.
Yup eventually
@@MarcoMeatball Yayyyy! Thank you. You're gonna love Hoyo-Mix lyrics. They add so much to the lore!
Unfortunately this is the looped version. The "correct" version, from start to finish, is this one: ruclips.net/video/i3bityYL1G8/видео.html
Here you can also hear a woman's voice in the background from minute 2:30, which was unfortunately cut out in the version shown here. No idea why, but the version shown in the video, as well as the other songs from the DLC "The Old Hunters", are unfortunately often represented on RUclips.
Also, I want to hear your take on, "Hail the Nightmare." =)
Best song for the best FS boss.
Me when that part of the song comes on: 😯😲😱😢
lol for a sec I thought you accidentally listened to it on the channel twice
Lmao
You should try Father Gascoigne's theme or First Vicar laurence
I think you'd get a kick out of "The Devil's Spear." It's a mashup of Magic Spear and Daredevil from Ace Combat 7 and it's brilliant
Please Listen to “crimson bat” it’s an unused OST from dark souls 3 for the boss “Demon Prince”. It’s truly the best song I’ve ever heard from Yuka Kitamura.
Mark you should review German the First Hunter again!
This track is very similar to Gael's from DS.
I think maybe you should try listening to "isshin, the sword saint" ost from sekiro
Can you review girl's frontline music? Especially the ED of major events
I do think that you'd like the soundtrack from Rogue Trooper, the original, not the redux
Hhmmm no gerhman’s is still better the emotional roller coaster you go on and the pay off… its marvelous so beautiful and melancholic its just another level above all others
@VaatiVidya i would love to see a colab here.
Laurence OST and Ludwig OST are both better imo, but this OST is a banger as well. Tons of good tracks in the various FromSoft Soulsborne games. Lorian/Lothric, Radagon, Godskin Duo, Slave Knight Gael, Father Gascoigne, Cleric Beast, could go on and on.
Gherman the first Hunter plz !!!
please cover Ludwig the holy blade. from bloodborne.
i would also be very happy if you covered, resurrection from Prototype 2.
thank you.
Another day, another victim of the incomplete Maria song.
Twice for him now, lol.
It'll be ok
hey try miracle of sound pale blood moon, its awesome!
Marco, better listen to the Crimson Bat, the OST that unfortunately made it to the release of Dark Souls 3.
Bring back that French Hornist because they f*cking steal the show
I prefer twin princes but this theme is a masterpiece
Listen to flamelucker ost from demon's souls it's so intense .
Coming eventually
@@MarcoMeatball can't wait 😍