Composer Reacts: NARWHAL (Punishing Gray Raven)
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- čas přidán 28. 09. 2022
- A Music Producer's & Game Composer's review of Narwhal by Haloweak, from Punishing: Gray Raven's Soundtrack.
Let's dive deep in the music theory of this cyberpunk anime game's OST!
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Track: NARWHAL by Haloweak ( @Vanguard-Sound )
Game: Punishing: Gray Raven - Hudba
Hey Alex! You don't know how thrilled we see you make this video! Our crew loves you so much!
YOOO THE OG VANGUARD!!!
The goats themselves!
The legendary people themselves dropping by, love your work guys and interactions with content creators ❤
I feel like VSS is becoming like Casey Edward by checking reactions to their song lmao
This is so unreal. I didnt expect VSS reply here
Finally PGR getting the love it deserves
The Game have the best bangers
Dust, Hikari and much more
The game has so much good things, it needs more ads tho, a good one.
the game is great, but the ads isnt@@lynardskynard2895
The devs once gave an interview about their ideas when designing all the soundtracks in PGR to have some unifying themes to them. The electronic music to inspire the player in a fast-paced, precise action rpg that is PGR. But to accommodate the narrative, they also create a more world-ending, melancholic impression to let the player feel the atmosphere of the ruined earth that you're fighting for. And then female vocals and more pleasant melodies are used to offer players a sense of hope even in the post-apocalyptic landscape.
Cool to see Alex recognize each shift and their intention.
You got any ideas where I can read those interviews? Or watch them?
@@qirinezra432 This exact answer was given in the official PGR discord server. You can find this in the game setting q&a channel.
a "world-ending, melancholic impression to let the player feel the atmosphere of the ruined earth that you're fighting for", sounds like Firn Night ost alright (Still sad they havent released it alone for me to play on repeat outside the game)
Alex, just wanted to say that your fashion sense absolutely rocks.
I know right? It’s like if Leon (Squall) rocked KH merch.
He is dripping out of this world !!!
Always
Pure Squall Moukala
his outfit today basically giving that Squal vibes from Final Fantasy
And in the case you don't know, Punishing Grey Raven is heavily inspired in Nier Automata. The main character, Lucia, shares the same Japanese VA of 2B, Changyu have the 9S VA, and so on. There was also a collab between both games.
Idk if them having the same VA counts lol
@@Grimnoire maybe the word collaboration with Nier Automata may say differently
@@Grimnoire theres a in game collab that jsut ended
@@Grimnoire Check PGR x NieR Automata Untold Naraka PV. You could say that both games belong to the same universe.
@@aaron_guzman nope it's not
The story has nothing to do with Nier aside from having the same theme.
They are not in the same universe because yoko taro doesn't want it to.
7:28 imagine a full version of that, what a banger
This game OST is pure bliss, glad you enjoyed Narwhal !
But can we talk about this magnificent Squall perfecto ?
9:39 he figured it out without the need of knowing the story what happened next.
While Narwhal is the most well-known of the tunes to PGR, Vanguard Sound Studio has been putting out incredibly impressive compositions for the latter updates to Punishing Gray Raven. Others I can think of off the top of my head is "Hikari", "Structures", "Lamia" and "Revelation". There are others that have been ripped to CZcams, but I don't know if they've been given an official name.
HAICMAMA theme is so damn good!
Their more Classical Music sounding one are also really nice.
It stands out a lot compared to their usual style.
SIE LIEBTEN SICH BIEDE
dust is a great one too to that list
How dare you forgot last resort? That feel like Narwhal 2.0
Vanguard Sound Studio just does some godly work on Punishing Gray Raven. Narwhal, Hikari, Lamia, they're all banger tracks and boy do they get a lot of mileage out of them.
And DUST too, pals
And Revelations
Its not just that
Also C.O.R.E
And then and then😔😆
Yeah, this boss fight hits like a truck emotionally. You’re fighting a person who is normally a good guy, but they’ve been corrupted and are turning evil. They don’t WANT to fight you, and you don’t want to fight them, but you have to.
You're pretty much spot-on when you say that the boss fight is very emotional. On the one hand, there's Alpha, the girl in the red jacket, who at the time was one of the "villains" in the game. On the other, there's Rosetta, the girl with four legs, who is trying to stop Alpha from capturing, heh, one of the Narwhals. The twist is that the players fight as Alpha against Rosetta, so the song perfectly matches the heartbreak they might feel during the battle because they know they are doing something bad, but they have no choice in the matter. They have to defeat Rosetta because the game made Alpha the protagonist.
Yet, Rosetta at this point fully intended to abandon hundreds of people to death before attacking and trying to kill them and protagonists while all but confirming the townsfolk suspicions. Alpha on the other hand, even though she hates humanity, agreed to defend them and Narwhal while being perfectly reasonable and not at all bloodthirsty. Protagonists were just bystanders and are literally soldiers for a quite questionable and shady spacestation. There are no good nor bad guys in PGR :)
@@Aurilion44 That's actually very true!
You know, with this lore context now understandable to me, it adds 10x more weight to the fight than it did beforehand. Meanwhile I was feeling as though I was in the fight with the duel-like camera angle and song. It really took me for a ride. 😊
@@Aurilion44 I'm sorry but what. No offence but. Also minor spoilers for people who haven't played the game.
The Ascendants are literally trying to genocide all of humanity simply because they see themselves as superior. The only members who have(somewhat) justifiable reasons are Luna, Alpha(and maybe Roland since he's fully loyal to Luna and no-one else). And even that doesn't change the fact they still want to murder every human they come across.
Secondly the only reason Alpha didn't engage the people in this chapter was because she just wanted the Narwhal. Which btw had an important role from stopping a secret doomsday device from going off in said region. And Alpha wad trying to take it away. Why? Because she just wanted to sate her curiosity and literally nothing else. Also she never agreed to defend them she simply ignored cuz she was busy fighting Rosseta(and later Lucia). She only spared that kid(Evan I think) when she saw him trying to protect Rosseta from her.
Also Rosseta never wanted to abandon anyone. In fact quite the opposite. She was there trying to keep the peace and prevent the people from hurting the Narwhal. She only went berserk AFTER Alpha corrupted and provoked her into fighting(as well as trying to convert her into an Ascendant). So Rosseta was literally losing her mind and unable to control herself so your really doing her dirty here.
Also while yes Babylonia may have some questionable methods they are still ultimately trying to preserve humanity.
But hey don't get me wrong. It's a complex story and yes morality is put into question quite often in the game(especially with Alpha). But this wasn't it chief. Here Alpha was clearly in the wrong since she was causing trouble simply to sate her own curiosity and to "have a good fight".
OHHHHH MY GAWWWWWD THANK YOU SO MUCH ALEX AKSJLNFKJSANFJKSDNFKJSANFJKSAFJSANFSNL
Game is great and their entire soundtrack is amazing, I recommend Hikari, or the recent "Left Unsaid" By PGR.
Anyways thank for giving it a chance!
Fun fact PGR devs are HEAVILY inspired by Nier!
Hi boss
Ayeee!
Boss you almost died lmao
Man still left unsaid
BOSS!!!
Narwhal and Hikari is the best osts of the game
6:14 " when Alpha's finisher is full and the beat drops "
I love Hikari, but Lamia outdoes it for me. Albeit not by much.
Just when I thought "Narwhal" couldn't hit harder, you then slap everyone with 7:28. I would definitely be up for a full version of that.
This is what introduced me to trance music. Thanks Gray Raven. Also, an interesting producer I found relating to trance music is Taishi.
Of you like his music, he has a lot of Vocaloid works that combine vocals with trance. They are some of my fave trance tracks, along with PGR songs.
If you want to be introduced to Trance music in a good way I'd recommend you listen, aside from this theme which is great, tunes such as Oceanlab - Satellite and any of Seven Lions's 1999 remixes
Easily check out Diverse System "AD:TRANCE" album. Got Taishi and Nhato. Also Haloweak (The one who did Narwhal) Also in AD:Trance 4 if im not mistaken👀
Also check out Clean Tears as well. Every vocaloid music he made were mixed with trance
There are various sub-genres of Trance, with enough differences between them that you might love one while not at all like another.
With that, my recommendation is Armin van Buuren's album Imagine. The whole album is gr8, not a single track misses.
PGR got so many insane ost , it's an underrated game 🔥 , thx Alex for giving a chance to analyze the narwal ost 🙏🏾
This song is legendary, glad you're reacting to it
Never would have thought Alex Moukala would get to PGR! Thank you for bringing more recognition to this game!
I highly, HIGHLY recommend Hikari, Dust, Lamia, and Revelation as well (just 4 that immediately came to my mind. PGR has so many BANGERS)
Omg!! I never expect you to actually review PGR OSt. Their ost is epic af! And welcome back!!
The buildup into the pause before the drop gives me the feeling of rocketing skyward through the clouds, getting higher and higher and higher, and then breaking through the clouds the acceleration stops, there's this moment where you just _hang_ in the air, breathless as you catch a glimpse of the sky and everything around you. And THEN gravity kicks in and you start plummeting back to the earth at terminal velocity. That's how exciting that drop feels.
Ty I been listening to this song 5 hours
Take a bow Alex. Your feeling on the meaning of the h he track is correct and so much more. Didn't know you were a fan of trance music and it was awesome to see you Geek out about it ( Tiesto 's elements of life is his best trance album ever). Interestingly enough, I find it awesome that your knowledge of music is so deep that I didn't even catch the Bulgarian choir bit. Awesome vid as always 😎
I like how he mentioned about the track putting you into a "State of Trance" - incidentally, that is the name of Armin van Buuren's radio station
Trance is one of my favorite genres just to have a playlist of while doing long drives.
Almost makes the trip a spiritual experience, just such a lovely time!
Diverse System's AD:TRANCE compilation albums are my personal favorite collections to put on~
One of the greatest boss tracks of all time, that beat drop hits so hard you go from being on the back foot of the whole fight to absolutely dominating effortlessly really feels like a learning super Saiyan moment
Your remix for Narwhal is amazing! I hope you'll make full version of it.
I don't even play PGR, but i listened to their music like almost every single day... Narwhal, hikari, revelation and last resort are my favourites
You always allow me to see music in such a different way that then allows me to consider things I never thought had reason. I always make music from the heart but lack intention and deliberation so thank you for always reminding me that every part of a song has a meaning and purpose :)
The part before the drop is to symbolize the calm before the storm.. that is approaching...
Huehuehue, PGR fans will get the joke.
now im little motivated!
Yowai
@@juanignacioquinteros3126 weak!
Provoking!
@@fussia2568osoi!
Welcome back!
Heck yes I've been waiting for Narwhal for so long, that bass remix slaps!
7:30 DAMN now i want your bass remix of NARWHAL so bad 🤤
You should definitely check out more songs in this series if you enjoyed this one enough, like Hikari, Dust, or Lamia. They all do a great job at setting the mood for whatever is going on in the story. I'm sure you'll be able to get a general premise of where the characters are at and/or what's going on if you see these.
Narwhal was the song that ultimately got me to try out PGR, I didn't stay in the game for long. But the music stayed with me forever!
I also love the way you gave examples by recreating the bits of the track individually, it was very interesting to know all the musical aspects! Thank you!
Haven't watched the video yet but I want to say Good Luck in your project at the game industry Alex! Can't wait to listen to the soundtrack!
Ahhh finally PGR! Hopefully you'll do more reaction to PGR music, there are many hidden gems in the game-Last Resort, Revelation, LAMIA, there are just so many music from the game that I think the world needs to listen
can't wait to your reaction about Hikari^^
It's amazing how he could decipher so much of the story from one soundtrack! It's clear that he knows what he's talking about in terms of music and it's interesting to hear from a professional's perspective.
YOOOO PGR music and and interpretation of NARWHAL by you? My day just started and is already great! Thanks se much for hearing this song!
Thanks for the cover on Narwhal, Alex🔥
The PGR community is lovin' it!
Really like the quality of your analyses. You always give these incredibly detailed examples and breakdowns. Even someone like me, who doesn't understand much about music, can reexperience that joy of exploration where you listen to the song for the first time through your reviews. Also, imo Arknight's music is so very good.
Best music to mald to while playing
It’s always so cool to see how much you can get out of music if you know what to look for not just about the technical stuff but about the story it’s trying to convey to because the whole thing about the boss fight being emotional was spot on
As an OG PGR player who is still loving Alpha, I approve and I am still motivated. Liked and subbed.
HES BACK! WITH A FANCY JACKET!
I've been waiting for this moment since PGR global was launched.
All of us PGR players and fans of Vanguard Sound's BGMs would like to see you react to more of PGR bangers like: Dust, Hikari, Dream with you, Moon (CN version), Structures (Nier Automata collab), LAMIA, Revelation, Last Resort and more of its music.
Thank you so much for reviewing something from PGR!!! Both the game and OST are amazing, and I'm so happy it's getting growing recognition!!!
PGR has some absolute bangers. Especially for a mobile game! Narwhal, Hikari, Sie Liebten Sich Beide, and I’m sure there’s some I’m missing. Definitely huge props to Vanguard! Great video man!
It’s been so long since a video came out from you. Always a pleasure to watch you break stuff down
2:17 Glad someone still love this genre of music
THANKYOU ALEX!!
Im so happy there are people reacting to this masterpiece!!
Really nice seeing a video from you! 2 months felt like a really long time. Welcome back, and hopefully you've made bangers for the project you were doing.
I really dig the new format you used for this review with the fade ins and outs of the track
I've been waiting for THIS THANK YOU 🙏🙏🙏
Good to see a new vid, incredible work as always
OMG I am so happy you reacted to this song one of my all time favorites
Me: Surely this song cannot get any better.
Alex at the seven point and twenty seven-second mark: But what if I funk it up a lil bit?
Glad to see you back, Alex. Hope your game scoring work is going well. Been missing your vids, but you definitely deserve more opportunities like this.
I was introduced to this track not too long ago. ...I swear I almost hear "The Man with the Machine Gun" after the drop.
PGR is leaning toward electro style (Liebten Sich Beide) and Genshin (Die Mittsommernacht-Fantasie) is like mix up of all crazy things, these two really crazy like its German opera right there and these people DELIVER you guys should be in a hall of fame, keep it up ma brothas
Man, man, can we get a full version of your mix? That was sick!
An amazing review of an amazing song! Thank you!
i am SO excited for your future ost
2:45 that fire
WOOHHHH !!! FINALLY !!!
Play the chapter when this bgm played, you'll love it for sure.
I did subscribe to your Patreon almost exclusively to make you talk about PGR and Vanguard Sound. And I gotta say, you delivered !
Thank you :)
I hope his patreon now bombards him to react and breakdown Hikari. Narwhal is amazing, but Hikari is... Well the best track in the game for different reasons.
He exactly describes the boss fight just from listening thru the music wow
FINALLY. I've been needing you to look at this banger.
Hell yes! Vanguard Sound Studio getting more recognition for their *incredible* work~
Yesss! More Alex content let's goooo! Been missing it lately, but understand you've been very busy ;)
I love your reaction. You dont just tell us how you feel but also how it is made. That's the best part of your commentary
Also the game is as engaging as the music. PGR is unlike most mobile arpg where the bosses are bullet sponge. They are fast, hits hard and later boss have unique gimmicks (parry, UI messing, time stop). They are frustating to fight, but also rewarding once you master it. Hopefully you can cover more PGR ost & Vanguard music
You hit the nail in 8:37 about being intumate & emotional. That's Alpha vs Rosetta final fight. And yeah, they both have a tragic backstory. It's amazing how you can grasp the story based on the song alone
you're here of course you are
@@thepunishersequence291 I see this dude everywhere in any comment section relating to pgr lmao. Always a joy to read his comments. Although idk why his name relates to the MC of genshin.
I madd this account for GI video at first. Then i play PGR but decided to keep it as i'm too lazy to make new one lol. Glad to see u guys enjoy my comments
@@DisappointedAether hell yeah man you're the justin y of pgr
Your in depth explanation gave me so much insights to understanding musics, and i'm glad that you liked Narwhal. It's the pride of us PGR players
PGR ost has a special place in my heart. Especially Hikari and Last Resort. The vocals always push me to fully commit to an action whether it be sustaining dps, pulling a pallet or just walking. It has that sort of push whether it be aggressive or subtle.
Good to see you back Alex !
Alex bringing us the FASHION always. That coat is *chefs kiss*
Eyyyy! PGR finally 💓 thanks for showing it some love!
There are so many nice songs including Last Resort, Lamia, Dust
You're the first creator I've ever seen to make that Narwhal song joke. Not even a minute in and you got another subscriber. That shit was hilarious and caught me off guard.
More about the video itself. I appreciate the time you take to give your thoughts on the music but also offering examples of how the piece was likely created. It all really showcases your knowledge about the subject as a composer and your attention to detail.
Fantastic job. Far and above most react channels I've come across.
I LOVE to see that creators are FINALLY reacting to PGR's soundtrack.
1 thing i'd like to add is that the echoey vocals and the reverb in some of the parts in the song rly paint well the place of the battle which is in mountain like Arctic glaciers. Amazing review though, absolutely love it
Proud trance fan here as well!
Love how PGR is getting more and more recognized.
Need the full release of 2:45
This song is BY FAR MY FAVORITE of VSS I legit always use it at the gym, the hype it gives is incredible
The chores is always give me some goosebumps
Good to see you publishing videos again bro. Keep rocking that Squall jacket!
also, please, please remix The Gigantipede from FF7 Intermission :)
I had no idea Alex was composing for another game. I need to check it out now
Finally PGR, thank's alex for reaction to this Ost as we request
I'm extremely happy to see PGR being given more recognition!!
SHAAAVED!? looks good man and a good video like always
Every OST he touches turns it funky and this is one of them that I will put on repeat.
This commandant approves and will groove with this for hours.
Love this style of reaction, so inspectful ! If you can I would also recommend you to check out similar track from them like "Lamia" or "Revelation", those track needed the same amount of loves just like this track.
OMG ALEX YOU ANSWERED A QUESTION IVE BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A late 1990's - 2000 boomer. Trance music is my life's jam. This song makes me drift into the deepest planes of the universe and forget about reality.
PGR has some very futuristic melancholic tracks out there. I love it! 🙏
Awesome analysis!
非常專業的解說，中間還秀了一段，厲害
Hi! first video I'm watching and yea this song is really immersive! very intense! And honestly, my favorite fight boss in the game because of the boss and the immersion which is amazingly immersive! this game is a master piece to me for the song, sound effect, animation
Thank you! Narwhal is one of my favourite song list.😄
Please please please release the full version of the funky remix of this song!!!
Please, I hope you post a version with your bass on it. I can never listen to the original too much, but would love to listen to a complete version of yours too!
Thank you very much for this! It's so beautiful ❤🔥 PGR needs more love. The game's OSTs are great!
Finally i'm being waiting for this moment!