Holy Leyndell, this is epic. Now that I'm working my way through Elden Ring (thanks to my stream buddies guiding me) I can safely say Radagon seems truly terrifying. Our actions in the game sure don't feel like for the benefit of the Lands Between..I believe Elden Ring may actually be a modern retelling of Richard Wagner's the Ring Cycle in a lot of ways. I've thought this since I started reading the basics of the lore and watching in game moments. I'd encourage you to check out the Elden Beast full video: czcams.com/video/ClqeMO5BdVI/video.html And if you want to throw around your other Fromsoft Suggestions feel free to check out the Patreon: patreon.com/marcomeatball - That's where I'll be taking all the suggestions for the channel moving forward plus my own choices. More Elden Ring to come...
If you're interested in another video game inspired by Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen, I recommend looking into a very niche, very pretty game called "Odin Sphere". It was originally released on the Playstation 2, but got an updated remaster on Playstation 4 called "Odin Sphere Leifthrasir"
I love that on the latter half of his theme you can hear the initial shattering of the elden ring, something shown in the first cutscene, and then you can hear in the background radagons attempts to repair it, with each of the hammer strikes.
The initial shatter is at 1:20 right? you also hear the same sound effect at the beginning of the song. I also can hear the hammer noises that sound like shattered pieces of the ring hitting the ground. I noticed the sound but never realized the "shatter" noise was about the Elden Ring.
@@ChibiOnVR the start is a hammer strike yes. But theres this… raise after it. I think that could be representative of the elden ring itself, the strike and raise basically showing how radagon himself is brandishing the elden ring (or rather he is the vessel of the elden ring) whereas where you hear it again its representing the elden ring being shattered, as that includes the shattering sound that we also got in the intro.
@@onewheeledcar6030 it also can be a reference that the shatter is what started everything. "The final battle" is a remaster of the main theme, which is the first song you hear while it itself is the final theme. The shattering is what started your journey which is what "the final battle" is trying to emphasize (your journey). It's a very nice touch, and I'm happy they added it.
Radagon is one of the most mysterious characters in the game and the lore isn’t concrete on him at all. But your assessment of “brute confidence” definitely fits. I got the vibe Radagon had no intent to do anything but crush us into fodder for the Erdtree. His demeanor is literally a walking pace the whole time combined with absolutely earth shattering power moves. He definitely exudes this vibe of “You are going to understand what true strength is.”
@@williamarrowood6561 he and marika aren't god though. They are likely a kind of prophet/messenger from The outer god itself. Having blessed little with their power. The finger or Outerspace is the truely God Entity in ER universe.
@@arik2216 The way I understand it is that Marika and Radagon are Gods, and that’s why their children are Demi-Gods. The Elden Beast is a manifestation of the Greater Will itself
Not only is this the main theme, it’s the main theme backward (kinda) since at the menu it plays the lone Elden Beast string plucks right at the start. The last song you’ll hear in the game is an alternate version of the first
I like that too, it's like the "I open at the close". We start with the wonder, and delve into the battles and the unforgiving nature. We end with a difficult and epic battle and when finished we are filled with wonder and sadness (because it is over)
Well because he is tecnically dead. Is just a puppet in the hands of the greater will. The half of his body missing filled with dark "smoke" that is the control on radagon body from the grater will.
Hammer smack. Teleport. Teleport again. Stars. Bolt. Teleport. Teleport. Hammer smack. Stars. Form elden ring on ground with hammer. Grab and destroy face. Teleport.
*Player cases a spell as Radagon approaches.* *Radagon PARRIES the spell then dives in and choke slams them.* I've seen this happen so many times in streams and clips.
What I love most about Radagon's theme is simply that it conveys PRECISELY what is happening, Radagon doesn't even bother to introduce himself how every other demigod has thus far, you have absolutely no idea what is going on in his head beyond being sure that Radagon wants to end you and will stop at nothing to do so, there are no words, no sense of who is right here and who is wrong, just the mutual understanding that it's about to go down and will be the fight of your life
"You are a mere plaything..." - Yep, that is exactly how I felt when I met Radagon the first time. And I STILL feel like a mere plaything every time I meet him, and I did beat him a couple of times by now. But that fight gave me PTSD. I consider this to be the toughest fight in the entire game and DLC for me (and yes, everyone is different, my nightmare is Radagon), even though Promised Consort was pretty tough, too. I only met Elden Beast like 20 or 25 times total so far in all my playthroughs combined, and for every attempt at Elden Beast, I had to attempt Radagon at least 10 times. I guess everyone has their own souls-nemesis, mine for sure is Radagon (Pontiff is a close second). Still absolutely one of my favourite fights though, so I did not mind too much.
I love that Elden Beast kinda had a "PLIM PLOM" with those string plucks like Gwyn had. Almost sounds like the two of the three iconic notes in his piano theme.
Marika and Radagon are such fascinating characters, with one fighting for the Golden Order and one fighting to break it. Marika shattered the Elden Ring while Radagon tried to repair it. The hammer clangs in this song fit so well!
At around 1:21 there’s a woman almost crying out, a single tone coming from the mens part of the choir and then a sound of like glass shattering. It almost feels like the moment Marika has lost any semblance of power over Radagon and he’s free to try and save everything he was held back from saving before. That’s why I think it also gets very tribal with the drum, it’s the flaming power of Radagon bursting through :)
I always got a sense that there is a foreboding and very sorrowful tale to Radagon's part in all of this and honestly his theme sort of plays it out for me. The beginning is a war between himself and Marika, so a literal fight with himself (to a degree as we have plenty of evidence and hints in the game that he is his own person while also being Marika and vice versa) and that when you hear that woman's voice that's Marika winning just long enough to shatter the Elden Ring and then you can hear the hammer hits afterwards, like that is Radagon trying so hard to undo what Marika has done and then it just...ends. Just simmers out. Because he fails. It's tragic really - we get all throughout the game how Radagon is this almost pure icon for the Golden Order, someone who represents loyalty to the Erdtree and yet how is he rewarded for his loyalty? Crucified and imprisoned along with Marika even though he tried so hard to fix it. Imo he represents the Jesus figure far more than Marika herself - she intended to do what she did and he paid for it along with her.
@@lurksmcgee From what I gather, Radagon wanted his family with Rennala, and his children. I believe Marika cursed him, or otherwise forced him into obedience to become her Elden Lord. Marika stole Ranni's father, brainwashed her brother into worshiping Godfrey, and shattered her mother's mind. What surprise is it then that Ranni made the gestalt Radagon/Marika pay in a way that would only hurt Marika: Killing her favorite son in the worst way possible. Then Marika, likely absolutely distraught and infuriated, lashed out so violently Radagon couldn't stop her from shattering the Elden Ring. After that, the Greater Will itself punished them, at one crucifying both their greatest champion and greatest failure. As such, the Lands Between were paralyzed. In the final war for the fate of the Ring, both sides had lost their greatest tool. The other gods and demigods dead, dying, or otherwise incapacitated.
The best way I can describe Radagon's theme is that its "Grandiose". It has that heroic sound, that "You are standing among a god and you, a being not on my level of status and power, are challenging me?" Cocky, broad, herculean heroic vibe
YES! been waiting for this one. the music starting as Radagon raises his hammer with his body cracked to literal pieces: instant chills. also the music sounds so glorious and powerful like you said but the guy you fight looks broken and expressionless.
@@ganjaroofverema2816 I can respect "Hesitation is defeat" because it makes sense for the character and is actively advising you on how to beat the boss. That other one though..
Man, I remember playing this game when it came out and fighting Radagon with this banger of an ost was so exciting. Went through NG+ just to listen to this ost lol
Its cool to see that the main theme of Radagon's ost resembles some souls games. A "sample" of demon's souls, the first notes of main theme and Elden Beast resembling Gwyn's ost, the vocal telling a history, similar to bloodborne. Its an amalgamation of all Learnings that Fromsoftware aquired in these fifteen years. When i first entered the boss room, this ost was like a gift.
This was it, through thick and thin you made it to the end, you see Marika's broken corpse strung up, she drops to the ground, her hair turns red, and in front of you stands Radagon, he picks up Marika's hammer, and the music drops. Very few games have invoked such a primal and visceral emotional response from me, but this game did. What a masterpiece.
Radagon’s theme had always struck me as Radagon saying, “I shall spare you no quarter, no mercy. Die, now.” and just expecting that to happen, regardless of my own efforts against his will.
I love the trope of “main theme played in the final battle” and its just so absolutely perfect here. I remember telling my friends when I was just listening to the main theme that it would be perfect for boss music. And then it was! It really makes everything come full circle.
I like the Elden Beast part more because of the chorus. And of course the chords in the beginning that remind of Gwyn's theme :) The main theme is great, of course.
The way Elden Beast OST sounds, man it's actually something you can feel in your soul. The way the song goes along with the flow of the Elden Beast the way how you can hear grief, sadness, and sorrow in the OST how just by hearing the piece you know your about to fight something celestial something that transcends the very fabric of reality. Idk that's my take on it
I'd just binge watched Doctor Who for the first time through David Tennant's Doctor ... so the 'Time Lord' theme really stuck in my head .... and the Elden Beast's song with the woman singing sounds REALLY close to that.
I think an interesting point is that this is essentially the main theme backwards. In the main theme the soft notes of Elden Beast explode into Radagon furious sound. Here, Radagon’s fury is replaced by the Elden Beasts theme. It’s a cycle.
Here’s a fun little fact The main brass part is a sample from the Demon’s Souls main theme, the game that started Soulsborne as a genre and put FromSoft on the map.
He’s the only boss in the game who can parry ranged attacks, he literally swats them away like a fly. Like many others have said he’s just about taking action and having a no bs attitude.
I like how we never got to fight Marika, but Radagon instead since Marika wanted all this to happen, but Radagon was the will of the Greater Will and couldn't handle Marika's betrayal. I think this is an expression of Radagon's fury against Marika and his determination to destroy all she tried to accomplish with her betrayal.
It isn’t exactly described why radagon and Marika have different wills or why they are ever separate, but it is clear that marika wanted it all to end, likely because she was through with being a god or being ordered around. I really hope we get more info in dlc
@@jonahward4522 You should both do the goldmask questline, the info is already in the game :) You might be surprised by how wrong you are about Radagon and Marika
@@jonahward4522 no he doesn't? You have to tell Goldmask that Marika and Radagon are the same people. After you reveal the "secret" of the statue of Radagon in Leyndell.
Well Marika never intended to fight us but wanted us to correct what was wrong with the golden order or get rid of it entirely. Radagon was just a fanatic of the golden order not really the "will" of the Greater will, just a tool to be used and discarded by the Greater will. The elden beast converts his body into the sacred relic sword, symbolic of him being just a tool.
2:54 oh he doesn’t control the golden order, the golden order controls him lol. You’re basically fighting a husk of a man who has become the vessel of the elden ring. And after you beat him, elden beast turns him into a sword lol. It could be said that radagon willingly gave himself up to the golden order but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s being controlled by a higher power
Minor DLC spoiler (the name of a later area): This hits extra hard after witnessing the shaman village. I almost feel like the harp is Marikas instrument and stands for her. Then on the other hand, Marika herself isn't present in the Elden Beast fight. But the Elden beast isn't present in the Shaman village either. Because it also plays during the trailer when Marika is shown, it's most likely I think, that the harp represents her, even though it doesn't fit perfectly.
Radagon is more than just a lord He is a god I actually played attention to the lore while playing so I was hoping I would face him And when the color of the hair changed I knew One of my favourite bosses
It's so cool going back to the original release trailers and stuff. Looking back now, it's so obvious that they're the same, they showed it in the first five seconds of the first trailer... but nobody had any idea what they meant back then.
His theme is great, with the shattering and the loss of hope, the lyrics "God help us, God save us from our sorrow" really embodies what Radagon's trying to do in repairing the ring
The main theme being so intense matches Radagon's aggressiveness. It hammers into you with dutiful purpose as he marches or leaps towards you, hurling magic and swinging that club like a wrecking ball. The way he also slaps aside spells or teleports to avoid attacks and close in on you also lend themselves to the theme's inexorable momentum.
The way this song is played in the main menu and at the final fight is genius when you consider what you go through in the game At the start the music and the intro serves to hype you up, to give you the idea that you are a hero, called to save the lands between. But the more you explore the world, the more you'll realize that you're not hero, but rather a pawn of a desperate outer god seeking to protect their rule over a land suffering their inaction. You'll find stronger tarnished who answered the call and failed, and you'll learn that you're one of if not the last to be called back, a weak nobody in the face of the renowned heroes that were called before you. In fact you only made any progress at all was thanks to Melina helping you get stronger and the gods refusing to let you die But despite all that, you eventually stand before the Elden Ring, a once nobody standing before a god. The music plays again, this time with greater energy and power into it, as if telling you that you may not be a hero everyone expected, but here you can become one. Slay the god and earn what you have fought long and hard for
I got more the sense that Radagon is RadaGONE and he's being walked around by the Elden Beast and when that doesn't work the Elden Beast just salvages his corpse and transforms it into a weapon...
What I love about this final boss theme vs the dark souls and bloodborne ones is that in ds and bb, the final theme sounds like you're trying to save a world that can't be saved (ds) or you're putting a dead world out of its misery (bb) but this one, sounds like you're attempting to save a world that can still be saved. Pretty powerful stuff
to me it sounds like the world is desperately trying to convince you that it DOESN’T need saving; Radagon is practically falling apart but he does NOT act the part; he walks slowly toward you with a slight smile despite the tragedy that surrounds him. Every action he takes is with the intent to kill you and remind you of who he is, what he means to the world. HE doesn’t want us to save the world because he doesn’t want to believe it’s truly broken, and that his time is done.
The masculine power of Radagon's music contrasted with the feminine gentleness of the Elden Beast's makes it seem obvious to me that the latter is meant to represent Marika, even though you're not fighting her per se. The solo soprano in particular seems like it could stand in for Marika herself, singing alone against the "cosmic" chorus representing the overwhelming weight of her duty as a god.
It makes sense that the Elden Beast's theme is so otherworldly because it is the envoy of the Greater Will, an Outer God. It is not of this world, it is alien to the Lands Between. And supposedly the design of the EB with the way the stars and such are is based off of a real life galaxy, so with it's design they were going for a very cosmic otherworldly creature. If you notice when it retrieves it's sword, it's not just pulling it out of the water, it's sword is made up of the remains of Radagon/Marika which really shows what they really meant to the Greater Will overall.
"Sheer and utter violence..." Me: Experiences flashbacks to getting grabbed and having a giant magical golden hammer smashed into my face repeatedly... He's not wrong.
Odd that this is basically the Summer Game Fest trailer music but a bit toned down. Especially at around 1:00, the trailer song has a lot more brass here and ”power” to it.
This might be one of the best final boss themes I've ever heard honestly. The build up to this fight is amazing. Throughout your whole journey through the Lands Between, the name of Radagon keeps reappearing, mentioned by multiple NPCs and littered across item descriptions, there's so much mystery behind this character. And when you finally enter that golden light, and see him get up, take his hammer, raise it up high and turn towards you is an absolutely incredible moment that never fails to give me goosebumps, even on New Game +5. Great reaction, keep up the awesome work!
Man I love the final themes of Elden Rings. They each portray various aspects of your journey throughout the game. And oh boy. I've done so many fights for people for Rad/EB, and the amount of times I see people get absolutely obliterated by Rad, is insane. So many people make the mistake of trying to give Rad a back massage during one particular move, and oh boy does it always end badly. That, or just watching him just do his spell deflection or just doing his super lunge and absolutely smacking a Tarnished into two day ago. He is 100%a vigor check boss, no doubt. That and damage negation too. Remember people, eat your crab, it might just save your life.
Elden Ring being my first soulsborne game honestly was such a good introduction to Fromsoftware's catalogue. This finale has stuck to me like glue, ESPECIALLY this theme
This is actually our theme. It's an epic version of the main menu theme which is a call to us to claim glory and this is our journey come to fruition. Poetry in motion
He's whooping your ass so badly, you try, try and retry to beat him... But after you beat him, you realize you won against a dead corpse. Imagine this guy now, when he was alive, in his prime (For example when he was against the giants). I think this guy can be more terrifying than Sephiroth.
Radagon’s theme is a prime example of “you didn’t take the hint” since your clearly not welcome, so you force your way inside and this guy comes down to remind you
Not only the best theme in Fromsoftware, but maybe the best theme in gaming ever. The drums just hit you right in the chest, the choir just blows you back, its just so good. While I understand why Gwyn's music was so sad and somber, I always wanted to feel like I'm fighting a god. I want the music to reflect that. Radagon's music felt like you are not just fighting "a" god. If felt like you are fighting "the" god of Elden Ring's world. Mirroring many of the musical themes and techiques of its own games title theme, but giving a satisfying musical culmination to your entire journey, plus right after this Elden Beast gives you those plin plin plon vibes all the way from the first Dark Souls. Radagon/Elden Beast feels like being rewarded musically for being with Fromsoftware through the entire ride. And what a ride its been.
The Golden Order is basically the reign of the Elden Ring as overseen by Queen Marika, after the Elden Beast (which becomes the Elden Ring) arrived from space. Radagon can be interpreted moreso as the enforcer of the Golden Order, who have conquered the Lands Between in the name of this order.
@@syaoran5476 nope, Golden Order Is Gnosis of Marika of elden ring. what is elden ring? Elden Ring "Soul" metaphysical item that Sustains and Governs the world, it tends to transcend life, giving it its fullest brilliance. after Travelled to the land between, she discovered The Elden Ring and willing herself to conjoin with it.
Radagon is brute power and will stop at nothing to kill you. You are an insect to the Elden Beast, not meant to be taken seriously, and it will dispose of you with more grace and ease than Radagon ever could even through its weakened state at the hands of Marika.
Holy Leyndell, this is epic. Now that I'm working my way through Elden Ring (thanks to my stream buddies guiding me) I can safely say Radagon seems truly terrifying. Our actions in the game sure don't feel like for the benefit of the Lands Between..I believe Elden Ring may actually be a modern retelling of Richard Wagner's the Ring Cycle in a lot of ways. I've thought this since I started reading the basics of the lore and watching in game moments.
I'd encourage you to check out the Elden Beast full video: czcams.com/video/ClqeMO5BdVI/video.html
And if you want to throw around your other Fromsoft Suggestions feel free to check out the Patreon: patreon.com/marcomeatball - That's where I'll be taking all the suggestions for the channel moving forward plus my own choices.
More Elden Ring to come...
Without spoiling anything, I think you're more right than you know. In particular, keep Götterdammerung in the back of your mind as you proceed.
If you're looking for a lore-friendly exclaimation, I suggest "Marika's tits!"
If you're interested in another video game inspired by Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen, I recommend looking into a very niche, very pretty game called "Odin Sphere". It was originally released on the Playstation 2, but got an updated remaster on Playstation 4 called "Odin Sphere Leifthrasir"
"And then Elden Beast is just... not bad" oh boy wait until he learns how it is just as bad.
Radagons movements in the fight are very much in the uncanny valley on purpose, but in an "above human" way, especially above human emotions.
I love that on the latter half of his theme you can hear the initial shattering of the elden ring, something shown in the first cutscene, and then you can hear in the background radagons attempts to repair it, with each of the hammer strikes.
Didn’t even notice that that’s crazy
Amazing observation bro
The initial shatter is at 1:20 right? you also hear the same sound effect at the beginning of the song. I also can hear the hammer noises that sound like shattered pieces of the ring hitting the ground. I noticed the sound but never realized the "shatter" noise was about the Elden Ring.
@@ChibiOnVR the start is a hammer strike yes. But theres this… raise after it. I think that could be representative of the elden ring itself, the strike and raise basically showing how radagon himself is brandishing the elden ring (or rather he is the vessel of the elden ring) whereas where you hear it again its representing the elden ring being shattered, as that includes the shattering sound that we also got in the intro.
@@onewheeledcar6030 it also can be a reference that the shatter is what started everything. "The final battle" is a remaster of the main theme, which is the first song you hear while it itself is the final theme. The shattering is what started your journey which is what "the final battle" is trying to emphasize (your journey). It's a very nice touch, and I'm happy they added it.
Radagon is one of the most mysterious characters in the game and the lore isn’t concrete on him at all. But your assessment of “brute confidence” definitely fits. I got the vibe Radagon had no intent to do anything but crush us into fodder for the Erdtree. His demeanor is literally a walking pace the whole time combined with absolutely earth shattering power moves. He definitely exudes this vibe of “You are going to understand what true strength is.”
"A crown is warrented with strength!"
while pinning your body then bonk your face into the ground
Well... he’s a God... soooo
Well he’s also Marika... but still 😂
@@williamarrowood6561 he and marika aren't god though.
They are likely a kind of prophet/messenger from The outer god itself. Having blessed little with their power. The finger or Outerspace is the truely God Entity in ER universe.
@@arik2216 The way I understand it is that Marika and Radagon are Gods, and that’s why their children are Demi-Gods. The Elden Beast is a manifestation of the Greater Will itself
He's not beating you with a hammer. He's smithing you into a better player.
Forging you into an Elden lord.
@@justin9489 Fr
I'd argue he is definitely beating you with a hammer
Not only is this the main theme, it’s the main theme backward (kinda) since at the menu it plays the lone Elden Beast string plucks right at the start. The last song you’ll hear in the game is an alternate version of the first
I like that too, it's like the "I open at the close". We start with the wonder, and delve into the battles and the unforgiving nature. We end with a difficult and epic battle and when finished we are filled with wonder and sadness (because it is over)
I was about to say. “Radagon doesn’t speak. He just starts beating your ass. He’s about that action” 😂
Actions speak louder than words.
Well because he is tecnically dead. Is just a puppet in the hands of the greater will. The half of his body missing filled with dark "smoke" that is the control on radagon body from the grater will.
Hammer smack. Teleport. Teleport again. Stars. Bolt. Teleport. Teleport. Hammer smack. Stars. Form elden ring on ground with hammer. Grab and destroy face. Teleport.
He just lifts his hammer in the air, basically saying, “You see this, I am going to take it and beat your ass into a bloody pulp with it.”
*Player cases a spell as Radagon approaches.*
*Radagon PARRIES the spell then dives in and choke slams them.*
I've seen this happen so many times in streams and clips.
What I love most about Radagon's theme is simply that it conveys PRECISELY what is happening, Radagon doesn't even bother to introduce himself how every other demigod has thus far, you have absolutely no idea what is going on in his head beyond being sure that Radagon wants to end you and will stop at nothing to do so, there are no words, no sense of who is right here and who is wrong, just the mutual understanding that it's about to go down and will be the fight of your life
To me this song represents a very battle weary Tarnished finally passing through the veil to achieve victory, only to be met with one final battle.
"You are a mere plaything..." - Yep, that is exactly how I felt when I met Radagon the first time. And I STILL feel like a mere plaything every time I meet him, and I did beat him a couple of times by now. But that fight gave me PTSD. I consider this to be the toughest fight in the entire game and DLC for me (and yes, everyone is different, my nightmare is Radagon), even though Promised Consort was pretty tough, too. I only met Elden Beast like 20 or 25 times total so far in all my playthroughs combined, and for every attempt at Elden Beast, I had to attempt Radagon at least 10 times. I guess everyone has their own souls-nemesis, mine for sure is Radagon (Pontiff is a close second). Still absolutely one of my favourite fights though, so I did not mind too much.
No words, just divine wrath and the hammer of god.
I love that Elden Beast kinda had a "PLIM PLOM" with those string plucks like Gwyn had. Almost sounds like the two of the three iconic notes in his piano theme.
Soul of cinder also incorporates these two notes
And radagon has the motif from demon's souls main theme!!!!
l l l l l l ll l l l l ll l
Marika and Radagon are such fascinating characters, with one fighting for the Golden Order and one fighting to break it. Marika shattered the Elden Ring while Radagon tried to repair it. The hammer clangs in this song fit so well!
Radagon is Marika
@@xinlou6707 I know
At around 1:21 there’s a woman almost crying out, a single tone coming from the mens part of the choir and then a sound of like glass shattering.
It almost feels like the moment Marika has lost any semblance of power over Radagon and he’s free to try and save everything he was held back from saving before. That’s why I think it also gets very tribal with the drum, it’s the flaming power of Radagon bursting through :)
I absolutely love that, just the image that gave me in my head. Great description!
Radagon is Marika
@@Alcomedy
Yesn‘t
I always got a sense that there is a foreboding and very sorrowful tale to Radagon's part in all of this and honestly his theme sort of plays it out for me. The beginning is a war between himself and Marika, so a literal fight with himself (to a degree as we have plenty of evidence and hints in the game that he is his own person while also being Marika and vice versa) and that when you hear that woman's voice that's Marika winning just long enough to shatter the Elden Ring and then you can hear the hammer hits afterwards, like that is Radagon trying so hard to undo what Marika has done and then it just...ends. Just simmers out. Because he fails.
It's tragic really - we get all throughout the game how Radagon is this almost pure icon for the Golden Order, someone who represents loyalty to the Erdtree and yet how is he rewarded for his loyalty? Crucified and imprisoned along with Marika even though he tried so hard to fix it. Imo he represents the Jesus figure far more than Marika herself - she intended to do what she did and he paid for it along with her.
@@lurksmcgee From what I gather, Radagon wanted his family with Rennala, and his children. I believe Marika cursed him, or otherwise forced him into obedience to become her Elden Lord.
Marika stole Ranni's father, brainwashed her brother into worshiping Godfrey, and shattered her mother's mind. What surprise is it then that Ranni made the gestalt Radagon/Marika pay in a way that would only hurt Marika: Killing her favorite son in the worst way possible.
Then Marika, likely absolutely distraught and infuriated, lashed out so violently Radagon couldn't stop her from shattering the Elden Ring. After that, the Greater Will itself punished them, at one crucifying both their greatest champion and greatest failure. As such, the Lands Between were paralyzed. In the final war for the fate of the Ring, both sides had lost their greatest tool. The other gods and demigods dead, dying, or otherwise incapacitated.
The best way I can describe Radagon's theme is that its "Grandiose". It has that heroic sound, that "You are standing among a god and you, a being not on my level of status and power, are challenging me?" Cocky, broad, herculean heroic vibe
YES! been waiting for this one. the music starting as Radagon raises his hammer with his body cracked to literal pieces: instant chills.
also the music sounds so glorious and powerful like you said but the guy you fight looks broken and expressionless.
Yes it is instant chill, until you are hearing it for 3 fucking hours straight
@@ganjaroofverema2816 At least he doesn't spout a tiresome line every single time you die, UNLIKE A CERTAIN SOMEONE
@@InternetHydra oh boy, "I AM MALENIA, BLADE OF MIQUELLA" Or "HESITATION IS DEAFEAT"
@@ganjaroofverema2816 MIQUELLA IS MINE AND MINE ALONE
@@ganjaroofverema2816 I can respect "Hesitation is defeat" because it makes sense for the character and is actively advising you on how to beat the boss. That other one though..
This song is not happy, this song is not sad. This song is simply power and glory!
this is my fav OST in Elden Ring
Man, I remember playing this game when it came out and fighting Radagon with this banger of an ost was so exciting. Went through NG+ just to listen to this ost lol
Its cool to see that the main theme of Radagon's ost resembles some souls games. A "sample" of demon's souls, the first notes of main theme and Elden Beast resembling Gwyn's ost, the vocal telling a history, similar to bloodborne. Its an amalgamation of all Learnings that Fromsoftware aquired in these fifteen years. When i first entered the boss room, this ost was like a gift.
This was it, through thick and thin you made it to the end, you see Marika's broken corpse strung up, she drops to the ground, her hair turns red, and in front of you stands Radagon, he picks up Marika's hammer, and the music drops. Very few games have invoked such a primal and visceral emotional response from me, but this game did. What a masterpiece.
Radagon’s theme had always struck me as Radagon saying, “I shall spare you no quarter, no mercy. Die, now.” and just expecting that to happen, regardless of my own efforts against his will.
I love the trope of “main theme played in the final battle” and its just so absolutely perfect here. I remember telling my friends when I was just listening to the main theme that it would be perfect for boss music. And then it was! It really makes everything come full circle.
I like the Elden Beast part more because of the chorus.
And of course the chords in the beginning that remind of Gwyn's theme :)
The main theme is great, of course.
he fights you like youre nothing too. straight up bonking you with that hammer of his
The way Elden Beast OST sounds, man it's actually something you can feel in your soul. The way the song goes along with the flow of the Elden Beast the way how you can hear grief, sadness, and sorrow in the OST how just by hearing the piece you know your about to fight something celestial something that transcends the very fabric of reality. Idk that's my take on it
I'd just binge watched Doctor Who for the first time through David Tennant's Doctor ... so the 'Time Lord' theme really stuck in my head .... and the Elden Beast's song with the woman singing sounds REALLY close to that.
Radagons Theme is so powerful and epic and then elden beast theme kicks in, the weight of the world, weltschmerz.
my favourite part is the music that plays in the cutscene before you fight elden beast
I had a friend listen to this track, and she was saying it hurt her ears but she didn’t care because it was that epic!
I think an interesting point is that this is essentially the main theme backwards. In the main theme the soft notes of Elden Beast explode into Radagon furious sound. Here, Radagon’s fury is replaced by the Elden Beasts theme. It’s a cycle.
I can't help but watch as he describes the chad Pikachu in the background.
hahahaha
Man when I first fought Radagon this music was as so hype
When you look to one of radagon's painting, you'll see the radagon that described by this
Radagon. such a good fight.
What a track
just gonna say I started screaming wiht goosebumps in a positive way
Here’s a fun little fact
The main brass part is a sample from the Demon’s Souls main theme, the game that started Soulsborne as a genre and put FromSoft on the map.
I haven't seen anyone mention this yet but this theme is a reimagining of the original demons souls theme
Trust me, Marco, you need to play Elden Ring.
A strong and wrathful theme is necessary for a fight with a third of God
This boss's presentation is godlike
I see you.
He’s the only boss in the game who can parry ranged attacks, he literally swats them away like a fly. Like many others have said he’s just about taking action and having a no bs attitude.
Best music ever heard)
3:40 “I know...in my bones... A Tarnished cannot become a Lord. Not even you. A man cannot kill a god...”
Damn bro straight into the video, comparatively, this is a very quick intro
No one watches my beginnings and endings. 🥺
in this video the theme sounds better than i can find it elsewhere how
I like how we never got to fight Marika, but Radagon instead since Marika wanted all this to happen, but Radagon was the will of the Greater Will and couldn't handle Marika's betrayal. I think this is an expression of Radagon's fury against Marika and his determination to destroy all she tried to accomplish with her betrayal.
It isn’t exactly described why radagon and Marika have different wills or why they are ever separate, but it is clear that marika wanted it all to end, likely because she was through with being a god or being ordered around. I really hope we get more info in dlc
@@jonahward4522 You should both do the goldmask questline, the info is already in the game :) You might be surprised by how wrong you are about Radagon and Marika
@@WhamBam_TV what? Radagon and marika are one and the same. Gold mask figures that out himself.
@@jonahward4522 no he doesn't? You have to tell Goldmask that Marika and Radagon are the same people. After you reveal the "secret" of the statue of Radagon in Leyndell.
Well Marika never intended to fight us but wanted us to correct what was wrong with the golden order or get rid of it entirely. Radagon was just a fanatic of the golden order not really the "will" of the Greater will, just a tool to be used and discarded by the Greater will. The elden beast converts his body into the sacred relic sword, symbolic of him being just a tool.
2:54 oh he doesn’t control the golden order, the golden order controls him lol. You’re basically fighting a husk of a man who has become the vessel of the elden ring. And after you beat him, elden beast turns him into a sword lol. It could be said that radagon willingly gave himself up to the golden order but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s being controlled by a higher power
the hammer sound hits like a truck
It hits as hard as Radagon hits you
Its best ost.
The first half of the song to me said “You can not pass, you shall not pass. And if you try, you will die, again and again.”
I have Radagon's theme as my alarm. It startled the f*ck outta me the first time it went off
LOL
Minor DLC spoiler (the name of a later area):
This hits extra hard after witnessing the shaman village.
I almost feel like the harp is Marikas instrument and stands for her.
Then on the other hand, Marika herself isn't present in the Elden Beast fight.
But the Elden beast isn't present in the Shaman village either.
Because it also plays during the trailer when Marika is shown, it's most likely I think, that the harp represents her, even though it doesn't fit perfectly.
Slave knight gael is a must listened to theme from dark souls 3 ringed city dlc
Radagon is more than just a lord
He is a god
I actually played attention to the lore while playing so I was hoping I would face him
And when the color of the hair changed I knew
One of my favourite bosses
It's so cool going back to the original release trailers and stuff.
Looking back now, it's so obvious that they're the same, they showed it in the first five seconds of the first trailer... but nobody had any idea what they meant back then.
Damn, That pikachi is buffed
Radagon doesn't talk: he simply takes up his hammer and proceeds to beat you like a blacksmith on red hot metal
Can't wait for you to hear "Nameless Song" from Dark Souls 1, after you beat the game.
His theme is great, with the shattering and the loss of hope, the lyrics "God help us, God save us from our sorrow" really embodies what Radagon's trying to do in repairing the ring
Where did you get the lyrics?
 It came to him in a dream
I don’t think there’s been a translated lyric video for Radagon yet, so where did you get this?
@@requiemlul3140 You can hear them saying it at about 55 seconds in
@@dwaynewilliams3576 I feel like that could easily be Latin
1:21.. his face was like "OH YOU DIDNT.... "
The main theme being so intense matches Radagon's aggressiveness. It hammers into you with dutiful purpose as he marches or leaps towards you, hurling magic and swinging that club like a wrecking ball. The way he also slaps aside spells or teleports to avoid attacks and close in on you also lend themselves to the theme's inexorable momentum.
Best track in the game.
Hands down.
The way this song is played in the main menu and at the final fight is genius when you consider what you go through in the game
At the start the music and the intro serves to hype you up, to give you the idea that you are a hero, called to save the lands between. But the more you explore the world, the more you'll realize that you're not hero, but rather a pawn of a desperate outer god seeking to protect their rule over a land suffering their inaction. You'll find stronger tarnished who answered the call and failed, and you'll learn that you're one of if not the last to be called back, a weak nobody in the face of the renowned heroes that were called before you. In fact you only made any progress at all was thanks to Melina helping you get stronger and the gods refusing to let you die
But despite all that, you eventually stand before the Elden Ring, a once nobody standing before a god. The music plays again, this time with greater energy and power into it, as if telling you that you may not be a hero everyone expected, but here you can become one. Slay the god and earn what you have fought long and hard for
The story behind radagon is incredible. You get the feeling that there’s still so much we don’t know, yet to be revealed in dlc.
I got more the sense that Radagon is RadaGONE and he's being walked around by the Elden Beast and when that doesn't work the Elden Beast just salvages his corpse and transforms it into a weapon...
What I love about this final boss theme vs the dark souls and bloodborne ones is that in ds and bb, the final theme sounds like you're trying to save a world that can't be saved (ds) or you're putting a dead world out of its misery (bb) but this one, sounds like you're attempting to save a world that can still be saved. Pretty powerful stuff
to me it sounds like the world is desperately trying to convince you that it DOESN’T need saving; Radagon is practically falling apart but he does NOT act the part; he walks slowly toward you with a slight smile despite the tragedy that surrounds him. Every action he takes is with the intent to kill you and remind you of who he is, what he means to the world. HE doesn’t want us to save the world because he doesn’t want to believe it’s truly broken, and that his time is done.
Ita not the longest track but should definitely do the bloodborne ost track called Omen
The masculine power of Radagon's music contrasted with the feminine gentleness of the Elden Beast's makes it seem obvious to me that the latter is meant to represent Marika, even though you're not fighting her per se. The solo soprano in particular seems like it could stand in for Marika herself, singing alone against the "cosmic" chorus representing the overwhelming weight of her duty as a god.
I had to come back IN THE WHOLE OF GAMING THERE IS NOT A BETTER OST THAN THE ELDEN BEAST
The relentlessness you describe in the consistent drumbeat and the roaring vocals perfectly describes that fight oh my god 💀
This theme just exudes raw power and divinity.
Great Video as always;)
I recommend something like Hifiman Edition XS headphones. You are missing out with those headphones.
It makes sense that the Elden Beast's theme is so otherworldly because it is the envoy of the Greater Will, an Outer God. It is not of this world, it is alien to the Lands Between. And supposedly the design of the EB with the way the stars and such are is based off of a real life galaxy, so with it's design they were going for a very cosmic otherworldly creature.
If you notice when it retrieves it's sword, it's not just pulling it out of the water, it's sword is made up of the remains of Radagon/Marika which really shows what they really meant to the Greater Will overall.
Please listen to godfrey the first elden lord/horah loux ost. I think you missed that one.
The music tells an entire story. I wonder if western gaming companies understand the depth in something like that.
"Sheer and utter violence..."
Me: Experiences flashbacks to getting grabbed and having a giant magical golden hammer smashed into my face repeatedly...
He's not wrong.
0:46 Does this sound like The Hunted from D2 leviathan raid to anyone else?
Odd that this is basically the Summer Game Fest trailer music but a bit toned down. Especially at around 1:00, the trailer song has a lot more brass here and ”power” to it.
This might be one of the best final boss themes I've ever heard honestly. The build up to this fight is amazing. Throughout your whole journey through the Lands Between, the name of Radagon keeps reappearing, mentioned by multiple NPCs and littered across item descriptions, there's so much mystery behind this character. And when you finally enter that golden light, and see him get up, take his hammer, raise it up high and turn towards you is an absolutely incredible moment that never fails to give me goosebumps, even on New Game +5. Great reaction, keep up the awesome work!
Fun fact, the lyrics of the ost can be translated into lore, and have been
Man I love the final themes of Elden Rings. They each portray various aspects of your journey throughout the game.
And oh boy. I've done so many fights for people for Rad/EB, and the amount of times I see people get absolutely obliterated by Rad, is insane. So many people make the mistake of trying to give Rad a back massage during one particular move, and oh boy does it always end badly. That, or just watching him just do his spell deflection or just doing his super lunge and absolutely smacking a Tarnished into two day ago. He is 100%a vigor check boss, no doubt. That and damage negation too. Remember people, eat your crab, it might just save your life.
Oh man getting to listen to this masterpiece in the final fight is absolutely shivering.
Elden Ring being my first soulsborne game honestly was such a good introduction to Fromsoftware's catalogue. This finale has stuck to me like glue, ESPECIALLY this theme
Hey remember when you did the elden beast ost? Well thats part two of the final battle track. See part one is radegon and part two is elden beast
Yea I recall 🥲
This is actually our theme. It's an epic version of the main menu theme which is a call to us to claim glory and this is our journey come to fruition. Poetry in motion
I really wanna know what that means I'm terms of messmer having a variation of this theme then.
Radagon is my favorite Elden ring boss
I would recommend Godfrey, First Elden Lord next for you to analyze
He's whooping your ass so badly, you try, try and retry to beat him...
But after you beat him, you realize you won against a dead corpse.
Imagine this guy now, when he was alive, in his prime (For example when he was against the giants).
I think this guy can be more terrifying than Sephiroth.
The Elden Beast is an emissary and enforcer of the greater will.
Radagon’s theme is a prime example of “you didn’t take the hint” since your clearly not welcome, so you force your way inside and this guy comes down to remind you
Not only the best theme in Fromsoftware, but maybe the best theme in gaming ever. The drums just hit you right in the chest, the choir just blows you back, its just so good. While I understand why Gwyn's music was so sad and somber, I always wanted to feel like I'm fighting a god. I want the music to reflect that. Radagon's music felt like you are not just fighting "a" god. If felt like you are fighting "the" god of Elden Ring's world. Mirroring many of the musical themes and techiques of its own games title theme, but giving a satisfying musical culmination to your entire journey, plus right after this Elden Beast gives you those plin plin plon vibes all the way from the first Dark Souls. Radagon/Elden Beast feels like being rewarded musically for being with Fromsoftware through the entire ride. And what a ride its been.
I'd fanboy pretty hard over you doing Slave Knight Gael's OST from Dark Souls 3.
;) hold tight.
the elden beast theme reminds me of ash lake of dark souls.
If you want a bit less known RPG series a music to react to, I recomend Baldur's Gate -series. It has pretty epic soundtrack.
I'm still waiting for you to do one of these on the sekiro ost "isshin ashina"
The Golden Order is basically the reign of the Elden Ring as overseen by Queen Marika, after the Elden Beast (which becomes the Elden Ring) arrived from space. Radagon can be interpreted moreso as the enforcer of the Golden Order, who have conquered the Lands Between in the name of this order.
say it's religion
Before I comment something, I wanna ask: Do you want a particular spoiler regarding the Golden Order or do you wanna find it out for yourself?
@@siragito405 it's a theocratic regime lmao
@@syaoran5476 nope, Golden Order Is Gnosis of Marika of elden ring.
what is elden ring?
Elden Ring "Soul" metaphysical item that Sustains and Governs the world, it tends to transcend life, giving it its fullest brilliance.
after Travelled to the land between, she discovered The Elden Ring and willing herself to conjoin with it.
@@syaoran5476 have you heard of Philoshoper-King?
Please do godfreys theme its just amazing it screams honour between 2 warriors
Agreed
"You are nothing to me"
*walks in the boss room and 2 shots him*
Radagon is brute power and will stop at nothing to kill you. You are an insect to the Elden Beast, not meant to be taken seriously, and it will dispose of you with more grace and ease than Radagon ever could even through its weakened state at the hands of Marika.