Dark Souls III - Shadows Ahead Trailer

Couch spotted a new trailer for Dark Souls III, named Shadows Ahead.

Discover the True Colors of Darkness in our new Dark Souls 3 trailer! Are you ready to fight for your life in the Kingdom of Lothric on April 12th ?

More information.

Yes im ready. Bring on the invasions !

Originally Posted by Myrthos
Couch spotted a new trailer for Dark Souls III, named Shadows Ahead.

I personally would have preferred they use Cyndi Lauper's best song, Girls Just Want to Have Lunch. I believe this is the only Weird Al parody he wishes he never made…

I don't think they could have possibly chosen worse music for that trailer.

Yes, odd music choice. Still looked good even to that though.

As for weird al songs maybe "one more minute" would fit the dark them better.

I think I like the song better than the game!

Originally Posted by JDR13
I don't think they could have possibly chosen worse music for that trailer.

Nah, it is fine. It generates a lot of buzz as people argue over whether it is a great artistic choice or dumb. That's EXACTLY what you want from a trailer, as a publisher.

I personally think it's a great choice. Very clever use of True Colors, and it hits the theme of Dark Souls well: your true colors do come out when playing it…you either smash controllers/keyboards or learn to overcome adversity.

Mood wise, it's not very fitting however. Makes me feel like I'm back near my big sister's bedroom in the 80s forced to listen to her appalling plastic pop-music, rather than gives me the sense that I'm about to enter a darkened decrepit, majestic yet forlorn medieval world.

Although If they slowed down the combat a little and made the images float some more, maybe then perhaps it could work…hmmmm… nah.

You can make all kinds of tenuous literal and non-literal connections, but ultimately for me that particular tune doesn't fit all that well with my general interpretation of the quintessential Dark Souls mood. Remix Gwyn's theme or combine the melancholy reflections of Firelink and Majula instead of hearkening back to Cyndi Lauper I say.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
Makes me feel like I'm back near my big sister's bedroom in the 80s forced to listen to her appalling plastic pop-music,

Cyndi Lauper is fantastic! She's an amazing musician and artist. You can trust me, I have a music degree. Also, sounds like you may have some unresolved childhood music issues… Just playing with ya.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
You can make all kinds of tenuous literal and non-literal connections, but ultimately for me that particular tune doesn't fit all that well with my general interpretation of the quintessential Dark Souls mood.

Dark Souls is a great series, but its music has never been a strong feature. Remixing the music would make it just another trailer with generic dark fantasy music…nobody would ever stop to talk about the game like we're doing now!

Hence, going with a "twisted beauty" theme is perfect. This trailer isn't meant to be an immersion trailer…it's selling the product. And twisted beauty is quite accurate IMO.

Yeah, Cyndi Lauper is one of those performers, like ABBA, that, while not at all to my taste, I can see the quality of the songwriting. Clearly a bit of marketing fun to get tongues wagging, as Brumbek said. I think I've seen this idea of a juxtaposed song choice on a game trailer before, but I can't think of it.

Originally Posted by Brumbek
Dark Souls is a great series, but its music has never been a strong feature. Remixing the music would make it just another trailer with generic dark fantasy music…nobody would ever stop to talk about the game like we're doing now!

Hence, going with a "twisted beauty" theme is perfect. This trailer isn't meant to be an immersion trailer…it's selling the product. And twisted beauty is quite accurate IMO.

That's a nice spin you're putting on it, but it doesn't change the fact that the song sucks.

I also disagree that the music isn't a strong feature in the Souls games. From Software has always done a very good job at enhancing the atmosphere of their games with the music behind them. Imo, it's not as memorable as what they did with the King's Field series, but it fits the setting perfectly.

You mustn't have played the same game I did Brumbek; Dark Souls music is plenty captivating. Every boss has its own bombastic theme and locations become associated by the player with particular emotions, many of which are greatly assisted by the soundtrack. (Firelink and Majula Hubs, Moonlight Butterfly and Gwyn to name but a few.)

Also, anyone with a music degree trying to sell me Cyndi Lauper would have me doubting the veracity of that particular claim. I'm sure she's just fine, but it's just not Dark Souls my friend.

Ripper might be thinking of the marketing of Dragon Age: Origins which also used some pretty nonsensical and silly music tracks with some of its trailers.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
Mood wise, it's not very fitting however.

It could just be a Japanese thing. Less about the mood alone and more about the Japanese head-space combined with this mood. Like mixing colours of dye.

It might be clever marketing. People STILL talk about The New Shit. It's like in some of those trashy 'celebrity' reality shows they get a bunch of 'celebrities' that no one has ever heard of and suddenly Twitter lights up with people saying 'who are these people?'. It creates buzz. And they come cheap, too.

Regardless, I can't wait for this game.

Originally Posted by Ripper
Yeah, Cyndi Lauper is one of those performers, like ABBA, that, while not at all to my taste, I can see the quality of the songwriting.

Ah, great pull with ABBA. Yeah, that are certains people/groups that are just so creative you have to respect them despite not liking them per se. For that goes for groups like Metallica. I'm no metal fan, but man are those guys world class musicians.

Originally Posted by Ripper
I think I've seen this idea of a juxtaposed song choice
on a game trailer before, but I can't think of it.

Many games have done it. Some well, some horribly. DA:O was an abomination and won't be mentioned again, thank you.

You know what's ironic? Dark Souls 1 did it…and it was HORRIBLE.

Borderlands did it exceptionally well two times!

Here's Strafe's take on pop-music. This is THE BEST TRAILER EVER. SERIOUSLY.

Originally Posted by JDR13
Imo, it's not as memorable as what they did with the King's Field series, but it fits the setting perfectly.

Dark Souls' music is fine…adequate really…but your post says it all: it ain't that special.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
Dark Souls music is plenty captivating. Every boss has its own bombastic theme and locations become associated by the player with particular emotions, many of which are greatly assisted by the soundtrack. (Firelink and Majula Hubs, Moonlight Butterfly and Gwyn to name but a few.)

Some tracks are nice…at the time…but you don't go and listen to them later…even the better tracks like Majula. And certain themes like Gwyn's…it's ok…but upon close listening its just a lot of repetition and meandering… Moonlight Butterfly is a good example of atmospheric music that works great for the scene but is musically very bland and uninteresting.

Contrast this with Dragon's Dogma (have I ever told you I LOVE THIS GAME?!). It has countless brilliant themes.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
Also, anyone with a music degree trying to sell me Cyndi Lauper would have me doubting the veracity of that particular claim.

My point was about her talent. Ever seen her live (in her prime)? She's got serious talent. I respect that, regardless of whether you do symphonies, death metal, or j-pop.

Originally Posted by Brumbek
Some tracks are nice…at the time…but you don't go and listen to them later…

No disrespect Brumbek, but I think you should probably speak for yourself rather than everyone else. I do happen to listen to them outside of the game experience and I don't think it's pushing reason to suggest I'm not the only one.

Regarding the Gwyn theme, there aren't too many other games I can think of off the top of my head that have the concept of a final boss fight set to a relatively serene and lulling tune. Whilst not entirely novel, the idea is quite counter-intuitive and for me enjoyable. Gwyn practically floats in the air towards you with his combinations to that music. For me it was certainly a highlight and like the Butterfly theme, was disquietingly disarming at the time.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
No disrespect Brumbek, but I think you should probably speak for yourself rather than everyone else.

Good point. True. I apologize. I need to be careful about that. I wasn't even accurate for myself…I listen to Dark Souls outside the game, otherwise it would be difficult for me to form an opinion on the music.