How Games Make Villains Sound Evil

Music is a powerful tool that can be used to get people to feel a certain way, and I think some of the best examples of it being implemented effectively can be seen with villain themes. When done right, they can create such a suffocating feel to them and I want to look at some of the ways three of my favorite villain themes are successful in creating that sense.

Additional Footage from @ThatOneVideoGamer and @Skyehoppers
Thumbnail by @hotcyder

Huge thanks to @Sideways440 and @the_mess_express for sharing some insights about music theory that helped bring this video together, and also a big thanks to @DarylTalksGames for letting me bounce some thoughts and ideas off him.

Lastly, a special thanks to honorary bagbutens Victor DUva and WilliamGlenn8.

0:00-5:21 Sephiroth
5:22-12:42 Ganon/Ganondorf
12:44 - 18:06 Gaunter O'Dimm
18:06 Ending

[psychogerbil]

I think the genius of Gaunter O'dimm is that in the whole witcher series you deal with monsters by studying them and being knowledgeable about them. In Gaunter's case, the fact that you know little to nothing about him makes him even more frightening

[Heavenly_Father]

Gaunter O'Dimm is one of the best representations of the devil in any forms of media

[Hajfena]

For someone who "doesn't know music theory" you have a very good grasp of explaining music so precisely.

[andrewdiaz]

16:00 The creepiest part of Gaunter O'Dimm being everywhere is that, last time I checked, CDPR says players havent found all the times he's been hidden in the background, meaning he's still out there watching

[HeisenbergFam]

13:18 "toying with people regardless if they are noble or beggar" is perfect description of the Gaunter who's pretty much Satan, such a well thought out character

[DarylTalksGames]

This was such a fun watch! You mentioned the contrast of themes in Wind Waker and BOTW when you hear subtle bits of Zelda or Link's themes begin to work their way into the song and I think the final boss of Twilight Princess does a great job of that as well. When you clash swords with Ganon, if you start to overpower him the music fades into one of the heroic songs from the game and then swells when you shake him off and then wail on him. Just *chefs kiss*

This turned out great brother, well done!

[realtayo]

My favorite thing is when a villains' theme song is played throughout the story as it builds up to a final confrontation. Then when you get there, they hit you with a grand orchestral remix of their theme. It really brings the story full circle and caps off the journey in a memorable way.

[gregorysteimel]

I love how this is done in Hades. The titular Hades theme is played every time you die with a short version called "Death and I". When the battle against Hades begins with that familiar tune of "Death and I" but in a way that let's you know it's time for the full song. Hades the game also plays with layering it's music so that it shifts seamlessly between a subdued version of the song outside of combat and a metal version when you're fighting the boss. When you start fighting Hades the boss the music is subdued almost like you're not really fighting. When you finally deplete his health bar and knock him down does the game reveal that Hades wasn't really trying and now the real battle begins as the music amps up.

[delikatessbruhe]

I love when soundtracks subtly tell stories and you don't realise it until it's ... off. Like when suddenly the villain theme plays in a safe space, like Ganondorf's theme on the sea or Gaunter O'Dimm's in the overworld.
Also, the blood moon's sound effect gives me the shivers every. damn. time. I don't know why, I even love the way it looks but something about the sound is making my core squirm.

And if I may offer a slight criticism on an otherwise very enjoyable video: it may have been a good idea to allow a little more time for each of the soundtracks to play on its own without any talking over it. So we can actually hear and understand what you're talking about. Unless, of course, you can't for copyright reasons or something.

[ExtremeVariety]

The parallels between Gywn's theme in DS1 and Soul of Cinder in DS3 gives me chills every time. For DS1 in particular, the contrast of this song to everything else as it builds to an anticlimax is superb. Then the finality in DS3 and the link to the cyclical nature of the games with the two songs is excellent. (There's also the bit of fun trivia that Gwyn's theme is comprised on only white notes, avoiding the dark).

[neo]

Always a great day when Raz gifts us an essay

[VZed]

New strat for Ocarina; fart around in the castle for so long that Ganondorf gets carpal tunnel from playing the theme on the organ then he can't throw those hand orbs at you anymore.

[eric_clover]

Just as good as Ganon's theme is its absence in Wind Waker as he monologues on why he's done what he's done, how his people were cast aside by the people of Hyrule, accompanied by no music, only the sounds of water and wind.

[nezfromhki]

Love that you included Gaunter O'Dimm and his theme in this. He's probably my favorite video game villain, and the fact that he's technically an original CD Projekt creation instead of a character from the books makes his existence even more impressive. (I say technically as he is of course loosely based on different iterations of the Devil in literature and folktales.)

[itsomegali]

razbuten: this theme has so many hidden messages

me: beeps and boops innit

[CorvusLiberatus]

I think the genius of Sephiroth's theme (Those Chosen by the Planet) is that it makes Sephiroth seem like an unstoppable force of nature. In addition to the heartbeat bass drum, the long sustained notes by the choir give a sense of a coming storm, which Uematsu also utilized in the title screen music for FF6.

[ateron]

Nightmare King Grimm song and entrance are just unique to me, can't see this video and not just remind of them instantly. Not the theme as you mentioned in other examples, but such a great atmosphere built with something so simple

[dirtyharry]

Gaunter O'Dimm remains, to this day, one of the most endlessly fascinating antagonists I've ever seen.
Not just in video games but in all media.

[ShadowDrakken]

O'Dimm's theme sounds like a waltz that never ends, strained and stressed, looking for resolution and never finding it.

[janvangils]

ok putting Gaunter O'dimm's theme so lightly at the end is a stroke of genius. I already tabbed out to do some other stuff and hearing that theme out of nowhere literally made my spine crawl.