One of the best and most inspiring albums ever for me personally! Still feels so current. The title track is probably my favorite song they’ve ever done. Let’s all reflect on its brilliance today!
I’d like to talk about one of my favorite areas in the game, Rauh Base. Visually, specifically during the mid-late day time, this area is a stunningly beautiful spectacle. The way that ethereal and blinding light is spilling into the canyons, the way Enir Illim is perfectly framed by the steep impenetrable walls when you first pop out of the entrance cave, and those majestic ancient pillars looming above with flocks of birds drifting through. It all is just mesmerizing and a testament to the unparalleled art direction and focus on atmosphere. It all looks like a renaissance painting! The color palette is unlike anything I’ve seen in a game. Also, It’s probably the area, along with rauh ruins itself, that feels most like shadow of colossus to me, which is clearly a huge influence on ER as far as scenery goes.
Then you have the music which I think really emphasizes the beauty and loneliness of this area. I believe the track is called “on the fringe” and it’s the same one that plays in charos hidden grave, cerulean coast, and the scadu tree chalice. I think those other three areas could’ve used songs unique to them as I think this song fits the Rauh base the best. It’s very fitting to the scenery and allows the atmosphere to really sink in.
Gameplay wise I really enjoy it too. Plenty to do and discover! Some great loot, some good fights and enemy variety. Then you have access to the forge and the scorpion river catacombs, which is my fav catacombs in the game. A very scenic fight with the red bear too on the far end of the area.
I love this area, I always spend a lot of time just taking in the scenery and atmosphere here and before I know it a few hours will have gone by. I never hear it talked about much as a highlight, but it’s always been one for me. Anyone care to share their experiences with this beautiful corner of the land of shadow?
Cheers
Just wanted to praise this beautiful track. I remember when Misha dropped this track in like 2008, I was blown away. I was currently playing through FF7 (huge Nobuo/game music fan) and Meshuggah has been my fav band since 2002, Obzen had recently come out. Still after all these years it’s one of my fav compositions from him! I still prefer the instrumental version of it and most songs off P1. The tapping into the chugging groove with the big lush chords is just brilliant! Technically a super impressive track and compositionally it flows so well. Cheers!