Dark, moody PS2-era synth rock that drips with atmosphere. Castlevania Curse of Darkness launched in 2005 on PS2 and Xbox, and even this limited sampler proves the full OST goes incredibly hard. "Abandoned Castle" opens with this slow creeping dread that sets the tone for everything.
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"Baljhet Mountains" shifts into something almost adventurous, wide and open. Then "Insane Aristocracy" comes in with frantic harpsichord and heavy percussion that sounds like a vampire's dinner party gone wrong. "Followers of Darkness - The Third" is the kind of boss track that makes you forget you've died twelve times.
The sampler only has 17 tracks but every one earns its spot. If you need proof that PS2-era Castlevania soundtracks competed with anything on the console, this is it.