Dark Arisen took Dragon's Dogma's already excellent combat and dropped it into one of the most punishing post-game dungeons in action RPG history, and the Masterworks Collection captures the oppressive, haunting atmosphere of Bitterblack Isle perfectly.
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"Main Title ~Dark Arisen~" immediately signals a darker tone than the base game, and "Into The Dark Depth" makes it clear you're descending into something far more dangerous than anything Gransys had to offer. The exploration tracks create a suffocating sense of dread that makes every corridor feel like it could be your last.
The boss battle themes are absolutely stellar. "Pitch-Black Pursuer ~Death Battle~" accompanies one of gaming's most terrifying encounters -- Death itself stalking you through the dungeon -- with a frantic, desperate urgency.
"Contemptuous Prisoner ~Gorecyclops Battle~" rumbles with chained fury, "Shrine Of Futile Truths ~Gazer Battle~" pulses with alien menace, and "Puppet & Master ~Cursed Dragon & Dark Bishop Battle~" layers two distinct threats into one overwhelming composition.
"Impulse ~Drake Battle~" carries a fierce momentum that matches going toe-to-toe with a dragon. What keeps the score from being relentlessly bleak are the small pockets of humanity scattered throughout. "A Request ~Olra~" gives the mysterious ferryman a theme full of quiet sorrow and hidden purpose, "Life Cycle ~Barroch~" brings a weathered, merchant's pragmatism, and "The Arisen's Refuge" offers a brief sanctuary of warmth in an otherwise hostile place.
"Fortress Of Remembrance" and "Duskmoon Tower" build a sense of ancient, forgotten grandeur that reminds you Bitterblack Isle was once something other than a tomb.