Deep shamisen plucks over heavy taiko drums, and you know immediately this is going somewhere intense. Natsukagura's 2014 soundtrack leans hard into traditional Japanese instrumentation with a supernatural edge. "神楽舞" (Kagura Mai) is hypnotic, this ritualistic dance piece that builds layer by layer until you feel like you're watching a shrine maiden channel something ancient.
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"月夜" pulls back into quiet koto work under moonlight, then "難敵" slams you with frantic percussion when a real threat shows up. The contrast between sacred calm and yokai menace is so well handled. If you're into games that blend Shinto folklore with action, the atmosphere in this score does not let up.