[VGMC] Day 16! feat. EitCtatisftrag, DF, FR, MF, SoE, and K

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Board 8 » [VGMC] Day 16! feat. EitCtatisftrag, DF, FR, MF, SoE, and K
banshiryuu
05/25/2024
11:00 PM
#1
Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 18, an annual celebration of the best of the best video game music according to the voters!

Important Links:
Bracket: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=478494
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HBxgL9woiCMFKNOPuN_qdxmzjStJXSpC3Ocalfsavdk
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80763291
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0y-5OyCrkgprWtXARkEJzh_
Compatibility sheet: ?!?!?!
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SAJKYJmYhccLvbf_H-5uSA7-eMwXfW8k1q74Qho1bLU
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
Discord: https://discord.gg/7FVXqWj

Rules:
- Listen to both songs in a given match, at least through the loop time provided (to make sure you don't skip before you've heard the whole thing!)
- Please consider the loop point listed when judging the song; if a video loops one minute 5 times, don't treat it as if it's a repetitive 5 minute song
- If it's a match between your favorite song ever and a song you despise, still LISTEN TO BOTH! Votes can and will be disqualified if there is suspicion songs are not being listened to, and you may be discounted for the rest of the contest for repeat offenses.
- No alt accounts, no rallying or begging, etc., etc.... You only get one vote! Swapping votes is alright, just make clear that you've already made a vote and are swapping.
- Make clear what your voting options are! Please keep votes separate from any comments, and use the titles given in the topic post.
- Voting in all matches is not mandatory, feel free to skip matches you do not wish to vote in.
- Vote based on the links provided, and not other sources of audio. Links are specifically chosen for best quality and the like.
- Don't discuss vote tallies in this thread, or in other threads, as they may influence votes. Likewise, please refrain from looking at the running tally before voting.

Voting Period:
- Today's matches will last 24 hours from the time of posting, or 24 hours from 11pm Eastern, whichever is the later time.
- Please note this may mean that two topics will be active at the same time!
- If you anticipate being unable to vote in a given day, please send an absentee vote to @banshiryuu, or post your absentee vote in the discussion thread!

.

Match 1

Epic Loon - Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Composer: Pryapisme
Loop Point: 5:52
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9hF0okYl3o?si=fS8nU3iX4eo8uNi4

Last Bible III - Devil Forest
Composer: Hiroyuki Yanada
Loop Point: 1:26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LUGMScZJgc

.

Match 2

Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep - Flamerock Refuge
Composer: Raison Varner
Loop Point: 4:43
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53CAzh_qCGE

Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field
Composer: TOMOri Kudo, CHiCO, Kenji Hiramatsu (ACE+)
Loop Point: 3:34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLaKBotgQVw

.

Match 3

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Composer: Takahiro Unisuga
Loop Point: 3:58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHvnwxAg5ww

Tekken 4 - Kitsch
Composer: Yu Miyake
Loop Point: 1:44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=380rSziMpxg

.

Easy vote form:
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul / Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge / Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos / Kitsch
th3l3fty
05/25/2024
11:01 PM
#2
Last Bible III - Devil Forest
Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
thelefty for analysis crew 2008 imo -transience
I have a third degree burn in flame-o-nomics -Sir Chris
NFUN
05/25/2024
11:08 PM
#3
that ghoul only respects one man
uhh
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
List the ominous stern whisper from the delphic cave within:
They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin
Paratroopa1
05/25/2024
11:14 PM
#4
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

Here's my rule for music - if you can't impress me, then you should at least try to surprise me. Sometimes I think I mistake being surprised by a song for being impressed by it, at first, and then the magic kinda wears off but at least it's still an entertaining list. EIICTATISFTRAG is one of those little mystery box tracks that kinda keeps doing surprising little things that makes me go "ah! oh, that was fun!" but then at the end I'm not really sure if I liked it or if I was just being distracted from evaluating it as a whole. Eh, I guess I like it. 7/10

Devil Forest is assuredly the most neutral track in the entire contest for me. I can't imagine feeling strongly about it one way or the other. It's plain white bread. Doesn't do a single thing wrong, but makes me feel absolutely nothing at all. It just exists. 5.5/10

Flamerock Refuge is a bit of a cliche but it's pleasant. I would probably enjoy listening to this in the area that it plays in. 6.5/10

Mechonis Field is a track I immediately fell in love with despite not having particularly strong emotional ties to Xenoblade - I did play the game for like 200 hours on the 3DS and still felt a little bit underwhelmed by it but I LOVED exploring this area. Big old school PSO vibes here that immediately put me in a nostalgic mood. I love this post-millennial Japanese retro-future shit, it's great, one of those cliche things that I always like. 9.5/10

Spiral of Erebos is more epic music but at least it's decent enough. I very, very mildly like it and probably would like it more if I played the game, maybe? 6/10

Kitsch is cute. It's got a fun little beat and those ooooooh bah bah's are fun. It's got that one hook that keeps reminding me of the first two seconds of the Mega Man and Bass title theme for some reason and I find that distracting through no fault of its own. Doesn't really stand out enough to be anything more than merely decent. 6.5/10
kamakazikila
05/25/2024
11:31 PM
#5
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Kitsch
Puff Stuff
Eggert
05/25/2024
11:32 PM
#6
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
DeadTaffer
05/25/2024
11:32 PM
#7
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Kitsch
DanKirby
05/25/2024
11:33 PM
#8
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
(>'.')>
"The problem with the future is that it keeps turning into the present." -Hobbes
AcireExists
05/25/2024
11:37 PM
#9
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos

Spiral of Erebos > Devil Forest = Mechonis Field > Flamerock Refuge > Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul > Kitsch

Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul - 7.75
this is a weird fucking song. got some cool bits in it, but honestly I barely even know *what* I think of it on the whole LOL

Devil Forest - 8.5
extremely nice song, very chill and I love it

Flamerock Refuge - 8
very nice song, I like

Mechonis Field - 8.5
hey I have the Definitive Edition version of this in my playlist. I prefer DE's instruments by a hair, but this is still a great song

Spiral of Erebos - 9.5
top 3 Falcom song, and the other two are arranges so they don't count (Overdosing Heavenly Bliss Zanmai and Don't be Defeated by a Friend! SAV). absolute fucking banger I love it so much

Kitsch - 7.5
y'know what it's better than most Tekken I've heard but I don't think I'm much of a Tekken girl (I do unironically like Yodeling in Meadow Hill tho). btw why are the instruments in this so low-quality this is a PS2 game for fuck's sake
Erica, she/her. Subscribe to GaMetal.
azuarc
05/25/2024
11:38 PM
#10
My vote for the poll is Don't You Dare Mock My Sister's Words! Don't Speak Her Name!
Only the exceptions can be exceptional.
tgs2
05/25/2024
11:42 PM
#11
Carpathians
Mechonis
Erebos

Carpathians just relentlessly beats my fucking skull in and I love every second of it.

This sure is another (good sounding) Unisuga song. Add it to the 8/8.5 pile where a lot of his stuff like this usually lands.

1. Enthusia Professional Racing - Awakening ~ Nrburgring Suite
2. ???
3. ???
4. RINNE - b10
5. ???
6. ???
7. ???
8. ???
9. Epic Loon - Even in the Carpathians, tatiftrag
10. ???
11. ???
12. Sonic Adventure 2 - Live and Learn
13. ???
14. ???
15. ???
16. D4DJ Groovy Mix - ARCANA
17. ???
18. ???
19. ???
20. ???
21. ???
22. Knights of the Crystallion - side A
23. ???
24. ???
25. ???
26. ???
27. ???
28. Sayonara wo Oshite - comment te dire adieu
29. ???
30. ???
Hbthebattle
05/25/2024
11:51 PM
#12
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
:)
DireKrow
05/25/2024
11:53 PM
#13
Even in the Carpathians etc
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
Haste_2
05/26/2024
12:02 AM
#14
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos

Dieeeeeee, Spiral of Erebos!
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So... what is a party?"
"You drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."
UF8
05/26/2024
12:07 AM
#15
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

there were no genres provided today, guess it's the end of the line
HidekuniHorita
05/26/2024
12:27 AM
#16
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch
Omniscience lies beyond the void, beyond decay!
I am one with the Akashic Records!
TeamRocketElite
05/26/2024
12:41 AM
#17
Epic Loon - Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
My bracket looked like random picks compared to his.
Congrats to azuarc for winning the GotD 2020 Guru Contest!
KCF0107
05/26/2024
01:11 AM
#18
Forest
Field
Kitsch
KCF can't actually be a real person but he is - greengravy
Prince46
05/26/2024
02:17 AM
#19
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos

Woah, I dig the combination of stuff on this song. It gives a big train level impression. Really dig the use of the accordion and the metalish bits on this, but the rest also contributes to the experience. Very creative all around, love it. Oh, Devil Forest is a relaxing song as opposed to my expectations of an upbeat bonanza. Why it's very great, it's the type of song that uses the SNES's soundchip to generate a soft atmosphere and power some magic, I really like it, it's genius. I think I'm picking Epic Loon on the grounds that it impresses me more, but both are perfectly amazing competitors.

Damn, these strings at the beginning of Flamerock remind me of An Endless Desert, they sound made for me. This guitar and, what is it, an er hu? They continue the song into a very nice direction. It's lovely. It gives crescent medieval vibes but also makes it feel fresh and unique. Superb job. On the other hand, we have a old pal in Mechonis Field. One of my favorite songs from Xeno 1, applying the synthetic thematic into a feel of a unexplored area yet to be conquered. It builds up masterfully as well. The part at 1:50 is great too. I don't know what else to say, this song is a classic. I like Flamerock a lot but I can't pass voting on Mechonis, sorry.

I can see why Erebos seems to be so liked between the Falcom fans I know. The guitar is strong stuff, the trumpet keeps the effort on high and the strings section is even cooler, and the whole song just feels like a empowering journey marching through. The melody is memorable, too. Some shotouts to those strings at the very end of the loop, nice touch. Not much to say, it's creme de la creme if you need a epic Falcom song. OH SHOOT! This is the song Yeet Smash uses for the outro!!! Finally!! That piano intro is clawed inside my head and I love it. The song is undeniably tropical, but the vocals and the rhythm feels super original and it's captivating. It's the type that shows one how diverse is Tekken music. Spiral is my choice, but both are so good...

B2 hasn't been short of hard matches, and with three songs I already like for tomorrow, this might be hard to top! Excited to see how everything unfolds in this side.
Mihark
05/26/2024
02:59 AM
#20
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
FL81
05/26/2024
04:22 AM
#21
Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos

Devil Forest is cool

https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
andylt
05/26/2024
08:02 AM
#22
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

-Chaos-Zero-
05/26/2024
08:35 AM
#23
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Flamerock Refuge
Kitsch

The Pizza Formerly Known as CalzoneB
Tked
05/26/2024
09:25 AM
#24
Carpathians
Refuge
Erebos
MaxGalactica
05/26/2024
09:42 AM
#25
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul: This instrument combination is absolutely wild and I'm here for it. It's all very well mixed too. Really great song.

Devil Forest: The bassline on this one is pretty smooth. Very nice song, but its competition is very stiff.

Flamerock Refuge: I really like this one too. The acoustic guitar loop, the erhu, percussion, and strings all create a lovely ambience together. I like the subtle and gradual buildup. This was a great discovery during noms, and I hate that it has the matchup it does.

Mechonis Field: One of my favorite video game songs of all time. That's all I have to say about it.

Spiral of Erebos: This one has a really promising intro, then completely loses all the potential it had at 0:51. Pretty unfortunate, but I guess Falcom gotta Falcom.

Kitsch: Nice song. Pretty neat rhythms more than anything. Not much else to say on it.

Pretty great day overall.

Votes:
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch
Don't trust everything that you read on the Internet.
-Abraham Lincoln
W1ndzs
05/26/2024
10:29 AM
#26
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
OrangeCrush980
05/26/2024
10:30 AM
#27
Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos

First 2 matches are great and were hard to decide. Ghoul song is maybe a little too try-hard/chaotic, but I'm still a bit torn on the 2nd match.
"Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness... Might controls everything. And without strength, you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself."
- Vergil, DMC3
bebr117
05/26/2024
11:04 AM
#28
Mario Romhack Song (iykyk) (ok it's Devil Forest)
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos

Blindsided by good songs today damn. Match 2 especially is shockingly close for me.

My poll vote is Can You Really Call This a Hotel, I Didn't Receive a Mint on my Pillow or Anything
gau gau
rwlh
05/26/2024
11:22 AM
#29
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

I would take 1:45-2:15 of Flamerock Refuge over the entirety of Mechonis Field, but I don't really like the rest of the song.

Spiral of Erebos is a weird song for me - it seems like one of those songs that's highly mood dependent. Today I like it! Kitsch too strong though.
xx521xx
05/26/2024
11:46 AM
#30
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
Optimism is the first step to disappointment.
xx521xx
JONA
05/26/2024
11:51 AM
#31
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch
Congrats to azuarc who beat me by 1 point!
Gall
05/26/2024
12:10 PM
#32
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

From 0:21 on, Devil Forest has the very high and very low-pitched sounds that accentuate each other well. And when youre used to that, at 1:05 in comes a medium-pitched sound to speed things up into the loop. Simple and effective.

I forgot that I liked Spiral of Erebos. The beat makes you feel like youre being assailed by enemies on all sides, while the melody drives you to stand firm and never give up.

World of Make Believe & The Shrine of Jiggarat
UF8 posted...
there were no genres provided today, guess it's the end of the line
Well, if you insist, I guess I could give it a shot...

END OF THE LINE
PIXIE PLAYGROUND
PEASANT PASTICHE
MELANCHOLIC INNOVATION
BLACK HOLE SUN
TOURIST TRAP
Tune in to over a decade of VGM history with the VGMC playlists! (Work in progress, currently VGMC1-12)
https://pastebin.com/JUNkGWQ4
slykirby
05/26/2024
01:08 PM
#33
Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos
https://i.imgur.com/c3jEuPS.jpg
sergiocornaga
05/26/2024
01:20 PM
#34
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Flamerock Refuge
Kitsch

Very good and evenly matched day. Could see myself voting for everything I didn't in a different context.
junglegirl
05/26/2024
01:28 PM
#35
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

junglegirl
05/26/2024
01:28 PM
#36
fake metal fans not liking blastbeats

also kitsch is very intentionally lo-fi
skulltrumpets
05/26/2024
01:42 PM
#37
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

Devil Forest is really good, but this other song is insane in a way I appreciate.

I love the erhu. I love how magical Flamerock is!! Unfortunately I like Mechonis Field a lot. I once erroneously said that black tar "easily my favourite Xenoblade song in the contest" and there's bc I forgot this made the bracket, oops. Even though I prefer the DE version.

Spiral of Erebos is mostly decent, but man I hate those drums. They just don't sound good to my ears. I think it is solely because this is from a Namco game, but when I listen to Kitsch I kind of get the same feelings I do when I listen to a sillier Katamari song. So fun! :)
Janus5k
05/26/2024
01:48 PM
#38
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos

finally I can vote for Unisuga (Kitsch is cool too though)
A hero cannot be defeated simply by making him die.
PIayer_0
05/26/2024
02:47 PM
#39
Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos
-Abraham Lincoln
TheArkOfTurus
05/26/2024
02:56 PM
#40
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
Our eyes were removed
For our own safety
HBJDubs
05/26/2024
03:12 PM
#41
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
Save in the name of true love
Fluttershy_Pony
05/26/2024
03:16 PM
#42
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
Currently in the mood to have a signature, though unsure of what.
DanKirby
05/26/2024
03:16 PM
#43
bebr117 posted...
Mario Romhack Song (iykyk) (ok it's Devil Forest)
Oh, that's where I recognize this from. I knew it seemed really familiar during noms but couldn't quite place it.
(>'.')>
"The problem with the future is that it keeps turning into the present." -Hobbes
azuarc
05/26/2024
03:25 PM
#44
Even in the Case of a Really Long Name
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
Only the exceptions can be exceptional.
Isquen
05/26/2024
03:29 PM
#45
Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos

I am immediately suspicious of an artist that just alters "priapism" as their name, but more power to them, I guess. It was a cool song, but I was feeling Devil's Forest more.

Match 2 is really difficult for me. Mechonis Field is such a vibe, but Flamerock Refuge, apart from being something unexpected from what I already know of Borderlands, hits a few of the right notes.

Match 3 is also really difficult. Kitsch sounds like it fell out of a racing game, not a fighting game, yet Spiral of Erebos feels like it should've retired years ago. Gotta hand it to Falcom on this one.
[Rock and Stone] <o/
loweffortmemes
05/26/2024
03:32 PM
#46
Last Bible III - Devil Forest
Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos

MATCH 1

Carpathians is quite the song haha. Not really the kind of song Id listen to, but the metal parts are actually pretty cool. I wouldve never expected to hear straight up blast beats in video game music lol. As a black metal fan, I approve of that. Melodically, the other parts of the song arent that bad either!

Devil Forest has a pretty solid melody and chill song. I like how the lead melody is layered over the arpeggios in the background from the intro.

MATCH 2

Flamerock Refuge is nice, but I wish it went somewhere beyond what it does throughout the song.

Mechonis Field, by contrast, has a really great buildup in intensity. I already like the first part of the song more than Flamerock Refuge in terms of melody and sound generally. I think the extra instruments and how theyre arranged creates a really cool atmosphere. 1:24 and after are my favorite parts of the song. 1:51 is definitely the peak of the song for me. The rest of it is really great too. Feels like theres more depth harmonically going on here that I really enjoy.

MATCH 3

Im very happy to see Spiral of Erebos in here. Such a cool song! Sort of similar to Mechonis Field, theres this buildup of intensity at the start to the main parts, only its way better in Spiral of Erebos. And I really like Mechonis Field too! The piano melody is just so good here. The violin at 0:52 though is even better! And the part at 2:37 is also really great. This was an easy pick for my B2 retiree.

Kitsch is pretty decent. Solid enough melody throughout. Not much to say about it.

Spiral of Erebos > Mechonis Field > Devil Forest > Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul > Kitsch > Flamerock Refuge
Collen
05/26/2024
03:58 PM
#47
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Flamerock Refuge
Kitsch
Sunshine. Lunchbox. Playground. Raincoat. Hot Dog. Oatmeal. Railroad. Ice Cream. Bathtub. Pancake. Eardrum.
SlinkyNeko
05/26/2024
04:02 PM
#48
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Mechonis Field
Spiral of Erebos
banshiryuu
05/26/2024
04:49 PM
#49
Devil Forest
Mechonis Field
Kitsch

bah

From TunnelScene:
Even in the Carpathians, tatisftrag (Epic Loon)
Mechonis Field (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Spiral of Erebos (Trails of Cold Steel III)

pryapisme vgm ANd tigran vgm? all the prog bands I liked in 2016 becoming for games. this is less surprising than Tigran to do this though. despite loving this band I am not sure I even realized this existed, well I will have to listen at some point. oh yeah this contest has varra in it too but that's even less surprising to have vgm than this

what aisle are you on LOL (very difficult and close match.) I actually didn't realize I was going to have to make this choice until now. but thsi is way too much the feeling I seek for me to give my vote confidently for the zany prog song no matter how much i literally was a big fan of pryapisme for very many years in my life. surprisingly close match, like infuriatingly so (i can imagine changing this choice on relistens, but I have done many now & swapped repeatedly. but have come to this conclusion at this time)

delay echoes to make me so fond

interesting spar between two atmospheric songs that are precisely my thing, but mechonis field pushes my buttons much harder

why I love Fonunodu ======= /please drink my fluids for me unisuqa

3335this is what happens when you make jazz fusion that was slow be fast instead


From failgirlema:
Devil Forest
Flamerock Refuge
Spiral of Erebos
LkProd
05/26/2024
06:26 PM
#50
Even in the Carpathians, taking a train is still faster than riding a ghoul
Flamerock Refuge
Kitsch
Board 8 » [VGMC] Day 16! feat. EitCtatisftrag, DF, FR, MF, SoE, and K
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