Lurker > loweffortmemes

Shinju no Yakata - Loneliness of the Caged Bird
Genshin Impact - Jade Chimes
Ecco the Dolphin (Sega CD) - Title Screen (Aqua Vistas)

MATCH 1

Wait a minute, the composer for Spyro is the drummer from The Police? That is not something I knew haha. Anyway, Lofty Castle (potato) is fine, but nothing to write home about.

Yeah, I like Kanako Itou vocals. This is actually a really cool song! Took a little bit to grow on me, but it's steadily getting there more and more. This was an easy pick for this match, but I was struggling with my round 2 decision of The Bud vs. Loneliness of the Caged Bird, feeling like they were close to equal. But as of now, Loneliness of the Caged Bird has pretty much ran away with it and is now my pick for A1 retiree. I haven't finished the bracket entirely, but I might end up taking Melancholy of a Noisy Girl over it for that side's finalist, I'm not sure. Anyway, as a known vocals enthusiast, the vocals are definitely the highlight of the song for me. But I really like the piano and violin too. 1:42-2:30 is my favorite part of the song. I feel like it picks up just enough to have that slower, more emotional feel while having a bit of energy in its tempo as well. Even the part after 2:30, which I wasn't too crazy about initially, has grown on me more since my first listen. That brief part at 2:51-2:57 is very neat. Really nice stuff overall!

MATCH 2

Not a fan of Intermediate Race.

Jade Chimes isn't as good as some of the ones that were floating around in nominations, but I like it a little more than Genshin Impact's past VGMC entrants. It has a cool floaty atmosphere to it. Very evocative of its title.

MATCH 3

Aqua Vistas has a nice ambience to it. Similar to the Metroid Dread song, it's not something I really latch onto, but unlike that song, there's more to it that I appreciate like the more melodic focus with the chords and some occasional neat arpeggio stuff like at 1:38.

I like a lot of Camellia stuff, but Mad Rat, Die is definitely not a hit with me. I can't see this song title without thinking of Sideshow Bob lol.

Loneliness of the Caged Bird >> Jade Chimes > Lofty Castle (potato) > Title Screen (Aqua Vistas) > MAD RAT, DIE > Intermediate Race (Stage3)

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - Kaze no Ne
Phoenotopia: Awakening - Caves of Mul
MementoMori: AFKRPG - XIII. THE BUD

MATCH 1

Kaze no Ne is one of those songs that I like a fair amount but isn't one that I'd ever likely take to retirement. With this song, I usually vote for it at least a couple times. This year, I took it to round 3 in my favorites bracket before taking Volcano over it (I'd probably take Solstice - Title over it too now that Volcano's out).

Ambient songs like Artaria (Frozen) are usually not a hit with me.

MATCH 2

So, I just mentioned that I'm not too big on ambient songs. While you could argue that Caverns of Mul has something of an ambient feel to it as well, there's much more of a melody in there compared to something like Artaria, which is really what I'm looking for. There's a nice softness to this song. I especially the piano parts of it. The climax at 1:38 is really nice too with how it brings the piano and synths together.

Scratch P is...well...not really my thing haha. Strangely enough, I can almost hear something of a melody at parts like 0:34 through the dissonance? I think it's that every single note in the top voicing is being played in chords with tritones or other dissonant intervals.

MATCH 3

The beginning part of The Bud is very cool. The rest of the song, not as much, but it's definitely a solid song overall! This might be an odd comparison given the different styles, but melodically, I'm kind of reminded of Ariabl'eyeS. I've tried to get into their songs in the past, but I was never able to find anything I liked a ton. They were all good but not quite what I was looking for, and that's how I feel about The Bud as well. Seeing that The Bud's based on a classical piece, it seems, I think that may be the connection to why I feel similar about both things. Ariabl'eyeS music gave me a similar classical feeling to it.

Sonic rock music is definitely up my alley. Believe in Myself isn't my favorite representation of it, but it's still a good song. I guess if I had to put it into words, it's just that this song doesn't have anything that's a particularly strong appeal to me, even though I like what it has to offer. Kind of close match?

XIII. THE BUD > Kaze no Ne > Caves of Mul > Believe In Myself ...Theme of "MILES" > Artaria (Frozen) = Scratch "P"

beatmania IIDX 23 copula - AZISAI (Long ver.)
Daytona USA - The King of Speed
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido - Volcano

MATCH 1

Resonance of Ray has all the right ingredients to make a good Falcom song instrumentally with the piano and violin, a few helpings of electric guitar, and even the synth lead. But the recipe it's using doesn't quite come out right for me. By that, I mean, it just doesn't really do anything that I really enjoy. Not bad by any means, but not something I'd really get into either.

AZISAI is pretty cool when it's more melodically energetic. Not exactly the best of both worlds between Camellia and Sota Fujimori (both of whom have made songs that I really like), but there's a good amount of stuff to like about this song! Definitely has higher peaks and more consistently so than Resonance of Ray.

MATCH 2

A lot of Daytona USA songs are songs that I definitely like but not really enough to seek them out and King of Speed's no different. They're definitely memorable, but I feel like they sound better in my head than they do when I actually listen to them lol. I'm liking King of Speed a little more today though than when I listened to it for the favorites bracket a few days ago. Not much to say about this one, it's pretty cool overall. Don't really like that one part at 3:44, but the rest of it's fine. I'm always reminded of this Siivagunner rip when I think of this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMezdaGfopY.

Track 2 is a very mysterious sounding song. I don't know how to play chess, so maybe this would be a fitting song for me if I ever try to play chess and fumble around miserably as I do so.

MATCH 3

Follin songs are among the biggest exceptions to my general lack of enthusiasm for NES songs and the like. I've always liked the Solstice theme. There's a good amount of stuff in this vein of 70s prog rock that I enjoy. I like the first minute and 10 seconds of the song compared to the rest of it though.

I like the piano parts the most from Volcano, and that's what I think tipped this song over the edge for me in what was a very close match. The synth stuff in it is pretty cool too.

Volcano > Title > AZISAI (Long ver.) > Resonance of Ray > The King of Speed > Track 2

This is a strategic swap of my double to save a 4/3 nomination of mine and bring it to 5/3. This song will be at 5/4 after my swap, which should be safe. If 5/4's become unsafe, I will 100% bring my double back to bring it back to 6/4. Same goes for if anyone drops this, but just to be clear, I am absolutely not abandoning this.

- Heaven Burns Red | Shi ni Yuku Kisetsu no Kimi e | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2OY3xxUO0w
+ Yume to Iro de Dekiteiru | Yume to Iro de Dekiteiru | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktOpWwiTFMI

Double to lock:

+ 11eyes: Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shoujo | Kegare Naki Yume | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUCptFdBWzg

Dropping:

- Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim | Release of the Far West Ocean | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwP1v88U2FU
- Umineko No Naku Koro Ni Chiru | 7weights | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSJVvftCR64
- Goddess of Victory: NIKKE | THE REDHOOD | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKHv-DuMOyo
- Goddess of Victory: NIKKE | Scardi | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA1C4o1hByc

Supporting:

+ Honkai: Star Rail | Hope is the Thing With Feathers | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyt41nnM0k
+ DJMAX RESPECT V | Misty Er'A ~One Day~ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TavpytwkgPg
+ Halo 2 | Blow Me Away | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePLDO68lcA4
+ Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star | Ar-ciel Ar-manaf | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Mt2OFEMII
+ Nine Sols | Nine Sols | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo_-vr1FwJ0
+ Shadow the Hedgehog | I Am... All of Me | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NucG0kD3pkg
+ Mirrors Edge Catalyst | Warning Call | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A2tSOb8nY8

Let me know if you want me to bring any of these drops back. This might lock something too, I don't know.

Dropping most of my 1/1s now. These are all the 1/1s that currently do not appear on anyone's public support considerations playlists, which if I'm counting correctly is all but one of them. Scardi will remain for now, mainly because it's on deo's list.

- crossbeats REV. SUNRISE | Spica | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPtVQ2Hdczg
- DEAD DAYS | Liar, Liar | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXrDNE05DPM
- NUKITASHI 2 | May day+^2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vW6f3nNQPM
- Remember11: The Age of Infinity | Darkness of Chaos | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIUNpw5e1uY
- Swallowtail -Ano Hi, Ao o Koete- | Kanzen Shoujo Ron | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlVG7SWmQiA
- Tomoyo After ~It's a Wonderful Life~ | Light Colors | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVrE6ELZqiE
- Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou | DESIRE | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w_w6hO0uMQ
- Wonderful Everyday ~Diskontinuierliches Dasein~ | Aboard the Naglfar | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol0CsPr0ueU

Some initial supports, focusing on songs with lower numbers of supports (looking at songs below 4/x), two of which are 0/0's lol (these may get dropped again soon if there's no action on them). I think I'll throw supports at more-supported songs for locking at like the half hour or fifteen minute mark or so depending on how antsy I get.

+ SOUND VOLTEX IV HEAVENLY HAVEN | Chou chou kou soku de mae sai soku!!! Speed star Kanade | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y13mvUKCmec
+ Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim | Release of the Far West Ocean | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwP1v88U2FU
+ Dai Sengoku Rance | Alice Ragnarok (Opening) | https://youtu.be/OGaRQnIpBVQ
+ Demons Roots | Ground Dasher | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neUEypzXcMY
+ Goddess of Victory: NIKKE | THE REDHOOD | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKHv-DuMOyo
+ Umineko No Naku Koro Ni Chiru | 7weights | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSJVvftCR64

3/2's are unsafe now, so doubling this.

+ 9-nine-:Episode 4 | DEAR MY WAKER | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFDTxJDNw88

In other news, I'm finished with the whole nominations playlist now, and my support considerations playlist is now ordered! I decided not to make the other playlist I mentioned in the last thread because, honestly, I just don't feel like it lol. I'll just take a look at the very end Sunday to see what is on the borderline if I have any spare supports to give by then in regard to supporting songs not on my playlist.

I may shift doubles around today if there's something I really want to double to lock, but we'll see how that goes. I still have one double left after this, at least.

Since some people are looking to drop nominations/supports, I'll drop a couple initial supports to keep them afloat. These were two that were mentally at the top of my list anyway of songs to support.

+ 11eyes: Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shoujo | Kegare Naki Yume | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUCptFdBWzg
+ Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth | Hikari | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8CzceuTA2A

Also, I currently have 6 songs (well, 5, but the HBR song was a planned day 1 nomination lol) with at least one support on them. Hooray! I'll throw my doubles at the 2/2's for now, but I'm more than willing to double my 3/3's and 4/4 as well if someone wants me to for whatever reason.

+ Dreamin' Her -Boku wa, Kanojo no Yume o Miru- | Oyasumi Monochrome | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zAoi3oFwdg
+ Heaven Burns Red | Shi ni Yuku Kisetsu no Kimi e | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2OY3xxUO0w
+ White Album 2 | Todokanai Koi | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdOUggE_Yoo

I think I've said this either in the thread or on Discord, but to reiterate, I'll be holding onto all my nominations until Saturday. Sometime on Saturday, depending on how crazy things get, I'll drop all my 1/1's that do not appear on anyone's support considerations playlists to make room for supports.

I'm midway into the day 3 nominations right now, and I'm hoping to be done either today or tomorrow at the latest! My support considerations playlist is a little lighter this year at 26 songs with less than 100 songs to go compared to past years (38 in VGMC18, 45 in VGMC17, and 33 in VGMC16). In light of that, and also inspired by something Haste2 posted, I might make a separate playlist of songs that didn't make the cut for my main considerations playlist but that I nevertheless enjoyed quite a bit, with the intention being that this separate playlist would reflect songs I may be willing to support on the last day if I have spare supports to throw out and any songs are on the borderline. If I do make this playlist, it'll be after I've finished with the nominations playlist and ordering my main playlist.

+ Remember11: The Age of Infinity | Darkness of Chaos | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIUNpw5e1uY
+ Tomoyo After ~It's a Wonderful Life~ | Light Colors | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVrE6ELZqiE
+ White Album 2 | Todokanai Koi | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdOUggE_Yoo
+ NUKITASHI 2 | May day+^2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vW6f3nNQPM
+ Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou | DESIRE | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w_w6hO0uMQ
+ Yume to Iro de Dekiteiru | Yume to Iro de Dekiteiru | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktOpWwiTFMI

This year's nominations were brought to you by this three-part video series that I found a few months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgjMqyCYmcU. By my count, 11 of my nominations are in this list, which is basically all but 2 of the visual novel songs I nominated haha. 6 out of that 11 are new discoveries from that list!

Anyway, my plans for this year are going to be the same as usual. I plan to hold onto all of my nominations until the day nomination locking ends, where I'll drop any 1/1's that are not on anyone's support considerations playlists to start supporting songs I like. Speaking of supports, as of the time of posting this, I'm currently at song 280 in the nominations playlist. Depending on how large this playlist gets after today, I hope to be finished with the nominations playlist by the time nominations end.

+ Goddess of Victory: NIKKE | Scardi | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA1C4o1hByc
+ 9-nine-:Episode 4 | DEAR MY WAKER | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFDTxJDNw88
+ crossbeats REV. SUNRISE | Spica | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPtVQ2Hdczg
+ Dreamin' Her -Boku wa, Kanojo no Yume o Miru- | Oyasumi Monochrome | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zAoi3oFwdg
+ Wonderful Everyday ~Diskontinuierliches Dasein~ | Aboard the Naglfar | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol0CsPr0ueU

TeamRocketElite posted...

I'm fine with either title. Which should we go with?

@loweffortmemes I believe this means you can nom a different song since I nominated first.

I'll switch to yours since you were first, but I'm also fine with either title.

- Heaven Burns Red | To You in the Dying Season | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2OY3xxUO0w
+ Heaven Burns Red | Shi ni Yuku Kisetsu no Kimi e | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2OY3xxUO0w

And for my new fifth nomination:
+ Swallowtail -Ano Hi, Ao o Koete- | Kanzen Shoujo Ron | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlVG7SWmQiA

This actually works out great because I have 11 songs that I wanted to nominate within the first two days.

+ Heaven Burns Red | To You in the Dying Season | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2OY3xxUO0w
+ Little Busters! | Melancholy of a Noisy Girl | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr8tVRARYG4
+ Stella Glow | Hikari no Metamorphosis | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2rXlxTVmkQ
+ Toushin Toshi III | get the regret over | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2rOPQJ-sgw
+ DEAD DAYS | Liar, Liar | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXrDNE05DPM

FL81 posted...

#60 Little Busters! - Heroic Battle
Rating: 7.3/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @loweffortmemes (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLq0KorDC1M

Ah yes this is what I think of when I hear "Little Busters music". No but really I would never guess that this is Little Busters. This actually kinda sounds like old school Falcom, like their '90s stuff. Like seriously what even is this game's soundtrack ha ha ha

I had Mega Man X music in mind when I nominated this track, since I know youre a big fan of that. This songs not quite as high energy as those, sure, but Im glad you liked it!

This is one of the songs that plays during a fighting minigame in the game. Yes, you read that right, theres a fighting minigame in Little Busters. If my memorys correct, you cant actually control anything during it and its entirely RNG who wins, but yeah, definitely not the first thing you expect from a slice of life/drama visual novel about playing baseball with friends haha.

This is another song that plays during this minigame, which I didnt think youd like as much, but maybe Im wrong! https://youtube.com/watch?v=5n7hG02hTng

Edit: Better quality link here https://youtube.com/watch?v=DY559LCZsUA. Im keeping the other one though so you can see the similarly out-of-character song name lol. The official soundtrack on vgmdb lists the English title as Epic Mortal Fight though, which doesnt sound quite as crazy as Commanding Struggle to the Death but you get the idea.

DanKirby posted...

"Message in a Bottle" by The Police, maybe? That's what it always makes me think of.

You know, you're probably right!

dowolf posted...

Same writer, so maybe?

I've only read SubaHibi, but if I had to guess, I think it might be more so that both games reference Cyrano de Bergerac.

Now that the rankings are done, I just wanted to shout out a few songs that I am very likely to support that I didn't get a chance to rank.

@FL81 Kegare Naki Yume was easily my favorite VGMC discovery so far, and it's basically auto-support for me at this point.

@Chaeix Hope is the Thing With Feathers is a song I was actually thinking of nominating myself, so I'll almost certainly be throwing a support at it.

I looked through the spreadsheet and the only blocks that don't have a song that I either nominated or already ranked are Rotation 1, Block 4 (claimed by Chaos-Zero) and Rotation 9, Block 4 (claimed by waveshine2001). And even then, I could only do one of those because both blocks share a song.

I'm happy to keep ranking more blocks, but I know you don't want us to rank songs we've already ranked, so I just wanted to see how you'd want me to proceed in light of that.

loweffortmemes posted...

I anticipate finishing the fourth and fifth blocks tonight.

All five blocks completed now!

Currently 3 blocks down out of the 5 I chose (and the 0.2 from my one comment in the fourth block lol). I anticipate finishing the fourth and fifth blocks tonight. I'm happy to leave the remaining blocks for the others who may not have finished the amount of blocks they selected yet, but I'm also willing to rank some blocks in a new rotation too.

Or rank any blocks that are uncompleted by April 7th. My plan is to get as many rankings in as I can before the cleanup crew arrives if there are any in my rotation uncompleted by around next week Friday.

No issues here.

Little Busters! - Melancholy of a Noisy Girl - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saIN4oKuwJ8
Stella Glow - Hikari no Metamorphosis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2rXlxTVmkQ
Swallowtail -Ano Hi, Ao o Koete- - Kanzen Shoujo Ron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlVG7SWmQiA
Sakura no Toki - Mon Panache! - https://soundcloud.com/hatoba/mon-panache
Taiko no Tatsujin 12 Don~! to Zoryoban - Yuujou Pop - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvsYBriK-H0

I can't promise that I'll rank the entire list, but I'm more than happy to rank as many as I can. For the sake of having a definite number, I'll take 5 blocks, but I may be willing to do more after the initial 5 if there's still space.

Apologies for the Soundcloud link for Mon Panache. I tried uploading it myself to Youtube, but apparently someone else's upload was previously removed by a copyright strike request, which is causing the video to be detected as a reupload and prevents it from being uploaded.

RikkuAlmighty posted...

The Grisaia series is neutered on Steam, right? Even with patches, theyre missing content?

edit: the series isnt on sale, just figured i would ask here given the topicality

I was actually eyeing Labyrinth and Eden since I had been meaning to play them for a long time now since I had finished Fruit. They were all 55% off during the sale, I believe, but I imagine theyll be discounted again during the Spring Sale happening soon.

In any event, all 18+ content is removed from the Steam versions, including some dialogue as well, I believe? Though, Im pretty sure theres a fan-made patch for each of the games in the main trilogy that restores this content.

I settled on getting Raging Loop and Totono.

Since Ive had a bit of a mystery/sci-fi interest lately, Im curious if anyone heres played Root Double and whether they liked it.

My past experience with Takumi Nakazawas work has been with Ever17, Remember11, and, looking at vndb, AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative. I loved Ever17 and consider it my favorite Uchikoshi game, but as far as Nakazawas work goes, Yous route was my least favorite character route (and I liked You as a character), though I thought the Kid scenario was fine. Remember11 was very interesting with great pacing, but I felt unsatisfied by some of the solutions to certain mysteries (namely, how some of the attacks at SPHIA/bad end deaths occurred and the motive for trapping Self in the infinity loop). From what vndb shows, I liked the parts of AINI that Nakazawa worked on.

Im not planning on getting it all that soon, but since this topics up and the game seems to usually be 75% off when its on sale, I figured Id ask what peoples thoughts are on it. Ive seen some mixed reviews, some who really enjoyed it and others who didnt really care for it overall. Plus a handful of complaints about pacing and length issues. For what its worth, I was fine with Ever17s pacing, which sometimes gets criticism for being too slow during the more slice of life parts.

Dies irae ~Amantes amantes~ - Jubilus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7WmYCOMfOk

Zakuzaku Actors - Agunamonita -202-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWIaftkVagM

GuitarFreaks XG & DrumMania XG - KAISER PHOENIX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCb2a-IhBtM

Little Busters! - Heroic Battle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLq0KorDC1M

The Devil on G-String - Answer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQPtdWFXJIA

Abstain
Missing-X-Link ~Ten no Yurikago, Togi no Hana~ - The Blue Sanctuary
+2 GITADORA OverDrive - Jupiter Guns Novel (Long Version)

Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field
Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field (Original)
+2 [-Aka-] - Suna no Shiro -The Castle of Sand-

[-Aka-] - Suna no Shiro -The Castle of Sand-

Very pleased with this set of finalists for the championship round! Mechonis Field would be kind of comparable to Passing Through the Forest for me in the sense that it isn't my favorite champion that I've seen (edit: with the prior champions at the time of contests I participated in being Exsphere, Endeavour, and resurrectedreplayer, that's such a high bar to clear for favorite champion that "not one of my favorite champions" doesn't actually say a whole lot lol), but it's definitely one that I enjoy. I'd certainly place it over Back in Time in an updated champion ranking. But to be sure, Mechonis Field is a plenty good song that I voted for a few times during the contest! Castle of Sand, on the other hand, was relatively high up in my list of songs to support. I don't think I was able to get to it before it locked, but I certainly would have with enough time! It was my second-most preferred retiree for C2 behind You Will Know Our Names, and even in a bracket with heavy competition from songs like The Merciless Savior and Egregori, I'm still very happy that Castle of Sand was the one to make it through. My preference for Castle of Sand is definitely strong, but I'll be pleased with the results either way!

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Let's Go, Mt. Corel!
DDRMAX -Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix- CS - Kind Lady (Funk Disco Extended Mix)
pop'n music 19 TUNE STREET - Nazca no Oka (Long Version)

[-Aka-] - Suna no Shiro -The Castle of Sand-

Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechonis Field

Mad Rat Dead - MAD LAST WORLD
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC - The Merciless Savior

Today's poll is reminding me that reunion was on my shortlist to nominate a year or two ago...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC - The Merciless Savior

Great finalists for C! B was very good too, but this is definitely my favorite set of bracket finalists. I'd be very happy with either song becoming champion.

jubeat beyond the Ave. - Prowler

Let's Tap - Tap de Papapaya (Long Version)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC - The Merciless Savior

Definitely did not think in the beginning that I'd be voting Tap as my Bracket A champion, especially with voting it all the way to here from round 3 haha.

Mad Rat Dead - MAD LAST WORLD
Path of the Abyss - Warcry

I think if Match 1 happened at the start of the contest, it would've been more handily Mad Lost World, but because Crumble Soul's grown a lot on me since then, it's really close.

[-Aka-] - Suna no Shiro -The Castle of Sand-
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC - The Merciless Savior

Opoona - Blue Desert Hotel
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception - Nuedori
Path of the Abyss - Warcry

Very tough main matches for Bracket B. Match 1 especially. Match 2, not so much, but it's still a strong match with my preferred B3 retiree up against my second-most-preferred B4 retiree.

Aurora Memoria - Philosophical Data Session: 2093 - Softbank
Let's Tap - Tap de Papapaya (Long Version)

Kinda close match 2? I like both songs, but I'm feeling Tap a little more today.

Murasaki Tsurugi - Fairytale Poison and Solitude
Path of the Abyss - Warcry

Mad Rat Dead - MAD LAST WORLD
pop'n music peace - Crumble Soul (Extended Mix)

Close match 1!

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC - The Merciless Savior
Missing-X-Link ~Ten no Yurikago, Togi no Hana~ - The Blue Sanctuary

Is this finally The Merciless Savior's time to shine? I sure hope so!

beatmania IIDX 25 CANNON BALLERS - Specimen of Life (Long Version)
[-Aka-] - Suna no Shiro -The Castle of Sand-

Neat, I have two nominations on the losing end in the poll!

jubeat beyond the Ave. - Prowler
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception - Nuedori
Unicorn Overlord - Farde Mal Diavolo -Destroy Evil, then Come-

Hi Haste, I'm here now!

Opoona - Blue Desert Hotel
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos

Great match 2! Would be very pleased with either song retiring.

RINNE - b10
Atelier Sophie: Alchemist of the Mysterious Book - Spring Wind Skylark

Mashiro Witch - Midnight Marchen - requiemforxxx -InParadisum-
Path of the Abyss - Warcry

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne - Late Goodbye
Murasaki Tsurugi - Fairytale Poison and Solitude
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - Seaside Vacation

Mad Rat Dead - MAD LAST WORLD
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Brilliant Wings
Limbus Company - Compass

I was just thinking earlier today that the Compass vs. Crumble Soul match was gonna be hard and that I was wondering what I'd pick for it when it came up. Turns out that's today haha. Compass is still the pick for me, which is what I did in my favorites bracket, but Crumble Soul has risen in enjoyment over time, so it's definitely closer now than it was then. I wish this was a round 4 match though since I'd be happy with either song retiring. Now, D1 will have a guaranteed retiree that I like if Mad Last World and Brilliant Wings both win! And we can also have a guaranteed retiree I like in D2 if Late Goodbye wins its match.

Tartaros Online - The Fox's Lair
Missing-X-Link ~Ten no Yurikago, Togi no Hana~ - The Blue Sanctuary
GITADORA Tri-Boost - Jaguar Ningen no Junan (Long Version)