Lurker > rwlh

Dresden sounds like he takes it.

Xeybozn posted...

Let's assume Big Rig glitches are canon feats for Thunderbull. Is there any evidence that Thunderbull could hit Ocelot? Presumably the lack of any collision detection is also canon, and since the fighters can't interact with each other the match would end in a draw. But if Thunderbull is capable of hitting things, then the ridiculous speed feats are also meaningless as it won't be able to build up that much speed without crashing. Seems like if this match is an actual fight, it'll be an easy win for Ocelot.

I am convinced.

Ocelot.

Bugs as canon indicators of strength is why Thunderbull was nominated, right? I don't know anything about this version of Ocelot though. Apparently he can just fire anywhere and have it go wherever he wants, but what are his reaction times? He can probably handle a normal truck bearing down on him, but if Thunderbull goes at glitchy speed...

Flash.

14. Hitman: Codename 47
Nominated by @SuperbVEVO
Average rating: 6.9
Overall thoughts: A broad spectrum of ambience.

4. Hong Kong Themes - https://youtu.be/vgJyGezg598 [9]
24. Jungle Exploration - https://youtu.be/xlPc8gc0D0w [8.5]
52. Hotel Music (Early Demo) - https://youtu.be/RvzCt3qMYEw [7.5]
134. Hospital Themes - https://youtu.be/COWdwUKiOqI [5.5]
157. Harbor Themes - https://youtu.be/NZnRMgmGlN4 [4]

The Hitman set started out incredibly strong with a top five song, but wound up also containing a bottom 20 song. The set is pretty much entirely ambient. Some of the songs drew me in to their worlds a bit more than others; while the bottom two mostly bored, the top three were engaging and powerful.

Favorite song: Hong Kong Themes. I love basically everything about this. The machine-like percussive effects with long-held notes fading in and out, plus there are like bongos or something. This song is great. It would probably have even made it to 9.5 territory but the last minute or so changes tack and isnt as engaging to me. Still, what a find!

Mr Lasastryke posted...

aww, stewart copeland's spyro the dragon soundtrack is one of my favorite VGM soundtracks. at least you somewhat enjoyed it, though.

There's definitely a lot to enjoy there, yeah, even if it's not directly to my tastes. Very happy to have heard the set!

15. Star Control 2
Nominated by @NFUN
Average rating: 6.9
Overall thoughts: Funky tracker music.

12. Yehat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOE-vVuBXKE [9]
13. Commander Hayes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXeMgY4gpQQ [9]
35. Supox - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHg4JWnlAXw [8]
115. Thraddash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb-gUVIqChk [6]
172. Arilou Lalee'lay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiBJlqGQqfM [2.5]

I was somewhat familiar with this soundtrack already, but it was good to get a highlights reel. This would be much higher were it for not the one outlier, which is basically just a beat and a repeated synth. Everything else was pretty great!

Favorite song: Yehat. I knew this one already. A shockingly emotional and still upbeat song. Shoutouts to the literal next ranked on the list, Commander Hayes, which is good, funky exercise music.

PIayer_0 posted...

Dang there goes Xenoblade, guess I agree with Gaur Plains placing on the lower end though

The LoL songs got ranked in the reverse order I expected...since you also like Dream Glow, maybe you should check out more Kpop songs! I didn't like most login themes at first, but I understand how they're supposed to work as character themes now, like Jhin's login representing a crazed artist whose ultimate expression is to admire people at their moment of death, with his "kill shot" coming at 1:30.

I know shockingly little K-pop! Maybe I should make a ranking topic for it next...

16. Spyro the Dragon
Nominated by @GavsEvans123
Average rating: 6.7
Overall thoughts: A very cool soundtrack that I appreciate more than enjoy.

51. Jacques - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbv4IThbwrw [7.5]
80. Dark Hollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhqNfvJLEss [7]
86. Ice Cavern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoIgMfMfkgY [6.5]
90. Title Screen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvFRWKklC6c [6.5]
131. Doctor Shemp - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlS778H5ldg [6]

I tried soooo hard with this set. I love so much of what the songs do, but by and large they just werent clicking for me on an emotional level. I probably relistened to every song at least three times! This is consistent with my personal experience with this seriess music. I love the overall feel of the songs, I love the nifty percussion and almost world music-y vibe, but I just get stuck on the emotional engagement. Thats fine to me I rank songs I can feel higher than others, but there are always songs that dont fit that bill but still offer things I can objectively appreciate, if that makes sense. And there's a lot to appreciate here.

Favorite song: Jacques. Love the beat here, very chill but also very fast-paced at the same time. Feels sort of circus-y? Its a lot of fun to listen to. Great bass, great drums. Not much melody, but thats okay it excels in other areas.

17. Xenoblade Chronicles
Nominated by @ninkendo
Average rating: 6.7
Overall thoughts: Guitar/violin JRPG themes with an emphasis on intense rock.

26. Mechanical Rhythm - https://youtu.be/Q0W0VyaoZzY [8.5]
103. You Will Know Our Names - https://youtu.be/g7yNyhLOIa4 [6.5]
106. Engage the Enemy - https://youtu.be/xi0M9SIaLb4 [6.5]
111. Unfinished Business - https://youtu.be/LSCLbShOrA0 [6.5]
138. Gaur Plains - https://youtu.be/UDJtsfR51To [5.5]

Lots of battle themes here, with an emphasis on strings and guitar. The Xenoblade set is one of the only nominations where I was familiar with everything beforehand it seems like a nice, safe pick for the soundtrack and I liked basically all of it.

Favorite song: Mechanical Rhythm. A nice rockin song that gets right to the point seconds in and doesnt let up at any point. This is a full production here, with what amounts to an actual band, replete with a little breakdown near the end that quickly makes way for the great opening riff at the loop. Very fun, very high energy.

18. Koala Lumpur: Journey to the Edge
Nominated by @GameBopAdv
Average rating: 6.7
Overall thoughts: Very interesting OPL3 sounds.

50. The Land of Lost Things, Pipes (1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_5ic1xXCo [7.5]
58. The Land of Lost Things, Junk City (4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRfFexhPRDk [7.5]
75. Space Station, Corridors (2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAKthk8_BZA [7]
122. Space Station, Stingers (1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCW1unClduc [6]
147. Lab (5) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlN_UixGqJM [5.5]

The OPL3 sound chip is often very hit or miss for me, but I generally enjoyed this eclectic set. Some tracks are more atmospheric than others, and some are more melodic. They all basically succeed at conveying a mood, a strong sense of exploration and adventure.

Favorite song: The Land of Lost Things, Pipes (1). This song struck me as a sort of proto-Banjo-Kazooie. It would fit in just fit in, say, Gobis Valley, with its synthesized xylophone and fun, galloping melody. I also enjoyed The Land of Lost Things, Junk City (4), a much different track: downtempo, moody, melancholic. This one took a bit to grow on me, but Im glad I didnt write it off right away.

Bad matchup for the toaster.

Darth Bane.

dowolf posted...

>_>

Glad to see it looks like you liked the set overall, since I had no real idea how it'd go over.

Is that an inaccurate description?

19. Ara Fell
Nominated by @dowolf
Average rating: 6.6
Overall thoughts: RPG-type songs with strong world music production.

34. Ghost of the Forest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBb7OVZriQI [8]
54. Mighty Oaks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY5BQ84HmqQ [7.5]
129. Moostone Dungeon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XH3A9qkouE [6]
133. Inyuna's Boss Battle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdHDH6RxiP0 [6]
135. Asari's Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXlPrQCj99w [5.5]

Lots of nifty world music-esque happenings in this set. Songs range from incredibly soft and lovely pieces that could belong in Hollow Knight (Mighty Oaks) to more upbeat, driving melodies (Inyunas Boss Battle). The set is diverse, but thematically consistent. Definitely feels like going on a journey.

Favorite song: Ghost of the Forest, aka Marimbafest 2020. This song is like walking through a misty, moss-filled grove full of wonder, with deer rumbling around and big caverns to explore. Thats sort of how the whole set feels, but Ghost of the Forest exemplifies it.

GameBopAdv posted...

Just want to say I'm enjoying these little write-ups & rating style so far !
Also I'm pleasantly surprised / relieved that my very pre-vgmc5-era-gamebop type of pick has not shown up yet. Though maybe I'll pull what azuarc did and have mine be the one to show up right after I say something. Still we've passed the point for me to be happy with wherever it would show up now, so ,,

Glad you're enjoying it so far! It's certainly been easier to maintain than a ranking of individual songs, where I need to say something about each one.

20. Drift Stage
Nominated by @UF8
Average rating: 6.5
Overall thoughts: Slick. Thats basically the only word for it.

68. Exclusive Coup - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hOPryz9YVk [7]
83. Main Menu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lbOVd8ZaiA [7]
112. Applied Dynamics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9shrkso1q2Y [6.5]
126. Hughman Highlight Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7LYKrdC5oA [6]
130. Heating Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2S7mqciR9M [6]

Drift Stage has immaculate production. Every song feels like it could accompany a big-budget studio action movie, something deliberately retro from the 80s. It doesnt sound like the 80s, not quite it sounds like something intentionally imitating the 80s. Theres a difference. As with some prior soundtracks, I had a hard time distinguishing the songs from each other, which sort of makes the individual rankings fairly meaningless. But I generally liked them!

Favorite song: Exclusive Coup. Like I said above, all the songs are very similar, so its tough for me to point out this one above the others. But it has traits I like in the other songs: those 80s synths, that guitar like something out of a retro production. Reminds me of Initial D, honestly.

21. Sonic Colors
Nominated by @Hbthebattle
Average rating: 6.5
Overall thoughts: Modern Sonic sound with high highs and low lows.

3. Terminal Velocity (Act 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyFKFdTkzPg [9]
25. Aquarium Park (Act 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjtE4nPMN5g [8.5]
99. Planet Wisp (Act 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFUSim9dvQw [6.5]
141. Area: Asteroid Coaster - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPBSKi8_qNY [5.5]
168. Vs. Nega-Wisp Armor (Phase 2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vup0FSZH4W8 [3]

Our first top ten song! ...from a set with a bottom ten song. Whoops.

Sonic Colors was definitely a mixed bag for me. I remember liking Planet Wisp a lot more in the past than now, and Asteroid Coaster was forgettable, and Nega-Wisp Armor is not my thing at all. But I really liked the top two!

Favorite song: Terminal Velocity (Act 1). I dont really love the top 40 style rock of the Sonic Adventure series, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a song that rocks out but isnt like that at all! I love the melody, I love the production quality, I love the bridge at 1:35. I love basically everything about it! Great pick.

I don't doubt that Kirby can punch a planet in half or punch an asteroid into orbit or any of that. My question is: is he likely to do that in direct combat with an opponent? Do we ever see Kirby punching a boss in half? If we don't, it just might not be in his personality to do so.

Of course, Sin might not measure up to a typical Kirby final boss either.

Does he ever punch any opponent like that in direct combat?

Kirby gets memed a lot as incredibly powerful. All of the evidence I've seen is "he defeats gods and eldritch horrors," but never, like, what he actually does. What is his main mode of attack in defeating Sin?

22. Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Nominated by @_SecretSquirrel l
Average rating: 6.4
Overall thoughts: The most 6.5/10 soundtrack ever made.

79. Severing the Chains of Fate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snFk4Xus0ak [7]
89. Operation Underway - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRWAFT_6gMY [6.5]
100. Encroaching Shadows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQElo0oGMJ8 [6.5]
105. Gentle Breeze - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGztA8-OEHU [6.5]
137. Confronting the Menace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGW5zoY9cU [5.5]

Lets ignore that the set got a 6.4 average >_>

So almost all of these songs are in the same ballpark for me: above average territory, but shy of making it farther. There isnt really much else to say: the specific rankings here could fluctuate on a given day, but the top song is clearly at the top.

Favorite song: Severing the Chains of Fate. Another climactic fight song. I am sensing a pattern here! I particularly love the way it begins, transforming from a spooky beginning into full-on foreboding. Very cool.

Raetsel_Lapin posted...

A bit of a lucky guess. You mentioned liking chiptunes in the nomination topic and you did an entire Pokemon song ranking topic (err.. that was you, right?) which implies either a fondness for Game Boy music or at the very least that you don't hate it enough to actively avoid such music, so I went with what's probably my favorite GB soundtrack.

Personally, I'm a big fan of GB Ryu; somehow it seems to work even better for a Mega Man song than the rendition from the actual Street Fighter x Mega Man (to me, anyway).

The Pokemon ranking was me, yeah! I did that because I didn't know much about Pokemon music. But yeah, I love Game Boy music and chiptunes in general. Believe it or not, yours was one of the only chiptune nominations!

Shonen_Bat posted...

Better than I thought it would do, I'll take it.

If you're ever looking for a topic to nominate spooky horror VGM for, look no further than one of mine!

23. Shadow Man
Nominated by @Shonen_Bat
Average rating: 6.2
Overall thoughts: Spooktastic horror.

63. Title Theme - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cKEHiCFflw8 [7]
78. For We Are Many - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LirW5TL2y68 [7]
104. Avery Marx - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AkppsfLd9l8 [6.5]
146. Jack the Ripper - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vgyt-kiVwG4 [5.5]
149. Trials of the Five - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ozvCeeqJShI [5]

Like I said in the Cultist Simulator writeup, Im very open to spooky ambience and creepy horror VGM. Shadow Man fills this niche in this topic for me nicely, though its not quite as interesting as Id like it to be. Most of the songs veer toward the forgettable. If Shonen_Bat really wanted to get big points, they couldve nominated Playrooms, which features lovely sounds like squeaky toys, babies playing, and chainsaws through flesh. Its a 9/10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0kLXBnmyI

As Playrooms wasnt nominated, I must content myself with...

Favorite song: Title Theme. I love the really powerful drumbeat that opens this track. Drumbeats are the way to my heart. Title Theme gives off the aura of tribal ceremonies, of opening up a world of grand adventure. The melody is pretty simple, which is fine: its about setting the mood. Runner-up to For We Are Many, which includes screaming, a big industrial beat, backwards talking (or maybe thats talking in another language). Good stuff.

24. Street Fighter II (Game Boy)
Nominated by: @Raetsel_Lapin
Average rating: 6.1
Overall thoughts: The most curious nomination out of everything.

28. Blanka Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXLKmv8wBVw [8.5]
85. Ryu Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVIgnPk-WM [7]
118. Balrog Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pMEu7V7m-0 [6]
128. Ken Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbNcer_XLUA [6]
170. Zangief Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tOOzr_5sbY [3]

What an interesting nomination. I say this because I dont think Raetsel_Lapin knows my taste very well (though I could be wrong?), but they picked two things I really love: the Street Fighter II soundtrack and the Game Boy soundchip. Is that a coincidence? Its just a random thing to nominate otherwise.

Anyway, the big problem I had with this set was, well, the Game Boy soundchip. Most of the sounds are cluttered with over-crunchiness. The ones I like are mostly because of the original versions. Sadly, the set doesnt really exploit the coolness of the Game Boy. I love the original soundtrack so Im likely to enjoy any variant on it though.

Favorite song: Blanka Theme. Like the rest of this set, this arrangement sounds like mosquitoes playing the accordion. But it sounds like the original, so I like it. >_> What?

25. League of Legends
Nominated by @PIayer_0
Average rating: 6.1
Overall thoughts: A variety of songs that mostly seem to work best as literal background music.

15. POP/STARS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOxkGD8qRB4 [9]
30. Thresh, the Chain Warden - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WyH5E8Xs0c [8]
153. Camille, the Steel Shadow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GJNJ2fsFno [5]
156. Jhin, the Virtuoso - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSQZqVsaKWY [4.5]
159. Dark Star 2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc7ul2Pf1hw [4]

Another set thats all over the place! The bottom three are all fairly nondescript songs that probably work well as actual BGM instead of listening to them standalone. Thresh, the Chain Warden stands out as having creepy children in it, and thats generally an aspect I like. As for...

Favorite song: POP/STARS.

YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS
COMIN ROUND AGAIN

This song is infectiously fun. Ive listened to it maybe fifty or sixty times since the first time I heard it. Never gets old. Always makes me tap my feet. I dont get how it fits in with the rest of the soundtrack!

FL81 posted...

A curious choice, ranking the consistently average OST above the wildly variable OST

Can't argue with the numbers!

EDIT: The system for breaking ties was to order the sets based on the lowest ranking songs. So in this case, Okami had a lower last place song than Mystic Ark, so it got ranked lower.

I love how you gave me a song you thought I would dislike haha

26. Mystic Ark
Nominated by @FL81
Average rating: 6
Overall thoughts: The most 6/10 soundtrack ever made.

95. Techno House - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVWlr7b7n48 [6.5]
114. Hey! Don't Attack Me! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVaq9oKXO3A [6]
116. I Am a Poweful Ally! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24XjHo93Q9Y [6]
117. Your Fighting Eyes Are Always Beautiful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmAIR3guuzE [6]
140. So the Fingers of the Dark Have Reached Even Here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPE9y1Du71w [5.5]

Theres something to be said for a soundtrack being too consistent. After listening to five of these songs, they started blending into each other, which explains their close rankings. Nothing really stood out here, but they were all at least above average. I love SNES songs, which probably gave this set a boost.

Favorite song: Techno House. This track is very swingy and jazzy in 7/8 time, which might remind you that this by Akihiko Mori, famous around these parts for composing the Gokinjo Boukentai soundtrack. This has a nice, full SNES sound, lots of echoes and bells and whistles.

27. Okami
Nominated by @pyresword
Average rating: 6
Overall thoughts: A nice journey into some deeper cuts.

11. Yami - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XugG82XlAOw [9]
21. Theme of the Celestials - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfczAmFIsTE [8.5]
102. Kushi's Ride - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAvQNB_8HZQ [6.5]
164. Cursed Hana Valley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp1MHSeHa0o [3.5]
174. Ezofuji, Wawku Shrine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b24Yjac5_mE [2.5]

Wowie zowie standard deviation! We have the two highest rated songs so far, by a very large amount, including one that barely fell short of the top ten...coupled with the next to last rated song and a song that barely did better. I suppose its a testament to the versatility of this soundtrack that it can evoke such different reactions in me. I greatly appreciated pyres B-side attempt here, opting for some deeper cuts of this well-worn soundtrack.

Favorite song: Yami. I didnt expect to like this one that much from the intro, but Yami quickly turns into an intensely powerful (powerfully intense?) eight-minute epic with tons of twists and turns along the way. Definitely worth the full listen!

28. Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass
Nominated by @TheArkOfTurus
Average rating: 5.9
Overall thoughts: More tinny indie game music, but with a ton of personality.

69. Righteous Scrabble - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqQwmRoWsLw [7]
77. Osaka Konnichiwa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3dRG84OITA [7]
124. A Cocoon Throbbing in a Dead Man's Mouth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBNCa34uQQw [6]
142. Beach Volleyball Massacre - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa8ajFafgCw [5.5]
161. Oh So Cool Castle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wqveMjeE1g [4]

This is another soundtrack I trawled through looking for songs to use in a guessing game. What I found was An Open Window, which has since become a top tier song for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpM3yGLvhcw

An Open Window, however, is nothing like the rest of the soundtrack. This set offers a similar experience to Lennas Inception, but unlike that set, the Jimmy and Pulsating Mass set has a ton of personality to it. Even the songs I didnt care for leave a specific mark, a sense that this is what the composer (who also made the game) intended. Yet again its more music I should enjoy, like the disgustingly named A Cocoon Throbbing in a Dead Mans Mouth, which might place higher with different instruments.

Favorite song: Righteous Scrabble. Another boss battle esque theme, this song is similar to Lennas Inceptions Showdown in some ways. The overall melody is pretty solid, and though it doesnt do anything super remarkable, its still a good listen. Bonus pick to Osaka Konnichiwa, which is way more unique, utilizing telephone noises, a woman speaking in Japanese (I think), and a grungy lead instrument for its catchy melody.

azuarc posted... Aww, yeah, escaped the bottom six. Or the bottom sixth.

hi

29. Lennas Inception
Nominated by @azuarc
Average rating: 5.8
Overall thoughts: Normal indie game fare with some nice flourishes.

64. Showdown - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sf40mtmung [7]
87. Lenna's Inception - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6evVM8M3wjQ [6.5]
121. Into the Caverns - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBiXWngieFU [6]
139. Deus Hex Machina - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba6WURSItDs [5.5]
160. Electric Town - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D0R5xW4ans [4]

Lennas Inception is the first set so far where Ive overall been intrigued by the music. There are some nice touches here, glitchy chiptune that I generally like and some interesting melodies. When I think of the average indie game soundtrack I think of songs like these, retro-styled tracks with occasionally lower-grade production value. Also I really wanted to like Deus Hex Machina because its normally something I gravitate toward, but it just wasnt clicking. (I am relistening to it RIGHT NOW and it might place a bit higher with a reevaluation.)

Favorite song: Showdown. After I just made that whole rigamarole about interesting choices, we have Showdown, which is a fairly typical battle theme. I really dig the sound design here, everything comes together nicely, even if the instruments are kind of tinny and weird.

The first minute of this is how I imagine the fight going:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXS1LMaU7TM

But that won't get him very far.

Buffy.

30. Final Fantasy XIV
Nominated by @Not_an_Owl
Average rating: 5.5
Overall thoughts: A varied bunch of tracks youd be hard-pressed to believe come from the same game.

82. A Long Fall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBIRYjP1NNM [7]
84. Heartless - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7z_DzoxPzM [7]
144. Shadowbringers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UPOQJDLDps [5.5]
154. Drowning in the Horizon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR3yMqpaCrU [5]
169. Rise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IiOzi05IlA [3]

Final Fantasy XIV has an incredibly varied soundtrack. These five tracks are all notably distinct, and you could likely fill an additional setlist or three with distinct tracks. That said, three of the songs didnt do much for me Rise got as low as a 3 but the top two, only two placements apart from each other, nabbed 7s. Definitely a soundtrack that probably depends on song selection, more than other sets.

Favorite song: A Long Fall, or on a different day, Heartless. A Long Fall is fun to headbang to, or whatever your preferred method of rocking out is (A CHICKEN TENDEEEER IM READY FOR FRIIIIES). For Heartless, big JPRG bombastic battle themes are often hit or miss, but this ones definitely a hit.

I'm hearing conflicting information. Is Luca unable to handle guns and rocket launchers, or does he have enough destructive power to take Nemesis down? Both of these things aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, granted.

31. 99Vidas
Nominated by @JONALEON1
Average rating: 5.4
Overall thoughts: FM synth-esque Koshiro-inspired jams.

62. A Walk in the Park - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NINm4TZz0U [7.5]
94. Neon Night - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpmiwkmNhQU [6.5]
123. The Game is On - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GL4KSpPqmc [6]
158. Funky Flea Market - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDqX3lISUmI [4]
166. Beach Games - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-5EzKsuew [3]

The 99Vidas set is another example of something I was disappointed to have not enjoyed very much. The songs get funky at times, but its hard not to compare them to what theyre emulating, and a lot of the time I just felt like Id rather be listening to Streets of Rage instead lol. Some of the songs were more evocative than others, particularly...

Favorite song: A Walk in the Park. Listening to this was definitely the most fun I had with the set. Its got a lot of great energy. Also parts of it sound identical to Simple and Clean from Kingdom Hearts, which is neither a plus or a minus, but its definitely something hard to ignore. The song goes on a bit too long but I attributed that to improper looping. Honorable mention to Neon Night, which evokes a sense of fighting under a moonlit sky in a very slick way, sort of the culmination of the set is trying overall to do.

Haste_2 posted...

Well, at least the lowest rank in Xenogears wasn't as low as that of the other following setlists!

Oh, yeah, and, um, I do like all of them on that setlist, but only one or two of them would be on a all-favorites setlist. I intentionally picked ones that were less popular.

Like I said, I appreciate the intent! It's a shame I didn't like them more, but I applaud the risk.

32. Cultist Simulator
Nominated by @Snake5555555555
Average rating: 5.1
Overall thoughts: Moody, contemplative, piano-centric and ambient.

97. June the 28th - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JZSzOrgQgE [6.5]
132. The Old Must End - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS7Dx4WJ3pE [6]
148. What Now? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn2c06B0ows [5.5]
155. The Dreams Begin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxG2yTKWnaQ [4.5]
171. We Call Upon the Watchman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c9FXjK8mC4 [3]

In last years VGMC, Snake5555555555 and I were compatibility buddies, and songs of theirs have placed well on prior rankings Ive done. This one isnt quite doing it for me though. I enjoy a lot of ambient VGM, probably more than the average listener, but most of the Cultist Simulator set feels emptier than Id like. Its very bare bones, and I really have to be in the right mood to appreciate that style.

Favorite song: June the 28th. Much of this set is full of piano. June the 28th adds some strings to the mix, and that fills out the song nicely. Its very emotive, taking the sparseness of the other tracks and adding some emotional heft.

33. Freedom Planet
Nominated by @PrinceKaro
Average rating: 5
Overall thoughts: Not my favorite indie soundtrack.

93. Dragon Valley 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg0I3pA9nLU [6.5]
108. Major Boss Battle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HCCHqWA_EQ [6.5]
150. Aqua Tunnel 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmobgc1kZs [5]
152. Relic Maze 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNzil8NuY4 [5]
175. Prince Dail Boss Battle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVktSV3PMgY [2]

I remember cruising through the Freedom Planet soundtrack once for a guessing game and struggling to find anything I wanted to use. It nabbed an exact 5 score, which means average, though it was held back by having the lowest ranked song in the project; with different song choices, it might place higher, though I doubt anything would beat...

Favorite song: Dragon Valley 2. This is what I wound up using in my list. I love the flutey type instrument throughout. The general feel reminds me of Spark the Electric Jester, a soundtrack Ive enjoyed songs from. The energy here is like pumping your legs in the cool spring breeze.

34. Lyle in Cube Sector
Nominated by @sergiocornaga
Average: 4.7
Overall thoughts: A bunch of tracker music that never manages to catch my attention.

110. BUTKA - Demag - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzf2EBUgzTU [6.5]
136. Zabutom & Dubmood - ST-Style - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2AQ9p5LjMs [5.5
151. Estrayk - Trainer 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU6GaBFyEv0 [5]
162. Gammis - Saturn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FflL46pXdJI [4]
173. Arachno - A Sad Touch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXl23owycko [2.5]

I generally like mod/tracker stuff, or at least it has a low barrier to me liking it, so I was pretty bummed I didnt feel too strongly about these especially because theyre all by different composers! (At least I assume thats the nomenclature of the track names.) Despite the variance in scores, I found most of them interchangeable and dont really remember what any of them sound like, except that A Sad Touch was clearly my least favorite.

Favorite track: Demag. I like how wistful this one is, almost hesitant in the way it ekes out from behind itself. I didnt like it enough to make it to the playlist threshold thats a 7 but I find myself getting into now as I revisit it.

35. Xenogears
Nominated by @Haste_2
Average: 4.5
Overall thoughts: A setlist that doesnt reflect what I gravitate toward in this soundtrack or from this composer.

67. Grahf - Emperor of Darkness - https://youtu.be/Qc6gRAOhb8Q [7]
145. One Who is Torn Apart - https://youtu.be/miOizLxOD4E [5.5]
163. My Village is Number One - https://youtu.be/YPrm1nrkZ3k [3.5]
165. The Treasure Which Cannot be Stolen - https://youtu.be/C6bYoYBW4gk [3.5]
167. Gathering Stars in the Night Sky - https://youtu.be/TQlIT5wEmrA [3]

I couldnt tell if this was a b-side list or if Haste simply has different taste than me when it comes to Xenogears. Unfortunately, this setlist features a few things I almost universally dislike in VGM: happy town music (My Village Is Number One) and sappy ballad music (Gathering Stars in the Night Sky). If I made a setlist for Xenogears that more accurately reflected my tastes, it would probably have the bigger blockbuster tracks like Flight and Light From the Netherworlds, but also some of the darker contemplative tracks like Omen or Bonds of Sea and Fire or One Who Bares Fangs at God. That said, since I dont know every song in Xenogears, Im glad I got to experience more of it, even if I wound up not liking the majority. Shoutouts to Grahf, Emperor of Darkness for fitting neatly between the blockbusters and the dark comtemplative tracks.

A while back I took nominations for a VGM soundtrack ranking topic: you could post 5 songs from a soundtrack, and Id listen, rate them, and average all five together. Well, Ive done just that! 35 soundtrack sets have been rated and ranked and are awaiting your consumption.

I was overall very happy with the nominations. The average rating was 6.6, which is firmly above average. Only two soundtracks got below 5/10. In contrast, four soundtracks got above an 8! Very impressive, especially given that its an average rating across five separate songs.

Here are the nominations and their nominators:
99Vidas [JONA]
Ara Fell [dowolf]
Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland [Arti]
beatmania APPEND GOTTAMIX 2 ~Going Global~ [Place]
Bug Fables [Zigzagoon]
Cultist Simulator [Snake5555555555]
Drift Stage [UF8]
Final Fantasy XIV [Not_an_Owl]
Freedom Planet [PrinceKaro]
Gitaroo Man [paulg235]
Hitman: Codename 47 [Superb]
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass [TheArkOfTurus]
Koala Lumpur: Journey to the Edge [GameBop]
League of Legends [Player0]
Lenna's Inception [azuarc]
Little Busters! [loweffortmemes]
Lyle in Cube Sector [sergiocornaga]
Mega Man ZX [tazzyboyishere]
Megido 72 [deo]
Mystic Ark [FL81]
Off-Peak [cakophon]
Okami [pyresword]
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt [hotdogturtle]
Shadow Man [Shonen_Bat]
Sonic Colors [Hbthebattle]
Sonic Shuffle [Toxtricity]
Spyro the Dragon [GavsEvans123]
Star Control 2 [NFUN]
Street Fighter II (Game Boy) [Raetsel_Lapin]
Tail of the Sun [Collen]
The Gardens Between [kaonashi]
Timespinner [DireKrow]
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 [_SecretSquirrel]
Xenoblade Chronicles [ninkendo]
Xenogears [Haste_2]

And here are the overall ratings out of 10:
8.6
8.5
8.3
8.1
7.7
7.7
7.4
7.3
7.3
7.1
7
7
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.7
6.7
6.7
6.6
6.5
6.5
6.4
6.2
6.1
6.1
6
6
5.9
5.8
5.5
5.4
5.1
5
4.7
4.5

A few extra things:

I broke ties based on lowest rated song. So if two soundtracks were rated the same, I gave the edge to the soundtrack that had a higher rating for its lowest song. If they tied in that, I kept going until the tie was broken. This gave an edge to soundtracks that were overall consistent, vs. soundtracks that had a strong track or two and a bunch of mediocre ones.

This topic is not an endorsement of an entire VGM soundtrack. Im well aware that judging an entire soundtrack off five songs is a silly thing to do, which is why I didnt do it! These scores are solely for the five song sets that were nominated. This also means that if the nominator gave me five songs I didnt like from a soundtrack I generally do (which happened with our bottom ranked soundtrack), I didnt factor in any other song from the game that wasnt in the set. I actually encouraged doing b-side lists with five lesser known tracks, which at least one person did. Well see if it paid off...

The writeups will be short. Though each individual song will get a rating and a ranking number out of 175, I wont comment on individual songs that much. Instead Ill give a brief overview of the set and what I thought stood out.

Here we gooooo!

Falcon is just, like, a normal dude with a sidearm we never see him use. He's the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy but he seems to just be an athletic guy.

Armstrong pretty cleanly takes it as far as I can see.

Surprising myself by voting...

Endeavour.

Maybe I'm a little tired of Isoleucine by this point in the contest, though that could also be said of Endeavour. Right now, Endeavour resonated with me more strongly. I might relisten later and potentially change my vote, but Endeavour is looking pretty good for me right now.

Great final though, would be happy with either song winning.

Batman could take Thibault out in a hundred different ways.

Thibault vs. Sheldon, that's where the money's at.

Reposting because I accidentally voted for the wrong character oops

-

It's a great show. Incredibly unique and heartfelt. Not at all focused on combat though.

That said:

undefined posted...

Hades simply asks Janet how to defeat her. Yeah, Janet CAN lie but she almost always tells the truth and is usually compulsively helpful unless she has specific reason not to. It's an unlikely strategy but it COULD work.

This strikes me as probably the likeliest scenario, for reasons I stated above.

Hades.

Also, I would assume Janet could be defeated by sufficient force. The trick would be pinning her down, since she can instantly teleport anywhere, including to her void. I don't recall Janet having a firm durability showing in the show. If Hades got in a good attack I could see him knocking her out.

Johnbobb posted...

There's a few ways I see this going:

1. Janet and Hades fight endlessly until Janet becomes omnipotent
2. Janet and Hades fight endlessly until Janet is marbleized simply by coincidence
OR this isn't a fight at all because
1. Janet's omniscience allows her to just know exactly what it needed to defeat Hades, which she then summons and uses to defeat him instantly.
2. Hades simply asks Janet how to defeat her. Yeah, Janet CAN lie but she almost always tells the truth and is usually compulsively helpful unless she has specific reason not to. It's an unlikely strategy but it COULD work.

How long is it between her button being pushed and her reboot? IIRC the only time we see it in the actual show is in the first season: she gets "killed," then there's enough time for Michael to gather everyone and hold a funeral, then she comes back to "life." That's an unspecified amount of time, maybe 15 minutes at least? If she's incapacitated for a significant amount of time, I'd be inclined to call that a win.

Also, when Janet comes back the first time she has to re-learn everything again, which is a time-consuming process. I don't remember if she has to do that after each subsequent reboot or not.

From what I know about Hades, he likes to talk a lot (like basically everyone in Kid Icarus Uprising), so the "strategy" of accidentally getting Janet to reveal her weakness is likelier than it seems. Janet's primary function is a helper, and she's always forthcoming with information.

She generates it in under a second:

Found the clip. This is what the Random Object Generator gives her (note how specific some of these objects are):

Drakeryn posted...

can she spam her summoning as much as she wants?

When she left Earth and went back to the afterlife, all of the objects she tried to summon appeared over a ten-to-fifteen second interval, and there were a ton of them. I don't think there's any limit to how much she can summon.

I tried finding a link to the time we see Michael spin a roulette as a Janet beta test that randomly gives attributes to objects, and she summons the most ludicrous thing imaginable in an instant. It doesn't seem to be on Youtube. I think it involves a swordfish pierced by...something. Shoot, I can't remember. But it's very unconventional.