Lurker > savageshark21

votes don't count but wanted to post my comments anyway

Fn Fantasy
Absolute Grip on Sanity
Stage Select M

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath - Fn Fantasy -6.5 - pretty powerful and cheery. reminds me of a sonic track in the right ways. Wish it had a third final hurrah

Dr. Kobushi's Labyrinthine Laboratory - Comfy Cutie Hangout Zone -5 - It's chill but a little too chill. It doesn't give enough to latch onto, and I feel chiptune isnt' the most condusive to zoning out, or at least these pitches.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath - Monster Crysis -3.5 - There's nothing about this track that excites me.

Dr. Kobushi's Labyrinthine Laboratory - Absolute Grip on Sanity -6 - Not my favorite, but the sounds of like a decending cave or something aquatic are cool, this one is a lot more chill than Comfy Cutie.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath - Boss (Lucoa) -4.5 - a little too sugary and frantic. Feels like a marching band flying in a hurricane

Dr. Kobushi's Labyrinthine Laboratory - Stage Select M -7.5 - Great song. Combines an unusual funk beat with low chill bass beats

Memories of Memories
Amulet of Enbarr
Ocean Glaze

there were other pop n music songs i liked better..

Journey to Candle Hill
Midnight Runners (World 5)
Oceans

i went back and forth on the third match for a bit. Rememberance is pretty good, but oceans just has a better build up and payoff

Dodo's Lair
Steel Works Sizzle
Stage Complete

Glad Sean "Cosmicgem" Bialo will win no matter what :-)

Base - 4 - upbeat lobby music. Something about the rhythm or tempo doesn't sit right with me. It seems caught in this awkward middle ground.

dodo's lair - 8.5 - Holy heck this song is so good. Well I already added it to my favorites a while back, but man it's nice to appreciate it again here. It's such good funky chiptune. Or like someone doing a banger guitar solo but on chiptune Idk what the sounds at :49 are called.. sounds like something from streets of rage, but yeah that's awesome. The layering of sounds is superb as well.

Inactivated Frozen - 5- menacing. This one has a nicer melody/rhythm combo than base.

Steel Works Sizzle - 8 - the starting and stopping of this song is actually pretty cool. Reminds me of like a rocket launching off and engaging in a high tech space battle

mission clear - ok

Stage Complete - 5.5 - little jingle at the end is cute

OH

SINGLE
Dicey Dungeons

DOUBLE
wavetale
pop n music unilab
shredders
shovel knight dig
azure striker gunvolt 3

SINGLE
Rise of the third
super alloy ranger
melatonin

NOMINATION
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge | 16 Jun 2022

Samples:
Mutants over Broadway! | 16 Jun 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzixt8xdAPk
Panic in the Sky! | 16 Jun 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZfm3cvdTR4
Clash of the Outcasts | 16 Jun 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhS_OxLvSIM

The Last Specter's Theme

This would have been a harder match if it were specter vs un deux trois but alas.

Electric Power Building
The Sunleth Waterscape
Staff Roll

Boring votes but they're the ones i prefer

Un Deux Trois

The Last Specter's Theme

too easy a match for me. It's not that I hate ragna, it's just louder, brasher and more direct than I'd like. And yknow typically thats the kind of music I'd like but something about this one feels off. Doesn't have a great beat.

Specter still feels fresh the 5th or so time im listening to it.

Un Deux Trois

Moonlight Concert

it's just so pure

Un Deux Trois
To Far Away Times

rip to the old banbard link. it doesn't feel the same.

Here's my ratings for the retirees!
9 DEEMO II - Un Deux Trois
8.5 Final Fantasy XIII - The Sunleth Waterscape
8 Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme
7.5 Cleopatra Fortune - SHININ' QUEEN
7.5 Iseki-jima to Nanatsu no Mahou - Banbard (Piano Version)
7.5 Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine?
7.5 Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll
7 The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - Moonlight Concert
7 Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - PowerOne
7 Final Fantasy VI - Dancing Mad
6.5 beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro / jubeat saucer - Rainbow after snow
6.5 Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Northeast Frost Street
6 Chrono Trigger - To Far Away Times
6 SimCity 4 - Epicentre
5.5 Sonic R - Back in Time
5 Destiny Child - Ragna Breakers

And for the heck of it, here my top 16... er 17 songs from this contest. Only two overlap!

9 Control My Dark Disquiet
9 DEEMO II Un Deux Trois
9 Sleepwalker City Centre (Construction Site)
8.7 Great Sluggers Full Base
8.7 Mortal Kombat (Sega CD) Techno Syndrome
8.6 WaveTale Journey To Candle Hill
8.5 Final Fantasy XIII The Sunleth Waterscape
8.5 Ikenfell Memories in the Mist
8.5 Nobunagas Ambition: Haouden Blue Whitecaps
8.5 PC Building Simulator: IT Expansion Immortal
8.5 Pizza Tower It's Pizza Time!
8.5 Pokmon Scarlet/Violet Battle! (Cassiopeia)
8.5 To the Moon Everything's Alright
8.3 beatmania IIDX 29 CastHour Misogi (Extended Mix)
8.3 Little Busters! Ring Ring Ring!
8.3 Minecraft Aria Math
8.3 osu! escape (the looking - glass, and what alice found there)

The Sunleth Waterscape
The Last Specter's Theme

last specter still hits hard yo.

Un Deux Trois
Dancing Mad

I really want un deux trois to retire :>

PowerOne
Rampage

None of these songs are really my favorite but eh. I guess they're still fine.

i was stuck on the second round, and i thought, if i was stranded on an island with only one of these songs , which would i choose, and i guess that's sonic r

Rainbow after snow
Back in Time

Rampage
Staff Roll
Un Deux Trois

went back and forth on these more than i thought i would

Nirvana Pilot Yume - Rampage -

old 7 - 90s too cool for you attitude. And I love it! Feels like itd go with a fun shmup, though I wish there was more variation and energy given to it, especially near the end
new 6 - Usually this hype 80s like sound would shoot up to the stratosphere, but besides the part at 2:10 and a couple others, this song just feels so tame

League of Legends - K'Sante, the Pride of Nazumah -

old - 3 -Too much foreign chanting in this one for me. The deep drums dont work for me. At times, itll border on being genuinely epic, but then its retract or the vocals will ruin it.
new 3.5 -I want to like this song, there is so much weight and emotion in those drops, but the vocals disgust me, Im sorry

Hatsune Miku -Project DIVA- Arcade version B - nATALIE

old 8 the moment the tracked started with its bright percussion, i knew it was gonna be a fun ride. The way the beats would crash forth linger and blend with the rest of the song was very cool. Instead of feeling overwhelming, the track has a nice steady progression that escalates at a nice pace. I thought the piano-ish section in the middle was a little lame, but it did do a good job in breaking up the feeling of monotony one felt. The warbling sounds? about 3:25 in were super cool, like that scratches some sound itch i didn't know I had. The electronic section in the last minute was also great to listen to and was a strong finish to quite the experience.
new 7-forlorn robotics. Its cool how it warbles in and out. I dont really like the middle section. Idk the song is just paced weirdly, the melody shifts are unexpected and make me feel uncertain. Like ill start to settle into some calming emotion and then the song will just take that away.. which may be the point. Wish the fat was cut out of this song, i think it being too long hurts it. I oughta play this game..

Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll -

old 7 The repeated melody going up a falsetto in the second half is meh. The click clack sound of like walking on a dock is super nostalgic tho
new 7.5 -Nice song. The hardware and instruments make it sound especially cheesy and without nuance. It has a dreamy childhood sound, but also its kinda barebones? Maybe those essentials make it better?.

The Flintstones (SNES) - Unused Song 2 -

old 7 Ocean software my beloved, and more chill rock ambience reminiscent of waterworld. Im on the fence about the backing melody. I think it comes through a bit more than it should. The whistling like sounds are very cool tho
new 8- faved. Sad water but amazing composition.It feels cold and alien, but at the same time, hopeful and magical, all while suggesting a underwater theme. How did they even do this.. I think the more vgm I listen to, the more I come back to liking these older songs. Im sure part of it is just me in love with the sound of limited hardware, but I also believe there was something magical and unique these old composers had. Dean Evans, thank you.

DEEMO II - Un Deux Trois -

old 9.5 Tied for my favorite discovery this contest. I went through a period of listening to this on loop for a long time. First off, Natsunayans voice is pure candy and she contributes a lot to my enjoyment. I love how the main verses will have these mini stories that climax into wondrous symphonies with the strings and backup vocals chiming in, before snapping back into the familiar chorus of un deus trois. This main chorus, emphasized by the instrumentation, sounds like a magical tick tock clock. I love the piano in the background, with how wild and sporadic it is. I love how the instrumentation will start early, overlapping the vocals. I like the puns and cheekiness of the lyrics. I love how the mood of the piece seesaws between the whimsical un deus trois and the emotional heart soaring verses. I love how the verses have thematic background sounds like seagulls and water splashes. I will say, the final third, is less memorable and doesnt go as hard as the first two verses. It kinda gets sickeningly sweet and doesnt keep that nice balance of vocal/instrumentation.
new 9- Now that ive listened to it so much, it feels a bit sparser and less layered compared to other vgm masterpieces. But I still really like this.

Sayonara (ALL PHASE MIX)
PowerOne
abstain

Can You Feel the Sunshine?
My Dark Disquiet
Ring Ring Ring!

Bayonetta - Let's Dance, Boys!
Old 6.5 Some parts of this worked superbly and some kinda muddied through. It had electric energy though. Reminded me of Mad rat Dead too.
new -7 - those light vocals in the bg add a lot for being a small part. I wish there was something here that took me over the top but alas

Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine?
Old 8.5 The vocals never fail to cheer me up. I dont understand how this song is so happy and carefree.The ostinato vibrating music of 90s blasting in the background also contributes to a nostalgic rush. I do think it could be a lot shorter, it started to drag in the second half.
new - 7.5- Its like candy, its sweet and fun to eat, but when you finish, you feel a little dissatisfied and longing for something more

Control - My Dark Disquiet
Old 7 A deftly woven western song with dark brooding undertones that lure you in with its convincing melody
new-9 - Has seriously grown on me, this will get stuck in my head randomly. I dont even know why its so good. It has such a perfect blend of low and high moments, tension and release. Im also just a big fan of rock stuff anyway.

Nobunagas Ambition: Haouden - Blue Whitecaps
Old 8 At first I thought this was gonna be another cheesy rock song, but the drum and backing instrumentation really elevated this to another level. I like how the chorus comes together and rhymes to push the energy of the song to the stratosphere. It works because the main level of the song is pretty quiet and lowdown, only getting intense for those pivotal moments.
New -8.5 - COOL Blue. Relaxing synapses. Unidentifiable vibes.

ULTRAKILL - Deep Blue
Old 7 Theres only a few choice spots of this song, such as at 1:48 when the lower, echoey part sneaks in like a futuristic timbre of coolness. The main amen break stuff isnt my thing, but it provides a solid foundation for the experimentation and different sounds to come in
New 6.5 Breakbeat core like this never quite appeals to me too much but the lower drowning sounds help keep it in check. And it sounds somber rather than crazily upbeat.

Little Busters! - Ring Ring Ring!
Old 8 Ik i describe a lot of songs as sweet, but this one definitely is. It has a charming playfullness that cant escape my head. Its not perfect, and some of the melody borders on annoying, but there is a buttload of charisma here. Sounds like an anime alien ringtone personified. I like when the notes sound like they bounce up and down like theyre dancing on the strings of the staff
New -8.3 - The way the melody will loop and bounce on itself is so charming aaah

Epicentre
Suna Gin
Shutoko - Spiral Maze

The longer more contemplative songs won out today

The Sunleth Waterscape
Tokyo
Banbard (Chroma Remix)

moon: Remix RPG Adventure - warp-wet-woods -
old 7 The second half of this track just has a mood that is so pleasant that I cant describe
new 5.5- I forgot how good that big shift halfway through was. It caught me by surprise again. It sounds like, a silky smooth glide on top of a jungle tree civilization, one that speaks a weird language and has windmills and flags and tree top houses. Like something from hat in times windmill peak area. Pretty magical but the first half kinda sucks.

Final Fantasy XIII - The Sunleth Waterscape -
old 7 Too happy I feel. And forced. I dont think I like this one as much as others do. Doesnt hit in the right way. It has a good backing though
new 7 - really hopeful and bittersweet. Now that its been a minute since i listented to it, it feels even more nostalgic, and ive never even played ff13! Does it hit all the right beats and sounds? No, but it aims for it, which is what matters.

Shin Megami Tensei IV - Tokyo -
old 8.8 The vibes of this song, the utter futuristic peace washing over you is immaculate. The soundfont and ostinatos do a lot of the heavy lifting on why I like this. Its just so well done musically. The bass notes in the bg arent appreciated enough.
new 8.2 - This is still a really cool song and has few flaws, but it does feel limited after hearing what all the other contestants have to offer. Its not that ambitious.

Cladun: This is an RPG - Knight of a Foreign Country -
old 7.5 Old school rpg celtic jam session. The rock that gets infused with the rippling bubbles is cool as well.
new 6 - Fun medieval groove. I wish the instruments layered and mixed a bit better. It kinda lacks that essential thing to push it into hype territory.

ChainBeeT - Banbard (Chroma Remix) -
old 8 YeahH i forgot how hard and zesty this goes. Jamming to the plucking sounds
new 7.5 - I love that aah high pitch sound in the second half that then launches to the tempo change/style shift. This feels properly energetic and zippy.

Soukaigi - Fire Wire -
old 7 Thats a fun bass. The dancing piano in the middle break is electric too.
new 5 - a bit boring and kinda annoying. eh

Techno Syndrome
Purple Town
The Synapse - Ambient

This is actually already starting to get tough. I went back and forth on the first and third match more than I was expecting.

Ogre Tale - Samsara
old
7.5 These japanese infused pop sounding songs are awesome. Idk if anyone knows Pokemon Conquest music, specifically the fighting arena, but that one blends in similar traditional sounding japanese instruments like this. But yeah, I like the poppiness and light feeling this song delivers

New
8.2 This is a more deftly woven and layered track than I originally gave it credit for. It feels so full, you can focus on a different instrumentation layer each listen through. I think it lacks something that pushes it over to my favorites, maybe just the type of sound, but this is great yeah.

Mortal Kombat (Sega CD) - Techno Syndrome
Old
9 One of the hardest and headbanging songs to exist period. I'm not the biggest fan of the middle where the announcer says all the names, but otherwise, this is pure awesomeness. The melodic progression sounds pumps me up everytime like it was lab engineered for optimal listening euphoria.
New 8.7 The main motif actually is quite repetitive, wish there was more variation. Still headbanging and pumps me up no matter how many times I listen.

Border Down - Purple Town
Old 8 Ugh sometimes I wish i knew how music theory worked so i could properly describe how the notes specifically made me feel. Something about these major/minor chords give the song such a bittersweet feeling. The synthwave soundfont is a neat texture but it doesnt overpower the core of the song. Usually synthy stuff ends up techno or space age, but this sounds like something Id hear flying through the sky.
New 8.2 The kazoo sound is very wonderful and I wish it was used more often in vgm

Ragnarok Online II: The Gate of the World - HODO
Old 7.5 The violin solo at the halfway point really does it for me. I feel its rare to hear vibrant funky world music like this. The harmonizing with the reverby bits in the second half are cool.
New 7.5 It's amazing how you can hear the lore and atmosphere that's been crafted in this song

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - Moonlight Concert
Old 5.5 About halfway through there's a nice part with woodwinds and soft "hey ya" chanting. It felt like there were fairies dancing around a lush forest shrine bathed in sunlight. So that one part was magical.
New 6 About halfway through there's a nice part with woodwinds and soft "hey ya" chanting. It felt like there were fairies dancing around a lush forest shrine bathed in sunlight. So that one part was magical. There's just a more pleasant listening experience I have with this. Like yeah a lot of songs might have this sort of sound, but that doesn't discredit any of this. Also there's a cool mechanical sound that totally breaks the conventions lol

Deus Ex - The Synapse - Ambient
Old 7 The ping pong of the oriental instruments is ear candy. Then theres almost jarring sound of a bitcrushed gong sfx and I think thats really cool.
New 6.5 So everything that I mentioned is still great. But the rest of the track feels more empty and fake. I feel those oriental instruments are a golden sheen on top of a somewhat mediocre progression

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Hmm i dont think i voted or commented very much in Round 2 last year. I'm not sure what my protocol should be. I guess i'll just put my ratings and comments from the first listen through, along with my updated comments and ratings for this current listen through.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Northeast Frost Street -
Old: 6- shining brilliance of splendor, hope and adventure abound, it's cool how this song picks up and evolves like a blossoming flower
New: 6.5 sweeping orchestra with dreamy wonder. Its so crazy how kirby has evolved from the cheerful gameboy beeps and boops

Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character - Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess

Old 8.5 This song started off kinda slow but then really caught me by surprise in the second half. All the sounds and instruments came together in a perfect harmony with a really engaging beat. I don't love touhou songs that much but this one is epic
New 7 Those endless midis trumpet sounds that pierce through are still cool, but the rest of the song feels pretty overwhelming.

Xenoblade Chronicles X - MNN+@0(Day)

Old 6 The beats and flutes go off on this one. The main rhythm of the bass/drums just isn't really my taste. It feels like it has a lot of different, segmented parts that segue one after another, but don't transition well until like the last 30 seconds
New 7.5 The techno synth stuff is cool as well as the traditional sounding strings. But the hard rock guitar sounds are too overbearing and fake for me.

NieR - Temple of Drifting Sands

Old 5.5 Witches mutter magical incanations, trap me in a vortex of sadness and intrigue. The vibes of this song are mellow and kinda cool, but it is very flat.
New 6.5 The majestical dreamy floating feeling of the drums plus the background chanting is such a calming vibe. I would have wished it evolved more through the song.

Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/. - 6.5- I like the balance of the soft prayer like vocals and the deeper orchestral backing vocals. The instrumentation, while sparse, adds a nice layer of complexity to the melody. I do wish there was more variation in the instruments though. Or there was a verse that sounded a bit more different, i started to drift out of it. Haha i cant count how many times ive had this song just playing in the background. Its not like I even like it too much. I am amazed by how much weight and satisfaction the vocals carry with the chords, especially in the second half.

GROOVE COASTER - Got more raves? -4.5 - The beat of this was really cool, but man the fact that the melodic progressions were bordering on dissonant insanity messes with me. I like the bolder synths and the organs. I just wish it would give itself more breathing room to develop. The interruptions of this one are pretty annoying now.

Got more raves?
Kings
Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke

Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/. - 6- I like the balance of the soft prayer like vocals and the deeper orchestral backing vocals. The instrumentation, while sparse, adds a nice layer of complexity to the melody. I do wish there was more variation in the instruments though. Or there was a verse that sounded a bit more different, i started to drift out of it.

GROOVE COASTER - Got more raves? -6.5 - The beat of this was really cool, but man the fact that the melodic progressions were bordering on dissonant insanity messes with me. I like the bolder synths and the organs. I just wish it would give itself more breathing room to develop.

[-Aka-] - Desert-Duo - 6.5- The instrumentation is simple, but effective. I do like how it kicked it up a notch after the first minute with the vocals dramatically bursting. The violin (?) has an unique tonal clashing to the silky smooth vocals that I find fun to listen to. The same for the sonic adventure like boings. They add a fun flavor

Project Wingman - Kings - 7.5- This is what i imagine a hyped up fire emblem track sounds like. Or perhaps civilization. Regality and deep drum pounds. The strings play this quick driving melody that starts out a bit hidden but really takes center stage halfway through. It just gets really hype and sinister. Im ambivalent on the slower dramatic ending.

htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary - Reach for reality -3 -This song feels like exploring the unknown depths of a cave or ocean, but with wonder instead of fear and trepidation. It was kinda boring and also annoying? The robotic like sounds just felt too fast and changed key or tempo too much for me to settle into a nice zen state. It wasnt exciting enough to awaken my senses to actually like it either.

Touhou 8: Imperishable Night - Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke -5 -
last years comments: Ah the meme song. I'm not sure how I feel about touhou music. Part of me wants to reject it, but at the same time, some tunes are very catchy and i can't help but jam along. I enjoyed the middle part of this song (1:20ish) where several instruments built on top of each other in a increasing crescendo of complexity and brilliance. Unfortunately this song doesn't go hard enough for me to really enjoy it.
this years: Just how many times do we hve to teach you this lesson old man! How have I never noticed that clacking sound, which sounds like a film clapperboard. It kinda takes me out of the experience ahaha. The really fast chime like instruments that chromatically move up and down add a nice shininess to the track. The trumpet at the end starts off cool, but it gets too high pitched for me.

Rock Club
Chain of Pain
Fullmetal Fighter

Lotta good songs today. Maybe i'll post write ups later.

Battle! (Cassiopeia)
Calling
And Yet It Wanes

Cowboy Bebop: Tsuioku no Serenade - PEARLS -5 - I dont care for the opera like singing in this one

Pokmon Scarlet/Violet - Battle! (Cassiopeia) - 8.5 - POkemon music goes this hard? Like this doesnt sound pokemon at all, it sounds so festive and fun with the progressions

jubeat Ave. - Drenched in Air -5.5 - Rhythm beat is meh for me. But the vocals are nice.

The World Ends with You - Calling -8 - Second half drags a little but this continues to be an iconic song

Policenauts - Old L.A. 2040 -5 - Hypnotic vibes and jazzy times

Arknights - And Yet It Wanes - 7.5- Wait why does the funk in the woodwinds go so hard, omg i love it

Dance Of The Daring
City Centre (Construction Site)
abstain

Clannad - Town, Flow of Time, People - 4 - I suppose this is meant to invoke a calming, atmospheric feeling, The ambient hum in the bg with the crystalline sweet vocal sounds were pretty, dont get me wrong but when the track repeats with little variation, i cant help but feel bored.

Crossy Road Castle - Dance Of The Daring -6.5 - This has zing. Peppy bombastic energy that reminds me of rhythm music. I wish the last part had doubled down and gone to a higher climax rather than getting quieter. There was a sense of japanese like style too

Sleepwalker - City Centre (Construction Site) - 9 -Music on ocean software tends to be pretty good, at least for my tastes. This is no exception.I fell in love. Its calming in an effortless way, exciting without trying too hard. The guitar sounds fresh and jazzy. The bass is rocking like no ones business. It reminds me of waterworld music on steroids.

Arcaea - Tempestissimo -5 - The main instrumentation here features a pounding beat board that acts as the base, the home of the track in which other experimental sounds flirt and dance on top with the melody. Im not actually a big fan of the pounding beat. It sounds too much like club music (bad). The middle? Half of the track with all those random strange sounds was the best. The last half got really schizophrenic changing tempo and energy a whole bunch, which felt like a weird resolution.

PowerOne
You Can Have Mine
Second Warning

DraKoi - Divine Song of a Certain Dragon -5.5 - Another song I would prefer without the vocals. Or at least for the vocals to be a different key or more muted. Please, let the vgm shine.. Its actually pretty relaxing by itself. The dreamy sound at 1:00 that echoes and reverberates into a full rich dreamscape is beautiful.

Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - PowerOne -7 -
Last year's comments:
Timber! The song of trees cracking and breaking. It's such an odd sound that it took me out of experiencing the rest of the song. The second part where the bass picked up was very good, however. It had a regal and determined energy about it.

A year later and I still dont like the creaking sound but lets focus on the positives. The chords flow effortlessly and theres this synthy constant drum in the background that grows in power until it unifies with the rest of the song. All building for that wonderful beat halfway through.

Journey of 1000 Stars - You Can Have Mine -6.5 - I remember when hearing this in nominations, i was awestruck but somewhat annoyed. Maybe at the fact it was so long and didnt add change too much throughout the song. This is a cool song though. I do wish it was shorter or went a little harder. It reminds me of duckgames ost with its retro-esque funk feel. Its very playful and had like mischievous energy. Theres not as many high highs or low lows, but its consistently fine.

Lethal League - Ordinary Days -3 - Its interesting how this has a similar yet completely different feel from You Can Have Mine. This is produced and composed very well, it just has a sinister wistful sound that I dont really like. Maybe its the thumping drum and sample quality beats.

Outpost 2: Divided Destiny - Eden 1 - 4- The vibe this creates is kinda cool but I cant say I like it without a nice melody to latch onto. The deep reverberating drums are probably the coolest part, with the glitchy sounds as a close second

Lobotomy Corporation - Second Warning -6.5 - Feels like Im in a futuristic dystopian hellscape. I like how theres two (or more) major layers to this. The breakcore underlying and amping up the whole song and the occasional frantic higher pitched strings that add a nice texture. Minus points for the accelerating beat drop thats in every club song at 1:45 though.

sorry i've been busy a bit.

Kuraki Koutetsu no Verga (Full ver.)
WORN OUT TAPES
For All of You

Yakuza Kiwami 2 - Lullaby of Outlaws - 5- Some crazy saxophone sounds! I like the bass how it sounds spy thriller rhythm thief like. Not much I dislike, but it doesnt really invoke anything special in me
REFLEC BEAT The Reflesia of Eternity - Kuraki Koutetsu no Verga (Full ver.) -6.5 - The instrumental part is so nice. I like how much mobility and variety the sound has with the pianos followed by a sting sound. The vocals are just alright.

The Caligula Effect 2 - Miss Conductor (Regret ver.) - 5.5- Ah yeah this song. The beat drop followed by the dreamy almost atmospheric sound is weird. Im conflicted if i like it or not. Its fast but a little too snippy. I think this sound would benefit being slowed down by like 15 percent.

UNBEATABLE [white label] - WORN OUT TAPES - 8- The unbeatable ost, at least what ive heard is so fun. I like how effortlessly the rhythm and beat flows from one idea to another. Its so smooth yet deliciously varied. The transitions from instrumental to vocals is well done. I wonder if it moves on a pleasing harmonic change or resolution. The part where the song randomly gets really fast and skippy is super fun.

MOTHER 3 - Battle Against The Masked Man - 4- Iconic song. The vibes are creepy and immaculate but the melody is well oof. The smattering of dissonant piano notes halfway through are probably my favorite part, despite the fact they lack any melody. It just feels like this song doesnt have any proper resolution and holds me in a tense stasis, which sure is probably the point. I just dont like listening to it.
Shredders - For All of You -8 - Good trance song. Has the perfect mix of the constant backing with the long hypnotic notes that coat you in soothing brilliance. I do wish each of the sections were a bit shorter. Like around the 2:30 minute mark it introduces a futuristic synth boop noise, but i wish that came earlier as I started to get bored without the constant variety. I think this song could have been compressed to half its length and it would have been better, but its kinda pointless asking that of trance music.

beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro / jubeat saucer - Rainbow after snow - 6-Solid consistent vibe but i thought there should have been a more major beat drop moment

Touhou 15.5: Antinomy of Common Flowers - Catastrophe in Bhava-agra ~ Wonderful Heaven -7 - oh wow the jazz goes so hard on this one. Ive heard this track but i dont know if ive ever listened through it all the way. The sax is the star of the show, but i feel the underlying beat and syncopation, the rhythm and energy that keeps the song moving forward, shouldnt be ignored. Gives me dolphin shoals feels
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins - Training Course - 5- So gleaming from the box art as well as the vibe of this music, its stealth spy thriller mixed with traditional japanese pagodas. The instrumentation really sells it well, the drawn out baited breath notes for the sneaky stealth compliment the mandolin? And strings in a unique way. Its still kind of a boring track

Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea - Narcolepsist - 6- hmm oh ok i see its one of those tracks that slow burns from 0 to 100 so by the second half you have dreadful intense screaming enveloping your soul. The last minute with the gyrating slow rhythm of the piece was actually really scary and sinister. I felt like an eldritch beast with no face was behind the sound

Guilty Gear -Strive- - Mirror of the World -5.5 more than what i expected with its rich fanfare of all the instrumentation and path

FutureGrind - noisemaker -8 funkiness off the charts. Love how it builds and has a call and response

Catastrophe in Bhava-agra ~ Wonderful Heaven
Narcolepsist
noisemaker

Another Winter
Frozen Moonlight
Colder Than the Rest

Kirby's Return to Dream Land - Freezing Temple-7 - Ethereal quiet brooding track that reminds you of old memories, both nostalgic and horrifying

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Another Winter -8.8 -
Last years notes: One of my favs. I just love how the guitars in the beginning repeat and build off each other in a blast of intensity and coolness. They come back again around the 1 minute part for a celebrational climax before smoothly looping to the beginning. The anamanaguchi weird sounds throughout also add a lot of pep and personality that make the whole thing fun and cute.
This year: While ill admit its a bit simple and headstrong, this is one of my favorites. It drives forward with the right amount of pep and enthusiasm while throwing in enough charming boops to keep it fresh and unique

Mega Man ZX - Wonder Panorama -6- Theres definitely that icy sound with the higher pitched legato notes. Theres a quieter midi ostinato beneath it though that I find more interesting than the main rhythm.

Valkyrie: The Power Beauties - Frozen Moonlight - 8.5- I forgot pc 98 songs can be this good. Old hardware be banging. I love the bass and the crunchiness of it.It has a lot of charm to it, even if it does sound a bit subdued due to old age. The last bit sounds like the main chorus from you give love a bad name does anyone else hear that?

Hypnospace Outlaw - Colder Than the Rest - 7- needs to jump to the beat drop sooner. Though hypnospace songs are known for being weird and non conforming. Im torn on how i feel about the repetition of the samples. They fit well with the harmonic movement of the instrumentation, though i dont know how much i can hear gotta drink it in The vocals deteriorating and crescendoing to the final climax is hype tho.

Pokmon Legends: Arceus - Alabaster Icelands 1 - 5- Has that lo fi funk like route 216 (that snow route) I feel the more battle oriented second half - with the bass and tension doesnt really fit in.

Mt. Pyre Exterior
The Best Is Yet To Come
Frozen Grounds

Pokmon Ruby/Sapphire - Mt. Pyre Exterior -6.5 - Just a normal pokemon song,, except its not. I find the faux jazziness of it cool. The dizzying, whimsical unserious tone of the dissonant melody is fun too.

Terraria Calamity - "Left Alone" - Theme of Brimstone Elemental - 4- The first half didnt leave too big an impression on me. Nothing really leaves a strong impact. The instrumentation, the guitar especially feels a bit muddy.

GITADORA EXCHAIN - Trajectory of the Kiyarora Satellite (Long Version) - 5-Felt too subdued. Also like it kept interrupting itself before it reached anything climatic. Push harder Gitadora! I know you have it in you!

Metal Gear Solid - The Best Is Yet To Come -7.5 -
Last years comments: This song makes me kinda want to cry i dunno why. I don't even really like it that much. I guess my heart feels differently. The last minute was good in a tribal, worldly way.
This year: This song just keeps coming back! Im not a big fan of the slower beginning, but when the main melody comes in with the persisting quiet guitar, the harmonic melody takes a change. It moves so resolutely and the instrumentation backs up the major chord changes perfectly.

Tama: Adventurous Ball in Giddy Labyrinth - Stage 2 (Frozen Cave)- 4.5- Feels like being trapped in a rich magestic anime VN. Reminds me of something like ouran host high school club. Well until the ufocore comes in. I dont think the two sides mix well but its novel

Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 - Frozen Grounds - 6.5 - Im used to Etrian music being loud and chiptune rock. This sincere and heartfelt serenade is a departure but is still pretty good. I just wish there was more of that signature Etrian feel to it.

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen (PS4) -6- A Journey for You Alone Re:boot The japanese like instruments in the background add a lot of fun texture and create a jubilant yet ancient mood. The vocals are a little bland for me

Pokmon Scarlet/Violet - Battle! (Zero Lab) -5.5 - I like how it starts off, reminds me of Seymours duel. I think it just keeps this INTENSE energy for too long. I would have liked to heard more pauses and slow moments throughout. The guitar is fun but some of the mixing makes it overbearing.

Genshin Impact - Duel in the Mist -8 - Woo I forgot how good genshin music can get. This sounds like a feud between two samurai lords. Dueling over who will get the last rice cake or something. The multitude of layered drums creates such a tense and entrancing rhythm.

Ex-Zodiac - Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3) -7.5- Its a good space mega man esque song, but sometimes it gets too space age for me and falls into generic territory. I like how therell be cycles of build up/tension and sweet resolution. Its so addicting

Hoa - Waltz - 8- Simple sweet songs for those days when you need a cheerful pick me up of a piano ballad. The wood winds blend very nicely as well .Im such a sucker for this stuff

REFLEC BEAT groovin'!! - DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version) -5 - Take out the Dada and this would be much more palatable , though it would lose what makes it memorable Energetic to say the least!

The Amazon
The Last Specter's Theme
abstain

Specter is so good what the hell

My Dark Disquiet
Fire! (1st. BGM)
Deep Blue

tough day choosing

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine - Breathe the Black -7 -A deftly woven western song with dark brooding undertones that lure you in with its convincing melody

Control - My Dark Disquiet -8 - At first I thought this was gonna be another cheesy rock song, but the drum and backing instrumentation really elevated this to another level. I like how the chorus comes together and rhymes to push the energy of the song to the stratosphere. It works because the main level of the song is pretty quiet and lowdown, only getting intense for those pivotal moments.

Nobunagas Ambition: Haouden - Blue Whitecaps - 7- Man nobungas ambition really has the best music. This makes me think of a jazzy saxophone that has just wandered off on its own solo adventure in the wild west

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade) - Fire! (1st. BGM) - 7.5 -Old arcade music had such a vibrant charm and punchy sound that seems missing from todays work. I love how vibrant and compact it is as well

LOSTCOLORS - RGB (OST Arrange ver.) - 6- Whenever i see this tiny triangle on screen I know Im in for some weird vibes. I always psych myself thinking its gonna be the chillest thrillest music and it usually lets me down, but the sounds are immaculate. The alien synthy stuff gets real groovy in the second half, which I really enjoy

ULTRAKILL - Deep Blue - 7- Theres only a few choice spots of this song, such as at 1:48 when the lower, echoey part sneaks in like a futuristic timbre of coolness. The main amen break stuff isnt my thing, but it provides a solid foundation for the experimentation and different sounds to come in

Me and My Little War
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - Life Returns -5-
Sweet but unmemorable vocals

Elebits - Me and My Little War -6.5 -
A shiny sparkling magnificence that is hampered in the latter half.

Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness - Mazes 31-35 - 4 -
Solid but very meh. Theres not much here that grabs my interest.

Bayonetta - Let's Dance, Boys! - 6.5 -
Some parts of this worked superbly and some kinda muddied through. It had electric energy though. Reminded me of Mad rat Dead too.

Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine? - 8.5 -
The vocals never fail to cheer me up. I dont understand how this song is so happy and carefree.The ostinato vibrating music of 90s blasting in the background also contributes to a nostalgic rush. I do think it could be a lot shorter, it started to drag in the second half.

beatmania IIDX 29 CastHour - Misogi (Extended Mix) -8.3-
A reverberating soundscape that grabs ahold of you and refuses to let go. The tunes that blast out go so hard, a bit too hard. I really love the drums of beatmania songs but sometimes they can just be a bit overboard for my senses haha.

Tokyo
knight
Banbard (Chroma Remix)

no more shake your body, pls

Tokyo and Banbard are really good

warp-wet-woods
abstain
Deluged Depths

moon: Remix RPG Adventure - warp-wet-woods -7 - The second half of this track just has a mood that is so pleasant that I cant describe
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Moebius Battle - 6.5 -I dont expect much from Xeno tracks as theyre not my favorite, but this one was bringing a lot more energy than I was prepared for. It was still a bit repetitive.

Matthew's Dungeons of the Unforgotten - Deluged Depths - 7 - this is good on the ears. Its a pretty short loop but i hardly notice it at all. It contains an active mixture of sounds and mystery
Chrono Trigger - Ocean Palace - 6 - Countdown to death with an air of fanfare

The Apex of the World
The Buzz in the Grotto
Lake

with Dead Sea,,, it really was dead. I kept waiting for it to start up and then it never really days lol. Those weird gurgling sounds made me think collapsing rift from hat in time would play, and then it didnt

buzz in the grotto was probably my favorite

SHININ' QUEEN
Subterranean Sunrise
Sky Land

Cleopatra Fortune - SHININ' QUEEN - 8 -
The vocals at the beginning are soo cute and scrumptious. There is a fun playfulness to the layered multi tempo melodies. THe driving beat makes me think of some machinery being stamped in a candy land factory. Ahh this is very novel, I just wanted to keep listening to it.

Sid Meier's Civilization VI - Hungary (The Atomic Era) - 6.5
I mean this is kinda cool, the regality and esteemed fanfare it carries with itself is alright. its a bit too slow and monotonous for my tastes-wait oh damn the beat just dropped i forgot this had this yoooo. I still stand by the first half being boring though. This final third should have come a lot earlier.

Final Fantasy VII - J-E-N-O-V-A - 7 -Ostinatos are like my favorite thing ever. This track does such a good job at conveying tension while being an absolute banger. I do wish it introduced more ideas because it kinda fell flat after the first 40s.

Rogue Legacy 2 - Subterranean Sunrise - 8 - Theres definitely some funkyness to this track. I like the contrasting quickness of the melody against the somber spacey sounds in the background. This track has a lot of different ideas and motifs, which can be a good thing. Sometimes when you try to say a lot, you lose a bit of identity. I felt it especially floundering in the middle. LIke i got a bit of a tropical vibe? It has a good grand climax though. My favorite part was when the drums and guitar kicked in at 1:50

Chameleon Twist 2 - Sky Land -8.7 - This kinda gives Sega vibes! It started off weak and feeling washed out but ended very strong. I like that it continued to surprise me. The progression of the distinct sound fonts and instrumentation was very cool. It hits those high notes with magical pitchy perfection (:54-59). Im not a huge fan of when it gets overly frantic, but this is a Good Song

Xenogears - One Who Bares Fangs at God - 5 - This song went by pretty slowly for me, dunno if that was because it was immediately followed by Sky land. It gives me a Chrono Trigger vibe (this statement means nothing) with its xylophone like sounds and general nature/peacefulness. The repetitiveness of the instrumentation makes me dislike this though. Im split on if the vocals improve or hurt the track. Despite all that, this does have a definitive otherworldly vibe.

Immortal
Beat the Diamonds
World Vanquisher (album extended)

PC Building Simulator: IT Expansion - Immortal - 8.5 - The silky smooth vocals combined with the bittersweet chords make this such a beautiful song. I feel like Im cruising along a road next to the sea, the wind whipping through my hair, during a sunset, nostalgic about a time that never happened. Songs like this make me feel that way.

NeverAwake - Paranoid (World7-1) -4 - I like the Energy the synth hits bring to this, but its too hectic for me. This song must be part of that B8core that enjoys the glitchier techno type of music. Its something thats started to grow on me, but i still dont care for a majority of it.

League of Legends - Nilah, the Joy Unbound - 5.5 - I dont really like the slow build up for the first minute. I wish it launched into the chanting like gutteral sounds right away. From there it maintains some energy but kinda lulls back to sleep which is a little disappointing

Medarot 5: Susutake-mura no Tenkousei - Beat the Diamonds - 7.5 - I dont love the soundfont super much, its a bit too harsh for me, but the vibes go hard. It reminds me of a mix of megaman and castlevania, I wouldnt be surprised if some composers were shared between these. Theres a part where the track seems to go double time and really gets hype, and that is cool.

Phantasy Star Online 2 - Superior Probe - Underworks - Scenery - 3.5 - Its neat background music, but this doesnt evoke anything in me. I guess a plus are the weird novel alien like sounds, they break up the monotony but are very weird.

CHUNITHM STAR - World Vanquisher (album extended) - 6 - The end of days is here and this is the song that plays. The sharp street fighter like sounds in the first half are cool. I was surprised how well this was able to transition between fighting type music and something more orchestral and grand.

Layer Cake
Underwater Lv. 1/4
Luma Pools

Arcaea - NULL APOPHENIA -6- Theres a lot of overlapping instruemntation here and some funky sounds, but it doesnt really leave any meaningful impact. It sounds like it is hitting you with everything without any real purpose. A bit of an overload.

Persona 5 - Layer Cake -7.5-This isnt one of my favorite P5 tracks, but the groove still goes hard.

Frogger Beyond - Underwater Lv. 1/4 -5-The melody is real strange and lacking with this one, but it does seem to try something novel.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout - Crocus -4-Pretty generic imo, though it is cute sounding.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Luma Pools -6.5-Your classic mystical sounding nature relaxation. The pan flutes are a nice touch, as well as the various forms of marimba like sounds

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom - Crystal Caves -4-This is good for like the first 40 seconds and then it loses it all, damn!

Baluchons
Azure Archipelago
abstain

Sonic Heroes - What I'm Made of... / Last Boss ver.2: Metal Overlord - 5
-I know sonic music defines itself on that cheesy butt rock style, and sometimes I like it. This wasnt one of those times. Its repetitive and boring here.

Saira - Baluchons - 6
-This feels very much like idle waiting music, but the main riff is not too bad and if that melody loop was a bit longer it might actually be genuinely relaxing. Its a little irritating atm

Arknights - Heal the World - 6
-I like the heart in the vocals here. It has a lot of weight and depth behind it, which is emphasized with the percussion and reverbs

CrossCode: A New Home - Azure Archipelago - 7
- well mixed instrumentation and it just sounds happy. Theres a nice fusion that sounds like trails mixed with a tropical vacation

abstain

The Synapse - Ambient
Purna
Yearnings of the Wind

Deus Ex - The Synapse - Ambient -7-
The ping pong of the oriental instruments is ear candy. Then theres almost jarring sound of a bitcrushed gong sfx and I think thats really cool.

Spark the Electric Jester 3 - Utopia Shelter - In the Depths -3.5-
This takes a while to get going and when it does, its dreadfully boring. It feels like it starts to build up to something but there is no gratifying payoff. Theres this echo-y piano riff that repeats every so often and i cant decide if its cool or annoying

She and the Light Bearer - Purna -7.5 - The instrumental backing to this is quite relaxing, and combined with the vocal chanting, becomes something almost spiritually refreshing. The climatic unison chants at the end are a cherry on top.

Mega Man X Legacy Collection - Give it a Shot - 4.5 - The first 30 seconds are wonderfully energizing, but the rest of the instrumentation after that fails to deliver on the hype. The guitar is alright but its kinda flat and repetitive.

OnlyCans: Thirst Date - Vending Machine of Love - 3 - Ahaha this is so unabashedly stupid and crass, and while I kinda hate the sound, the lyrical flow CANnot be matched

Chrono Trigger - Yearnings of the Wind -6.5 - The first few plucky notes of this are iconic, and are loved by all, but the real meat of the song, isnt as strong as I remember. It sorta fizzles out for me.

Purple Town
HODO
Origin

Border Down - Purple Town
8
Ugh sometimes I wish i knew how music theory worked so i could properly describe how the notes specifically made me feel. Something about these major/minor chords give the song such a bittersweet feeling. The synthwave soundfont is a neat texture but it doesnt overpower the core of the song. Usually synthy stuff ends up techno or space age, but this sounds like something Id hear flying through the sky.

Etrian Odyssey Nexus - Battlefield - The First Campaign (Etrian Odyssey Nexus Ver.)
4
The melody of this for the first 30 sounds like it could amp me up. The remastered sound of this just seems so overbearing, like it has to scream for my attention. Wish it had more subtlety, which somehow isnt something i ask for very often

Ragnarok Online II: The Gate of the World - HODO
7.5
The violin solo at the halfway point really does it for me. I feel its rare to hear vibrant funky world music like this. The harmonizing with the reverby bits in the second half are cool.

Pizza Tower - Yeehaw DeliveryBoy
7
Whisting is fun! The second half definitely reminds me of a jet set radio sound or maybe something that siivagunner would make. I wish the first half of the track was good.

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - Moonlight Concert
5.5
I mean I guess the song sounds pretty, and maybe theres a deeper nuance that im missing but it mostly sounds like the thousand other cutely sung magical rpg themes. Again, thats not a terrible thing, it sounds nice, its just not what Id expect to rise to VGMC. Though I never really know what to expect from this contest..

Genetos - Origin
6.5
This song is all over the place. It reminds me of a child learning to walk. At first its slow and sporadic, fragmented and messy. Then at the 2:50 part, it finally gets the hang of it and goes off at full speed, before tumbling over and skidding to a stop again.

SINGI (Remix)
Sammy Sara
Techno Syndrome

5.5 Witches mutter magical incanations, trap me in a vortex of sadness and intrigue. The vibes of this song are mellow and kinda cool, but it is very flat.

6.5 Maybe a little too pop-y for its own good. It hits hard though. The echoing main chorus is hypnotic but probably the weakest part for me. The ey-ey-ey is fun tho

3 You know that ankha dance? Yeah that's what I imagine playing with this. I will say the soundfont of the instrumentals isn't too bad.

7.5 These japanese infused pop sounding songs are awesome. Idk if anyone knows Pokemon Conquest music, specifically the fighting arena, but that one blends in similar traditional sounding japanese instruments like this. But yeah, I like the poppiness and light feeling this song delivers

4 The harshness did weird things to my ears. It got more bearable as it went on.

9 One of the hardest and headbanging songs to exist period. I'm not the biggest fan of the middle where the announcer says all the names, but otherwise, this is pure awesomeness. The melodic progression sounds pumps me up everytime like it was lab engineered for optimal listening euphoria.

The Legend of Zelda (NES) - Title BGM
Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character - Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
Xenoblade Chronicles X - MNN+@0(Day)

zelda: 6.5 mysterious wonderful allure that invites you to explore the depths, all contained in a 8bit format. Tbh tho, it's a little simplistic but still iconic
kirby forgotten lands: 6 shining brilliance of splendor, hope and adventure abound, it's cool how this song picks up and evolves like a blossoming flower

notam: 3This has no rhythm and gets no bitches
touhou 14: 8.5 This song started off kinda slow but then really caught me by surprise in the second half. All the sounds and instruments came together in a perfect harmony with a really engaging beat. I don't love touhou songs that much but this one is epic

fire emblem heroes: 4.5There's a fun world vibe to this one, but it feels so scattered and rushed. It makes me anxious, which who knows might be appropriate in the context of the game
xenoblade x : 6 The beats and flutes go off on this one