Lurker > tazzyboyishere

Bowser

Mega

Sonic Rush soundtrack on the whole goes so hard, it's amazing.

Boss

ou are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Bowser - 25
(3) Link - 9

Today's Matches:

(1) Solid Snake
First Appearance: Metal Gear (1987)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/cfbd2651.jpg
vs.
(2) Big Boss
First Appearance: Metal Gear (1987)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/083b20c6.jpg

Easy Vote:
Snake / Boss

Good song, but nowhere close to the best ones

Link

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

Solid Snake - 13
Big Boss - 13

Today's Matches:

(1) Bowser
First Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/45f2f4e4.jpg
vs.
(3) Link
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3f16f508.jpg

Easy Vote:
Bowser / Link

up

Boss

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Samus Aran - 18
(2) Mario - 17

Today's Matches:

(1) Solid Snake
First Appearance: Metal Gear (1987)
<img src="https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/cfbd2651.jpg">
vs.
(2) Big Boss
First Appearance: Metal Gear (1987)
<img src="https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/083b20c6.jpg">

Easy Vote:
Snake / Boss

up

Samus

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Mega Man - 17
(3) Luigi - 11

Today's Matches:

(1) Samus Aran
First Appearance: Metroid (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c17d6a34.jpg
vs.
(2) Mario
First Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/00703880.jpg

Easy Vote:
Samus / Mario

Mega

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(3) Link - 16
(7) Death - 12

Today's Matches:

(1) Mega Man
First Appearance: Mega Man (1987)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/a/a23dfb01.png
vs.
(3) Luigi
First Appearance: Mario Bros. (1983)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/41b15310.jpg

Easy Vote:
Mega / Luigi

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Bowser - 25
(5) Alucard - 10

Today's Matches:

(3) Link
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3f16f508.jpg
vs.
(7) Death
First Appearance: Castlevania (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/5/57a07f41.jpg

Easy Vote:
Link / Death

Alucard

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(3) Bomberman - 12
(2) Big Boss - 16

Today's Matches:

(1) Bowser
First Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/45f2f4e4.jpg
vs.
(5) Alucard
First Appearance: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/dcef95f0.jpg

Easy Vote:
Bowser / Alucard

Lmao I'm sorry. Never got to my computer last night and I didn't want to do things via mobile. Should have some time today but not actually gonna promise anything

tazzyboyishere posted...

I'm out for a few hours, but once I'm back home I'll try to do some final thought type stuff before wrapping this project up for good. It really was a ton of fun to go through all of this!!

For a variety of reasons I didn't get to this, but I should today lol

Boss

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Solid Snake - 18
(4) Carmen Sandiego - 16

Today's Matches:

(3) Bomberman
First Appearance: Bomberman (1983)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/07b95f16.jpg
vs.
(2) Big Boss
First Appearance: Metal Gear (1987)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/083b20c6.jpg

Easy Vote:
Bomberman / Boss

I'm glad people like T260G! I actually had listened to it prior to last VGMC nominations and gave it a try, but I think it only got 1 support. Maybe next one!

I'm out for a few hours, but once I'm back home I'll try to do some final thought type stuff before wrapping this project up for good. It really was a ton of fun to go through all of this!!

Snake

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(3) Simon Belmont - 8
(2) Mario - 23

Today's Matches:

(1) Solid Snake
First Appearance: Metal Gear (1987)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/cfbd2651.jpg
vs.
(4) Carmen Sandiego
First Appearance: Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0308fc9f.jpg

Easy Vote:
Snake / Carmen

Mario

To note, these final 3 are all interchangeable, but I prioritized giving #1 to a new discovery, which means...

3. lastendconductor
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMDmaghbkA
@Raka_Putra (1/5)

Why is this even here? There is nothing to constitute any part of Umineko as a boss. I should disqualify it on sheer principle, but I wont, because it slaps. Biggest tragedy from my past is definitely having a disdain for zts. I guess the synths just felt too strong and got in the way of my enjoyment, but now I think thats his strength. Everything just sounds so heavy and tense, then he just overlays it with such beautiful and thoughtful melodies, and suddenly those dour synths are fighting for control, but failing to hit with the sheer strength of these more familiar and comforting tones. Like, this probably makes me sound like a fucking weirdo, but its how I feel. I never finished Umineko because its way too long, but I can certainly see why the game is so beloved despite the controversial ending. Literally anything will feel great to engage if this track is backing it. Absolute masterpiece, and the magnum opus of the outrageously good Umineko soundtrack.

2. Lady Tears II
Shadow Hearts: From the New World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmUamWSNkYY
@Isquen (1/3)

And now we have the other legendary Shadow Hearts song that got nominated. My favorite is Imbroglio, but that was unfortunately not present. Lady Tears II is a powerful second, however. Youve got the tense rhythmic section where tribal drums mix wonderfully with some truly despicable sounding strings and piano. You can feel the power and scope of something truly frightening through the arrangement. Then it kicks into this serene, almost comforting melody, which bounces perfectly off of the prior intensity. The best part is it keeps those drums and synths as a backdrop, almost as if this new melody is drowning it out. On the loop, the song ends up taking a completely new shape, as we now know what is waiting for us. Its not the despair the track leads with, its the recognition that such despair is fleeting, and even necessary for the moments of comfort to truly matter. Ive never played Shadow Hearts 3 though, so maybe Im way off. I fucking love this song.

1. T260Gs Last Battle
SaGa Frontier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAqB1lOiH6A
@FL81 (1/5)

Holy crap, where has this song been all my life? For once I have Googled, and I found that it is from a Sony PlayStation Japanese RPG from 1997 from SaGa Frontier (Im just kidding, I did not do this, I have heard of SaGa Frontier). But most of what Ive heard from the Saga games is pretty boring. This is awesome. Every single part offers its own cool stuff. I can tell this song is about some junky robot fighting a God. Let me know if Im right. I like all the synth effects here, they are all the best effects, and when they layer on top of each other I feel so happy. The part at 1:08 makes me cry. How on earth did anyone manage to create something so catchy, yet dramatic? Kenji Ito is the greatest composer ever, but I dont know any of his other songs. This is so good and I swear Im only being a little facetious. What a fucking masterpiece of a song.

6. MEGALOVANIA
Undertale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgQdr8ZkTw
@Anagram (1/5)

Toby Fox had to make the song three times but it finally paid off. This song blew the fuck up to the point Id argue its achieved the dreaded and overly applied mantle of iconic. Popularity aside, this song is a total banger. Fox has basically mastered merging catchy melodies with intense instrumentation. Im sure most people argue this is his magnum opus (Its actually The World Revolving) and thats a pretty neat thing to believe in I guess. One I certainly wouldnt actually be upset about because holy shit this song fucking rules. Every part of it is doing something cool.

5. Gang-Plank Galleon
Donkey Kong Country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5aeisPAzM4
@WhiteLens (1/4)

The transition from the cheery introduction to the sinister melody still gives me goosebumps. King K. Rool is corny as fuck, but for a brief period of time he feels like a huge threat. The first two DKC games are pretty well-regarded for their music, and for good reason, but this song is just an unfair level of attainability for Dave Wise. Or at least thats what I would say if Stickerbush Symphony didnt exist holy shit how is Dave Wise real? Tropical Freeze even had a number of bops so the guy didnt even lose much over the years. I wonder if he still composes regularly. I say that because I am not Googling it until after this sentence.

4. FIGHT!! Ver.4 ~ The Final Battle
Grandia II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p29MCpipZTI
@NBIceman (1/5)

A big-time classic, think this retired in VGMC ages ago? Anyway, for good reason! The progression through each of this prog-rock beauty (I know its not actually but the horn sounds like a synth so I pretend its the intent because guitar with synth = prog rock to me) is a wild journey. I especially love the transition at 1:33 where all the instruments are just bashed together for a second. If I were to make a list of Top Ten Transitions in Music then this might be on there, Im not kidding, its that fucking good. Ive never played a second of any Grandia game but I bet this boss kicks ass unless the game is bad but I think people like Grandia II a lot so idk.

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Samus Aran - 19
(4) Ryu Hayabusa - 8

Today's Matches:

(3) Simon Belmont
First Appearance: Castlevania (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/d70b1dd1.jpg
vs.
(2) Mario
First Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/00703880.jpg

Easy Vote:
Simon / Mario

Next match will probably be late

9. Finalize (voids romantix mix)
Demon King Chronicle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlCUAig7B9o
@banshiryuu (1/5)

So after a year of slowly listening through these songs, it seems appropriate that one of the last ones I end up listening to becomes an all-timer for me. Ive listened to this quite a bit, and its hard to really put into words what draws me to it. The song starts out with some cool production, then around the 2-minute mark, a piano kicks in, accompanied by a beautiful flute.The song bounces into different sections seamlessly, always maintaining this bittersweet air to it. And it just gets better the longer it goes on. I love it.

8. Battle! (Champion Iris)
Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb9ee9lWSbg
@Natwaf_akidna (1/5)

Well this is quite different from other Pokemon songs nominated! I honestly barely remember anything about BW2, including its musical selection. So label this as a new song for me I guess. Its a fucking bop though. Im glad Masuda realized he peaked with the Gameboy and let someone else do a final boss theme because this is leagues better. Extremely poppy but chaotic and energetic enough to get the blood flowing.

7. Shadowlord
NieR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vZUbyM5PxY
@MacArrowny (1/5)

Its hard to set my feelings of this song in-game aside. As much as the remake reminded me why I dont really care for the first NieR game on the whole, it also reminded me just how perfect that last 1-2 hours of story were. Its probably the first game where I truly noticed the music creating an emotional impact on me relative to the events I was witnessing, and I think the implementation of this song is the best example. It begins with a fairly long, sorrowful choral performance, slowly easing you further into its grip. Then after nearly three minutes of careful movements, it erupts into this beautiful, intense, and epic piece. Im a sucker for compositions that loop, but with a few additional instrumental choices which reshape how the song presents itself, and thats exactly what the latter half does so perfectly. Yeha, they just added drums and an additional organ, but the weight those create is astoundingly heavy, and its one Ill gladly carry. Its a shame Automata never hit the musical highs of the first game.

Last of tier 5...

10. Nebula Gray
Mega Man Battle Network 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtY2-yOm7tY
@MXCM (1/3)

One of my all-time favorite Mega Man songs. Its a super quick, insanely catchy earworm which sounds so good on the GBA. Switches from intimidating to heroic then back so quickly, keeping a sense of heroism while still acknowledging the danger that comes with the fight. Very good final boss theme. Very good Mega Man song.

I know jack shit about music theory but people were interested enough to nominate 200 songs for some reason.

Samus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpB5PaQkkQc

Been in love with this song since hitting the location in the game. Fucking incredible

THE TOP 10:

Demon King Chronicle | Finalize (voids romantix mix)
Donkey Kong Country | Gang-Plank Galleon
Grandia II | FIGHT!! Ver.4 ~ The Final Battle
Mega Man Battle Network 5 | Nebula Gray
NieR | Shadowlord
Pokemon Black 2 & White 2 | Battle! (Champion Iris)
SaGa Frontier | T260Gs Last Battle
Shadow Hearts: From the New World | Lady Tears II
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru | lastendconductor
Undertale | MEGALOVANIA

15. Battle with the Dark King
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMYXYewC0Y0
@Lord_Bob_Bree (1/5)

The Mystic Quest soundtrack is such a cool thing. It sounds wholly unique from other SNES soundtracks and it rules. Its definitely a top 5 FF soundtrack, possibly top 3, but I dont have the patience to rank all of the FF soundtracks right now. This theme slaps. Its constantly hitting you across the face with forward momentum until the perfect transition upon its loop. It never slows down and finishes up super quickly, ready to go through the motions again. Its like how my girlfriend says I do in bed, except for the last part of that analogy. Sex life aside, this is awesome, and Sasai shouldve gotten more work.

14. Serpent Eating the Ground
Bravely Default
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRFgviKp5hA
@Player_0 (1/5)

Bravely Defaults soundtrack has grown a lot on me over the years. I dont think I enjoyed its incredible final battle themes when I first heard them. Perhaps it was because I ended up hearing them in-game, and emotions changed. I will say, of the three songs which were eligible from Bravely Default, SEtG doesnt really touch Wicked Flight, one of my favorite songs literally ever, so thats not really even worth mentioning, tbh. 4:39 to the end is fucking incredible and I guess I just wish this wild mixture of Celtic, folk, and symphonic metal were a bigger part of the song, instead of the first half being merely above average. What a dumb writeup, sorry.

13. Violent Storm
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjVoL5dGmNA
@bebr117 (1/5)

Sakurabas obsession with wacky guitar riffs and wacky synthesizer riffs can be a curse like 90% of the time, but holy shit, he just throws something phenomenal together every now and then and this is a pretty great example. Sure it starts out ripping off The Decisive Battle from FF6 but then it starts ripping off Dream Theater instead which is much less common. These are definitely some of the wackiest riffs from him but they all sound fucking cool so it works perfect. Good shit, dude. This board needs to rethink how mean it is to Sakuraba, dude can fuck out some good music every now and then.

12. Wrapped in Black
Sonic Rush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlCK5RWO54E
@tgs2 (1/5)

I think Naganuma is the only person who couldve sampled Malcolm X into a Sonic soundtrack and not have it be questioned. If you question this decision then disregard that comment. Anyway, this song rules. I used to think it was perfect besides the vocals, but as Ive grown older the vocals are the best part of the song and the only reason it holds up to scrutiny today. Basically its the Kingdom Hearts II prologue. But yeah, a perfectly paced song with a punchy melody, unique instrumentation and creative sampling. One of Naganumas best.

11. Dialgas Fight to the Finish!
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPGuiZ48PbA
@hombad46 (1/5)

Damn, ever love a song, completely forget about it, then hear it again a decade later and fall back in love? I COMPLETELY forgot about this song, but once I heard that intro, all kinds of feelings came back to me. Its a lovely song with some incredible flute-work, or whatever the sound is supposed to imitate. Really does feel like youre soaring through the sky or some shit which Im sure is the point of a game with the subtitle, Explorers of Sky. Idk though, Ive never played the PMD games. This song rocks, however, which typically arent skybound.

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(3) Luigi - 20
(2) Ganon - 7

Today's Matches:

(1) Samus Aran
First Appearance: Metroid (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c17d6a34.jpg
vs.
(4) Ryu Hayabusa
First Appearance: Ninja Gaiden (1988)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/92c2604b.jpg

Easy Vote:
Samus / Ryu

up

20. Theme of G
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaWDaoXXBnQ
@Radix (1/3)

I was really liking where I thought this song was going, but then those trumpets kick in, which is nowhere close to where I thought it was going, but then I LOVED where it was going. Part of me wishes it went more intense, but the somewhat subdued feel of the music makes it far more unique, so its probably a good idea they kept it this way. Im not a composer or even a critic of music so idk why what I say matters anyway.

19. Cannonball (Omega Zero)
Mega Man Zero 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9_KLdeaijs
@MXCM (2/3)

One of my personal favorite Mega Man tracks and one of my personal favorite GBA tracks. It is actually my second-favorite GBA Mega Man track, with the first not having appeared quite yet. Neither of them made it into MMMM which absolutely blows. Still, this song rules, with a perfect driving melody and some good crunchiness to add to its power. One of the best in a series with tons of great tunes.

18. Hopes and Dreams
Undertale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz82xbLvK_k
@Raka_Putra (2/5)

Its hard to beat Toby Fox when it comes to boss themes. Dude just hits on every level, being able to combine raw energy, catchy melodies, and powerful emotional weight to any encounter. Even standard battle themes are usually good shit. I think theres a reason Undertales score resonated so strongly with millions of people and I think that reason has something to do with Toby Fox being good at music, but thats just speculation. Its also hard to separate the individual songs from their key uses in the games themselves. Fox excels at designing the music around the scenes which they are used and at this point Im really just being a stan. Its wild to me that Gamefreak is the only big-name developer to hire him for composition because he is an unstoppable freak of nature. Anyway this is like, the third or fourth best song from Undertale and that is crazy to me.

17. Darkness of the Unknown
Kingdom Hearts II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNFVJQO66Qk
@GavsEvans123 (1/5)

To this day, still my favorite Kingdom Hearts battle theme, and given how strongly I feel about the franchises battle themes, thats a pretty strong statement from me. From the repetitive buildup to the explosion of strings which make up the songs climax, this song hits on every level. I do wish I could find an upload which was only the first and second parts of the song. Any shorter upload likes to remove the 90-second intro, which is crucial. The third part which hits at 4:19 utterly destroys the energy of the song and just plods along for far too long. Its appropriate for what it needs to do in-game, but as a piece taken on its own, it just doesnt work. Either way, the first 4 minutes is GOAT tier stuff, and the KH franchise is filled with amazing themes as-is. P.s. this would likely move up to top 5 without the last half. On my initial slotting I ignored it but that isnt really fair, I dont think.

16. Battle vs. Lord Blazer
Wild Arms 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeYsXZy8KA0
@Natwaf_akidna (2/5)

Aw hell yeah, certified hood classic here. The PS1 Wild Arms games sound so fucking good, and this is probably the second best track from those two games. Best is obviously To a New Journey, but theres no shame in not being as good as that one. Besides, this is trying to capture a completely different mood, which Im sure it does well. I havent played Wild Arms 2. This is better than all the Final Fantasy songs Uematsu created during the PS1 era dont @ me.

Wandersong. One of the best indie games from the last 5 years

I think it's mainly the production on them. Her voice probably sounds good on it's own.

25. With Hearts Aligned
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzqsCbJOGfE
@Radix (2/3)

The provided link in the topic was dead so I hope this is the right song, but hell yeah, this is some good shit. The way the guitar plods along and through each segment is like crack and I am an addict now. The part at 50 seconds fucks me silly and then at 1:19 it tears my ass apart, its great. The vocals are not my thing at all, but they are mercifully not in the song very long. I had a large amount of text dedicated to riffing on them, but I axed it all and will instead just say I probably put this in the top 10 without them. Yes, they do detract that much for me, but that's a story for future tazzy to tell.

24. Perfect Dark Gaia
Sonic Unleashed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWMcIB7XIi0
@most_games_r_ok (1/5)

Ohtanis and Kobayashis ability to take crappy theme songs and arrange them into emotionally-charged orchestral masterpieces is fucking insane. Dont let them anywhere near any of the shitty pop-punk bands in my area who still cant play shows larger than 50, shell ruin them. Anyway, this song slaps and doesnt sound like Simple Plan, which is always a positive quality. I like all the whimsical flourishes added onto the melody. Absolutely beautiful song that makes me want to be a hero, but Im just not fast enough, and I cannot take it anymore.

23. In the Final
Mario & Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story
https://youtu.be/Ckxy-i7Dc5U
Nanis23 (1/1)

Shimomura has done some good work over the years, and this is no exception. Its immediately attention-grabbing and plods along at a strong pace. Very catchy while using its instrumentation and melodies together in fun ways. I do prefer my DS tunes to be a bit crunchier, so I think this sounds a lot better in the remake where production is cleaned up a bit. As-is, it unfortunately just sounds kinda like Im listening to it through a bad speaker, which works well if being played through a DS speaker, but not entirely so when played through my headphones. Still, its a great jam that I listen to pretty regularly, and poor production doesnt hold it back all that much.

22. Transcending, Overpowering, Everlasting
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yje-g6s6mY
@DireKrow (1/5)

I need to get around to playing Bug Fables. Ive heard its shameless Paper Mario worship, but I guess if youre gonna worship a franchise, I guess its a good idea to do one the developer hasnt been worshiping since 2004. Anyway this song is very cool and feels quite based. I like how snappy it switches movements. It flows incredibly well. And it also has that beautiful MMX-sounding guitar. Very cool shit.

21. EROICA
beatmania IIDX 27 HEROIC VERSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-EnFTFM6Y4
@banshiryuu (2/5)

Classic Bemani jam right here. Short and to-the-point, while presenting all kinds of creative ideas and building on top of each one perfectly. This song sounds so good, from the more subdued beginning to the eventual glitchy synths in the finale. Everything is smooth and seamless, and its a joy to listen to.

You are voting for the character as a whole, not just their 80s appearances!!

BRACKET: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=477688

Previous Results:

(1) Mega Man - 13
(5) Ridley - 10

(7) Death - 26
(2) Donkey Kong - 25

Today's Matches:

(3) Luigi
First Appearance: Mario Bros. (1983)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/41b15310.jpg
vs.
(2) Ganon
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda (1986)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c0c33663.jpg

Easy Vote:
Luigi / Ganon

30. BIG SHOT
Deltarune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uivFFnCI8tM
@hombad46 (2/5)

Another classic superboss theme from Toby Fox, dude just doesnt miss. I speak enough about how good these songs are in other write-ups so youll see some thoughts on his music as a whole there. For this particular song, I do feel its hard to pinpoint exactly how much I like it in particular versus how much I like hearing all the melodies of the songs its ripping from. I know that its thematically appropriate fro this particular boss to have a theme which is just a bunch of other songs smashed into each other, but out of context its hard to ignore. Its still phenomenal, but not quite on the level of the other top tier songs from the franchise.

29. Zero
Ace Combat Zero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80XAJKqRU9k
@trdl23 (2/4)

Already talked about this in the board ranking topic: I always thought the Spanish-sounding guitars and use of casanetas was weird for Ace Combat of all things, but Im going to guess this just takes place in Spain and it makes more sense when I do that. That or my knowledge of cultures is bad and this isn't Spanish-influenced at all. I'm not Googling this. This song is awesome though. Ace Combats composer, who I don't know the name of, has a number of songs which embody this absurd sense of scale which can only be defined as epic, which, yes, I am unironically using in 2022. What a frustrating word to have lost all value and meaning because video game critics kept calling shit like Heavy Rain epic.

28. The Apex of the World (Rain)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0KjljX4Lqg
@trdl23 (1/4)

Of all the FE songs which could have been nominated, Im glad this one did. Its really good! Especially the part at 1:15. And I like the slight change at 2:42 is even better. Those horns are creating a lot of powerful emotions for a game whos story and characters are quite silly when I think about them for more than two minutes. I'm usually not into FE songs on the whole, but this is a standout in an otherwise mid franchise for tunes.

27. Border of Life
Touhou 7: Perfect Cherry Blossom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zis2TtxdFjQ
@andylt (1/5)

I feel Ive always had a higher tolerance for sharper sounds than others, to the extent I actually enjoy them quite a lot, so long as their used to create strong melodies. For instance, I didnt realize until a couple years ago that the Mega Man II soundtrack is widely despised. I fucking love that shit. I can see the infamous zunpets on display really tanking this songs quality for some people, but for me its fire. I like them blaring and destroying my eardrums. Anyway, this song is sick.

26. The Usurper
Lennas Inception
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEvxk1wuxi0
@azuarc (1/5)

Why are their two songs titled The Usurper here? Its not even a fun word to read, say, or type. SAD! But uh, yeah, this song is really good, and definitely usurps the other The Usurper by a lot. I like fake pipe organs a lot, and I like how they sound particularly fake in specific parts like at 1:15. That is some good ass squeak right there. I like the echoey drums quite a bit as well. Sounds like putting GBA percussion into cleaner audio, and that creates a sound I fucking adore.

Both mid

Mega
Kong