LogFAQs > #941700158

25. Kirby Triple Deluxe - Moonstruck Blossom
vs.
14. Pokemon Platinum - Battle! Giratina

What I had:
Battle! Giratina > Moonstruck Blossom (heyyyyy!)

Moonstruck Blossom has this absolutely amazing intro. It immediately hooks me. However, the rest of the song isn't as strong for me. I have trouble with a lot of modern Kirby music, and this song falls into some of the same pitfalls as other Kirby hits. That background piano is very strong throughout though, and grounds the rest of the song in a solid place. Because I value the beginnings of songs more than I should (first impressions are very important), I have this one ranked maybe a little too highly.

Giratina starts with that rockin' slap bass present in the Lake Trio battle theme (honestly I wish there was more of it), and overall the energy is pretty high, even when the song slows down briefly, because it picks right back up again. There's a lot of variance, with odd time and different instruments; the song keeps changing, but unlike some of the other tracks from earlier in round 3, it's never overwhelming (at least to me). The overall presentation is really solid.

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46. Einhander - Thermosphere
vs.
34. Blade Ballet - Bitbop

What I had:
Midnight Lady > Rustling Throb (wildcard)

Thermosphere is a song I always feel like I'm going to enjoy more than I do. I love the sounds here: very mechanical and beep-boopish, like you're in some sort of futuristic factory-type scenario. Then it goes contemplative with a piano track. Shortly after that is where the song sort of loses me: the melody gets a bit...maybe predictable is the wrong word? I have a hard time with key changes, and there are some key changes I feel come when maybe they shouldn't. That said, there is still plenty to like here! The new section around 2:15 fits with the beep-boopyness at the start. It almost feels like something out of Nights Into Dreams.

Speaking of beep-boopereenos, I almost supported Bitbop. I'm really glad it got in, as there isn't really anything like it in this year's contest. Modern chiptune glitch swing is a fun set of traits to have in a song. Like Giratina, Bitbop is never content to rest, always pressing forward with new and engaging aspects. Don't let the comparatively low ranking fool you - it's still a 7.5. Bitbop is one of my favorite new discoveries of the contest. I'm happy it got this far.

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Votes:
Battle! Giratina
Bitbop