Board 8 > [BOST] Day 23: AuroMemo v Pokemon DP, Gurumin v Ar tonelico, XCX v Silent Hill 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

Greetings, and welcome to the Best OST Contest 5! In this contest, you and fellow video game soundtrack lovers will come together to once and for all answer the question "What is the best video game soundtrack? (For now.)"

Links:
Contest Bracket and Info - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sD964sXfa3trbXrr14mFKeEIA14cGM2RtHmW9TqGBmw
Discussion Thread - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77915805

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VOTING RULES

- Each match will be between the songs representing each game, not the game as a whole. Please remember to listen and vote with this in mind! Any votes referring to a game name rather than a song name will not be counted. You have been warned!
- Listen to both songs!! If one is your literal favorite song in the world and the other is something you hate with a passion, listen to them both!!
- No alts, no rallying, no begging for something to get more votes, etc., etc., you know the drill.
- If you change your mind and would like to swap your vote, you may do so. As soon as it is 24 hours since the match topic was started, you may not change your vote and new votes will not be counted.
- If you would like to vote in advance for matches you know you will miss, please let me know in the discussion topic.

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Main Bracket: Winners Round 2

Aurora Memoria: Philosophical Data Session 2093 - Fractal Mode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdeZngyRxB8" data-time="

Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsYIjJC0Nu4" data-time="

Main Bracket: Losers Round 1

Gurumin - Samurai Drill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEsCwEpBTCY" data-time="

Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMk3TtlGZAY" data-time="

Snubs Bracket Match

Xenoblade Chronicles X - Shiro no Tairiku

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFwBUS7aWfg" data-time="

Silent Hill 2 - Heaven's Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8A22ulogJs" data-time="

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Vote Form:
Fractal Mode / Route 209 (Night)
Samurai Drill / EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku / Heaven's Night

Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night)
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Shiro no Tairiku
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Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night)
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Shiro no Tairiku
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Aurora Memoria: Philosophical Data Session 2093 - Fractal Mode - 7.5/10
Aside from the random voice clip that didn't really do anything for me, this is a really nice chill banger. Just a great feel throughout, doesn't try anything different from it really but it's just good enough as it is. The melodies that come through are also pretty nice.

Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night) - 8/10
Just a wonderful calm song to really remember from an adventure, and indeed this is one of the few route themes I remember from a pokemon game. Talk about a nostalgic song, not only because it actually gives me nostalgia but that's just the kind of feel the song exudes.

Voting for Route 209 (Night)

Gurumin - Samurai Drill - 8.5/10
Bomber Girl was a bad first impression, apparently. This really bangs, and like the last one it's super interesting and unique. One of the possibly few songs that may actually stand out to me on a day after the day I vote on it.

Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/. - 8.5/10
Super powerful and emotional. It just feels...meaningful. Something that wants to really make an impact as a beautiful song and I would say it does just that.

Man I just have to Abstain at least for now

Xenoblade Chronicles X - Shiro no Tairiku - 7.5/10
Another very emotional, somber piece. Still a bit unsure on the rating but this also is a pretty impactful song.

Silent Hill 2 - Heaven's Night - 6.5/10
Another somber piece, but just isn't quite as powerful emotionally, and the lead is a bit too dissonant for me. But still really nice for setting a scene, I can imagine this being a highlight of the game too.

Voting for Shiro no Tairiku

Man only one game I know today and yet such a powerful day. Really good stuff

Fractal Mode
Samurai Drill
Heaven's Night

There are a number of songs from Pokemon DPP that I really love and most of them are not in this set list. I don't really care all that much for this particular route song, too much of an emotional + pleasant mix in ways I don't care for probably. Meanwhile Fractal Mode really is my kind of thing with it's cool energetic synths. Fortunately the guy talking is only for a tiny bit.

Samurai Drill is pretty great too, I'm really liking how wild this is.

Snubs match is kind of interesting given it's two slow ambient-ish sorts of tracks. I'm voting for the back alley dreamscape over my disliked high strings that err on the side of an emotional mood. Actually really Heaven's Night is pretty cool. All very easy matches today
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Route 209
Chronicle Key
Shiro no Tairiku

i voted for a mainline pokemon track the apocalypse is truly nigh.

Chronicle Key is a piece I have to be in the right mood for. I am today, and the Gurumin track isn't SttSBS, so.

The White Continent is kinda weird, in that i'd rather just listen to the vocal songs it shares melodies with, but similarly the sh2 track isn't theme of laura so. also that horn is basically cheating. not as cheating as random chanting in 7/8 time, but close.
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Route 209
abstain pyre nominated BOTH of these for me
Heaven's Knight
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Fractal Mode
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku

Fractal Mode
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Heaven's Night

I ended up siding with 209 in my favs bracket because nostalgia caught me off-guard, but objectively fractal mode gets the edge. 209 is good, but still not something that i get excited over any more

samurai drill is great and it is a tragedy that it ran into what it did. that's one hell of a song to have in a lower set

sawano still misses the point reallly hard to me, just like he does with anime soundtracks. making a song that is atmospheric and uplifting shouldn't mean having two seperate things in one song that don't go together. heaven's night a real song for atmospheric vgm connoisseurs

incidentally for future BOST purposes, i've finished my second pass of the hgss ost. currently have it trimmed down to 24 songs (it was 34 before). there may be a promising set there next time, albeit a very eclectic one

Fractal Mode
fuck. Samurai Drill
Heaven's Night

Route 209 (Night)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku

Oh no, another match where both of the songs are from soundtracks I supported! Gotta go with my favorite D/P/Pt route theme here though!

Samurai Drill has a cool jazz thing going on, and I like the part in the middle. Chronicle Key is one of the best vocal Umineko tracks! (Jokes aside, this song is very good.)

Less exciting snubs match, but still one I have a clear preference on.
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Route 209 (Night)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku

Fractal Mode
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Heaven's Night
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Route 209 (Night)
Samurai Drill
Shiro no Tairiku

Route 209 (Night)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku

Oh hey Fractal Mode is kinda nice. 209 Night isn't quite as good as the regular version, but I still like it. Pretty much the only Pokemon song I like before the newer games with their neat over the top battle themes.

Samurai Drill kinda bad. Awful instruments. Chronicle Key is good stuff. Glad to have an AT song I'm enthusiastic about.

White Continent not quite my favorite continent theme, but it's still good. Was a great fit for the area, too. I hate Heaven's Night so this is an easy match.
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Fractal Mode
Samurai Drill
Shiro no Tairiku

Samurai Drill is my favourite Gurumin track I've heard! I just barely didn't support vote and it's making me regret it now.

SnT is actually a nice XCX song that doesn't grate my ears!
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Aurora Memoria: Philosophical Data Session 2093 - Fractal Mode: 6. I don't like this as much as some of the other Aurora Memoria songs, but it's still nice.
vs.
Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night): 7. I'm actually voting for a Pokemon song??? I loved the Brawl remix of this and this is a solid version of it. I would have rather had the Day rendition but this'll do.

and

Gurumin - Samurai Drill: 4. Bombast. Sounds like something out of Rhythm Thief, at least until it gets to the fake-sounding (not in a bad way) sax. I remember liking this more than I do right now. It just keeps going and going and going. Gets really ponderous by the end.
vs.
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.: 3.5. I kind of like this but I really have to be in the right mood for it. At least I used to like it; now I guess I'm not a fan. It's just so slow at parts, laborious at times. I think, if given the choice between listening to it and not, I'd rather not.

and

Xenoblade Chronicles X - Shiro no Tairiku: 8. I really like this. I prefer the more atmospheric first part, but the second part is good too, particularly when the big swell comes in.
vs.
Silent Hill 2 - Heaven's Night: 7.5. Good pseudo-ambient music. Perfect for wandering around an abandoned cityscape lit by the moon.

Votes:
Route 209 (Night)
Samurai Drill
Shiro no Tairiku

Fractal Mode
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Heaven's Night
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Fractal Mode
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku

Fractal Mode
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku
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Route 209 (Night)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Shiro no Tairiku

I like this XCX song way more than...uhh...those other XCX songs that were in a contest at some point.
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Fractal Mode
Samurai Drill
Heaven's Night

godd
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Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night)
Always down to represent Pokemon music and this song is no exception. It's chill, upbeat, and fun, all while being musically fantastic. Another song I was happy to hear behind the wheel-- I was driving through a hilly place with mountains when I heard this and it was super-fitting. Pokemon Route music conveys the theme of exploration and in-game progression SUPER well and Route 209 (night) is a great example of this. The instruments are vibrant and wonderful and it was a great song to go on an afternoon drive to!

Aurora Memoria's song was alright. The instrumentation was nice, but the drums kinda got in the way for me. It kinda dragged on because of that. I get that the game is supposed to have a very Y2k influenced OST (drum and bass stuffs) but it just felt weirdly mixed. Maybe if I heard the song on better speakers (car audio doesn't work so I use a portable speaker for my car vgm timez) I might like it more, but I just wasn't feeling it. The insturmentation was BEAUTIFUL but I couldn't get behind the song because the drums_parts.wav just kinda got in the way. It's weird because I like eurobeat and the bass is usually really overpowering in those songs and I still like them. Still interested in giving AM another shot, but defs enjoyed Diamond and Pearl more.

Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
This is the kind of song that I would not normally listen to, despite the fact that it is musically beautiful. It's just very melancholy. Lovely vocals and instrumentation though. The song keeps it varied and gorgeous-- it's defs an interesting listen. It kinda reminds me of Lacrimosa from Black Butler-- very melancholy and foreboding with a touch of darkness to it. Also, I love the way hymnos sounds-- it's such a gorgeous language and it sounds even more beautiful in music form. Again, it isn't something I would jam out to on the regular because of how overwhelmingly sad it feels, but it's kind of mesmerizing.

Gurumin was just kinda meandering and felt like fake jazz. I don't wanna get too negative about it but it just wasn't my fave thing. It went on and on and on despite being around the same length as exec_choronicle_key/. It just didn't leave much of an impression on me.

Silent Hill 2 - Heaven's Night
This song was so COOL! I haven't listened to Silent Hill music before-- only listened to some silent hill INSPIRED music from a composer I like. But that is beside the point! I really loved everything about this song. It was just a lot of what I like musically... it's beautiful, complex, ambient, and kinda off+~ I needed to hear something like this today and really appreciated this nom!

Xenoblade was kinda what I expected it to be. It was swelling and very RPG-esque music. It was alright, but didn't shine as much as Heaven's Night. It is a bit better than the other Xenoblade stuff that came earlier in the contest, but didn't really leave much of an impression.
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Aurora Memoria: Philosophical Data Session 2093 - Fractal Mode
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Silent Hill 2 - Heaven's Night

AM and SH2 are in my top 10 soundtracks and I don't consider either to have many weak links!! good day of music video game music

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Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Route 209 (Night)
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Shiro no Tairiku

MATCH 1

Fractal Mode is some really cool DnB stuff. Notably better than most songs of this genre that have showed up in BOST or RtVGM so far, I think. Nice and chill with a neat melody.

Route 209 is probably one of the better route themes in DPPt. It's a nice and happy route theme that feels fitting for its placement in an early-game route. Sort of like the route right after Twinleaf Town where feels like music for starting off your adventure as a rookie. Pretty close, but I'm leaning towards Route 209

MATCH 2

Samurai Drill is actually pretty good for the Gurumin songs I've heard before. Unlike Mycro, this kind of fun blues scale stuff is pretty appealing to me.

I love Akiko Shikata's music, so Chronicle Key is just way too good to pass up.

Posting this now so I can edit right afterwards and get the votes in