Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 19! Qwark/2NewJourney, Sky Tower/xxxx/xx/xx, Proof/ICO

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 16, an annual celebration of the best of the best video game music according to the voters!

Important Links:
Bracket: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=475935
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_IU5iCFTM_4WEx8ZWKwznMz5v2tarCKh1Ag0mxIgAes
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80027411
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0xxfgkmGKvEyWfHvNZ53Kbn
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16XAaBMDuUnQ4c5AxQNL9ZhvD7VG5kQyrXWWZxnkrn-o
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
Discord: https://discord.gg/WDvMS4a

Rules:
- Listen to both songs in a given match, at least through the loop time provided (to make sure you don't skip before you've heard the whole thing!)
- Please consider the loop point listed when judging the song; if a video loops one minute 5 times, don't treat it as if it's a repetitive 5 minute song
- If it's a match between your favorite song ever and a song you despise, still LISTEN TO BOTH! Votes can and will be disqualified if there is suspicion songs are not being listened to, and you may be discounted for the rest of the contest for repeat offenses.
- No alt accounts, no rallying or begging, etc., etc.... You only get one vote! Swapping votes is alright, just make clear that you've already made a vote and are swapping.
- Make clear what your voting options are! Please keep votes separate from any comments, and use the titles given in the topic post.
- Voting in all matches is not mandatory, feel free to skip matches you do not wish to vote in.
- Vote based on the links provided, and not other sources of audio. Links are specifically chosen for best quality and the like.
- Don't discuss vote tallies in this thread, or in other threads, as they may influence votes. Likewise, please refrain from looking at the running tally before voting.

Voting Period:
- Today's matches will last 24 hours from the time of posting, or 24 hours from 10pm Eastern, whichever is the later time.
- Please note this may mean that two topics will be active at the same time!
- If you anticipate being unable to vote in a given day, please send an absentee vote to @banshiryuu, or post your absentee vote in the discussion thread!

.

Match 1

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal - Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Composer: David Bergeaud, Niels Bye Nielsen
Loop Point: 1:54
Genre: COLD SHELTER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XxqOxcTBg

<cite>banshiryuu posted [p:965875454] in [VGMC] Day... [t:80060475]...</cite> <quote> oops running out of time sorry we're gonna have two ""boring""" MOST QUALITY round 1 match polls in a row!! Nocturne v Sogno di Volare Into the Woods! v LIN NE KRO NE Faded Dream of a Psychomeddler v Tractatus Logico-philosophicus The Apex of the World (Rain) v Hustle and Bustle Unknown Pollution v #4 dunno Angela v Heretic Frypan THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition) v Desierto Caliente Argon Refinery v Shudder Hollows (Echocave) v LAST CALL Sleeping in the Cold Below v Jupiter Guns Novel (Long Version) Vote View Results oops running out of time sorry we're gonna have two ""boring""" MOST QUALITY round 1 match polls in a row!! - Results (40 votes) Nocturne v Sogno di Volare 12.5% (5 votes) 5 Into the Woods! v LIN NE KRO NE 10% (4 votes) 4 Faded Dream of a Psychomeddler v Tractatus Logico-philosophicus 10% (4 votes) 4 The Apex of the World (Rain) v Hustle and Bustle 10% (4 votes) 4 Unknown Pollution v #4 dunno 10% (4 votes) 4 Angela v Heretic Frypan 15% (6 votes) 6 THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition) v Desierto Caliente 12.5% (5 votes) 5 Argon Refinery v Shudder 15% (6 votes) 6 Hollows (Echocave) v LAST CALL 0% (0 votes) 0 Sleeping in the Cold Below v Jupiter Guns Novel (Long Version) 5% (2 votes) 2 Show Voting Form function poll_vote() { var vote_option = $("input[name='poll_vote']:checked").val(); if(!vote_option) return; $.ajax({ type: 'POST', url: '/ajax/forum_poll_vote', data: { option: vote_option, board: '8', topic: '80060475', message: '0', key: '25b78d8e' }, success: function(response) { if(response.error) { alert(response.error); } else { $("#poll_vote").hide(); $("#poll_results").html(response.html).show(); } } }); } function view_results_legacy() { $("#poll_vote").hide(); $("#poll_results").show(); } function hide_results_legacy() { $("#poll_results").hide(); $("#poll_vote").show(); } Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 16, an annual celebration of the best of the best video game music according to the voters! Important Links: Bracket: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=475935 Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_IU5iCFTM_4WEx8ZWKwznMz5v2tarCKh1Ag0mxIgAes Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80027411 Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0xxfgkmGKvEyWfHvNZ53Kbn Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16XAaBMDuUnQ4c5AxQNL9ZhvD7VG5kQyrXWWZxnkrn-o VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o Discord: https://discord.gg/WDvMS4a Rules: - Listen to both songs in a given match, at least through the loop time provided (to make sure you don't skip before you've heard the whole thing!) - Please consider the loop point listed when judging the song; if a video loops one minute 5 times, don't treat it as if it's a repetitive 5 minute song - If it's a match between your favorite song ever and a song you despise, still LISTEN TO BOTH! Votes can and will be disqualified if there is suspicion songs are not being listened to, and you may be discounted for the rest of the contest for repeat offenses. - No alt accounts, no rallying or begging, etc., etc.... You only get one vote! Swapping votes is alright, just make clear that you've already made a vote and are swapping. - Make clear what your voting options are! Please keep votes separate from any comments, and use the titles given in the topic post. - Voting in all matches is not mandatory, feel free to skip matches you do not wish to vote in. - Vote based on the links provided, and not other sources of audio. Links are specifically chosen for best quality and the like. - Don't discuss vote tallies in this thread, or in other threads, as they may influence votes. Likewise, please refrain from looking at the running tally before voting. Voting Period: - Today's matches will last 24 hours from the time of posting, or 24 hours from 10pm Eastern, whichever is the later time. - Please note this may mean that two topics will be active at the same time! - If you anticipate being unable to vote in a given day, please send an absentee vote to @banshiryuu, or post your absentee vote in the discussion thread! . Match 1 Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal - Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout Composer: David Bergeaud, Niels Bye Nielsen Loop Point: 1:54 Genre: COLD SHELTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XxqOxcTBg </quote>

WILDERNESS' END
GREATER HEIGHTS
LONELY BREEZE

sky tower

nice try hb you can't vote for a song twice

PIayer_0 posted...

nice try hb you can't vote for a song twice

yeah... that's why I'll vote for it three times

Sky Tower

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
ICO -You were there-

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal - Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Sky Tower
ICO - ICO -You were there-

Yeah, a perfect ten! Might see a few more as we push ahead into the later brackets. I've really gotta get 'round to playing Wild Arms. Today's menagerie:

[10] ICO -You were there-
[9.0] Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
[8.0] Proof of the existence
[7.0] Sky Tower
[7.0] To A New Journey
[6.0] xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
You Were There

I prefer OG Sky Tower by a lot even if this one is still good.

Qwark's Hideout [6.5]
TANJ [7]
Sky Tower [8]
xxxx/xx/xx [9.5]
Proof of Existence [6]
You Were There [9]

1. Turok 2:Seeds of Evil (GBC) - Scroll Stage
2. Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll
3. ???
4. ???
5. Warframe - Sleeping in the Cold Below
6. ???
7. ???
8. Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert
9. Phantasy Star Online 2 - Yggdrasil
10. Shatter - Argon Refinery
11. The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
12. Napple Tale - Dreams in a Pie
13. ???
14. ???
15. ???
16. ???
17. GITADORA OverDrive - Jupiter Guns Novel ( Long Version)
18. ???
19. Lightning Returns - The Glittering City of Yusnaan
20. ???

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

Very, very good music today! Even though I'm a long-time fan of Into the Wilderness (and I even own Wild ARMs!), I've never heard To a New Journey, which I suppose is the ending theme. It's nice, but it can't stand up against high tier stuff like it's opponent! (imo) I would be very surprised if Thran Asteroid won, though. The second match involves polar opposites: "for kids" vs. "for adults only", and I'm siding with the kiddy one! I'm a bit unhappy to see the wrong version of Sky Tower once again in VGMC (I don't like the Rescue Team DX signature bass), but I still like this version a lot lot... It still manages 6th place in all of Bracket B. I hope this makes Round 4 and loses, and then we get the original Sky Tower back next year which then retires. >_> I love Nekomata Master... How does he manage to sound so consistently good? ICO were there last year, and it's good to see it back! Third match is such a hard choice... I could very well flip on this one.

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout (9.0 - 9th place) / To a New Journey (7.1 - 39th place)
Sky Tower (9.3 - 6th place) / xxxx/xx/xx (Remix) (6.8 - 46th place)
Proof of the existence (8.75^ - 14th place) / ICO -You were there- (8.95 - 10th place)

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO - You Were There

Match 2 was really good oh no D:

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro - Proof of the existence

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Sky Tower
ICO - ICO -You were there-

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Very straightforward day. Had no idea TeddyLloid did VGM too, it was cool!

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Match 3 is very powerful, but ICO's bridge is still extremely powerful

Hideout
Tower
Proof

Q
X
U

shoutouts to voting against expectation in every match.

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

9.8
8.5
9.5
8.7
7.3
8.6

Qwark's Hideout was a pet nom of mine I didn't expect to make it in. It has a really neat hopeless atmosphere to it, coupled with David Bergeaud's usual breakbeat.

Sky Tower is Sky Tower. The DS version is an actual 10/10 for me - the instrumentation feels harder-hitting - but this one's not too different so I'll cut it some slack.

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Sky Tower
ICO - ICO -You were there-

Match 2 was a lot closer than I was expecting

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

Quite liked the Caligula Effect song, though I suspect it's going to get rinsed by Sky Tower.

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Sky Tower
beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro - Proof of the existence

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
abstain
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Qwark
Sky
Proof

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Switch to

ICO -You were there-

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
-

Got burnt out watching my favs keep dying but I'll try again. Don't remember either song in the last match but don't feel like listening rn

Guess I didn't vote last night.

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

1. PowerOne
2. You Were There
3. Scroll Stage
4. ???
5. Staff Roll (Super Mario 64)
6. Dreams in a Pie
7. ???
8. ???
9. ???
10. Passing Through the Forest
11. ???
12. ???
13. ???
14. ???
15. ???
16. ???
17. ???
18. Kusanagi Village
19. ???
20. Calling
21. LIN NE KRO NE
22. Egg Reverie
23. ???
24. ???
25. The Glittering City of Yusnaan
26. ???
27. ???
28. Sky Tower
29. ???
30. The Elephant's Foot of Obnoxious Music
31. Time Moves Slow
32. The Apex of the World (Rain)
33. ???
34. Interwoven Stories
35. ???
36. ???
37. ???
38. ???
39. ???
40. It's Dangerous to Go Alone
41. ???
42. ???
43. xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
44. Yggdrasil
45. ???
46. ???
47. SaKuRa
48. ???
49. ???
50. Kaze no Ne

After like three or four straight days without any top 50s, today of course we have three. And two of them are in the same match! Suffering.

I prefer the original Sky Tower (10 vs. 9). The genre also makes me wish To Greater Heights from Pokemon Reborn was here instead! But this is among my favorite Bracket B songs. But on the other hand, this Caligula song is pretty rad too. I didn't rate it high enough in noms to support it, but I did mark it down and I'm glad it got in without my help. Hmm...coming back to this one.

You Were There is a very special song but I didn't nominate it again this year after it got in last year. Somehow it's made its way into the bracket again...paired against one of my favorite composers oof. Proof of the Existence is very cool but I think we all know what I'm rooting for.

Votes:
To a New Journey
abstain
ICO -You were there-

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Match 1 is remarkably close between an old classic and a new favourite, but I've been really digging bleak industrial stuff lately.

I feel like I could learn to really like this Caligula song after a bunch of listens, but forcing myself to listen to a song a bunch of times today would probably just make me hate it. Maybe next year.

Proof of Existence is cool! But it ends a little too quickly for my liking. A somewhat close match nonetheless, even though I really cannot go wrong at all with ICO.

R&C music has a few styles. Some are fine, some are good. This is in the prior category. To a New Journey sounds a lot like a lesser version of Into the Wilderness. Thankfully, Into the Wilderness is pretty good.

I feel like I enjoy Sky Tower a different amount every time I listen to it. Maybe because it's a different version every year? Anyway, this version's solid for a minute and a half or so, but then it looses steam. The remixed version of xxxx is a massive downgrade from the regular version.

Proof of the Existence is a high tier Nekomata Master song and You Were There I don't like at all, so.

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

Proof of the existence > To a New Journey > xxxx/xx/xx (Remix) > Sky Tower > Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout > ICO -You were there-

Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

I like some of the synths used in Qwark's Hideout. Particularly at 1:25. But the actual composition is rather boring to me. No interesting motifs and it kinda feels like it doesn't go anywhere.

To a New Journey is another song that I don't find all that interesting personally. I do like the flute and bassoon used in this though. The strings at 1:24 are pretty nice as well. But yeah, the actual composition just doesn't do anything for me. I'll probably go for this one regardless, since it has more elements that I like than Qwark's Hideout does.

I like the intro of Sky Tower, but after that, it gets uninteresting for me. Not a great melody, and the fake strings kinda kill it for me. I've liked some PMD songs, but this isn't one of them.

Not a fan of the vocals in xxxx/xx/xx. Very shout-y and not very sing-y. Some of the production is pretty solid though. Some cool synths. Not sure how I'm gonna vote on this one actually, hmm...

Some neat synths in Proof of the existence. That's about all that I like in this. The lack of a melody is disappointing, and it doesn't do much compositionally.

ICO -You were there- is literally the only song today that I like. I love Steven Geraghty's voice here (I believe he was 14 at the time this was originally recorded). And the instrumental is what really makes this song fantastic, especially the bouzouki solo in the bridge. Michiru Oshima did a great job with this composition.

Honestly would be the weakest day of the contest so far for me if ~~you~~ ICO weren't there to save it.

Votes:
To the End of the Wilderness ~ To a New Journey
Sky Tower I guess
ICO -You were there-

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

ah yes my favorite azuarc seeding moment
the more I listen to Caligula songs the more I really wish they had a better vocalist because they are very cool otherwise
How do you prove that you exist? Maybe you weren't there...

WESTERN FRONTIER
RAYQUAZA MEGAMIX (lol)
ICO ~Melody in the Mist~

7.2
8.1
8.4
6.65
8.9
9.15

trICOro

also for posterity's sake, here's my votes for yesterday i didn't get around to posting since i didn't anticipate being busy all day and i also got sidetracked relistening to the rest of NEO TWEWY's ost before then

SWING BOUNCE
PLANETARY ROCK
INDUSTRIAL FRENZY

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Qwark is one of those tracks that I find entirely unremarkable on first listen, but grows on me more and more over time. It's atmospheric, it's catchy, it's constantly moving, what's not to like? Also the beginning reminds me of Spyro.
New Journey is gentle and pleasant, a warm summer's breeze of a track. I think it loses steam at the end though.
Sky Tower is a great piece of music. xx is a very strange piece of music, with parts that I like and parts I don't. Every time I start getting into it something unappealing happens! I wish the vocalist wouldn't make some of those weird noises.
Can't say I'm a big fan of either in match 3. Proof gets better as it goes, but it's a rough start. I like the instrumentals in ICO much more than the vocals.

Qwark: 4/5
Journey: 3.5/5
Sky: 4.5/5
xx: 2.5/5
Proof: 2/5
ICO: 2.5/5

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal - Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
ICO - ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

Match 2 was actually closer than I expected for me. Sky Tower is a kind of song I've never really gotten the major "hype" with. And Xxxx/xx/xx does do things I like, like that weird distorted echo thing at 2:34, and the vocals aren't as "bad" for me as other vocal songs. Still, Sky Tower is pretty solid, and maybe I'm in more of a mood for it than usual / it's starting to grow on me or something. Last night I listened xxxx -> sky and considered abstaining, but today I swapped the order and felt my choice is certain.

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-