Board 8 > [VGMC] Spiral Erebos/2nd Dark Matter Battle, Overworld (SMB1)/Mystic Pendulum

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to today's topic for Video Game Music Contest 12, a tournament of the best tracks from games, as decided upon by you, the voters.

Links:
Bracket - http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=469506
Contest info - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lzzbpDP2whgvOTN2XHETfWg79IyPs01jdwIQu_L2C7k/
Discussion and results thread - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/76419785
Main bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RFBXCwz0vAKZg8V0rnrKHsE
Side bracket playlist - pending

Rules:

- Listen to both of the songs. Links have conveniently been provided for both songs. Even if Song A is your favorite of all-time and Song B is from a series you hate... Listen. To. Both. (If I have suspicions your vote is not based on a fair and impartial preference, it will be disqualified.)
- Obvious contest rules apply (no alts, one vote per person, no rallying, etc.).
- Please make your voting options clear, rather than burying them in text.
- Each set of matches lasts 24 hours, even if the new one isnt up by then.
- Always vote on the versions of the song provided, not versions from different sources.
- If you know ahead of time that you're not going to be around and you want to vote in advance, post your choices in the discussion/bracket topic.
- Please do NOT post tallies/score updates in the middle of the match, as this has a tendency to directly influence matches.
- You don't have to vote in all the matches, but it'd be cool if you did!

Match #1:

Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHvnwxAg5ww" data-time="

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Second Dark Matter Battle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4RUegWPdis" data-time="

Match #2:

Super Mario Bros. - Overworld

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy3qq7zc4EY" data-time="

Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S71hHruO5r4" data-time="

Side bracket (what should we call this?):

Super Time Force - Heaven Candidate
https://6955.bandcamp.com/track/heaven-candidate

Final Fantasy IX - Melodies of Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94PdrQF1Ugs" data-time="

Easy vote form:
Spiral of Erebos / Second Dark Matter Battle
Overworld / Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate / Melodies of Life
---

Spiral
Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate

Spiral > Dark Matter > Pendulum > Ground Theme > Heaven > Melodies

nice job az =|
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Margie votes:
Spiral
Overworld
Melodies

(has it been 3 days yet?)
---

Spiral of Erebos - Both of these are pretty cool! I like SoE a bit more though. I think I have it winning this eightpack maybe?

Mystic Pendulum - I would definitely vote either song in the first match over either of these. Eh.

Melodies of Life - Here I was, ready to vote against the lameness that is Melodies of Life, and then I go and listen to Heaven Candidate. What a non-song. Somehow manages to be both boring and unpleasant to listen to.
---

Spiral of Erebos
Overworld
Heaven Candidate
---

Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum
Final Fantasy IX - Melodies of Life
---

Voted option 9 for the poll because that's what I believe in spirit even though some SNES games have decent music.

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life

First is weird. Both songs are good but not great for almost the same reasons in a way that it's really hard to distinguish between them. In Spiral of Erebos though I do think that the lone trumpet at around 2:00 is really cool, and then the way it passes the melody off to the strings is pretty cool. (The adjective that's coming to my mind to describe this part is "dissonant", but I don't think this is actually dissonance in the musical sense of the term. Some kind of minor key or something. Maybe someone with a better ear than I can enlighten me.) Anyways, second match is easy. Overworld is a classic and would probably be voted over some stuff, but also Mystic Pendulum is Mystic Pendulum. In the side bracket, Melodies of Life was my nomination, and it's opponent is not that great imo, so this was another easy pick.

Melodies of Life > Mystic Pendulum > Overworld > Spiral of Erebos > 2nd Dark Matter Battle > Heaven Candidate
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Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life

2DMB is one of my favorite discoveries this year, and I came very close to supporting it during nominations!

I actually really do enjoy the SMB theme and would vote for it over a number of entrants, Mystic Pendulum just slightly edges it out.

I share the sentiment of @Mac_Arrowny about the third match
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Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum

Melodies of Life

First match is super close. I really like the intro and the bit at 1:20 in the PMD track, but that first minute is kinda rough, while SoE is just consistently good.

Second match is not close. Like, I know Overworld's iconic and all, but... I don't care >_> I also associate it with a guy I kinda can't stand which isn't its fault but here we are.

Heaven Candidate I'm not a big fan of, while Melodies of Life is feels.
---

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Second Dark Matter Battle
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum

I'll vote on the side bracket later.
---

Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum
Super Time Force - Heaven Candidate

Second Dark Matter Battle has flashes there where it'd win that match fairly convincingly but can't really deliver on it. Mystic Pendulum the best of the group. Heaven Candidate pretty cool.
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Super Mario Bros. - Overworld
Super Time Force - Heaven Candidate

Very surprised Overworld never retired
---

Second Dark Matter Battle - Both are good songs, but neither are something I'd note for anything in particular. Almost something I'd leave to a coin toss, but there is a little something about Dark Matter Second's instrumentation that I like that edges out Spiral of Erebos.

Overworld - I'm gonna be That Guy but Mystic Pendulum is one of my least favorite Ayesha vocal songs, and possibly even one of my least favorite Atelier vocal tracks overall, so I gotta go with the classic. It may be a different definition of "good VGM" from why I'd be voting for other songs in the contest, but Overworld is some damn good VGM.

Melodies of Life - wtf i'm getting hit with all my favorite final fantasy vocal songs before my absolute favorite shows up in the main bracket. Heaven Candidate.... exists. I guess. It tries way, way too hard to be "authentic NES" but theres multiple noise channels??? or a lot of awful DPCM, I can't tell, plus more pulses too I'm pretty sure so like why bother limiting it like that?

why does that bandcamp site not have a volume button, thing was way too loud. good song though, would probably vote over any of the 4 in the main bracket.

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

My side bracket vote:
Super Time Force - Heaven Candidate
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Xuxon posted...

why does that bandcamp site not have a volume button, thing was way too loud.

As I recall, bandcamp very specifically and intentionally does not have a volume button because they don't want you to use their site for pure listening. It's meant to demo the tracks and decide if you want to buy them.

Dumb logic, if you ask me, because I can just control the volume on my computer or my speakers.
---

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life

Super good first match. It's a real shame one of those songs has to lose here. Also a shame they share a 4pack (is that a term idk) with Mystic Pendulum, which is also super good. I'd be very okay with any of these three winning this 8pack. As for the side bracket, Melodies of Life is a good. Heaven Candidate not really.

1 > 2 > Side
(Mystic Pendulum might be my overall fav song today though idk it's really close between it, Dark Matter and Erebos)

UF8 posted...

4pack (is that a term idk)

yes

it is also the most common pack we refer to generally
---

disappearing from the board for the full duration of time between vgmcs makes one forget things surprisingly easy. especially where the lines are drawn on what is described most commonly as an [x]pack and what isn't

Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum
Final Fantasy IX - Melodies of Life
---

Spiral of Erebos
Overworld
Heaven Candidate

Easy vote form:
Spiral of Erebos
Overworld
Heaven Candidate
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life

SDMB is one of my favorite discoveries of this contest, while Spiral is probably my least favorite Falcom song in the bracket (which still makes it pretty good but you know).
Mario is impossible to judge properly but I feel pretty good saying Mystic Pendulum is better anyway

I learned how to play Melodies of Life on the piano long ago - not quite as in love with it as I used to be, but it's still more than good enough to get my vote here.
---

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Second Dark Matter Battle
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Overworld
Melodies of Life
---

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Overworld
Heaven Candidate
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Ed Bellis wrote...

votes incoming
i am trying to vote in every match this year instead of abstaining, at least in round 1
i'm plotting out my own favorites bracket as i go
so far i'm 2/2 and 1/1
i imagine i will lose at least one point today
Votes:
Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate

---

I've been searching and searching for you, since before you were even born
Success an event as full of mysticism as arriving at a phantom water vein

But a wind gusted to life inside my heart
And the light ties me to you, born again

The words engraved deep inside that ancient wall awaken
Shaking and swaying my internal compass as it guides me
But that passion I make my wings, and take flight ever so high
I cast aside all loneliness and anxiety, that I might see a new dawn
Crossing the horizon burning in the heat haze

Like a mirage, everything is born only to disappear
The brick-red wave, the sand-flute, they bury all love and sorrow

The celestial veil closes in before me
I bite my lip: It won't stop my longing

The flash of a shooting star -- if only my hands could make that instant last an eternity
My emotions heighten with every breath: This time, when I catch you, I won't let go
My heartbeats feel like daggers, they strike so powerfully
But I've made it through the passage and thrown away all hesitation, so watch the new me
Flow through the stream of crimson life, which flows more mightily than destiny

How deep, the bond between the sky and the land
Be full, oh moon; take back the night
Oh wish, come true: be heard, oh voice of mine

The words engraved deep inside that ancient wall awaken
Shaking and swaying my internal compass as it guides me
The flash of a shooting star -- if only my hands could make that instant last an eternity
My emotions heighten with every breath: This time, when I catch you, I won't let go
My heartbeats feel like daggers, they strike so powerfully
But I've made it through the passage and thrown away all hesitation, so watch the new me
Flow through the stream of crimson life, which flows more mightily than destiny
---

Match 1: Spiral of Erebos

Liked both, but this one sounded really good.

Match 2: Overworld

Really didn't care for Mystic Pendulum

Side Bracket: Heaven Candidate

Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum

Super Time Force - Heaven Candidate
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Trails of Cold Steel III - Spiral of Erebos
Atelier Ayesha - Mystic Pendulum
Final Fantasy IX - Melodies of Life
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate
---

guess I'll vote now before I forget.

Spiral
Mystic
Melodies
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Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Heaven Candidate

I'm a fan of Spiral of Erebos; that's why I nominated it, so not surprising. I initially heard the shortened version in CS3's character intro, and was struck by it immediately. The opponent was very good though. I didn't expect it to fit with my tastes so well and think it's a shame it got matched against one of my favorites.

I don't like Mystic Pendulum especially but I can't say I take the Mario song very seriously. I'll acknowledge it's catchy but there's so little to it.

Melodies of Life is extremely dull. Heaven Candidate didn't really stick at all either, but at least I wasn't actively wanting it to end.
---

Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life

First match was really good and pretty close. Spiral is good throughout the whole piece, but it just doesn't have that extra "thing" that it needs to be outstanding, even though it managed to change my vote after a second listening. SDMB is the exact opposite: it has great moments, but some parts are lacking.

Second match is okay. The most iconic and recognizable videogame song ever versus a Japanese vocal song with a dramatic and kind of melancholic vibe to it? Tough call as well.

Third match is kind of okay as well. Melodies of Life takes too long to get good, but it's soothing and nice; again, an exact opposite to its rival, which is kind of not my thing or it's just not that well executed.

Spiral > SDMB >>> Mystic Pendulum > Overworld > Melodies of Life > Heaven Candidate
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Spiral of Erebos
Overworld
Melodies of Life

Today was a dud for me. Except for overworld, none of the songs really grab me...like at all, really. Meh.
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Spiral of Erebos
Mystic Pendulum
Melodies of Life
---

Second Dark Matter Battle
Overworld
Melodies of Life

First match is close
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Second Dark Matter Battle
Overworld
Melodies of Life

I'm generally not thrilled with most of the Falcom jdk (java development kit??) stuff that's made it into VGMC but I sorta like this. It doesn't take a lot of risks or anything (a lot of falcom stuff doesn't) but I'm okay with the fairly straightforward approach and some aspects of it (like the way it opens) are pretty cool. The way it handles its instrument samples feels like a step up from some other falcom tracks I've heard as well.

Second Dark Matter Battle is decidedly not straightforward. Actually, the parts where it falls into a more predictable melody (like at 0:36) are pretty bland. Otherwise I enjoy this a fair amount. Yeah.

It's really hard to evaluate Overworld on its own merits. It's simple, but, um, charming. Catchy. I think I'd like it even if I didn't have years of gaming memory tied to it.

Something about Mystic Pendulum kinda grates on me-- the mix feels a bit sibilant, like too much of the track focuses on high frequencies. I think the melody is pretty forgettable. I listened to this several times before voting, trying to get into it-- I really can't. There's nothing that really hooks me.

Like any track that's largely one or two really simple, repetitive figures, I need to care about something else about Heaven's Candidate to like it-- the sounds used, the layers that appear and disappear over the course of the track, some dynamic variance. I don't really find that here (pretty boring sound design, not particularly compelling layering-- partially due to the sound design!-- and pretty minimal dynamic variance), though I think the second half does a better job of it.

The English version of Melodies of Life bothers me a bit-- some of the syllable placements and emphasis seem off, like the song was written for a different language (what an idea, huh). It's pleasant enough, though I find it duller than I used to.

Second Dark Matter Battle
Overworld
Melodies of Life
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