Board 8 > [VGMC] d29: Salamander vs Primal Dialga, Denshi no Shi Verum vs Praying Hands

(+) 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 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RFI-vkdyFa8-bXzbFLMLl1X

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!

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Match #1:

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk - Salamander

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

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 - Primal Dialga Battle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPGuiZ48PbA" data-time="

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Match #2:

Lamento: Beyond the Void - Denshi no Shi -Verum-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS80dWO7jW4" data-time="

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge - Praying Hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6mftPOyQX0" data-time="

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Side bracket:

Xenoblade 2 - Tantal Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWkz0DF-3g8" data-time="

Mushihimesama Futari - On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9kK9McaCoE" data-time="

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Easy vote form:
Salamander / Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum- / Praying Hands
Tantal Day / On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Salamander
Praying
Tantal
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Salamander - Pretty cool stuff! Versus a non-terrible Pokemon song. Not great, but not terrible.

Praying Hands - Why does Verum keep getting nominated? Why is Praying Hands in this contest? Ugh.

Tantal Day - Oh wow, this Mushihimesama song is way better than the other one! Too bad it's not the one that got into the contest! Also too bad it's up against my nomination ;_;.
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Salamander
Praying Hands
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Tantal Day

I like Gust stuff, but Salamander seems fairly mediocre to me. I liked the melody of Primal Dialga Battle. I've always liked Denshi no Shi due to Itou Kanako's great vocals, and Praying Hands is a pretty weak opponent for it. Also hard for chiptune stuff to appeal to me overall. The side match is pretty good and close, I didn't like the... electronic? not sure really how to describe it, but a bit of On the Verge of Madness as it's something I seem to hear too often and never like.
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Salamander
Praying Hands
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5

Pretty easy, nondescript day, which after yesterday is a nice reprieve
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Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk - Salamander
Lamento: Beyond the Void - Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Mushihimesama Futari - On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 - Primal Dialga Battle
Lamento: Beyond the Void - Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Xenoblade 2 - Tantal Day
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Primal Dialga Battle
Verum
Verge of Madness
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Salamander
Praying Hands
Tantal Day

another really good day
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Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-

Three good songs and one obnoxious gameboy screeching, so of course the latter is the only thing with a commanding lead today. Of course. What did I expect.
Don't really have a strong enough opinion on the side bracket match to vote
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Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Primal
Praying
Day
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Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Tantal Day

Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5

Salamander
Praying Hands
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Tantal Day
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Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Primal Dialga Battle
Praying Hands
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 - Primal Dialga Battle
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge - Praying Hands
Xenoblade 2 - Tantal Day

I might be more of a fan of Pokemon music if they were all like that. Off the top of my head, I think that's my favorite Pokemon song but I haven't exactly listened to them all.
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-
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5

Assumed I'd be in favor of Salamander. Also assumed I liked Salamander more than I did. Or maybe I'm just in a pissy mood today. I did forget to take my anti-depressants.
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Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk - Salamander
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge - Praying Hands
Xenoblade 2 - Tantal Day
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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 - Primal Dialga Battle
Lamento: Beyond the Void - Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Mushihimesama Futari - On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Tantal Day

Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
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Primal Dialga Battle - Salamander is the single most forgettable battle song in Ayesha, versus the most memorable and impactful battle song in the entire Pokemon franchise. Welp.

Denshi no Shi -Verum- - Both incredibly disappointing songs. The Kanako Itou one is at least somewhat interesting, I guess. Not a good match at all.

On the Verge of Madness - I've heard the Xenoblade 2 song before, and it's not even as good as stuff it's a copy of. On the Verge of Madness, on the other hand, is a song you literally cannot find anywhere else. And if you can find erhu playing over trance music, please let me know because this is exactly my kind of shit. Manabu Namiki is a god. Like TMAC I would vote this song over 90% of the main bracket songs, and definitely anything today.

ed:
really, really good day today, probably my favorite so far in bracket b

Votes:
Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Tantal Day
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Primal Dialga Battle
Praying Hands
Tantal Day

Oh, good! A day where I don't have to listen to THREE songs 'cause I already know them! Well, just for the rankings... (I almost thought we were at Round 2 already.)

-First match: That Atelier song isn't really very good... The instrumentation is really weird... Seriously, light rock and blockflute recorder? It's like mixing milk with lemon juice or something -- both things are good on their own, but not together. Dialga Battle is, on the other hand, an amazing example of how to properly use a flute and sound beautifly epic.

-Second match: Nice latin lyrics vs. one of my favorite chiptune songs ever. Not much to say here, other than saying that I know both songs for about 8 years now.

-Third match: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 did have to enter at least one song in the main bracket. This is the first song I've Heard from XC2, and it's not bad, but lacks punch; its competitor is kind of lacking and repetitive, though.

Praying hands >>> Primal Dialga Battle >>>>>> Denshi no Shi ~Verum~ >>> Salamander > Tantal Day > On the Verge of Madness
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Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5

Man Primal Dialga Battle is boring. It just has no presence whatsoever that I can tell. I don't really get PMD music I guess, because I don't think I've liked a single song from the series that's been nominated for these contests. Salamander isn't my favorite Atelier Ayesha song, but it's the easy choice here even just by virtue of being from Atelier Ayesha. The flute or recorder or whatever does sound nice, but the melody itself is only ok and doesn't mesh fantastically with the background.

I don't really like chiptunes generally, and the way Praying Hands holds out that one note really emphasizes what I dislike about them (the tone of the instruments). There are some parts in the middle that do a great job showcasing the things chiptunes often do well (interesting rhythms), but overall I don't find the song that great. Denshi no Shi is pretty good. I love the voice of the main vocalist. I don't have many praises for the instruments, but the singer is more than capable of carrying the song.

Not much to say on the bonus match. They're both okay.

Denshi no Shi > Salamander > On the Verge of Madness > Tantal (Day) > Praying Hands > Primal Dialga Battle

Weak day. meh
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Primal Dialga Battle
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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Salamander
Denshi no Shi -Verum-
Tantal Day

Primal Dialga Battle
Praying Hands
On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 - Primal Dialga Battle
Lamento: Beyond the Void - Denshi no Shi -Verum-

Mushihimesama Futari - On the Verge of Madness - Stage 5
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