After keenly observing 64 tracks on the Chrono Trigger OST, which is of course the magic number, it seemed only appropriate to do a tournament of the songs from the game. Typical tournament rules. Everything should be rather self-explanatory. Matches last 24 hours or until I am available to tend to them, whichever is greater.
Past results: A) To Far Away Times, unsurprisingly, didn't even have to try against sound effect track Huh?! Margin: 21-2 B) Despite a strong start, Robo Gang Johnny could not maintain his momentum and got stuck behind Wings That Cross Time ~ Epoch Theme for the rest of the match, just like what happens in the game. Result: 16-7 C) The only contested match of day 1 between Boss Battle 1 and At the Bottom of the Night..., in which the boss took the last three votes but needed one more, instead losing 12-11. D) Guardia Millenial Fair wasn't a unanimous victor, but did manage to double the Arris Dome theme, 16-7.
3. World Revolution ~ Battle Against Lavos 11. Manoria Cathedral 10. Sealed Door 2. Memories of Green ~ World Map Theme 2
Manoria Cathedral is a simple song but it's always been one of my favorites.
Ugh, first match.
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... as if rights are like muscles - the more you use it, the better it gets. Indeed he may be exercising his first amendment-- but he's an IDIOT! - A. Scalia
"Confusing Melody" is delightful in its atmospheric value but there's no stopping the king with such efforts. A relatively easy match.
Manoria Cathedral
Sure, it's about as repetitive as a turn-of-the-century New York City art movement, but songs like this prove that sometimes that's fine and dandy. Meanwhile, "Guardia Castle" is quite good but just isn't as memorable to me, but its stretch from 0:53 to about 1:17 is indeed deserving of the praise I saw in the YouTube comments.
Boss Battle 2
The superior boss battle theme bests "Sealed Door" but only barely in the closest match yet. In the end the raw impact and adrenaline rush of the action-oriented track does it for me just a bit more than the mystique of its opposition.
Memories of Green ~ World Map Theme 2
Well, this song made around #3 on my "Top 20 RPG World Map Themes" write-ups last year so it's not surprising I'm picking it over one of my least-liked tracks in the game. There's just so much radiance and simple beauty in the gentle blend of instruments here.
For the record I do like "Burn! Bobonga!" to an OK degree, but in an OST as strong as Chrono Trigger's, well...
World Revolution Confusing Melody is just too boring as a standalone track
Menoria Cathedral Two ok-ish tracks, nothing great though.
Boss Battle 2 I usually hate the word, but this track is absolutely epic. I just can't listen to it and not get pumped for some massive against-all-odds boss fight. Love it. That's not to say Sealed Door is bad, though. On the contrary, it's a fantastic song, the best one you'll hear in 2300AD. It's better than most songs from other soundtracks, but the CT soundtrack is that damn good.
Memories of Green Burn Bobongo makes me want to stand up and do some crazy prehistoric dances, but Memories of Green is out of its league.
14. Confusing Melody - Personally I'm just not that big a fan or World Revolution. Confusing Melody is a cool track as background music, so it gets my vote.
6. Guardia Castle - Somewhat difficult match, but I'll go with the more memorable Guardia Castle.
10. Sealed Door - Not particularly close.
2. Memories of Green ~ World Map Theme 2 - Man, why is Burn! Bobonga! a 15 seed? This is actually a very close match for me.
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"Congratulations Thomas and Sylvia! But their happiness does not continue long..."
3. World Revolution ~ Battle Against Lavos 6. Guardia Castle 7. Boss Battle 2 2. Memories of Green ~ World Map Theme 2
3 of my top favorites going today in World Revolution, Boss 2, and Memories of Green, so only 1 match in any doubt as to how I was going to vote. I had forgotten how much I like the "lesser" songs in this game, though - Cathedral and Confusing Melody are a bit short and simple for standalone songs, but great for atmosphere in-game. And Guardia and Sealed Door are both quite good.