Board 8 > [VGMC] d45: Decisive/Uwabami, palm tiny hand/Don't Turn Off, EXSPHERE/Final Song

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to today's topic for Video Game Music Contest 13, a tournament of the best tracks from games, as decided upon by you, the voters.

Links:
Bracket - http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=471679
Contest info - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17rEeB1_oYWgryWzIxOaZXw2a381gKGnMegjHCG_2OTQ
Discussion and results thread - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77672812
Bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RF28glW72G6s_5M1e4kcSxR

.
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:

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - The Decisive Collision

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

INVAXION - Uwabami

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J0I3GMJORE" data-time="

Match 2:

CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i67ZXLPeg9s" data-time="

Initial D: Arcade Stage 6 AA (Double Ace) - Don't Turn it Off

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-cc8V_Lb0" data-time="

Match 3:

Drakengard 3 - The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales

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

Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BywGBJDXQ0c" data-time="

.

Easy vote form:
The Decisive Collision / Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand

Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
-

IMA WAKARE NO TOKI

DON'T TURN IT OFF

KUROI HANA

KIETE NAKUNARE
---

Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

The Decisive Collision
The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

high quality pool today to end round 2, sick

Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE; > The Decisive Collision > The palm of a tiny hand = Uwabami > The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales > Don't Turn it Off

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

the more time passes, the more I think Decisive Collision might be my favorite Falcom song - love the melody and slow build at the start, and how the meat of it progresses, culminating in the melody again which is just my favorite thing ever IMAAAAAAA

oh hey it's Nagisa. this is a very pretty, bittersweet song and I could see it working very well in conte- DON'T TURN IT OFF, BABY DON'T LET IT GO

man The Final Song is almost really cool and then it ends - which you wouldn't think is a big deal but if rhythm games have taught me anything it's that whenever a song slows down dramatically it's about to ruin your entire life... which is actually kinda appropriate maybe. that's not totally relevant but the ending kills the song and I hate it. exsphere is the good kind of mind fuck today
---

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;
---

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

The Decisive Collision
The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - The Decisive Collision
CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand
Drakengard 3 - The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;
---

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - The Decisive Collision
CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand
Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

had a run of days with round 2 match-ups where i disliked both but then we close the round on EXSPHERE/Final Song?

Janus5k posted...

it's about to ruin your entire life

*twitches*
---

You know, for the longest time I thought Blue Radiance and Red Locus were the same thing. Whenever I stumbled upon either in the randomizer, I was like, "Hey, it's that Radiant Historia battle theme!"
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

LoH:CS-DC -- The first 1:20 of this song is far too emotional moody piano for me, but once the real meat of the song begins it gets pretty good, I especially like the warping digital keyboard notes going up & down in the back. I'm not as interested with the more symphonic strings in more of the focus, but the synths used in this song are real nice. But while the song does fun stuff with those synths I feel like it mostly just stagnates with one cool thing with them over and over rather than letting it develop, and mostly focuses on just the slower moody stuff in front. Uwa Bami is much better for me here.

C-PoaTH -- At first I thought from the name that the game was CLADUN and was hoping for something like the Cladun song which was pretty cool. This is extremely not that for me. This is mostly just slow emotional moody singing with mostly just basic piano backing, some of my least favorite stuff. At least it kind of "expands" at about 2 minutes in, but really there is very little for me here. Other song is also vocal but it's my type of pacing with more of my type of instrumentation, so there is a lot more for me there.

D3-TFS -- More singing, wow. I kinda like the bells going on in this song, and the wild, uncomfortable warp thing going on at 1:20 through 1:40 is a really neat thing. In some ways though I don't like that the song just kind of, repeats it. I feel like that lessens it's impact. Maybe they should've changed things up with it some of the times. Anyway, this is another vocal vs. vocal but this one is more gentle, emotional & natural, whereas the other is more harsh & mechanical. And while I usually say "natural" in a "dislike" sort of way I do feel like it works decently better than how I normally find it here with more exotic sounds like those bells, but harsh & mechanical is much more my kind of way. Wow there we go 192 write ups that was a quite a bit
---

Haste_2 posted...

You know, for the longest time I thought Blue Radiance and Red Locus were the same thing. Whenever I stumbled upon either in the randomizer, I was like, "Hey, it's that Radiant Historia battle theme!"

welcome to generic shimomura
---

UF8 votes:
Uwabami
Don't Turn It Off
exsphere
---

INVAXION - Uwabami
Initial D: Arcade Stage 6 AA (Double Ace) - Don't Turn it Off
Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

How could you, bracket. Forcing my hand to vote for eurobeat a second time. Like I said before though, this is definitely way, way more listenable than some of the other stuff in this genre.
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales

Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

So before the bracket came out, we talked about how Blue Destination and Decisive Collision are basically the same song. BD's definitely the better of the two IMO, in pretty much every way. DC's still pretty good though.

Palm is very good. I didn't used to like it much, but it has some good emotion power in it. Good lyrics too. I wish Toki wo Kizamu Uta were a game song because it's by far my favorite Clannad track, and the non-lyics version from the game just doesn't have the same punch. Would definitely vote that song here!

Final Song is bad in almost every way. I like Nier music A LOT more than Drakengard music. Also I want to play Drakengard 3 and I own it but I haven't played a PS3 game in over two years augh why doesn't the PS4 have backwards compatibility.

The Decisive Collision > Don't Turn it Off > The palm of a tiny hand > Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE; > Uwabami > The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

Decisive collision
Dont turn it off
Black song, white scales
---

INVAXION - Uwabami
CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand
Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

Oh boy, more generic Falcom trance music, except this one manages to be even more unremarkable than the last one. Likewise, Uwabami isn't as good as Nanohemu, but it still has some cool things going for it.

Sad anime music vs. meme Eurobeat (how did Eurobeat become a meme these last few years anyways?) I've said it before I'll say it again, Clannad is the best soundtrack as far as "sad" music goes. Better match than the first.

The Final Song has become my favorite Drakengard/Nier track. Very dramatic, and I LOVE the way this slowly fades out at the end. I really wish more VGM did stuff like that and I can't really think of many other examples that does it the same way this one does. Exsphere Nosurge I feel is going for the same kind of dramatic appeal, but unfortunately for its opponent this is my favorite rediscovery this year! I may even go so far as to say that it's the best song left in the contest (although another very strong contender is literally the next song to show up tomorrow). Great match.
---

Hi i have wifi temporarily

Whoops I pity voted the wrong song here. Past contest strength suggested exphere would get buried here but I guess not lol

Still sticking with it though I want to add that it kills me the final song lacks the accompanying dialogue in the last minute because it doesn't work on its own and really isn't made to

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales

Uwabami
Don't Turn It Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

EXSPHERE_NOSURGE; > Don't Turn It Off > Uwabami > The Final Song > The Decisive Collision > The Palm of a Tiny Hand

the decisive collision is weird watery synth umineko no. the palm of a tiny hand is the opposite of the sort of track i like - SUPER CALM, SUPER MELLOW. the final song would be better if the fastness starting at 3 minutes in persisted throughout the whole song.
---

The Decisive Collision
The palm of a tiny hand
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - The Decisive Collision
CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand
Drakengard 3 - The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn
White
---

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

The Decisive Collision
The palm of a tiny hand
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales

Finding some great discoveries as round 2 comes to an end! Hope they do well today.
---

INVAXION - Uwabami
CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE (tough choice, will have to listen to both again later)

Wow... we have some REALLY good music today.......this is absolutely my favorite day of round two. Especially match three, HOLY MOLY.... it's extremely painful to vote against EITHER of them. What a CRIME that one of these going to lose so early; meanwhile, Where the Sky Ends gets to move on.
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

last match too strong.
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

The Decisive Collision
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales

Match 1:

-Hmm... A Trails song with a Bye. Well, honestly speaking, as much of a fan as I'm from Falcom songs, I must admit this song starts off pretty weak, and when it gets around 1:20 and changes the pace, the rest of the song just sounds... like a sort of generic trance song with a slight touch of Falcom's trademark sound. But hey, I'm a fan of electronic music, so that's not actually bad, just a little underwhelming.

-Uwabami probably underwhelmed me a bit more, though, even if it's not a bad song at all.

Match 2:

-I like the fact that such a cute song as "The palm of a tiny hand" also has a lower-cased title appropriately put to enhance and portray the cuteness/softness of the song. I've never heard this song before, but I've heard Nagisa, and I love how this song makes a nod to Nagisa throughout and in such a spectacular way. I don't usually rate highly soft and slow songs, even if I absolutely love them technically speaking, but this one manages to sound so well made that it breaks the mold.

"But let's listen to its competition, right?!"

-Oh... Oh no... Don't do this to me... I just found a beautiful song that broke the mold and you then arrive to ruin its own chances with this rockin' 90's song?! *sigh*... Yep, my vote goes for you. You won.

Still, I somehow feel that Clannad's song will advance, but I wish both could. What a cruel match-up.

Match 3:

-This song sounds like it's from NieR from it's clearly from Drakengard. What's up with that? Anyway, it's good, but there are many better songs that have this style.

-EXPHERE has many more uninteresting parts, unfortunately; worse sounding than last round. Well, the true competition shows up now.

No rankings today.
---

Advokaiser posted...

-This song sounds like it's from NieR from it's clearly from Drakengard. What's up with that?

well i mean they're the same franchise

NieR follows from one of Drakengard's endings.
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales

Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand
-
---

maybe araki hadnt thought of the arrow until part 4
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

Uwabami
Don't Turn it Off
The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales
---

U
D
C

T
welcome back to JRPG trance

T
recently i found out that clannad is very sad. this song is also sad but in the kind of hopeful way that's like, "they'd want me to move on," that sort of thing, you know? which is why i think you should move on from supporting this song

T
can you imagine what it would be like if this song had bones crunching left and right
---

Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand
Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - The Decisive Collision
CLANNAD - The palm of a tiny hand
Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;

MATCH 1

The Decisive Collision is decent. Definitely don't like it as much as Blue Destination, though. This kind of hangs closer to the generic side of trance music for me. Blue Destination was something I liked a lot in large part because I was very fond of its melody, which is something that The Decisive Collision lacks a lot. It still has a decent melody that the two songs' intros share, but other than that, the song doesn't hold my interest as much. I guess parts like 3:03-3:57 are the more remarkable parts of this song since the melody is more to my liking there, but it doesn't really bring up my opinion of the song too much. I still have this song going to round 4 in my favorites bracket, despite my somewhat lukewarm feelings on this song, since I find even "just-above-generic Falcom trance" to be the best out of that 6-pack of songs. That may seem a bit harsh of me regarding the other 5 songs in that area of the bracket, but I do like most of the songs there. They just don't get a very strong reception from me. The only song in that 6-pack that I "dislike" at all is Uwabami. Speaking of which...

Hi Uwabami! I still don't really like you, so sorry about that. There are a few things throughout this song that I can say I actually like about it to some degree, but for the most part, it's not really a song I care all too much about.

MATCH 2

Palm of a Tiny Hand is just the kind of pretty, emotional song that really suits my tastes when it comes to music in this style! Really great melody, chords, and vocals--everything, really! I definitely like this more than its counterpart, Nagisa. I like all the sad, emotional songs from Clannad a lot, but this song is definitely very high up for me in terms of Clannad music. It also goes to round 5 in my favorites bracket, so it's very high up for me out of songs in the bracket as well. I would say that To the Same Heights is my favorite Clannad song, but Palm of a Tiny Hand is very close. Maybe even a close second!

Eurobeat's still super good. It's a shame that Palm of a Tiny Hand had to be Don't Turn it Off's opponent in round 2! I love Palm of a Tiny Hand a lot, so sadly, it's not a close match either, but I still like Don't Turn it Off a lot.

MATCH 3

The Final Song is really cool! Another really nice emotional song. The vocals are really nice and I like the bells (or whatever instrument that is that the song starts off with) that play in this song. That transition at around 1:35 or so is super cool to me! I like how it changes from a slow, emotional song to this faster-paced and climactic song. Not to mention, I like the general sound of that part as well. The way it gradually gets faster and faster-paced and then slows back down towards the end is also pretty cool. The very end of the song always throws me off because I expect the song to be over any second now and then another note shows up.

I think I've warmed up to EXSPHERE_NOSURGE a lot now. When I first finished my favorites brackets, I was having a lot of second thoughts about putting this song over The Final Song, but now that my opinion of EXSPHERE_NOSURGE has grown quite a bit, I'd definitely say I'm in favor of EXSPHERE over The Final Song. I'd still say it's a close match, though, because I'm pretty fond of both songs. I'd say that these two songs are my #2 and #3 for the day, respectively.

The palm of a tiny hand > Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE; > The Final Song ~ Black Song, White Scales > Don't Turn it Off > The Decisive Collision >> Uwabami

Really strong selection of songs today!

Uwabami
The palm of a tiny hand
The Final Song
---