Board 8 > I rank VGM soundtracks (...sort of) [ranking]

(+) Yeah! (+)

A while back I took nominations for a VGM soundtrack ranking topic: you could post 5 songs from a soundtrack, and Id listen, rate them, and average all five together. Well, Ive done just that! 35 soundtrack sets have been rated and ranked and are awaiting your consumption.

I was overall very happy with the nominations. The average rating was 6.6, which is firmly above average. Only two soundtracks got below 5/10. In contrast, four soundtracks got above an 8! Very impressive, especially given that its an average rating across five separate songs.

Here are the nominations and their nominators:
99Vidas [JONA]
Ara Fell [dowolf]
Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland [Arti]
beatmania APPEND GOTTAMIX 2 ~Going Global~ [Place]
Bug Fables [Zigzagoon]
Cultist Simulator [Snake5555555555]
Drift Stage [UF8]
Final Fantasy XIV [Not_an_Owl]
Freedom Planet [PrinceKaro]
Gitaroo Man [paulg235]
Hitman: Codename 47 [Superb]
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass [TheArkOfTurus]
Koala Lumpur: Journey to the Edge [GameBop]
League of Legends [Player0]
Lenna's Inception [azuarc]
Little Busters! [loweffortmemes]
Lyle in Cube Sector [sergiocornaga]
Mega Man ZX [tazzyboyishere]
Megido 72 [deo]
Mystic Ark [FL81]
Off-Peak [cakophon]
Okami [pyresword]
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt [hotdogturtle]
Shadow Man [Shonen_Bat]
Sonic Colors [Hbthebattle]
Sonic Shuffle [Toxtricity]
Spyro the Dragon [GavsEvans123]
Star Control 2 [NFUN]
Street Fighter II (Game Boy) [Raetsel_Lapin]
Tail of the Sun [Collen]
The Gardens Between [kaonashi]
Timespinner [DireKrow]
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 [_SecretSquirrel]
Xenoblade Chronicles [ninkendo]
Xenogears [Haste_2]

And here are the overall ratings out of 10:
8.6
8.5
8.3
8.1
7.7
7.7
7.4
7.3
7.3
7.1
7
7
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.7
6.7
6.7
6.6
6.5
6.5
6.4
6.2
6.1
6.1
6
6
5.9
5.8
5.5
5.4
5.1
5
4.7
4.5

A few extra things:

I broke ties based on lowest rated song. So if two soundtracks were rated the same, I gave the edge to the soundtrack that had a higher rating for its lowest song. If they tied in that, I kept going until the tie was broken. This gave an edge to soundtracks that were overall consistent, vs. soundtracks that had a strong track or two and a bunch of mediocre ones.

This topic is not an endorsement of an entire VGM soundtrack. Im well aware that judging an entire soundtrack off five songs is a silly thing to do, which is why I didnt do it! These scores are solely for the five song sets that were nominated. This also means that if the nominator gave me five songs I didnt like from a soundtrack I generally do (which happened with our bottom ranked soundtrack), I didnt factor in any other song from the game that wasnt in the set. I actually encouraged doing b-side lists with five lesser known tracks, which at least one person did. Well see if it paid off...

The writeups will be short. Though each individual song will get a rating and a ranking number out of 175, I wont comment on individual songs that much. Instead Ill give a brief overview of the set and what I thought stood out.

Here we gooooo!

Woo

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Hype!

35. Xenogears
Nominated by @Haste_2
Average: 4.5
Overall thoughts: A setlist that doesnt reflect what I gravitate toward in this soundtrack or from this composer.

67. Grahf - Emperor of Darkness - https://youtu.be/Qc6gRAOhb8Q [7]
145. One Who is Torn Apart - https://youtu.be/miOizLxOD4E [5.5]
163. My Village is Number One - https://youtu.be/YPrm1nrkZ3k [3.5]
165. The Treasure Which Cannot be Stolen - https://youtu.be/C6bYoYBW4gk [3.5]
167. Gathering Stars in the Night Sky - https://youtu.be/TQlIT5wEmrA [3]

I couldnt tell if this was a b-side list or if Haste simply has different taste than me when it comes to Xenogears. Unfortunately, this setlist features a few things I almost universally dislike in VGM: happy town music (My Village Is Number One) and sappy ballad music (Gathering Stars in the Night Sky). If I made a setlist for Xenogears that more accurately reflected my tastes, it would probably have the bigger blockbuster tracks like Flight and Light From the Netherworlds, but also some of the darker contemplative tracks like Omen or Bonds of Sea and Fire or One Who Bares Fangs at God. That said, since I dont know every song in Xenogears, Im glad I got to experience more of it, even if I wound up not liking the majority. Shoutouts to Grahf, Emperor of Darkness for fitting neatly between the blockbusters and the dark comtemplative tracks.

Tag. You already told me I wasn't last so I'm looking forward to claiming the second-to-last-place prize.
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pyresword posted...

Tag. You already told me I wasn't last so I'm looking forward to claiming the second-to-last-place prize.

sorry that position is already filled by tox

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i want spot 17

not for any reason other than i like 17

34. Lyle in Cube Sector
Nominated by @sergiocornaga
Average: 4.7
Overall thoughts: A bunch of tracker music that never manages to catch my attention.

110. BUTKA - Demag - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzf2EBUgzTU [6.5]
136. Zabutom & Dubmood - ST-Style - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2AQ9p5LjMs [5.5
151. Estrayk - Trainer 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU6GaBFyEv0 [5]
162. Gammis - Saturn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FflL46pXdJI [4]
173. Arachno - A Sad Touch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXl23owycko [2.5]

I generally like mod/tracker stuff, or at least it has a low barrier to me liking it, so I was pretty bummed I didnt feel too strongly about these especially because theyre all by different composers! (At least I assume thats the nomenclature of the track names.) Despite the variance in scores, I found most of them interchangeable and dont really remember what any of them sound like, except that A Sad Touch was clearly my least favorite.

Favorite track: Demag. I like how wistful this one is, almost hesitant in the way it ekes out from behind itself. I didnt like it enough to make it to the playlist threshold thats a 7 but I find myself getting into now as I revisit it.

33. Freedom Planet
Nominated by @PrinceKaro
Average rating: 5
Overall thoughts: Not my favorite indie soundtrack.

93. Dragon Valley 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg0I3pA9nLU [6.5]
108. Major Boss Battle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HCCHqWA_EQ [6.5]
150. Aqua Tunnel 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmobgc1kZs [5]
152. Relic Maze 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNzil8NuY4 [5]
175. Prince Dail Boss Battle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVktSV3PMgY [2]

I remember cruising through the Freedom Planet soundtrack once for a guessing game and struggling to find anything I wanted to use. It nabbed an exact 5 score, which means average, though it was held back by having the lowest ranked song in the project; with different song choices, it might place higher, though I doubt anything would beat...

Favorite song: Dragon Valley 2. This is what I wound up using in my list. I love the flutey type instrument throughout. The general feel reminds me of Spark the Electric Jester, a soundtrack Ive enjoyed songs from. The energy here is like pumping your legs in the cool spring breeze.

My Village is Number One is so fun and nostalgic

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I dunno if I'd give that Freedom Planet set a much higher score than what you did >_>

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I super like Dragon Valley 2 and Relic Maze 2, but the boss battles don't really represent what I like about the game's music, personally.
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32. Cultist Simulator
Nominated by @Snake5555555555
Average rating: 5.1
Overall thoughts: Moody, contemplative, piano-centric and ambient.

97. June the 28th - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JZSzOrgQgE [6.5]
132. The Old Must End - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS7Dx4WJ3pE [6]
148. What Now? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn2c06B0ows [5.5]
155. The Dreams Begin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxG2yTKWnaQ [4.5]
171. We Call Upon the Watchman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c9FXjK8mC4 [3]

In last years VGMC, Snake5555555555 and I were compatibility buddies, and songs of theirs have placed well on prior rankings Ive done. This one isnt quite doing it for me though. I enjoy a lot of ambient VGM, probably more than the average listener, but most of the Cultist Simulator set feels emptier than Id like. Its very bare bones, and I really have to be in the right mood to appreciate that style.

Favorite song: June the 28th. Much of this set is full of piano. June the 28th adds some strings to the mix, and that fills out the song nicely. Its very emotive, taking the sparseness of the other tracks and adding some emotional heft.

VIdeo game music
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Tag.
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Tag

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gaT
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rip snake =(

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Well, at least the lowest rank in Xenogears wasn't as low as that of the other following setlists!

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Haste_2 posted...

Well, at least the lowest rank in Xenogears wasn't as low as that of the other following setlists!

Oh, yeah, and, um, I do like all of them on that setlist, but only one or two of them would be on a all-favorites setlist. I intentionally picked ones that were less popular.

Like I said, I appreciate the intent! It's a shame I didn't like them more, but I applaud the risk.

tag

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31. 99Vidas
Nominated by @JONALEON1
Average rating: 5.4
Overall thoughts: FM synth-esque Koshiro-inspired jams.

62. A Walk in the Park - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NINm4TZz0U [7.5]
94. Neon Night - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpmiwkmNhQU [6.5]
123. The Game is On - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GL4KSpPqmc [6]
158. Funky Flea Market - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDqX3lISUmI [4]
166. Beach Games - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-5EzKsuew [3]

The 99Vidas set is another example of something I was disappointed to have not enjoyed very much. The songs get funky at times, but its hard not to compare them to what theyre emulating, and a lot of the time I just felt like Id rather be listening to Streets of Rage instead lol. Some of the songs were more evocative than others, particularly...

Favorite song: A Walk in the Park. Listening to this was definitely the most fun I had with the set. Its got a lot of great energy. Also parts of it sound identical to Simple and Clean from Kingdom Hearts, which is neither a plus or a minus, but its definitely something hard to ignore. The song goes on a bit too long but I attributed that to improper looping. Honorable mention to Neon Night, which evokes a sense of fighting under a moonlit sky in a very slick way, sort of the culmination of the set is trying overall to do.

Hell jeah looking forward to the rest of this

30. Final Fantasy XIV
Nominated by @Not_an_Owl
Average rating: 5.5
Overall thoughts: A varied bunch of tracks youd be hard-pressed to believe come from the same game.

82. A Long Fall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBIRYjP1NNM [7]
84. Heartless - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7z_DzoxPzM [7]
144. Shadowbringers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UPOQJDLDps [5.5]
154. Drowning in the Horizon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR3yMqpaCrU [5]
169. Rise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IiOzi05IlA [3]

Final Fantasy XIV has an incredibly varied soundtrack. These five tracks are all notably distinct, and you could likely fill an additional setlist or three with distinct tracks. That said, three of the songs didnt do much for me Rise got as low as a 3 but the top two, only two placements apart from each other, nabbed 7s. Definitely a soundtrack that probably depends on song selection, more than other sets.

Favorite song: A Long Fall, or on a different day, Heartless. A Long Fall is fun to headbang to, or whatever your preferred method of rocking out is (A CHICKEN TENDEEEER IM READY FOR FRIIIIES). For Heartless, big JPRG bombastic battle themes are often hit or miss, but this ones definitely a hit.

...I am in love with Son-ic BOOM

or Rise I guess if I have to use the actual name
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Aww, yeah, escaped the bottom six. Or the bottom sixth.

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I laughed when I heard Prince Dail, it's actually not that bad the flimsy kick drum just kills the beat

Shadowbringers deserves better :(

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azuarc posted... Aww, yeah, escaped the bottom six. Or the bottom sixth.

hi

29. Lennas Inception
Nominated by @azuarc
Average rating: 5.8
Overall thoughts: Normal indie game fare with some nice flourishes.

64. Showdown - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sf40mtmung [7]
87. Lenna's Inception - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6evVM8M3wjQ [6.5]
121. Into the Caverns - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBiXWngieFU [6]
139. Deus Hex Machina - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba6WURSItDs [5.5]
160. Electric Town - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D0R5xW4ans [4]

Lennas Inception is the first set so far where Ive overall been intrigued by the music. There are some nice touches here, glitchy chiptune that I generally like and some interesting melodies. When I think of the average indie game soundtrack I think of songs like these, retro-styled tracks with occasionally lower-grade production value. Also I really wanted to like Deus Hex Machina because its normally something I gravitate toward, but it just wasnt clicking. (I am relistening to it RIGHT NOW and it might place a bit higher with a reevaluation.)

Favorite song: Showdown. After I just made that whole rigamarole about interesting choices, we have Showdown, which is a fairly typical battle theme. I really dig the sound design here, everything comes together nicely, even if the instruments are kind of tinny and weird.

28. Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass
Nominated by @TheArkOfTurus
Average rating: 5.9
Overall thoughts: More tinny indie game music, but with a ton of personality.

69. Righteous Scrabble - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqQwmRoWsLw [7]
77. Osaka Konnichiwa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3dRG84OITA [7]
124. A Cocoon Throbbing in a Dead Man's Mouth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBNCa34uQQw [6]
142. Beach Volleyball Massacre - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa8ajFafgCw [5.5]
161. Oh So Cool Castle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wqveMjeE1g [4]

This is another soundtrack I trawled through looking for songs to use in a guessing game. What I found was An Open Window, which has since become a top tier song for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpM3yGLvhcw

An Open Window, however, is nothing like the rest of the soundtrack. This set offers a similar experience to Lennas Inception, but unlike that set, the Jimmy and Pulsating Mass set has a ton of personality to it. Even the songs I didnt care for leave a specific mark, a sense that this is what the composer (who also made the game) intended. Yet again its more music I should enjoy, like the disgustingly named A Cocoon Throbbing in a Dead Mans Mouth, which might place higher with different instruments.

Favorite song: Righteous Scrabble. Another boss battle esque theme, this song is similar to Lennas Inceptions Showdown in some ways. The overall melody is pretty solid, and though it doesnt do anything super remarkable, its still a good listen. Bonus pick to Osaka Konnichiwa, which is way more unique, utilizing telephone noises, a woman speaking in Japanese (I think), and a grungy lead instrument for its catchy melody.

Funny, I gave you Electric Town because I thought you would like it. I could have very easily used a different track.

Alternate tracklist:
Broken Showdown - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbkrhkBJ9dQ
Adventure Corrupted - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV_kYbfTZ7o
Desolate Dungeon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu5B43BhHj4
The Usurper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEvxk1wuxi0
Jaunty Merchant's Tune - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Ba0bZXdFg

Those tracks should basically line up with the ones I gave you, in the order you ranked them.

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Honestly still a little better than I expected it to do!


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27. Okami
Nominated by @pyresword
Average rating: 6
Overall thoughts: A nice journey into some deeper cuts.

11. Yami - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XugG82XlAOw [9]
21. Theme of the Celestials - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfczAmFIsTE [8.5]
102. Kushi's Ride - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAvQNB_8HZQ [6.5]
164. Cursed Hana Valley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp1MHSeHa0o [3.5]
174. Ezofuji, Wawku Shrine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b24Yjac5_mE [2.5]

Wowie zowie standard deviation! We have the two highest rated songs so far, by a very large amount, including one that barely fell short of the top ten...coupled with the next to last rated song and a song that barely did better. I suppose its a testament to the versatility of this soundtrack that it can evoke such different reactions in me. I greatly appreciated pyres B-side attempt here, opting for some deeper cuts of this well-worn soundtrack.

Favorite song: Yami. I didnt expect to like this one that much from the intro, but Yami quickly turns into an intensely powerful (powerfully intense?) eight-minute epic with tons of twists and turns along the way. Definitely worth the full listen!

26. Mystic Ark
Nominated by @FL81
Average rating: 6
Overall thoughts: The most 6/10 soundtrack ever made.

95. Techno House - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVWlr7b7n48 [6.5]
114. Hey! Don't Attack Me! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVaq9oKXO3A [6]
116. I Am a Poweful Ally! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24XjHo93Q9Y [6]
117. Your Fighting Eyes Are Always Beautiful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmAIR3guuzE [6]
140. So the Fingers of the Dark Have Reached Even Here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPE9y1Du71w [5.5]

Theres something to be said for a soundtrack being too consistent. After listening to five of these songs, they started blending into each other, which explains their close rankings. Nothing really stood out here, but they were all at least above average. I love SNES songs, which probably gave this set a boost.

Favorite song: Techno House. This track is very swingy and jazzy in 7/8 time, which might remind you that this by Akihiko Mori, famous around these parts for composing the Gokinjo Boukentai soundtrack. This has a nice, full SNES sound, lots of echoes and bells and whistles.

Well those are not the 2 songs I expected would do well.

Well i guess Yami I was unsure, but I definitely thought you'd not like Theme of the Celestials.
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I love how you gave me a song you thought I would dislike haha

I was going for variety!
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rwlh posted...

27. Okami
Average rating: 6

Wowie zowie standard deviation! We have the two highest rated songs so far, by a very large amount, including one that barely fell short of the top ten...coupled with the next to last rated song and a song that barely did better.

rwlh posted...

26. Mystic Ark
Average rating: 6
Overall thoughts: The most 6/10 soundtrack ever made.

A curious choice, ranking the consistently average OST above the wildly variable OST
(I personally would've done the opposite because it would be more fun that way! )

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FL81 posted...

A curious choice, ranking the consistently average OST above the wildly variable OST
(I personally would've done the opposite because it would be more fun that way! )

When in doubt, go Akihiko Mori

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NFUN posted...

When in doubt, go Akihiko Mori

tbf seeing Gokinjo Boukentai nominated for VGMC resparked my interest in trying to get something from Mystic Ark into a contest

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FL81 posted...

A curious choice, ranking the consistently average OST above the wildly variable OST

Can't argue with the numbers!

EDIT: The system for breaking ties was to order the sets based on the lowest ranking songs. So in this case, Okami had a lower last place song than Mystic Ark, so it got ranked lower.

25. League of Legends
Nominated by @PIayer_0
Average rating: 6.1
Overall thoughts: A variety of songs that mostly seem to work best as literal background music.

15. POP/STARS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOxkGD8qRB4 [9]
30. Thresh, the Chain Warden - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WyH5E8Xs0c [8]
153. Camille, the Steel Shadow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GJNJ2fsFno [5]
156. Jhin, the Virtuoso - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSQZqVsaKWY [4.5]
159. Dark Star 2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc7ul2Pf1hw [4]

Another set thats all over the place! The bottom three are all fairly nondescript songs that probably work well as actual BGM instead of listening to them standalone. Thresh, the Chain Warden stands out as having creepy children in it, and thats generally an aspect I like. As for...

Favorite song: POP/STARS.

YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS
COMIN ROUND AGAIN

This song is infectiously fun. Ive listened to it maybe fifty or sixty times since the first time I heard it. Never gets old. Always makes me tap my feet. I dont get how it fits in with the rest of the soundtrack!

24. Street Fighter II (Game Boy)
Nominated by: @Raetsel_Lapin
Average rating: 6.1
Overall thoughts: The most curious nomination out of everything.

28. Blanka Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXLKmv8wBVw [8.5]
85. Ryu Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVIgnPk-WM [7]
118. Balrog Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pMEu7V7m-0 [6]
128. Ken Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbNcer_XLUA [6]
170. Zangief Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tOOzr_5sbY [3]

What an interesting nomination. I say this because I dont think Raetsel_Lapin knows my taste very well (though I could be wrong?), but they picked two things I really love: the Street Fighter II soundtrack and the Game Boy soundchip. Is that a coincidence? Its just a random thing to nominate otherwise.

Anyway, the big problem I had with this set was, well, the Game Boy soundchip. Most of the sounds are cluttered with over-crunchiness. The ones I like are mostly because of the original versions. Sadly, the set doesnt really exploit the coolness of the Game Boy. I love the original soundtrack so Im likely to enjoy any variant on it though.

Favorite song: Blanka Theme. Like the rest of this set, this arrangement sounds like mosquitoes playing the accordion. But it sounds like the original, so I like it. >_> What?

23. Shadow Man
Nominated by @Shonen_Bat
Average rating: 6.2
Overall thoughts: Spooktastic horror.

63. Title Theme - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cKEHiCFflw8 [7]
78. For We Are Many - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LirW5TL2y68 [7]
104. Avery Marx - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AkppsfLd9l8 [6.5]
146. Jack the Ripper - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vgyt-kiVwG4 [5.5]
149. Trials of the Five - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ozvCeeqJShI [5]

Like I said in the Cultist Simulator writeup, Im very open to spooky ambience and creepy horror VGM. Shadow Man fills this niche in this topic for me nicely, though its not quite as interesting as Id like it to be. Most of the songs veer toward the forgettable. If Shonen_Bat really wanted to get big points, they couldve nominated Playrooms, which features lovely sounds like squeaky toys, babies playing, and chainsaws through flesh. Its a 9/10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0kLXBnmyI

As Playrooms wasnt nominated, I must content myself with...

Favorite song: Title Theme. I love the really powerful drumbeat that opens this track. Drumbeats are the way to my heart. Title Theme gives off the aura of tribal ceremonies, of opening up a world of grand adventure. The melody is pretty simple, which is fine: its about setting the mood. Runner-up to For We Are Many, which includes screaming, a big industrial beat, backwards talking (or maybe thats talking in another language). Good stuff.

rwlh posted...

What an interesting nomination. I say this because I dont think Raetsel_Lapin knows my taste very well (though I could be wrong?)

A bit of a lucky guess. You mentioned liking chiptunes in the nomination topic and you did an entire Pokemon song ranking topic (err.. that was you, right?) which implies either a fondness for Game Boy music or at the very least that you don't hate it enough to actively avoid such music, so I went with what's probably my favorite GB soundtrack.

Personally, I'm a big fan of GB Ryu; somehow it seems to work even better for a Mega Man song than the rendition from the actual Street Fighter x Mega Man (to me, anyway).

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Better than I thought it would do, I'll take it.

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Raetsel_Lapin posted...

A bit of a lucky guess. You mentioned liking chiptunes in the nomination topic and you did an entire Pokemon song ranking topic (err.. that was you, right?) which implies either a fondness for Game Boy music or at the very least that you don't hate it enough to actively avoid such music, so I went with what's probably my favorite GB soundtrack.

Personally, I'm a big fan of GB Ryu; somehow it seems to work even better for a Mega Man song than the rendition from the actual Street Fighter x Mega Man (to me, anyway).

The Pokemon ranking was me, yeah! I did that because I didn't know much about Pokemon music. But yeah, I love Game Boy music and chiptunes in general. Believe it or not, yours was one of the only chiptune nominations!

Shonen_Bat posted...

Better than I thought it would do, I'll take it.

If you're ever looking for a topic to nominate spooky horror VGM for, look no further than one of mine!

22. Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Nominated by @_SecretSquirrel l
Average rating: 6.4
Overall thoughts: The most 6.5/10 soundtrack ever made.

79. Severing the Chains of Fate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snFk4Xus0ak [7]
89. Operation Underway - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRWAFT_6gMY [6.5]
100. Encroaching Shadows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQElo0oGMJ8 [6.5]
105. Gentle Breeze - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGztA8-OEHU [6.5]
137. Confronting the Menace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGW5zoY9cU [5.5]

Lets ignore that the set got a 6.4 average >_>

So almost all of these songs are in the same ballpark for me: above average territory, but shy of making it farther. There isnt really much else to say: the specific rankings here could fluctuate on a given day, but the top song is clearly at the top.

Favorite song: Severing the Chains of Fate. Another climactic fight song. I am sensing a pattern here! I particularly love the way it begins, transforming from a spooky beginning into full-on foreboding. Very cool.

21. Sonic Colors
Nominated by @Hbthebattle
Average rating: 6.5
Overall thoughts: Modern Sonic sound with high highs and low lows.

3. Terminal Velocity (Act 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyFKFdTkzPg [9]
25. Aquarium Park (Act 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjtE4nPMN5g [8.5]
99. Planet Wisp (Act 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFUSim9dvQw [6.5]
141. Area: Asteroid Coaster - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPBSKi8_qNY [5.5]
168. Vs. Nega-Wisp Armor (Phase 2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vup0FSZH4W8 [3]

Our first top ten song! ...from a set with a bottom ten song. Whoops.

Sonic Colors was definitely a mixed bag for me. I remember liking Planet Wisp a lot more in the past than now, and Asteroid Coaster was forgettable, and Nega-Wisp Armor is not my thing at all. But I really liked the top two!

Favorite song: Terminal Velocity (Act 1). I dont really love the top 40 style rock of the Sonic Adventure series, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a song that rocks out but isnt like that at all! I love the melody, I love the production quality, I love the bridge at 1:35. I love basically everything about it! Great pick.

20. Drift Stage
Nominated by @UF8
Average rating: 6.5
Overall thoughts: Slick. Thats basically the only word for it.

68. Exclusive Coup - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hOPryz9YVk [7]
83. Main Menu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lbOVd8ZaiA [7]
112. Applied Dynamics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9shrkso1q2Y [6.5]
126. Hughman Highlight Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7LYKrdC5oA [6]
130. Heating Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2S7mqciR9M [6]

Drift Stage has immaculate production. Every song feels like it could accompany a big-budget studio action movie, something deliberately retro from the 80s. It doesnt sound like the 80s, not quite it sounds like something intentionally imitating the 80s. Theres a difference. As with some prior soundtracks, I had a hard time distinguishing the songs from each other, which sort of makes the individual rankings fairly meaningless. But I generally liked them!

Favorite song: Exclusive Coup. Like I said above, all the songs are very similar, so its tough for me to point out this one above the others. But it has traits I like in the other songs: those 80s synths, that guitar like something out of a retro production. Reminds me of Initial D, honestly.

Just want to say I'm enjoying these little write-ups & rating style so far !
Also I'm pleasantly surprised / relieved that my very pre-vgmc5-era-gamebop type of pick has not shown up yet. Though maybe I'll pull what azuarc did and have mine be the one to show up right after I say something. Still we've passed the point for me to be happy with wherever it would show up now, so ,,

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