Board 8 > Haste2 ranks the VGMC retirees - Finale!

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to part two of the topic where all 196 (formerly 180) VGMC retirees are ranked!

For those who dont know, every year Board 8 has a major video game music contest. All music that makes it to at least round five gets retired from all future contests. All such music is part of a VGM Hall of Fame of sorts.

Ive listened to all of the music many times over. I also did my best to listen carefully to all the details of the music. I will make no attempt to objectively measure the music in any way. Instead, I will rate them based on how the music makes me feel, which means the classic "how much do I like the music?" method. Now, granted, I will be mentioning many aspects of the music ( objective things). These are merely factors in how the music makes me feel!

There will be a few other minor surprises in store! Ah, lets just get the surprise over with: there are two game series that I love that dont have any music retired: Ace Attorney and Pokemon. (oops, turns out Pokemon has something retired now) My Ace Attorney music rankings have been completed (see the updated rankings spreadsheet). As for Pokemon, I decided to go through with doing a top ten list because there's an enormous amount of excellent music from the series over the 22+ years it's been around, and I want to share it! In addition, my top ten music from VGMC XIII will be ranked alongside the retirees because it was my first fully-invested VGMC!

Score breakdown so far:

Official Ratings
Not good (3.0-3.9) - 1
Mediocre (4.0-4.9) - 1
Decent (5.0-5.9) - 15
Good (6.0-6.9) - 20
Great (7.0-7.9) - 36
Excellent (8.0-8.9) - 83
Amazing/Phenomonal/Godly tiers - 40

I was not satisfied with how I rated music initially

Revised Ratings
Not good (3.0-3.9) - 1
Mediocre (4.0-4.9) - 12
Decent (5.0-5.9) - 11
Good (6.0-6.9) - 15
Great (7.0-7.9) - 54
Excellent (8.0-8.9) - 70
Amazing/Phenomonal/Godly tiers - 33

Four VGMCs have been eliminated so far:
VGMC 9: top pick - Umineko no Naku Koro ni 4 - Endless Nine (#32)
VGMC 4: top pick - G-Darius - Kimera II (#40)
VGMC 3: top pick - Final Fantasy IX - You're Not Alone! (#54)
VGMC 6: top pick - Final Fantasy X - Seymour Battle (#93)

lol Endless Nine scoring a Nine and being the top pick in VGMC Nine

Remaining Music
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - -(Isoleucine)-
Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE
Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica - EXEC_SPHILIA/.
Atelier Ayesha - Invitation Flower~ Autumn
Atelier Shallie - Flying Clouds, Drifting Haze
Baldr Heart - Innocence & Emptiness
Cytus 2 - Chocolate Missile
Drakengard 3 - Kuroi Ita ~ The Black Song (International Version)
Fire Emblem Fates - Desire Below (Flow)
Fire Emblem Fates - End of All (Land)
Ginga Force - Zenith
Halo 2 - Halo Theme (Mjolnir Mix)
Idola Phantasy Star Saga - Endeavour
Kirby Triple Deluxe - Moonstruck Blossom
Legend of Mana - Title
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Main Theme
Neotokyo - Tin Soldiers
Opoona - Partizans
Phantasy Star Online 2 - GUERRANT-OFENZA-SUPRONT-UNNE
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Second Dark Matter Battle
Sound Voltex III: Gravity Wars - Preserved Valkyria
Taiko no Tatsujin 7 - Burning Force Medley
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC - The Whereabouts of Light
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru 8 - Ricordando il Passato
Xenoblade Chronicles - Engage the Enemy

Youtube playlist of VGMC retirees:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtm-5nTauRmH9-omKRQf_FQI6GEE84aTu

Updated Rankings:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RyUmpY7s3MZeuSDaN3vYEJXtS9BlR0GJ--7sapMOnaA/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to all who have been interested in this topic so far. Ive gone through many instances of inconsistent formatting, spelling mistakes (*cough*eliminination*cough), grammatical errors, etc., so thanks for not giving up on me! Were almost there. I hope to get this done before VGMC 15 nominations. I hope you continue to have fun reminiscing!

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Well... there are a few good songs left, I guess...

good thing The Moon finally got eliminated even though it's over 150 spots too high

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Interesting choice for best Umineko song!

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solid selection

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Damn VGMC 14 is cleaning up

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Tag.

Without even listening I'm going to say yeah I think that's an OST version of The Second Tower because the OST version has an intro section that doesn't play ingame AFAIK (at least not for the World Map version - it is indeed the world map theme for (most of the world) the back half of the game. Not sure offhand about the Sound Test, it might have that version actually but I am not hooking up my PS2 to answer this question.)

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Was it the in-game or the OST version that participated in VGMC?

PIayer_0 posted...

Damn VGMC 14 is cleaning up

Yeah. One half of them from that contest are pretty much in the top eighth!

Late, but...my bad. DJ Totto has two retirees, not one.

25) The Legend of Heroes FC: Trails in the Sky - The Whereabouts of Light
Series ranking: 1 of 3
https://youtu.be/P3VZBlmVWFM
Composer: Hayato Sonoda, Wataru Ishibashi, and/or Takahide Murayama
Other credits: u-mi (vocals)
Prelim score: 9.6/10
Score: 9.3/10 (Amazing)
VGMC History: VGMC 11 (Lost R5 to Flying Clouds, Drifting Haze)
Favorite Part: Most everything, really.

Im guessing this is an ending theme? (Likely wrong, as usual) Unbelievably gorgeous throughout, and MAN, the feels this music evokes! The vocalists theme reaches out deep in my heart. I just love the way the music BALANCES between lyrical and upbeat. Man, its even better listening to everything on headphones I had not ever done that until I did this write-up.

The piano intro is LUSH despite its simplicity gotta love the second chord, the bII in there, the way it utilizes the tonic and 4th notes of the scale! Its nice the way the piano acts as both a duet and countermelody with the singer at parts. Then when the full instrumentation comes in at 0:36 gotta love the soft electronic drums...absolutely perfect. Piano gets a bit more upbeat with its slightly syncopated use, and it complements the drums perfectly. Synth pads weaving in and out add atmosphere and additional harmonic depth! Meanwhile, the same gorgeous melody on top repeats LOVE the bass note at 1:00 as we get into part B. 1:17 we get backup pop vocals!

1:47 the intro is used again as a small intermediary section, cool. And now the solo turns into a duet! Plucked instruments add nice percussive effect, but it's the guitar solo at 3:09 that's REALLY impressive - the sound is SO WARM and BUTTERY, the best acoustic guitar sound Ive ever heard! And the jazzy improvisation it does so STYLISH, the way the swing emphasizes the offbeats, among other things. (The Flash Frost guitar solo is still better in terms of performance, tho) Then we get a light conclusion with a major 3rd, along with wind chime flourish. Very nice. EVERYTHING in this is SO PERFECT.


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it is an ending theme

composed by sonoda, arranged by wada
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Haste_2 posted...

Was it the in-game or the OST version that participated in VGMC?

the version we used started right after the whispering ended at ~1:06

dunno if that's in-game or a bit of a mix
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I like the in-game harmonica version of Whereabouts of Light

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th3l3fty posted...

the version we used started right after the whispering ended at ~1:06

dunno if that's in-game or a bit of a mix

In-game/World Map (Again, I want to stress that I'm not categorically ruling out that this version was in the game, just that it 99% would have had to have been in the Sound Test, which is still a distinct possibility.) Well, technically I want to say the World Map version started at 1:19 not 1:06 but...

Anyway, if we want to get technical here, we're talking about two distinct tracks. The version that Haste linked to there is "Legend of Ar tonelico II ~The 2nd Tower~" while the World Map version that Zyx and I are talking about (and that made VGMC barring a possible discrepancy on the first few seconds) is "The Second Tower." Names in quotations there are the exact titles as written on the Selection OST that came with the game. That said, I think the whole "2nd" vs "Second" is just NISA being dumb with their translation as was typical with how they handled AT2 because looking instead at the full OST I imported there doesn't seem to be any difference in how the name is rendered there.

Again, Legend of Ar tonelico II ~The Second Tower~ may well be in the game's sound test but I want to say my memory (very faulty, would never call it authoritative in such matters) says that would have been the only place in the game it appeared. The World Map theme "The Second Tower" is basically "Legend..." starting from 1:19 on IIRC. If lefty is saying the VGMC version was actually from 1:06 on then I'm just gonna go \()/ and say my research ends here because further delving into this would require more effort than searching my memory and looking at the physical OSTs I have here and I don't feel like going that far now.

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we were still using putfile for VGMC2, so whoever nominated could have very easily just uploaded a version clipped to start there

not that that's all that unusual - we basically did the same for isoleucine
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The version used in VGMC2 was definitely The Second Tower (Disc 2 Track 22 of the full OST), as in this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GeMyL2Ckg8

I see. The in-game version wouldn't score QUITE as high, maybe a 9.1, but it's not enough for me to redo the rating/ranking.

24) Atelier Shallie - Flying Clouds, Drifting Haze
Series ranking: 2 of 5
https://youtu.be/fYks_mK1Sfc
Composer: Hayato Asano
Prelim score: 9.5/10
Score: 9.3/10 (amazing)
VGMC History: VGMC 9 (Lost R4), VGMC 10 (Lost R4), VGMC 11 (Lost R7 to Emil Karma)
Favorite Part: 0:52 - 1:01, https://youtu.be/fYks_mK1Sfc?t=52

This battle theme is pretty much energetic on STEROIDS. It starts off sounding like youre flying way up high in the sky! (wow, what a genius I am for coming up with that) But yeah, we have a great orchestral/electric guitar combination here; a lot of different moods portrayed, too which is something I look for in battle themes.

Such DREAMY piano runs to start off! Tasteful hemiola (0:05 - 0:08). The bass guitars come in telling us its a little bit more than just graceful flying...they get to have some FUN playing stuff that doesnt fit nicely in the time signature (it changes to 4/4 there but it's not obvious). Horn rip at 0:11! GORGEOUS, playful violin introduces the theme (I especially love the fast scale in there), with classical piano accompaniment and pizzes.. ! At 0:40 various sections in the orchestra join in what fun to listen to everything here they way they harmonize and interact with each other!

Tasteful switch to 4/4 as if shifts to total metal and a new, more upbeat theme! Minor chord 9ths/3rds rubbing are nice, but I especially love those THICK ELECTRIC CLUSTER SECOND DARK MATTER BATTLE sounding chords (0:59 - 1:01)!!! Jazz organ adds some chillness. You got a bit of a reprieve, but the rhythmic repetitions are catchy! The juxtaposed sweet flute trills are delightful! Now were back to the first theme at 1:39, and now the guitar and orchestra have joined forces, MORE EPIC THAN EVER!!! I like how the cadence emphasizes the minor 7th there on the resolution. Especially with the key change in the middle. Way to finish it off with a bang.

Is this one really next...? In the 9.4's already.

23) Drakengard 3 - Kuroi Ita ~ The Black Song (International Version)
Series ranking: 1 of 5 (Drakengard)
https://youtu.be/krRNjUJIfFk
Composer: Keiichi Okabe
Other credits: Emi Evans (vocals)
Prelim score: 9.3/10
Score: 9.4/10 (Amazing)
VGMC History: VGMC 9 (Lost R2), VGMC 10 (Lost R6 to Despair of ELFERIA)
Favorite Part: https://youtu.be/krRNjUJIfFk?t=154

I dont feel fully comfortable dropping this one already, but at this point, everything's amazing and really close together in rating. Expect a ton of music to be in the 9.Why do I think jazz ballad when I hear this music? Not that this is jazz, but it would be cool if this got jazz-arranged!! The emotions ooze out of this one. It uses a real string orchestra, too. Simply gorgeous.

Schmaltzy piano intro is expressive and rubato. Wonderful piano (soft) vocals at 0:26, with just the right amount of airiness. Love the mix of ballad-like chords in the piano there, too. Melody is simple, but so effective. 1:26 - I LOVE how the melody gets extended beyond the simple 4-bar phrase structure here, combined with unexpected chords. Orchestral strings have primarily a textural role, but it magnifies everything else going on. I cant get enough of Emi Evans singing here!! VERY passionate and dramatic.

At 2:35 everything changes. Violins start getting more rhythmically involved, with fast runs and staccatos that make me :) :) Those chimes, man! And I absolutely LOVE the vibes (actually, its electric piano oops) in the background, which give such RICHNESS to the atmosphere and harmonies. Yet the emotional quality of the singing never gets lost in the excitement. Guitar strums provide energy in a subtle way. It finally starts winding down about 4:35, and strings are GORGEOUS here. The piano finishes it off, except that...well, it doesnt sound like it finished, kind of like a music box that winds down. (oh, hey, just like the Final Song!) Its all so gorgeous!

Additional bonus: In the VGMC Retirees playlist, The Moon autoplays after this track, too, which sets the PERFECT off-setting mood! Seriously, more game OSTs need to order their music correctly to get the right mood-shifting going!


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Leonhart4 posted...

Interesting choice for best Umineko song!

FL81 posted...

solid selection

Worst choice, more like. Literally RIP.

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xp1337 posted...

Tag.

Without even listening I'm going to say yeah I think that's an OST version of The Second Tower because the OST version has an intro section that doesn't play ingame AFAIK (at least not for the World Map version - it is indeed the world map theme for (most of the world) the back half of the game. Not sure offhand about the Sound Test, it might have that version actually but I am not hooking up my PS2 to answer this question.)

Yeah, the first minute is a medley of a couple of different tracks in-game. I was also 99% certain we had the OST version in the contest? I remember there being a row about it, back in the day.
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I love the Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica OST ^^
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22) Baldr Heart - Innocence and Emptiness
Series ranking: 1 of 2
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm29588289
Composer: Kenji Arai(?)
Prelim score: 9.5/10
Score: 9.4/10 (Amazing)
VGMC History: VGMC 12 alt bracket (Lost R1 to Preserved Valkyria), VGMC 13 (Lost R6 to Revenger)
Favorite Part: 3:59 - end of loop

Finally, 139 spots later, the second Baldr track appears! This is the only retiree that I cant find on Youtube anymore, but 195/196 isnt so bad! This is one of those tracks that grew on me a LOT during VGMC 13, and Im glad it didnt lose early because I may have never appreciated it otherwise. This is quasi-process music, and its all about the build up. The melodies are long (repetitive) but sound really nice. The details are what really make this stand out to me, though. Plus, the edm metal sound in the third section really aligns with my tastes, much more than standard edm. What a shame it had to face the eventual champion of the auto-include bracket (Preserved Valkyria) in its first appearance!

Im liking the the first part of the music it sounds so. stationary? As if youre in a state of rest. But, as in almost all video games, that state never lasts long! Those delay echo bell sounds are really interesting, the interaction it creates. Next up you hear what sounds like some kind of evil force lurking nearby with that intrusive bass. Really cool! Then it gets REAL serious when the string bass starts doing sinister stuff I like how it cuts off the melody three counts early! (like an actual intrusion) The bass is playing with three notes all next to each other, and then likewise the little chorus follows the same idea. At 1:11 the original bells melody goes in double-time! From there it just keeps building for quite some time.

Part zwei of drei begins at 2:03. I love the french horns response to the string stuff at 2:31, but otherwise this is honestly my least favorite of the three sections. At 3:45ish we hit a cool climax, which is also a nice transition to the third trimester, my FAVORITE part! It starts with one of those cool chromatic descent, then back up, and then a PIVOTAL use of percussion at 4:08, with accented triplets to boot! and then comes the beat that sets up the rest of the piece. Gotta LOVE the bass adding a large dose of metallic flavor! (there are still some tracks higher up the list that I love for the same reason) Epic grand pause at 4:22! LOVE the dissonant harmonies at 4:23 with the bass vs. the changing chords. so much TENSION. Even the flute gets dissonant. At 4:35 you get this cool WHISTLE adding to that tension. Winding chromatic flourishes such as at 4:44! Then comes another pivotal point, a new melody (4:47). Part of it is the fact that its basically only the second half of a melody, as a continuation of whats before...interesting form. Also, this melody has ornaments like those from the Xenogears Yggdrasil theme, yessssss!!! Wild edm off-beats in the background! But then near the end some familiar sounds from the first trimester of the piece what a tasteful nice way to transition back to part two when it loops!


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perfect timing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWi6RA7IgJA
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thanks nfun

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got this for the next singa rpg list. they're not gonna know what hit them
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21) Ginga Force - Zenith
https://youtu.be/j48zUN01OjI
Composer: Yousuke Yasui
Prelim score: 8.5/10
Score: 9.4/10 (Excellent)
VGMC History: VGMC 12 (Lost R5 to Hidra Heteromycin)
Favorite Part: https://youtu.be/j48zUN01OjI?t=49

Ugh, annoying and predictable. Well, thats what I thought at first, but MY how its grown on me! Considering this used to be like bottom ten (two years ago when I first came across it), to 8.5 a year ago, and now a 9.4!!! That would mean this has grown on me more than any music EVER! No exaggeration there. Why would this grow on me so much? I think part of it was not being used to this kind of sound production. Additionally, I found it really cool to listen to after getting used to a few parts that were predictable. Honestly, my biggest pet peeve when I hear people criticize music is by calling it predictable. For me, music being predictable usually only applies to the first couple of listens, because once youre acquainted with music, you know everything thats going to happen, anyway!

Ahhh I really enjoy the unique kind of electronic soundscape Ginga Force provides, even if the music isnt impressive in terms of notes. Its a unique sort of metal sound that appeals to me a LOT! The soft synths, organ and frequent cymbal crashes really make this a BANGER! Its not so much about the notes. The rhythms (not to be confused with the percussion), on the other hand (especially the melody) yeah, they might not seem overly special on the surface, but the timing of the syncopations really, really resonate with me. Every section does something different rhythmically, too. Its for that precise reason I like this more than something like Gallant Gunshot

The opening really really pumps me up! Such energy. The opening patterns are really distinct, catchy and fun these repeating three-note patterns on top of the 4/4 are great! Its cool how the guitars/organ sustain the first time, but then they go HYPERACTIVE the second time. Its rare that I like something repeating four times, but this is one of those exceptions!!

I enjoy the buzzy/grindy electric sound of the lead synth (0:31), aw, yeah. Highlights with the melody include the straight eighths at 0:43, the whole section two at 0:50 (I really love it here when it emphasizes both eighth notes on beat four with nothing after it! Yeah, rhythms that dodge strong beats are my thing.) Another highlight is at 1:08 very tasteful the way it impatiently plays off the syncopation and goes right into the third section. :) I love the jazz organ playing off the melody at at 1:19 with those GROOVY syncopated chords (I WISH it had more stuff like that).

A banger among bangers, this is!

Finally, FINALLY we're getting to my top VGMC 13 music. But first, an honorable mention...

HM) Dynamix - Nanohemu
Ranking among Retirees: 25.5
https://youtu.be/NYduEBEr7Bg
Nominator: Prody Parrot (supporters: GameBopAdv, NFUN, Place)
Composer: Kplecraft
Score: 9.3/10 (Amazing)
Favorite part: 1:00 - 1:16, and also 1:45 - the end
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (DEFEATED Primrose the Dancer and Weight of a Doubt, LOST to Kill Command R3)

This was originally 10th place but has dropped since then. The write-up remains so Ill just post it as an HM. Nanohemu and Uwabami are REALLY close to each other in rating. This one has the more intense development and varied meters, while Uwabami has cooler melodies. Anyway, I guess you might call this an Indie chiptune, or something? Anyway, its one of the best chiptune (according to my understanding of it) tracks Ive ever heard! This goes FAR beyond any NES track Ive heard in terms of complexity. Very frantic and crazy!

It starts off with a somber and depressing duet, but quickly turns into something fierce! 16ths-->sextuplets-->32nds!!! At 0:28 the melody is fairly simple arpeggios, but its constantly changing key, it really gives a feel of urgency and extra tension! So much fun to listen to! Then when the 16th runs get added it bolsters that feeling even more. Seriously, I LOVE the changing keys and hearing how the melody adjusts to it as it goes along, esp. that minor-major 7th outline at 0:57. It gets TWICE as intense at about the first minute mark! I just LOVE the rhythms in this section!!! Triplets and variety of meter around thsi part is just great!! 1:16 it gets upped again those EFFECTS man. NES chiptune effects tend to sound cheesy to me, but theyre so tasteful here!! Adds some insanity to it! And little bits and pieces of these keep getting used in the following sections ALL OVER neat (like at 1:44!) And then at 1:45 the changing sub-beats before relaxing with slow triplets is just YEAH and then the way it intensifies back in 16ths after that is such an AWESOME way to finish it off. And then the mysterioso final ascending run it kind of leaves you hanging, wow. But yeah, every moment is candy to my ears!


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That sets the stage for the top eleven VGMC XIII non-retirees. Time for you to predict it! I need at least two sets of predictions before we move on. All you need to do is predict what the top eleven are. The order is optional.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hVe6mDIxzcDTrTuCz4S6g-jVEdG-OjdIDcDBZY--axY/edit#gid=836271116

See the link. Notice the top fifty on the right side (the rankings are kind of rough, admittedly). You need to choose the top eleven from the list on the left side. Note that all music that made R5+ is excluded.

Hehehe. Um, some hints...
-Two of them are from the same game
-Two I've been very vocal about since last year, and yes, they both reappeared in VGMC 14
-Not a single one of my VGMC 13 nominations is in the top eleven
-One is a remix of an older VGMC tack
-Two are by DJ Totto
-Two others are from misc. music games
-Two of them are weaklings who faced each other on the left side of Bracket C - https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20C
-At least one was in Toxtricity's top ten in that contest

There we go, that's a hint for all eleven of them!

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NFUN posted...

perfect timing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWi6RA7IgJA

Is Nothingness a better/official translation, rather than Emptiness? We literally have that as the title because I took the upload from Lightbringer (RIP), which was in Japanese, and ran it through Google Translate. I asked dowolf about it, and he didn't correct me, so I just assumed it was accurate.

Haste_2 posted...

-Two of them are from the same game
-Two I've been very vocal about since last year, and yes, they both reappeared in VGMC 14
-Not a single one of my VGMC 13 nominations is in the top eleven
-One is a remix of an older VGMC tack
-Two are by DJ Totto
-Two others are from misc. music games
-Two of them are weaklings who faced each other on the left side of Bracket C - https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20C
-At least one was in Toxtricity's top ten in that contest

Predicting your taste is going to be hard for me since half of your picks and positions on the main list line up with my opinions and a quarter are completely bonkers off, and I have no idea why we're randomly predicting songs from VGMC13, but whatever, I can pick some random tracks that meet these criteria.

-AHIT - Killing Two Birds & Your Contract Has Expired (watch those be the two RH tracks)
-AGHR - Final Boss & BR - DNF FW15C
-DTR - Mt Vesuvius
-IIDX 24 - Dornwald & RB Collette - Windy Fairy
-Taiko 10 - Densetsu no Matsuri & DDR A - ENDYMION
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- Cosmochoria - De Vaca

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Well, you got two of them right!

Still waiting for a prediction by a SECOND user so I can continue this topic. >_>

-Two of them are from the same game (online JRPG)
-Two I've been very vocal about since last year, and yes, they both reappeared in VGMC 14 (I nominated one and supported the other in VGMC 14!!!)
-One is a remix of an older VGMC tack (originally on an SNES game!!!)
-Two are by DJ Totto
-Two others are from music games (one is very light with a whisper at the beginning , the other is "dark"/"twisted")
-Two of them are weaklings who faced each other on the left side of Bracket C (the match was NOT a blowout) - https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20C
-At least one was in Toxtricity's top ten in that contest - (it was in Bracket B, had a bye) - https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20B


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azuarc posted...

Is Nothingness a better/official translation

Nothingness is official, or at least what VGMDB has
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Haste_2 posted...

Well, you got two of them right!

Still waiting for a prediction by a SECOND user so I can continue this topic. >_>

-Two of them are from the same game (online JRPG)
-Two I've been very vocal about since last year, and yes, they both reappeared in VGMC 14 (I nominated one and supported the other in VGMC 14!!!)
-One is a remix of an older VGMC tack (originally on an SNES game!!!)
-Two are by DJ Totto
-Two others are from music games (one is very light with a whisper at the beginning , the other is "dark"/"twisted")
-Two of them are weaklings who faced each other on the left side of Bracket C (the match was NOT a blowout) - https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20C
-At least one was in Toxtricity's top ten in that contest - (it was in Bracket B, had a bye) - https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20B

The first clue refers to the two Caravan Stories tracks, right?
Of the vgmc returners, one of them is AC Infinity Blue skies, right? which could mean the other "weakling" from C is blackstarlight
The next clue is of course SSBU Gangplank Galleon


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The other returner to VGMC14 is Dark Man Stage obviously

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I had a feeling I should have gone with Caravan Stories.

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Still waiting for an answer from somebody on

-Two others are from music games (one is very light with a whisper at the beginning , the other is "dark"/"twisted")
-At least one was in Toxtricity's top ten in that contest - (it was in Bracket B, had a bye) https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471679&tclass=Bracket%20B

No need to go through every rhythm game song.... just throw something out there if you want. And it's not like Toxtricity's list is something most people would have access to anymore, so just pick something that had a bye in Bracket B. >_>

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murakumo
CHEVALIER DIABOLIQUE
Ultimate Experience
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Finally, it's over! I don't think I'm going to ever do something like that again!!! (too painful) ANYWAY, seven of the eleven were guessed correctly.

11) Deemo 3.2 - Rhuzerv
Ranking among Retirees: 23.5
https://youtu.be/2Hm_jcpTycI
Nominator: @loweffortmemes (supporters: Mac Arrowny, Dire Krow)
Composer: Feryquitous
Score: 9.4/10 (Amazing)
Favorite part: 1:02 - 1:13 (PLEASE WAIT), including the key change after
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (DEFEATED Death to Illusions and Gate of Steiner, LOST R3 to Studiopolis Zone 1)

Its certainly one of the weirdest/darkest rhythm game songs weve had in VGMC, at least the two years I've been around. The use of fake piano in an edm style is pretty normal with its melody, and its very danceable, for sure!. Just, uh, with a dark/evil/possessed feel to it!!. Very, very tense. Good guess on picking CHEVALIER DIABOLIQUE, NFUN, but no cigar.

Music is very repetitive, BUT it keeps me constantly engaged because, like, on the weak beats, we got some dissonance going with extra piano chords! And its different EVERY TIME. Interesting way to use that, for surealso, major 7th/minor 7th clashes :) And those strange vocal crescendos that get cut off what a creepy way to introduce the main idea. at 0:31 the sounds are just nasty, I LOVE IT! Gets ghastly at 0:42 with that nifty voice added and now we gos some major 2nd/minor 2nd clashes!

And then a demon, like, hijacks the whole piece with its horrific moans and growls, as it STRANGLES the music those chords in there, man!!!!.....yeah, and lets throw the meter away, too..(breakdancing, anyone?). Then PLEASE WAIT, and it escapes, but not without an JARRING key change!!!! And, hey, we got some lyrics now, the vocal style is subdued in a creepy way, but its groovy and more in control than in the beginning. Is still gots some of that gloom and tension that I love, though!!

If I were a D.J. I would totally play this one!


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It's been a while since I've heard it, but I don't remember Rhuzerv sounding like that
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20) Fire Emblem Fates - Desire Below (Flow)
Series ranking: 2 of 2
https://youtu.be/-4_cx74mypE
Prelim score: 9.3/10
Score: 9.4/10 (Amazing)
Composer: Hiroki Morishita
VGMC History: VGMC 14 (Lost R5 to YOKAI-Disco)
Favorite part: https://youtu.be/-4_cx74mypE?t=56

Very intense. Pretty frantic, actually. Lots of chromatics at the start, which is one of those things I have a nerdy liking towards! The theme kind of gets a hold of itself once the 16th notes become triplets at 0:23 and kind of move to the back stage, which is how I like it, actually. Still intense and dangerous, though. Then comes the You are the Oceans Grey Waves theme, yay! And, as usual, Morishita finds a way to put harmonies and key changes under it that are unique to this track.

This gets used to help transition into the next part, my favorite part of the whole thing! Its got this SWING to it, but its not a happy-go-lucky swing to it (but not really in a jazzy way) its still very dire and serious. But WOW, it sounds amazing. Ive never heard anything like it. All those 7ths/9th leaps in there are simply :). Then when you put the bells melody above doing slow triplets over it, WOW! Absolutely beautiful! Dire, serious, and beautiful at the same time that takes skill to compose! On top of that you still get those fast triplet patterns mixed in ahhhh, its good to bask in. A crazy good trio of Then it finally gets a bit of a reprieve with some soft organ towards the end. Beautiful harmonies theresounds very early 20th-century classical (the more I listen to it the better it is!), some cool dissonances, and we continue to get some polyrhythms as a bonus.

As a whole, this track makes a very full display of Morishitas talent! Only complaint is that somehow, the energy is a bit lacking? Im not sure why it feels that way to me.

10) Atelier Escha & Logy - Sky of Twilight
Ranking among Retirees: 19.5
https://youtu.be/YEQp_pXadx4
Nominator:@MasaomiHouzuki (supporters: Arti, loweffortmemes, TheArkOfTurus)
Composer: Shade
Other credits: Kanako Ito (vocalist)
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
Favorite part: The first 35 seconds, as well as https://youtu.be/YEQp_pXadx4?t=185
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (DEFEATED Intersection, LOST to Dead Neon Hell City R3), VGMC 14 (DEFEATED Cold Science, LOST to Flotage R2)

THIS is one of the two tracks I've been vocal about that I supported in VGMC XIV. This is feel good music to me despite how loud it is! Somehow it comforts me consistently just hearing it Its because of all the different styles covered here (even though Im not sure what to call all of them)!! Thats a big reason its as high as it is.

In the intro, I love dominant chords w/ both the 3rd and the #9! Plus, the dark timbre of the piano is just perfect! It starts off lovely with the strings backing it up, too. Great dissonance by the vocalist just a hair before 0:14, too. Then it becomes EPIC beyond belief one of my FAVORITE parts when the HUGE electric guitars/basses come in. What thick orchestration, what TASTEFUL duet playing! Very funky reprieve from the loudness at 0:53 good backup vocals and the piano is nice and dark, blending in perfectly. Then you got the chorus at 1:10 :) :), this section is an absolute classic! Gotta love those big major IV chords (in minor key)!!! And those backup vocals really fill things out. 1:28 provides a piano break, only to go back to the Forte stuff again mid-phrase, which FILLS me with excitement, OMG OMG OMG *huge breath* OMG OMG OMG. Gets REALLY funky at 1:46 before hitting the repeat sign (for some material) The second time around I love certain details, for example, the grindy offbeat chords just before the refrain again at 2:30 is WAY too cool!!!

3:05 is like, something you wouldnt quite expect, despite the variety What a massive prog section thats completely unrelated to everything else, but somehow it just works!!! That MADHOUSE organ (my favorite instrument for this style)with its wide vibrato with its deliberate dissonances (love when it goes SUPER low and its all warbly), the surprise upward chromatic shift with the guitar going at it with its ambiguous tonality, the shift into 12/8, the final unison virtuosic stuff yeah, way to make this track even better!! As for stuff after, I really like how the use of the major chord resolution using the 3rd to shift to one final key change to finish it off. Its a VERY satisfying ending.

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The end of Sky of Twilight when it recalls the very beginning is sooo good.

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9) Pop'n Music 20 Fantasia - Shonen wa Sora wo Tadoru
Ranking among Retirees: 19.25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO2z-VmrKyo
Nominator: @banshiryuu, @deogenerate (supporters: Toxtricity, UF8)
Composer: Power of Nature
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
Favorite part: https://youtu.be/YO2z-VmrKyo?t=20
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (DEFEATED linkage-alter, LOST R2 to An Ill Omen)

AKA Murakumo. Ahhhh, more complex music. Always makes for difficult and time-consuming write-ups! (but theyre more fun to do) (Actually not as hard as some others.) But at least this is only two minutes long! However, there is SO MUCH crammed into two minutes, its breathtaking! Hyperactive and light edm is my style, too! Happy, bittersweet, and even a little bit emotional!

Starts with a tasteful whispered HI as if shes warmly welcoming us ;) and a with really fast melody, and this theme has LOTS of that kind of that kind of thing, yay! Very ambiguous tonality at the start before it stabilizes at :08, but it only gets CRAZIER in other ways from there, as in 11/8, 10/8, 11/8, 7/4, 7/4, 4/4 x6, 2/4, 4/4 x3, 2/4, 4/4 x3, 5/4, 4/4 x4, 4/4 x3, 2/4, 7/4 x3, 4/4!!! (I always wanted to do that!!! =D Just ONCE!!! Toxtricity) The feelings the music communicates at 0:21 is just...ahhh, so bittersweet!!! ESPECIALLY that 9th interval just a hair before 0:24! And then underneath the beautiful theme you got this soft, but raging countermelody AND as polymetrics provided by the soft mallet percussion on top. Fun. After about 0:50 the meter is mostly 4/4, but the craziness continues such a weird atonal thing at 0:54.

Also, crazy rhythms such as at 0:57 and 1:03-1:04 are based on 32nd note syncopation so its hard to make sense of it unless you slow it way down, but its nifty, nonetheless I havent noticed that sort of thing often, but that kind of syncopation is done in RE:UNION -Duo Blade Against-, an underrated Deemo favorite of mine. (Lots of good Deemo music out there, especially since the OST is ridiculously huge) 1:05 the bass lick insertion is just...aw, yeah. The second half isnt crazy as the first, but it winds down really nicely. Anyway, its really fun music to delve into and after doing this write-up I have a much better feel for the music really, really great stuff.

Why does Starry Heavens have to autoplay after this? ~_~

8) beatmania IIDX 24 SINOBUZ - Dornwald ~Junge~
Ranking among Retirees: 19.125
https://youtu.be/jpZ6jwPP8iA
Nominator: @Mac Arrowny (supporters: Baconus_Yum, banshiryuu, Raetsel_Lapin)
Composer: DJ Totto
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
Favorite part: https://youtu.be/jpZ6jwPP8iA?t=13
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (DEFEATED Destiny (Yakuza 6), LOST R2 to Id ~ Purpose)

Ahhh, DJ Totto. Super suspenseful and dark edm. Intro is so awesome (actually, not really an intro, as this idea keeps coming back). You got classical-sounding chorus singing (great harmonizing in there) like its a requiem (sounds like Latin or something; if so, thats suitable).

A slow melody, but the piano gets involved and the harmony changes every beat OH MAN, I love how the piano extends the end of the phrase by arpeggiating way up high and back down. SUSPENSEFUL. (sorry no better word came to mind) And that leads into one my FAVORITE part of the whole thing. Choir is still powerfully going repetitiously, Dies-Irae style with its slow quarters. And the piano is going NUTS playing ridiculously fast, strange whole tone-ish patterns (and 4ths) that doesnt seem to fit the key at ALL but somehow it just works. I WISH I HAD A KEYBOARD so I could play it by ear (not to boast or anything. I had slow it WAY down to hear all the notes), cause it would be SO FUN to play :) :). (probably dont have quite the dexterity, though maybe using two hands would help) I LOVE repetitive odd tonal ideas like that, AHHHHHHHH!!!! INCREDIBLY intense and serious

Love how the edm rhythms wait a bit before joining in there, too. 0:36 it kind of goes back to the starting material, but its kind of a reprieve from the intense previous stuff now instead of trying to buildup the addition of strings is great. 0:47 piano goes back to those insanely fast stuff moving ALL over the range of the instrument. Then the piano and edm rhythm section does these INTENSE falling triplet chords with lots of reverb and the strings are going wild now at 1:07 once again, insane darktense and its practically running the GAMUT in terms of keys very fun! Fast piano at 1:24 that make SUCH an amazing transition between sections. As it finishes it kind of mirrors the beginning, dropping back down to nothing.


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Ah, I missed an elimination.

ELIMINATED: VGMC 11 (fifth elimination)
24) Atelier ShallieFlying Clouds, Drifting Haze (9.3)
25) The Legend of Heroes FC: Trails in the Sky - The Whereabouts of Light (9.3)
63) Mario Kart 8 - Big Blue (8.8)
81) NieR - Emil (Karma) (8.5)
86) Cloudbuilt: Defiance - Monolith (8.4)
104) Umineko no Naku Koro ni 1 - - goldenslaughterer (8.3)
194) Crypt of the Necrodancer - Six Feet Thunder - (5.3)
196) The Ninja Warriors (Sega CD) - Daddy Mulk (3.6)

Average ranking: 96.6
Average rating: 7.69

Okay, NOW I'm done for the day!

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19) Halo 2 - Halo Theme (Mjolnir Mix)
https://youtu.be/sCxv2daOwjQ?t=88
Composer: Martin O'Donnell Michael Salvatori, Nile Rodgers (part-producer)
Guitars: Steve Vai
Prelim score: 9.6/10
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
VGMC History: VGMC 2 (Lost R3), VGMC 5 (Lost R6 to The Extreme)
Favorite Part: The muted guitar solo near the beginning, along with the polyrhythmic sections, such as at https://youtu.be/sCxv2daOwjQ?t=88

I havent really played Halo much other than trying to play multiplayer and always losing. But I do know that the main theme of the original theme is really good. This version is even better, IMO! The Gregorian chant used not be my thing, but Ive warmed up to it over time.

It starts off the same as always.chilling low bass, then theres the chanting, but we got a super grindy muted guitar line heading into the theme. STYLISH! Seriously, I cant get over how tasteful that subdued solo is on top of the theme, especially how it uses that harmonic and the gliss fall after that, OMG OMG OMG!!!

And now its all out metal! However, it still keeps the folky/Celtic elements, too!!!! Its the perfect theme for that style, honestly. So basically its metal/celtic/movie/epicness rolled into one. :) I love the theme because it utilizes a slow i-ii-iii-iv harmonic progression...one of my FAVORITE standard progressions, in fact!I like it a lot! 1:29 (etc.) is absolutely my favorte part of it technically its still using triplets, but theyre being used like sixteenth notes. (some neat off-beats in there, too) SO AMAZING. Something like that is typically only done in stuff like jazz. WILD MAN guitar enters at 1:38! 1:59 lovely synth pads enter. At the 3:05 the guitar does some fun tonal exploration! The choir enters prematurely...ILOVETHAT feeling!!! ...before it finally closes out like it starts.

But yeah, this is an epic, timeless classic banger and can be very near a 10/10 if this catches me in the right mood.

Oh, hey, another VGMC got eliminated!

ELIMINATED: VGMC 5 (sixth elimination)
19) Halo 2 - Halo Theme (Mjolnir Mix) (9.5)
28) DuckTales - The Moon (9.2)
29) Xenoblade Chronicles - Unfinished Battle (9.1)
34) Okami - The Sun Rises (9)
42) Dra+Koi - Love Song of a Certain Dragon (8.9
46) Super Smash Bros. Melee - Mother 2 (8.9)
65) Final Fantasy VIII - The Extreme (8.7)
74) Clannad - Nagisa ~ Farewell at the Foot of a Hill (8.6)
98) VVVVVV - Positive Force (8.3)
100) NieR - Song of the Ancients ~ Fate (8.3)
141) Persona 3 - The Battle for Everyone's Souls (7.6)
154) Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru 6 - Life (7.2)
169) Mass Effect 2 - Suicide Mission (6.7)
172) Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals - Battle #3 (6.5)
176) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai 8 - You -Destructive- (6.3)
191) Monty on the Run - In-Game Music (5.6)

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Man, VGMC5 had a bunch of amazing retirees

And Monty on the Run

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Yes, a bunch of amazing retirees.

And The Moon / The Extreme

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what's up with all these the moon haters?

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Yes, a bunch of amazing retirees.

And Mother 2.

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Oh wait, I overlooked The Moon. It's bad, too.

Monty is among the very worst retirees though.

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that's a "meh" slate of retirees. We've had worse but eh.

and yes monty is a basement-tier retiree

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Ed Bellis and I had so many AIM arguments over Monty because he loved that song during its run (pun intended)

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Need to make some more progress, even though it's one of those days where I can't seem to "feel" the music... on a normal day, though, this would almost surely be the one drop next, so this one is next in line!

7) REFLEC BEAT colette -Spring- - Windy Fairy
Ranking among Retirees: 18.5
https://youtu.be/ApancI5dOA4
Nominator: @Janus5k (supporters: cakophon, kaonashi1, Prody Parrot)
Composer: DJ Totto
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
Favorite part: The first 23 seconds
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (LOST R1 to Devil Trigger)

Hm, this ones full of supporters that have high compatibility with me!! Yet another disappointing R1 loss here, though -_-. Harmonies are exciting throughout, typical of DJ totto. Extremely robust synths.

Love the ambiguous descending harmonies at the start, especially the last chord... The contrast between the echoey-radio chamber piano chords and the powerful synth is just....WOW! I guess part of the deal is the surprise key change (or rather the stuff before it seems to indicate a different key), but the synth duet after is just WAY too high on the excitement scale! I wish I could explain more on why Really, I'm probably But yeah, the sound is just SO energized.

The synth melody is so ADVENTUROUS with its wide range and varied rhythms, and the bIII chord at 0:20 transitioning into the dominant just makes me so happy :) :) :). Piano runs are super-fast/energized! The next melody is a lot like the opening.,.. Gotta love the response/echo by the softer synths, themselves creating reverb. Love the whistles doing their own response in the following section. 0:56 we hit the intermediary material and my favorite synth is back :) ! At 1:16 we finally get some actual material from near the start! Nice syncopated chord changes at 1:22....though most places the harmonies are nice, I dont need to mention them all.. Ill note that bVI gets done a lot, which I like!! Love how at 1:32 we get a reference back to the very beginning piano stuff with more of that soft/stat sound. Oh, hey, it finishes by FINALLY going into the key that it was implying near the start!

Overall, very VERY exciting stuff!!! DJ Totto is THE MAN!!


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18) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Main Theme
Series ranking: 1 of 2
https://youtu.be/rNVCD1dsnJI
Composer: TAPPY, arr. by Harry Gregson-Williams
Prelim score: 9.6/10
Score: 9.5/10 (phenomenal)
VGMC History: VGMC 2 (Lost R6 to Floater Land Galaxy)
Favorite Part: 0:44 - 1:56 and 5:07 - 5:31

To me, this is the quintessential MGS theme. MGS2 Theme is great, (scored an 8.1, and an adjusted 7.8) but to me it's like a rough draft of the MGS3 theme. For example, I enjoy the combined acoustic/electronic percussion as opposed to the more exclusively electronic sound that's done in the MGS2 theme. SO MANY cool effects are used that are perfect for action/espionage...the variety is practically ENDLESS. Instrumentation is fleshed out and perfected in MGS3. Lots of cool meaningful details. The overall form and development is much more complex, complete, and satisfying. Not to mention saving the second half o the MGS2 theme at the end just makes it that much better! Im guessing the MGS2 theme is more popular because it has more focus on the famous theme. Meanwhile, this has contextual filler, but I dont really feel like its fillertheres compelling stuff going on even in those parts.

Starts off nice and calm this time around, but before you know were back to the classic MGS drums and strings! A brand new theme gets introduced by the french horns! Reverse piano at :44 really works well for an incoming forte sectionI Again, the new theme presented by the horns makes me feel SO GOOD. Nice key change at 1:29! Im surprised at all the details put in even in those parts! Love the harmonic progression at 1:41, plus the violin ideas are intense already, but the way they end on they park on those long triplets at 1:50 and 1:55. WAY intense in a cool way. The following section has lots of cool electronic drums and sound effects that just sound like stealth! 2:38 has this COOL hairpin (also another one at 2:16).

Nifty last-measure sound effects leading into cool hi-tech rock cinematic atmosphere at 3:32 (I enjoy the 16th+dotted eighth rhythms right before it, too)... done SO amazingly well... love the blacksmith percussion and the rocking low synth use. Part of the MGS3 theme even joins in with that a little later! Another one of those cool piano effects (w/ brass) from before at 4:11!!! Nice sweeping sound effect at 4:15, and then I LOVE the deep low synth that comes in at about the same time, the way it grows (kind of Xenogears-esque). The panning electronic. beeps are really...hi-tech. Pretty ambient chords, too.

Finally we get the militaristic MGS2 theme introduced by a BEAUTIFUL guitar (absolute perfect contrast to the previous section) with tasteful piano downbeats, and finishes off with a more classic rendition of the theme. And it has the same AMAZING key change when it repeats which just makes me.... ;_; A few notes get added to the end of it to help it sound more conclusive at the end (its very nice, but was it really necessary?).

All in all, this is a production MASTERPIECE of action/espionage, and it makes me REALLY want to play the MGS series. (shame on me for not playing them)

17) Taiko no Tatsujin 7 - Burning Force Medley
https://youtu.be/jWGhoykW3Cc
Prelim score: 9.0/10
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomonal)
Composer: Yoshinori Kawamoto, arr. By Yuji Masubuchi
VGMC History: VGMC 14 (Lost R5 to Second Dark Matter Battle)
Favorite part: https://youtu.be/jWGhoykW3Cc?t=111

To think this one likely would have been dropped if it werent for my unusually early support of this during nominations! (most of my supports occurred near the end of the nomination period) Anyway, this theme is so HAPPY and feel-good! Kind of like that anthropomorphic drum. :----) (speaking of which, uhh, if you beat that drum, youre literally beating his face in, kekeke!) I LOVE this style!!!,( not sure precisely what it is other than kind of a mix of rock/prog/fusion?)

But yeah, it starts off simple and bright and happy. Im liking that acousticguitar-like synth at 0:17, along with the groovy organ chords, except this organ seems to have a key-striking quality to it. Oh, wait, I dont think its an organ at all. Whatever. It sounds really COOL as accompaniment regardless. The whistling adds a soft touch to it. Delicious cluster transposing chords at 0:57. A cool contemporary jazz feel that I love!! Those guitar note bends...gogogogo! The guitar solo is simple in terms of notes, but so very tasteful as far as timing goes. Then when the electric piano joins it, its cool! Some percussion comping, too, is fun here. At 1:24 the organ does a chord moving upward chromatically I KNOW Ive heard somewhere

We enter the final section at 1:36, the best part of all! Compositionally this is too much fun.every time it steps away from the tonic its just so very satisfying. I love 1:54 when the rhythm section joins the melody and it gets wild! Harmonies are just ridiculously compelling around here; for example, the way it prepares to modulate (1:52 - 1:59), woooooooowwwww!!! Towards the end gets less melodic, but somehow it feels it was done just right oh, man, those ambiguous harmonies followed by one FINAL surprise key change! (Yeah, not an intuitive chord to end on) And the 9th on top of it sounds REALLY good! And I love that TASTEFUL gliss there, too!

Why does autoplay have to have Starry Heavens next in the playlist? ~_~

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MGS2 main theme is better but the MGS3 version is excellent as well

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The seventh elimination!

ELIMINATED: VGMC 2
18) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Main Theme (9.5)
26) Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica - The Second Tower (9.3)
35) Kingdom Hearts - Hikari Kingdom Orchestra (9.0)
39) Super Mario Galaxy - Floater Land/Buoy Base Galaxy (9.0)
45) The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Dragon Roost Island (8.9)
75) Wild ARMs - Into the Wilderness (8.6)
92) The Seventh Seal - Rhythm of Red (8.4)
94) Wild ARMs 5 - At the Frozen Depths of the Heart (8.4)
102) Super Smash Bros. Brawl - King Dededes Theme (8.3)
114) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - Metal Gear Solid 2 Main Theme (8.1)
129) The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening - Tal Tal Heights (7.9)
133) Ar Tonelico II - Moon-Dwelling Demon (7.8)
139) Mega Man 3 - Title (7.7)
143) Wild ARMs 5 - Persephone IPCC_3927 (Battle) (7.6)
147) Mega Man 3 - Spark Man Stage (7.3)
151) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars - Beware the Forests Mushrooms (7.2)


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16) Ar Nosurge - Class::EXSPHERE_NOSURGE;
Series ranking: 2 of 6
https://youtu.be/2AqaNl0pd38
Composer: Morrigan
Other credits: Noriko Mitose (lycrics and vocals)
Prelim score: 9.6/10
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
VGMC History: VGMC 9 (Lost R1), VGMC 13 (CHAMPION)
Favorite Part: 3:59 - 5:01

Oh, man, I cant believe this lost R1 its first time around. Now THIS is contemporary/edgy music! What utter craziness more crazy than any other retiree, probably? I wont be so great at explaining how it sounds, but whatever. It moves from one theme to another some are just wild, others more sane but still not normal in the way it's carried out Barbaric, glitchy, world music, odd note choices, MEGA contrasting of style and tonality this has it all, pretty much.

In the first section, you got that wild chant singing with very overt dissonances, and radio static kind of glitching things out. Then you got a wild atonal violin (+low string support) that does whatever she wants, and then some MEAN diminished chords, and then it ends on a more tonal note (hello thar, upward gliss). It moves into a more expressive melody (excellent acoustic guitar), and then its supposed to move on to another pretty section at 0:47 but then suddenly GLIIIIIIIITCH! Is the devil growling there? It sounds like something TERRIBLE just happened XD

You got a stark contrast between the chanting and the pure voices (what intriguing chords). Crazy drums and bass use. Then everything cuts out except the chants, then BAM BAM BAM chantings back again, but we get a new theme. It leads in nicely to that pretty theme that was cut off earlier , which finally sees the light of day. (were now at 1:44) 2:02 is a lot of fun we got the asymmetrically bouncy +4/8. Vocal chords are nice and thick. You got two different vocal sections going off each other for a while, cool. Awesome violin melody to accompany it. Weird barbaric sounds in the background. Add electric bass just because. 2:45 welcomes traditional tonality again. Very nice.

Then CRAZY GLITCH+STATIC. Now we get a new Persian theme. It has a groovy beat to it, and the violin gets totally into the style. It glitches again and keeps the same theme going, but now we got these strange conversations going on in the background wild voices GALORE, the electric guitars goes into their own WILD world, and then a music box (I especially love THIS) of all things gets added to it. UTTER CHAOS. Then everything drops out and we got that pretty theme again all by itself it was as if it was all a dream! Seriously, this moment is just amazing, ESPECIALLY WITH HEADPHONES (surround sound)!!!! :) :) :)

But then we get an icy/watery glitch again to remind us, erm, the music is NOT a dream. We get a repeat of the 7/4 theme again. At 5:45 the music finally tells us things are about to end with a well-balanced electric tonic note (w/ only a 9th added), mmmmmmm!!! You get those vocals like before but then you got that FANTASTIC violin flourish at 5:54. I love how that fits in with that chord YESYESYES. Finally ends with more of those insane chants, and then everything falls out out except for the chants again, just like before, which in turn kind of switches off.,....

6) Caravan Stories - Lauraras Dance
Ranking among Retirees: 15.5
https://youtu.be/NPOO2zcyy90
Nominator: @kaonashi1 (supporters: cakophon, Toxtricity)
Composer: Rikako Watanabe
Score: 9.5/10 (Phenomenal)
Favorite part: 0:21 - 0:24, https://youtu.be/NPOO2zcyy90?t=20
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (LOST R1 to Full Base)

Ah, another group of nominators that I can relate to! Sounds like some kind of area with enemies, out in nature somewhere. Nice combination of double-reeds and low strings very relaxing. Drop-dead gorgeous, too. So very engaging harmonically and rhythmically. Kind of hard to talk about, too sometimes when I try to discuss complex music I end up rambling on and on trying to gain a better understanding of it Oh, hey, heres yet another entrant that lost the first round! (Full Base is pretty awesome, though)

Accordion part is nice how it doesnt fit the meter Im really loving the use of the 7/16 meter (most of the time in the first half), 6/16, 10/16, 18/16 seriously all kinds of meters! Stuff like this really helps the music come ALIVE! And yet the music manages to be incredibly delicate at the same time. In fact, theres very few VGM on the PLANET that does that aspect better than this track does.

I especially like what the melody does rhythmically around 0:09 - 0:11 (3+3+4 subdivision is great there! Also, great final chord thereII9 chord aka 1st/major 3rd/sharp 9?)) and 0:21 - 0:24, also, xylophone usage!!! The general string rhythmic idea is great, too, with the break in the middle of it. The harmonies are SO GOOD, too...very complex, difficult for me to analyze without slowing it down (it seems that way for MOST Caravan Stories music)PLUS the harmonic rhythm is great, too. The tonal center can clearly be heard in the first main section, But the melody alters the scales notes a lot I like when it flattens the 7th!Plus, the harmonies never really make a clear tonic chord.you could say the beginning revolves around a fourths-based tonic with more dissonant passing-harmonies between them. Interesting how the bass does a lot of chromatic motion (Kind of like PERCY GRAINGER! :), while the strings move mostly whole-step wise. Oh, hey, something specific I can make sense of: transposed chord samples at 0:44! (root, 3rd, major 7th)... and the way theyre used to modulate is cool, too! Finally, later of the loop we get some STANDARD harmonies for once! It gets completely stable for a while. The motif from the start gets used by the piano and other instruments toward the end there is a nice touch and finishes it off on an unstable note again.

(sorry I just dont feel motivated to make this write-up better)

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